Page 3: The Descend Into Darkness Pt. 2
Akari stood at the entrance of the metro, device in her hands as she scanned the surrounding area for any unusual activities.
Kira needs this... you know why you're doing this, so...stop getting cold tentacles and actually go! You're wasting valuable time! She told herself.
Letting out a nervous sigh, the Octoling stepped down into the metro, eyes darting everywhere and looking nervous as hell as she tried pinpointing where exactly she could find help.
"Alright. You have until Six Pm tomorrow... And it is right now Eleven P.M.." She told herself as she walked along the path. "I have plenty of time... But it's precious and I better not waste it."
The dimly lit tunnels unnerved the brave Ocotling who wandered it's empty crevice. Wet and cold, she shivered as she trekked onward, deeper and deeper into the darkness holding the unknown. Her light on her phone was the only comforting light she had to guide her.
Akari, despite putting her best foot forward, was quickly beginning to realize how much of a terrible mistake she had made. Travelling alone in the Deepsea Metro, where it birthed unholy creatures and gave ominous vibes. Yeah, that metro.
Coming alone was not the best decision, but I must do it... I must do it for her... Akari thought as she pulled a scarf from the bag and wrapped it around her neck.
Colder and colder the metro became. None of the friendly faces like C.Q. Cumber or Iso Padre were anywhere to be seen. The lights on the tunnel walls became more scarce, eventually leaving the poor octoling all alone, on a dark platform with no light to guide her.
Akari grabbed her recorder and started it. "My efforts are in vain as I still march onward in the darkness to find a cure for Kira... No promising signs, no lights, nothing." She sighed as she used her flashlight to look around. Her gaze fixated onto a scripture written on the subway walls. The colorful ink used was fading and the words in an ancient language. The octoling continued to talk.
"Correction: I have found ancient scriptures written on the walls of the metro. The language is indecipherable... It is not Octarian, nor Inkish. I flocked to the assumption that it was a human language that history refers to as 'English.'" She took pictures of the first scripture. "When I return from my adventure, I shall look at my books and see if I cannot decipher this ancient translation."
The recorder clicked off and the lights of the metro suddenly flicked on.
"What the carp?!" Akari yelped as the lights revealed more scriptures on the walls. No longer needing the light on her phone, she turned it off and went to examine the other scriptures.
One caught the curious Octoling's eye and she walked over to it. It showed Octarians and Inklings worshiping a being wrapped in light. They had wings of gold and a dress of ink flowing from them, as they stood above them
This one is in Octarian... Were there Octolings down here during The Great Turf War? She thought as she wrote the words down on a notebook.
Through Heaven's Light, One shall emerge
A path of light they shall forge
A battle with darkness will soon erupt
And the surface will fall and become an empty domain.
Akari raised a curious eyebrow. "They have prophecies? How come I never knew this? And a battle of darkness?"
The Octoling's eyes drifted over to another scripture and squinted a bit, taking a picture. This one had an Inkling specifically, who was wrapped in darkness and their wings were solid black. They stood in front of the people, weeping over them as their bodies lie on the ground, others fearing them and hating them. The text below it was indecipherable, so she took another photo and set up camp on the main platform.
She ate a sandwich she had made and looked over the notes she had taken.
"Too much history things... I need more medical items...More research!" Akari cried.
A voice echoed from the caverns. "Maybe I can help."
Akari loaded her dualies and aimed towards the voice. "Who's there?! Reveal yourself at once!"
Kira cracked open her eyes for the first time since she got out of her surgery. She sat up and looked around the empty room before slumping back into the bed. Pain finally sweeping over the aching Inkling and her head pounding from the parasite.
What...happened to me? All I remember was sitting in bed, waiting for Jacob to come get me. Why the fuck do I have more bandages all over my body?
"Chili, I swear to fucking cod, if you're pranking me, I'm gonna bitch slap you back to your apartment." She muttered as she sipped the water. Thank cod for a cold drink nearby.
She stared up at the ceiling and fiddled with the bandages around her head. Poking at them with uncertainty.
"It's going to be okay Chili..." A voice comforted down-stairs.
Mint. What are they doing here? And if they're here, that means... Chili is here as well.
Kira got out of her bed carefully and cracked the door open a bit to listen in to their conversation.
"It's not okay Mint! My friend-My fucking friend who has been there for me through thick and thin, who's worked her way from a little shrimp to a warrior in the platoon is on that bed and I don't know if she's even gonna be the same." He vented. "You think you know everything but you don't! You don't know why my ass is worried about one of my best friends!"
Kira's eyes widened as she listened to his words.
"...One of my best friends..."
End of Chapter 7