Memories flashback to Six as she watches Mono get thrown down. The Tower, the bridge, and the forest. It's almost as if life is playing a joke on the two of them. The look of fear scrawled on both of their faces as they get separated from each other. Six taken out of her thoughts as the sound of wood breaking sounds out from below them until a thunk sounds out from below them. Ground seems close to where Mono descended. A small bit of hope fills as she prepares to jump and follow him. Her fingers start to loosen from the hook.
"ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MIND!?"
Six looks back to see Kai still traveling upward into the deposit for the children. Six looks over to the side to see that the chef is not smoking a cigarette. She needs to wait a little bit longer until she gets to see what monster awaits them this time. The hook takes her up to the depository as well dismounting back onto solid ground.
"I get that you two care for each other Six but what are the chances that he survived that? Or even the chances that you may land in a very similar place? He may have survived that fall but if you fell just now what if you landed on solid metal and broke your legs? Are you insane? Do you ever think things through?"
Six just looks a Kai with a neutral look, "With the things I've seen, witnessed, done, and will do to ensure the safety of both myself and Mono… I might just be insane."
Kai starts ranting, "Ok, What exactly have you seen? You mentioned you've been here before meanwhile your boyfriend never has. You look to be around the same age as I am and yet you seem to have no problem with killing. You've mentioned you've eaten people so pardon me if I stay a few feet away. You mentioned you and the Geisha are related in some way and I can't help but question, how?"
"You really want to know? I'm not sure you'd believe me."
"Try me."
Six sits down on the ground against the wall patting the ground next to her. Kai takes the opposite wall sitting down. Kai trusted Mono and Six while Mono was around. He didn't trust the situation now that it was just Six. Especially after the nightmares.
Six starts talking about her life. Her childhood, her parents murdered right in front of her, The Nest, the death of the Raincoat girl, the first time through the Pale City, being rescued by Mono, getting caught by the Thin Man, the conflict and chase between Mono and Six ending in the worst way possible, her curse of hunger, her time in the MAW, what she did, what she ate, her regrets, her life growing up still full of regrets, Mono causing the reset, the reunion, Mono saving her and her saving him, their relationship blooming, Mono sacrificing himself to save Six, Six pulling Mono back from the dead, every single monster they had either fought or ran from, the arguments and fights between Mono and Six, Mono and Six saving Kai the first time, the years the spent in the port city, and now being back here.
"Do you really expect me to believe all that?"
Six opens her mouth to speak.
"NO! I'm not done. First of all even if that were true what kind of person are you to drop someone like that? Next of all you mentioned you ate a rat, a Nome, and yourself!? You really didn't have any self-control? You couldn't have, I don't know, had some self-control, and just walked away? You grow up to become the Geisha? Then why is she trying to kill us? Wouldn't killing you mean she also dies? Also even if you had regrets about dropping Mono why on earth did you almost instantly forgive him for bringing you back into the past? Doesn't that seem selfish to you?
"Everything that we've been through, everything we've done. If I were given another chance to go back I would do it all over again because he matters that much to me. Yes the Geisha and I are similar in physical appearance but make no mistake. She and I are very different people. No, killing me will not kill her. Listen you try living with a Void in your stomach it's not easy to control yourself. After everything I went through as a kid left a mental scar on me. I really don't blame Mono after the life I gave him the first time around."
Six fidgeted with the sleeves of her raincoat.
"I honestly expected him to kill me when we reunited…
Look you may not believe me about the whole Cycle. It doesn't matter. What matters is that we move forward for now. I can actually prove to you that I've been here before."
"How?"
"I know the layout of what's to come. First, we'll encounter a rat in a trap, then we'll enter a pantry filled with food, leading into a hallway with an elevator to our left, the elevator will be locked down so we'll need to go right into the kitchen. We'll need to be careful because this area belongs to the twin chefs, however I don't know what they've become."
Six walks past Kai moving clambering onto the many piles of sacks filled with dead children. Kai stands with a very confused look on his face trying to process the massive load of information he received. Climbing up the bags Kai steps down with a horrified look on his face. Looking down he saw a hand poking out of the bag.
"Six."
Six turns around with a neutral expression on her face.
"What exactly do they do to kids from the Prison?"
"I won't sugarcoat it Kai. They do exactly what they were going to do to you in the Supermarket. Cut you and serve as steak, sausage, and stew. It's the current fate for children on the MAW."
With a clenched fist she turns around.
"But when Mono and I take over this place we will make it so that this place will be a safe haven from the rest of the world."
Six climbs over the hill of bodies with a solemn expression on her face. A rat's skeleton lay untouched save for the trench of rot that lay around it. She stared down at the skeleton hearing the Tower's words in her head. Calling her out for being a coward, a rat, and a cannibal. Cannibal… that last one caused a memory to flash through her head. Recognition flashed in her eyes as she remembered.
She had recollections of Kai somewhat remembering who he was. Her first time through the MAW he was one of the people locked up in a cage. She remembered watching Kai get dragged away by the Janitor before escaping herself.
This time she would not allow that to happen. Kai was going to live no matter what. If Kai wanted to leave then she would make sure he'd see the sun again.
Kai clambered up over the pile as well to see Six standing over the trap. True to her words was a dead rat in a trap. Most likely having starved to death unable to escape. Or it likely suffocated with the metal bar around its neck. Kai walks up next to her to see she's actually trembling a small bit. Kai's unsure of what to do in this situation. Despite wanting to be part of a group, to actually have friends and family that loved him, he doesn't quite know what to do in this situation.
He carefully places a hand on her shoulder. She flinches a small bit before turning to look at Kai. She's shed a few tears.
"Are you okay, Six?"
"Yeah, I'm just having a rather stressful flashback. Not very good memories of the MAW."
"Were there any good memories of the MAW?"
"Only the small moments with the Nomes. The world is not a place for children. In this world children are terrified, traumatized, often fighting to live, fighting to breathe, hungry, and dying. I'm tired of it Kai and that's why I want to take over the MAW. Because I stood by once and allowed it to happen. I've been given a second chance at life and I will not waste it. I will make it so the MAW is a safe place. A place for people to live and grow without fear, with warm beds and clothes, full stomachs, and people that will actually care for one another. In the meantime I will make it so that the large population of monsters kill themselves out by eating one another."
Kai couldn't help but say, "Honestly I thought Mono was the noble one of you two, but now I see that both of you really care for others. You're not what I thought you'd be at all."
"What do you mean by that?"
Kai immediately shuts up not meaning to say that last part. His nightmares flashing through his head again before turning around quickly.
"It uh, it doesn't matter. We should keep moving."
Kai taking the lead clambers up into the open window leading to the next room. Six follows swiftly, Kai didn't want to talk about it right now so Six wouldn't pry for now. Both of them entered a large pantry that was lined with all kinds of canned foods and vegetables. Both of them immediately grabbed their noses and pinched. The shelves weren't just lined with food they were covered in mold and rot. No one's been using this food it's just been sitting and rotting away. Wanting to get away they quickly moved on into the next room.
Both of them flinch a small bit when the sound of a knife sharpening is heard. Kai looks back to Six who has raised a finger to their lips and then begins sneaking past him. Kai crouches down and begins walking as well. Both of the enter the hallway to see the shadow of a large figure chopping into something. Both of them round the corner.
And they can't believe what they see.
Mono
Pain is all Mono feels for the first few moments. His back is aching from the many planks of wood he fell onto being chucked down here. Then he feels something poke him in the face a few times. Part of him doesn't want to get up just to let the pain go away not antagonizing the sensation. Something taps him in the face again this time tickling his nose. Mono blearily opens his eyes to see the pulley of hooks faintly in the distance. Squinting his eyes, he sees Six's yellow cloak disappear from view. Separated yet again. It's like life has a way of playing a joke on the two.
Getting up slowly his vision is completely taken over by an eyesight full of white cloth. The cloth moves back to reveal that it's actually a Nome. It's just standing over him waiting for him to get up.
Wait.
Mono pulls out his lighter and then flicks it on. The flame dances to life in the dark while the Nome looks excitedly on. The Nome then walks closer to Mono when he stands up. Out of nowhere the Nome hugs Mono then Mono realizes.
It's the same Nome from the other two times. Last time Mono recalled the Nome distracted the Rakshasa allowing him to escape. Mono quickly looked the Nome over. He felt bad about having to rely on the poor thing to get away and hoped the Rakshasa didn't tear up the Nome in anyway. Mono picked up the Nome and then began examining it. The Nome completely misunderstanding the intention wrapped its own arms around Mono.
"Poor guy, you aren't hurt are you?" Mono asks as he puts down the Nome. The Nome tilts its head not understanding the question only holding its hand out in a grabbing motion. Mono looking back to the lighter in his hand and the Nome reaching out understands. He holds out the lighter for the Nome to hold. However, before the Nome takes it the Nome's head suddenly shifts in a direction and then begins shuffling away quickly.
Mono looking in confusion before hearing the sound of a heavy wind above him. Looking up he sees the shadow snake that grabbed him earlier was now slithering down in his direction. Pocketing the lighter Mono quickly follows the Nome not wanting to be devoured in darkness. He's chased through several rooms before entering a room with discarded furniture and then the Nome crawling into the wall. Looking behind him the shadow snake quickly catching up. Mono closes the door behind him before looking for a place to hide.
Seeing a filling cabinet, he opens the lowest drawer quickly climbing inside and then throwing himself against the back closing the drawer. He sits there crouched trying to ensure that he's not making a peep. He feels the air grow cold around him. Realization dawning on his face as he figured out.
He's not alone in this room. The Geisha's in here with him.
Footsteps clanked on the floor. Slow taking their time. Mono realizes she trying to listen for Mono's breathing. Slowly he brings his cloak in his hand over his mouth.
Cinca enters the room her mouth still dripping blood. She stalks the room as her shadow snake curls around her arm coiled and ready to strike. It's been awhile since she's been down here in the machinery. Not since the experiments she's ventured down in the depths.
"Where are you Mono?~"
Mono just shrinks further into himself at Cinca's catcalls.
"Come out and I promise you mercy. Perhaps I was too rash in attacking first and should have offered diplomacy instead.~"
Cinca paced around the room her shadows palpating every corner of the room every crack in the wall.
"We can discuss your terms of peace. After all the Void has already informed of the Cycle. The accursed thing that dragged both you and I through hell in the shape of the Pale City."
Mono hears Cinca pull something out with before dropping it on the floor. The sound of flesh turns to the splintering of wood. Cinca sits in the center of the room keeping an eye and ear out for anything.
"And yet not you and I for I've noticed that you two seem rather close to one another. Did you know with the powers that the Void has given me I can hear your thoughts? I could poor pitiful Six mourning you after she clamped her teeth around your windpipe. She must care deeply for you and you her."
Mono keeps absolutely still trying not to make a peep while at the same time trying to focus on not thinking in case that alerted the presence in the room.
"There's just one thing I don't understand boy. Why was I paired with such an abusive, cruel, and monstrous version of yourself while you got a version that actually cares and receives love. Why are you selfless so caring for her? WHY ARE YOU SO-!?"
In rage the Geisha picks up the chair and flings it into a wall the wood shattering in many pieces.
"Do you know what he did to me? Always leaving me to defend myself. I had to save myself from the Bullies and when I caught up to him he just brushed my survival off to the side. When we were freezing in the rain he just grabbed my coat and used it for himself. He tried to drown me in the marshes because I got too close. He attempted to burn me alive after we killed the Doctor. To him I was a liability and other times I was his entertainment."
Cinca begins stalking the room again this time approaching the wall next to where Mono was hiding. She leans against the wall rubbing her head.
"How I enjoyed finally escaping him. He had just released the Thin Man and we ran to hide. I hid in the bed and Mono was quickly following behind. That static monstrosity entered the room looking for us. I knew then and there that it would either be me or him. So I made a choice, I kicked him out from under the bed. The last I saw of Mono was the look of shock in his eyes as I doomed him."
Cinca still rubbing her head began to chuckle as her smile grew wider.
"IT FELT FREEING TO SEE THAT LOOK ON HIS FACE! TO KNOW THAT MY TORMENTOR FINALLY KNEW PAIN. THAT SENSE OF JOY ONLY LASTED SO LONG THOUGH. HOWEVER NOW YOU'RE HERE AND BECAUSE OF THAT I-"
Cinca clutches her head in pain letting a gasp escape her. A pounding headache causes her to fall to her knees. She takes off her mask holding fists right over her eyes. She hears the Void in her head.
"ꌗ꓄ꂦᖘ ꅏꀤ꓄ꃅ ꓄ꃅꍟ ꍟꊼᖘꂦꌗꀤ꓄ꀤꂦꈤ ꉓꃅꀤ꒒ꀸ. ꀤ ꀸꀤꀸꈤ'꓄ ꍟꎭᖘꂦꅏꍟꋪ ꌩꂦꀎ ꀭꀎꌗ꓄ ꓄ꂦ ꁅꀤᐯꍟ ꍏ ꎭꂦꈤꂦ꒒ꂦꁅꀎꍟ ꅏꃅꀤ꒒ꍟ ꂦꀎꋪ ꍟꈤꍟꎭꌩ ꀤꌗ ꉓ꒒ꂦꌗꍟ. ꌗ꓄ꋪꀤꀘꍟ ꈤꂦꅏ ꃅꍟ ꀤꌗ ꉓ꒒ꂦꌗꍟ."
Cinca stands rigid before her arms shoot grabbing cracks in the metal wall. Her powers coursing around her hands as she pulls out bits of metal. She hears scuttling only to see the Nome quickly run away from her.
"ꍏꈤꂦ꓄ꃅꍟꋪ ꂦꈤꍟ? ꀤ ꓄ꃅꂦꀎꁅꃅ꓄ ꅏꍟ ꃅꍏꀸ ꓄ꍏꀘꍟꈤ ꉓꍏꋪꍟ ꂦꎇ ꍏ꒒꒒ ꂦꎇ ꓄ꃅꍟꎭ. ꀤ꓄ ꎭꍏ꓄꓄ꍟꋪꌗ ꈤꂦ꓄ ꀤ꓄ ꌗꃅꍏ꒒꒒ ꌗ꓄ꀤ꒒꒒ ꌃꍟ ꀸꍟᐯꂦꀎꋪꍟꀸ ꒒ꍏ꓄ꍟꋪ ꂦꈤ."
Cinca the uses the shadow snake coiled around her arm to strike the bottom of the filing cabinet in the corner. Mono lays himself flat trying to hide from Cinca as her footsteps draw closer. He holds in a scream as a dark shadow pierces the woodwork right above him. Cinca then uses her powers to lift up the furniture tossing it all over the room. Fragments of wood flew in disarray all over. Cinca eyes the room with a discerning look.
"He's close but he doesn't appear to be in here. No matter he'll turn up eventually and when she does…"
She curls her fingers slowly.
"…I'm going to enjoy gouging out his little eyes."
Cinca leaves the room from where she came in. Mono lays still under the debris for a few more minutes waiting for her footsteps to completely disappear. Trembling he pulls himself up slowly walking away from his hiding place. Then he hears the trickle of blood. Looking down he realizes that in his panic he clenched his own clawed fist too hard that he broke the skin. Hearing wood move Mono quickly turns around to see the Nome picking itself up from the debris before scurrying away through an open door opposite Cinca flight.
Calming himself down Mono follows the Nome into the darkness.
Kai and Six
Of all the things that Six expected to see, it certainly wasn't this. The creature standing before them definitely was one of the twin chefs but altered. It wasn't wearing a mask like it usually did. What stood before them was a gray skinned creature with a mix between a doctor's and chef's uniform. Pockets filled with all types of tools and each of them covered in various liquids and other substances. Their arms were covered in an assortment of cuts, scratches, bite marks, and ulcers. Their hands covered in burns, blisters, and red as lobster soaked in scalding hot water. Their face showed the monster only had one eye, a piss shade of yellow, large nostrils twitching, small rodent-like ears near the top of his head, and large mouth with horrifying teeth drooling with green slobber.
Kai and Six observed the monster in its movement trying to look for a means to get by. Its labored breath echoing through the kitchen as it carved pieces of meat from the massive body. It scraped pieces of meat into its palm not noticing the small bits that fell as it turned around to the stew boiling behind him. Kai definitely noticed seeing as it was still looking back at him. An eye with its optic nerve still attached lay on the floor dead and inactive. Six also saw but then noticed the iris of the eye turned multicolored for a second. Grabbing Kai by the shirt Six pulled him back into hiding around the corner.
With a plop the monster dunked the meat into the stew before turning back to the chopping block. Looking down the monster picked up the severed eye. Looking it over for a second the monster chucked the eyeball into its mouth. Slurping up the optic nerve like spaghetti before picking up the knife ready to carve up more meat. Before the monster started chopping again it clutched its head as a small headache flared up.
"ꌩꂦꀎ ꍏꋪꍟ ꈤꂦ꓄ ꍏ꒒ꂦꈤꍟ."
The monster looked to the right back toward the hallway leading to the elevator. It dug the knife into the chopping board before shuffling to the pantry. This time Kai dragged Six for a bit as they ran toward the pantry again. Kai and Six separate as they go into two different corners of the moldy food. They're holding their breath as they watch footsteps enter the room. Splatters of drool fall onto the floor getting closer to Kai's corner. He cringes out of disgust and huddles in fear from the proximity of the creature. The monster crouches down attempting to see the intruders. Kai hides behind a blackened cabbage while Six lays down behind a can. The monster reaches a hand this time toward Six's position. Its hand almost grazes Six's head preparing to grab her. The monster is distracted as the sound of knocking. Six looks over to Kai seeing him knock on the shelf above him. With a squeal the monster dives toward the corner Kai is in. Brushing all manner of ingredients aside trying to find the source of the noise.
Then Kai, Six, and the monster hear something. The clattering of pottery also in the room. Kai and Six share a terrified glance as the monster dives out of the room. Using this moment Six looks over to Kai mouthing a thank you to him. Kai nods back before both of them hear the sound flesh being torn apart. Six is filled with a weird sense of nostalgia as that sound turns to the sound of metal creaking and bending.
The monster then charges back into the room. Kai and Six barely have enough to react as a massive battle axe splits down in the middle of the shelves between them. The monster's not done as it begins chopping every shelf over and over again. Six and Kai can no longer see each other as debris and mold fall to the floor. The monster looks over the pile garbage scattered on the floor. Finally seeing the cause for the sound from earlier. A Nome split in two lay on the floor strewn around broken pottery. The monster picked up the two halves of the Nome before walking back to its workplace the axe grinding against the floor.
Both Kai and Six crawl out of the debris looking at the pile of broken wood on the floor. Dusting himself off he walked over to Six.
"You said you've been here before, right? Cycle or not how'd you get out of here the first time?"
"If this is just like last time the door will be locked. The key to said lock is upstairs right next to their bed. We'll need to sneak past them and then use the rafters to get upstairs."
"And if one of gets spotted by one of them, what do you suggest?"
"This one has an axe so maybe try hiding under something metal."
Six turns around walking back to the kitchen with Kai in tow. The room is empty only the fires cooking the food blazing. Six and Kai, sneak under the table going to an open vent. Walking onto a small table both Kai and Six see how the kitchen has been altered. Flesh covered the floors the walls and ceiling in a web. All of it converging on a main point where a cauldron used to lay from Six's first time. Now, sat a massive ball of flesh with a hole near the top. Kai and Six watched as the monster from before held the Nome before it. Its hands glowing with power as the Nome shifted and transformed into another hunk of flesh. The monster thrust the flesh in the massive ball, and it seemed to shudder from enjoyment.
'So, they transfuse things to and from meat.' Six decided to call these monsters Alchemists.
A squeal occurred from another portion of the room Kai and Six turned their heads to see a second Alchemist. This one with two blood red eyes. It quickly pushed the yellow eyed Alchemist to the side pulling a long thread of flesh. The power from their hands straightening the flesh into a wooden pole with a spike on the end. Kai and Six heard the elevator ding open from behind them. Kai and Six began running around the kitchen only to hear the surprised grunt of another.
A third Alchemist walks in from the way Kai and Six came from. This one with a singular virulent purple eye holding a massive-serrated cleaver. All three of them quickly give chase to the children.
Kai and Six run away now pursued by three massive monsters. Each of them seeking to skewer and cleft in twain these two mongrels.
Mono
Mono follows the Nome walking up to the door. He watches as it pushes up against the door trying to open up. It's actually a little bit humorous as it tries pushing against the door. A nice little from the amount of terror he just witnessed. The Nome stops pushing against the door looking up at the handle then turning to Mono. He looks down to the Nome who's just hopping up and down whilst pointing up at the handle. Mono understanding picks up the Nome from behind before facing the door. With a light toss the Nome goes flying arms outstretched. Latching onto the handle the Nome pulls down. The door pops open and the Nome lands on the ground.
Mono walks up to the Nome making sure it isn't harmed. The Nome looks up to Mono expectantly with its arms outstretched.
"You're not hurt are you little guy?"
The Nome just opens and closes his hand as if wanting something. Mono pulls out his lighter flicking the wheel. The light flickers on dancing around the room. Holding it steady Mono holds it out to the Nome only to look past it and almost drop the lighter in shock. Cast on the wall was the Nome's shadow, only it wasn't the shape of the Nome. Fleeting memories from what Six told him about the MAW caused him to remember what exactly Nomes were on the MAW.
The discarded fleshlings of children without their souls. That's why they seek the warmth of a fire. It's the only thing they can feel anymore.
Mono picked up the Nome to feel it wrap its own arms around him. He looked to the shadow on the wall to see he was hugging a Nome that used to be a boy. He couldn't see any other discerning names. He hears the Nome make little chitters of enjoyment.
'Six was wrong you don't just feel warmth, you also feel affection.'
He set the Nome, the creature looking sad as it was set down.
"Does my little partner have a name?"
The Nome stands still for a second before limping on the floor. No, not limping, dragging its foot on the ground in a line across the dust. It stopped for a second before turning and walking in another direction. It stopped before pointing at the tracing then back to itself.
L.
"L? That's your name?"
The Nome appeared to nod before walking up to Mono pulling on his pant leg.
"L it is then."
Mono walks forward only to be weighed down by L holding onto his leg. Mono crouches down only for L to clamber onto Mono leg and then to his back.
"You want a ride?"
The Nome holds its hand and Mono hands it the lighter. Riding on Mono's shoulders L flicks the lighter on before holding it forward. Mono walks onward and ever forward with his little Nome companion at the ready. Mono's hand reaches up to the necklace as he considers his options. Working together Mono and L travel through different rooms involving L being launched it the air towards many different levers and door handles.
Traveling through an open doorway the two enter a room that seems to have involved some kind of operation. The Geisha was here recently Mono could see that with the recent blood spatters on the floor. The torn-up bodies of Nomes that faced the Geisha's wrath. Looking over the bodies Mono sees bite marks on the torso. Too small to be the Geisha's though, Mono brandishes his claw in the case of some feral rats. L hops off of Mono's back looking down at the fallen bodies of other Nomes. In the light Mono sees the shadow of the Nome hunched over crying. Mono slowly rubs L's back in an attempt to cover.
A loud bang occurs causing both Mono and L to jump in sudden fear. A compartment falls to the ground and two Nomes scurry away with their heads rattling. They pause only for a moment seemingly looking at Mono before scurrying again. Mono calms down a small bit turning around to see L still shuddering in fear and walked backward a bit.
'Poor guy he must have been startled by the loud noise more than me.'
Hesitantly Mono kneels down for L to clamber. L slowly climbs this time wrapping his legs around Mono's back. They continue on through past the metal door. Getting closer to it Mono sees small scratch marks made in the door. Thankfully those same marks were made on the eye so it couldn't see Mono right now. Ascending up a hallway L starts trembling a lot. Mono can't help but wonder.
'So why is this guy and those two others the only Nomes we've seen? Six told me the place was practically littered with Nomes. Where are the others?'
Mono and L push another door open with minimal effort. The door swings open to reveal an alarming sight to Mono. The lack of Nomes? Mono just found all of them. Tens of Nomes sat in this room all of them focused on an unlit lantern. All of them shivering and trembling as if they are scared and cold in the darkened room.
'Poor guys they might be in hibernation. Too cold to move.'
L seemed to think so as well as he too hopped off of Mono's back and ran into the room. Oddly enough L seemed to run around the crowd of huddled Nomes making his way to the other side of the room. Mono using the lighter took a look around the room. Several diagrams were posted on the wall. Some of them appearing to be diagrams of the Nomes.
Clambering up to a table Mono sees a scalpel and dried blackened blood lay on top of a metal tray. Looking back to the diagram Mono say a few interesting things. Nomes appear to only have lungs and a brain in their body. Both of which in the torse while their head is completely empty.
They aren't meant to live, only to exist.
Other diagrams depicted different incisions made on the bodies of Nomes. One that caught his attention was a diagrams depicting the head in which four different cuts were made starting from the top of the head.
Hopping off the table Mono hears something move underneath him. Putting an ear to the floor Mono hears the wet sounds of flesh moving below him. The flesh from before it had even reached down here. Mono shivered at the thought of how many bodies were absorbed to make this mass of flesh.
How far did it stretch? How would they destroy it?
Mono put those thoughts away. For now? He would ensure that these Nomes would be able to enjoy some amount of comfort. Mono looked over to L who seemed to be trying to beckon Mono to him.
"One second little guy I'm just going to make sure these guys can also share the warmth."
L just left after hearing that. Mono thought that was a little selfish of the guy. Mono didn't appreciate that of L acting like that while its makeshift family was suffering in here. Mono wandered over to the lantern with his lighter lit. The flame caught onto the wick and the lantern's light filled the room. Immediately the Nomes seemed to wake up as the light bathed over them. All the Nomes looked at Mono appreciatingly while at the same time seemingly sizing him up.
One of the Nomes started to walk towards Mono its arms out in a hug. Mono quickly kneels down to try and cheer up this Nome as well. The Nome gets very close when Mono sees something run towards him to his left. With his clawed arm he swings left catching the being in midair and tossing them away. A Nome hits the wall with a three clawed gash on its chest.
Mono is mortified for a second thinking he just murdered someone accidentally. His thoughts interrupted as he feels something painfully dig into his arms.
The Nome he attempted to hug was now latched onto his arm. Only it wasn't using its arms or legs to do so.
The diagram from before wasn't depicting incisions into the Nome's head for discovery. It was mutation from the Geisha's new abilities. With a painful tear the Nome takes a chunk out of Mono's arm. From the tip of the Nome's head it splits open four ways allowing the piece of Mono arm to fall into a gaping maw of blackened serrated jaws. It chews for a few seconds before spitting out the meat
In that moment of distraction Mono feels something latch onto his arm with a tremendous amount of pain He turns to see that the Nome that he attempted to hug, rather its head has opened up into four segments.
Mono clutches his arm in pain feeling his own bone. Doing his best not to cry out as he sees his surroundings and his hope quickly diminish. All around him the Nomes fall forward using their arms and legs to keep them upright. All of them opening their mouths into four segments. From the light of the lantern Mono sees that a name for these things has been written on the diagrams.
Gremlins
Mono starts walking backward away from the Gremlins as they drew closer. Their jaws snapping as they stalk him. Mono looks back to see that L is already running away. Mono takes a few more steps putting his hand on the door. With a heave he slams the door shut and then begins quickly following after L. The wooden door only lasts so long as it finally bursts open.
And a horde of Gremlins running on all fours pursue their new prey.
KAI AND SIX
Six and Kai both jump to opposite sides as all three weapons come down on top of them. The tiles where they once stood shattered from the fury of the three Alchemists. The kitchen lay in shambles from the continued pursuit of the two teens. This time they were actually separated. Two Alchemists one armed with a cleaver and the other armed with an axe began chasing Six who began weaving in between the different blades as they slammed on the ground. Kai in the meantime was desperately trying to avoid being skewered in the stomach by the other with the spear.
Dodge, Jump, Duck, and Dodge again.
This maddening game was starting to take its toll on Kai and Six as they continued to try and evade their offenders. Then Six was backed into a corner as both of the Alchemists reared their weapons back. The one with the cleaver going for a vertical chop while the axe wielder was going for a horizontal chop. Six seeing her chance ran straight in between the two of them as they swung. The cleaver wielder hit the floor first the weapon stuck in the floor. As is attempted to pull out quickly the axe wielder swung. Six didn't dare turn around as a meaty thunk hit the floor and the Alchemist screamed out.
The one pursuing Kai turned to see its injured comrade holding a stump of its hand. In rage the spearman threw his spear at the retreating Kai. Kai was suddenly propelled forward as the spear caught him by his collar. Pinning him to the wall. Seeing one of their victims pinned the Alchemist runs back toward the injured one still cradling their hand. With a bit of help from the other two Alchemists they make they're way to the cauldron of flesh in the middle of the room. Six slowly backs away going over to Kai who's still tugging his shirt, trying to get it loose from the wall. The Alchemists stick a wooden spoon into the mouth of the disarmed one before thrusting their comrade's stump into the cauldron. Kai and Six watch as the injured Alchemist bites down hard on the spoon handle in pain as steam comes from the opening in the cauldron. Kai having seen enough already tears on the shirt freeing him. He taps Six on the shoulder.
"You said the key's upstairs right? That third one probably used the elevator to get down here. Let's go!"
Six silently nodded trying to ignore the groans of pain from the Alchemist. Running back through the smaller kitchen the screams finally stopped replaced by chuckles of glee. Pounding footsteps quickly follow behind as they notice their prey has disappeared. Six starts running through the small kitchen doorway to turn around and see that Kai is not there. Using the knife, the Alchemist dropped earlier Kai began hacking into the wiring of the ovens. Damaging them slightly before throwing the chipped knife away, leaving the doors open, and then setting the ovens to their maximum setting. Kai then quickly runs past Six beckoning her forward into the elevator. The elevator doors close with a ding and ascend. Six looks at Kai who has a mischievous smirk on his face.
"What were you doing down there?"
Kai looks at her maniacally before holding three fingers up.
Three.
Two.
One.
An explosion could be heard along with the screams of two of the Alchemists. The floor below them shook a small bit.
"You ever cook before Six?"
"A few times they were never really successful."
"Let me be the first to tell you. Never cook with a faulty oven. It can literally blow up in your face."
Six looked contemplative for a minute before the elevator doors opened. The two walked through noticing that while the kitchen was covered in flesh the upstairs appeared to have been untouched. However, both of them aren't given enough time to appreciate their surroundings as the elevator doors close and descend again. Six quickly turns around looking up at a panel on the wall.
"Give me a leg up quickly!"
Kai complied kneeling down before her holding his hands on his knee. With a heave Kai launches Six up to the panel. It opens as Six pulls down on the handle revealing a lever. With a bit of maneuvering Six grabs onto the lever and pulls it down. The elevator shaft shudders with its light flickering and the squeal of surprise from an Alchemist calls out.
"Good thinking Six, but how are we going to get down?"
"The vents should still be available if we're quiet we can sneak past them. Don't worry Kai you can trust me."
Kai faltered for a second when she said that. Six noticed it too that shift in emotions turning to fear on his face for only a moment.
"Kai…?"
Kai looked up to her his mind deep in contemplation when she said that. Trust, that wasn't something he experienced or gave easily. Even after changing his mind and working with these two he was unsure. They had gotten close having worked together to defeat or evade different monsters. Maybe… maybe it was time to build some trust.
"Six, I'm sorry. I… I'm not the best when it comes to trusting people having been tormented most of my life. The only times I've been able to have some comfort is by myself, but with you two… I think I'm learning how to."
"Kai you don't need to worry about Mono or me doing anything horrid to you. We're not like the other monsters we actually care."
"With Mono I actually believed that. I remember back in the market he enjoyed making monsters suffer but you…" and Kai couldn't believe he was saying this, "you scare me."
"I scare you?"
"More specifically your powers I'm afraid of the possibility that I may upset you in a way that you use them on me and I die instantly. You also told me you've eaten people before and I can't help but feel anxious about that."
"Why would you? I told you that I'm no longer cursed and therefore don't have a desire to eat people."
Kai looked very hesitant, a large part of him debating whether he should tell this or not.
"Before you showed up to the MAW. Before I thought of ways to escape the MAW. I had nightmares of many things Six. And its not like they were random dreams that filled my head. No, they were the exact same nightmare every single as if they were warning me."
Six listened intently making sure to hear Kai's every word.
"It would always start the same with me swimming in a massive ocean. I'm drifting calmly under the night sky until something pulls me under the water. I struggle to stay above the surface but I get pulled down anyways. Then I'm in a massive void surrounded by hundreds of white Eyes all blinking at me as I sink. Then finally I'm wandering in a dark hall, a sausage lays on the floor next to me, there's artwork on the door seemingly the MAW. I see a few Nomes before they run away and then I see you. You're standing there hunched over and reaching out for something. I hold out the sausage to you which you seem to walk towards me for. You hand outreached before I'm dragged to the floor and then I feel something dig into my stomach. Then I wake up a phantom pain on my stomach from the dream."
Kai finishes talking then looks over to Six hoping she'd understand his fear.
Six looks absolutely shocked her mouth agape and her skin white. She's trembling a lot after Kai's revelation of what happens to him. Kai walks towards her and she takes a step back. She remembers now why he looks so familiar to him. It's not just because he was a captive just like her back then. No it was because of something far worse. Images flash through her mind as she remembers her time as the lady. The Nome's body lay on the floor…
…And Kai's shadow stood ever vigilant above the dead body.
She ate him. He was the Nome she devoured.
"Six? Are you okay?"
Kai takes another step towards her while she takes another step back. Kai didn't understand where this came from. Where had the calm confident girl he was just traveling with go? Kai took another step and Six bolted running away in the other direction.
"WAIT!"
Kai begins following her down the darkened hallway. Her yellow raincoat disappearing into the darkness. Entering a room shrouded in darkness Kai immediately begins trying to quiet himself hearing the loud snores of a fourth Alchemist in the room. Using his flashlight he looks around to see Six hiding in the corner crouched trying to hide from him.
"Six what's wrong? Why'd you just run like that?" he whispered out to her.
"..m.. "
Kai got closer holding out the light up to her face. Tears rolled down her face.
"What was that?"
"I'm… sorry Kai."
"What are you sorry for you didn't do anything wrong?"
"That's where you're wrong Kai. Just to clarify what was it that you wanted to do when we stopped the Geisha?"
"I wanted to leave this place behind and never see it again."
Six places a hand on his shoulder wiping her face.
"Then I will personally make it so that you receive the best trip out of here possible. Safe and sound."
"Six I don't understand why you're suddenly so-"
The lights clicked on as the fourth Alchemist pulls on a cord above it. This one has four blue eyes and all four of them are staring down at the two of them. It quickly gets off the bed and charges the two of them.
Kai feels Six shove him away from her taking a tumble under the bed. Kai looks up to see Six mouthing out to him to be quiet before reaching up to pull her necklace off. Surprise washes over her as a large meaty hand grabs her pinning her arms to her sides. Six looks back with terrified eyes as she's being carried away captured by the Alchemist while Kai looks on powerless.
MONO
Mono runs as the Gremlins are nipping at his ankles. A massive wave of creatures sweeps forward after the static boy. Mono spares a glance and is horrified at the sight. All of them are crawling either on the floors, the walls, and a few on the ceiling. Said ceiling crawlers quickly leapt down in an attempt to pounce on him. With his claws he sweeps a few of them away black ichor on his hands as he runs. They writhe on the ground before getting back up to resume chasing their prey.
In his haste he quickly runs past L. As he does L hops onto his pants before clambering onto his back again. Another set of Gremlins leap from the walls some of them landing on Mono with their mouths clamping onto Mono legs slowing him down. L starts stomping on their mouth segments trying to get them off. Mono swipes his claws again this time separating head from body as the Gremlin falls to the ground dead. Thankfully they hadn't torn the flesh from his legs but they were gushing blood as he ran. Coming up to a wall L hops off of Mono back quickly running forward towards a vent shaft. Mono quickly runs to the vent cover as well.
The combined efforts of man and Nome pry the vent open and the two of them scramble inside pulling the vent behind them closed.
Mono struggles to catch his breath as the Gremlins bite and scratch at the door trying to get it open. L pulls at Mono pant leg trying to get him to move.
"Yeah… yeah I know. Just let me catch my breath for a second."
The door of the vent providing better protection than the wooden door from the monsters. Mono does a quick checkup of himself. The gash in his arm is substantial its amazing he's even able to move it without pain. Although that pain seemed to be increasing now that he wasn't running for his life. If he had excess flesh lying around he could mend his arm replacing what was lost. He looked over to L for a second who was looking back at him.
No, no he wouldn't sacrifice the Nome for that. Maybe he'd find a dead rat somewhere and use that. Using the last remnants of his cloak he created makeshift bandages to wrap around his arm and legs. Hopefully those would last long enough.
He looked grimly at his arm.
Hopefully.
He leaned against the wall behind him thinking about how quickly it had all unraveled. The Granny , the Rakshasa, and the Geisha. The separation of him and Six. Elysium, he hoped that they were doing much better than he was. He hoped Six was unharmed and well. He could really use a hug right now.
Bleeding in a ventilation shaft. He began planning out his next move when a voice entered the vents.
"You know with the powers I've given I can hear your thoughts, right?~"
A shadow snake grabs onto Mono before reeling back pulling Mono tumbling through the vents. L reaches out a hand only to be pushed back from the dark magic. Mono is sent crashing into the different sides of the vent wall. Scraping against the metal he can feel something warm flow down his face before he's torn from the ventilation into a massive boiler room.
Suspended in the air by his ankles Mono sees the predatory grin of Cinca as she holds him very close to a burning fire. Her grin widens as she continues talking.
"I can even hear the thoughts you have about my reincarnation. Such a naughty little thing you are having developed love at such a young age."
Cinca throws Mono into the wall creating a small dent and Mono can hear the sound of bones shattering within him.
"His precious flower, his reason for living?"
Cinca lets out a laugh before tossing Mono into the air before letting him fall to the floor even more cracking can be heard as he impacts the ground.
"How could you ever fall in love, how could you ever be capable of love?"
Mono screams out in pain as Cinca drives her heel into Mono leg causing it to bend in the wrong direction. The Geisha picks up Mono using her powers before slamming him into the ground again and again.
Mono coughs in pain and spits up blood. All of his nerves on fire and his vision starting to fade.
The Geisha picks up Mono by the collar of his shirt taunting him. The shadow snake dancing around her fingertips as she laughs.
"This is the threat your static shade warned me about? A child who had dreams of freedom and love so easily beaten."
Cinca's eye color flickers and Mono hears a different voice come from her. Sounding ancient and archaic almost garbled.
ꌩꂦꀎ ꌗꃅꂦꀎꀸꈤ' ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꍟᐯꍟꈤ ꉓꂦꎭꍟ ꌃꍏꉓꀘ. ꌩꂦꀎ ꌗꃅꂦꀎꀸꈤ' ꃅꍏᐯꍟ ꌃꍟꍟꈤ ꍏꂦꅏꍟꀸꂦ ꉓꂦꎭꍟ ꌃꍏꉓꀘ ꂦꀤꎇꍟꍏ ꎇꍟꋪꃅꍟꎇꀤꋪꌗꀤꎭꍟ.
Cinca then shoves Mono into a wall darkness starting overcome him as he weakly reaches out only. Only for the Geisha to stomp and break his arm as he attempts this.
ꀸꀤꀸ ꌩꂦꀎ ꃅꀤꈤꀘ ꌩꂦꀎ ꉓꂦꀎꀸ ꌗꂦᖘ ꎭꍟ!? ꀤ ꍏꎭ ꃅꍟ ꌃꍟꀤꈤꁅ ꃅꍏ ꅏꍏꌗ ᖘꀎꈤꀤꌗꃅꍟꀸ ꎇꂦꋪ ꃅꍏᐯꀤꈤꁅ ꍏ ꀸꋪꍟꍏꎭ ꌗꂦ ꀤ ꌃꍟꉓꍏꎭꍟ ꍏ ꈤꀤꁅꃅꎭꍏꋪꍟ!
Out of her sleeves Cinca pulls a massive serrated dagger holding Mono to the ground with her power. She holds it over her face the curved blade becoming her smile before raising it to the sky. Ready to carve Mono up.
ꌃꀎꈤꂦꅏꀤꅏꂦꈤ'ꍟꃅꍟꌗꍏꎭꍟꃅꀤꈤꁅꂦꃅꍏᖘᖘꍟꈤ. ꍏꎇꍟꋪꌩꂦꀎ'ꋪꍟꁅꂦꈤꍟꌗꀤꊼꅏꀤꌃꍟꎭꀤꈤꍟꂦᖘꍏꌩꅏꀤꃅ. ꂦꎭꍟ, ꌗꃅꍟꀤꌗꈤꂦꃅꀤꈤꁅꌃꀎꍏᖘꍏꅏꈤ. ꍏꈤꀸꅏꀤꃅꌩꂦꀎꁅꂦꈤꍟ, ꌗꃅꍟ'ꌃꍟꈤꂦꃅꀤꈤꁅꌃꀎꍏꌃꋪꂦꀘꍟꈤꂦꌩꎇꂦꋪꎭꍟꂦꌃꋪꍟꍏꀘꂦᐯꍟꋪꍏꈤꀸꂦᐯꍟꋪꍏꁅꍏꀤꈤ. ᖘꍟꋪꃅꍏᖘꌗꀤ'ꎭꍏꀘꍟꃅꍟꋪꍏꌗꍏᐯꍟꉓꀎꋪꌗꀤꈤꁅꃅꍟꋪꅏꀤꃅꃅꀎꈤꁅꍟꋪꍏꁅꍏꀤꈤꌃꍟꀤꈤꁅꎇꂦꋪꉓꍟꀸꂦꂦꈤꌩꀘꀤꃅꍟꉓꃅꀤꀸꋪꍟꈤꌗꃅꍟꅏꍏꈤꍟꀸꂦꎭꍏꀘꍟꍏꌃꍟꍟꋪᖘꍏꉓꍟꎇꂦꋪ. ᖘꍟꋪꃅꍏᖘꌗꀤ'ꅏꍏꋪᖘꃅꍟꋪꌗꂦꀎꂦꃅꍟᖘꂦꀤꈤꌗꃅꍟ'ꌃꍟꌗꉓꍏꋪꍟꀸꂦꎇꃅꍟꀤꁅꃅ. ꂦꋪꌃꍟꍟꋪꌩꍟꎭꍏꌩꌃꍟꀤ'ꂦꋪꀎꋪꍟꃅꍟꋪꀤꈤꌩꂦꀎꋪꀤꎭꍏꁅꍟꌗꂦꌗꃅꍟꅏꀤꌃꍟꌗꉓꍏꋪꍟꀸꂦꎇꌩꂦꀎꎇꂦꋪꍏꍟꍟꋪꈤꀤꌩ. ꃅꍟꌃꍟꌗᖘꍏꋪꀤꌗꀤꅏꀤꎭꍏꀘꍟꃅꍟꋪꀤꎭꎭꂦꋪꍏꌩꂦꀎꅏꂦꌗꃅꍏꈤꍟᐯꍟꋪꌃꍟꂦꁅꍟꃅꍟꋪꍏꁅꍏꀤꈤ. ꅏꂦꂦᐯꍟꋪꌗꌗꍟᖘꍏꋪꍏꍟꀸꌃꌩꀸꍟꍏꃅꈤꍟᐯꍟꋪꂦꌃꍟꂦꁅꍟꃅꍟꋪꍏꁅꍏꀤꈤ. ꌗꃅꍟꀤꌗꎭꀤꈤꍟ. ꋪꀤꁅꃅꍏꎇꍟꋪꀤꎇꀤꈤꀤꌗꃅꀘꀤꀤꈤꁅꌩꂦꀎ.
Mono struggles to get up reaching up with his clawed arm for the necklace. In his struggle he claws his own neck in desperation.
And with a triumphant grin Cinca dives down to separate head from neck.