KrakenKid

I couldn't sleep.

I tried, but my eyes stayed open barely able to blink without shock forcing them right back open. I would normally be staring at the ceiling, but I can't anymore. Not without my sight.

It's weird, how something as simple as staring at the ceiling is something I miss so much. I miss being able to go into a different mindset as I blankly just look up, being able to think of plans and deep thoughts, as if suddenly I gained that ability when I was looking at the roof. I missed being able to just look at it and play games in my head when I had trouble sleeping. Seeing only darkness, it just wasn't the same. Nothing ever changed, maybe I get a sense of, Oh there's light over here because my eyes feel it and it's warm, but I still couldn't see.

I can't see anything, and it scares me right to the bone.

That penguin could come in any moment and kill me if he wanted to. He could bend me to his will, make me his slave, and I wouldn't be able to defend myself. I mean I can barely walk, how would I be able to defend myself in the first place? I keep misstepping and it's like my coordination is all off. Was that another side effect? Losing my coordination? 

The only time I was able to move around properly was when I was filled with rage or had confidence, but with both failing me, I found it tough.

I sighed deeply and started to roll to the side but soon the bed disappeared and I was met with the cold hard ground. I groaned, pushing myself up and wobbling.

"How am I supposed to escape like this?" I murmured to myself, putting my face in my hands. "I can't see anything, I can barely walk... I don't even know where I am! Prison, yeah, but where? How..." Then came the part that made me want to curl up and let myself fade in the darkness.

"How am I supposed to be a villain like this? Other the other blind villains were born like this- they prospered! They grew up with it, they used it to their advantage! They could use their increased hearing to defeat their rivals..."

I wanted to give up so badly. I just wanted to say, 'The world has doomed me, might as well give up now. No use.'

But I couldn't.

"No..." I whispered, pulling myself up. No, I can lose! I've been through so much, I'm not gonna let this stop me. "There has to be some way to get through this... Baby steps Kraken, baby steps. Learn to walk properly first."

Hesitantly, I started to swim around, using the wall as a guide at first, barely skimming it but slowly getting faster. My confidence started to build up as I got an idea of what the layout of the room was. "Okay... Okay! I got this!" A small smile started to form on my face. Maybe I could learn to live without sight... Heck! Why did I need it in the first place? I could just-

Almost as if the universe liked seeing me in pain, I slammed into the corner, more pain sprouting in my head and fell back, flat on my back. I let out a pained cry but otherwise kept as still as possible. I focused on taking deep breaths, trying to take control of my thoughts again. The sudden accident left me disoriented. "Yeah, no. I'm done for the day." I groaned, slowly pushing myself to an upright, wobbling.

I let my tentecales outstrech and I started to feel around. The walls were cold to touch, so I tried to touch them as lightly as possible. The bed I was sleeping in was my home base, might as well get back to there.

I branched off the wall, expecting to run into a bed.

But there was none.

I started to move, turning lefts and rights, going back to the wall but no matter what I did, the bed was gone. It was walking in an endless circle, and both with my inexperience and distress, I had no idea if I was actually walking in circles. I tried to focus on moving in different ways, but the feeling never faded.

"No..." I whispered, frantically flailing around. Suddenly the darkness became consuming, like it was eating away my sanity and I could do nothing about it. "Where is it? WHERE DID IT GO?" I screeched. I patted the ground down, doing everything I could, but still nothing.

That's when I realized three things all at the same time.

One, the bed was my safe haven. I woke up there, I slept there, it was pretty much the most stable thing I had in my life currently. That safe haven was gone, I was either far away from it, or right next to it or too distressed to notice. I wanted to find it so badly that it hurt.

Two, I wouldn't get over the blind thing any time soon. I could barely make my way around without hurting myself, much less escape and find a way back home. I was stuck with it, which reminded me of number three, the one that hurt the most.

Three, My hopes of being the greatest villain of all time is slipping away with every moment, and very soon, I'll miss it. My dreams, shattering before my eyes and I can do nothing but hear it crash to the ground.

I was hopeless.

Nothing left for me.

I was weak.

I didn't realize how hard I was taking this until a sob escape my throat. I tried to hold it back, to stay strong and keep my dignity but my emotions betrayed me. Within seconds, I turned into a blubbering mess on the floor, curling my body closer to myself for safety. "N-no..." I whimpered. "S-stop it, Kraken! S-s-snap out of it!" I attempted slapping myself, but I was only left with more pain to deal with.

It wasn't long before I couldn't even speak any more. My body began to shut down, and I let myself fade.

I don't know how much time passed, but it wasn't very long before the cell door opened. I almost flickered my eyes open, before remembering it wouldn't be any use anyways. Maybe if I stayed still and pretended to be asleep on the floor, whoever came in would leave me alone.

Silent footstep entered but stopped a couple feet away. My heart pounded. It could have been anyone! It could have been a guard here to leave some food or that one nice doctor, but then they spoke, and my heart sank.

"KrakenKid..."

Of course, out of anyone, even that stupid Professor Pikalus, it had to be him out of all people.

When he spoke, I thought for a second that he knew I was awake and that he was here for me, maybe to discuss my future, but when he did it again, I found out he was really talking to himself, or at least to me and expecting that I'd never hear it. "Oh g- I'm so sorry, KrakenKid." His voice was barely a whisper and shaky, but in total silence, I could hear him.

I decided against saying anything. He didn't need to know I was awake.

Cody moved again, but not towards me. He shuffled, and from how the sound was ranging from loud, to soft, to loud again, I'd say he was pacing if anything. "I didn't... I wish... I..." The penguin kept trying to speak, but it seemed his brain was too scattered to.

He came to a sudden stop. "I didn't want this to happen..."

Right then, I wanted to scream at him. But it did! And it's all your fault! You gave the order! You blinded me! But I bit my tongue and let the penguin continue.

"I'm just trying to save my city but... I can never save everyone, can I? There's always someone who suffers... I couldn't save you..." He let out a surprisingly soft but frustrated cry, as if he were trying not to wake people. "Why am I king? Why'd they choose me out of everyone? Rasmus would have done better. Poseidon would have done better. Joe-... He would have done it best. But I'm stuck here. And now you're stuck here too."

Something slid down the side of the wall slowly, then Cody let out a sigh. "I wish it could be different. That I could just let you go. We've already done enough damage to you... But they would never allow it. I might be king, but the council still has to give approval for big decisions and this is huge."

Silence consumed the room, flooding us with thoughts of regret and sorrow. Ages passed before Cody got up again. "I'm sorry, KrakenKid. I wish I could do more... I know you can't hear me-"

You sure, buddy?

"-But I saw you."

I could feel the blood drain out of my face, but Cody didn't seem to notice. "I saw your panicked search for... Something. The bed maybe? The door? Either way, I saw it. And I saw you cry, and break-..." Cody's breath hitched. He sniffled before speaking again. "And that's on me. You were right, it's all my fault." His voice was breaking, and no matter what, I couldn't convince myself that it was fake. "I can't do much to help you, especially if you don't let me but..."

His steps drew near and I stiffened a bit, unsure of what he'd do. Suddenly, his arms came from under me and I was lifted off the ground with only his arms to support me. My heart quickened as he moved, but second later I was let down and the familiar feel of a cushion nearly broke my cover. 

The bed. My safe haven.

"The least I can do is make sure you don't sleep on the floor." He gently placed the blankets on. Hesitantly, he started to leave.

His movements stopped and a voice filled the room. "Sorry... For everything. Goodnight KrakenKid."

Then he was gone.

Many moments passed, and I replied in a hushed voice. "Goodnight, Maverick."

And I was left to think on all of that.

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Oh hey, I actually finished! Didn't think I would but here it is!

Yeah, this chapter was pretty evil in terms of FEELZ but hopefully it was still enjoyable! That whole thing with Cody was supposed to be shorter but then I couldn't stop and now that's that! Oh boy, next chapter will be funnnnnnnn~

Sorry for the late update, I should have updated sooner but life gets in the way, not to mention I have many other books. *Whispers* I really need to stop but screw it... BOOKS!

I know what you're thinking, "Author, why must you force such feels on me?"
To which I would say, "FEAR NOT! I HAVE FLUFF COMING!"

Awww yuss, fluff is gonna be fuuuuuunnnnnnnn~

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed the following chapter! Be sure to comment what you think, and I'll see everybody later! G'bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter