Project Shadow (An English assessment I handed in earlier this year)

Disclaimer:

This is from my English Assessment (term 2?) for a short story! I just thought it was interesting I turned it in and got an A so I wanted to share it here lol. I usually enjoy research tasks more but I remember this being so refreshing to write!

RATTATTATATAT!!! Bullets flew everywhere, their purpose to eliminate any evidence that this had ever gone on. The G.U.N. soldier pointed his gun at the young blonde girl, threatening her and the hedgehog, Shadow, dubbed ‘The Ultimate Lifeform’.

“Maria!” a strong sharp yelp echoed throughout the space colony ark, followed by desperate pounding of the Ark’s escape pod that kept Shadow contained. This was no use, he was shot out into space, heading right for Earth.

Gerald could not believe it had all come to this. He distinctly remembered the moment it all started. He was in his lab.

“I’ve done it… after years of painstakingly long research, fail after fail, countless dead ends, with possibly millions of dollars and hours wasted, I, Gerald Robotnik have finally done it. I’ve made the ultimate lifeform,” Gerald whispered to himself, pacing around the room admiring his creation. Creeeaaak… Gerald shot his head towards the door as it cracked open.

Gerald tittered, “You can come in Maria,” he gestured to the young frail girl. Maria, Gerald’s granddaughter, suffered from N.I.D.S (Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome), a fatal disease. All these hours Gerald had dedicated research for G.U.N. were all for her, all so he could find a cure for his dear granddaughter. Maria pressed her hand against the glass, making eye contact with the creature inside. He had the body proportions of a human, but quills and a muzzle like a hedgehog. They all shared a moment of silence; Maria knew how long her grandfather had worked for this. It was all he talked about, it was consuming him, and Maria was relieved that maybe now, that obsession would come to a halt.

“I feel like you two will get along well,” Gerald broke the silence. Maria turned to him with a big toothy grin.

“Really? You think so?”

Gerald remembered the way they’d play and talk all day; they kept each other company whilst he and his team researched.

“Marriaaa!!!” whined the stubby black hedgehog with a white fluffy chest.

“You have to catch me, Shadow!” called back Maria. Shadow groaned, pausing to tidy up his quills which were streaked with red. Shadow bolted forward, his legs swaying side to side, mimicking roller-skating, though if you called his shoes that he’d tell you they were air shoes. He swiftly slid around the corner, cutting Maria off then pouncing onto her.

“I’ve caught you!” Shadow squealed with excitement.

“Nooooooo!! How could you!!” Maria cried playfully, placing a hand over her forehead.

“I want to show you something, come with me,” Maria abruptly leapt up off her feet, dragging Shadow up with her.  Shadow looked down at the blue planet painted with splotches of green.

“I hope one day we can go down to visit,” Maria shuffled her hands, looking down to her feet.

“One day we will,” Shadow replied, looking up at Maria who was about 2 heads taller.

“Promise?”

“Pinky promise.”

The G.U.N.’s men were cruel; their mission was to eliminate Gerald’s research and take it as their own. Heavy boots clamoured against the floor of the Space Colony Ark, men decked in protection, as if they were ready for war as they ran across the halls. Shouts and demands echoed the Space Colony Ark.

“What is that?” Maria whispered lowly.

“I don’t-“ Shadow’s voice was cut off by the sound of loud bangs and desperate pleas. “Come! Quick!” Shadow held Maria’s hand tight, rushing to the escape pods.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, we’ll be okay,” he whispered, not sure if Maria could even hear. Maria leapt up, trying desperately to reach the lever for the escape pod. Maria gently moved him inside, insisting that she’d pull it and then run to him.
“Stop right there!” coldly demanded the G.U.N. soldier, holding up his pistol. “Don’t move.” BANG!

“Maria!” a strong sharp yelp echoed throughout the space colony ark, followed by desperate pounding of the Ark’s escape pod that kept Shadow contained. Maria had collapsed holding the lever and her fresh wound.

“Shadow, give them a chance to be happy,” Maria said with her last dying breath, using all her strength to pull the lever down.