Chapter Three

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Barnacles POV

Flashback to dinner

Peso has been acting strange for awhile now. He's been going to bed earlier, skipping group outings, and he was a lot quieter than normal. He seemed disoriented, like he was physically there, but his mind was not. I've been growing worried about him since his behavior began to change, and I know Kwazii has felt the same. We've both tried talking to him, but it never gets anywhere, he's always quick enough to find an excuse to leave.

Peso looked terrible this morning. I don't mean that in a rude way, but he was so off. His hair was a mess. His eye bags were drooping, and his suit was inside out. This kind of behavior has been following him for the past month. As the Captain, I wish I had a plan on what to do. But I don't.

"Why haven't you eaten much?"

I forced my attention to Peso's plate. It was 95% empty, and he hadn't taken a sip of his water. He made a comment about eating too much today, but Kwazii and I knew for a fact that wasn't true.

1. He slept through breakfast
2. Neither Kwazii, Peso, and I have been able to eat lunch today
3. Here we are now

"Yeow!" Kwazii let out a shriek, per usual. "Peso, what happened matey?"

Kwazii held up Peso's flipper. There was a river of blood pouring down like a waterfall. His flipper looked cut and dirty. It was probably infected.

Peso got up to leave, but when he offered his food to Shellington, something caught my attention.

"What?" I yelped.

Peso was out the door while I stared at the knife next to his plate. It was dark red, with a streak of blood oozing down onto the handle. My heart shut down as I realized what Peso was doing to himself.

The Vegimals turned on some music and invited everyone to dance. I stayed back, Kwazii still across from me.

"Captain," he said. "This isn't normal. Especially for Peso."

"Agreed."

"I mean, did we do something? Did something happen? Is-"

"Kwazii," I interrupted. "Look." I pointed to the bloody knife. He's eyes gazed in fear at the sight.

"No," he whispered. He shook his head and massaged his temples as if he was getting a stress headache. I related.

"Kwazii, you're his closest friend. I need you to go down to his room and fund out what's wrong."

"But Captain, he needs you, too. You may be the Captain, but you're his friend first."

I sighed. "You're right." I gave the rest of the crew permission to keep going on with the party. Kwazii and I slipped down the schute.

While walking past the sick bay, we saw it was a mess. Bandage rolls everywhere, spilled water, it looked like a pig stye. Peso would never leave the sick bay such a mess.

When we approached his room, I spoke gently to Kwazii.

"We have to stay calm, otherwise we'll make it worse. Just don't freak out or anything."

"Aye, aye. Peso? It's Kwazii."

"And Captain, may we come in?"

It took a second before he responded.

"Come in."

Kwazii and I took one last look at each other before we ventured in to see Peso.

"Who won the contest?" Asked the little penguin. "How was-"

Kwazii cut him off. "Peso, don't change the subject." He took a seat next to Peso on his very untidy bed. I knelt down to reach Peso's level.

"Peso. We need to talk."

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