(Adam's POV)

I was the last to wake up, as usual. It still struck me as odd to see Seto, the guy who had randomly handed me an amulet, in our group. I kept shooting glances at him. And I didn't believe in curses, although Seto insisted that my 'butter' amulet was cursed. It just didn't make sense.

We packed up after lunch and continued walking. I had no clue where we were supposed to be going, but suddenly a thought came into my mind and without thinking I said, “If we're trying to protect people from the squids, shouldn't we be heading for where the spaceship is going to land?”

Seto stared at me like I was crazy, Quentin stared at me like I was speaking gibberish, Jason stared at me like I was telling the truth, and Ty stared at me like he couldn't believe what I just said. “Adam,” he said, not breaking eye contact with me, which was a real feat since I now never removed my sunglasses, “Say that again.”

I said confusedly, “I said, 'If we're trying to protect people from the squids, shouldn't we be headed for where the spaceship is going to land?'”

Quentin blinked. “A spaceship?”

“Look, Adam, you'd better not be making this up,” Ty warned.

“I swear I'm not!” I said. “It's just... the thought randomly came into my head, okay? I have the feeling that some spaceship is going to land somewhere today, and that squids are planning on seizing it.” More stares.

“Wait a minute...” Jason said thoughtfully. “Seto, Quentin, somebody, how exactly was that amulet 'cursed'?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, as Quentin replied:

“The shopkeeper who was robbed-”-here he looked at Seto pointedly-“-said that it 'made you hear voices when nobody was around and made you make weird predictions'.” Set gritted his teeth when he said 'robbed' but nodded.

Ty looked at Jason. “And why exactly do you need this information?”

Jason started scratching Dillon behind his ears, looking at my amulet. “Well, I think that Seto might have been right about the 'curse' after all, only it's more of a data receiver.”

I stared blankly at him. “What?”

Jason took a deep breath. “The squids, since they use electronic suits, must use electronic signals and wavelengths to carry messages. Since they don't want the messages to be intercepted, they change the wavelength to something most human technology can't pick up. However, the reaction of the stone and gold in Adam's necklace could create a sort of interceptor for that exact wavelength, and since the signals are basically commands in pulses, his chest feels the signals and his brain can turn them into something understandable. Since the squids broadcast their plans to all of the suits in the world, any plans they have will be picked up by the amulet. They must have a plan to attack a spaceship and are reminding the other squids and giving them the coordinates.” I blinked. I had had no idea what he had just said.

Ty, on the other hand, nodded. I had a new respect for him if he could actually understand what Jason had just said. Quentin stared at him for a second, then his eyes widened as if he got what he was saying. Seto rolled his eyes, like he thought the explanation was too techy, but I had the feeling that he thought whatever Jason had said was about right.

“Can somebody please explain that again, in plain English?” I asked.

“In a nutshell, it means that thanks to the amulet you've got on, you'll be able to predict what the squids are going to do next,” Seto said.

“Okay then,” I said. “Wait, what?”

Ty sighed. “We should be expecting a spaceship to appear and squids to try and seize it.”

“Okay,” I said. That was all I needed to know. “So, are we gonna charge in and attack the squids?”

Ty looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Are you crazy?! We have no weapons, I have a feeling that they're going to have more than five squids, and if I worked this hard to keep you alive I'm not letting all that effort go to waste. The people in the spaceship probably have weapons, they'll be fine without us.” He bit his lip and adjusted his collar, and I had the feeling he wasn't too sure about that last part.

“Well...” I said, trying to think. “We'll need to know where the spaceship will be landing so we know how to get out of the way, right?” Everybody nodded. “So, who is the luckiest guesser?” I asked, nervous.

Everybody facepalmed except for Seto, who said, “Adam, please tell me what that thing around your neck does?” I felt really, REALLY stupid.

“Well... uh... here goes nothing,” I said. I searched my brain for any memory that may have just appeared there of where the ship would be landing, but I couldn't find it.

“Well?” Quentin asked. I shook my head.

“Nothing,” I said. I didn't even know exactly how this all worked. “Why don't one of you guys take the amulet?” I asked, grabbing the rope. I started to haul it over my head, but for some reason I couldn't get it above my ears. “What the heck?” I muttered. I tugged at it, and the front part scraped my eyes. I let it fall back down. If it was too small to get off, how had I put it on in the first place?

“Great,” Seto said. “According to you, there's an evil squid army coming to take down a spaceship, and the one thing we have that could give us a warning is strapped around an idiot's neck.”

I felt anger build up inside of me. “It's not my fault, okay? At least I don't go around throwing necklaces at people because I'm afraid of a so-called curse!”

“If that's a necklace, does that make you a woman?” Seto asked, raising an eyebrow. I don't really remember what happened next, but I could feel my arm moving up and then I think I tried to punch him. He ducked out of the way and a few moves later Jason and Quentin stepped in, pulling us apart. Quentin looked disgusted to be holding Seto back, but at least he wasn't holding me back. I had the feeling he hated Seto so much that he would have let me break his arms.

“Will you two just stop it?!” Ty asked, coming in between us. “The last thing we need right now is somebody in the hospital! I swear, for all I know you guys could be undercover squids trying to kill every single one of us!”

Seto looked up sharply, probably to deliver some nasty comment, but Jason interrupted him before he could speak. “What the heck?!” I followed his gaze to see what he was staring at.

Well, that's where the spaceship was landing.

Rawr, peeps, it's Cookieh. :3 I just wanted to say this, even if it sounds really cheesy: Thanks to all of you for the support. Crafted Origins nows has over one thousand reads, and I have more than eighty votes in total. It's just... wow. I love you guys. You cacti are so lovely ~<3

Speaking of which: ABOUT 89729038472019347829047 NEW FOLLOWERS, PEOPLES. Thank you _SnakeVenom_, Creamstar12, zeldakiller56, PomeranianGirl101, OreosAreMySoul, deadcrystal3, luluball5, chocolatelover94, MeganxTwinsxKaylin, The_Mignight_Hunters, EveningFalls, and EnderArrow for joining the Cactus Squad. I'm not going to count all that, are you crazy?

ALSEW, I now have a collab account. Check it out; it's on mah page: Cookies_Unite.

AAAND, I have anuzzer book! I know it was in my last ANs, but I wanted to remind you in case you didn't read them: it's called Rise of the Void and I'm sure I'll have a great time writing it, so go and read it, pretty please.

Random question: would you guys like it if I started a Q and A book?