Tortured Souls, Broken Homes
By JulieTikal


In the past..

I hate you.. always hurting me.. always hurting the ones I love..you make me sick..you make me wish I was dead..I want to disappear..I don't want to be here..

A child echinda sits in the basement watching the water drip from the pipes. He feels the left side of his check which is bleeding. He starts to cry softly.

A the door creaks open, the child turns around in horror.

"Is what you've been doing?! Crying like a damn girl?!"

"No father I.."

The father whacks the son fiercely across the face. He falls to the ground.

"Until you can condoct yourself properly you are to stay here understand?"

"Yes sir.."

The father goes upstairs and locks the door.

Mom I wish you were here..you always defend me..make me feel better..

In the Present on the Floating Island Knuckles the echidna sits on a rock lost in thought.

"Hi Knuckles." Julie-Su says in a friendly tone.

"Hi Su." Knuckles says formally.

"What's wrong now?"

"I was just thinking of my dad sometimes I feel very close to him other times he comes across as a jerk."

"Lots of people are like that Knux."

"I suppose you're right.."

"You could be worse off."

"I guess you're right. I wonder how Mom feels about him."

"Seeing as how she left him I think she was in a love/hate relationship as well."

"You could be right. I should talk to her about this. Let's go."

"You want me to come?" Julie-Su asks.

"Sure I could use the company."

Julie-Su smiles happily.

It's nice to be wanted. Julie-Su thinks.

"Ok. I'll go with you." She says.

They start walking together when a flash of light appears.

"Damn. Sorry Su looks like trouble." Knuckles says rushing to where the light is.

She sighs disappointed. "What else is new? It's always something isn't it?" She follows.

Knuckles stops and sees a swirling portal.

Could this be the portal where Kragok went into? Knuckles wonders as he steps closer.

"Knuckles what are you doing?! Don't get too close to that thing!"

"I have to find out why's it here. Anyone could be behind this. Don't follow me." He steps into the portal and disappears. Julie-Su stands there in horror.

What if he's gone forever?! I'll guess I'll just wait to see if he comes out..

Moments later Knuckles comes out of the portal.

"Knuckles I'm glad to see you're ok!" Julie-Su says. She stops and looks at the left side of his face. "How did you get scar?"

"I always had this scar ever since I was little. Why are you asking?"

I never noticed it before perhaps being in that portal has affected his memory. She thinks.

"So who are you?" Knuckles asks.

"Julie-Su! Don't you remember? We were on the way to see your mom."

"Mom? MOM!" He runs off leaving her behind.

"Come back!" Julie-Su chases after him.

Knuckles runs to Echidnapolis and looks around, Julie-Su catches off with him.

"Geez Knuckles can't you at least try to wait for me?!"

He grabs her by the shoulders roughly and starts shaking her.

"Where is my mom?!"

"Calm down! She's over there!" She points to a apartment.

Knuckles lets go and rushes towards the apartment. He knocks on the door, Lara-Le answers it.

"Hello son how are you?"

Knuckles cries of happiness as he hugs her tightly.

"I missed you mom."

"I missed you too son. Did anything happen?"

Knuckles looks closely at her face.

"You look better then ever!" He says.

"Dear how did you get that scar?" Lara-Le asks.

"Don't you remember? I don't blame you if you forgot. I wish I could.."

Wyn comes out.

"Hello there Knuckles."

Knuckles glares at him with hated.

"Who's this bozo?"

"Knuckles! That's no way to talk to Wyn! Say you're sorry!"

"He's not hurting you is he?" Knuckles asks.

"Of course not! We love each other." Lara-Le answers.

"Sorry then Mister Wyn."

"It's quite all right Knuckles. I expected you to react in that way. Seeing as I'm your new Step Dad and all."

"Step father? Mom did you marry him?"

"Yes son, don't you remember? You were there."

"That's great to hear!" Knuckles says happily.

Everyone stares at Knuckles surprised.

"So what happened to Locke? Did he die?" Knuckles asks hopefully.

"Knuckles! Even if you don't like him he is your father."

"Don't like is a understatement. I hate the cruel bastard." Knuckles says coldly.

Lara-Le stares at Knuckles in shock.

"What? Don't tell me after all he's done to us you still have feelings for him?" Knuckles asks.

"It's just.. I.. I.." Lara-Le starts to say.

"I'm sorry if I made you upset mom, I didn't mean to." Knuckles says.

"Son can you excuse us for a moment?"

"Sure."

Lara-Le goes into her room.

Does he really hate Locke that much?

At Haven the Brotherhood is at seated at the table discussing important matters.

"Locke there is a transmission for you." Sabre says.

"I understand." He goes over to the monitor as Lara-Le face appears on the screen.

"What is it Lara? Can't you see I'm busy at the moment?"

"Too busy for your son?" She asks.

"Does Knuckles want to see me?"

"He appears to hate you."

"What?!"

"Your relationship with him is slipping. Too much, I feel he may hate you forever if you don't have a heart to heart talk with him."

"Lara, you must be mistaken. We were on friendly terms last time we talked."

"Something's happened and I think you should talk to him."

"If you say so Lara. Sabre take over for me. I need to see my son."

In another world Knuckles the echidna is looking around when he sees a bunch of reporters chasing after him.

"Knuckles it is true about your father?!"

"Is your mother still in the shelter?!"

"Did you really try to kill your father?!"

"What happened to your scar?!"

"Did you see a plastic surgeon?!"

"Nothing like that ever happened! Now leave me alone!" Knuckles yells before running off.

Murder my father?! My mother in a shelter?! Why are they saying these things?!

He stops running when he comes upon a shelter.

It can't be true?! Can't it?!

He walks in and looks around.

"Knuckles!" Lara-Le rushes towards him and hugs him tightly.

Knuckles looks at his mother's face in horror. He sees it is bandaged up.

"Mom?! Who did this to you?!"

"Don't you remember? It was your father.."

"It can't be..he would never do anything like this!"

"It's worse than I thought."

"What do you mean mom?"

"Your trauma must be been too much for you to cope with. You must of blocked it from your mind... Your scar?"

"Mom I never had a scar."

"I wish this had never happened..I suppose it was my fault for marrying him and not seeing who he was going to become.."

"Mom I'm going to straighten this out now. I'm going to see dad."

"Be careful.."

This can't be real! Maybe I'm dreaming..no I can't deny it.. something is going on.

He goes to Lara-Le's apartment. He sneaks in and walks into the bedroom.

I see mom's things.

He picks up a glass unicorn.

Did she run away from here? Is what she said true? I don't want to believe it..

He puts the unicorn down and opens up a drawer in it is a single tape. He picks it up.

What is this?

He puts the tape in the VCR and it puts itself on play. The tape starts with Locke at Haven alone.

Locke looks at the table and sees empty chairs.

"We were fools to think we could be able to defeat the Dark Legion. And that foolishness led in their deaths. There is no other choice when the next guardian is born I must train him to his fullest. I must not hold back for if I do then evil will win again..."

The screen goes blank then goes to a room where Knuckles as a child is playing with toys. He holds up a woman figure.

"Help me! My house is on fire!" He holds up a fireman figure. "Don't worry Ma'am we'll save your house!" He puts the fireman in a fire truck and moves it across the room. "The firemen are here to the save the day!"

Nothing seems wrong just me playing with toys. Is this is? Is everyone getting worked up for no reason?

The screen shows Lara-Le entering the room.

"Hello there son? What are you doing?"

"Playing with these neat toys mommy. See the firemen are going to put out a fire."

"That's nice."

"Lara." Locke enters the room. "What is Knuckles doing?"

"He's playing Locke."

"How is this going to help him?"

"He's having fun just like every boy should have."

"He is not every boy Lara and he needs to stop wasting his time."

"Wasting?! He's just a child Locke!"

Little Knuckles looks at the two arguing he continues to play with his toys but a sad look appears on his face.

"Lara, he is a guardian! He needs to prepare for the future! He won't be prepared by playing with his damn toys!!"

Little Knuckles hears the arguing getting louder, he tries to ignore it.

"And the firemen get off the truck.."

"I'm his mother, I know a lot more what children need!"

Locke strikes Lara-Le in the face. Little Knuckles turns around in horror.

"And I'm his goddamn father! I know what's important for him!! Don't you dare talk back to me again!"

Lara-Le slumps to the ground weeping, covering her face in her hands. Locke walks up to little Knuckles who looks at his mom.

"Is mom okay?"

"She'll be fine." Locke scowls. "Then let's go." He grabs Knuckles by the hand.

"We're going to train."

The screen goes blank and reappears in empty room.

"Dad why we training?"

"To protect this island and all who live here. Now hit me."

Little Knuckles stares at his dad looking confused.

"Go on."

"But I don't want to."

"Quit being such a baby and hit me!"

"I can't you're my dad."

Locke picks up little Knuckles and throws him against the wall he falls and lands on his face.

"You must defeat yourself against all who wish to destroy you." Locke says looking stern and serious.

Little Knuckles stands up rubbing his face. "Please dad don't hurt mom or me."

"I have to but only because I care too much."

The screen goes blank once again and resumes outside of the bedroom where Lara-Le and Locke are fighing. Little Knuckles stands outside crying.

"This is my fault they always fight over me."

Some glass is hear breaking and yells of pain from Lara-Le. Little Knuckles bangs on the door.

"MOM!"

The scene goes blank it switches to the bathroom where Lara-Le is with little Knuckles. She locks the door.

"Mommy your face.."

"I'm fine son. Listen we must escape from here. Before something worse happens." She opens the bathdoor window and slips little Knuckles out. She squeezes through and picks him up.

"We'll go somewhere safe."

The scene goes blank, later it resumes in a court.

"I'm sorry Miss Lara-Le but we must put Knuckles in Locke's custody." The judge says.

"What?! Why?!"

"Locke is the current guardian and he is needed to train the child..."

Blank scene it resumes back at the house. Little Knuckles is staring out the window.

"When is mom coming back?"

"She isn't." Locke answers coldly.

"Why not?!"

"Your mother did nothing but get in the way. That's why."

The next scene shows Locke attacking little Knuckles and Knuckles fighting back like a wild animal.

That's me? It can't be..

Little Knuckles punches Locke right in the face knocking him over.

"Good I see you're finally starting to learn."

Scene changes it shows Knuckles as a teenager sitting in his room. It is trashed with huge rips in the walls. Knuckles picks up a picture of Lara-Le and him.

"We looked so happy. I hope you're doing better mom. Just wish I could visit you once in awhile."

He looks at himself in the mirror.

"Damn scar.." He punches the mirror shattering it. "It's all his fault! That bastard! He's old shouldn't he die? Hmm wouldn't it be ironic if he were to die at my hands. That would show him. I can see it now.. strangling him.. or maybe I should use a weapon? A knife! I should stab him in the heart if he has one..."

The tapes ends leaving Knuckles bewildered.

All this really happened? It can't be me who it happened to. It must be another me. This must be another world. I have to get back to my world before it's too late!

In another world Locke is in the woods waiting for his son to show up. He hears someone coming.

"Son?"

"Yes dear old dad it's me." Knuckles comes out with a evil smile on his face.

"Is everything ok?" Locke asks.

"It will be soon. As soon as I get rid of something.."

"Which would be?"

"You." Knuckles leaps forward and punches Locke hard in the place causing him to stumble backward.

Locke using the power of the emeralds forms a green blasts and tries to hits Knuckles with it.

"I don't know what this all about but I'm sure we can talk it over!" Locke yells.

"Talk? You never liked to talk. As far as I know you always to like to use violence to get your way. Always hurting me but more importantly hurting mom! Just to make yourself look tough. I'm sick of it! It ends now!" He jumps behind Locke and starts to choke him. A loud zap is heard as Knuckles lets go and falls to the ground. Behind him Julie-Su stands holding her taser.

"Sorry I panicked.."

Back to the other world. Knuckles paces around the room trying to decide what to do, when he hears a door open. Locke steps in and goes to the bedroom and sees Knuckles.

"Spying are you?" Locke asks. "

"You shouldn't of done what you did."

"What happened to your scar?"

"I never had one. Listen it appears to me that I'm a version of your son from a different world."

"You've gone mental haven't you?"

"No I..."

"Don't tell me you've lost it already?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Locke yells.

Knuckles walks over and stares in Locke's cold eyes.

"There is nothing wrong with me."

"Oh really then how come the Dark Legion are running around doing whatever they please? I'll tell you why.."

Knuckles thoughts drown out Locke's words.

No wonder the other me acts the way he is. With a father like him I suppose he had little choice.

"It's no use talking to you. I'm leaving." Knuckles walks off and out of the house.

What am I going to do?

In another world Knuckles lying on a bed. is beginning to gain consciousness.

"Knuckles?" Julie-Su looks at him.

"Don't talk to me."

"What's with the attitude?!"

Knuckles tries to gets up but sees metal restraints holding him back.

"I don't need your pity! Why don't you return to the Dark Legion where you belong?"

Julie-Su eyes fill with rage.

He said it. The one thing I never wanted to hear again..

"You.. you!!" She storms off mad.

"Son." Locke steps in the room.

"What are going to do now?! Kill me? Torture me with your harsh temper and mind?" Knuckles asks.

"Son, I never did any of that to you."

"How can you say that with such a straight face?"

A cell phone rings, Locke picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Locke, this is Sabre. Where is Knuckles?"

"He's right next to me."

"That can't be! We're watching him on a surveillance screen even as we speak!"

"What?!"

"It's true. Locke you must come to Haven right now."

"I'm on it." He walks out of the room.

"Julie-Su please take care of Knuckles while I'm away."

"Why? Where are you going?"

"Somewhere important. Bye." He walks off.

A few mintues later Locke is at Haven staring at the surveillance screen in bewilderment.

"There's only one answer for this. It must be another universe. Our Knuckles must of accidentally switched places with him." Locke says.

"How do you know that?" Sabre asks.

"Believe me the Knuckles I met is nothing like the son I know. Knuckles can you hear me?"

The Knuckles in the other world jumps up startled.

"Oh great I'm hearing voices in my head.." He complains.

"Son?"

"Dad? Is that you? My dad?"

"Yes son, listen you are in another universe."

"I figure that dad. I want to know how to get out."

"Maybe the other you knows."

"There's another me?!"

Back to the other Knuckles, Julie-Su is watching over him glaring.

"Why do you act as if you know me?" Knuckles asks.

"Because I do..in a way..Or maybe the real you did die."

"Do you care?"

"A little.."

"How strange."

"What's so strange about it?"

"Besides my mother I never heard anyone say that."

"Not even your father?" She asks.

"He hates me."

"I know what's that like. Some of my family hates me too."

"Did they ever hit you?"

"Not that I recall..Why?"

"No reason."

"Is that how you got that scar?" She asks cautiously.

"Yes. But I don't matter."

"Of course you do! You're the guardian!"

"I hate it. I can't do anything right."

"Did someone tell you?"

"Perhaps."

"You shouldn't listen to what anyone else says. No matter how cruel they are."

"I shouldn't?"

"No, have some confidence!"

"I wish I could. The only reason I live is for my mother. I can't kill myself it would break her heart." He looks sad.

"Look over there!" Knuckles yells. Julie-Su turns around.

"I don't see.." She turns back to Knuckles only to find that he has escaped.

"Knuckles wait!" She looks around trying to find him.

At Haven.

"We could trying teleporting you back." Locke says.

"What is this? Star Trek?" Knuckles asks.

Locke presses a button which teleports Knuckles to Haven.

"I'm back..I have to go take care of the other me now. Bye." He runs off.

Minutes later Knuckles finds the other him heading for Echidnapolis.

"You there!" The real Knuckles says.

The other Knuckles looks and sees him.

"You're me?" He asks.

"Correct. Now I want you to return to where you come from."

"No."

"What do you mean no?!"

"Here.. Here I saw mom truly happy. It was as if my dreams had finally come true. Why should I return to where I feel nothing but sadness and despair?"

"Because that is where you belong."

"Of course you'd say that! You don't understand anything about me!"

"I found out about you. How you were treated and all. True I can't completely understand you. But I can try."

"I'm not going back."

"Your mother in the other world needs you. How do you think she'll feel if she never sees you again? I know your life is hard but it can get better."

"I doubt it. You're right though about the mom I know. All right.. I'll return.."

The portal appears.

The other Knuckles looks at the real Knuckles.

"Take care of mom for me." He says.

"I will."

"I guess this is farewell."

"I suppose so bye. Remember what I said."

He nods as he disappears into the portal.

Julie-Su comes rushing up.

"Knuckles?"

"Yes Julie, it's me."

"Where did the other Knuckles go?"

"Home."

Later at night Knuckles is by himself lost in thought.

I don't know where the other me is or what he's doing.

He picks up a old photo of Locke, Lara-Le, and him as a baby.

I used to think I had the worst family life you could imagine. Then I find out about this. I only hope that other children that have to deal with this will find true happiness in the end..



The End