"Help... S-Someone..."

While exploring the underwater ruins of Labyrinth Zone in hopes of finding some sort of treasure (presumably Rings), you stumble across a hedgehog Mobian being restrained to the ground by a large heavy metal ball chained to his leg, which appears to be broken and bleeding. His voice is weak and muffled by the water in his lungs and around him, and his eyes seem to be bleeding from the intense pressure of the water.