It's a dark city darkened but ever active. Overcast with a billowing storm as rain hailed from above. As if the gods of this pathetic world had a great conflict and the world below receiving the conflict. The streets were flooded as the heavy downpour showered the many citizens below. Their massive plump bodies only held up by tiny legs as they shuffled constantly in line. It was a wondrous day for them despite the storm above. For this was the day a cruise liner would take them to the only place they consider paradise.
The MAW.
So, the people of this city continued making their way to the docks. The city's population quite large that even now people were leaving their building trying to make their way into the streets. However, one building on the outskirts of the say sat dormant while the bulbous people continued to the shore. An old apartment that collected dust on the floor, grime to the bricks, and cobwebs in the corner. It was a place of exile for those foolish enough to fall to the broadcast. Not much power ran through it anymore as there was only one source of light. A TV sat against a wall its screen still on, still calling out for anyone to view. It's static sounding out old songs and comedies.
However, amidst this static was also the sound of footsteps and the sound of something shattering. A form shoots out of the TV tumbling onto an old rug that sat before the TV. The person in question was a little girl dressed in a small yellow raincoat. Her hands covered in scratches and bite marks, her feet littered in scars, and black messy hair covering her eyes. She appeared to have no mark nor wound on her so…
Why was she crying?
She lay there crying clutching her head curling up into a ball. Thoughts running through her head. Thoughts of regrets, of hatred, of sorrow, and of loss. The sad part being that she was the cause of those ideas. For just a few seconds ago she was just holding an old friend. She was the only thing that could have let her friend escape, but she couldn't. She was afraid suddenly being awake from what felt like an old trance. She could remember vivid images of growing into something painful, the tall man visiting her sometimes, the fear going away when she found a music box one day, the hope returning when she saw a familiar sight of a boy. A great conflict she remembered as well when the boy kept striking the music box over and over. Then she recalled waking up seeing the boy again now with no hammer in hand now outreached. She was about to question why when a massive wall of eyes came sliding towards them.
She ran first leaving Mono behind. She could hear his panting for air slowly getting further and further away. She didn't care right now she just wanted to get away and later they would talk. She reached a bridge leading out to an exit portal. She heard the bridge crumble and then she turned seeing Mono wasn't going to make it.
She held out her hand to a leaping Mono catching him as she did so many times before. She was prepared to pull him up to safety, so that they could both walk from this nightmare together. But then, he looked up and Six finally saw his face for the first time up close. She saw HIM, that dreaded figure from before that grabbed her. Fear gripped her heart causing her to hesitate, her own grip to loosen. Mono's face looking up in worry and curiosity.
Then she let go.
She watched as Mono fell into the depths. Falling silent no emotion and no words. Seeing the Thin Man's face disappear from view before realizing what she did. All the emotions came flooding back as the truth hit her.
She just killed her friend.
She's seen laying fetal position crying her heart out. Immediately wishing she could go back and fix her great mistake.
"Why did he look like that thing? Why did I drop him? Mono I'm so sorry."
The sound of static tuning tearing her from her thoughts. She looked up to see a static figure forming from her shadow almost replicating a perfect reflection. The static shade merely looked at a piece of paper, a flyer of sorts before disappearing into thin air.
Before Six can think on it anymore a great pain fills her body. She hunches over as a void fills her stomach. Her stomach growls with an intensity she's never heard before. Seeing the flyer, the shadow looked at Six wanders over to it. Picking up the faded paper she sees it's an advertisement for an ocean resort. A place you can eat to your heart's desire. That last part disheartened her because that wasn't her desire. She wanted to save Mono, but she ruined that chance. For now? She would find something to eat and then move on.
The Tower
A vast sea of flesh pulsated on the bottom of the Tower. Rolling and shift as it felt free to move after the debacle that just happened. Losing a battery like that girl was unfortunate but as time told before, another would soon take her place. Said battery was currently laying on his back barely conscious having only just survived the plummet from before. Thousands of eyes watched in the darkness as the boy slowly got up and viewed their surroundings. They watched as the boy put his hands up to his eyes and then cried.
His hands littered in scratches from scuffles before. The trench coat he wore fraying out at the bottom. His bare feet blistered from walking the rough concrete of the Pale City. His messy black hair overshadowing his silver eyes. He wiped his face free of the dampened skin around his eyes. Then he began searching for a way out of the Tower. As he did though he couldn't shake the questions out of his head.
"Why, why did she do that?"
"Why did she let go of me?"
"I was just trying to free her from that music box's trance."
"What did I do wrong? What hadn't I done right?"
These fleeting thoughts orbited in his head as he continued walking. The Flesh below feeling ready to accept him in this moment of crisis quickly transformed a portion into a small wooden chair. Rising up on a small hill to catch his attention. Only for the child to walk right past the chair for right now. Still lost in thought as his feelings of sadness started turning more into anger.
"Was she just USING me!?"
"Was I just some TOY for her to just throw away when I served my use?"
"Was everything we did for nothing?!"
Mono recalled many moments in which he and Six had fun. Excluding all the moments they had to run for their lives he recalled many times where he and Six shared a smile. The times in the playground, the x-ray, the hospital toys, and all the times she pulled… him… out… the… TVs…
"Did she know about the Thin Man all this time?"
"Was she trying to stop me from freeing him?"
"Was he just trying to keep me safe from HER?"
Mono looked down at his palms feeling the small tinges of static flitter around his fingers. Recalling the battle, he and the Thin Man had beforehand. It looked like the Thin Man was just trying to hold him. Not in any threatening manner just trying to grab him calmly. The realization flooding back to him as he just killed an innocent old man who was trying to keep him safe. Trying to keep him safe from HER.
"Six… I'll never forgive her for this."
The static becoming more apparent as it pulsed around his hands.
"Her and that stupid music box are the reason I'm down here. No, no not just that. It's because of my own wish to try and help others out."
Mono looked down at his hands again feeling the power in his fist before letting out a blast of static.
"NEVER AGAIN! When I'm out of here I'm beginning anew. Forget everyone else in this cursed world. They don't deserve help in this monstrous place. And for anyone that gets in my way."
Mono lets out another blast onto the floor creating a hole in the flesh.
"They'll wish they never even existed."
He was torn from his monologue as the room around him screamed. Mono felt pleasure at that hearing the flesh scream from pain at his. He felt energized hearing the screams of those who tried to pursue him.
"Didn't like that did you? Well how about…"
Mono with a maniacal grin charged up static in his hands again before holding them to the floor.
"THIS!?"
He roared in laughter as he let loose another bout of static. The small discharge of light showing Mono the carnage he was pulling. Seeing a bloodbath of flesh fly out from the floor as the blast travelled along the floor. The Tower around him screaming in pain and anger as those thousands of eyes surround him. Mono standing defiantly as a voice rang out all around.
"YOU dArE dO thIs tO Us!? YOU'rE A rAthEr crUEl child ArEn't YOU!?"
Mono grimaced as he looked at the eyes around him. Powers flaring around his hands.
"Life is cruel." His eyes glowed with power.
"Why should yours be any DIFFERENT!?"
Letting out another bout of power even Mono had to grimace as many eyes were gouged out.
The Tower couldn't believe this. Why was this Mono different than the others? He should have been as compliant as the others. He should have seen the chair and sat on it wallowing in sadness and depression. This was one not like the others. It needed to go before any more damage could be done. The Tower turned its attention to the exit portal it had set up for the girl from earlier. Using its abilities, the Tower shifted the exit portal to the ground floor in front of Mono.
"HErE jUst tAkE thIs And lEAvE Us."
Mono turned to the exit portal feeling invigorated seeing the static exit. Mono in his sinister fashion quickly straightened his coat before moving through the portal after saying.
"Was that so hard?"
The Tower just wallowed in silence as it tried to process what just happened. A part of it wanted to chase after the brat dragging it through all manner of torture. To beat the boy into submission but that might have worked with a weak-willed child. That, that thing was not a child. It wasn't even right to call it a monster. The Tower didn't know what to call the monster. That aside, the Tower decided it's better to just wait for the next cycle's Mono to come. It could sacrifice some flesh to make a faux Thin Man. Till then it would just wait in silence.
The Port City
From that same TV screen came a tumbling Mono this time the TV screen shutting off. Mono looked around seeing his surroundings and taking it all in. At first he thought he was back in the Pale City if it weren't for a few glaring differences. The room held two chairs with cushions that were too wide for any Viewer to sit in. Looking out a nearby window Mono couldn't see the Signal Tower anywhere. He could see the massive body of water though out in the distance. Moving away from the window and more towards the exit of the room he noticed a flyer on the floor and to the left of him a mask depicting a very angry face. Not paying attention to the mask he picked up the flyer on the floor.
The flyer in question was about a resort Mono had heard about in the Pale City. A rumor spread among useless children. Something about it being a place of sanctuary for children.
What a joke.
There's no place in the world that can provide safety in this world. Only those that accepted that and fought for their lives understand as he did now. Those that understood that fight for their peace will not share that power with anyone else.
'Just another useless room and a waste of my time.'
Mono dropped the flyer on the floor before making his way to the door again. But not before the sound of something falling on the ground behind him caught his attention. Immediately Mono's powers were flaring out again. He was glaring keeping his eyes trained on where the sound came from. He entered the kitchen his hands outstretched in claws. With every step he felt tense but also a joyful anticipation. Even if it were a rat, he'd have some fun. He rounded the corner and then he saw the top of that accursed yellow raincoat.
She sat there crouched over a piece of bread. Digging her teeth into the bread scarfing it down. Mono also heard her… crying? Mono quickly relaxed his position before grabbing her attention.
"Six?"
Six just startled into a freeze at hearing that voice. She slowly turned around and she saw Mono standing there. Was she dreaming? Was this some delusion her mind created from her regrets? Just to test though.
"Mono, is that really you?"
Mono holds his arms out in an open gesture.
"The one and only Six."
Six slowly walked up to Mono a bit tentatively. She could feel tears of joy coming to her as she got closer. Trying to decide what the best and first thing to say him. Not knowing what to say she just latched her arms around him making sure he was the real thing. Nope this was real he was back.
"Mono, I'm so sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to drop you. It was just out of impulse, and I was afraid. Mono I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
Mono just felt arms latch around his body. He had to look down slightly to meet Six's red eyes. She was talking about something, but it fell on deaf ears. To him she was just talking gibberish and then he realized why. She was nothing. Nothing to him. To him, she was the perfect description of what he thought earlier.
A rat, nothing but vermin.
If he had to guess she was begging forgiveness for what he did, but he couldn't care less. What mattered was he, himself, and thy. She didn't matter and he certainly didn't want her around. However, he couldn't be alone why this thing wrapped around him. It needed to go.
"Six, don't worry about it. It's all good." Mono said as he grabbed Six's wrists slowly pulling them off him. Subtly charging up his power again putting up this charade of acceptance.
"Can you really forgive me?" Her eyes lighting with hope with happiness that her friend could forgive her.
"Of course, Six I'm over it…" and then Mono roughly grabbed the collar of her coat. The friendly gaze Six received quickly turned to a harsh glare.
"…just like I'm over YOU." With a hard blast of his powers Six was sent hurtling back into a pantry. The wind knocked out of her as she crumpled to the floor. In shock, she looked back up to see Mono dusting off his coat as if it were covered in filth. He then turned for the door pausing before looking back with the most disgusted look on his face.
"Now do me favor and don't follow. I've had enough of you to last me six lifetimes and trust me. They weren't worthwhile lives."
Not awaiting a reply Mono continued out the door. Six just laid there crying again. Her hopes just ripped out of her as she laid there.
"You know you could do more than just lay there."
Six looked up to see the shade staring down at her as it gestured out the door.
"You need him even if he doesn't want you. If not him, you need to leave here and go to the MAW. Your problem will be fixed there."
"My problem? What do you mean?"
The shade quickly disappears after that. Six looks in confusion at the spot the shade leaves behind. Clearing her mind, she leaves the apartment room whilst hearing the shattering of glass from a distance. Using the nearby elevator, she rides it down to the floor seeing a broken door. Going out into the streets she pulled the hood closer over her head. She looks at her surroundings but can't see hide nor hair of Mono. Taking a chance, she decides to head out into the docks thinking maybe Mono decided to disappear into the crowd.
Only to miss Mono who was right around the corner who was watching the yellow raincoat disappear into the city.
'Good riddance.'
The less he saw of Six all the better he didn't need any other annoyances not anymore. Feeling the rain above he stands out in the middle of the storm. Allowing the rain to wash over him. He stands there in serenity, feeling true peace, true relaxation as he stands there. Then to have a little fun he uses a small bit of his power to catch a raindrop in midair. He admires the beauty of a raindrop stuck in midair. Appreciating how beautiful life is without the monsters mucking it up. He's about to let the raindrop fall when he hears a squeal from behind him. He turns to see the Doctor standing upright. No wait, it just appears to be a citizen of the city walking around town.
"Poor pathetic creature, you just think I'm food, don't you?"
Mono flung out his arm and the raindrop he was holding onto flew right into the Citizen's eye. Blood gushing out as it screeched out in pain. Its legs giving out as it leaned back from the impact quickly scrambling away. Mono just looked up to the sky sighing in annoyance.
"I guess pleasant moments like that can't last."
His powers arching out around his arm as he reached out for the fallen Citizen who was cowering from. Mono placed his hand against the massive Guest's head before letting loose again. It didn't take much for the Citizen's head to implode as the last it registered seeing was an overload of static. Mono wiped his hand of the blood on his coat before moving on. He was just trying to find a way out of the city. When he looked out the window earlier, he saw the massive crowd from earlier. He didn't want any part of that. Let the pigs eat their hearts out and if Six got caught up in that. That wasn't his problem.
He was taken out of his thoughts when the sound of heavy footsteps caught his attention. He turned to see a single man walking down the street seemingly towards him. He tried looking through the rain to see the figure's face. Just to see that their face wasn't natural. It was massive and sagging, they didn't appear to have a nose, and they also appeared to lack eyes. Their mouth reached down to their waist. Dressed in a trench coat and a fedora they walked closer and closer.
Another monster. One Mono would dispatch with relative ease he thought as he powered up.
Sensing a challenge, the figure appeared to hold out their hand in defiance. Either that or an attempt to grab him.
Just like back in the Pale City with the Thin Man Mono thought. Only this time he wasn't sure what this thing wanted, and he didn't want to find out. Mono struck out with his powers static erupting form his palm. The figure just kept walking forward, but it appeared as though an energy flowed from their hand as well. Mono couldn't see it well enough as it looked more like a distortion in the air. Whatever this thing was fighting against Mono in an attempt to overpower it. Mono could feel himself being pushed back but he was not out of the fight yet. He attempted to tune his power in a similar fashion to fighting the Thin Man. Sweat dripping off his forehead as he pushed back causing the figure to stumble backward. Mono watched as the street around them began to crumble, the lampposts and electric cables bending out of shape.
Six on the other side of the city heard the sound of rumbling. She and the crowd turned their attention as they felt the tremors of something massive happening. The crowd flew into a panic running back into the city. Six not standing much of a chance as she was knocked unconscious from the stampede.
Mono looked with a satisfied grin on his face staring down his opponent. The figure simply stood there before thrusting their arm out again. Mono was unprepared as his powers immediately canceled out. Mono frantically began trying his powers again only to feel nothing. He looked up to his opponent their hand still outstretched. Panic filling Mono's heart as he turned to run.
"Don't run I don't mean you harm."
Mono froze in his footsteps. Did it just talk? Monsters don't talk. Curiosity got the better of Mono as he turned around.
"If you don't mean me harm then what do you want?"
"You are tired, yes? Tired of all the running? All the fighting? Tired of monsters? Tired of having to scavenge for food? I know of a place where you have a place to sleep, to eat, to grow, and if you're smart, a place to thrive."
"Why do you care about the suffering of others? It's moot, there's no point. What place are you talking about exactly? What do you get out of this?"
The figure pauses before answering, "I'm an old man, boy. It harms my heart knowing children out in the world are suffering. While the MAW is not considered the safest place for children it's better than the alternative of suffering. There are monsters on the MAW but on the occasion of myself and another they don't typically see the kids. What I get out of this is satisfaction that I've at least tried to make things peaceful for the youth of this world. Besides with that power of yours you would never have to worry about the other monsters."
The Ferryman offers a handout to Mono.
"So, what do you say? Will you join me, or will you take your chances?"
Mono is ready to reject the Ferryman's offer until he remembers the actions of the Thin Man. Having now believed that the Thin Man was trying to save him instead of harm placed some small guilt on his heart. Now here was an old man trying his best to do the same thing for others despite the bleak option.
"Fine I will go with you. But if you plan on placing me with other children, I ask for a place away from them."
"Of course, I see that you're a special case and I don't want any accidents on the ship. We can discuss it when we get there."
The Ferryman gently picks up before placing him in his coat pocket. Mono's head stuck out of the pocket one last time.
"One other thing, if you manage to find any other children could you avoid telling them about me. I'd rather not deal with any other annoyances for now."
The Ferryman only nods as Mono ducks his head back into the pocket. The Ferryman continues on his way back to the docks. It was odd, he only went this way around the city because this was typically where the girl would show up. The boy was an odd appearance perhaps this cycle around the girl was a boy. But then where was the raincoat? The Ferryman was unsure what this meant for the cycle because the boy was an odd occurrence. Speaking of which the Ferryman looked high above to the buildings that surrounded the two of them during their battle. The boy was strong that much was obvious. It had taken a lot out of the Ferryman to calm the boy down. The boy was strong, and the Ferryman feared for those that might make the boy their enemy.
Continuing on the Ferryman approached the docks seeing the once filled area. He looked out into the distance seeing the cargo ship disappearing out into the horizon. Shaking his head, he continued walking as he looked down. He saw the crumpled form of the little raincoat girl. Quickly rushing over to her he picked her up and put her close to his ear.
Her heart was beating so that was a good sign. Perhaps some warm food and bedding would do her some good. The Ferryman held her in front of him debating whether or not he should put them in the same pocket. He decided against out of the possibility the boy would kill the girl. He couldn't have that he needed the girl to take care of the Lady. The Ferryman takes a seat on the rowboat before taking a swig of liquor and setting off.
In the separate pockets lay Mono and Six. Mono lay still with a grim smile on his face allowing the swaying of the waves to lull him to sleep. Six slept tossing and turning having nightmares about a Lady and a dark smiling boy.