The dim room was silent, the air heavy with tension. Shadow sat in the corner, knees to his chest, crimson eyes fixed on the cold floor. A faint beam of light illuminated him, doing nothing to thaw the icy emptiness within.

"She promised…" His voice cracked, barely audible. "She promised she’d never leave me."

Her warmth, her smile—memories now felt cruel, taunting him with what he’d lost. Shadow clenched his fists, trembling as he fought the ache consuming him.

The sudden sound of footsteps startled him. The door creaked open, flooding the room with harsh light. Shadow squinted as Gerald Robotnik stepped in. But this wasn’t the kind face Shadow remembered. Gerald’s fury burned in his eyes, his calm shattered.

"Do you even realize what you’ve done?" Gerald’s voice thundered as he stepped closer, his fists trembling. "Do you know what your failure cost us? What you’ve cost her?"

Shadow flinched, ears flattening. He had no defense.

"You were supposed to protect her!" Gerald’s voice cracked with grief. "You were her guardian, her protector!"

"I tried…" Shadow whispered, his chest tightening, guilt suffocating him.

"Not hard enough!" Gerald spat, his tone cutting. Shadow’s gaze dropped as tears blurred his vision. He didn’t wipe them away. He didn’t deserve to.

"She believed in you," Gerald growled, venomous. "And you let her down."

Gerald turned as footsteps approached. With a sneer, he muttered, "Finally. Get rid of this abomination." He stormed out, leaving Shadow trembling as another figure stepped into the room.