Chapter 8
A soul filled with grief,
A mind filled with remorse.
A heart broken down,
A barrier enforced.
Red eyes ablaze with pain,
Filled with tears of sin.
A grin as wide as insanity,
A being that can't win.
If you hear the laugh,
Lose all faith.
If you see the eyes,
It's the Blood Wraith.
-Unknown
"DAD!"
"NO! Ika, get back!"
*BANG*
"W-Why… why…"
Ika jerks awake in his apartment. He breathes heavily, eyes darting around in fear. He takes a second to calm down, then grimaces. He was drenched in sweat, and his hands were shaking. He groans quietly, then stands up. He wasn't going to sleep after this.
He walks out of his room, throwing on some night clothes in the dark. He never liked being unprepared. Hands still shaking, he turns on the sink in his bathroom, then splashes the cold freshwater on his face.
Ika looks up at the mirror, then blinks. His eyes were black. He jumps, startled, when the image seems to grin at him. He hits the wall, then blinks. The image was gone.
He stares at the mirror, still shocked, before shakily and quickly leaving the bathroom. He walks into his living room, then into his kitchen. He looked at the clock and frowned. "5:00." He murmured. "Might as well do a mission. I won't get any more sleep anyways. But first…"
He rumages through his cupboards, looking for something to eat. He eventually finds a small box of cereal hidden behind ramen cups. He pours himself a bowl, then goes to the fridge. He absentmindedly pours himself a drink, then takes his food and cup to the table.
Ika eats his food with blank eyes, trying desperately to purge the images from his mind. He knew why the nightmare happened. He knew it was a risk. He went through with the mission anyways…
He grimaces, eyes shutting tight as he remembers the look on that platoon's face. Fear, hopelessness, pleading for forgiveness. Not a single one lived… not when he was like that.
His golden eyes reopen, then stare again. Not into space, but at his cup. A cup of liquid, red liquid.
Ika's breathing quickens and he stands up, backing away from the glass as if it was the devil himself. Hands practically trembling, it was obvious he was in high amounts of distress.
He grimaces, then says to himself "Ok Ika, calm down. Calm. Down. It isn't real. It never is."
He breathes slowly, years of training overriding his irrational fear. He forces his breathing to tolerable levels, slowing down his heart rate to normal. He reopens his eyes, and only sees the fruit punch he poured accidentally instead of milk.
He takes the glass and puts it in the fridge, saving it for later. Fruit punch was good, no need to waste it. He just didn't have the stomach for anything red now. He quickly finishes his cereal, then puts the bowl on the counter. After that, he slips on his shoes and leaves.
Ika looks around the dark city. There were a few lights here and there, but otherwise the city was still asleep. Tends to happen with most residents being teenagers and young adults.
Still deciding to keep it safe, Ika quickly jumps onto his apartment building, then jumps across the rooftops. Luckily, he was close to the square, so he would get there quickly.
He lands on the ground, then seems to blur with the shadows as he slips across the open ground. Even in with no cover, he was practically invisible. This was his element. The night was his domain.
The shadow-like inkling slips into the alley near the Battle Tower and jumps into the grate without hesitation. He was never noticed. He couldn't, not by normal means.
Sadly, the person on the roof watching him did not have normal means.
Without a word, the person grabs onto a drone and is lifted to the mountains in the distance. This would get him to his commander faster than that inkling. He knew this for sure.
Ika is deposited in Octo Valley silently. Fully equipped in his black clothing, with hero armor underneath, he was ready to move. He moves quietly, his mind focused on his mission. It helped block out the screams…
He opens up his phone and turns on an app, one only him and his family, and soon Amber, would have. Encrypted messages flash across the screen, but his mind translates them at a similar pace. Finding an adequate mission, he slips his phone into his pocket again and moves to the hub of the lookout.
Bounding across floating platforms with ease, he got to his destination in no time. A small mission, but one that will do. Just sneak in, get the intel, get out. Perfect for him.
Ika looks around one more time for anyone else, even if he knew he was alone. Seeing nobody around, he jumps into the kettle and shoots down into the depths of the underground.
His location was a pretty bland area. A simple town for octolings, and only a single barrack for the soldiers stationed there. But… most simple areas are deceptive in appearance. That's what he was going there for.
He emerges from the kettle silently, looking around in high alert. Eyes darting everywhere, he never lingered on one spot for long, constantly switching it around. He quickly jumps onto the nearest rooftop and looks for his target.
His eyes narrow as he sees a small, warehouse like building just on the edge of downtown. He knew that was where he needed to go. He jumps across the rooftops, getting to the building in little time at all.
Ika's trained eyes goes across the building, eyeing weak points, guard posts, potential entry points, and many other factors. Seeing a small side door to the barracks, and only a single guard, Ika decides to go a little quicker instead of stealthier.
He drops down, then dashes across the ground quickly. The guard looking around sees a movement in the corner of his eye and goes to look, but nothing was there. He frowns, then shrugs and continues watching the area.
Ika, after sneaking past the guard, turns to the door next to him. He frowns from behind his mask as he sees something odd. The door wasn't locked, in any way. Normally he would have to hack into the control system and hope it was enough. This door… it was a normal industrial door. Deciding to keep his guard even higher, he reluctantly enters the building.
The door opens smoothly, giving off no sound. Ika looks around with alert eyes, moving forwards with soft steps and careful positioning. This was a barracks. More than likely there are more guards.
He peeks around the stack of boxes and looks down the building. It was pretty bland. It had bunk beds on each side, along with a small seating area and kitchen at the end. Beyond those were two doors. One continues further into the building. The other was an office, his destination.
Ika looks around once more, searching for any hidden traps or people. Still seeing nothing, he decides to continue. He walks slowly, body tense and ready to attack at any sign of danger.
His eyes linger on the shadows much too often for his liking. He kept seeing glimpses of past memories, faces staring at him. None of them were good…
He shakes his head, desperately trying to remove these images from his mind. He turns back to the door, and finds himself quite close. Looking around for the final time, he enters the office.
The inside was pretty generic, just like the rest of the building. It had a single desk in the middle, with chairs for guests in front of it. A filing cabinet was to one side, drawers and a larger cabinet to the other.
Ika walks to the desk, his eyes drawn to the few parchments laying on its surface. He picks them up, eyeing their contents carefully. His eyes narrow in confusion as he sees nothing more than simple letters between soldiers and family. What is this?
Then, without any warning, the door behind him opens. Ika instantly turns around, his brush manifesting into his hands. He narrows his eyes as he looks at who just entered.
First was a simple octoling guard. Generic armor, the normal hairstyle, there wasn't anything significant about him. No, Ika's attention was on the person slightly behind the guard.
This octoling had three of his tentacles swept to the right side of his face, his larger fourth one hanging in front of his ear on the left. He wore a simple business suit with the Octarian insignia, a simple red octopus with black sunglasses. Hands behind his back, and expression bored, he seemed to be a higher-up. A commander, or maybe a noble. The subtle tenseness in his body signaling a readiness to fight made Ika lean more towards Commander.
The Commander looks around for a bit, then settles his eyes on Ika. Ika's own eyes widen slightly in surprise, and slight fear. This octoling's eyes were red, blood red. They had no emotion except for a sick pleasure in hurting others. They were the same eyes he has.
The octoling narrows his own eyes, then says "What a surprise. I can't say it is pleasant though. Inklings are never the pleasant types."
The Commander moves around Ika without a care. It unnerved the agent. This octoling acted as if he had a card to play. One to win the game.
The octoling sits down at the desk, the guard moving behind him. The octoling looks up at Ika, then says "Can I have my papers back please?"
Ika glances at the papers, but otherwise doesn't respond. The Commander sighs and messages his temple. "I swear, you inklings are so very rude."
The octoling brings his hand down, folding them on the desk. He looks up at Ika and says "I can't say I am too happy to see you in my subordinate's office. Normally I would execute you on the spot for this."
Ika eyes widen, his grip tightening slightly on his brush. The Commander glances at it once, then says "But… I also do that to normal people. You… you aren't normal."
The octoling gets up, then walks to Ika. He circles the Agent, whose whole body was ready to move at a moment's notice. This Commander was playing a dangerous game…
Instead of being worried, the octoling just hums in thought. "Yes… a very strange individual. I've seen you in action, especially when that other self of yours comes out."
Ika's eyes widen immensely in surprise. This person knew his secret? How?! The octoling's mouth twitches, the only sign of a smirk. "I see I am correct. I would like to meet this other self, and I believe I know how."
The octoling returns to behind his desk, back at his original position. He reaches inside his suit, making Ika tense for an attack. He was right. It was an attack. But… not on him.
The Commander's hand blurs as he brings it to his guard's chest. The guard's eyes narrow in confusion, then widen immensely. His mouth opens, and he coughs out blood. He looks down shakily, then notices why he was hurt. A knife was in the Commander's hand, and it was plunged deep into the guard's chest.
The guard looks back up at his commander's eyes. They were blank, merciless. It was then he knew, he was nothing more than a disposable convenience. The guard drops, the knife sliding out of his chest, as the Commander had yet to let go.
Ika's eyes widen in complete shock, and utter fear. He watches as the guard's life drains from his eyes. In just a moment, they were blank.
Stones. Stones. Stones.
DeAd. WHy. dON'T.
MoNstEr. PaIn. HeLpLEss.
The whites of Ika's eyes drain away, converting into a pitch black. The center of his golden eyes turn blood red, a ring of gold around them… the only sign of Ika still being present.
The inkling shakes, pulling away his mask. He grins widely, but it was shaky. It wasn't in actual amusement. It was forced. It was for comfort. It wasn't real.
Then the tears. He begins crying, his mind forced to relive his most agonising memory. It was horrible. He had a right to cry. No person would live through what he did unscathed.
This… monster laughs loudly, then settles his sights on the Commander. The octoling was impassive, not caring in the slightest in what he is seeing. In fact… he looked intrigued. It made the monster stop in surprise. No one wasn't afraid of it.
But, once more, the octoling simply looked curious. "I see… a coping mechanism. But for what reason? A traumatic memory no doubt. A forced grin? Hmm…. The tears are understandable. And the laughter. There is no humor, no enjoyment. Yes… you are an enigma."
The monster once more was confused, and slightly surprised. This octoling knew his reasonings? His secrets? This was strange.
The Commander leans forwards slightly, his mouth twitching ever so slightly into a smirk. "Tell me, does it hurt? Reliving those memories, wouldn't you like to leave them behind?"
The monster's eyes narrow slightly. What was this octoling doing. The Commander reaches out his hand, offering the monster to shake. "Join me. I can rid yourself of your memories. You just need to fight for me."
The monster's eyes stare at the octoling, then at the hand. Suddenly, its grin stretches wide, and it laughs loudly. The Commander just smirks a little wider, thinking he was winning. Then, the monster looks at the octoling again. "No."
The octoling falters, surprised. The monster's grin turns into more of a smirk. "What? Thought that since I was a monster, I couldn't speak?"
The monster chuckles, then says "No. I am perfectly aware of what I am doing. Not happy, but aware. Although, I must commend you for figuring out my… issues."
The monster's smirk widens, but the pain in its eyes never leave. "I laugh to comfort myself. That's what laughing does, right? RIGHT?! So then why doesn't it work?!"
He laughs loudly, but the pain he felt didn't disappear. WHY?! "And I kill to get new memories. I need to block out my first. I need new eyes to haunt me. Maybe then I can handle it. But THAT doesn't work either! WHY NOT?!"
The image of dead eyes, stones in a living body, invades his mind. He couldn't stand those eyes. He needed new ones. He needed something to shut out the memories.
The tears seem to stop, simply because he couldn't cry anymore. He wasn't magic or anything, just in pain. The monster turns to the octoling and says "But… even with that… I try my hardest to protect those I love. Even if being a monster is my only option."
The monster's voice dropped an octave, and the Commander couldn't help but shiver in instinctive fear. This was no person he was dealing with. And now, he was regretting coming here.
The monster frowns, the first sign of other emotions since it appeared. "I will tell you this, octoling. Don't come near me. Do not come near my family. And get the fuck out of my sight."
The Commander needed no other reason to leave. He quickly moves around the monster, ignoring its gaze burning into the back of his skull.
As the door closes, the monster grunts in annoyance. "Damn coward wasn't even worth trying to cover the pain."
He closes his eyes, then the energy just seems to drain from him. He emits an exhausted sigh, then reopens his eyes. In its place were Ika's golden eyes, tired and fearful. "Damn it. It happened again."
Ika grimaces and holds his head, a pounding beginning to form there. He wipes his face of the tears on it, even as he begins forcing down the freshly made memories. "Akuma came out again… at least he didn't kill anyone this time."
With that, Ika leaves the office, returning to the entrance. He quickly moves through the town, wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. He wasn't going to get any sleep for a while now.
Octavius watches with careful eyes from a good distance away as the Agent leaves the town. Whatever that… that thing in there was, it was not what he expected.
His fists clench tightly in anger. No one ever on-upped him. Not him. He was the commander, THE Commander. He was Octavio's best strategist, and he never lost a deal.
Octavius's eyes narrow dangerously as he sees the Agent disappear into the kettle. "You will fall, Blood Wraith, and I will enjoy picking you apart in the process."
-Author Notes-
I hope this was a good introduction to Ika's other self. I tried really hard to make his insanity fit with his painful memories, but I am still uncertain if I pulled it off. Any feedback on this, or the story in general, would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks for reading!