The eye-lantern was shoved into the hole its light filling the cavern with a harsh glare. Six and Mono both diving to opposite ends of the cave to avoid being petrified. The gaze of the lantern darting in between the two just barely missing either of them offering no reprieve no break to leave the cave.
"I SeE YoU!" The Predator sang tauntingly. "It'S OnLY A MaTTEr Of TiME BeFORe I Get YoU GIrLiE. ThEn I CaN ClAIM My PRiZE!"
Upon hearing this made Six's blood run cold she froze only for a second. Unfortunately, that was just enough time to catch her in sight and she began calcifying. Mono using this chance pulled out the knife from his coat and made a mad dash for the eye. Swinging as hard as he could the knife slicing through the air dead set into the lantern. Only for it to just crack the glass that was covering the eye. The lantern withdrew as the Predator once again began laughing like a hyena.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT'D WORK?! I SpeNT SO MuCH TiMe ANd SaCRiFiCED FlESh TO GeT THiS FoOL tO WoRK. AnD EvEN THEn-"
Mono not really listening to the Predator, dashed towards Six to make sure she was okay. He made the slice just in time as Mono feared if he had not. Well, he would have had to leave a statue behind. Offering a hand to Six he asked, "How do you feel? Are you doing, okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine that lantern of his though, it's just like the eyes back on the MAW. If you so much as stick a finger out your body just starts turning to stone."
Mono sensing a pattern could not help but say, "What is with this world and eyes?"
Six rolling her eyes gestured towards the exit of the cave and started crawling through the burrow. Mono following suit still wondering about the Predator that was still mocking the two of them. 'The flesh only existed within the tower only altering it to comfort its meal. I thought it couldn't leave the tower and that's why it kept using me.'
During Mono's time as the Thin Man in the tower he could remember blacking out for periods of time. Whenever he woke up, he always noticed one prominent detail, fresh blood on his hands dripped to the floor of the tower. He also felt the Tower's radiant joy like it finally got something it genuinely wanted. It was like a tyrant using his servant to do his dirty work. It sickened Mono to his core that he had been forced to murder. Clearing his head of those thoughts he followed Six out to… the broken bridge with the gap in between.
Mono taking a glance at Six he walked over to the post with the rope and began to pull up the opposite planks. Nodding back at Mono, Six took a running start and jumped over to the other side. Taking a few steps before she turned around walking back to the gap and held out her hand ready to catch Mono.
Mono… he halted. The memories flooding back to the Tower chasing the two of them. Mono leaping to grab Six's hand, the pause, the confusion bubbling up within him, and the fall. Mono may have forgiven Six but the memories the stress it came flooding back. Falling to his knees with tears billowing from his eyes.
"Six I'm sorry but I can't do it." Six looked downcast when he said that but then she looked back up. "Mono look at me," he looked to meet Six's eyes. "Remember back at the cabin I told you it felt nice to be able to have that kind of trust in someone and I want to keep it that way. I trust you to keep me safe now I ask you to trust me." Tears beginning to slip from her eyes as well, "P-Please."
Mono slowly rose to his feet still looking into Six's eyes taking a deep breath as he started to run to the bridge. Making a choice, taking a chance he leapt off the bridge reaching out for Six. She caught him and Mono looked up. He didn't see any anger or signs of betrayal. He looked up and saw his friend, he saw Six smiling back at him this time shedding tears of joy.
Just as a shotgun blast ripped through the support plank Mono was hanging right next to.
Six quickly pulled up Mono and they began running for the barn. Crates and junk alike exploding as the Predator wordlessly fired shot after shot after the two children. It was clear now the Predator was not playing around anymore it wanted its prey.
As Mono and Six climbed up the TV cable up the barn it flickered only for a couple of seconds in pink static as Mono passed. Mono not really paying it much attention clambered up the rope even faster pausing to pull up Six through the window.
The Predator at the exact same time burst through the wall furiously holding up the lantern not withdrawing his shotgun aimed at the ceiling. Light filtering through the floorboards slowing their pace combined with Predator firing his gun nonstop did not make easy. They had almost made it to the window when the Predator fired the gun one last time. It blew a hole in the boards right in front of Mono. He fell right into the grasp of the Predator who grinned as he pointed the shotgun right into Mono's face. The light glinting off the Predator's sharpened canines as drool dripped out of his mouth in anticipation.
"GoOD NiGHT BoY. ReST ASSuRED I WoN'T LET ThIS HaPPEn AgAIN. ThE CyCLE WILl CoNTInuE."
Mono with his free hand pulled out the pocketknife and with all his might jabbed into the Predator's wrist. Howling in pain the Predator let go of Mono. Shaking off the haze, Mono ran out the door leaping onto the crates looking for Six. After some searching, he saw her wading in the marsh hiding behind some pieces of fence.
"Oi" Mono shout whispered to Six. Six turned around looking relieved that Mono was okay. Mono then pointed out towards the shack where the spare shotgun they used to kill the Hunter last time was. Six nodded back and started moving as fast as possible to prepare their move.
The Predator then burst through the door knife in hand outraged and saw Mono standing on the crates. Charging right at him raising the knife the Predator just letting out an animalistic scream. Mono realizing that this thing had clearly lost its sanity jumped down into the marsh and started making his way to the shack as well getting ready to aid Mono to finish this monster off for the last time.
The Predator aimed his shotgun arm throughout the marsh trying to find that accursed boy when a thought transpired through his head. Abandoning the boy for a second, he raced for the shoreline.
Six and Mono had reunited on the edge when it felt like all their hopes shattered. For standing in front of the shack holding the other shotgun was the Predator with a twisted grin.
"GaMe OvEr ChIlDRen!" as he unloaded the shells from the spare gun and pocketed them.
"NoW aRE YoU GoING TO BEhAVE Or WiLL YoU CoNTiNUE ThIs MeANiNGLeSS ChArade." The Predator throwing his arms out in an open welcoming gesture.
Mono holding Six's hand looked around trying think of a way to stop this thing from following through with its threat. He looked backed and realized that the tree they had used as cover the first time was still standing. Without a second thought Mono began pulling Six back through the marsh. The Predator's grin quickly morphing into a snarl giving pursuit to the two.
"What's the plan Mono? That was our only means of stopping him."
"No, it wasn't, when he gets close enough to the tree we push."
Six considered this for a few seconds before nodding her head. The two clambered up the small outcrop of land waiting for the Predator next to the tree with the heart carved into it.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS YOU TWO." The Predator screamed grabbing his lantern and chucking it onto the outcrop of land next to the two. Using his other arm to aim the shotgun preparing to blast their stone carcasses.
"NOW!" Mono and Six pushed at the tree with all their might. The lantern landed next to them the eye glaring deeply with burning hatred. They were so close now hearing the fibers of wood creak and snap just as their limbs were turning to stone. The Predator with the same glare prepared to fire the shotgun when the tree snapped and collapsed. Caught unaware the Predator attempted to catch the falling tree only to fail to remember important detail.
He only had one hand the other was a shotgun merged into his arm by the flesh. So, the Predator couldn't do much as the log fell right on top of him with its weight pulling him headfirst into the marsh. The harsh tug also pulled the lantern into the water. Mono and Six stood by as they watched as the Hunter struggled in the water trying to free himself so he could breathe. They watched as the lantern started to flicker right until the light inside went dead. It was done the Predator was dead.
Mono and Six both collapsed onto the forest floor any adrenaline now leaving their body. Panting Mono looked over to Six who looked right back. "Hah so, there's a chance that everything is going to be different now huh?" Six said wiping her face of the sweat that was dripping off her face. "This wasn't just a special case or a one-off thing." "I'm afraid not Six, the Tower has apparently chosen us both to continue this perpetuating cycle." He paused to catch his breath. "Until we get out of the city or find some way to get rid of the Tower forever it will continue to hound us." Six dusted herself off, "Well there's no one I'd rather go with than you Mono." Holding out her hand Six smirked down at Mono. Smiling Mono took her hand, and this time was the one pulled into a hug. Keeping that embrace for a couple of seconds they let go.
"Now let's go we have a door waiting to take us to where we need to go."
In the Pale City
In a quiet room of the school the teacher was preparing materials for the next dissection lesson. Whilst doing so she couldn't help but wonder about the outside world and whether it would ever be safe to leave. She enjoyed keeping the students in check, but she couldn't stay here forever. She also wasn't willing to leave since what the signal tower and the TVs did to her. She remembered the day she was almost pulled inside the TV. She tried to struggle and pull her head out as hard best she could. It didn't come without sacrifice or in this case unseen benefit. The force she used to pull her head out resulted in her neck becoming stretched out to the point she looked like a snake with a human body.
Shaking her head of those memories she reached out for the last scalpel only to find the drawer was empty. As she wondered where it disappeared, she felt a sharp pain in her ankles. She collapsed to the floor and the last she saw were a dozen shapes descending upon her.