Chapter Text
“Ah. Another child who’s been sent to the slaughter.”
They knelt down in front of the child, scanning their eyes over the young one’s unconscious body.
”On second thought, she isn’t so young,” they said, lifting her colored fingertips to their face. “This one is much older than the others… but her fate will still likely remain the same.”
They prodded the unconscious Octoling some more, inspecting her for any signs of injury or weakness. Now, perhaps this behavior would be seen as inhumane or inappropriate, considering the fact that they were poking at an unconscious person without said Octolings’ permission. But, knowing where this girl had likely come from, she’d experienced far worse than this. They knew suffering better than anyone.
They rose off their knees, black dress swishing around them slightly, taking a deep breath and pushing up their glasses.
The Octoling before them still hadn’t awoken. That was a problem. Their enemies would be upon them all soon. Tearing and ripping apart limbs. Consuming, killing, burning. No mercy whatsoever. A long, slow, painful death. Not even the Octarian Army was that cruel. Perhaps because they still had some human in them. These creatures were soulless beings made for one purpose alone.
They tugged at their bandaged arm, skin underneath it itchy, but they knew if they reached into the bandages the wound ran the risk of getting infected, and that would be far worse than being simply irritated.
They sighed.
“Come on, solider. Get up.”
The unconscious Octoling did not get up.
Fuck.
”Come, now. You do value your life, don’t you?” They asked. Obviously, there was no response. Another sigh. Kneeling down once again, they reached out with their uninjured hand and roughly shook the Octoling.
“There isn’t time for this. Time to wake up.”
The girl finally stirred, and they sighed in relief, pulling back their green hand. When she finally woke, the Octoling glanced around the empty lands before landing her eyes on them.
The Octoling appeared confused and still drowsy, but those colorless, staring eyes sent shivers down their spine and stabbed into their skin, sharper than the needles they used to make them the way they were now.
”Well,” they said, “It looks like you’re finally awake. My name’s Acht. I’ll be your guide… as long as you can survive, that is.”