Chapter Text
It was like a sudden jolt going through his large body in a nanosecond, But it got Vector to open his eyes. A pair of amber looked around at the dark ceiling of his bedroom, Must be late into the night to be this dark. Vector tried to say something, Even just a little noise, But his mouth didn't seem to budge—somehow stuck still. No force can even budge out a squeak,
What the-?.. Am I awake? Is this a spooky nightmare?
Vector thought as he intended to try to feel the problem, But his jaws weren't the only thing locked in place—His whole body was stuck, Not even a slight twitch on his fingertips or even the ability to turn his neck. If anything, It felt like there was a weight pulling his body down on his bed, That also meant being stuck in a ridiculous sprawled out pose. But that wasn't the focus.
Awhhh don't tell me this' the Paralysis thing Amy was talkin about.. Son of a gun, it JUST had to be me!..
With his head being unable to rotate, He was lucky it was slightly tilted so his line of sight can spot his own hand resting palm-side up on his pillow. Hey, Maybe I can get outta this by getting my hand to move, Little-by-Little always works. Alright alright man, Move it on three- eh.. one. 3.. 2..1!
Vector through sheer willpower, Tried to command his hand to move or clench its fist, Giving it his all to bent his fingers but all he just got was stillness and disappointment. Attempt after Attempt all resulted in the hand not moving, How nice. The crocodile sought out a different solution, How about his leg? Well obviously his eyes can't go that far down so he hopes he can find some feeling in his leg.
Once again, Vector tries to pull up his leg, Tugging on it or just stretching it out and It's no use.
Hey maybe just liftin it up? Not moving.
Maybe bending my knee? Still nothing.
Move an ankle? Nope.
MOVE A TOE??? Wowie a surprise! It's stiff as a brick!
Am I just gonna be frozen here until morning, Cuz this is gettin ANNOYING
Just as Vector was ready to accept going through 2 or 3 hours staring at the ceiling, He stops in his tracks. He swears on all things good he just saw something at his door, With hesitation, His eyes slowly gaze over to his door and he was right on the money, Somebody was there.
What loomed near the doorframe was a tall, dark Jackrabbit.
It wasn't like the Mobians that he occasionally sees—but the smaller and primitive ones he's seen from the Human Earth, It stared at him with those wide bulging eyes at everything seemed to go silent.
Vector's mind went mute as he watched the thing tilt its head as it crept forward, Closer and closer as it began to open its jaws the moment it bent its body down like a complete arc to the side. A distorted low squeel drifted towards the crocodile—Now desperately trying to move his body erratically. MOVE DAMMIT, No way this is real! This' gotta be a dream!..
What if it isn't? What if it's real? I can hear it just fine.
Vector doesn't have time to think anymore with the Jackrabbit finally being at the side of his bed, It was most certainly taller than him, Even taller than the ceiling. It bent itself to lower its head to his level, Giving the gumshoe a good look of its rotting features—He could practically smell it. It began to let out that low layered squeel as it opened its jaws wide, The mouth almost forming a perfect circle of serrated teeth as it started to get closer and closer to the crocodile now trying his best to even writhe.
I'M DEAD, I'M DEADER THAN DEAD. OHHH THE CHAOTIX IS DONE FOR IF I'M GONE. SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITTT
Thoughts raced through Vector's head as he quite literally faced the jaws of death, Fear and panic rushed through every part of him to the point he swore he was screaming. Peering into the abyss of the Jackrabbit's mouth, He heard voices coming through, He doesn't know who but he felt a sense of familiarity with the two muttering to his ears.
"Vect... Gotta.. Up..."
"...on!..late!.."
"Vector..!"
"Vector!",
Espio exclaimed as he shook the crocodile's shoulder multiple times alongside Charmy. They spent the last five minutes trying to get their boss to wake up, Even bringing out Charmy's personal airhorn and that somehow didn't work. They didn't really mind why Vector was shifting and groaning a bunch but nonetheless, they have to get him up early thanks to a client meeting at 7,
"Boss, Come on Get up!!" The small bee pleaded as Espio followed with "Vector, We have to get ready for our client-"
"AAUHAGHAGHH!!" Pow!
The ninja was then propelled off the bed by a punch to the face, Charmy fortunately flew to the side as Vector sprung up from his pillow yelling out "Gaia don't make me be next!!", The small bee cringed at the sound of the impact—Putting up a closed hand up to his mouth "Ooohhh That's gotta hoit.." He muttered.
The gumshoe turned his head around frantically, Looking around his room now bathed in the morning sunlight—and with a dazed chameleon on the floor. He immediately jumped out and worriedly knelt beside Espio,
"Shoot, Man I'm sorry! I didn't mean to.." He apologised as the ninja wiped some blood off his lips, "It's alright, But I have never seen you get up with a punch.. or a scream." The chameleon reassured, "Hey, Atleast with our next mission, We can have Vector throw hands with the culprit!" Charmy added.
Vector held his head as he asked "Did ehh.. nobody hear a squeel or a.. A screech?", Both shook their heads as they all got up, This was definitely a conversation saved for lunch. But still, Vector won't ever forget the time when he was truly powerless against a Demon.