Chapter 10
7 took off across the wastes with only one thought on her mind. Finding and saving 1 before he wound up like the others. But had to find him first and that wasn't going to be easy.
Even if she was getting closer there was still much to do before she could actually get to him. Figure out which building he was in and then take care of the beast that had taken him before it decided to do more than run off...
I hope he's still alive, she thought to herself as she rushed across the barren landscape. Yes, there was the big if. If he was still alive and she held onto the major hope that he was.
1 had a large sense of self preservation. It was very likely he would do all he could to keep himself from being harmed or killed. For once this would be a useful aspect of his personality.
She wondered if he knew that, probably not. Then again if he knew he probably wouldn't, she told herself. He always does the opposite of what is the smart choice. It was like he intentionally contradicted himself to make a point, no matter how silly it was.
Now that wasn't fair, she reminded herself. 1 might be a lot of things but he wasn't stupid. Not really. He'd done foolish things in the past but not because of a lack of intelligence, he just thought what he was doing was what should be done.
Somehow that realization didn't make her feel any better. If anything it made her doubt 1 even more. What if he did something stupid anyway? What if he tried to be brave and wound up getting himself killed instead?
7 had to find him, and fast!
000
1 didn't come around until a much later. When he finally regained consciousness he found himself laying exactly where he'd fallen. On the ground by one of the walls of the warehouse. Obviously the beast had left him there after it had knocked him out since he wouldn't be able to escape while unconscious.
Moaning, he pushed himself up until he was sitting then grabbed his head when it began to throb painfully. He felt something wet touch his palm and jerked his hand away, seeing oil staining the metal.
Whimpering, he scooted back against the wall as if that could protect him from his own injury.
The sound alerted the beast who came rushing back to him from wherever it had wandered off to. It stood over him now, growling and starting at him with a cold, red stare. He saw it's pointed metal teeth clenched together in a snarl.
1 let out a scream and curled up into a fetal position , his back rested against the dirty, metal wall. The beast swatted him when he cried out, knocking him over. The stitchpunk covered his mouth and stayed down, not wanting to be knocked around again. It wasn't worth risking another injury.
The beast stayed where it was, staring him down as if making sure he would not try to escape through the window or make another sound again.
"I'll be good," he stammered, looking at the machine, hoping to appease it. "I promise."
It swatted him again as if making sure he didn't break his word, or was it angry he'd spoken at all? He squeaked, flopping onto his back and finding himself staring the creature right in the eyes. It leaned over him, showing it's sharp teeth more visibly as it growled a deep, warning growl.
1 kept his mouth shut this time, though it was hard with the creature right up in his face like this. The urge to scream was so great and he hoped it didn't hit him again or try to bite him.
But the beast did neither. It stared him down a moment longer before turning its attention away and wandering off tp where it had been residing formerly. 1 stayed where he was, trying not to make any sounds that would bring the beast charging back. He saw the beast walk a back to its previous location before it plopped down onto the ground with a soft thud.
Cautiously sitting up, the stitchpunk placed his hands on his head once more and felt the spot where he'd been bleeding. The leak had stopped but the area hurt so he quickly pulled his hands away. It began to throb nearly forcing him to cry out but he bit his lip and kept silent, merely making a soft whimpering sound that made the beast glance back in his direction again. He scooted away, forcing the sounds back into his voice box.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry! his mind screamed out at the machine.
When it looked away again he fell onto his back and tried to control his breathing. Things had gotten worse and he didn't know what to do anymore.
"7.."." he whispered. "Please find me soon."
000
7 hadn't made much progress by the time the sky darkened. She paused to watch the sun set behind the mountains on the horizon as she thought up her next move. This would take awhile to sort out, due to many different difficulties.
As the sun vanished behind the horizon she sighed, sitting down on the ground and glancing toward her destination. All that traveling and she didn't seem to be getting any closer to the buildings. Why did her creator have to make them so small? Just a few extra inches would have been a real time saver.
The air grew chilly as the sky darkened and she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to get warm. Her mind wandered away from the problem of her size to the more important issue.
1.
Finding him was still top priority but a part of her was starting to question why she was bothering. The little voice in her head kept insisting he would not be grateful and would just yell at her for taking so long to rescue him. It said he wasn't even worth saving because it would change nothing.
But it will, she insisted, sitting down to rest a moment. He's expressed his desire to change.
This subject was getting old but that voice refused to stop sewing seeds of doubt into her mind. It nagged at her, insisting that the older stitchpunk would not be grateful or appropriate what she was doing. He expected her to do it and if she didn't...
7 shook her head. No, she wasn't going to think about it anymore. That wouldn't do either of them any good. She had to get 1 away from that beast even if he didn't thank her. It would make her the better person and prove to him she really did care about what happened to him...
Care.
Yes, she really did care.
She always had it had just taken her this long to realize it.
Then why do you act so horrible toward him?
She sighed. Why did she have to think about this now? The answer came easy. Because she had the time. She wouldn't be able to find him for awhile so her mind had the opportunity to go other places.
Because I'm disappointed, she responded to the questioning voice when it repeated the question. His actions hurt people and I know he could have done better. He didn't have to do what he did to keep us. He could have been kind and explained himself better. I would have understood.
No, you wouldn't have.
Okay, so maybe I wouldn't have, she admitted, not really having the desire to argue with herself. But it would have been better if he'd had explained it to us instead of being so secretive. Did he really think none of us would be able to live with that knowledge?
Would you really have?
Yes.
Liar.
All right! I'm lying. she sighed. I don't want to think about this anymore. Why does it matter now? I don't want to dwell on it right now. I can forgive him for that, I can give him another chance...
If you find him will you talk to him about it?
7 nodded, getting up off the ground. "I will. I want to. I want to tell him everything."
0000
At some point 1 had fallen asleep. Maybe it was due to his head injury, maybe it had to do with being worn out from all the terror he'd gone through. He lay curled up on the ground, his body twitching periodically as he dreamed about better times.
In his dreams everyone was alive and living in the sanctuary. It seemed like any other time except everyone, including himself, were happy. Also the world seemed to be coming back to life because the twins came running into the building with their arms loaded with yellow flowers. The others ran over to them to take a look at the plants but 1 stayed back. Even in his dreams he was uncomfortable getting too close to anyone even if he no longer worried about anyone being hurt by outside forces.
"Why don't you go over and have a look?" a voice spoke up behind him.
1 turned, seeing 9 standing behind him. The younger stitchpunk looked the same as he had when he was alive.
"Oh, 9," he frowned, not really sure what to say to him.
The other stitchpunk smiled. "You know why they're growing right?" he asked.
"I um..." he looked unsure.
"Because they were given a second chance," he said, waking over to him. "Things get better if they're given another chance to grow."
"What do you mean?" he looked at him confused by the statement.
9 looked at him. "1, you were given a second chance for a reason," he told him. "You probably don't know why and think you should have taken my place but it wasn't meant to happen. There's a lot you have to take care of and someone you need to forgive as much as she needs to forgive you. " 9's body seemed to change, suddenly growing transparent and green as he transformed from solid mass to spirit. "You have to live and you have to be there for her because she needs you, she needs you more than you know."
"But she doesn't want me," 1 protested. "She loves you and needs you. She didn't want you to die."
"I know." the now ghostly 9 looked said. "but it couldn't be helped. This is what was supposed to happen."
"No, I should have taken your place." 1 spoke up desperately. "I should have died. It would have made things much better."
9 placed his hand on 1's arm. "No, 1, that's not what you should have done. I know you feel as if everything is your fault but you're wrong. It wasn't. I was the one who caused all of this. I had to take responsibility for it and if you'd taken my place nothing would have gotten better."
"No, I should have-"
"1." 9's voice got an edge to it. "Please don't. Just accept it, 1. This is what was supposed to happen so you must use that chance."
"I can't," he said. "I probably won't live long enough to do so."
Now 9 smiled. "Don't give up just yet," he said. "I have faith you will make the right decisions." his smile broadened. "You have to keep fighting, for yourself and 7."
"7?" he looked surprised. "Why should I fight for 7? She hates me and doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Because she cares more than you know."
"Why do you claim such a thing?" 1 demanded. "she's never shown any concern for me, I'm her enemy, she considers me nothing but an an antagonist."
9 looked 1 right in the optics. "Because she told me."
Then, before 1 could ask him to validate his claim, the stitchpunk woke up.
1 gasped, sitting up and looking around himself. For a moment he couldn't remember where he was but slowly and surely the memory crept into his mind like an unwelcome presence. A moan escaped his throat and he covered his optics with his hands.
The sounds he made alerted the beast who came running back to him. 1's optics widened in terror and he backed into the wall. The beast swatted him as if it were rebuking the stitchpunk for daring to make anymore noises.
"I... I'm sorry," he whispered softly.
The beast loomed over him a moment then turned and walked off. 1 watched it go and lay down on his side and curled up. He was beginning to think this whole issue was some kind of punishment. Why else would all of this rotten luck befall on him?
I can't blame fate for being so cruel, he thought. I rightfully deserve everything I'm getting. He curled up tighter as a dark depression began to overcome him. Yes, he did deserve all of this. He'd been asking for it for years.
Maybe trying to get away was a bad idea. Maybe he shouldn't even consider the idea of 7 rescuing him. maybe this was where he needed to be.
But then 9's words from the dream came to him before he could sink even further into despair. "Don't give up, 1. You have to keep fighting, for yourself and 7."
"7..." the female stitchpunk's name came unbidden to his lips. "7..." he whispered it over and over, barely audible even to his own ears.
9 was right. He couldn't just give up. He have to fight and that meant not allowing himself to fall into sorrow. If this was his punishment he would deal with it until it was time to free himself. 7, he knew, would come, despite his doubts and when she did he would go with her. Doing so would begin his presence for all the things he'd done.
He'd do it for himself and her.