Inkopolis Down
Chapter 3
The Box Beast
"Stupid girl.." Cepha growled as she walked around the dark corners of the lonely depot, "I'll show her, I'll show all of them."
The night was cool, and since the Depot was far from downtown Inkopolis, there were only faint incandescent lights providing illumination.
"Octo-spawn.." Cepha continued grumbling, "I'm no lesser than any of them..." she held up her Splattershot.
KOOO-KOOO! A sound was heard,
"What was that?!" Cepha turned alertly to the source of the sound, only find that it was a lone bird standing on one of the light poles.
"Ha ha.." Cepha laughed awkwardly and resumed her task, "There's no such thing as a Box Beast." she reassured herself.
TRONK! The sound of a metal clang filled the air,
"Huh!?" Cepha turned in fright, "Who- Who's there!?" she aimed her weapon down,
Trooonk! Another clang was heard, and a single can rolled down to her as a witness.
"If it's you guys... This isn't funny!" Cepha yelled, "I'll splat you!"
"Please, don't do that!" a voice called out,
"Who are you!?" Cepha yelled,
"Please, don't splat me!" the voice cried, then a tall figure appeared,
"AH!" Cepha screamed and ran.
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"Ha ha..." Cepha panted as she stopped to check the time, "Only three minutes..." she said to herself, "Then I'm out of here..." she walked back to home base, "Just three more minutes."
KLANK! The metal sounds kept appearing, startling the young hybrid.
"What do you want?!" Cepha screamed, "Go away! Tint! Is that you! I'm going to be mad if it is!" she crept closer.
Once she got a certain distance, she heard a sigh, making her turn.
"Who's there!?" Cepha said and shone her flashlight.
There, leaning on a box, was a very tall figure, towering over Cepha herself.
"Please... help me." the figure said, "I've been here forever... no one wants to help me.." he crept closer,
"Ah!" Cepha screamed, "Please... stay away!" she cried and back up, only to hit a crate on the way.
She was now stuck between metal and danger.
"You have to help me..." the figure pleaded, and when Cepha shone her light, it revealed to be a man with pinkish skin.
"W-Who are you?" Cepha asked,
"I... I don't know..." the man said, "I... don't know who I am..."
"Do you have a name?" Cepha continued, still scared, however,
"Everyone calls me the Box Beast..." the man cried, "Every person I ask for help..."
"What a horrible name." Cepha mumbled, "Don't you have a people name?"
"No... Or at least I don't remember." the man sighed,
"Well, maybe we can think of one right now..." Cepha smiled softly, "No one should be called a Beast... or Octo-Spawn." she muttered to herself,
"What name should I take?" the man asked,
"How about? Arnie?" Cepha suggested, "You look like an Arnie."
"Hmm.." the man said, "Yes... I like it..." he grinned, "Thanks."
"Another question, Arnie." Cepha asked, "What are you?"
"Me?" Arnie looked at his hands, "I don't know... really. Am I an Inkling? Or an Octoling?"
"Trust me.. you don't look like either." Cepha laughed, "You see, I'm both." she grinned,
"That sounds interesting."Arnie muttered, "Well... I must thank you once again.." he said and started to walk away,
"Wait!" Cepha called out, "What, don't you have a home?"
"A home?" Arnie said in confusion, as if he did not know what said word was,
"You live here?" Cepha asked, Arnie nodded, "Oh... How bad." she sighed, "Why don't you come with me?"
"Uh..." Arnie looked at her, "You... you want to help me?"
"Sure!" Cepha grinned, "No one deserves to live here and be called a beast!"
"Ah..." Arnie said in surprise, "Why... thank you!" he smiled, and it seemed that it was the first time in a while that he had done so,
"Come on!" Cepha held out her hand, "Let's go!"
"Uh.. Ok..." Arnie followed her, his huge lumbering body a stark contrast to her small and nimble one.
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"There she is!" Tint called out to his group as he caught sight of Cepha, "Wait, who's that with her?"
"What are you saying?" the main girl asked as she looked out, seeing the huge figure behind Cepha,
"Hey guys!" Cepha yelled and ran up, "Meet my friend!" she came up to them, "This is Arnie!" she introduced her giant friend.
"Ah..." the inklings quaked in fear,
"Arnie, say hello." Cepha told him,
"Hello." Arnie responded,
"That's the BOX BEAST!" all the inklings (besides Tint), screamed and ran for their lives.
"Cepha!" Tint yelled and held up his Dual Squelcher, "Stand back!"
"Wait!" Cepha interceded, "Tint, this is my friend!"
"He's the Box Beast!" Tint told her, "Cepha, watch out!" he shot his weapon.
SPLATSPLATSPLAT! The ink fired, but it all hit Arnie with no effect.
"What!?" the two said in shock,
"Why did he do that?" Arnie asked as he merely shrugged off the ink, "Cepha..."
"Arnie.." Cepha gasped, "Did that not hurt you!?"
"No... not really.." Arnie mumbled, "Was it suppose to?"
"Ah.. AH..." Tint mumbled, then quickly fainted,
"Tint!" Cepha said in shock, "Oh no!"
"Do you need any help?" Arnie asked as he grabbed the young inkling and picked him up effortlessly,
"We need to get him back home." Cepha told Arnie, "Will you help me?"
"Absolutely, Cepha." Arnie grinned, "Just as you helped me."
"Great." Cepha sighed in relief, and the three went on their way.
