The TV snapped to life, drowning the room in gray light and loud static. Sonic tried the remote in the still-darkened room, but it had no effect. Ozzy jumped off the couch and ran to hide. And then all around, the lights began to flicker.

“ENNG!” rang a familiar voice from within the glitchy TV. In a blink, the wild-eyed scientist who haunted Sonic’s nightmares filled the entire screen. Robotnik was back. But how? “This is a test, only a test, of the emergency broadcast system!” he called in a mocking monotone. “But it’s about to get real . . .”

The doorbell rang, and Sonic turned his head toward it slowly. As if in a trance. Panic had slowed him to a halt. “You might want to get that . . . ,” Robotnik called from the screen. Then as Sonic shook off his nerves and sprinted to the door, the real deal opened the door and walked through in the flesh.

-Chapter 5