Well, here it is. My first chapter story for 9. I've been working on just this chapter for about four days, and I've been anxious to post it up ever since I finished it about an hour ago. I wrote it completely out on paper, read through it and edited it to the best of my ability, and now I am uploading it onto my computer. Yes I know I have a lot of steps. But all that matters if you like it. So I hope you enjoy it and please review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot and anything that doesn't appear in the movie '9'.

1. Visitor

The sky was clear blue, the sun was shining brightly, and the air was silent. Though he usually hated the silence, 9 found that at this particular second he loved it. He wished that 5 were there to talk with, but 9 felt content just sitting and staring at the memorial that he, 7, and the twins had built for the fallen stitchpunks.

It had been a total of a month since 9 used the Talisman to destroy the Fabrication Machine and the souls of the dead stitchpunks had been released. 9 missed them all terribly, but he was finally dealing with the fact that they were gone. They were free, and 9 knew that they were probably better off.

9 and the others had set up the supplies and various objects around the Scientist's lab to form a suitable living place. 9 and 7 stayed with each other most of the time, and so they had taken a book that 3 and 4 had already read, propped it open upside down, and held it open with a couple of strong sticks they had found outside. They had found a bag of cotton balls and so they had sewed them all together (a difficult task) to make a square large enough for both of them to sleep on together. They had also found a small, square piece of light blue cloth that they used as a blanket if it got cold enough.

3 and 4 hadn't bothered to make a shelter for themselves; they never felt the need to sleep since the Scientist's lab had so many books. They spent most, if not all of their time on the Scientist's bookshelf, desk, or anywhere they could find a book.

On some nights 7 would have the cotton ball bed to herself while 9 sat up on the open windowsill, staring up at the night sky until he finally fell asleep. The sky held hope for 9, since the sky was where the souls had flown off and disappeared. Watching the sky, 9 was hopeful that maybe the souls would come back. Maybe they would find their bodies, join together again, and life would be back to normal. Good and normal.

But the sky also held fear over the youngest stitchpunk. Perhaps when the souls burst into each other a month ago that was the last that would ever be seen of them. This is something he never wanted to think about, yet it always ended up plaguing his mind. All those innocent stitchpunks that were killed…because of him. If he had never plugged the Talisman into the Fabrication Machine none of the events that recently happened would have ever happened, and those who had fallen would still be there with them. He would often find himself mumbling to himself about it, drowning himself in his guilt.

A slight breeze blew, and 9 welcomed it happily. Something about the breeze brought 5's presence to him, as if 5 were standing right there next to him. 9 looked into the crackling fire in the center of the memorial. Five ruts had been dug out from the fire pit, each evenly spaced from each other and about three or four feet long. At the end of each rut a stick was stabbed into the ground with another stick tied horizontally onto the first stick in the shape of a cross. Resting atop the sticks was a piece of cloth with the fallen stitchpunk's number painted on it. 9 wasn't sure where the idea for the memorial had came from; 3 and 4 had begun working on the fire pit, and 9 and 7 merely helped with the ruts when the twins began work on them afterwards.

9 pushed himself to his feet and walked around the memorial until he came to 5's dedicated stick. He stared at the inky black number, feeling the warmth of the fire blow onto him because of the small breeze. Again, 9 felt his brother's presence. He knew that he and 5 weren't brothers in the literal sense, but they were close enough to each other and they definitely shared a strong bond that not even death could destroy.

The wind picked up, though the sky showed no signs of a storm. 9 watched as the fire was blown out in one large gust of wind. 9 was confused as to what was going on and found one thing very strange: the wind was warm. It was as if the fire had been sucked into the wind and was now spreading its warmth around in the air. Weeds that had begun squeezing through the dirt were blowing harshly with the wind. 9 looked up to the clear blue sky again, and saw a very small, very faint green light blink once briefly. And then, as abruptly as it had started, the wind ceased. Everything was still and silent once again. 9 looked around, in case he had missed something. He looked back at 5's painted number, wondering what had just happened.

'It's so good to see you again.'

9 jumped in surprise at the sudden statement. He twirled around, for the familiar voice had come from behind him. There, hovering an inch of the ground, was the faint green soul of 5. A smile would have appeared on 9's face if he hadn't been so shocked from 5's sudden comment.

"5, you startled me," 9 said, his hand on his chest. 5 smirked as 9 processed what was happening. Abruptly 9's optics widened and he pointed at 5. "Oh my God!" he yelled. 5 chuckled lightly.

'How've you been?' 5 questioned. 9 couldn't speak. The one he had been wishing could come back for so long was standing right in front of him. 9, not thinking clearly, launched himself forward with his arms open wide. Intentionally, 9 was bent on hugging 5, but without thinking it through beforehand he merely ran straight through the translucent figure. He looked down his arms for a second before he finally processed things correctly. He turned around to look at 5's soul again.

"Whoops," he said. 5 chuckled again.

'My question still stands,' he stated, and 9 noticed that when 5's voice could be heard his soul's mouth never open. It was as if 9 were hearing what 5 was thinking…

"I've…uh…been fine, I guess," 9 stammered. "How are you here? What is going on?"

'Well, all this time we've been able to come visit you, but 1 never said it would be good idea so none of us took the chance.'

"Where have you all been?"

'1 took us all back to the burnt down ruins of the Sanctuary, and we've been staying there. He told us that staying away from the rest of you was the best idea, so the Sanctuary was the best place to go. He thought it would be the last place any of you would ever go again.'

"So what made you finally decide to defy 1's rules and come pay is a visit?" 9 asked with a small smile. 5's face showed a sign of slight fear, and his optics flickered to the ground for a second before looking back up at 9's face.

'It was actually 2's idea,' he replied. 'He told me to go without letting 1 know. He knew how much I wanted to come see you. He wanted to as well, but he stayed behind to cover for me with 1 and 8.'

"5…when you back…please tell 2 that I'm sorry. This was all completely my fault." 5 smiled and put his hand on 9's shoulder, though 9 felt nothing when he did so and part of 5's thumb phased into 9's shoulder.

'He forgives you,' he murmured. 'He's already told me.'

"It must be good to be back with him again," 9 said quietly as 5's hand fell through 9's shoulder and back to his side.

'Great, really,' 5 replied. 'Though we don't do much because we can't do much, just being with him is nice.' 5 smiled as words came from his unmoving mouth. 'We usually just sit together, away from the others, and talk endlessly about the inventions we could build together if we still possessed our bodies.'

"What about 6? What does he do nowadays? He can't draw, can he?"

'No, he can't draw anymore. But he found some of his old drawings that had survived the fire…he likes to trace those with his fingers.'

"I don't want to ask but I feel I have to…what do 1 and 8 occupy themselves with these days?" 9 asked, rolling his optics in annoyance.

'1 mostly watches the rest of us, and if we're doing something out of line' – 5 raised his hand and did little air quotes – 'he sends 8 over to fix the problem.' His arms rested back at his sides as he rolled his eyes as well. 9 grinned.

"Sounds like what life was like before…" he mused quietly. 5 sighed.

'Yes, well, some people just never change,' he responded dryly. There was a moment of silence before 5 spoke again. 'Anyway,' he said, 'where are the others?'

"I think they're inside," 9 answered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the remains of the Scientist's house.

'You live here?' 5 asked, looking past 9 and at the old ruined building.

"We thought it was the best place to stay," 9 told him. "Come on. I'm sure the others will be happy to see you." 9 turned and began to walk back towards the building he called home.

'No, wait 9!" 5 called, extending his arm. He grunted in annoyance when his hand went through 9's shoulder again. 9 turned back around to face 5 again.

"What is it?" he asked. "Don't you want to see 7 and the twins?"

'Of course I do,' he replied. 'But I can't right now. There's another reason why I came. I need to tell you something that you need to pass onto the others.'

"Can't you tell them yourself?" 9 questioned.

'I don't have the time. 2 said to tell you and get back as soon as possible.'

"Why wasn't this said earlier when you first arrived?" 9 asked a bit aggravated.

'Because I was afraid. But I need to tell you…there's another beast out there.' 9's optics widened.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "How is that possible? The Fabrication Machine has been destroyed."

'The beast as lurking around in the shadows the entire time, staying away from us so we wouldn't know it was there. Destroying the Fabrication Machine was not a good idea; the beast is angry and is preparing itself for attack.' 9 could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Have you seen it?" 9 asked, worry in his voice.

'I did last night,' 5 answered. 'It's just a bit larger than the Cat Beast was. It walks on four legs but only the front right leg has sharp claws on the end of it. It's body is hollow on the inside, as if it could hold something inside of it. It's neck is very long and flexible, though it can retract into the beast's body to make it any length the beast wants it to be. And on it's face are two deathly red, glowing eyes that make it feel as if the beast is staring straight into your soul when it looks at you.' 9 was frozen, his widened optics locked on 5's face. 'I didn't see any weapons except for the claws,' 5 continued, 'but that doesn't make it any less dangerous.'

"Did it see you?" 9 forced himself to ask.

'No, I was hidden fairly well. And even if it had what would it have done? I'm already dead and impossible to touch.' Another moment of silence passed as 5 looked to the ground. 'I had better get going, then,' he said quietly.

"But you just got here," 9 protested. 5 looked up into 9's optics sadly.

'I know, and I wish I could stay longer.' He began to slowly float upwards toward the sky. 'Give 7 and the twins my best…and my news.'

"5 wait!" 9 screamed, reaching out to him. 5 gave 9 a warm smile.

'You'll see me again, 9,' he promised. And with a bright flash of green light he was gone. 9 stood alone, staring up at the blue sky, as a slight breeze blew by to assure him that his brother would return as promised.

Chapter one complete! I really hope you enjoyed it. I thought I did a pretty good job on it, and I'm proud of the outcome. But it's pretty much up to you if you liked it or not. So please leave me a review and let me know what you think! Should I continued, or totally just drop it and forget it?

Oh, and if you haven't yet, check out my other 9 story "Nothing Wrong" if you're interested. It's just a short little oneshot. Thanks, and I'm awaiting your feedback! ^_^

~Taylor