New chapter! Yay! What will the ending be, I wonder? Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Reach for the Star

The corridor. Mono was back in the corridor. There was a muffled, yet familiar tune playing. Recognizing the melody, the boy broke into a run. At the end of the hall, the door with the eye symbol opened slowly, revealing the interior of the Signal Tower. There were so many doors and flights of stairs. The doors had a pink - no, magenta hue to them.

Upon seeing the inside of the tower, Mono frowned. He immediately felt hatred. He hated this place. It felt like a prison he'd been forced into... and yet, it felt like a home that welcomed him at the same time. Desperation. Mono wanted to run from this place. Fear. He felt as though he'd never escape. Repulsion. He glared at the inside of the Signal Tower as if it was the mastermind behind everything. These feelings weren't his, but Mono felt they were at the same time. Confusion finally washed over his features.

Could it be... these memories belonged to me in another life...? He pondered the thought.

It felt right. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, blocking out the music for a moment. That's right... he'd been here many times before - in other realities. So this... was the seventh reality the Thin Man had prepared for them. He'd wanted something to change, so he'd done all of this. But what? What was supposed to change? Mono didn't know. He couldn't access memories that told him of the future. If he tried probing the memories, his head would hurt. These memories could only play out at the same time as he ventured forward. For now, he'd focus on his objective before worrying about the future.

"I'm coming, Six." He whispered as if he was saying a prayer.

Running to the center door where the music was playing, the door closed. Immediately, Mono turned to the right as the other door opened. Entering it teleported the boy to the first flight of stairs. He knew what he had to do. He wanted to find Six. That was his desire. So, he'd have to follow the tune of the music box. Running through many doors and up many stairs, Mono didn't stop for a second despite his legs begging him to slow down. Not a chance! Nothing would stop him from getting to Six! After reaching the top of the tower, the boy could see a door that was left ajar.

Pushing through, the first thing Mono saw was the giant music box playing its melody. The boy was transfixed by the music playing - as if a nonexistent voice was calling out to him. Walking closer to the trinket, a sudden movement snapped the boy from his trance. Looking up, Mono gasped when he saw Six!

She was distorted. Her arms were stretched out in disproportion, her left foot was dislocated, and her hair had grown out, cascading over her face. She nearly looked unrecognizable. She was reaching out for the music box, pulling it closer to herself.

He called out to her. Six responded, tilting her head before inching closer. Calling out to her again, she inched to the center of the room, placing the music box down as if to share the trinket with him. At the sight of his friend, Mono felt tears falling from his eyes.

"It's you, isn't it, Six?" he whispered, touching her hand. "Even though you're in a form I don't recognize, you're still in there, right?"

Six didn't respond, just breathing blissfully at the tune. From the Thin Man's memories, Mono turned his sight towards the music box. Placing a hand on the cold trinket, he pondered, Six, your soul is imprisoned inside here, isn't it? I'm sorry if I came too late... I wonder if you can hear me...

Closing his eyes, the boy could faintly feel it. On the other side of this cold, thin metal, Six's soul was also reaching from the other side. Their hands were touching, only to be separated by a layer of metal. He could almost see her despite that his eyes were closed. Tears were brimming in her eyes. Her face expressed both joy and sadness. Joy that he'd come for her; sadness from the despair she had to go through. In her other hand was a moon box that she held close to her chest. That was all the Thin Man's memories could provide him.

I hear you! Mono! she cried out.

I'll save you, Six! Mono opened his eyes as he declared this, recalling the dream she had told him.

Wiping away his tears and running to the suitcase, the boy picked up a hammer and dragged it to the musical instrument. Eyeing his friend's monstrous body, Mono braced himself, knowing that he'd probably anger her.

"Please forgive me," he muttered before striking the music box.

Bang!

~oOo~

The lights turned off and Mono found himself alone until he'd returned to the room where Six was. The walls were crumbling, revealing what was hiding behind them. Pink fleshy mass were oozing out like a bubbling cauldron. However, the child had no time to think about it, running out of the room. He could hear Six's body screaming out in anger, chasing after him.

Sprinting down the hall and turning to reach a door, the boy teleported to a different hallway. Six's body continued to pursue him. Jumping over a section of collapsing floor, Mono continued running to its ledge. At the end, he leaped, making it through a tiny window and tumbling into the next room. Hearing his friend getting nearer, the boy hid under a table. She was searching for him, throwing furniture aside or destroying it. Unable to find the boy, she growled, pushing down the door and leaving the room.

Following the girl's distorted body, Mono picked up the axe that was embedded in the door. It reminded him of the time when he'd first broken into her prison in the Hunter's basement. Breaking down the barrier, Mono dragged the weapon as he entered an even larger room. Six's body was at the center; her hands were shielding the music box. Observing the room further, he could see another door adjacent to his. Going through his side of the door, Mono found himself on the opposite side of the large space.

Looking at his friend, he called out to her, "Hey!"

His voice came out as strong - urgent - as it vibrated through the room. Six cringed at the sound of his voice as if she was being scolded at. Anger quickly filled her mind as she screamed and screeched, moving to where he was. Mono quickly ran to the door, grabbing the axe from his side as he dragged it before dealing a second strike to the music box. By the time Six realized what he was doing, it was too late.

Bang!

Mono found himself in the dark. It was odd that light was shining down on him like a spotlight. Wandering around with only the light on him, the boy eventually found the axe wedged into the door. Jumping to obtain the weapon, Mono broke down the wood again in only one hit. He was in the same room just like before. The only difference were two larger pink exits that were on either side of Six's body and the crumbling walls that revealed a mass of flesh. Seeing him again, Six covered the music box with her hands once more.

Running while dragging the axe to the other side of the room, he called out to her, "Six!"

Shrieking, her body began to move to where he was. Immediately, Mono went through the door and teleported to the other side. Walking up the slope to the larger exit on his left, he called out to her again, "Over here!"

One curious thing Mono noted was after when he called out to Six, a glitching afterimage of himself was left behind before it flaked away. Hearing her scream, the boy booked it to the door, appearing on the other side. He didn't have time to sneak up on her music box before she noticed him, so he quickened his pace. Within reaching distance, he swung the axe down as Six recoiled from the third strike.

Bang!

Once more in that dark room with the light on him. Mono wasted no time and found the axe to break down the door. The room was crumbling even more as the tower started to reveal its true form. With the axe disappearing when he broke down the barrier, Mono had to tread carefully. He saw another axe in the room, but it was near Six's body. If he just rushed in to get it, she would feel provoked and attack him. As long as he kept his distance, he should be fine.

Running to the other end of the room, he shouted out to her, "Over here!"

Getting her attention, Mono immediately ran, not giving her a chance for her to catch up. Appearing on the other side, he jumped onto the crumbling slope, pulling himself up. He started to panic. Six was reacting more quickly than before. He needed to distract her so he called out, hoping his voice would stop her for a second. "Six!"

It worked. Running through the large exit, Mono grabbed the axe from the other side of the room, avoiding Six's long arms that were trying to find him. Making a quick, desperate dash towards the musical instrument before Six could recover, he dealt the fourth strike to it.

Bang!

~oOo~

Mono had expected himself to be back in that dark room, however, he wasn't. He was still in the room with Six's body as the Flesh Walls bubbled out of the concrete. Getting up, he saw the music box. The melody was getting weaker as sparks flew. The girl's body was getting weaker as well as she desperately reached out for the trinket, shielding it with her hands. Seeing the axe, Mono struggled to pry the weapon from the ground. With enough pulling and tugging, he managed to get it loose, falling back as a result. Picking it up, the boy looked hesitantly at his friend.

Just two more strikes... Six should return to normal then... Mono thought, seeing the white light trapped inside the nearly-broken musical instrument.

Sighing to himself, he yelled, "Hey!"

Six shrieked, sounding scared as her hands left the music box. Approaching it, Mono swung, dealing the fifth strike.

Bang!

The impact was not expected as the boy flew back. Six's body recoiled from the strike as well. The music box was no longer playing, only whistling. Just one more hit! Eager to end this all, Mono got to his feet and picked up the axe one last time. Before he could give the final strike, the boy saw his pitiful friend crying out; her arms weakly reaching out for the trinket.

In desperation, she was starting to hum - trying to replicate the melody of the musical instrument. It reminded Mono of when she'd been humming after he had rescued her from the Bullies. She was hurt back then in ways he may never know. So weak and insecure... she had leaned on his back, seeking a little comfort. In a way, he had hurt her and without anyone to turn to or lean on, she was seeking out the comfort of the broken melody.

I want to free you from your nightmare, Six... I want you to wake up... Mono thought as he let go of his weapon. But you're afraid of something, aren't you? You're hurting and that's why... you're trying to hum that melody, right?

Approaching her body, the boy held her large hand, trying to give it a reassuring squeeze. Sensing this, Six relaxed just a little. Despite he still couldn't see her face with her hair falling over it, he assured her, "It's going to be okay, Six."

Hearing those words, her body became less tense, but she was still feeling wary. Turning his sight back to the trinket, Mono picked up the axe once more. Before hitting it, however, Mono placed his hand back on the metal. He could sense it. Her soul was still on the other side. She was trembling in fear as if something had happened when he'd struck the music box.

I'll wake you up very soon, Six. Please don't give up hope just yet. Gripping tightly at his weapon, Mono finally dealt the sixth and final blow.

Bang!

Six's distorted body faded away as the music box was destroyed completely. The impact of the blast knocked Mono back as well. The magenta lights flickered and everything else was dark. Slowly sitting up, Mono looked up to see Six laying a few feet away from him. She eventually sat up, looking down at her hands before turning her sight onto him. They both eventually stood up. Seeing Six staring at him, Mono offered a clumsy smile and an awkward wave of a hand.

Suddenly, the tower shook as the Flesh Walls started to break out of the building. Seeing this, Six ran.

"Hey, wait up!" he called out to her as he quickly followed. They ran, avoiding many collapsing floors as the Flesh Walls chased after them. They were nearly there! However, at the start of the bridge, a tremor caused the boy to trip. Looking up, Six was way ahead, already at the other end. "Six!"

She turned around, waiting for him. Recovering, Mono ran all the way to the collapsing bridge. Jumping at the end of the gap, Mono reached out and Six caught his hand. However, she was hesitating. Feeling his hand slipping, the boy grasped onto her hand more tightly. What was taking so long? Why wasn't she pulling him up?

Because she is going to betray you...

Mono looked up at Six. She was getting smaller and smaller. The light was starting to fade. The dark abyss was starting to consume him. Trapped. Alone. He was abandoned, betrayed... Why? Shock morphed into grief and then to anger. How could she do this to him? After what he had done for her? After he had placed so much trust in her? He needed to get revenge. He must get revenge on the person who'd wronged-

Fallen tears on his face snapped Mono from his thoughts. Looking up, he could see Six. She was crying and her face had a look of anguish. Something about her expression stirred his heart. This had happened before. He recalled seeing her like this. When?

She doesn't want to betray you, remnants of the Thin Man's voice told him.

I love him. He's the only friend who always showed me such kindness... Remnants of that lonely sun's lamentations reached out, touching his heart.

I see... And I understand... What it is that I must do.

Looking at his friend with a determined expression, he called out to her, "Six! I trust you, so please... trust yourself!"

"But I-"

He gave her an assuring smile, "It's going to be okay. I'll let you decide on my fate."

The girl looked shocked; her expression changed to consideration. In the depths of her heart, she held the moon box. She could stare at it all she wanted, but she'd have to decide now. Placing a trembling hand on the lid, she took a peek inside. For the longest time, her heart had desired this outcome. She had always desired to save him when she couldn't have countless times before. Finally, the moon box had been opened fully. What would be the boy's fate? What did she see inside the box? Determination quickly filled her teary eyes as she nodded. With her other hand, Six struggled to pull him up onto the ledge. The two took a quick breath. They couldn't stay here. Getting up, they were about to leave until the ground below Six started to collapse.

"Ah-!"

Reacting on his reflexes, Mono reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her to safety. No. No more of that. He was not going to let fate separate them. To hell with fate! They were going to escape together! Let the Flesh Walls with their many eyes be the witnesses to it. Firmly holding Six's hand, Mono ran to the portal with her.