Here is the suspenseful chapter 2. The ending's a cliffhanger. I will continue to post the chapters to the "New Tankmate" series of my stories in this thread as to avoid wasting space. So, here's chapter 2!
Chapter 2
Ghent had spent the last three days frenziedly searching for the elusive new tankmate. Carl had told him to give it up, but Ghent had some sort of primal, instictive rage building inside his aggressive body. For some reason, he already considered the new fish a rival, a fiendâŚan enemy. He never did think of asking someone, for he was too proud. The tetras and cory doras are mindless anyway, he thought. When Carl noticed his friend wasnât even actively scavaging at night, he got worried. âGhent, youâve been obsessed with thisâŚthis invisible threat. It might be a school of tetras for all we know.â Carl started to chuckle. âJust thing; you might be getting all upset over a bunch of stupid neons!â
Normally, Ghent would have found that hilarious, but even Carlâs normal humor couldnât arouse his old self once again. He was under the control of a more powerful force. âStop joking around, spike head,â he growled. âI know this new fish isnât an ordinary one. Besides, tetras would be out and about, even if they were afraid of getting eaten.â
Carl sighed, âWhatever you say. Iâll be back when youâre in a better mood.â Carl swam away, leaving Ghent feeling incredibly sorry for himself.
Ghent would of closed his eyes in despair if he had had eyelids, but instead, he just sighed. âIâm sorry Ghent. Itâs justâŚsomething.â Ghent went off into the fartherst area of the tank, one no one controlled. It was here, in a clearing with the high plants all around, that he came to ponder and considerâŚthink and contemplate. Maybe it wonât be so bad. Ghent grinned. What if itâs a female red-tail!
Suddenly, a tall plant rustled somewhere behind him. With lightning-fast reflexes, he whirled around and rammed the plants, only to hit his head against the side of the tank and barely see an orange blur move past him. âWhat in theâŚâ he thought. Plants were rustling all around him now, so he turned in every direction until he saw a slight flicker of movement inside a rock alcove. He rushed over too it, seething all the way. âItâ him!â was his minds exclamation.
Outside the fish tank, the Giver welcomed his young nephew, Thomas. âHi, Uncle! Can I see your fish tank!?â
The Giver rubbed the boyâs head and nodded. âSure itâs downsâŚâ the phone rang. âGo ahead. Just donât touch the fish, ok?â
The boy nodded and ran downstairs to his uncleâs 150 gallon fish tank.
As Ghent approached the cave, a huge, disfigured thing came into his face, forcing him back. It was huge and orange, with a curved spine, and it bobbled around like a fool. It was a freak! Itâs huge eyes swiveled, looking everywhere. âHelloâŚfriend?â
Ghentâs lips curled and he backed up. âFriend? I donât think so! Youâre the ugliest thing Iâve ever seen!â
The massive, bulbous head of the fish looked down to the ground. âIâmâŚa blood parrot. Iâm sorry you donât like me.â
Ghent would have said something, but the lid was opening, and that meant food, so he rushed to the top, forgetting about the freakish thing he had seen, since he considered it not to be a threat. Instead of finding food though, he found an ominous hand reaching down to grasp him. The boy ouside the tank, who was not the Giver, laughed. âHehe, I wannaâ see fish up close! Uncle wonât mind if we pway!!!!â
Chapter 2
Ghent had spent the last three days frenziedly searching for the elusive new tankmate. Carl had told him to give it up, but Ghent had some sort of primal, instictive rage building inside his aggressive body. For some reason, he already considered the new fish a rival, a fiendâŚan enemy. He never did think of asking someone, for he was too proud. The tetras and cory doras are mindless anyway, he thought. When Carl noticed his friend wasnât even actively scavaging at night, he got worried. âGhent, youâve been obsessed with thisâŚthis invisible threat. It might be a school of tetras for all we know.â Carl started to chuckle. âJust thing; you might be getting all upset over a bunch of stupid neons!â
Normally, Ghent would have found that hilarious, but even Carlâs normal humor couldnât arouse his old self once again. He was under the control of a more powerful force. âStop joking around, spike head,â he growled. âI know this new fish isnât an ordinary one. Besides, tetras would be out and about, even if they were afraid of getting eaten.â
Carl sighed, âWhatever you say. Iâll be back when youâre in a better mood.â Carl swam away, leaving Ghent feeling incredibly sorry for himself.
Ghent would of closed his eyes in despair if he had had eyelids, but instead, he just sighed. âIâm sorry Ghent. Itâs justâŚsomething.â Ghent went off into the fartherst area of the tank, one no one controlled. It was here, in a clearing with the high plants all around, that he came to ponder and considerâŚthink and contemplate. Maybe it wonât be so bad. Ghent grinned. What if itâs a female red-tail!
Suddenly, a tall plant rustled somewhere behind him. With lightning-fast reflexes, he whirled around and rammed the plants, only to hit his head against the side of the tank and barely see an orange blur move past him. âWhat in theâŚâ he thought. Plants were rustling all around him now, so he turned in every direction until he saw a slight flicker of movement inside a rock alcove. He rushed over too it, seething all the way. âItâ him!â was his minds exclamation.
Outside the fish tank, the Giver welcomed his young nephew, Thomas. âHi, Uncle! Can I see your fish tank!?â
The Giver rubbed the boyâs head and nodded. âSure itâs downsâŚâ the phone rang. âGo ahead. Just donât touch the fish, ok?â
The boy nodded and ran downstairs to his uncleâs 150 gallon fish tank.
As Ghent approached the cave, a huge, disfigured thing came into his face, forcing him back. It was huge and orange, with a curved spine, and it bobbled around like a fool. It was a freak! Itâs huge eyes swiveled, looking everywhere. âHelloâŚfriend?â
Ghentâs lips curled and he backed up. âFriend? I donât think so! Youâre the ugliest thing Iâve ever seen!â
The massive, bulbous head of the fish looked down to the ground. âIâmâŚa blood parrot. Iâm sorry you donât like me.â
Ghent would have said something, but the lid was opening, and that meant food, so he rushed to the top, forgetting about the freakish thing he had seen, since he considered it not to be a threat. Instead of finding food though, he found an ominous hand reaching down to grasp him. The boy ouside the tank, who was not the Giver, laughed. âHehe, I wannaâ see fish up close! Uncle wonât mind if we pway!!!!â