"What do you mean 'The Nexfamine has him'?" 7 asked, still a bit shaken from the incident that had just occurred.
"Those worms" 10 said "They were the Nexfamine. It used a different body of 6's to lure 4. But where did he get the second body? He can't shape shift, I know that..."
"It must have been the body that was at the bottom of the trench" 9 said. 10's eyes widened.
"There are other bodies?" She asked frantically.
"Of course" 9 answered.
10 shook her head frantically "No, No, No. This isn't good. I knew there were four others, but I didn't expect bodies!" her legs almost gave out and, she was on the brink of hyperventilating but she managed to calm herself down a little bit. Once she was sure she was stable she took a few deep breaths and said "The Nexfamine had taken 4's mind. If It finds the other bodies, then they'll rise again, He'll use them against us. Everyone be extra careful if you wonder into the emptiness" Without another word, she flew back to her room.
XXX
Maggots came out of the head of the 6 imposter and had taken him away, leaving nothing but the key, which 6 immediately grabbed and hung around his neck. Everyone had gone back to their rooms, the only ones remaining were 9, 5 and 6.
"What are the chances of This Nexfamine actually finding the bodies?" 9 asked.
"Well if he could reach 6 from the bottom of the trench, then it would be no problem to reach any of the others" 5 said. Right then, 6 limped toward them.
"Wanting" He said.
"Yes 6 we know" 5 said to the younger stitchpunk "The Nexfamine wants our old bodies"
6 was about to say something but cut himself off and shook his head a little bit. Instead, he picked up a stray piece of paper, and started to messily draw on it, once he was done he showed it to 9 and 5.
"The brush and touch" he said. The picture showed of the wingless butterfly with the hugging worms on its sides. The same thing 6 had seen in his dreams.
"Where did you see this?" 9 asked, remembering that he had seen 10 drawing this picture the day she joined them.
"In a dream" 6 answered "It's been visiting my dreams..."
"You mean you've talked to it?" 5 asked, hopeful to find some answers. 6 shook his head.
"Can't talk, only watch" 6 flipped over the paper and scribbled something else. Most of the paper was covered in scribbles, the mass of scribbles had two tentacles coming out of it. Four stitchpunks were in the picture as well; two of them were on the ground, 6 had drawn thick black lines over them. The other two were in the tentacle of the scribble mass, another tentacle shooting right through them.
"This is what I saw" 6 said "It will happen"
"Not if we can help it!" 9 said firmly "If 10 won't go after it, then we will" 5 grabbed his shoulder, a look of panic flashed across his eyes.
"No 9! Remember the last time we went after a beast? 2 died!"
"But this isn't a beast" 9 said "This is a living thing. And I've learned since then 5, I'm not the thoughtless newborn I was before" turning to 6 he asked "Do you have any idea where this" he gestured to the picture of the scribble mass still in 6's hand "Could be?" 6 shook his head.
"Well then, I think I do" 9 started for the door "When the twins, 7 and I first saw 10, she was reviving you guys in a cave. I'd bet my voice box that's where The Nexfamine is"
"I'll go with you!" 5 said, catching up to him "You can't go there alone"
"Too dangerous" 6 said "Will eat you alive"
"We'll be careful 6" 9 said "Don't worry"
"No!" 6 latched onto 9's arm "You can't go! No match!"
"6, we'll be fine!" 9 said, trying to yank his arm away. He had to literally pry 6 off his arm, he had a surprisingly strong grip for such a little guy. When 6 refused to let go, 9 sighed.
"6. We have to do this. Nobody else is stepping up, and 10 is starting to act like 1 in all this. If everybody just avoids this, then it will be just a repeat of The Fabrication machine"
6 paused, allowing that sentence to sink in. His eyes became glassy and vacant as he lowered his head in thought. After what seemed like a lifetime he lifted his head and nodded, not approvingly, but like he had no other choice.
"Go" He whispered.
"Thank you 6" 9 said. He nudged 5's shoulder and gestured him to come on. When they took off again, 6 grabbed onto 9's shoulder. This time he had a wide eyed expression, like he wanted to ask something but couldn't get the word's out. Although he wasn't saying anything, the message was perfectly clear.
"Alright 6, you can come too"
XXX
It would have taken hours to get to the cave 9 had said The Nexfamine was dwelling in, but since 9 already knew the path to take, it only took about 45 minutes. The three of them stood just a few feet away from the mouth of the cave. The mouth was like looking into the night sky: black and empty, seeming to go on for miles. What little sunlight shone in revealed the masts where the Stitchpunks had been revived, except now they were had fallen to the ground.
"Feel it?" 6 said, messing with his key "Feel the energy?"
As much as the taller two wanted to say no, they couldn't. Even though they were a fair amount away from the cave, they could still feel the heavy air around them, as if there were hands pushing down on them. Not only that, but there was also a strange feeling coming from the cave, a feeling that wasn't there when 10 had been dwelling inside. Almost like someone was beckoning them to come closer.
"Come on" 9 said after the tense pause had past "Let's see what we're up against"
6 made a small squeaking noise before following them, slouching as if to make himself as small as possible. Once they were at the rim of the cave, the sensation became ever so stronger.
"There" 6 said pointing right in front of him "Right there"
It was a mystery how 6 could see anything in the cave, neither 9, nor 5 could see anything in the cave except for the fallen masts.
"What's in there 6?" 5 asked. The younger Stitchpunk didn't answer, instead he lowered his and started shaking "N-n-no..." he murmured "No..."
Whatever was in there was having a negative effect on 6, for he was starting to shaky more violently and his eyes started to dilate; when 9 reached out to him he violently swatted him away and made a bee-line into the cave.
"6!" 5 and 9 started after him. But was held back.
STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! It said Stay away from the Brush!
"The Brush?" 5 asked out loud "Why is-?"
STAY AWAY! It screeched Don't gaze upon me Healing one... Your single eye allows you to see me, do not see me!
5's eye widened. He could see what has spoken to him: it was a black mass, with the faintest bits of grey in it. The black mass seemed to be breathing, for 5 could see it rising up and down. He had never seen anything like it before. Don't gaze upon me, don't gaze upon me...
Take your eye away.
5 gripped his optic.
XXX
6 ran faster than he had ever ran before. He had to reach Nex! He had to! It called for him, It needs him, desperately. He tried to resist, but he couldn't. It was dragging him into itself.
He saw the great mass before his eyes, stretched out as if wanting to embrace him.
It wrapped itself around him once he made contact
XXX
"I-i-it wanted me to rip my eye out" 5 said like he didn't believe it. 9 had to drag him out of the cave before he did anything he would regret.
"it what?" 9 asked.
"I couldn't help it. I tried to resist but I couldn't. I was trying to reach 6. But he was too far ahead"
9 Gazed back at the cave "You were right 5, we should never have come. 6 is gone"
XXX
Nex stroked the small stitchpunks hair, now asleep and not waking up anytime soon. Yes, he'll do perfectly. Now all he needs is the other hooded one and that traitor 10. Then it would be completed.
It was a close call for The Healing one, he could have seen what was happening. It was only luck that he had thought of telling him to rip his eye out. It would have been enjoyable too; watching the blind Stitchpunk run around like a crazed animal, trying to maneuver his way around. Yes, it would have been lovely to see. But he had bigger priorities right now.
Nex turned his attention to four shapes in the shadows, their eyes glowed red like the machines, and they were mangled and broken. One of them was missing their lower half.
"Make sure that those two don't come back. Not without the traitor and the other hooded one" He commanded. The four shaped nodded and disappeared into the dark
Now alone, Nex toyed with the half-sphere in his long-clawed hand.
"You will walk once more Mother" He murmured "You will walk once more"
