The Eviction Notice Of The Old Octopus

Pain is nothing if not felt.  Numbness can be useful in this regard, however, when trying to go about everyday life, a sense of feeling, or humanity is a bit of a requirement even for an octopus.  My hatred of their ways seem to be my true driving force however, thus I continue on my journey.  I hoped for so long that I might find a clean home amongst the rubbish and waste.  In fact, I do believe I’ve been here so long, that my skin has developed a reaction to the chemicals.  Was octopi flesh always green? 

At any rate, my travels have brought me from my warm home on the coasts of Thailand to the frigid waters of Canada.  I’ve heard rumors that since my travels have begun, the family I left behind was destroyed, and the waters polluted past the point of repair.  Silly humans think the Earth hasn’t the power to cure itself.  If only they’d let it rest, then watch it rise as bread in a warm oven.  Or better yet, if only they’d listen to someone like me who’s traveled these waters for some two years now, but no.  They put their technology into making taller buildings or faster cars instead of trying to talk to the lowly octopus.  Well fine then.  I don’t need you selfish humans, and I don’t need your help to save this planet.  The octopi were once a great race but now you’ve decimated our kind and left me.  The old bitter octopus with nothing left to lose. 

So, I send this message to you not as a letter of annoyance, or even a warning because, let’s be honest, by the time you hear this message you may be down to the last few hundred people.  Being civilized, I’ve decided to at least leave you with this parting gift.  An explanation of your extermination.  All octopi know what we call the central point of Earth.  The central home of the oceans under what you call the Arctic.  A few of your famous authors figured it out, but you were too focused on the internet and fast food to pay attention.  Anyways, this point is the central nervous system of the planet.  Much like how your human bodies have pressure points, so does our home planet.  Now, I’ve traveled to this planetary point, and as I leave this message for you, I’m hovering my tentacle over the rock that will reset your ecosystems.  Your deserts will freeze, your jungles and swamps will dry out, and a few of your islands may also disappear. 

Now, if you’re listening to this message directly after I trigger this reaction, you won’t understand the significance of this simple act.  If you’re listening within a week’s time, you won’t be so distracted by your little hobbies.  So, this is where I leave you.  Humans of planet Earth, you’ve destroyed this home without any regard for its other occupants.  Consider this, your eviction notice.

Edwin set the radio on the metal counter as he looked at Laird.

“So, the change, the dwindling population, was all brought on by an octopus?”  His voice whispered.

Laird leaned over the counter and looked through the space shuttle’s window.

“Who would have thought?  This whole time we were sure humans would either destroy themselves or the Earth would just stop providing for us.  We never could’ve guessed it had its own self-defense mechanism.”

His eyes roamed over luscious green vines pouring over the grand Egyptian pyramids.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Edwin wandered to the shuttle door and dangled his feet outside.

“So now what?”  He finally asked.

“Well,” Laird began.  “The way I see it, humans need to adapt, just like we forced the octopi.  Maybe even someday we can find that octopus, and make amends.”

“Amends?!”  Edwin cried as he spun around.  “Do you know how many humans have died!?  How many lives were lost just for some animal to make a point!?”

Stomping over to the radio, he grabbed it and pushed it into Laird’s face.

“The whole world knows what he did.  Now, it’s up to us to show him what humans are really capable of.”

Laird watched helplessly as Edwin threw the radio to the ground, grabbed onto the tree branches outside the door, and climbed down from the dangling shuttle.

“You’re either with me or against me.  What’ll it be!?”  He cried up.

Laird glanced back at the radio.

“Fine!”  Edwin cried as he chucked a rock at a rear booster engine.

The machine fired with a groaning explosion and sent Laird shooting through the Sahara Jungle.

Behind The Octopus

A little while ago, I created a green octopus out of clay. My original idea was that this octopus was an alien visiting Earth on an exploratory mission. As I was writing this story however, I decided this octopus had more of a villainous streak. His personality took over the page as his anger motivated him to the Earth’s pressure point. He was done with the humans, and everything they had done to his home.

What do you think of this story? Were there any hidden meanings? Should the humans find him? If they do, should he pay for what he did to the humans like Edwin wants, or should the humans make amends like Laird suggested? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for reading this story on the Welcome To My Shoes Blog! Check out another fiction story here! If you haven’t already, drop your email below to receive original stories, and inspiration direct to your inbox!