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Chapter 18

Snapper Canal…

"Tim, get behind me." Guyver told me.

I did what he said.

"Ah, I've seen you before…with the Inkling girl..." The stranger said. "I'll help you as well before you make something you regret."

"What are you-" He couldn't finish as the stranger rushed at us.

Guyver quickly grabbed the arm that held the knife. The stranger struggled to try to get his hand free before he settled for punching Guyver in the face. He fell down and the stranger was about to bring the knife down on him before I grabbed his hands. Guyver tried getting up, but the stranger noticed and kicked him in the face. He went back down.

"Just let me help you!" The stranger shouted. "An existence like ours is pure suffering! I can end the pain!"

"I'm not suffering!" I shouted. "I have friends who care about me!"

"But you hide something from them." He stated. "There's something you don't want them to see. You feel you'll be rejected if they saw. I told you I know that pain!"

I tried keeping him back, but he was bigger and stronger. He made a slash and I got a small cut. He then punched me in the stomach and knocked me down. He then hovered over me. I kept punching him in the face. The only thing that accomplished was knocking his shades off.

"Don't you see?!" He asked. "I'm just like you!"

He then tore off my goggles.

"Don't you see that-" He then paused, seemingly confused. "What's this…?"

Guyver then tackled him to the ground and the stranger dropped his knife. The stranger then threw Guyver off of him and he landed s few yards from the water. The stranger wasted no time rushing over and putting his hands around Guyver's neck.

I needed to do something…

"Don't like what you see?" The stranger asked Guyver. "Neither did my own mother. Don't worry; you won't be seeing it for long."

I needed to do something…

"You won't stop me!" The stranger shouted. "I'll make it so no freaks like me exist in this world."

I needed to…

I turned my head towards the sharp object that was next to me. I grabbed it by the handle.

I…I need to…save Guyver…

"Get…away…" I slowly got up and started running forward. "…FROM MY FRIEND!"

He turned his head, but barely had time to react when everything went red, then black...then red again…wait…that's…

When I opened my eyes, he'd released Guyver and I was standing there, holding the knife in his neck.

The expression on his face was one of pure shock.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't speak anymore. He just slid off the knife and fell backwards into the water.

...He was gone now…

...I just…

...I just…

...

Tears formed in my eyes and I fell to my knees.

I started crying my eyes out.

After a short while, I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

Guyver was handing me my goggles. I could tell he wasn't looking.

I took them and put them on.

"What happened?" He asked. "Where'd he go?"

"He's gone…" I said weakly.

"Where'd he go?" He wondered.

I looked at him. He saw the look on my face and the weapon in my hands and immediately understood.

"He's…gone…" Tears started flowing freely.

Guyver then grabbed the knife and threw it into the water, pulling me close and patting me on the back, telling me it was okay.

He then helped me up.

"Is there somewhere we can go?" He asked.

"M-my friends' place is close…" I managed to say.

"Where do your band friends live?" He didn't know.

"D-down the street…" I managed to say, pointing in the direction.

He helped me to my friends' apartment. I pointed out the way while trying my best to think past the fact that I just…killed someone…

I mean, he was a killer, but…still…

I mean, was there no other way…?

M-maybe I could've knocked him out for the cops…?

…I don't know…

We soon arrived. Guyver knocked on the door and George answered shortly after.

"Guyver? Tim?" George's eyes widened "What happened to you two?"

"Tim needs a place to stay and your place was closer." Guyver told him. "He needs help."

George quickly let us in.

Guyver then explained to George and his sisters everything that happened after we parted ways.

"Geez, little man…" George couldn't believe it. "You can stay here."

"Come here, Timmy…" Sheryl said as she helped me into her room.

"Th-thanks…" I said.

"Sit on the bed." Carol told me.

"Okay…" I sat on the bed.

"Give me your hoodie, I need to wash it." Carol said.

"O-Okay…" Well, I had an undershirt on.

"It'll be okay…" Sheryl had one arm around my shoulder and the other petting the top of my head. "It'll be okay…"

Carol then came back with a wash cloth and George.

"I told Guyver we got this." George told me. "He's heading back to talk to his girl."

"Th-that's fine…" I hope they work things out…

"Here, I'll get your face." Carol said.

She started rubbing my face with the wash cloth. I hushed her back when she touched my goggles.

"I need to get your whole face." She told me.

I held my goggles tightly.

"Tim…" She looked me in the eye. "Please…just let me wipe your face…"

I paused a few seconds before slowly putting my hands down.

Carol gently took my goggles off before rubbing the cloth around my eyes.

Carol's eyebrows raised a second before returning to her stern expression. The same happened with George and Sheryl.

"There." She said. "All better."

"Y-you…don't hate me?" I asked.

"Tim, why would we hate you?" George asked, confused.

"M-mom said if people saw my eyes…" How do I put this? "They wouldn't like me…"

George moved Carol out of the way and looked me in the eye.

"Tim, I'll admit they're not like the other Octoling eyes I've seen…" He said. "But right now, we're more concerned about your wellbeing."

Eyes widened when he said that. Then I started sobbing again.

Sheryl hugged me tightly, Carol held my hand, and George patted my head.

After a few minutes, I stopped sobbing.

"…I…I feel tired…" I finally said.

"Should we clear space on the couch?" Carol asked.

"He can take my bed and I can sleep on the couch." George offered.

"He needs company." Sheryl told them. "He'll share with me."

"You sure?" Carol asked.

"You okay with that, Tim?" Sheryl asked me.

"O-okay…" I agreed.

"Positive." Sheryl told Carol.

After a few minutes, I lied down on Sheryl's bed and she lied down next to me.

"Sleep well, Tim…" She told me.

"Th-thanks, Sheryl…" I replied.

Surprisingly, despite all that happened, I dozed off shortly after.

The Next Day…

I slowly woke up.

I realized I was clinging tightly to Sheryl. I guess it makes sense I'd do that. Sheryl's pretty nice…

I got up and walked to the bathroom. I splashed some water in my face and rubbed my eyes to help me wake up.

Huh…

They...didn't dislike me after seeing my eyes…

These eyes…

Looking at them, they aren't normal Octoling eyes from the ones I've seen. Not like Mom's, Guyver's, Marina's or any others I've seen…

The white parts are green...

My irises are an almost purple-ish blue...

And my eye rings aren't black, but some kind of fleshy purple.

I know I'm not a hybrid…

…So what am I?