Mono was seen walking down a dark alleyway. The sky above illuminated by the full moon with its white light bathing him. Guiding him on his way as he wandered. His eye darting all around as he hunched over. Hiding in the shadows but from what he did not know. Then the sound of metal clattering to the ground caught his attention.

A small metal can roll to his feet. Picking it up he examined it checking to see what was inside. It was empty the interior walls painted with rust and trickles of red. Mono then looked at the outside of the can. It was and old soup can cover in graffiti. Graffiti that Mono couldn't read and the image of a closed eye on top of the brand. Rotating it a couple of times Mono could read some of the dialogue.

L#% (,

The eye was also beginning to open. He turned it a couple of more times and the eye was half open.

LOO& &

Two more times and the Eye on the can was glaring at him hatefully but Mono could finally read the full message.

LOOK UP

He did drop the can in shock at what he saw. The Signal Tower, it was back its antennae glowing like a beacon as it called its slave's home. The shadow covering Mono as he slowly backed and then he heard the footsteps. Turning around he saw the world turn to static as he saw the Tower Man begin walking down the alleyway. The walls turning to flesh as eyes protruded staring down at him.

Mono's heart beating out of his chest as he bolted. Water splashing as he ran through the puddles. Rounding the corner, he encountered a harsh yellow light. He could feel his limbs turning to stone as he looked up. The Predator looking down with a predatory smile as he aimed his shotgun down. The Tower Man catching up shifted his arm completely replicating the Predator's gun also aimed down. With a heavy grunt Mono struggled to get himself out of the way as they both fired. Both stumbling back as the shots rang out. Mono felt the effects of the paralysis wear off as he ran the sweat dripping off his face. He looked back to see the Tower Man still chasing him down. Not realizing that he ran right above an open manhole cover. He fell.

As he did, he saw the eyes again. He was in that inky black ocean where all sensations were screwed only for a moment. Then his back hit the concrete and he lay there stunned for a bit. Hearing skittering in the darkness he slowly got up. Pulling out his lighter he slowly searched around. Slowly stalking around the sewer jumping at every sound shining the lighter in every direction. Then someone rammed him from behind and the impact caused him to drop the light. He felt glass hands wrap around his throat and in the darkness, he could faintly see the mask of one of the Parasites open. The leech inside dripping with slime as it got closer and closer. Then Mono felt something jab into the side of his shoulder. Looking to the left he saw the fake Mono injecting Mono with the poison. His eyes grew heavy as the leech finally attached itself to his neck. He slowly lost consciousness, and all faded to black. The eyes staring at him again as he fell.

He woke up sitting in a chair with binds wrapped around his arms and legs. He looked around and there stood an army. Countless copies of Mono, Six, and the Parasites laughing and jeering at him. Then something hard hit him in the side with a crack. He was knocked over onto the floor as he lay there coughing out blood. Something burning wrapped around him pulling him back up to sitting position. Only to be knocked down again and again and picked with the same burning chain over and over. Every time his ribs snapped, his head pounded, his blood splayed on the floor. Then he was released from the chair struggling to crawl away as the many dolls and Parasites repeatedly kicked him down. Looking up he saw the Cadaver holding a struggling Six. He watched as the Cadaver pulled a hatch opening the incinerator before picking Mono up. The Cadaver chucked both inside.

Mono could only scream as he and Six burned. He watched as Six scrambled to her feet trying to open the door as the clothes burned off her, her skin, her muscles, and bones turned to char. Mono then only saw darkness and then he was back in that abyss. The eyes staring at him again before a light reached him.

He was back in the Revenant Town protected by the Ferryman symbol. He quickly patted himself ensuring he wasn't on fire. Then he heard Six scream and he ran. To him Six was all that mattered. Whatever happened to him didn't matter, she did. So, he bolted to the sound of her screams. His lungs felt like they were going to give out, but it didn't matter. His feet were bruised and bleeding, but it didn't matter. Sweat stung his eyes but it didn't matter. He reached his destination and saw a horrible sight.

Carnage.

Endless Carnage.

Skulls lay with evil smiles, bones sat in complete disarray. Fingers and hands segmented and severed. Intestines and organs lay in big bloody heaps. Then he saw Six or what she was now.

Monster Six was back and she was fighting a losing battle against the antler crowned Monster. It seemed they were both fighting against each other over the pile of dead flesh. And then they both smelled the air and turned their heads towards Mono. The Monster looked down in hunger while Monster Six had a face of protection. The Monster started charging for Mono only to be intercepted by Six. Both fighting tooth and nail one to kill one to protect. It ended with Six being tossed to the ground with her neck being torn out.

The Monster then advanced towards Mono only to be held back as a dark cold wind surrounded the Monster. Starting at the waist the Monster's flesh started to rend and tear. The Monster reached forward grazing Mono's right arm. He leaned back in pain as familiar pain shot down his arm. The Monster torn apart its ribcage being opened in a grizzly fashion. Guts and gore now free as they sank from the Monster's body falling on the floor as well. The Wind then moved onto the limbs as an uncomfortable tearing sound could be heard. The Monster glared down at Mono not even flinching as it died. Mono stared down at his own arm turned back into a claw again. The Monster's head lay on the floor its tongue laying out on the brickwork. The Wind began shredding that too slowly, methodically. Starting with the teeth one by one they were plucked. Each one of them opening a crimson tap that wouldn't stop flowing. The blood pooled around Mono's feet as he took a step back. The Monster's antlers were plucked; each horn torn off adding to the pile of cartilage. The eyes were the last to go each one plucked out their optic nerves dangling out as the skull was slowly disintegrated into dust.

The North Wind finally made an appearance the pile of teeth and horns beginning to spiral around. A necklace of cartilage began to form around the North Wind's neck. It glowered down at Mono as the winds around grew stronger and stronger. He could hear the Wind faintly in the typhoon.

"You lose, Mono. Her blood is on your hands." The Wind gestured down towards him.

Mono looked down at his hands. They were completely drenched and stained in blood.

"It's not the Monster's blood." The North Wind laughed down at him.

"Now it's your turn!"

Mono ran as the entire town crumbled from the North Wind's strength. Brick and wood fell to the Wind's storm. Pain filled his entire body as Mono felt sharp stabs in his legs. He looked down to see his legs were impaled by the teeth and horns from before. He crumpled down beginning to crawl away. Something smacked him in the face blinding him. He pulled it off his face revealing the paper bag hat only this time it had something written on the side.

"WEAR ME"

He put the mask on and suddenly the wind died down. It was quiet and tranquil. It felt like every threat around had disappeared. That the hat provided some amount of safety in this world.

And then he heard the voices.

It was small at first whispers in the dark. Incomprehensible at first growing more and more understandable as the voices increased in volume. Children, Men, Women, and Monsters all yelling insults in his head.

"MURDERER!"

"MONSTER!"

"DEVIL!"

"RAT!"

"COWARD!"

"BETRAYER!"

"YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD!"

"THE WORLD WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER OFF IF YOU STAYED DEAD!"

"SHE WOULDN'T SUFFER IF YOU STAYED DEAD!"

He tried to cover his ears only making the voices get closer. He tried to take off the hat, but he couldn't, it was stuck to his head. He just cowered as he was deafened by the world's berating. He lay there for hours on end as the voices drew him to insanity. The world didn't want him he was just a mistake the first true monster physically and emotionally.

The hat was then torn from his head. He lost all sensation as he writhed in madness. He was back in the Butcher's cabin bound to the worktable. The only thing he saw as he tried to get out of his bonds was the Butcher's face as it looked down in disgust. The Butcher then grabbed the largest knife it could find before rearing it up and then it fell.

Mono was blind to the pain as he saw his legs and waist get pulled away from him. He was picked up by the head before he was placed on a slick surface. Still ignorant of the pain he didn't even realize he was being pan seared alive. He was numb to the pain just wishing he could die. With only one eye working he sees the Butcher pick him up again. He sees the Butcher turn his head before tossing Mono into the air. The last thing Mono sees this time are a bunch of teeth before falling into a gaping maw.

The Eyes and the light again.

Mono woke up again this time he was back in the port city he and Six decided to wait in. He began strolling the streets trying to find the building they lived in. Then he heard a shout a squeal of joy. He turned and he saw the huge crowd behind him. The stampede behind him beginning to charge as he ran away. Drool dripping from their mouths they pushed each other to the side as they tried to grab this little morsel. Mono risked diving into the sewers knowing there weren't any creatures down there. His first mistake as he fell on something soft. He opened his eyes to see he was back on the Flesh at the bottom of the Tower.

"Ah wElcOmE bAck! wE hAvE YOUr sEAt rEAdY." The Tower gestured back towards the wooden chair.

Mono could see a hangman's noose hanging above the chair. He turned to see a ladder leading back up to the city. The easy way out or the hard road ahead?

Mono chose the hard road climbing back up the ladder. Clambering back out of the grate he heard slime and a gun cocking. A large tongue wrapped around his frame and Mono saw the Manager. His face gaunt and gleeful as the Manager poked the barrel of the gun in his face. The Manager pulled the trigger and Mono saw the Eyes only for a second as his vision quickly returned.

This time he wished he were dead for a while longer not wanting to see this right now.

He was back in the alleyway he started in only things were much worse. His arm was outreached towards the wall clamping onto something.

No, not something… someone.

The familiar yellow raincoat was shredded to bits. Claw marks lined her arms and legs dripping blood slowly. Her arms, legs, and head hung limply from his grasp around her throat. Her face purple from lack of oxygen and her eyes bloodshot. Her throat bloody from his clawed hand.

It was Six, he choked her to death.

Quickly withdrawing his hand in shock, he watched her body fall to the floor. He looked at his hands covered in blood as the Wind's voice echoed in his head.

"You lose, Mono. Her blood is on your hands."

He screamed, he cried, he looked down at his clawed hands, he raised them to his own throat, and then…

He died.

Mono quickly lurched forward as he woke up. Panting, breathing hard as he wiped his forehead free of the sweat that dripped down. He placed a hand against his sweat-soaked shirt feeling his heart pound in his chest. He looked over to the side seeing Six still sleeping soundly under the sheets. He carefully got up and off the cushions allowing Six to be able to sleep a bit more. He made his way over to the restroom. Clambering up a rope they tied to the sink he got on the sink and looked in the mirror.

Yep, the dark circles under his eyes becoming more and more prominent as time went on. It's been a month since that store raid happened. But it's been more than that since the nightmare kept showing up. It got worse every time the encountered a new foe. A new detail to his horrors. He's stayed silent about it because right now the only thing that matters to him is Six. He doesn't want to burden her with his sorrow. His morning always followed the same routine. He'd wake up from his nightmare early in the morning. He'd leave Six still sleeping before going to the bathroom to clean up and apply makeup. On one of their grocery raids he swiped a container of makeup that was close enough to his skin tone. He always applied it under his eyes to hide those dark circles. After doing so he went over to the kitchen and set a kettle up for tea. Pouring himself a mug he walked up the rooftop and the edge. Sitting on the edge he looked over the city view. He enjoyed this sight when the sunrise just starts making an appearance painting the city in a pink-yellow light.

Taking a sip of the tea he looked down at his hand with the static flickering off his fingertips. Turns out the training wasn't exactly helping like he thought it would. He was improving in terms of what he could do. He could do that static push, he could grab and pull things now as well, he could do the static claw thing with relative ease, he was also able to do that static burst, but it did have a charge up.

No that wasn't the problem, it was the fact he was having control over his abilities, but he hadn't gone into that state of ignorance. That was his problem he wasn't sure what was the cause or how to deal with it.

"I hope you're not planning on jumping Mono." He turned to see Six waiting by the door.

"Of course, not Six. I still have you, a very good reason to live."

That didn't make Six feel much better with the way he phrased that. She knew he felt like she hadn't noticed how he changed, but she did. There was something about the way he walked about. How every time she woke up this month, she was by herself, a damp space where Mono laid. The smell of tea in the morning sometimes with the burner still on. Something was upsetting him, but she didn't know what.

It couldn't have been the training, could it? Both have improved over the past few weeks. Six herself regained the ability to push objects and people away. The catch though was that she had to grab the subject in mind. Her glide ability also improved in strides it just felt more natural to her than walking. Much faster too. She hadn't told Mono this yet, but she was able to create shadow people again.

She hadn't admitted this to Mono but in truth, Mono was much stronger than her. Although there were a few reasons to that. She ran the possibilities in her head as the two of them rode down the elevator. One was the fact that Mono had his abilities his whole life they were just hidden away at first. Another followed the "hereditary" possibility that every Mono passed down different abilities into the next. One followed the Cycle's creator the first Mono who was cursed with these abilities and used them for his selfish purposes. Whatever the case she was glad Mono was on her side.

They left the building and wandered to the outside of the city. A few Citizens spotted them as they walked out. Seeing the boy that tore up the store a few weeks ago one of them bolted while the other two just watched them walk on. They left the city the sun shining down on top of them as they continued their trek. Out to an open torn up field, the byproduct of what they did to this landscape.

"So, before we start practicing our abilities Mono, would you care to tell me why you left the burner on again?"

"I did? Sorry I uh… I guess I was a little preoccupied."

"Uh-huh." She half understood, not really buying his excuse before shrugging and walking to the center of the area. Sitting down she gestured for him to do the same.

"How does the training feel to you Mono? Does it feel like you've improved and have control to the point where you won't go berserk like that again?"

"I can't honestly say yes to that Six because I don't think I can be put in a situation against you where it could happen."

"Well let's hold onto that statement. Let's review the last two times where you did go crazy and what could have been the cause for that."

The two of them sat still laying there as they reviewed the confrontations between the Monster and the Manager. With the Monster it seems that the origination was the point when the Monster swallowed Six whole making Mono believe she was dead. His emotions and therefore his powers caused him to overload and go crazy. Tearing reality and the Monster a new one and afterwards ridding the world of Viewers, Eavesdroppers, and TVs. The second time was when the Manager shot off Mono's arm. The pain registering in his mind and then his emotions drove him to madness. Six shivered at the memory of Mono laughing like a maniac as the world around him cracked.

"Okay Mono I think I get it. I think I know what's causing you to go mad like that. You don't need help with your powers, it's your emotions that are the issue. Whenever you experience extreme pain or emotional trauma you hide behind your powers and grow numb to the world."

"Well, if that's the case we just need to find what causes the most emotional trauma and I need to nullify my emotions around it."

"We'll start with something simple. Mono what is your biggest fear?"

Immediately Mono's head was filled with the nightmares of his past. Every monster they had encountered. Every one of them that had killed him in his dreams. That had killed Six in front of him. That had separated him from Six.

Six, Six, Six.

He looked up to her eyes and said, "Losing you is my biggest fear. If anything were to happen to you I… I don't know what I'd do."

Six's mind flickered back to every morning where he'd sit at the rooftop edge. 'He wouldn't… would he?'

Shaking her head of that thought she looked back towards Mono, "Okay but what about monsters? Is there a particular monster that we encountered that you'd draw the line at?"

Mono was about to say the Monster or the Tower Man but then he thought about the North Wind. That dark silhouette as skulls rained from the sky at their first encounter. The massive storm that hung above them as they explored the town. When Mono was dangling for dear life holding the unconscious Six and the Wind condemned them. In fact, Mono was pretty sure the only reason the Monster was there was the North Wind.

"The North Wind, because unlike the Tower and Monster they had physical forms they could actually be harmed. If the Wind ever came after us again, I don't know what we'd do."

Six sat there cross-legged thinking about that.

"Okay, I think I may be able to help with that. Recently I unlocked an ability that allows me to create figures out of shadows. It'll help you to be able to fight something that looks like them. To actually beat your nightmares away."

"Uhm are you sure that's a good idea, Six? I don't want to really go berserk with you nearby in case something goes wrong."

"If that's what you're worried about Mono then I'll just go over in one direction a good distance away and then creates the shade and send it your way."

"And you have complete control over them?"

"For the most part. They may act on their own in some ways, but it shouldn't be too bad."

With that Six began gliding in one direction with her palms facing the ground. She grabbed a few blades of grass to use. Focusing her powers, the blades of grass were used to physically tie the shadow person to the world. Thinking about the North Wind she began her work. Creating a wolf that had bird wings, and that spiked head. Still moving in one direction she directed the shadow wolf to Mono who still sat still on the grass.

"Okay… okay I can do this." Jitters ran down his spine as Mono summoned the static to his palms. Readying his nerves in case something did happen that he didn't want. His mind drifted back to his nightmares when his eyes were closed. The voices from before screaming in his head. He starts to panic the static around his fingers fizzling away. Then he hears wind and footsteps. He opens his eyes to see a black figure charging right for him. He braces for impact as the figure gets closer. With a blow to the side Mono is pushed off to the side taking a small tumble. He blinks a few times as images pass by each time his eyes close.

The North Wind, Barsky, and The Monster.

He slowly rises to his feet just to be knocked down again with more images passing by.

The Tower, the chair, the door, the hall.

He struggles this time the sound of static starting to be the only thing he hears.

He sees the first time he ever encountered the Thin Man, the Tower, the abominations that were created by the Tower.

He feels the searing metal against his body.

He feels himself falling after he lets go of Six's hand.

He feels himself dying as the water filled his lungs and darkness taking his vision.

Six must squint to see that something is terribly wrong. Mono appears to be spasming out and he clutches his head. She quickly cancels out the shadow wolf knowing this didn't work out and she quickly glides over the field to try and comfort him. She remembered the last time she pulled him out it required her hugging. Hoping it would have the same result she reached out to hold him. Hoping to fix this before he began to warp reality again. Before she could though her wrist was suddenly grabbed by Mono. She tried embracing him only to be stopped by a raised palm facing towards her.

"M-Mono?"

Mono raised his face towards her, and she saw his eyes enveloped in purple static. That was what she saw.

When Mono raised his head to look in her direction. Six wasn't there. Instead, Mono saw the fake version of himself with the needle poking out of his wrist dripping with virulent green poison.

"NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU KILL ME AGAIN."

Mono charged his hand full of static and then blasted this fake away. Six's face full of confusion and fear as she was blasted backwards. Making a hard impact with the grassy ground as she tumbled. Quickly getting back up to her feet she looked back towards Mono started walking in her direction.

In Mono's mind the fake Mono changed form into the Predator from before.

"I will not let you take her from me again."

Mono focused as he envisioned being over there to take care of the Predator. A sharp headache erupted in his head, but he ignored it pressing on. He would not let the Tower, or his creations kill Six he would protect her. As the pain finally calmed down, he felt something return to him. A cold sneer crossed his face as he looked at the now panicked Predator. With a screech of static Mono disappeared and reappeared right in front of the Predator.

Mono could teleport again.

Six watched as Mono teleported right in front of her causing her to step back in surprise. He reared his claw back filling it with static.

"Mono what are you doing? IT'S ME!"

But the words Mono heard were not her own he instead heard the culmination of so many others.

"YOU foolish MONSTER! DO you REALLY THINK you'll PROTECT HER like this?"

Mono growled out as he slashed down into the ground. The dirt and dust erupting from all over as Mono plowed the ground where the Predator once stood. A few droplets of blood lay there. He turned to see that the Predator had disappeared only to see the One Lady Band's Drum rolling back into the city.

"Run all you like I will kill you if it means stopping you from harming us any longer."

Six glided across the ground doing her best to get away. She clutched her arm as she did so. The cut wasn't deep, but it made it clear what was going on. Mono wasn't seeing Six as herself right now. Whatever had been plaguing Mono for awhile finally made itself known and made her the target. There would be no convincing him, not right now at least. Her best bet would be to lose him in the city hopefully he would tire himself out and come to his senses.

She entered the city only to be grabbed by a Citizen. She struggled for a few seconds when she heard a squelching noise, and she was suddenly let go. Her vision cleared to see Mono showered in blood as the Citizen clutched their blasted open hand.

Mono's vision changed again this time seeing Six as she was grabbed by one of the hospital hands. Teleporting again Mono blasted away the armor as a liquid splattered him in the face. Spitting it out it had a coppery taste to it. Then het turned to check on Six only to see… it was just another doll. Another fake.

Anger filling his vision as he pulled his leg back. Six looking up to with a small bit of hope that was quickly crushed as she watched him prepare to kick her.

So instead of running she tried to grab him using her powers. The cold smoke curled around him restraining him.

Mono felt the cold wet Tower Flesh encapsulate him. Wrapping his arms around his body he charged up his power. Six seeing what he was doing quickly let go and begin to run again. He spread his arms out and a burst of static spread out from all around all around. Windows shattered raining glass down from above, powerlines snapped starting fires, and concrete from the buildings cracked a bit dust spreading around. Six was launched again into the air using her abilities to cushion the fall. Covering her head as glass rained down on top of her. Her arms slightly cut from the fragments above.

Mono stood there watching as a leech started squirming away from him. Mono began walking after it before feeling something grab him from behind. Looking up he saw barks latching his teeth around him preparing to swallow him whole. So Mono grabbed both and bottom of the mouth and pulsed the static through his palms. The dog's jaw broken but Mono wasn't finished grabbing the set of teeth and pulsed again. Putting too much power into it as Mono tore the dog in half.

Mono turned not realizing he tore a Citizen in half. The sky above letting out a storm down into the shattered part of the city. The fires quickly put out while Mono walked down the street now seeing the Goon run away into an alleyway.

His vision flickered for a second looking back at the corpse. Confusion filling his mind for a second seeing the corpse switch back and forth into a person and dog. Shaking his thoughts his mind revealed the "truth." The dog's corpse lay on the ground as he continued. He followed the Goon into the alley only now seeing the fragments of the North Wind as it huddled into a corner. He walked right in front of the North Wind who now cowered in front of Mono. He paused looking down his vision flickering again.

The North Wind to Six to the North Wind again.

Anger filling his vision again.

"Are you really trying to trick me again Wind?! No more tricks! No more games! I'm ending this here and NOW."

Six out of breath just sat there, 'He thinks I'm the Wind?'

Her thoughts quickly interrupted as Mono held out his hand in a grasping motion. Six felt this once before. Back before the reset, before Mono destroyed her music box, right when they were separated. Only this time it seemed Mono wanted everything as she didn't feel anything leave her this time. Mono clutched her using his clawed hand before thrusting his arm into the wall.

She struggled clawing at his hand trying to get him to let go. She struggled for air as he held her up against the wall. She could feel tears coming from her eyes as the pain started to dwindle. She could see her vision beginning to cloud. Her lungs beginning to give out.

Mono held the North Wind against the wall. Rage still fueling as he pressed his claws into the brickwork binding the Wind.

His vision flickered as the Wind transformed into many different Monsters.

Predator.

Parasite

Six. Gasping for air.

Fake

Cadaver

Six. The blood dripping down her arm seemed too realistic.

Tower Man

North Wind

One Lady Band

Six. The tears rolling down her face started moistening his hand.

Goon

Barber

Eavesdropper

Six. Wait…

Monster

Butcher

Manager

Six. Oh my God.

In an instant Mono snapped out of it and let go.