Sonic.exe began as an internet creepypasta that reimagined Sonic the Hedgehog as a demonic, corrupted version of the character, with Tails often cast as his frightened victim. Fan games, animations and voice clips built around that idea spread widely on YouTube and other video platforms, turning Tails' screams into shorthand for a chase gone wrong. This no-echo edit is popular because it is easy to drop cleanly into edits without clashing with background music, and it still signals instant horror to viewers who recognise the meme.