Night Owls

Chapter 5 - Octopus Begone

Before you could even react, your feet are off the ground, your phone falling to the floor with a clatter. His tentacle wrapped tightly around your torso this time, probably to avoid a repeat of earlier.

“You really thought that would work?”

Struggling against his grip, you have no choice but to look into his eye, his gaze full of rage. Or maybe it was mild annoyance. It could've been either or, never can tell with him. You grin with smugness in return.

“The delinquents that follow you seem to be stupider than I remember.”

You're instantly thrown against the wall, a crack echoing through the room. You slump against the floor, coughing from the wind being knocked out of you. Pain erupts in your shoulder.

“Not so cocky now, are you?”

He approaches slowly, grinning wickedly. Fear. He had finally evoked fear from within you, as rare as it was.

“You act all confident and unbothered on the outside, but you can't fool me. You're just another feeble human who puts their nose into business that isn-”

Your shoe hits him in the face, cutting him off.

“Stop calling me weak.”

He glares. If he wasn't angry before, he surely was now. Before you know it, the wind is knocked out of you again as he kicks your chest hard enough to break a rib. You clench your teeth, hissing in pain.

“You need to learn your manners.”

He speaks in a growl, though some satisfaction seems to seep into his expression. You had finally lost your snark, pressing against the wall as if wanting to phase through it. Oh, how delicious your fear was.

His expression morphs into a sadistic grin as he drinks up the sight of you trembling. He puts more pressure on your ribs with his foot, bringing forth more unruly pain.

“Why do you really follow those idiots around? Do you really think my brother is some perfect hero? Someone who could never do wrong?”

You glare up at him. He was trying to turn you against your team again? Doesn't he know this won't work?

“I do exist for a reason, you know. I'm not pure evil that must be stomped out, though I suppose that's what my brother told you, isn't it?”

He's speaking nonsense. All lies.

“Of course you are. You do nothing but hurt people and are a needless danger in our lives. Someone has to stop you.”

He laughs almost mockingly, and he leans closer, putting more weight onto your chest.

“You mortals never change, do you? Everything in life has to be perfect. Everything has to fit into the two boxes of good or evil. Such black and white thinking.”

He shakes his head.

“You lack use to me. Most likely to my brother as well, but he has never been good at speaking the truth.”

One of his tentacles grow sharp, His grin stretching far too wide to be natural.

“Tell Reaper I said hi.”

It rushes forward…

..Before he's punted to the side by a splat of orange paint.

You would smile if you weren't so scared and peeved. Of course, Ink steps into your line of sight, looking as stupid as ever.

“Ha! You should've seen that coming, octopus!”

Yep. As stupid as ever.

Before Ink gets himself severely injured by said raging octopus, you interrupt, more irritated with the paint-drinking twink than ever.

“Ink. I swear to fuck, you better stop wasting my time before I pop you.”

Only now he looks over and notices the injured state you're in. That and the shakiness of your voice. He looks a little surprised but then lets out an awkward chuckle.

“Oh, uh, right.”

Rolling your eyes, you force your legs to hold you as you slowly rise. They trembled some, but luckily held up. As Ink fends off Nightmare, you make your way to the entrance of the throne room, after grabbing your phone of course (Ink would forget to make you a new one).

After a minute or two, Ink runs over, not very carefully dragging you out the room. He pulls you through the endless halls of the castle, past a tied up skeleton or two (one of them spiting curses), and out the door. As he drags you through a portal or two, you remind yourself to punch him later for the manhandling. Before you know it, your eyes strain against the white skies of the Omega Timeline.

Almost immediately, Blue comes running, giving you a quick once over and seeing the damage done. Worried, he straight up lifts you up into the air, carefully unlike Ink, and carries you to the house that you four typically reside in.

“Dream is going to have Ink’s head for this.” You hear him murmur.

You sigh. “My legs are fine, Blue. I can walk.”

As expected, he doesn't listen, though you didn't really mind.

“Nonsense!”

As he brings you into the house, you just say fuck it and pass out from exhaustion. Without the adrenaline rushing through your veins, you had nothing keeping you going.

What a fucking day.