Chained

Chapter 9: Back!

Black quickly looked toward the direction of the movement, and before he could even blink, a tentacle came flying out from Red's direction, crashing straight into Lime and causing a flurry of dust to explode into the air. The dust quickly cleared, leaving Black freed and standing face-to-face with Red. Black readied himself, though he was still quite disoriented from being dropped so quickly. Red shook his head to clear it and hastily wrapped a tentacle around Black, lifting him back to his original spot.

"Now, no escaping or she who mustn't be named will be veeeery mad," Red said, talking to Black like an adult would to a small child. "And you can't escape Polus either, so you'll end up dead -- or worse."

Black had to admit he had a point. Cyan was powerful -- certainly not the one to be messed with. She had killed a whole planet's worth of crewmates, after all. No error, just swift, efficient, killing.

Black looked down at Red, who had carried him back to his original location.

Then Black glanced over at Lime, who, instead of Red, who was knocked out nicely, had blood pooling around her.

"Oops," Red murmured, walking over to the crumpled body of Lime. "She who mustn't be named won't be happy."

"Well, she deserved it," Red huffed, walking back to his original position to the left of Black. "What did she tell you?"

"Nothing. She just asked questions."

"Okay, let me rephrase: What did you tell her?"

"I didn't tell her about our conversation, I swear!" Black cried, realizing what Red was implying. Red sighed with relief.

"Thanks Black. I really don't want to get in trouble with Cyan. And as her second-most trusted guard! I'd get into worse trouble than anyone else on the planet!"

Black nodded. "You're safe with me."

Red huffed again. "Argh, now I want to break you, a possible scientific breakthrough, out of here and help you escape because you are being nice to me."

Black couldn't help giggling a little.

"Now listen here. I'm not going to break you out. You're a scientific breakthrough. You're unique, interesting, and need to be studied. You're our first priority, even over Blue."

Black sighed. He didn't expect to be broken out.

"But! If we make a deal, I can possibly break Blue out."

"I'm listening."

Red paused, as if reconsidering the idea all together.

"Uh, it seems my brain has error 404'd and blanked out, and now I can't remember the deal! Oh noooo~"

Black raised an eyebrow.

"Look, I'll think about it. Just give me some time."

Suddenly, realizing they were growing attached, Black decided to ask the same question he had with Cyan, but with Red.
"Are you going to eat me after you're done with me?"

"Ick! I always found eating impostors disgusting, but we all have to eat them to survive. Hey, speaking of, are you hungry?"

"Yeah actually -- I didn't eat my last kill."

Red walked out of the room, pulling Black behind him. Black, still being a couple feet in the air, bonked his head into the doorway.

"Oops!" Red chuckled, pulling Black down and examining the damage. "Looks like I gotta be careful with this fragile, valuable scientific breakthrough."

Red changed his glance to behind Black, where Lime's body lay crumpled on the floor.

"Shoot... I can't leave her alone. She'll tell shewhosenamemusntbespoken I took you out for food if she wakes up. Or, if I'm not back in time, she'll think you and I escaped."

Red walked back into the room, pacing. Black pulled himself deeper into the tentacles, trying not to hit the roof with his head.

"I have an idea!" Red cried, the tentacles flying up and crashing into the roof. "Oh, oops again."

He pulled down the tentacles to reveal a very dizzy and wounded Black.

"Well, I promise I won't do it again!"

Black shook his head to clear it and raised an eyebrow.

"I swear! I won't do it again! I'll be more careful from now on, cross my heart and hope to die."

"You will die veeery soon then," Black chuckled.

"I said I'll be more careful, not I definitely won't send you into the roof again."

"But," Black mentioned, "won't sending me into a coma make Cyan mad?"

"Oh stars, you're right. How about I just... Leave you here and cover the exit with tentacles?"

"A much better option would be to just summon your tentacles through the floor and make them hold me, not you."

"Oh stars, you're right again."

Red summoned his tentacles through the floor and carefully placed Black into them. They quickly surrounded him and locked him into place.

"Thanks for helping me imprison you!" Red called as he left the room.

Black stayed in the tentacles for a bit before a noise sent him out of his thoughts. Lime was sitting up, rubbing her head. She reached down toward her eye level, noticing her bloody hands.

"Ohh myy stars that pesky impostor. At least I knocked him out nic- Oh hi Black!"

"Uh... Hi?"

Lime got up and walked throughout the room, seeming to be looking for something.

"Where's Red?" she asked. This time it didn't seem so ginger and nice; she sounded slightly mad.

"Uh, he's-"

"RIGHT HERE," Red declared, walking into the room with a plastic bag. "Thanks for waking up. I definitely needed that."

"Why did you leave?" Lime asked.

"Food. He needed food," Red said.

"Ah... Now. Why did you knock me out so violently?"

"I know the game you're playing, Lime. But you think he's going to tell you? Firstly, you act so odd and suspicious. Secondly, he definitely won't talk, and that I can tell."

"I asked you a question, Red."

"You deserved it."

"Why you- I thought you were on our side, but it appears not so."

With that, Lime lunged at Red, tentacles out and knife ready.