CHAPTER 4

If only things could have been different... 1 thought as he stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall. If only I could have changed things... he glanced out the broken stain glassed windows at the emptiness. Not a single living being remained out there except beasts.

He remembered back to the day when they'd all came together. How the eight of them had gathered and gone to the church. Her remembered when they'd lost 5 and he'd said it would be foolish to go back for him. The ones who had gone were now 5's closest companions. 2 and 7...

7... that's the day you made up your mind about me. When you decided I was a heartless creature that cared nothing for the well being of others... but what about now? I'm only trying to protect everyone..

He saw 5 walking by. 1 stopped and let him pass, his optics locking on the path covering the space where 5's left optic should have been.

His first mistake.

If he hadn't been so hard headed back then would 7 still think of him as a cruel being? What if he had offered to send 8 back with 2 to retrieve the younger doll? Would she have any respect for him? Would she have thanked him?

He did not know and dwelling on it would change nothing. The past was past. It was over, nobody could do anything about it now.

1 sighed and continued on his course.

... Why am I suddenly thinking about all of this now? he wondered. I never given it much consideration but now... Now that I did this one thing I'm second guessing myself.

It's strange what one simple act of kindness can do to you, the voice in his head commented. Maybe this was meant to happen? Maybe you've been waiting for a chance to let this happen for awhile?

Don't think so foolishly. Why would I want that? It only makes my decision more difficult.

Well you don't have to do it, you know. Why are you suddenly choosing to do this anyway?

Because I have to. I can't.. I can't let this continue.

But doing so might take away any chances you have with her...

That's a risk I am willing to take...

But was he? Was he really? 1 honestly didn't know what he wanted.

His feeling were confused and the questions 7 had been asking hadn't helped. He flashed back a moment to when he'd repaired her arm and then later when she'd asked him about it. It was just a minor thing, something he'd only done because nobody else had been around to do it. It almost felt as if she was trying to make more out of it than she should. As if she wanted to believe it meant something more.

Or was that how he felt and he was totally wrong about her? What if she wasn't the one doing the wishful thinking, but himself? What if he was hoping it would mean things would change between them?

What exactly did he want? What did she want?

You're being foolish again. What are you expecting anyway? Neither of you care enough about the other to entertain such thoughts.

That was true but he couldn't help thinking about them anyway.

So what now?

1 glanced back at the elevator. 8 had gotten out and was heading in the opposite direction. The eldest stitchpunk watched him, a guilty feeling beginning to fill his chest as the bigger stitchpunk headed toward 7's room. Maybe this was a mistake after all. It wasn't like 7 was hurting anyone with her actions.

What am I saying? She is hurting everyone. Her foolish behavior leaving us vulnerable. I can't let it continue. I'm doing this... I'm doing this for the good of everyone.

Or at least that's what he told himself anyway.

7 was pulled rudely from her bed and onto the floor. She gasped in surprise and opened her optics to find 8 looming over her, a threatening frown on his face. For a moment she lay where she was dropped, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"8," she said, staring up at him. "What is-"

The rest of her words were cut out when he grabbed her up by the arm and flung her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.

"8, let me go," she ordered, struggling to free herself.

The bigger stitchpunk did not comply and carried her out of her room and down the hall. She fought against him, not wanting to go wherever he was taking her. Something told her wherever it was it wasn't good.

What's going on? Why is he doing this? What does he want?

"8, put me down or I'll-" the rest of her threat was cut off when she spotted a certain somebody standing a short distance away, watching.

1. He stood like a statue at the base of one of the sanctuary's pews, his expression blank as his optics took in the entire scene. He did not speak or make a movie to stop what was happening. It was almost as if he did not want to be involved.

7, even though she could not prove it, instantly deducted that he was somehow responsible for 8's actions.

How.. how could he! Especially after-

8 carried her to the elevator and dropped her inside. Before she could get up to jump out he closed the door and started pulling the crank. 7 was instantly on her feet and attempting to leap out of the lift but 8, grabbing the back of her neck, prevented her from doing so. She glared over her shoulder at him, her eyes flashing.

"I want to get out, 8," she growled.

"Sorry, I'm afraid I can't let you do that," he responded, pulling her back and making her sit on the floor with a thump.

"Why not?" she asked, scrambling to her feet. She would not take this sitting down. "Did 1 put you up to this?"

He did not reply, he merely grabbed her arm to prevent her from trying anything.

"He did, didn't he?" she asked, jerking away in an attempt to break his hold. It did little good.. "and you're just going right along with it."

8 still refused to answer or even look at her. He waited until they were too high for her to jump out before releasing her. She pulled away from him and then stood, leaning her back against the railing, her arms folded across her chest, glaring daggers at the other stitchpunk warrior.

I should have known this would happen, she thought. That one nice thing he did really didn't mean anything after all.

For some strange reason the fact really bothered her. She felt disappointed, as if she'd wanted it to mean something more than it did. Like he really did care for once.

What did you expect? Him to suddenly start treating you right just because of a minor incident. Forget it, girl. This is 1 we're talking about! You have a better chance of that happening with someone else.

She sighed.

But what was this now? Where was 8 taking her? What did 1 want him to do to her anyway?

She almost asked him but changed her mind. He probably wouldn't answer her anyway. So instead she just sat back and waited for him to take her up, knowing she would find out the answer soon enough.

1 watched 8 carry 7 across the room and into the elevator. For a brief moment 7 looked his way. Their eyes met and he knew that she knew this was his doing. He looked away from her, feeling ashamed and not knowing why.

This was for her own good, she would come to realize that eventually. It would just take time. She needed to learn and this was the only way he knew how to teach her.

And until she does she's going to hate you. the voice in his head pointed out. In fact; she might never understand which means she'll never forgive you.

Right now I don't care about if she will forgive me or not, he argued back. This is for her own good. One day she'll thank me.

How do you know that?

1 pushed the thought out of his mind and turned away only to find 2 standing behind him. The other elder looked as if he's just witnessed something he would did not approve of.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, jerking back startled. "2! How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," he replied, his tone cold as a stone in the winter.

"What have I told you about sneaking up on me?" the older stitchpunk demanded, wondering how much his comrade has seen.

2 chose to ignore his words. He glanced past him toward the elevator which had started to rise then looked at 1's face. The shorter doll looked sad, as if he's just lost something precious. For some reason this made 1 start to feel bad as well.

He also looked toward the elevator but his gaze lingered longer.

An eternity passed.

"Why must you do those things?" 2's voice broke into his thoughts after a moment.

"What things?" 1 demanded, looking back at his comrade. "I don't know what you're talking about."

2 shook his head and turned to walk away but 1 grabbed his arm, preventing him from going anywhere. 2 looked back into his intense gaze.

"I want to know what you meant by that," he said, gripping his arm tightly. "Now tell me, you little fool."

2 looked his right in the face, his mouth set in a firm line. "I don't think it matters anymore," he stated in that cold voice. "You lost whatever chance you had."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Was this your idea?" 2 pressed, his optics burning into 1's like lazers. "Did 8 take 7 away because you wanted him to?"

1 looked away, unable to answer his question. Why must he make things more difficult by asking me such questions? Why does he even care? It isn't any of his business.

"Questions like that are pointless," he told 2, tightening his grip on 2's arm. "She was a weak link and I couldn't have her putting us in anymore danger."

2 continued to stare unflinchingly at him, unconvinced by his excuse. "So you're going to have 8 kill her?"

"I never said I wanted 8 to kill her, 2," 1 snapped, his grip on his other leader's arm so tight his metal fingers whined in protest.

It was as if 2 didn't even feel it. "Then what is he going to do with her?" he demanded.

1 gave no reply. He merely let go of his comrade's arm and turned and walked away, leaving the other stitchpunk staring sadly after him.

A short time later the elevator came to a stop, the recoil thrusting 7 out of her thoughts. She lifted her head and discovered 8 hadn't taken her all the way to the top after all but to a section just below 1's throne room. She had never been on this floor before.

8 shoved the door open then turned to 7 and reached out and grabbed her up before she could do anything. The female stitchpunk struggled against him, trying to break free. Did he really have to do that? It wasn't like she had anywhere to escape to now that they were so high up.

"8, let go of me," she ordered, slamming her fists into his back though it did little good.

The bigger stitchpunk didn't comply. He carried her off the elevator and down the long, dark hallway. 7 still tried to free herself to no avail. When they reached a place with an open door 8 drug her inside then flung her roughly across the room. Her body slammed into the wall and she sunk to the floor, feeling dazed. Before she could recover 8 left the room and closed the door behind himself. She heard something heavy slide into place on the other side.

"8!" she called, getting to her feet and charging toward the door. She crashed into it but the portal didn't open. Something was holding it shut. "8!" she called again, slamming her fists against the door. "Let me out of here! You've got no right to do this to me!"

But she received no response. She heard footsteps heading from from her. Withing seconds they faded into silence. 8 was gone. There was no one to answer her cries or care if she uttered them.

7 cursed loudly and stepped away from the door. This couldn't be happening. She looked around herself, searching the small space for any other means of escape. There was none, except for a very tiny crack in the wall that let in a little daylight. She moved over to the crack and put her hand in it. The only thing that fit were her fingers. She wouldn't be getting out that way, not any time soon.

She cursed again and pulled her hand out, turning her attention back toward the door. She walked over to it and studied studied the portal, her optics taking in every detail. It was made of a solid piece of wood. She slammed her shoulder against it, hoping to force it open that way.

Nothing. Whatever was holding it shut on the other side stayed in place and didn't even budge. It was like trying to push over a wall using a feather.

7 sighed and rested her back against the door, sliding down it until she was sitting.

So he finally did it, she thought. He finally did what he threatened to do. He had 8 lock me in a room to keep me from going out and doing what I'm supposed to do. He's taken away my freedom my very purpose. She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. That just makes what he said earlier a lie. I knew it. What he did means nothing in the long run. It was just a one time thing.

She would never forgive him.

5, unaware of the recently transpired events, headed back to 7's room with the intent of spending more time with her. He knew it was probably a bad idea to wake her up so soon after her ordeal, seeing as she needed her rest, but he couldn't help himself. He needed to talk to her and wanted to tell her... tell her exactly how he felt.

Unfortunately he encountered 1 on the way there.

"H-hello, 1," he stammered as the older stitchpunk drew near. 1 always made him nervous for some reason, as if the leader had some kind of un-nerving arua about him. 5 had never seen him smile unless he was sneering at someone and sneers really didn't count as smiles now that he thought about it. Plus he could never look the oldest stitchpunk directly in the eye because he knew 1 would think he was trying to challenge him if he did

Upon hearing his name 1 turned his head and pinned 5 with a fierce gaze, his slanted optics squinting lower. He frowned and demanded. "What do you want?"

"N-nothing," 5 stuttered, wanting to look away from 1 but unable to. 1's eyes seemed to be looking right into him, reading his very thoughts and knowing all his hidden secrets "I was just saying hi and well.."

"Hmph." the rude noise cut off his rambling.

"I'm sorry!" 5 blurted out.

Sorry for what? he asked himself. All he'd done was say hello to 1. Why did the eldest stitchpunk always make him feel as if he'd done something wrong all the time?

I'm sorry. It's my fault. I never should have said anything. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sorry I'm so slow and got hurt. It won't happen again. I won't question your authority. I'll do what I'm told. Please forgive me. Please forgive 2.

1 didn't respond, he merely stared at him as if expecting 5 to say more than just sorry. What else did he expect 5 to say? Did he want him to bow down and grovel or something? Why did 1 have to be so pompous all the time? Who did he think he was, anyway?

The leader... Oh yes. That little fact. 1 wasn't even elected the leader he's just proclaimed himself as such because he was the oldest and had been around the longest. Nobody, except 7, questioned it. They just allowed him to take that status and all the power and problems that came with it. In a way it was a disappointment and a huge relief.

The two continued to stare at each other for another moment, neither speaking. 5 noticed 1 seemed to be gripping his staff rather tightly, like he did when he was irritated or something was really bothering him. The other stitchpunk began to wonder if something might be wrong but wasn't brave enough to ask what it was.

He wouldn't tell me if I asked anyway.

Finally 1 spoke. "If you have nothing to say to me get out of my way."

"Oh!" 5 moved sideways. "I-I'm sorry."

1 stared at him a moment longer then made a humphing noise and turned away, walking past 5 with a sweep of his cape. 5 watched him go, wishing he'd said more but wondering what he could have said, then continued on his own course.

5 reached 7's bedroom a short time later. He raised his hand to knock on the slab of wood used for a door then noticed it was slightly ajar.

"Huh?"

This was odd. 7 never left her door open when she was in her room. She liked to sleep with it closed so she would have her privacy. Had she woken up and left?

"7?" he said, not daring to touch the door. "7, are you awake?"

When he received no reply he reached out and pushed the door open the rest of the way. It whined slightly as it slid open. The stitchpunk stepped inside, trying to see in the gloom.

"7, are you in here?"

Still she did not respond. He looked around some more until he spotted the beam of wood she used for a bed. It was empty.

"She's not here."

But why? It had barely been an hour since she'd said she was going to lie down. He knew for a fact she usually slept longer than that. 7, being a warrior, usually required more rest than a simple hour after she'd returned from hunting, to recover all her strength. Even though she'd gotten some from laying in the infirmary she still needed it. It did he good. If she was only getting small amounts...

He looked back at the bed, his mind trying to figure out what had happened.

"7... did you leave? Did you go out again so soon after what happened?" the stitchpunk left her room and headed toward the door of the church. Maybe her conversation with 1 unsettled her. he thought. She might have gone out to clear her head...

7 usually kept her weapon near the exit so she could easily grab it when she went out. Most of the time nobody realized she was gone until they noticed the spear missing from its place by the door. When he reached the door he was surprised and confused to see the spear resting against the wall, untouched.

So she hadn't left after all. But if she hadn't left where was she? Had she gone for a walk?

"She's not gone," a voice spoke up from behind, startling the one eyed stitchpunk.

5 spun around to face the speaker. 2 stood behind him, looking upset. "2?" he asked, looking surprised. "What do you mean?"

"7 hasn't left the sanctuary," he repeated himself,his voice blunt as a bread knife

5 blinked. "She hasn't?" he asked. "But then where is she?"

"You would have to ask 1 that question," he responded.

"1?" 5 stared at him in disbelief. "What would 1 know about where 7 is?"

"Because," 2 replied. "I think he had 8 take her somewhere."

"What?" 5 couldn't belief what he was hearing. 1 had done something to 7? But what and why? What was going on?

Then it hit him. 1 had been threatening 7 with locking her away for a long time. He didn't approve of what she was doing and it was obvious he didn't want her doing it anymore. But would he really go as far as to actually go through with it? Even after what he'd done for her not two days agao?

Of course he would, the logical part of his brain stated. 1's stubborn and likes having things his own way. If he wanted to do something horrible to her he would just to prove that he could.

"But I thought he-"

"As did I," 2 cut him off. The elder's expression darkened. "But it seems we were both wrong."

"So what are we going to do?" the one eyed stitchpunk wanted to know.

"There's really nothing we can do."

"But we can't just let him get away with doing that to her!" 5 shouted, his own anger and indignation flaring up. How dare 1 do something to 7! How dare he think he could get away with it!

If 1 had been standing there at that moment 5 would have become a murderer.

2 noticed the fury on 5's face. He's never seen 5 look so angry before. It made him uneasy. "What would you have me do, 5?" 2 wanted to know. "1 doesn't listen to anybody and even if I tried reasoning with him he'd only insist what he was doing is for the best."

"Then don't reason with him!" 5 snapped. "Force him to tell you! You have a weapon. Tell him if he doesn't let her go you will use it on him."

"That would not work," 2 informed him. "and I would never dare using my lance against one of our own. I know 1 is a coward sometimes but he's stubborn and he would know I wasn't serious."

"Then I'll make him tell us."

5 moved as if to head toward the elevator but 2 grabbed his arm and stopped him. "It would not be wise if you did such a thing," he told him. "He will only have 8 hurt you if you do."

5 didn't reply. He knew 2 was right. Nothing would change 1's mind. If anyone was going to make 1 leave 7 be it would be 1 himself.

"Can we at least try to find out where he put her?"he asked, his anger fading into nothing as he realized the hopelessness of the situation.

"Yes, we can do that," 2 agreed, releasing his arm. "But that's about all we can do."

A/N

I am in need to some help. Anyone got suggestions?