Chapter 36

We can't go back now. Not after that…

Where are the others?

Harold should've found them by now. They'll meet us when we get to the city.

Hurry up, you two!

Sorry…

You thinking about her again?

I'm just wondering if we did the right thing…

Cass'll be fine. She survived in the Gorge without us before.

Wait, she say Cass? As in Sergeant Cassandra?

Yeah, we sent her back to Octo Gorge. Why?

You sent her back? Well, you won't be seeing her again…

What do you mean?

She's definitely dead.

What are you talking about?

I got trained by her back in the Gorge. Everyone hated her. We all wanted to get back at her. Guy in charge now is one of those people. I imagine that's why she moved away.

Oh no…

Clair…maybe we can-

She wasn't lying, Chloe…we didn't believe her…

Clair…

We killed her…

We couldn't have known…

I killed her…

Octo Gorge…

No…

Back here…

I kept clenching my stomach. I felt like I was going to throw up…

Already assigned a pod…

I need an out…

Wait…aaaaaawwww noooooo…

And I know just who to go to…

Ten Minutes Later…

I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" The voice on the other side called out.

"It's me!" I told him.

"Me who?" The wise ass.

"Cass." I told him.

"Doesn't ring a bell." He knew exactly who I am!

"…The lost sea slug…" I answered.

"Come in…" The door opened.

I entered to find Traeger plugged into his monitors again, trying to dig into whatever servers he could find. Lights were off and he seemed alone in the office.

"They transferred me back." I told him. "I need protection…"

"Protection?" He unplugged himself and turned around. "Why?"

"I…reconsidered your offer." I replied. "I'll be partners…"

"Partners?" He got up. "Oh, Cassandra…that offer's long expired."

"B-but, he'll kill me!" I panicked.

"Oh, I'll help you…" He smirked. "Under one condition…"

"What?" I'd do anything…

He then yanked me over by the wounded shoulder.

"You're mine…forever." He told me. "Anything I tell you to do, you will do it expecting nothing in return. You aren't my partner, you're my subordinate. My servant. My loyal pet."

"B-but I-"

He smacked me.

Shut your mouth!" He shouted. "You wanna live or not?!"

"I-I do…" I nodded.

"Then say yes…" He told me. "I'll keep you alive, but that's it. You don't get anything else, you don't deserve anything else. And in return, you do everything I say. Got it?!"

"Y-yes!" I nodded.

"Then take this picture when Sieg inevitable calls you into his office." He handed it to me.

"What's this?" I was confused. "It's just some random Octoling…"

"Let's just say I found the image during my hobby." He said, plugging himself back in. "Let's just say it's a traitor. Now go. The sight of your pathetic self disgusts me. And no, I don't want the key. That old man was as stupid and pathetic as you are if he thought I'd ever willingly go back."

"Stop calling me pathetic!" I shouted as I kicked his computer desk repeatedly and pressed several buttons. "You seriously think a stupid picture will help me?! What kind of stupid are you?!

"Hey!" He shouted. "You messed up my signal! Now I'm going to have to find another server!"

I just glared at him.

"Heh…" He chuckled. "You've got fire in you, but that'll fade eventually…now…go."

I left the office. It was only then I noticed how decrepit everything was starting to look in his office. He hardly had any guards left and Merisse and Speedy weren't here. Probably left him.

I then noticed one Octoling picking up some things. It was Angela.

"Hey, where're Speedy and Merisse?" I asked her.

She looked at me a few seconds.

"Oh, you're that hussie who tried stealing my husband." She recognized me.

"Don't flatter him," I sighed. "I already said I never intended on going with him. I just flirted and kissed so he'd do things for me. So where did he and Merisse go?"

"Merisse is working under Gant now and Allen and I are moving to the Ravine." She told me. "Figured a quieter sector would be better for the kids. I'm just here getting some of his things while he handles the paperwork."

"Well, good luck to you." I shrugged. "Octo knows I'll need it too."

I left to hear the announcements turn on.

"Sergeant Major Cassandra to the Commander's office." The announcer said. "Sergeant Major Cassandra to the Commander's office."

…Oh dear…well…here goes nothing…

Ten Minutes Later…

I made my way there. Stole a knife from the kitchen area just in case.

Well…here goes nothing…

I entered the office.

"H-hello, Sieg…" I managed to say.

"Take a seat." He told me. "And don't speak unless I say you can."

I did as he said.

"I don't know why you came back here," He stood up. "But I have to inform you, I've been working nonstop to improve this settlement. Progress, despite some setbacks, has been made. Disregarding our King's disappearance, I believe we can pull through this."

Wait…what was that about Octavio?

"What I will not tolerate, however," He turned to me. "Is people like you. I've worked hard to turn what was the cesspool of Octarian civilization, to a respectable settlement full of Octarians proud to serve. What just won't fit in that is sadism. Sadism, manipulation, and abuse of all kinds."

Oh no...

"Y-you're going to kill me, aren't you?" I asked. "Like you did to Sasha! Everyone knows you did! Shell, you forged that evidence against Dr. Anea too, didn't you?!"

He said nothing.

"You wanted them out of the picture!" I continued. "You wanted them gone for what they did to you! A-and you want me out of the picture too!"

"Cassandra, it's not just for me." He shook his head. "What I do, I do for all Octarians. A few bad apples spoil the bunch and you need to get rid of them. We all need to be on the same page, working together, and that's frankly something you can't do…for anyone…"

I stumbled out of the chair and rushed to the door. It was locked.

He got closer.

"No!" I shouted. "Please, don't kill me!"

He didn't reply, just getting closer. I pulled out my knife and pointed it at him. My hands were shaking as I held the weapon between us. He looked at it, intrigued, before grabbing it by the blade and forcing it out of my hand.

What is he?!

"I guess I'll drop the formalities, then…" He said as he grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up.

"P…please…" I begged as he started chocking me. "I'll…do…anything…"

He didn't respond.

I couldn't breathe…

Wait…

I pulled out the picture and showed it to him. His eyes widened and he dropped me. I started coughing and gagging.

"Where did you find this?" He wanted an answer. "Where did you find this?!"

"T…Traeger…" I coughed. "G-gave it…*cough* to me…

He opened the door and walked out.

"Keep her in there until I return." He told the guards.

Where's he going?

Who was that picture of?

I…I don't get it…

…

…What'll happen when he comes back?