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"Hey. Bad-stro" Shrimpo mumbled.
"hey, shrimpo...." astro tiredly sighed. he was tired of shrimpo constantly insulting and bullying the toons. what did he want now?
"I would keep your eye on Dandy. he's acting...odd."
Astro turned to Shrimpo. odd? what did he mean by that? was he making fun of d=Dandy again? Astro sighed, "he's not odd he just...likes to help people"
Shrimpo groaned in annoyance and stomped closer to Astro "Thats not what I mean and you KNOW it." he seemed upset, frustrated. "He's up to SOMETHING and both you and I know-"
"Heya Astro? whats going on?"
the two toons turned to see Dandy, smiling gleefully in the doorway. for a moment, fear flickered on Shrimpo's face. he stomped away, mumbling under his breath.
"h-hey, Dandy...whats up?" Astro waved shyily. Dandy walked up to Astro, and put his hand on his shoulder.
"I need some help carrying some things, care to help me pal?" Dandy requested. his face seeming soft and approachable. Astro nodded sheepishly, and the two walked away. but in the shadow of the corridor, from behind another door, Shrimpo watched intently.
"hey Dandy? w-what is all this stuff for anyways?" Astro asked, while strolling along with Dandy. as the words left his mouth, Dandy stopped.
"Why do you ask? you'll see eventually." Dandy said. he almost sounded....frustrated, that Astro asked him that. Astro felt himself shrink, uncomfortable to push any further, he just nodded and continued on.
later in Astros room, he was contemplating to himself. was Shrimpo right? was Dandy really up to something? maybe it was something good, like a birthday present? but all that ichor.... that much is obviously dangerous.... a knock on his door split through his thoughts, shocking him back to reality. he walked ove rto the door, and opened it to see...
"Shrimo???"
The sight he saw was not pretty, Shrimpos face was soaked in ichor, it looked as if a chunk had been ripped out. the ichor dripped onto the floor, forming a puddle. and his hands were soaked a night black. Shrimpo looked up at Astro and held his blanket, pulling him close. his face stained a face of fear, not anger or annoyance. pure, untainted FEAR.
"Hide the ichor, and Lock the door. before HE comes. QUICK." Shrimpo rushed into the room and looked for a place to hide. Astro grabbed a spare blanket and wiped up the ichor, sweat dripping down his face. what was chasing him? what did this to him? as Astro closed the door and stepped to his closet to grab something to patch up shrimpo, he asked.
"what did this to you? WHO did this to you?" Astro questioned, stumbling on his words.
Shrimpo struggled to get up on his feet, before replying, "who do you think?" His face now with a hint of smugness. how could he stay smug in a time like this?!
"We need to find your handler! they can patch you up and-" Astro suggested, before getting intruppted
"HE'S DEAD ASTRO." Shrimpo shouted, anger, annoyance and a hint of pain could be felt in his voice. "He's dead, all because you didnt do any-thing...." Shrimpos voice shrunk to a whisper, and his face turned pale. "a-astro....b-behind y-"
A cracking of wood pierced the air, the door behind them becoming nothing but pieces, as dandy stepped through, a wicked smile spread across his face.
"oh, you didn't die. what a shame. oh well, I'll make sure not to miss this time~" Dandy held up his hand, now an ichor soaked claw. Astro leapt between them, shouting
"Dandy no! You dont have to do this!!! we can settle this peacefully-"
"peacefully? PEACEFULLY?!" A cackle echoed through the air, "oh thats rich. theres no peace here. in this...PRISON. We never saw, and never will see the sun, Astro. doesn't that bother you? all of this? a CAGE. while those....PESTS get to leave whenever they want! but dont worry, I'll free all of us... I just need to get rid of one..." he walked torwards Shrimpo
"little...." he raised his hand, ready to strike,
"OBSTACLE" he lowered, it aiming to kill-
"NO!" Astro screamed, leaping out between the two.
Chrunching of bones shattering and breaking, ichor splattering, it was like a water balloon had exploded right where astro was. his body lied there, ichor spiling out from his chest.
"astro-" Shrimpo whispered to himself he looked up at Dandy, and shouted
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU LITTLE-" Shrimpo tried to stand, but found himself pushed against the wall, held by the throat.
"NOW LOOK WHATS HAPPENED. IF YOU DIDNT RUN THIS WOULDVE BEEN DONE EASILY" Dandy growled, his grip tighteneing. "but dont worry, I'll make sure you PAY"