Putz12 Plus One

EIGHT | KO BONUS

The walk was daunting. Like when you've taken this way before, the second time shouldn't feel longer. Somehow it did. Her legs were about to just stop working. And her mind said the same utterance: I don't need him. I don't need him. I don't. I don't.
Guilt escaped her. She was glad she had his gun. But he had Buddy. But it didn't matter because she'd be a part of a new sector. And like that an idea birthed in her mind: What if I merge the two sectors together? We will be stronger than ever, we can build a practical army, and Marcus and I--

Tears stopped the trail of racing thoughts. There would be no hope of any new octolings. She'd never have a child with someone she didn't love, and someone that didn't love her. But her chest still ached. What if Sector Nine didn't want her anymore? What if they didn't care about other survivors, loyalty over rationality? She shivered and kept walking, hoping with her last breath that the tall fella from before would be just in the same place. And she looked at the sky and pleaded: Please will something go right for me? You have made it all too hard for me these past few weeks. I can't take any longer.

Bags were under her eyes and she cursed herself for even believing the Zapfish was real. She kept walking, she remembered to move up, no matter the pain. Because now she didn't have anyone to carry her, she had to be her own guidance.

Acidic liquid splashed all over the floor. Normally Felix would be grossed out, but it's happened so much that he was desensitized.

"This is not good." Jedd observed, staring at them both, looking around as if someone would pop behind him at any minute.

"It normally doesn't last this long." Sera said.

"Maybe it's just a bug." Felix suggested.

"Impossible. None of us got sick, but if she was making out with a fish or some squit, I could see it happening."

"Shut the shell up, Derek. Nobody asked you, Fifty-Two." He made a fist and swarmed right to him, 'til Jedd blocked him with force from his core. His hand was so strong, and yet he stood there unmoving like a slab of marble.

"Another outburst..." He paused to look at Felix too, making sure he knew he was no exception. 

"And you are on lockdown. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." The two chanted.

The latch swung open and Octofro rushed down. Everyone but Sera got up, running to him. He was really never serious, so of course everyone was concerned. Sera's head was glued to the bucket, though, as she spilled her stomach contents in it even harder.

"The sky, look. Come!"

Felix and Derek chased behind him, Jedd rolling his eyes.

"Oh, I don't give a damn about the sky!" But they were gone, Sera heaving and heaving. The putrid stench gravitated to him, and he held his nose.

"You may go if you'd like." She smiled as her purple turned pale green. Even in sickness she was graceful.

Felix looked at the ladder's direction with eager eyes. He held her hand, "No, darling. I will stay with you."

She then heaved into the bucket once more, nearly missing his shoes. "It's no trouble, really."

Octofro and Derek already made headway toward the outside. The excitement was severe. The sky hardly ever changed down below, and it usually meant a sign of hope in tough times. Even if the moon never really went away. 

"Sorry, Sera. I'll be back, please make use of the secret room on the right. I'll be down here if you need anything. Anything!"

"Thanks." She said with a sweet smile and thumbs up, then hid her face in the bucket again. "Don't worry about it."