Chapter 2
"Wonder where he went…"
Kinda feel bad after what happened last night…
"Huh?"
"The Heck is this? A journal?
"…Maybe I can find out whose it is."
Entry 1
I decided to make this journal. Catalog my thoughts.
I can never go back now. Not after what I've done.
I had to though. After what she did.
Perhaps I can find a new place. A new home. A new life.
I just hope I can find a place of acceptance.
I wonder if there are others like me…
Perhaps it'd be better if they didn't exist…
I shouldn't exist, but I do.
Maybe I can find peace while I do exist…
…
The heck? Who's this guy? What'd he do? Why shouldn't he exist?
…
Are some of these pages torn out?
…
Entry 5
It's been weeks. No luck.
They see what I am and they are disgusted.
Maybe I just need to go further…
Entry 12
I can't go on like this…
I sleep on the street.
I have to steal food to survive.
I have to hide my identity to be around people normally.
Who was I kidding? I could never do this…
I won't starve to death…
I'll end it quickly…
…
Did I just find someone's suicide note? No, wait…there's more…
…
Entry 13
I tried ending it, but a complete stranger stopped me.
I don't know if this is a sign or something, but I suppose I'll see where it goes.
Hopefully something good…
Entry 14
Her name is Laura.
She says I can stay until I "Get back on my feet."
She's…nice…
She doesn't know what I look like yet though…
Hopefully I can keep it that way.
…
Laura? Why does that name sound familiar?
…
Entry 15
I don't know what I've done to deserve this.
She saw my true face and…isn't revolted…
I can't believe it…
I'm overwhelmed with joy.
I wish I knew how to express my gratitude.
Oh, Laura…how do I thank you?
…
His face? Wait…don't I know someone who…no…this guy sounds much older.
…
Okay…the next few entries are just how great Laura is…
…
Entry 18
I don't know what's with me, but I believe I'm falling for her…
I can't describe these feelings.
Whenever I see her, my hearts just…it feels nice just being around her.
Best I keep this to myself for now. I'm unsure if she could feel the same way.
Entry 19
I keep having moments where I want to tell her how I feel, but I hold myself back.
Why can't I do it?
Is it that some part of me thinks I don't deserve it?
I…I deserve something, right?
…
I'm sure everyone does…
…
Another page torn out…
…
Entry 21
I can't do this any longer…
I must tell her, but how?
The fair!
I'll tell her there.
…
You go, man.
…
Entry 22
Of course…
Of course someone else got to her first…
Of course she doesn't feel the same way towards me…
Who could, right?
…
Geez, sorry to hear that…
…
Entry 23
It was him…
Arthur Rosus
I saw her first!
He took her from me!
I hate him…
I hate him …
Every fiber in my being wants to kill him slowly and painfully and take Laura for myself…
…But I can't…
I couldn't do that to her, no matter how much I hate him.
I'll just have to control myself I suppose…
…
Arthur Rosus…?
And Laura?
Wait…could it be?
…
Entry 27
I don't know what to feel…
Every moment I spend around them makes me feel more depressed.
Seeing them…her…so happy together…
I desperately want to know what that's like…
If I could have the same…
Is it even possible?
Should I even bother?
…
"What're ya reading there, Ben?"
"Oh, hey Andrea. It's some book from some sad creepy guy who had the hots for your mom."
"Really? Let me see."
…
Entry 28
I couldn't stay…
She gave me a friendly kiss on the cheek. It felt so soft…It felt so warm…It was the nicest thing I've ever felt.
At that moment I wanted to give her every built up ounce of affection I had for her.
To show her how much she meant to me.
It was at that moment I knew I couldn't stay.
I left Cirrina Countryside hours later without a goodbye…
I knew if I saw her again, I wouldn't be able to control myself.
The things I'd do…I'd never forgive myself…
Perhaps I can find happiness elsewhere…
Hopefully…
…
"…The shell, Ben?!"
"I just found this at the bottom of the stairs!"
"Who is this dude?!"
"I'm trying to find that out!"
…
"Are there pages torn out?"
"Yeah, not sure why though…"
Entry 32
I don't know what to say…
I walked down a sidewalk, lied down in an alleyway to rest, and some squid demanded my money.
I had none.
I told him I had none.
He thought I was lying and went after me.
I didn't want to die there.
Laura wanted me to live.
I took his weapon from him and ended his life.
What shocked me wasn't what I did…
But that I didn't feel anything as I did it…
I felt nothing…
I didn't care at all...
What kind of person feels nothing when one life ends?
…
"This is seriously starting to creep me out…"
"You don't have to read it with me, you know."
"I am way too curious to stop now."
…
Entry 34
Why do I go on?
I feel nothing towards the lives I've had to end in the name of self-defense.
I felt nothing for the life I ended just to see if I'd feel anything.
I'm truly a monster…a cold, unfeeling monster…
Born an abomination, so it's no surprise…
And now I just wander around with no purpose…
Entry 36
I wander around…
Around…
Around around
To where? To where?
I don't know…
…
"What?"
…
Entry 39
Wander around…
No reason no reason no reason
Shouldn't he here
Shouldn't bethere
Shouldn't exist
Shouldn't shoultnt
Why why whw whwy whwy why
…
"At this point, he's just babbling now"
"Yeah…this guy's really screwed in the head…"
…
Entry 40
I found something…interesting…
I found an Octoling…
She seems to be close to an Inkling…
I know what they are…
I know what they can do…
I know what they'll make…
I can't let that happen…
Something like me can't exist in this world…
But where did she come from?
That I need to know…
…
"He sounds much more coherent in this one."
"Wait, he found an Octoling somewhere on this continent?"
"Um, Andrea…What's an Octoling?"
"My great grandma told me they're like the Octarian form of Inklings."
"Oh…"
…
Entry 41
I took care of them…
Now I have a new target…
Inkopolis…
That's where they're coming from…
I can't let it happen…
I'll prevent something like me from ever happening again…
…
"Something like him? What is he?"
"I don't know…"
"Did he say Octolings in Inkopolis?"
"I guess there are some living here now..."
"Huh..."
…
Entry 53
I found someone…
Someone like me…
He's young…naïve…like I was…
I know what life he'll live…
I need to end his suffering…
If he's allowed to continue, he'll end up like me…
A monster…
I can't allow that…
…
"Who's he talking about?"
"Not sure…"
Entry 55
He's crafty…he knows how to avoid me…
However, I'm starting to learn his schedule…
I know his movements now…
Entry 56
I now know where he lives…
When the time is right, I'll put him out of his misery…
I can't allow someone like me to exist in this world…
I wish he'd just understand though…
It is a pity…he seems like a nice child…
I just can't let him grow up into someone like me…
I'm disgusting…
My appearance repulsive…
Shunned by all…
I don't care if someone dies…
I barely restrained myself from giving into my urges on a few occasions…
I try to explain…
But he never listens…
I'll free him from this cycle…
…
"Okay, I'm throwing this out…"
"Wait, I found this at the bottom of the stairs…do…do you think he's talking about…"
"…"
"Hello?"
"Hey, I'm George. This is Carol. We're Octim's friends and we're here for his stuff."
"Why?"
"He's moving in with us. From what we've heard, he'd probably be better with us."
"…Ai'ght…you aren't wrong…We don't exactly see eye to eye…this way."
"Okay then…Come on, Carol."
"So what now?"
"Well, we know the kid's okay and in better hands, so now we can just relax."
"What about the Journal?"
"Eh, I'll put it on the shelf. Never know if someone'll want it. I'll just label it 'Creepy Book: Do Not Read'."
"Works for me, I guess…"
"Now let's find Lisa. I need to see if she's up for a movie later."
"Okay."
…
…I'll take this with me…
…I'll need to find the kid…