KrakenKid

If you ever get put in jail, just know one thing:

It's really boring. Especially if you're blind.

I couldn't exactly read normally and I had no idea how to read braille, so as my first week started to pass, the increasing boredom was driving me insane. How I was going to last here for the rest of my life was something I was still trying to figure out.

However, because of my increased hearing, I did have one favorite pastime: Listening to the guards gossip. Even without my heightened sense, I could probably still hear them. If all Tide Changers were known to lie, even when they didn't have to, then all Atlanteans must've been known for being a lot louder than they need to be. Lucky for me, this came to my advantage as I could hear every single word they were saying. They could be quiet entertaining, even if all they ever did was gossip.

"-And then Beth was all like, "Oh my dear David, that's was wives are for!" Can you believe that? Beth is just amazing! First she always makes her son the best lunches in all of Atlantis, making everything from scratch every day, and now she's woodworking and fixing everything in the house! I swear, David hit the jackpot with that woman, she's so pure and talented!"

I snickered lightly. I had heard a lot about this 'Beth' woman and apparently, she was perfect. The only flaw anyone could find on her was that she put others before herself, and perhaps she was a little too trusting, but that wasn't even a bad thing. Sure, people like me could easily take her kindness to our advantage, but otherwise she was fine.

"I know right?" The second guard replied, sighed as he did. "Ah, I'm so jealous. But, they're in love! Can't do anything about that." They paused for a long time before saying something that peaked my interest. "Do you think... He can hear us?"

They went quiet for a moment before the first guard responded. "No. I don't think so. We're far enough away, right? What is it, Robert? Why talk about him of all people? He's in jail now, what's to fear?"

There was no doubt in my mind that they were talking about me. I quickly focused on them and shut everything else out.

"Robert" shuttered, I didn't have to see him to know that. "Taylor... He gives me the creeps, man! I thought the whole "His eyes glow in the dark" thing was a rumor but it's not! I have the nightshift on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and I see it all the time! I know he can't see us and all, but those eyes stare into your soul! They're big, yellow and GLOWING!" He whispered furiously. I could hear him shift uncomfortably.

I nearly laughed. Of course those cowards would be afraid of my eyes of all things.

Taylor patted him on the shoulder. "I know, I know. Hey, they might put him on trial soon, then he'll get his justice and we won't have to deal with him!"

But judging by Robert's silence, he wasn't so sure. Taylor paused before he asked, "What?"

"It's just a rumor but..." Robert gulped loudly. "I think it might be true... They say he won't go on trial because of... You know."

"Because he's blind?" Taylor's voice was stunned. Robert must've nodded because Taylor went on. "But he's done so many terrible things! He's our top enemy! Why wouldn't they put him on trial!"

"Because he's blind, Taylor! He's in jail, and he's blind. They think he's suffered enough, and based on how our King is, I think the rumor is true. Plus, even if he did get out, what's he going to do? He's kinda useless now."

The guard's words drowned out when I heard one word.

Useless.

The word haunted me, sending my head into a spin and smashing my ego into the ground until it snapped. The world seemed to slow down as I was consumed by it. Consumed, just by one simple word. How weird, I never thought that one word would bring me down, but here I was.

Suddenly, I was dragged into my own little world, where nightmares came true and dreams were fairytales. Where I was useless.

I imagined Blooper, looking down at me and scoffing. "How could I ever look up to you? Someone so weak, so dependent." I knew what I was seeing wasn't real, but I still tried to reach out to him. He slapped my arm away and left me alone.

Then came CannibalCrab. What would he say? I could hear his laugh, but this time, aimed at me. "Wow, what happened to you? What even are you now? How could you possibly lead now?" He kept asking questions that I couldn't answer, and I was rendered speechless. He rolled his eyes and followed Blooper's lead. "I used to be loyal to you but... How could I ever be loyal to you now?" Another question that I couldn't answer without breaking my own heart.

Darrel wouldn't even have to say anything. He'd just give me a disappointed look and turn away, leaving me behind.

More and more people I cared about kept appearing, all Tide Changers and one by one, they all left me behind until I was alone.

Whispers were the only thing that plagued me. The only thing that they left behind. 
Useless, they kept saying. So very useless.

My heart was filled with dread. Never had I realized I cared about what they thought, and never had I realized that I truly cared about them, and how much I feared them leaving. How much I feared being alone, with no one behind me.

Then came another thought, how'd Atlantis react now that I was under their thumb? Now that I was alone?

I couldn't help but feel like I'd become nothing. Just a prisoner, locked away and forgotten. Now whenever people would say my name, it wouldn't be out of fear, but just gossip. "Did you hear about KrakenKid? I hear he's still alive and in the cell."

"Really? I thought he was dead!"

"He's not anything anymore, that's for sure."

And then, I'd become truly nothing as time passed on. I would fade from history, and not even gossip would bring me back. Forever, trapped in a cell and unable to escape. I'd live the rest of my days, slowly fading away until the end of my long life came. The only company I would have left would be that one word, stuck on repeat like a broken record.

Useless.

Useless.

USELESS.

This would-be world was something that struck my confidence so hard that it began to crumble from beneath me. I didn't want it to come true, but I had to know.

Was this world I imagined possible?

As I pelted myself with questions, I knew there was only one way to get true answers.

I had to get out of here. I was driving myself insane with questions and what if's. I had to prove that I was more than this. That I wasn't useless.

However, if I got out and found out that I was as useless as they say, I wasn't sure what I would do.

*******************************************************************

A little confusing, I know, but I wanted to touch base on how KrakenKid's confidence is doing so far, which isn't very good. Don't worry, he'll get some victories and good times too... Eventually.

Basically, to sum up this chapter, KrakenKid is so stricken by being called "Useless" that he starts to imagine if he really is and if his whole world will fall apart because of it. He imagines Blooper, CannibalCrab, Darrel and pretty much everyone else in his life turning against him and him just becoming nothing.

How's that for a worst nightmare?

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this short chapter! Be sure to comment what you thought of it, and I'll see you all later! Until we meet again!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter