10 Years Later
The octoling, formerly known as Agent 8, is sitting in the downstairs lobby of the battle tower when Marina texts her. She'd read the message, cursed under her breath, and ran across the street, flinging open the door to Off The Hook's studio. "What the fuck do you mean, 'He's out?'" Marina pulls back, looking scared, "I was updated by local authorities. They gave us the option to broadcast it, but I thought maybe just you'd wanna know instead." Pearl stands from the chair she was sitting in and gets up Ali's face, "Back the fuck up, no one yells at my partner but me." Ali takes note that she's tiptoeing to reach eye level, and takes a deep breath. "When was he released, and how? I thought he had fifteen more years?" She'd kept track of every day that'd gone by. "What do you know?" She looks levelly at Marina."He was released due to his progress in therapy and reformed behavior. He's been given a new residence, and it's in public records. No one knows that it's been posted, it was up to us to tell the public." Marina's face reflects her uneasiness. Ali pulls out her phone and types furiously. She recognizes the name that pops up, and the offense listed. She turns and bounds out of the room without another word.
Ali runs across town, her toned body allowing her to stride effortlessly. Her arms pump in time with each step. Her weapon clacks on her back, but she doesn't pay it any mind. She runs until she's in front of a small apartment building. It's grey and white, with flowers in the window boxes. She takes the steps two at a time and walks down the dimly lit hall. She stops in front of a door and checks her phone. The numbers match, so she knocks, three short raps. She waits a moment, and then is about to knock again when the door opens just a crack. She pushes on the door with all her might, causing the figure behind the door to fall onto his back. Ali jumps on top and puts her octo shot in their face. The dark skinned boy under her looks shocked, and raises his hands in front of her face, "Ali, please don't shoot! I've changed!" Ali feels her chest heaving, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Keaton looks different, his eyes aren't broken like last time she'd seen him. They're wide and innocent looking. His face reflects true terror, as if he cared to stay alive. Ali rams the point of the gun into his cheek, "I don't care if you've changed. Do you know how long I've waited for this?" Her finger itches on the trigger and she peers into his frightened eyes. "Do you know how long Kai's waited for this?" She watches as he winces, "He wouldn't want this, if he truly loved you, but if you really need to, do it. I deserve it. Just know I am so sorry for what I did. I went to therapy and was put on med- AH!" Ali's free hand clenches his arm flesh, and she digs her nails in. "I mean it, I was sick, Ali! I shouldn't have taken Kai from-" Ali slaps him, sharply. "YOU DON'T SAY HIS NAME." She leans down and hisses, "You didn't spare his life, so I'll eat shit before I spare yours."
A shrill shriek behind her makes her head spin. An inkling with asymmetrical tentacles is standing, horrified in the doorway. She hadn't closed the door. The girl turns and dashes down the hall, her phone in her hand. "Shit." Ali mutters. Keaton pushes up and rolls out from under her. He scrambles to run away, but Ali rights herself, aims her gun and in a powerful spray of ink, Keaton drops to the floor. He falls silently, and Ali watches it in slow motion. She hears him gasp for two breaths, and then it's over.
His body lays motionless on the white carpet. His blue mixes with her pink ink, creating dark purple swirls. Ali stands, gaping, feeling overwhelmed. His face is turned on its side, his mouth agape, his eyes lifeless. They're glazed over. The sickly smell of spilled ink penetrates her nostrils. She steps back so that she can lean on the wall. She looks at the table in the middle of the room, on it are various pill bottles. Next to it is a half eaten muffin. He'd been eating and living just moments ago, and she'd ended it. Ali slams the door shut and locks all the dead bolts.
She walks carefully around the body and over to the window, strapping her murderous weapon to her back. She lifts the glass and vaults herself over the ledge. She runs, the midday sun casting her shadow across the sidewalk. She hears sirens in the distance. She makes her way to the square, and stays in the shadows of the building. She feels like everyone she passes is watching her, they all know what she's done. Ali runs into her apartment and grabs the tiny jar of ink from her desk. She throws it and her laptop into her backpack from her old days in the deep sea metro. She looks around her room one more time and leaves. Her phone chimes as she runs out into the busy square, it's Pearl. "WTF you killed him?" the message reads. Ali kneels down by the sewer and turns off the phone. She tosses it down into the dark space and walks over to the entrance of the metro. She jumps over the gate and slowly descends into the familiar darkness.
She didn't belong in Inkopolis, she knew it from day one, she just didn't want to admit it. Ali walks down the long tunnel. The lights flicker and with every flash she sees Keaton, lying on the ink stained carpet. She sees his lifeless eyes. Suddenly it's not Keaton, it's Kai, lying in the hospital bed. Ali crouches down and grabs her head. Her eyes stare down and her sharp teeth are in a tight grimace. She stands and starts to run. Her head is spinning. Keaton's body is printed in her eyes. The ink mixes in her head, and then separates. It mixes again and again in her mind. The dark purple seeping and staining. Keaton's eyes. She hears his pleas in her head.
Ali had wanted justice, wasn't this it? It felt terrible, she felt dangerous. This wasn't like killing sanitized octarians, or even splatting people in turf war. This was permanent. She was a murderer, just as Keaton had been. She stops and looks around, breathing heavily. She'd done it, she'd avenged Kai. She closes her eyes and whispers, "I did it for you, my love. All is right, now." Faintly, the sirens echo in the distance. She wonders if Pearl and Marina had told security, they probably did. Ali hears the train in the distance, and breaks out into a steady jog towards the pick up area. She knew where she was going: back to where she belonged.
Thanks for reading!
The next chapter will be the last of Octoling Integration.
I've started a new story, focusing on Kai's life before Ali. You can find it by searching "Foreign Boy"