Author's Note
Hey guys. Sorry I've been slacking big time on this story. I've been distracted by lots of other stuff lately. I'm gonna try to get back in with this and hopefully'll finish soon. Hope ya'll have bared with me.
Chapter Nine: Drifting Back
It had been at least a day or two (I think) since I was captured. I paced across what little space I had of the cage's floor, mostly out of boredom and the need to stretch my legs.
I quickly grew tired of that and instead did what most bored prisoners do. I picked up the tin cup used for fresh water, and ran it against the iron bars. I made a noise that might of passed for a Bacca if it sounded any less human. There weren't any guards around ether, but I couldn't see any means of escape, so it wouldn't of mattered anyway.
Yawning, I stopped rattling the bars, and sat down in my dark corner. As I did, I found myself wondering, Since it's clear the Sky Army is real, how did it start?
I had asked myself that on quite a few occasions, but never really pondered it until now. I remembered the feed from two years before.
"I'm warning everyone! Please listen!" "There is this...force. An army! They want humanity dead, gone! I've seen them!"
The force, clearly, was those stupid Squids. Squids that had somehow evolved and had gained a much higher intelligence than your average squid.
"I'm recruiting . . .Together we can stop this menace." "I'm going to stop them! We can stop them!"
But why? Who was he to ask for the help of others? Specifically today's youth?
It was mind boggling, (for lack of a simpler term) but what happened to where he felt the need to bring this to the public's attention? Something else occurred to me then as well.
I remembered something that went on a couple months before the feed. Jane and I had been walking through Television Square when something on the digital bulletins caught my attention.
"Hey Jane, look at this." I said, walking up to a bulletin.
"What is it?" she asked, not showing too big of an interest.
I pointed to a pixel-page on the far left of the board. A young girl about nineteen years old with pink and purple hair had been reported missing. She was last seen somewhere along the banks of Cobblesand Bay.
"Wonder what happened?" Jane perked.
"I dunno," I said, "I hope they find her."
Jane shrugged and started walking again.
I stared at the photo with a sympathetic look. Her loved ones must be so worried, I thought.
I hadn't heard anything about that since I first saw that post. Then again, I hadn't really thought about it much at all after that. I started remembering little odds and ends that happened before the feed, but I couldn't say if any of them really meant anything.
I had decided to take a walk down by the docks (back when it was mostly safe) and had heard something rummaging around one of the warehouses. Curious, which I always am, I quietly tip-toed towards the space between warehouses and peeked around the corner. It was in the shadows, but I could just make out the basic shape of a person. I tried moving closer, but made a plank creek loudly in the process.
The figure stopped and looked in my direction before promptly tearing off down the dock.
"Hey!" I stupidly shouted as I gave chase.
That only made the person pick up pace. It sharply turned a corner, seeming to be heading towards the water. As I turned the same corner, I heard a loud splash. I screeched to a halt as I reached the edge of the dock.
I waited a few seconds before shrugging it off. Must've been a rouge diver, I thought.
But even so, as I turned to leave, I could've sworn I saw a blue fin duck under the water's surface.
I yawned again, feeling drowsy from these old memories that decided to resurface. Slowly, my body gave into sleep, no longer able to keep my eyes open. As I did, a little tune I'd heard from some young Sky-fans began to play in my head.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
To bring the light where darkness begun.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
With Sky to lead, so brave and strong.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
To bring down the Squids and the peril they've brung.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
They show the pride for the battles they won.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
Fight on, fight on,
The Army fights on.
I woke to the sound of clamor outside the dungeon door, which actually sounded more like highly aggressive swearing and cursing. I sat up and leaned towards the door as far as I could.
"Let me go you slimy bustards!" someone cursed angrily.
"Silence, you weak-minded human!" I recognized that voice belonging to the Squid hybrid I had met earlier. Ward I think his name was.
"Where is she? I was told you were holding someone's friend here!"
"You would like to know that wouldn't you?" Ward answered a clear hint of amusement in his tone. "In due time. But first, our lord would like to have a few words with you."
I heard Ward's capture cry out before landing what sounded like a punch somewhere ether on Ward or somewhere else.
"Cheap shot," snickered Ward, who sounded like the wind was just knocked out of him, "Let's see how far that'll get you." He laughed.
I could still hear his capture shooting one curse after another at Ward as they moved away from the door.
"Where's your so-called army now, Butter Boy?!" mocked Ward.
I was suddenly hit with shock. I couldn't believe it. I backed into my dark corner, hand over my mouth and knees brought to my chest. Tears began to weld in my eyes as I realized who their newest prisoner was.