Chapter 11

By morning 7 had nearly reached the cluster of buildings she'd seen from the barrel of the cannon. That should have encouraged her... if she wasn't so tired from walking all night. The only thing on her mind right now was sleeping...

Collapsing onto the ground she shuttered her optics, feeling sleep already seeping into her mind. She fought it, not wanting to lay there in the open where she was exposed. Laying out in the open like that would make her an easy target for the creature who'd taken 1. With that in mind, the female stitchpunk managed to push back the cobwebs long enough to crawl into a battered tin can before she flopped back over, sleep enveloping her mind like a blanket.

As she lay there the wind kicked up, blowing dust across the barren wastes. In the distance the sun casting a weak light on everything as its rays tried to penetrate the dust storm.

But 7 didn't notice any of this because she was sleeping. In her dreams she was visited by the ghosts of those who had died, thanks to the machine. They seemed to be trying to tell her something but she couldn't understand a word coming from their mouths. Their voices seemed to be at a very low setting. She could hear the sounds but not make out any of the words.

"What are you trying to tell me?" she asked them after she made a failed attempt to understand. "Speak up, please. I want to know."

But none spoke louder which made her frustrated as well as scared. What were they saying and why wouldn't they speak up so she could hear it?

Why?

Why wouldn't they tell her? Had she done something wrong? Was this some kind of punishment for her? Coming to her and speaking words in tone she was unable to hear?

Was this because of how she treated 1?

Maybe that was it. They were there to remind her that her actions toward him were no better than his own. She was also to blame for these things, though she was always quick to deny it.

"Okay, I was wrong," she told the ghosts. "I should have been more considerate and listened. I should have put myself in his fabric and looked at things from his point of view instead of just mine." The ghosts fell silent as if they were now listening to her words and waiting for her to continue. She faced them now, clenching her fists as she went on. "Yes, I've been just as awful about things as he has and I shouldn't have blamed him for all the terrible situations we were put through. It wasn't right of me and I should have been more considerate about his feelings as he should have been about mine."

The ghosts didn't respond to her words. They seemed to be waiting for something.

"What do you want from me?" she demanded. "Isn't it enough I admit I was horrible to him, that I treated him as badly as he treated me? What else are you asking for?"

Still nothing.

"Tell me!"

But they didn't give her a response and before she could say another word she was awakened by the sound of something moving around outside the can.

7 went still, listening to the sounds of movement outside her metal shelter. Whatever it was it was big and gave off a dangerous aura. The presence paused by the can, shuffling and letting off a low growl as if it could smell her hiding inside. She held her breath, forcing herself to remain as motionless as possible. The creature pushed the can a bit rocking 7 back and forth and knocking her around the can.

It must have known she was in there, though she couldn't figure out how or why. Beasts didn't have a sense of smell even if they made noises like they did. It must have seen her crawl into the can at one point.

Mentally cursing, she grabbed onto a jagged piece of the can that was punctured and held on for dear life. Falling out of that thing would be bad.

Luckily for her she didn't fall out and the beast eventually lost interest. It stopped messing with the can after a few moments then moved away. 7 stayed still, listening to the footsteps slowly fade before she sighed and released her hold on the can. It was gone for now and she was safe, though for how long she could only guess.

It would be better for her to get out of there while she had a chance.

Scrambling quickly to her feet, she shot out of the can and dashed in the opposite direction the beast had gone, not even chancing a glance over her should to see if it was following her.

There was no sound behind her so she chose to assume that it hadn't seen or heard her running. This was good she really didn't want a confrontation with that thing, at least not yet. She wasn't prepared.

Ahead of her loomed a building. She dashed toward it and around the wall to the other side and out of view. Once there she leaned against it with a sigh and finally chanced to look back the way she came. There was no beast in sight. It was calm and quite with only the sound of wind blowing.

The female stitchpunk sighed in relief and pulled her head back behind the wall. At least she didn't have to worry about that machine for awhile.

"But I don't know how long that will last," she told herself.

Best to be prepared.

She cast her vision around herself, looking for anything she could use for a weapon. A pile of junk lay in a heap a short distance from where she stood. 7 walked over to it, hoping she would find something in the debris she could use against the machine or machines...

0000

1 woke from a light sleep to discover the beast had gone. Surprised 1 sat up and looked around, trying to see if the beast hadn't gone anywhere after all and was simply hiding, waiting for him to make another mistake. It had done it before and it could do it again, though he really hoped it wasn't.

The stitchpunk saw nothing.

It was gone.

But for how long? he wondered.

1 didn't want to know. groaning he got slowly to his feet and looked around again, hoping that he did not see the beast but expecting to spot it somewhere.

The warehouse was empty save for himself.

1 sighed in relief. Good. He hoped it stayed that way.

You should try to escape while you have the chance, a voice in his head urged. He could be back any moment and if you're still here it might kill you.

If I try to run it will just kill me anyway, he protested.

So either way you die.

He shuddered at the very thought. He didn't want to die and 9's spirit didn't seem to want him to die either. He had to live, for his own sake and 7's. He couldn't leave her or the twins in this world by themselves.

It would be wrong.. wrong and cruel.

But he still wasn't sure how to grant 9's request. 1 had no way of escaping. Even now, as he stood in an empty warehouse he was stuck.

Don't just stand there, 1! Do something! decide on your course of action instead of idling away like an old machine. You'll never get anywhere doing that!

Shut up and let me think!

Hurry up then! You don't have much time!

Then stop bothering me so I can! even as he argued with himself his feet were moving,

This time he was going to get out of there, with or without 7's help. He couldn't stand to share the same space with that awful monster any longer.

He didn't get too far.

Suddenly the beast appeared out of what seemed like nowhere and loomed over him. 1 stopped dead in his tracks, his optics widening in terror. Whatever chance he'd had to escape was now gone.

The stitchpunk began to retrace his steps while still keeping his terror widened optics on the beast. It followed him, making high pitch growls as it stepped in sync with him.

"I wasn't leaving!" he stammered. 'honest! I was just walking around! Is that wrong? Am I not even allowed to do that?"

It growled loudly, raising a paw as if it were going to swat him again.

1 saw it coming and yelped, ducking to avoid the blow. he felt the air move as the paw flew over his head and then quickly took off running before it could try again.

The beast roared behind him and took off after the fleeing doll.

1 heard the sound of its footfalls getting closer with each step. He knew it would eventually catch him but he didn't slow down or stop. If it was going to kill him he'd make sure it took a long time.

0000

7 managed to find quite a few useful things in the pile of junk which she collected and quickly assembled into a new weapon. Once she finished she tested out her new spear, making sure it was light enough to weld and also not fall apart when she swung it. Instantly she knew it was just right. Not to heavy and not too light and the parts held together nicely.

Perfect.

Now to find 1 in one of these rusted and crumbling ruins.

Just as she turned to begin her search the was split by a horrible roar. Her optics widened in surprise before she instantly sprang into action, taking off across the dusty streets. She didn't know what caused it or why but she got the feeling it had something to do with 1.

7 just hoped she got there before it was too late.

0000

All of a sudden 1 found himself on the ground. He didn't know when or how it happened. One instant he was running like a bat out of hell and the next he was laying face flat on the ground. He gasped and tried to get up but found himself unable to. He looked over his shoulder and saw the beast had stomped its one paw down onto his leg, preventing him from doing anything.

1's optics widened as he stared into the soulless eyes of the beast. A feeling of doom washed over him. He was dead, there would be no running or second chance this time.

It stared him down for a moment before striking.

000

7 stopped in her tracks when a scream split the air.

"That's 1!" she exclaimed.

He was in trouble, big trouble.

With that in mind she spun around and took off in the direction the scream had come from. Now that she knew where he was she could do something.

She just hoped she wasn't too late.