Launching...
Day 379
"Are you sure we should be doing this?"
"Of course I'm sure, Eel. When have I steered you wrong, my guy?"
"Umm. Well—"
"Yes, exactly, never."
"That wasn't what I was going to say—"
"Shut up, shut up! She's waking up!"
Two brown eyes snap open — the body jolts up out of a spinny chair into a defensive stance, sharp fingertips arched like claws and legs slightly bent in a hero-like posture, fully prepared to attack. A wincing and growling expression showing off sharp canines. Two figures shout, and jump back in response. As the girl's vision clears, the shadows become beings behind a high tech scenery. A boy with gray blue eyes, and a boy with faded teal eyes. The boy with blue eyes was in the other one's arms, they both seemed flustered, but embarrassed mainly. There was nothing, but dead silence and blank stares.
The girl gasps, then momentarily checks her chest. The front of her top was loose and undone, the strings were droopy and the left strap was off her shoulder — exposed her mid-chest in a flaunting way, but her wound was patched up. She checks over the shoulder to see the same pure white on her back through the torn top. Staring at her covered injury, she backs up, as she recollects whatever thoughts she can. She stumbles into something behind her, fearfully turning around to face it, she's greeted by a counter desk that stretches across the room.
The long desk was white and covered in craft utensils, papers, a steaming coffee cup, and several computer keyboards. There were big computer screens in front of it, the room looked similar to a security office or control room. Most of the screens were blue, the color was comforting to her, but she didn't know why. There were random stats and numbers scrolling on the monitors, which the girl was too dazed to understand. A few were showing footage of different empty halls, glitching every now and then like a VHS tape. The room itself was bright, but the tile flooring was a midnight black. The tile was familiar to her, she vaguely remembers waking up the first time, but couldn't recall how long ago that was. She gazes down at her reflection on the floor for a moment, seeing a quick image of her own spilling ink in the back of her mind. The Octoling girl places her hand on her chest, still self conscious of her shot wound.
"Yo," a calm masculine voice says.
She flinches, looking up at the pair ahead of her, she had forgotten other people were in the room.
"You good?" The one with dull turquoise eyes was speaking to her. He appeared concerned, but also extremely bewildered. Somewhere those words echoed to the girl in a different format.
"You okay?"
The voice in her head wasn't the same as the one in real time, this one was muffled, yet youthful and song-like with masculinity. The tone was soothing honey to worn down ears, and hers definitely were rundown. The voice was familiar, it was tranquilizing, but no face came to mind. Wracking her brain for a picture of the boy's face, her eyes dart back to the floor. Her fingers make contact with the visible part of her chest and the loose top's strings, then her face becomes flush. She swiftly raises her head to face the boys, her rounded ears down and back.
They watch her alarmed by her shifting behavior. Glaring at them tentatively, she clumsily reaches behind her for the nearest weapon, a pair of scissors — her hands were anything but steady, as she remained planted in a cautious pose — pointing the sharp end of the utensil at the duo. The one in the other boy's arms lets out a yelp of fear, clinging onto him tighter, and turning away from the girl — only to peek at her with one eye. While the other takes a step back, an alert expression across his face, seemingly prepared to protect the one in his grasp. The boys were both so different from one another.
The boy, with his feet steady on the ground, had messy tentacle arm hair — which was a blood red — underneath a neon red cap that was facing backwards. His features were sharp and slim, it added to his rather tall height. He wore a glimmering stone earring on his right pointy ear, and a hoop piercing at the top of his ear to the left. His teal-gray eyes were soft, but stern. The black around his eyes bridged together above his freckled nose — he was obviously an Inkling. There was a peppiness behind his eyes that was hard to explain. His skin was like an off-white tone, seemingly soft to the touch like fabric. He wore a red hoodie, with a green and red basketball jersey over it. His black jeans had chains at the hips, succeeding in the pop of his coordinating red and white lo-tops.
The one in his arms had a puffy, short cut afro in a royal blue tone. He wore a shiny silver toothpick at the top corner of his rounded ear to the right, while the left ear had a single stone earring. His silver blue eyes were pure — so big and bright they seemed animated, the black surrounding his eyes only added to it. There was a visible sensitivity in his soul, one that didn't need to be explained. His skin was like dark chocolate with his well rounded features — he was clearly an Octoling. His outfit was a bright blue T-shirt of different patterns and hues, it appeared to be tie dyed — over it all was a white jacket, with a black strip on the sleeves. His black joggers had a white streak down to his black and white hi-tops.
They scanned at her perplexed, both exchanging glances between themselves and the girl before they realized what she's thinking, while she studied them harshly, detail to detail.
"We weren't trying anything, I swear!" The one in blue blurts out, his face as red as a cherry, ears shifted down.
"You got a dirty mind, sister. We were only trying to help, geez!" The red one cringes, looking off to the side. His face flush like his friend's, as his ears pointed backwards.
She adjusts her top, pulling the strings tightly in one hand, it closes the gap at the top, eyes remaining on the boys as she does so. Her expression was dour towards them both. As the silence carries, the one in red clears his throat raising an eyebrow at the other in blue. The blue boy laughs nervously before dropping from the other boy's arms. The girl steadies her position with their sudden movements, clenching the scissors in her hand, her body trembles slightly. The paire proceed to dust themselves off, as if the other was dirty.
Then the one in red pipes up in a sarcastic tone, "Well, it's good to know you're alive, ya' freeloader. You can put the scissors away, we're not gonna hurt ya'."
The boy next to him backhand slaps his arm. "Dude."
"What? I'm breaking the ice!"
The blue-clad boy only rolls his eyes in response. He turns his attention back to the girl in front of them. "I'm really sorry about him, he has no manners. I'm also sorry about your… um… ya' know," He gestures to his own shoulder, cringing with rosy cheeks.
The girl swiftly adjusted her strap, and tightened the strings with one hand, still refusing to drop the scissors she gripped like a knife.
The boy only sighs. "I promise, we only want to help." He began, there's a sincerity in his voice.
The girl's ears droop further as she finds herself wanting to trust him, slowly lowering her weapon, but keeping the scissors in one hand close to her body.
He smiles and continues. "This is Shaly—"
"Shay." The boy in red chimed, drawing closer to offer the girl his hand.
She eyes him for a moment, hesitant before she gives it to him, grasping the cutting tool in the other hand.
He quickly bends down and kisses the back of her hand as he proceeds to speak. "Professional Blaster user, the king of comebacks, and single~!" Shay winks, his ears perking like his smug expression. She quickly jerks her hand away, glaring at him. Her double bladed sword to her opponent's neck without thought.
Shay throws his hands up in defense, a smirk still across his face. "Okay! Okay! Sorry, lady!"
The boy in blue yanks Shay back by the hood of his sweatshirt. "You're so lucky our boss isn't here right now!"
The girl drops the tool, placing it down on the counter. Her hardrened eyes remain glued to the duo, now intrigued by the mention of this upper authority. She still had no idea where she was or who these boys were, every piece of information mattered.
Shay scoffs. "As if he'd do anything, he's been threatening to kick me out from day one… But, uhm, please don't mention any of that to him, all right? Not like I'm scared he's got it out for me or something… I just don't need the bad rep, ya' know?" He finished his obvious fib with his arms crossed proudly.
The girl absorbs the little details like a sponge. She now knows there's someone in charge here, so this has to be some sort of planned kidnap. No, they obviously aren't supposed to be around her. A boss who can't control his recruits, how sad. Although they do seem to fear his repercussions, so he has to hold some kind of power, right? To put it simply, he just sounded like an average royal jerk to her.
The boy in blue hums in half-hearted agreement, bringing the girl back to reality. He shoots a sideways glance towards his friend before speaking again. "My name's Eliezer, but most people call me Eli. You have a name?"
"Well that's a stupid question." Shay intervenes. "Of course she has a name, dude."
"Thanks, Salmon, for pointing that out. You knew what I meant."
"You're welcome, Eel, just stating facts."
"This is a terrible first impression, and would you quit calling me that?!"
"You asked the question, Eel."
Then again, maybe Shay was the actual jerkwad. She'd never admit, but the girl couldn't help feeling entertained by these two as their back and forth continued. She cuts the bickering short with her voice. "Kamari," She says, gaining their attention. "I'm Kamari. But, you can call me Kat."