Father shook the wheel with excitement. His car had been hobbling along. After crashing into the lobster’s car, then hitting something on the road, there had been something jangling underneath his vehicle.
20 miles to the Reef.
Seeing a sign was such an odd relief. Father had never wanted to leave the modestly deep trench before, but now it was all he wanted. He was a significant step closer to finding his Son.
If he could make it to the Reef once, he would remember the way in the future.
Red and blue lights flashed behind him.
Father checked the rearview mirror, just to confirm it was the police.
Even worse, it was the Reef police who had said they wouldn’t help. Father stared into the mirror, squinting against the flashing lights.
There was only one thing he could do. The most obvious thing he could do.
Father pushed the pedal to the floor. The car, already making some questionable noises, roared as the tachometer climbed.
10 miles to the Reef.
Father clung tightly to the steering wheel as it began to shake. Colorful coral rose in the distance, quickly becoming visible on the horizon. The road leading into the Reef was an incline. Luckily, it was a rather straight road so Father hadn’t had to make any sudden turns with the police chasing behind him.
2 miles to the Reef.
Without knowing the Reef, his best clue would be to see anyone with a Hardbody Crustacean leather jacket. To do so, he would need to slow down. Father had watched a lot of action movies in his life and had seen plenty of filmed car chases. If he managed to drift a few times and take enough turns within the city, he would be able to avoid the cops. After fleeing long enough, they would just forget about him.
Father hit the bridge right at the edge of the coral. It was a steeper change in incline than expected. The car thunked against it. Something fell from underneath and the roar of the car grew immensely.
In all the excitement, letting go of the gas never crossed Father’s mind. He sent the car flying as he passed the crest of the steep bridge. His claws shook against the steering wheel as Father’s well-sculpted arms tensed.
The car crashed back to the road and groaned loudly. Less than fifty feet ahead, the road led to a T-intersection. If he didn’t stop, he was going to drive directly into the front of a building. There were little columns to stop vehicles, but Father wasn’t sure if those worked, and he didn’t want to find out.
Father finally lifted his foot from the gas, reached for the brake, and cranked the wheel to the side.
The wheel moved with surprising ease. It turned all the way without the slightest bit of resistance, all while the car didn’t turn even a single degree.
“Oh,” Father said.
The cement column stopped most of the car, allowing Father to flatten against it. Everything else wrapped around, crushing Father, his shell, and every other party of him before flying into the building.
Returned to Start.
Beginning Run 8.
Set Attributes.
Strength 05
Endurance 10
Agility 15
Intelligence 15
Luck 5
A little bit of luck couldn’t hurt. Father ran over, stomped the lobster, grabbed the bat and wallet, got back into his car, and started driving. He had no debuff to draw the police’s ire and with a little luck, he hoped he could make it to the Reef without any problems.
The modestly deep trench fell away, leaving only tall stalks of seaweed and distant structures as the view while Father tried to relax behind the wheel. It wasn’t so complicated. He had learned so much already that some pieces felt like a normal routine. Like making a morning cup of coffee. If that coffee involved smashing in a lobster’s head and stealing his wallet.
As far as planning ahead, Father wasn’t sure what to do in the Reef. He was on his eighth run, which meant that it had already taken dying seven times just to learn how to get to the Reef itself. He had no map or knowledge of where the Hardbody Crustaceans were located. He didn’t know anybody in the Reef.
Getting there had been a huge hurdle already.
Father relaxed upon reaching the bridge at a normal, safe speed. He climbed over without anything sounding like it might explode in his car, and upon coming down on the other side, Father safely decelerated to the stop sign at the T-intersection.
No cops in sight.
Father turned right, drove between the tall towers of coral and through some side streets and blocks of shops and streetside restaurants. Fish, crustaceans, and even some mollusks walked about or dined without worry.
The Reef wasn’t some criminal hideout. It was just a vibrant city.
Father parked, elected to leave the baseball bat behind, and ventured into the Reef. A leather jacket or someone who just looked dangerous were all the clues he needed. If he could find anything, he would have a place to start looking.
The streetside restaurants were loud, so he took an alleyway, past some dumpsters, and into another street that was lit primarily by light reflecting off the coral buildings.
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It was surprisingly empty compared to a single block over. He had gone from bustling civilization to abandoned city so quickly.
Father walked on, casting glances all around. He wasn’t scared while knowing he would restart, but driving all the way back was quite a hurdle. That, and dying was still incredibly painful most of the time.
“You want some drugs?”
Father stopped.
A creature emerged from the shadows behind a dumpster. It didn’t have lips and just showed a row of needle-thin teeth. Its long nose jutted out almost a foot from its face. Beady black eyes watched Father closely.
The goblin shark took a step forward and thrust out a bag of some colorful pebbles. “You want some drugs?”
“No,” Father said. He took a step back and raised his claws. “I’m not interested.”
The goblin shark took another step forward and nearly stabbed Father with his long, pointed nose. “It’ll raise your luck.”
Father’s eyes snapped to the bag of colorful pebbles. “You know about that?”
Black eyes widened as the goblin shark thrust the bag closer.
Father took out the dead lobster’s wallet. “How much?”
The goblin shark shoved the bag into Father’s claw. as he snatched the wallet. Without waiting, he turned and ran down the alley.
Father sprinted after the lanky shark, but the thief ran with impressive speed. He skidded around a corner, bolted, and was gone by the time Father looked around. He watched for a moment before opening the bag. He had never seen drugs before. When pinched in his claws, they crumbled to dust. All the different colors and sizes crumbled the same.
With some hesitation in an alleyway on his own, Father placed a small pebble in his mouth. It took great care to lift it without crushing it to dust, but as soon as his tongue moved, the pebble still crumbled. It was like eating a pile of dust that choked him.
After forcing the dust down his throat, Father waited and expected something to appear in his vision. When nothing did, he ate another pebble.
He ate a few more to be safe. They never tasted better. Father tossed the bag aside. There hadn’t been a single side effect and absolutely no changes to his luck, as far as he could tell. He had no system notifications.
Father walked out of the alley and back into the civilized part of the Reef. He had no money again, but he had reached the Reef. His Son was somewhere nearby. It didn’t matter how lost or confused he was.
Victory was so close.
Father walked back a block, found the busiest streetside restaurant, and approached the host.
The blue and yellow parrotfish watched with bulging eyes. There was obvious contempt in the gaze. Father knew he was underdressed while wearing only his gym shorts, but that wasn’t anywhere near the top of his concerns. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.
Father put his claws on the podium and leaned close to the host. “Have you seen any shellfish wearing leather jackets?”
The parrotfish’s eyes widened. “No.”
He answered too quickly. There was something he was hiding.
“Tell me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The parrotfish took a step away from the podium. “You need to leave.”
“I just want to find the Hardbody Crustaceans!”
The constant chatter of the restaurant goers vanished. Father slowly glanced at the dining area where every sea creature just stared at him. One of the waiters dropped their tray and sprinted into the back.
The parrotfish host leaned in close. “Run,” he whispered.
A loud clatter came from inside. Glass shattered and someone screamed.
“Run,” the parrotfish said again as he stepped to the side.
A burly grouper stormed into view, knocking over tables, chairs, and even a waiter who was just trying to pass by. The hulking fish wore a leather jacket that looked ready to rip as it was stretched taut with every little movement.
“Who?” the grouper shouted. He swiveled around. The restaurant goers all recoiled as his eyes passed by.
“Me,” Father said.
The grouper stomped up to the podium and leaned forward. Bubbles escaped his gills as he leaned close to Father. “Who is looking for Magaleus?”
“Is that your name?” Father stood tall and confident, even as those nearby shrunk in fear.
“It is.” Magaleus put his fins on the podium and leaned closer. The wood creaked under his weight. “Who are you?”
“I’m the Father of the Sexiest Lobster. You abducted my Son, and I want him back.”
A hideous smile spread across the grouper’s face. “Oh, it’s you. I know you.” He squeezed the podium between his fins. It exploded into wooden shrapnel. “Where’s the money?”
“I don’t have it. I won’t be giving you a cent. You’re going to give me my Son or else.”
“Or else what?” Magaleus stood tall. “Are you going to do something?”
Father punched.
5 strength was not a lot.
Having 50 strength had made him feel like a god until his arm and body exploded.
5 strength made Father’s punch feel like a waterlogged stick hitting a rock as his claw tapped against Magaleus’s chest.
Magaleus lifted a fin.
“Lesson learned,” Father said.
The fin came down with enough power that Father briefly saw his own blood and brains in the water.
Returned to Start.
Beginning Run 9.
Set Attributes.
At least he knew he wasn’t anywhere close enough to a match for Magaleus. But if . . . His head pounded.
Attributes first.
Father opened the car door and stumbled out.
Strength 10
Endurance 10
Agility 10
Intelligence 10
Luck 10
Having all attributes at 10 meant he didn’t have a headache, he was slightly stronger than before, faster than normal, and hopefully lucky and smart enough to actually accomplish something.
His brain snapped back to action. If Magaleus could kill him in a single punch, what could Father ever hope to do? Endurance at 50 would likely help him survive any number of hits, even from someone like Magaleus, but that would leave him exposed in every other aspect.
The Hardbody Crustacean with the bat stumbled out of the ditch. “Hey, aren’t you the Father of the Sexiest Lobster? Can’t believe you hit me! You got some balls.”
Father wiped blood from his eyes, lifted his claws, and waited.
The lobster took a few steps closer, watching warily. “You look crazy.”
Father dashed forward and grabbed the lobster’s head between his claws. His momentum helped bring the Hardbody Crustacean to the ground, and with some extra effort, Father cracked his shell.
He grabbed the bat and wallet, got into his car, and started driving.
The Reef was about two hours away, and Father didn’t stop thinking the whole time. Previously, he had some amount of relief or relaxation, even with the horrors of realizing what had happened. The previous drive had some victory and hope tied in.
This drive was one of thinking and reflecting.
He was missing so much information. Where were the Hardbody Crustaceans located in the Reef? Where was Son being kept? Who was actually in charge?
Father checked his rearview mirror to ensure no police were following him. No issue with that on this attempt.
The faster he killed the first lobster, the less likely he would be to have any problems with the police.
Father leaned back and watched the sunbeams shine through the water.
“Why is that first lobster at my house?”
He tried thinking back to the first attempt. Or even before he had set his start point and crashed into the lobster. It was undoubtedly a Hardbody Crustacean member, but he wasn’t in the Reef.
Father cranked the wheel to the side, sending the car straight into the concrete barrier at the side of the highway. The car squealed loudly as pieces were ripped away. His tire popped up, climbed over the barrier, and within a half second, the entire car was flipping. Father undid his seatbelt and relaxed.
