Game Over

[attr="class","landfill-scroll"]He knew the precise second the piranha's gaze locked upon him with an outraged gleam that he should have kept his mouth shut. His bold front fell away within seconds, anxiety building up in its place, and he took an instinctive step back when they began to approach, whatever effort he'd put forth to appear brave utterly thwarted. His gaze darted between the three of them, breath shortening, and he gasped when Iggy pulled him back, hissing into his ear.

Swallowing thickly, he hesitated only when Iggy proceeded to step in front of him, shielding him from the others with one arm. He wasn't allowed much time to protest, however. Having since decided that speaking wasn't doing them much good, he allowed his companion to handle the situation for now, and at the yellow Inkling's warning, realization willed his confidence to return somewhat. That would be enough to keep them at bay, right?

Disbelieving laughter rippled through the three of them and the leading piranha snorted as if Iggy's threat little more than amused him. "Couple of kids like you carryin' guns around? I'll believe it when I see it." The grin fell from his lips and he continued in a low voice, his eyes flashing dangerously and mouth curved into a wicked snarl of jagged teeth. "Take 'im down."

In immediate response, the other two lunged forward with surprising speed; one of them delivered a powerful punch to Iggy's gut and then kicked his feet out from under him, successfully landing him on his back; the other seized his arms and held him down, his claws digging at the Inkling's skin. "Stay down, boy," he hissed, his breath hot and rank against Iggy's face. There was some kind of feral amusement in his gaze.

Casper, having stared for a moment in mute disbelief, suddenly snapped to attention as if startled from a daze. His features warped with anger, heart rate quickening and, without thinking, he tackled the piranha who had pinned Iggy, gripping at either of his sides in an effort to push him off. "Get off!" When his initial attempt didn't bear any results, however, he balled his hand into a fist and punched him in the side of the face, packing as much force behind the blow as he could manage.

[attr="class","landfill-scroll"]The second his fist collided with the piranha's face, his head snapping abruptly to the side, Casper felt a rush of satisfaction, clenching either of his hands at his sides and preparing himself for the inevitable retaliation. When he turned to look at Casper, however, his expression teeming with fury, he felt his confidence rapidly waning. With every step the piranha took towards him, it dispersed, until all that was left in its place was fear. He shrank back, clenching his eyes shut, and mentally prepared himself for what was coming, when a pained groan escaped the creature before him.

It took him a moment to realize that Iggy had risen to his feet and taken hold of the piranha's arms, preventing him from advancing. Startled from a daze by the sound of his companion's words, realization passed over his face, lips parting. Then, with frantic, unsteady hands, he pulled his backpack off of his shoulders and unzipped it, reaching one hand inside when, with little more than a guttural utterance as warning, he was hoisted by his collar into the air, a startled gasp escaping him. His backpack fell to the ground, the dual squelcher landing a foot or so away from it with a clattering sound.

Heart thudding in his chest, he gripped instinctively at the piranha's oily wrist, writhing feebly in an effort to free himself. His teeth clenched, fear manifesting, and he stared, wide-eyed, at the one grinning wickedly before him. Then, as quickly as he'd been lifted, he fell back and collapsed upon the ground, a throbbing pain resonating from his jaw. His body ached from where he'd hit the ground. Wincing, he shifted slightly, realizing in the back of his mind that he tasted blood, when the piranha's foot planted firmly upon his chest and began to push. 

Gasping for air, he tried in vain to shove his foot away, beginning to feel light headed from the pressure. He could hear the thrumming of blood in his ears. After a few moments of struggling, his head fell back against the pavement and he turned his face to the side, glimpsing his weapon just out of reach. Some kind of realization gripped him and, trying to ignore the fact that there was a piranha pinning him to the ground, he reached towards it, stretching his arm as far as he could - his fingertips barely brushed its surface.

Suddenly, something grabbed Iggy from behind. One of the larger piranhas took hold of his chest, effectively trapping his arms against his sides, and forced him away, pulling him in. "Nice try, but you forgot something," he said into the Inkling's ear, grinning. The piranha lifted his head and nodded at his friend, who had just finished collecting himself upon being restrained. "He's all yours."

Turning around, the second piranha faced Iggy, some mingled fury and fervor upon his face. "Don't mind if I do," he nearly growled, and advanced upon the boy, pulling a fist back and delivering yet another gut wrenching punch to his stomach. Then, without allowing Iggy a moment to recover, he gripped his face with his other hand and leaned in, hissing, "You've got a lotta nerve messin' with me, kid. I'm gonna make you regret that."

[attr="class","landfill-scroll"]When the pressure upon his chest increased, Casper's features twisted with strain and his arm went slack, the need for air overwhelming his previous intentions. Each breath he drew was more insufficient than the last, clipped and shallow, and his lungs felt as though they might collapse at any moment, his throat drawing tight. Light headed, his grip upon the piranha's boot grew weak.

Upon being hoisted into the air, he registered little more than the fact that he was capable of breathing again, and the instant creature's foot was taken off of his chest, he drew a trembling lungful of air, eyes going wide. In the midst of his strain, however, he felt a stab of fear and instinctively tried to distance himself from the piranha holding him up, turning his face away. Little more than a few seconds passed before he was thrown to the ground again, and this time he hit the pavement like a dead weight.

Nearly every inch of him ached. Feebly, he shifted upon the ground, trying desperately to get air into his lungs, but his throat had constricted, and every breath was as strained as it was shallow, an audible wheezing escaping him with each inhalation. He pressed his hands against the ground, trying to lift himself up, and turned his face to see the piranha pursuing him at a languid pace.

At the sound of the others' voices, however, Casper glanced towards where they'd taken to restraining Iggy. As he looked on, the piranha gripping his face gave a harsh laugh and sneered, "Not so brave now, are ya? You can act tough all ya want - I know what a weakling you really are." Roughly releasing Iggy's chin, he balled his hand into a fist and delivered a ruthless punch to the side of his face. Casper's heart staggered in his chest at the sight, his previously weak expression shifting with a sudden look of determination and eyes widening.

Willing himself to be strong, he forced himself to his hands and knees, and then shakily to his feet, sparing a frantic glance at the piranha approaching him and then at the gun just a few feet behind him. Clenching his teeth, he bolted forward, narrowly missing the piranha, and skidded to an abrupt halt behind him, crouching in the same motion and taking up his dual squelcher. Then, gripping it firmly with both hands, he whirled around and hit him across the face with the gun with all of the strength he could muster.

At the sound of the pained cursing that escaped him and the sight of the piranha recoiling, one hand over his face, Casper knew he'd managed to buy them some time. Then, without hesitation, he broke into a run at the two remaining piranhas and lifted the gun over the side of his shoulder, shouting, "Hey, assholes!" The precise second the piranha in front of Iggy turned his head, he brought the dual squelcher down against the side of his face, shoving into him for good measure. It was enough to send him roughly onto his side. The sound of thunder in the distance nearly drowned out his pained noises.

Then, lifting his gun again, he slammed it against the top of the remaining piranha's skull, gritting his teeth. When his arms went slack around Iggy, Casper shoved his companion to the side, perhaps a bit more roughly than he should have, and then lifted his foot, delivering a swift kick at the piranha's groin - he'd been aiming for his stomach, really, but perhaps the former was more effective, given the way the fish immediately collapsed, a low groan escaping him as he went.

It took a moment, but a disbelieving look had gripped Casper's features. It was quickly overtaken, however, by one of immense pride, and he began between shallow breaths, "How's that for -- for..." He paused, then cursed under his breath and turned, grabbing Iggy's arm. "Come on!" he said, urgency in his voice and upon his face. He started down the street, breaking into a run, and released Iggy only to snatch up his discarded jacket, heart thudding frantically in his chest.

[attr="class","landfill-scroll"]Thoughts and heart racing, he fought to ignore the way his lungs screamed for air and pressed on, relieved when he glanced back at his companion to find Iggy keeping up, albeit with a look of visible strain upon his face. At the sound of the Inkling's voice he directed his attention forward again, breathing heavily, and replied between gasps, "I know - I'm -- I'm thinking!"

Gaze darting about their surroundings, he hesitated when he glimpsed an old building whose front door has been partially knocked off of its hinges. Eyes widening, he reached over and grabbed Iggy's wrist. "There! Come on!" A quick glance behind them was enough to inform him that the piranhas weren't far behind, and in swift pursuit.

Just then, what had started as the occasional raindrop quickly became a downpour, the telltale sound of thunder overhead almost sounding as though it had torn a hole in the clouds. Trying to resist the aching in his muscles, he ran for the building and pulled Iggy inside, his skin and clothes already damp from the rain. Releasing his companion's arm, he gripped the door and, with a grunt of effort, forced it closed as best as he could given its condition. Outside, in the midst of the rain and thunder, he could hear their voices growing closer.

Pressing his back against the door, he grit his teeth and surveyed their surroundings. It was dark, set aside the occasional flash of lightning, and there was broken furniture and trash scattered about the floor. Apart from a humble kitchen in the far corner, a closed door, and a few chairs, a coffee table, and a television, there wasn't much to see, not that it mattered. Interior decoration wasn't their primary concern. "Shit," he breathed, trying in vain to get a handle on his nerves. "What do we do now?"

i'm a bad kid, i'm disastrous

i don't know wrong from right

wheezy waiter

Iggy Mayhew

i'm a bad kid, i'm disastrous

i don't know wrong from right

meanwhile, off scene, mallow is seen, frantically texting and calling iggy on the verge of tears

Iggy Mayhew