1 was pacing back and forth, ever since he had gotten news of the recent death. He despised the new member, killing off just one person the very first day he awakened. After years of trying to protect themselves, he and the others were at risk thanks to him. But he was more worried about what SHE would say. Oh, if she ever found out, his head would be resting on the very chair he sat upon. He bit the tips of his fingers in anxious worry as 5 and 9 watched him pace.
"How long is he going to do that?"
"I'm not sure." 5 told blinking slightly, "sometimes he does this for days. Then 8 blames it on us and gets all huffy."
"But why?" Soon his question was answered by the sound of crashing doors.
A stitchpunk with stitches lined on her body from previous injuries and a cross on her left cheek sprung through the door. By the lines under her eyes it was obvious that she was among the three elder stitchpunks. She smiled slightly at 6 who ran up to her immediately and even 5 had a beam on his face. 9 was confused as she hugged 5 but didn't say anything. 1 gulped, hiding behind 8 who simply looked down at the new stitchpunk. 9 could clearly see the faded 0 placed upon her back.
"Who is that?" He whispered watching as 8 gave her a hug and moved to reveal the shivering 1.
5 touched the eyepatch and nodded, "That's 0…"
"0?"
"She's like…a mother to us."
9 cocked his head slightly as she tore away at a few papers he held up to protect himself with her knife. "She doesn't look like a mother to me."
"Trust me," He looked slightly to the left, ashamed, "She and 2, without them I may not have even been here."
9 felt a sense of awe build in him. A mother to them? He could see a bit of sparkle in her eye when she turned around to investigate things.
She stood at the calendar as the sun began to shine through the wood slabs. She violently stuck her odd-shaped fingers to the one crossed out labeled 2. "Where is he? What have you done?"
"That old fool! My little brother, defied me so I sent him into the Emtiness. He was banished…" Suddenly he grabbed some ink, drew a crude circle and crossed it out, "Just like you should be." He threatened, splashing the excess in her face. She angrily wiped the rest off and raised her knife to him, its reflection shining in 8's face.
She sighed, putting it away, shaking her head slightly as she held an arm in defeat. Her eyes showered over with complete sadness, "What ever happened to my loyal brother-in-law that was always there even when the Beast ripped me to shreds?"
"Shreds…" 9 whispered looking at her beaten body. "That's why she has all those…"
"Shh…" 5 said as she walked past. 1 humped and hit the staff against the floor, making the bell jingle, "That's right 0. Back to your gardens where you are supposed to be."
"I will, and maybe I won't come back. It's better there than being in a hell I'm forced to live everytime I see you!" And with that she slammed the door.
It's only because I was jealous of my younger brother. Having a lover as beautiful as you..." 1 whispered to himself, looking sadly at his feet.