The Hunter was making usual rounds around the forest searching for new treasures to add to his collection. He had already found one precious material a little girl whose interest was in an old rusty music box.
Something he needed to change when he began to perfect his work. To perfect them from the boring living breathing creatures they once were to beautiful everlasting works of art.
He recalled when he made the perfect family at the dinner table. Although unfortunately, Uncle John lost his jaw and Timothy had already lost his eyes. Aunt Rachel was so degraded the Hunter had to put her into the attic. There was no need for imperfections like himself. Not when everyone else had fallen prey to those televisions. When everyone else had left him isolated in the forest with remnants of an old house.
Eventually, he would remake them to be better than ever.
So, the Hunter made his trip around the forest checking traps and looking out for new materials. He fantasized about his interesting hobby that he had not realized he walked away from his usual path. The Hunter looking at his surroundings found himself in the middle of discarded TVs.
He shrugged and started to walk away when suddenly one of the tubes turned on. Cautiously he approached it aiming his gun at it preparing to blast it apart. Then the TV started to make this blaring sound the hunter covered his ears and shied away from it. But then, the TV started terrifyingly changing screens. Bolstered the Hunter grabbed his shotgun and lantern to turn the infernal thing off for good.
Before he pulled the trigger, the Hunter saw the screen turn into something beautiful. He lowered his shotgun and reached out towards the screen. Just as his fingers brushed the static screen a massive mound of flesh latched onto his arm. Panicked the Hunter recoiled trying to pull his hand away from the flesh. The amalgam of meat refused it clambered up his arm searching his clothes or equipment for any area of access. The only point of access it could find was the poor Hunter's mask and when it met the Hunter's skin it was agonizing. The Hunter howled and writhed and screamed as the monstrous flesh covered his entire body. Cocooning him and suffocating the Hunter. It lasted only for a few minutes when the Hunter was no more, and his dead body lay still upon the forest floor.
A crow flew down to the body for a fresh warm meal when the Hunter's hand shot up and choked the bird. Rising from the ground the Hunter reached for his lantern, its light now blinking in the night. The Hunter tore off his mask and hat now with determined thoughts and increased rage.
"FiNd HiM! KiLl HiM!" The Hunter paused in his rage if only for a second when he remembered something important. "ThE GiRl LiVeS! KiLl HeR!"
The Hunter furiously grabbed his shotgun and light and ran into the night back towards his house.
In another section of the woods
'Ugh, my head' Mono thought as he slowly came to consciousness. Slowly rising from only took look around and notice the world was larger and that he appeared to have shrunk. Reaching up he felt the crisp paper bag he had worn so long ago.
Had he done it? Had he managed to go back in time? Taking a few steps forward he felt the dew of the grass from the recent storm, the cool brisk air chilling his bare feet. The brightness of the moonlight shining in his eyes.
Behind the mask, Mono was beaming from ear to ear, crying tears of joy. Mono was young again and he retained his memories of his previous life. He had done it and he was not going to let it go to waste. He was going to stop the tower, break whatever loop he was caught in, and save… Mono paused for a second realizing something. 'Six is it possible you remember all this too?'
He had not considered the possibility of Six remembering anything because he didn't have time from that moment of desperation. Besides even if Mono had forgiven Six for what she did it did not mean the same about Six's thoughts for Mono. Shrugging those thoughts to side Mono began to trek to the Hunter's house pausing one more time to consider one last thing.
Once more reaching his arms up he pulled off the paper bag mask he had worn when he was a child and stared at it in his hands. He wore that thing to hide from the rest of the world. Now that he had seen what the world had to offer; he no longer needed the security of the paper bag mask. Besides on the off chance Six did not remember anything from the previous adventure he did not want any distrust between them from this point on.
Looking at the mask in his hands one last time he dropped it on the ground and truly began his journey. The paper bag lay on the ground as a single dewdrop fell on the mask giving a little water stain streak under the right hole. A sad farewell to an old friend; an old life.
'This is practically child's play at this point 'thought Mono as he practically danced around the traps expertly ensuring not even one of them was set off.
Mono had begun humming the music box's theme as he tossed pinecones into the gaping maws of the bear traps. Although that huge bundle of caught and killed humans did deter him. Of all the senses Mono missed when he was locked smell was not one of them.
Eventually, Mono came upon the Hunter's house and that is where his good mood dissipated replaced one of growing dread. 'I am not as ready for this as I thought I was' Mono considered just leaving the house merely walking around and just leaving Six alone. 'No, I won't abandon her again, hold on Six I'm coming.'
He clambered through the window of the house into the kitchen. The stench of cooked yet rotting food filled his nostrils and he fought the urge to gag. He listened closely to ensure there was no one in the house.
He heard ever so quietly he heard the tune of the music box playing. Once more calming himself he made his descent into the basement looking to the right first seeing the planks of wood. He made his to the left room and once again saw the ax lodged in the wooden crates. Once again jumping to pull it down and use it to free his friend. He slowly dragged the ax to the other side of the room.
Before he began chopping, he knocked on the door and the music box suddenly stopped playing. "Excuse me I came to help get you out of here since it's kind of my fault you got caught by the Hunter. I just need you to stand back while I get the door open, okay?" There was not a response so Mono reared the ax back and started chopping the door down. Then the door was clear of debris and Mono calmly walked in to not scare Six.
Only to find that Six was not hiding under the bed like last time. She was kneeling in front of Mono face down and shaking. She looked up to Mono and he only saw tears dripping down her face and the words she said broke him,
"Mono, please forgive me."