The War of the Worlds - By Bridgette (A Splatoon Story of Martian Invasion)

Chapter 7-Scavengers

Chapter 7—Scavengers

The incident that had occurred with the singers had petrified me enough that I didn't want to leave the rotting locker. Alone and growing weak, I was starting to doubt myself about my chances of ever reaching out to my friends and lover in this condition. Or maybe they might be dead this whole time and I am just unaware of it—if they are truly dead, then why am I still here, alive, weak, perhaps even hopeless, still here to suffer in this miserable world it has become? Our weapons were pointless in neutralizing the massive destructive machines these Martians have. Despite their smaller size and weak body with nimble tentacles, they manage to outperform us in every way, both in technology and minds.

It does not always seem that only the worst happened during the invasion. The war did lead to every side; both governments, organizations, armies, rivals, etc. did unite to fight a common goal, a goal of survival and unity against the enemy forces from space that seek to take away their existing power for themselves. One such example is the Octarians—the military I was once formerly apart of—who have joined forces alongside their former opponents to take part against the Martians. I only knew about this news after overhearing several refugees comment about it as I approached the city I was in.

But as I am about to learn, not everyone is united against a common foe; some took advantage to create further chaos in an already chaotic event...

As I huddled myself inside the locker, concealing my head, I overheard a group of young Inklings and octolings scavenging the scene outside; their voices sounded rough and rude, as if they had bad intentions. I ever heard one of them make an ugly comment on an earlier attack. Concerned, I covered my mouth and attempted to quiet my breathing, hoping they would go away after some time as tensions grew inside my mind. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make them lose interest as they approached the locker and found my battered self crouching in the locker. I looked up to see a female inkling with a spiked, rugged outfit and paint on their faces. The whole group, consisting of two inklings and octolings, three females, and one male, all had similar features as the unnamed female.

"Guys, look! I just found a surprise."

They quickly scrambled to take a good look at me; one even made a disrespectful comment on my condition. I was surrounded by strangers similar in age to me, all of whom had not-so-good intentions. The group appeared to formerly be a team in some kind of turf war game, but soon took advantage of the situation to become bandits and scavengers. This is just one of the outcomes of an apocalyptic world ravaged by towering tripods, red weed, and now, raiders.

"What should we do with her, *******?" Said one of the members, holding their splattershot firmly in their hands.

They became debating about what to do with me. Some mentioned committing crimes against me, but they soon concluded with one common complaint they had for hours—food. Just as I was, they were also starving, and they weren't able to find any themselves, but their luck came when their food source was just right in front of them—me.

"Let's eat up that bitch!"

The moment I heard those words, I attempted to run out, using all my energy, but it was hopeless. The scavengers tackled me and pinged me down to the ground. I was soon dragged up into the ground as I pleaded for them not to turn me into their next meal.

"Please, I don't want to die like this!" I screamed as I desperately resisted. "I still haven't seen my friends!"

"Shut your mouth, calamari." One shouted. "I've been starving all day."

They pointed their weapons at me as they taunted me with any words they could imagine. I was called brutal nicknames by people of my own species. They disregard other people's lives and only care for themselves. Suddenly, I was tossed onto the corner of the building as the group cornered me. One pulled out a sharp blade from their backpack and uttered deviously, "Oh, this is going to be fun! I have waited for this moment to release my thirst for blood against any that splattered us all those years ago."

"For eel."

Then, right as my fate was sealed, even embracing it for a moment, they froze right on the spot as sounds of gargling echoed outside. Immediately, I recognize those familiar sounds—Martians.

"The flop is that, ******?" Shouted one as they turned to search for the surroundings. I slowly got myself back up on the ground, with no one to command me. Seeing horror within their eyes, I uttered weakly, "The invaders." Right before a platoon of Martian soldiers, decked in fully dark ominous armor similar to their machines, burst through into the building, and with their commander gargling at its soldiers, blasted at the scavengers with their ray guns.

"REMEMBER GUYS, THIS IS JUST LIKE TURF WAR!"

The four squids and octos, with their weapons, started making a mess with their weapons and swam into the ink, creating a diversion for the Martians. It was a chaotic scene, as two species polar opposite each other actually had an intense fight. Switly but weary, I took my chances to make a getaway as no one paid attention towards me, and sure enough, I managed to get out by ramming onto a partially shattered window and into the outside wasteland. Thereafter, I got myself back into my legs and continued my push for freedom, and eventually, I had escaped once again. This time both from the Martians and from my fellow species.

As I squattered off, the fighting grew fiercer and more intense, and the scavengers resorted to throwing splat bombs and even overhearing their celebration when they managed to neutralize a single Martian, possibly from overwhelming it with its splat bombs as their bodies were fragile. But things took a turn for the worse as the Martians had a trick up their sleeves; they too began throwing grenades at them as they deployed protection to their faces. The grenades detonate, releasing black smoke into the air. Understandably, the scavengers began panicking as they attempted to leave the building, but the Martians already knew of their plan as they squirmed to every possible exit and started shooting them, trapping them and killing them as a result.

That was the last audio I heard. If I had not decided to leave, I could have been dead. I took a good look at my body, slowly moving down into my boots. Thankfully, I was still alive and okay despite having no supplies or backpack. But my issue regarding food and rest is still not over; I must continue and find a place to eat and rest once more.