Mono quickly stepped back from the wall after letting go of Six. Her body slumped down to the floor her legs failing her right now. She started taking huge gulps of air and simultaneously coughing as the pressure around her neck began to dwindle. His chest heaving as he placed a hand over his heart. His inner organs pulsating with a ferocity as they began to slow down. Pulling his hand away he looks down at his palm as it's stained with blood. Quickly he looked down at Six's neck giving her a once over. Small scratches could be seen on her neck, nothing fatal, but they were still leaking life fluid. Looking down at her body he noticed her sleeve was torn up. More claw marks and scratches could be seen. Stepping back, he heard the voice in his head again.
This time however it was not a child, not a man, nor was it a woman's voice berating him. It was his own calling out to him.
'It's your fault just like it always is.'
Taking even more steps backwards his back hit the opposing wall as he slid down. Not caring as the brickwork of the wall scraping his back. He was in his own self-loathing world. He looked back up to see Six, who was still hacking and coughing. He just sat there watching her, waiting for what she'd do next.
He was two things: One he was concerned for Six seeing as what he did and two, he was terrified of what it meant for them.
He feared what would happen next.
Six kneeled down on the ground as she heaved. When she was released, her vision began to clear again. Seeing the regret in Mono's eyes before he let go of her. Knowing what she did now she was two things. Concerned for Mono's mental wellbeing and how long has this been so, and terrified wondering how this would continue.
Six also turned and knelt against the wall opposing Mono. Her heartbeat calming down, the numbness in her arms returning as the small amount of pain came back, and her vision completely cleared. The rain above settled in between the two of them creating a puddle on the ground. Creating two shifty reflections as the rain kept pouring. Both looking at the ground neither of them saying a word. Waiting for the other to do something, anything to go on.
Then Mono curled his clawed hand into himself and Six watched with trepidation. Just in case Mono did slip into that violent trance again and she needed to run. At the same time though a small part of her wanted to also get closer to him to try and comfort him. Mono watched her tense up and he mentally kicked himself for that reaction. His voice echoing in his head.
'Monster.'
Slowly he relaxed his hand and rested it on his knee again as he let the rain soak his hair gluing it to his forehead. Letting the pacifying droplets wash off the blood of an innocent Six and monstrous Citizen from before.
Six subconsciously began massaging the wounds on her arm enabling the blood to flow. At that Mono flinched at her movements and looked down in guilt at what he'd done. He looked back up and Six could see his eyes filled with concern only for her not himself.
Neither spoke a word to each other but they both had the same thought.
'She/He is afraid of me. She/He still feels concerned for me. She/He still cares for me.'
In Six's mind she was concerned for him and herself but with what her mind was going through? She needed some time to herself.
Wincing from the small amount of pain on her neck and arms she rose to her feet. Mono cowering away from her thinking she was about to pay him back for what he did. Only to look in confusion as she started walking away into the rain-soaked streets. She reached the end of the alley before speaking without even turning.
"I know it wasn't your intent to almost kill me Mono, but there's some things I need to think about. Know I don't completely blame you for what you did, but I some time alone."
Mono mumbled out a small agreement before Six continued walking away. The yellow of her coat disappearing from his vision into the rain. He buried his head in his palms taking a few deep breaths. He rose to his feet and started to walk back towards the apartment building.
Six is seen walking the streets of the port city with no clear direction in mind. She just seems to be walking towards the sea without even realizing it.
Mono is seen walking towards the apartment building. His face overshadowed by the buildings above as his foot encounters something.
Six's march is abruptly halted by two Citizens leering down at her in hunger. They both prepare to grab and eat her as their mouths soak with slobber.
Mono reaches down picking up a soup can with some graffiti written on it. A small eye is drawn on the surface; the rain above making it look like the eye is crying. He feels the world is mocking him as he crushes the can and uses his powers to send it shooting away.
Six is annoyed that these two pigs think they can handle her. With an instant she pulls on their souls and drags them out. Then she lifts their bodies and shoves them to the middle of the road. Pulling her hood tighter as she continues.
Mono enters the building and uses his teleport ability to climb up the stairs. His own voice still berating him on the events that happened before. He looks at the open door for a second and then looks to the stairwell leading to the rooftop. He goes up to the roof.
Six walks down the sidewalk recalling the events that just happened. As she walked, she came to the realization that what happened was both their fault. With her power she accidentally triggered that trance too much. Instead of dispelling the shadow she created she should have let it roam. Let Mono destroy it and wait for him to cool down. She thought to herself when this question arose.
'Was that really the best way to help him?'
The number of tense situations between the two were few and far. Often it was Mono who rescued Six whenever they got separated. Due to their enemies Mono suffered more from their foes. She was cut up while he was branded and tortured. He died to try and save her. It broke his heart, but he left her because he didn't want to hurt her. In the past neither of them was close to anyone other than themselves. So, when the going got rough how would they handle it? Would they break? Would they accept it and move on? How do they react when the pressure gets too much? These were the thoughts that floated in her mind as she reached the docks. She sat sill with her feet dangling over the wooden planks. The view of the sea out in the horizon. Her hand reaching up to her throat tracing a cut. Thinking about the ferocity in Mono's static filled eyes as he pinned her down. Thinking about how he called her out as the North Wind. Thinking about the possibility that it could happen again, and next time Mono may not stop. The sound of the waves catching her attention as something caught her vision. A small rowboat with supplies inside tied to the dock. She rose to her feet and began walking toward with another thought in her head.
'Maybe it was for the best that we never met at all.'
Mono walked to the rooftop the rain finally clearing up. He looked around seeing the puddles of water soaked into the concrete. A couple of birds perched on the brickwork quickly flew away as Mono approached the edge. He watched as the pair flew away into the cloudy sky above. Cloudy just like the thoughts of self-loathing, hatred, regrets, and isolation. To him, Six was the hero in this story but he himself still saw himself as a villain. There were other bad guys that tried to stop the two in their journey, but Mono blamed himself for putting them in those situations. Now it was even worse because his nightmares, his fear almost caused her death.
'She wouldn't suffer if you had stayed dead.'
Mono was starting to believe that were true at this point. For all the good times they had together there was a mountain of pain and suffering right on top of it. He watched the city below him as the Citizens looked down at the torn apart corpse he made earlier. Some of the hungrier ones shoving fresh flesh down their gullets. He fought the urge to gag as he sat there his mind hating himself. He sat there thinking about his death back in the Pale City. What might have been if he decided not to go against the barrier of death to come back. If he just stayed back in Elysium, he wondered what would have happened next. Would have all the suffering done to Six at this point have happened? What would she have done next? What would he do? How long would he have to wait for her to come? Maybe it would have been better to accept his death and stayed there. He rose to his feet, his toes hanging over the edge as he looked down. He figured it would be a solid ten seconds before he was back in Elysium. He caused her enough pain it was time to return to a place where he wouldn't do so.
He raised his leg preparing to walk forward back to those white shores.
'Maybe it was for the best that we never met at all.'
Six sat in the rowboat as she started to undo the rope that bound her to the docks. She figured she had at least a week's provisions before she'd need to find the MAW. At least there she could hide again. At least she could feel safe knowing what she did now. At least now she wasn't cursed by hunger to feed constantly. She could hide in the MAW not needing to go after the Lady. She could hide from her shame and her mistakes. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes as the last loop began to come undone. If she did this now there would be no going back. She looked back to the other side of the city. Back to the building they stayed in for the last month. Giving it one last look before sighing and letting go with her eyes closed.
Mono looked down at the city edge his foot still raised preparing to descend. This was a lot harder than he thought it was. His conscious mind urging him forward while his body standing rigid and anchored down. It seems he wasn't as prepared to die and stay dead like he thought he was.
'Why? Why do I hesitate now?'
'I don't know why you are hesitating now?'
Mono turned to his left to see a static figure constantly changing shapes into the different monsters. From the different forms of the Tower, Hunter, Predator, Teacher, Bully, Parasite, and so on.
"Wh- who are you?"
The static figure turned to face him before gesturing Mono to get closer. Mono stepped down from the edge before sitting against the brickwork.
"That is… difficult to explain. I am… breaking a few rules doing this but I didn't want to see you in our world so soon."
The figure's face changing onto different shapes: a mask, a star, a brilliant crystal, and a sad familiar eye.
"What we are known as are Elysium Eyes. We are observers and the only time we interact with the world are through your dreams. We aren't supposed to interact with people normally like this, but I couldn't stand by and let you kill yourself again. Especially when you don't want to."
"Do you have a name?"
The static figure threw their head back in laughter. Their voice sounding like a melody.
"No, I don't have a name. We are typically nameless other than our brand, but I suppose if you want to put a name to an everchanging face. Call me Angelo."
Angelo sat down next to Mono with the light coming from his head dimming a small bit.
"To explain, I have been watching the two of you on your journey. I applaud you for fighting against the plans of one of my brethren. I applaud you for your selflessness starting all this. I grew concerned for the two of as you suffered. I tried my best to help you via your prophetic dreams, but the Void's power is strong. As a result, you especially received nightmares that lingered for longer than they should."
Angelo reached over to pat Mono on the back who flinched slightly. Then Angelo's face turned to one of concern.
"Why do you flinch Mono? You do not deserve such hatred even inflicted on yourself."
"But I do for everything I've done. I cursed the world, I tormented so many people I've ruined lives as the Tower. I-"
"STOP NOW! It was not you who struck a deal with the Void. It was not you who created the Tower and as a result created the Cycle. You are not the one cared not for the world while you succeeded. I recall that you turned away the Void yourself after seeing the truth. You are not the Tower. Yes, you and that Mono are the same in terms of physical appearance, but your Souls are different. His was easily corrupted while yours held the strong will to go on. For that the Void has punished you since you fell the first time when Six dropped you. Filling your head with nightmares and it's taken its toll on you. You've tried keeping it all to yourself even when there are those who try to help you. Why?"
Mono looked out into the distance, "Because I didn't want to burden her with my pain. I was willing to keep to myself."
"And in doing so this is where it has led you. Preparing to fall to your death to be free of it. You should not feel like you need to carry the weight of the world on your back. They are not your transgressions. The weight of that and the stress you've carried on your back running all your life from abominations will eventually destroy you. Take the help offered by Six she loves you."
Mono shook his head in disagreement.
"No, she doesn't deserve that pain."
Angelo sat there with a frown before rising to his feet and looked down at Mono.
"Fine, I said my piece. You disagree to the truth, that's fine. If you truly believe that death is the only answer for you…" and Angelo gestured towards the edge. "Then jump and I'll take you back myself."
Mono stood up and walked back over to the edge. He contemplated the words Angelo said as he raised his foot up. His mental voices urging him to take that step. He urged himself to do it, to take that final plummet…
…..
"I… I can't do it."
Angelo smiled as he started to fade away leaving only the eye behind.
"Because…?"
Mono reflected on why he started this journey in the first place.
Starting back from when he sat back in the chair.
Remembering why he started the journey was to rescue his friend.
A friend he had rebuilt trust with.
That he comforted her.
Rescued her time and time again because she was worth it.
That they embraced together.
That saved him.
That loved him.
That didn't give up on him when he himself did.
That wouldn't leave his side no matter what.
"Because…"
Six opened her eyes when she could still hear the streets bustling around her. The feel of the sea felt the same under the boat. The seagulls off in the distance signaling she's still close to land. She looked down in her hands only to see…
She was still holding the rope. No matter how much she willed her hand to let go, she couldn't. She couldn't let go of the one thing that keeping her and Mono close right now. Because no matter how much Mono hurt her, she knew he was hurting himself a lot more. She knew the choices he made were to keep her safe from the world. He sacrificed himself one too many times already for her. She was getting ready to through it all away for a choice she made. One that she didn't give him much choice in again. Forcing him to fight his nightmares was not the right choice.
So why did she do it?
She was mad that Mono treated her like that. Thinking he should take all the pain while she should be untouched. It made Six mad that he felt he should protect her. That she didn't deserve any kind of pain.
He was wrong. Six believed she deserved to be hurt as well for what she did back then. The fact that Mono was quick to trust her back when they reunited annoyed her slightly. Only feeling better as time went on as they built their connection, their relationship. Mono took the brunt of the damage while Six was there as comfort. It infuriated her that Mono thought he needed to punish himself. Thought he was deserving for anything bad. Six certainly did not. Up until that alley confrontation she saw Mono as a light in the darkness. Six stared back at the rope in her hands.
Her mind going back to the day she dropped him.
When she woke up back in the Hunter's cabin.
Where she pulled him up from the broken bridge.
Mono taking off his jacket to warm her.
Him coming to his rescue.
Sacrificing himself twice to save Six, once from the bridge and the other from the dog.
He loved her, immediately blaming himself for something he had no control over like choking her.
He returned to her after knowing the mistake he made.
She couldn't leave him behind not again because…
Mono and Six both looked up at the same time in realization.
"Because I still need him/her."
"Because I still love her/him."
"Because I don't want to leave her/him behind again."
Back on the rooftop Mono stepped away from the edge as Angelo stared back. Six quickly tied the rope back around the dock pulling herself onto land. Angelo's eye turning to happiness before uttering the last words.
"Then don't hold things to yourself. Tell her the truth. Trust in each other. Don't turn away from each other when you need help the most. Learn to rely on one another and there's nothing that'll hold you down."
Angelo started to blink out of existence before saying one last thing.
"Don't worry I doubt there's much now that could tear you two from each other."
With a few more blinks Angelo disappeared. Mono turned away from the rooftop before descending back down the stairs to their apartment. A small look of uncertainty crossing his face as he looked around the room. He walked into the kitchen and set the kettle to boil for tea. Six began running back through the city using her glide to propel herself forward. Mono made sure to turn off the burner this time before getting the tea ready next to the open window. He smiled to himself before looking out the window with a small amount of dread. He quickly pushed it down as he thought.
'It was right I've let this drag on for too long.'
Teleporting back down to the floor Mono grabbed a few pillows from the chairs and then teleported back to the window. Arranging them in such a way that it would be nice and comfortable.
Six was out of breath as she neared the entrance to the building. A small bit of worry in her chest started to grow as she reflected on their last confrontation. Six took a few small breaths before calling the elevator.
'Well, here we go.'
Mono could hear the elevator ding outside signaling that Six had come home. He walked down to the apartment door preparing to greet Six.
"Well, here we go."
Six exited the elevator taking a few breaths to calm herself. She went to open the door just as it opened with Mono looking at her in the open doorway. They both stared at each other waiting for the other to make the first move.
At the same time, they both said, "I'm sorry."
They looked at each other in confusion as to why. To which Mono said, "Why are you sorry? I'm the one that almost killed you."
"We wouldn't have been in that situation if hadn't just triggered your nightmares like that. Please stop taking all the blame Mono it's not your fault."
Six watched as Mono paused, contemplating whether he should make this next step.
"You're right Six I've been taking all the blame. I've been hiding so much of my pain from you. Perhaps it's time I talked about it."
He gestured for Six to follow him as he walked back inside. Six was honestly surprised that Mono was suddenly so willing to share this.
'What happened in the last two hours that he's suddenly acting like this?'
Mono reached out his hand offering it to Six. She grasped it firmly before they both disappeared and reappeared on the countertop next to the window. Showing her a seat he let go and prepared a cup of tea for her before doing the same for himself.
"So… where to start?"
"Usually at the beginning Mono."
"Right so, you and I have been receiving dreams concerning events that take hold later, right? I must ask before I continue any further. How have you been handling everything we've gone through so far."
Six pondered this for a few seconds, "Concerning what I've been through as you know. I've desensitized myself to the horrors of this world. They catch me off guard sometimes I admit but I still pull through."
Mono looked a little jealous at that, "Then you are braver than I have ever been. Every monster, every creature I have ever encountered has left a mental mark on me. I don't know if that's thanks to my ability to take static souls, but I have been tormented by my nightmares every time I sleep."
"How long has this been going on Mono? Why haven't you told me?"
"I never wanted you to be concerned for me. I care too much for you to burden you with my problems. I've had this problem ever since I used my powers for the first time. It changed when I was shown the hallway for the first time. I was hoping my dreams were showing me a way out from my little nightmares. I was wrong it was just on larger nightmare altogether. When I reset the loop, it just got worse. I had nightmares that I had failed. Where I was still sitting in the Tower with it taunting me, I had failed. It used a TV in my dreams to show what had become of you. Sometimes you became taxidermy by the Predator, other times you were blasted open with the crows eating your remains, you've sucked dry of your blood by the Parasites, dissected by the Cadaver, burnt alive, choked to death, sometimes you were the one who fell off the bridge, shredded apart by the North Wind, sliced in half by the One Lady Band, shot up in an alley, decapitated by the Barber, eaten alive by either the Eels/Monster/Butcher/Barksy/Citizens, sold as meat by the Manager, strangled by me, and I even had one where RK was the one strangling you after he stabbed me in the back."
Six was horrified by the visions Mono had received all this time. He took a sip of tea before continuing.
"They got worse after the Pale City. I'd have dreams where I died from a monster just to come back to life just to die again. The number of times I've died in my dreams, well I don't think I can count that high. I've always done my best to ignore it but then I noticed it started to affect my powers. Putting me in that trance where I become deaf and blind to the world around. As hallucinations turn into those I hate, scorn, and wish to stay dead. That's why I wanted to start the training. I wanted to see if I could gain some modicum of control. I was wrong, I improved learning abilities I didn't have access to, but my problem just got worse."
"Did you ever consider telling me any of this beforehand?"
"Once, I thought about it, having a small debate in the bathroom while I was cleaning up. Then the voices started berating me for my decisions."
"You really hate yourself, don't you?"
"To the point I was going down into a hole I wasn't able to pull myself out of. Then today someone offered me that rope and helped me out of it. Helped me understand why I did what I did. Helped me understand what I needed to do to help myself."
"Whatever you need to do Mono I'll be there to help you out."
Mono stood up walking over to Six offering his hand again. Six took it allowing him to pull her up to her feet.
"You are exactly what I needed. Someone who is willing to help me. I was a fool to turn you away before, to leave your side, but I will do so no longer. I need you as much as you need me. So, what do you think I should do?"
Six was overjoyed to hear Mono say this. Both once again understood what each other meant to them.
"I think we should stop the training. We've come a long way running for our lives preparing for a fight we don't need to yet. We have some time before the Ferryman comes back. We don't need to be so defensive for a while. Let's just live life for a while. No monsters, no conflict, just you and I together in peace."
Mono pulled Six into a hug but Six grabbed the sides of his head pulling him into a kiss. The two stayed there before heading to bed. Mono pulling Six close as she nuzzled into him. Mono wasn't completely healed but Six would help him get there eventually. The rope that bound them together growing tighter than ever before.