134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 22

"Oh, come on out now! We are looking for new toys..."

"Yeah! Yeah! We are!"

"Look there!"

"Children," the mother spoke, "Why don't one of you go up there? I think that's where they control this thing,"

"Should we go out now?" Yumi asked quietly.

"Let that one stray go." Hara was barely moving her lips, "You guys understood what we are supposed to do, right?"

The team barely got to nod before the control cabin door was thrown downwards, landing only a few feet away from their hiding spot.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" the loud voice bellowed, "CHILDREN, LOOK FOR THEM. DIG EACH AND EVERY CORNER!"

"Yes, Mommy!" a set of higher voices chirped, and the floor swayed slightly as they peaked up their crawling speed.

"Now, Namjoon, you and the...the Tiger hybrid will go and get that one. The one near the starboard,"

"Come on," Namjoon beckoned Taehyung, accidentally brushing his injured back and insinuating much swearing from the Tiger hybrid, "Sorry!"

Taehyung grunted as he wiggled out from the small space, shaking his head. The two trudged off, ducking behind walls and making their way to the starboard.

There was a brief silence where the rest held their breath; when there was a muffled scream.

"Don't wait!" Hara urged as Jeongguk's ears perked up at the voices, "Yumi, come with me. You two, get to the control cabin,"

Yumi hissed as she forced her numb knees out of the cramped spot. Hara grabbed her elbow as they sprinted down to their decided location. She gulped as their appearance caused a shift in the creatures' formation.

"Look! Look! They are there!" a duo of voices pitched up as the small octopuses shuffled toward them.

"Woah...look at them..." they drawled out with their high-pitched voices.

Yumi stopped and took a closer look at them. The kids looked fascinated by them. While they still had their eight arms, they were shorter than their mother's. They were shorter too, their raised bald heads only reaching up to Yumi's chin. Their eyes were rounder and their skin was less floppy and wrinkly. Their gaping mouths were open with fascination.

"They look exactly as they do in cartoons," one mumbled.

"Do they have whips with them?" Another looked anxiously at their hands as if expecting weapons.

Yumi took a deep breath. It was dawn now, with Proxima lazily peeking through the thick clouds. They could do this. They had to. Now close to the edge of the deck, she raised her arms in a friendly pose.

"Aww, don't you two make the cutest octopuses ever!" she cooed loudly, clasping her hands before mumbling to Hara.

"Are you sure this plan will work?"

"No." she whispered back before turning to the octopus hybrids, "Oooh! Look at that cute face. And those, ah, ever so lithe arms!"

The octopus duo turned to look at each other in fascination, and Yumi was sure she heard an excited, "They can talk!"

"We are not supposed to be cute!" one of them protested, "We are SCARY!"

They raised their eight arms while making roaring noises.

"Ooh, how scary!" Yumi scrunched up her face, "Don't make that face! We are your friends now,"

"Would you like to play with us?" Hara spread her arms, smiling joyfully, more convincing than Yumi could ever be.