Mono and Six went towards the X-ray room and the toy room. Remembering they needed to find a key in one of the stuffed animals. Six wasted no time in pulling out the fishhook and began tearing holes in the stuffed animals. Tearing apart the rabbit the hook latched onto the key. Mono giving Six a nod of approval picked up the key and wordlessly gestured for Six to follow him.
Upon approaching the locked room Mono turned to face Six.
"Now a word of caution when I was sent in the room with the elevator I was attacked. The hands have been seriously improved from the last time. Do you want to come with me in there while I get the fuse?"
"Mono do you even have to ask? It'll be better if we stay together." Nodding at that Mono gave Six a boost over the side of the door. Six grabbing some nearby rope tossed it over the side of the door for Mono to climb up. Once he was up and over, he searched around grabbing a hammer and an axe. Holding out the hammer Mono said, "Make sure you hit them HARD they're armored this time." Six holding its heavy weight began following Mono who held onto the axe. Taking their approach slow they heard the quick skittering. Suddenly two made their appearance known.
Like Mono said it looked like they had armored up with wood. The first of the made their move toward Mono. Extending their middle finger, a metallic needle poked out with fluid dripped off it. Pouncing in the air Six swung the hammer horizontally batting it away. Mono slammed down the axe cutting it in two. Turning to check on Six's welfare the other hand landed right on top of him. This time swinging the hammer upwards Six knocked the hand onto its back. While Mono was still getting up Six slammed the hammer down crushing the hand twice to ensure it wouldn't get up. They continued like this until they got in the room with the fuse on the table. Six went to go pick it up as Mono went to go chop down the door.
Picking up the fuse they moved to the other side just wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. Looking at the bars Six got the great idea for them to squeeze through. In doing so they noticed something peculiar. The patients that were the result of the Doctor's handiwork were gone. Rather their limbs were gone but the fleshy torso just laid on the floor truly dead. Six looked over to Mono who just wordlessly shrugged.
"Guess we don't need to rely on your matches after all. This is going to be a piece of cake." Right when Mono said that the air froze. Then there was a small sound the sound of footsteps. Six froze and turned around to see off in the distant hallway they came from was the flickering of red static. Mono seeing Six's gaze of fear turned and saw it as well. Mono hadn't gotten rid of him. Mono in his fear pulled Six further into the hospital when an angry yell rang out.
Once again running away from the Thin Man was a difficult maneuver due to the slowed time. Six looking over her shoulder realizing something very terrifying and very wrong. The Thin Man was not slowly walking like last time. It was in a full sprint very quickly and catching up. In that moment they had reached the end of the hallway with the asylum dorms and Mono had grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry about this Six."
"Wha-?" and that was the last word she was able to say before she was thrown violently down into a nearby air duct. Tumbling a couple of times before landing on her she quickly got up only to see Mono preparing to fight back. Six looking in admiration turning to shock and horror as this the Thin Man managed to overpower Mono and capture him. Mono concerned about Six's safety quickly put a finger to his lips as he was being carried away. Six could only watch as the Thin Man once again pulled her love away.
Mono didn't know how much time had passed since he was captured. He did know he wasn't dead when he woke up as a searing hot pain was being pressed into his torso and arms. The pain incredibly intense to the point he could only hold open his mouth in silent scream. Agonizing as the links of metal melded into his flesh as it lasted for what felt like hours.
"YOU know It's qUItE IrOnIc YOU hAd chAIns bOY." That familiar voice said behind him.
The pain so extreme he couldn't reply back as the Tower spoke to him. Trying to get away Mono realized he couldn't as his arms and legs were fastened to the table. The only part he could only move his head upward and saw the Doctor's hunched form over him. One of his hands held the trench coat he had lost earlier and the other was under Mono most likely pulling the chains closer.
"ThEY ArE AftEr All A sYmbOl Of sErvAnt And mAstEr. YOU lOOkEd tO brEAk thOse bOnds bEtwEEn Us bUt I'vE pUllEd them bAck tOgEthEr. And nOw…" the Doctor pulled out a mirror. "…thE mArk wIll fOrEvEr rEmAIn On YOU."
The Doctor retracted both his hands and the chains were slowly and agonizingly pulled off Mono. A mirror was held up above Mono and he saw. Angry red marks were burned into his arms and chest. The fresh wounds bleeding a small bit as the pressure was released. Mono finally being able to breath started taking deep gulps of breath. That was when he noticed what the Tower did to the Doctor.
The Doctor was dead his limp body clearly being proof of that. Arms and legs dangled from its body only moving if the Tower needed them to. White spikes extended from the Doctor's torso holding him up to the ceiling and turning him around to get a better look at Mono. Mono took a sharp inhale of breath. Not spikes, those were ribs. The Cadaver's ribs caused the body to flip in the air till his front dangled over Mono. Cracking and extending, the ribs lowered till the Cadaver was face to face with Mono who still recovering from being branded. There was a massive cavity in the body and inside was a massive eyeball.
"YOU ArE fOrEvEr mInE bOY." The Cadaver chuckled heavily. "In trUth YOU lOst thE mOmEnt YOU EvEn trIEd tO EscApE this pErfEct cYclE Of mInE. In trUth I hAvE In A wAY EnjOYEd this lIttlE shAkE Up Of EvEnts." The Cadaver then glared at Mono.
"bUt EvEn I hAvE mY lImIts. And this lIttlE gAmE Of YOUrs mUst cOmE tO An End!" The Cadaver picked up a scalpel next to the examination table Mono laid upon. Hesitating the Cadaver snapped its fingers and the Thin Man appeared. Picking up Mono's trench coat he passed it to the Thin Man. "DrOp thAt In frOnt Of thE ElEvAtOr shAft. I wAnt tO brEAk hEr spirit bEfOrE EndIng hEr." The Thin Man took it and quietly shambled away into the dark hallway.
Mono still recovering from the branding looked around trying to find any moment of escape. He saw it a vent cover still open. He didn't know where it would lead to as long as it was far away from here. Struggling he bit back a yelp of pain as his burns rubbed against the bonds holding him down. Self-reflecting, he realized what he needed to do to get out. As much as he didn't like using his power both he and Six needed to get out of here. So, he would use it for her. He concentrated bringing his focus to try and get out of there. The walls around him warped and the lights started to flicker. Mono wasn't only the table anymore he was standing up on the floor. Wasting no time, he began to weakly walk toward the vent.
"WhErE dO YOU think YOU'rE gOIng?!"
The Cadaver pursuing him its ribs extending up and over Mono with his hand still holding on the scapula. Caging him Mono took a last-minute chance and tried jumping and diving for the vent eager to get away from this thing.
Six took a second recovering from Mono's harsh toss into the vent. While she had time, she thought it over and had an epiphany.
'Why is he always the one mostly saving me?' It's true it felt there was never a moment in this time that she wasn't being rescued or following his lead on something. The Predator both hiding her and having the idea to crush it under the tree. The time when the first Parasite attacked them, when she was knocked out and tortured. He bandaged her up and scared her nightmares away. Now Thin Man captured him twice and it due to either Mono trying to protect Six or hiding her.
'He's done so much for me. It's time I paid him back for it.' Six bolstering herself left the vent and continued her way through the derelict hospital. Slowly making her way through the once again empty rooms listening for the Thin Man's footsteps. Not hearing any she made a mad dash for the shock therapy room. She threw the switch down and ejected the fuse. Six picked it up when she heard the footsteps again quickening their pace. Six tossed the fuse into the drawer quickly squeezed through the bars and pulled on the slot. The fuse popping out of the drawer she picked it up when she heard and angry sound. The Thin Man with burning rage began running towards her. Frantic Six quickly ran to slot inserting it and hurried to the elevator. Before entering someone grabbed her shoulder. Turning she saw Mono concerned for her. Giving him a quick look over she realized he found his coat this time.
"Six are you okay?" "I'm fine how on earth did you get away?" "When the Thin Man took me away to the Doctor, I managed to use my abilities to teleport away near one of the nearby vents. I found my coat and then I made my way back up top hoping I could find you and get you out of there." "Mono if you used the vents to get back up here why not just use them to get back down." "Simple I feel it would be better for all of us if you gOt OUt Of thIs lIfE."
Mono flicked his wrist and something small and metallic poked out of his palm. Thrusting his hand forward he pierced Six in the shoulder and pushed her towards the elevator.
"DO tEll thE gOOd DOctOr I sAId hEllO." This perfect replica of Mono said before turning on its heel and walking away. The elevator doors closed as Six grasped her arm. Her vision getting blurry as the elevator descended.
"I hAvE A gIft fOr YOU bOY." A voice roused him from his exhausted sleep. Mono woke up to find himself in the cremation room right next to the furnace. He was dangling from chains manacled stretching him out so he couldn't move. His chest ached as blood dripped down from six cuts in his chest. The Cadaver's slumped over form as his hands held a small figure and the mass in the torso eyes wide with teasing hatred. Mono's eyes widened as he saw Six in its hands. Wriggling and squirming trying as best as she could to get out of the Cadaver's grip.
"It's fUnnY bOY. thE whOlE rEAsOn YOU stArtEd thIs whOlE EscApAdE wAs fOr thIs gIrl. SO, I can't Help bUt wOndEr whAt YOU'll dO whEn I dO THIS!"
The Cadaver chucked Six towards the wall. Not giving any time for her to recover the Cadaver pounced on her. Rib after rib slamming into her body. Mono screaming crying and begging for it to stop. Mono helpless as the Cadaver picked up Six's body again this time throwing her in Mono's direction. She landed in a crumpled heap not able to move. After a few seconds Six slowly reached out to Mono.
"M-m-mono p-p-lease h-help m-me." Right when the Cadaver slammed its foot down on her.
"DO YOU SEE NOW BOY?! IF YOU HAD JUST LET THINGS BE THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING TO HER. SHE'D LIVE OUT HER LIFE AWAY FROM YOU. ADMITTEDLY I'D HAVE SOME HELP IN HER SUFFERING BUT EVENTUALLY I LET HER BE."
The Cadaver picked up Six's battered slow breathing body. "BUT IN TRUTH THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE THINGS HOPE." It threw Six into the furnace, slammed the door shut, and pulled the switch down.
"THEY BURN!"
It broke Mono to hear Six still screaming for him as she tried to get out. It demolished him when those screams finally gave out and silence filled the room. The Cadaver walked over to the furnace and reached in pulling out a handful of ashes.
"HErE I'vE hEArd in sOmE cAsEs thAt whEn A pErsOn gEts crEmAtEd…" It pulled on a switch that released Mono from his chains. He collapsed on the floor a shuddering silent wreck. "… thEY rEqUEst thEIr AshEs ArE spread On thE thIng thEY lOvE."
The Cadaver heartlessly sprinkled the ashes all over Mono. The powdery essence covering Mono in a thin blanket. Mono didn't react, he didn't breathe, he didn't say anything. He just… laid there broken and defeated. He failed, and the Tower knew it. Knowing this the Tower left the Cadaver's body. The corpse no longer serving a purpose as it slumped to the floor a broken shell. The Tower slowly surrounding Mono, cradling him as Mono laid there.
"DO YOU UndErstAnd nOw MOnO? ThE cYclE mAY bE hArsh bUt brEAkIng It wIll bE EvEn wOrsE fOr YOU." The lights started to flicker as the flesh drew closer and closer. A tendril poked out of the flesh and gestured towards the chain marks on his body. "OnlY bY sErvIng mE MOnO shE lIvEs, And nOt jUst lIvEs shE thrives." The lights overhead flickered faster and faster threatening to burst. "SErvE mE AgAIn And thIs shAll nEvEr hAppEn AgAIn. I'll nEvEr tAkE YOUr mEmOrIEs AgAIn And YOU cAn AlwAYs rEmEmbEr thE gOOd tIMeS YOU-"
The Tower Flesh was cut off as the lights suddenly popped and filled the room with darkness. The Tower turned to face the doorway and Mono looked up. This time his black and white eyes widened with shock and joy. Six was standing in the doorway but there was something surrounding her.
10 minutes ago.
Six still groggy from whatever the fake Mono had injected her with. Trying to shake off the effects she only had one thought.
'If that's the fake Mono where's my Mono?'
Still fighting off the effects the elevator doors opened to reveal a horde of small dolls. Each one of them a replica version of either Mono or Six. Some of them dressed up as Mono with his various hats. There were Mono's with coonskins, aluminum cans, soccer balls, bandages, a tree trunk?, a rain hat, teddy bear heads, postal worker uniforms, and one wearing a fedora. Each one of them armed with either a scalpel, hammer, axe, and syringes. The versions of Six were either wearing raincoats, her shirt, and shorts, or just painted solid black. They all started to corner Six overshadowing her as they started to rush her.
On the floor in front of her was Mono's trench coat with a stab wound in the back. Six was at once reminded of the last part of her nightmare. Mono lying dead on the floor when a knife stabbed him in the back telling her to run. Lost in the dark trying to run from her horrors trying to remember how she woke up. Then it hit her, and she knew what she had to do. She closed her eyes remembering Mono and her desire to find him no matter what. Then what she did next put a halt in these perfect clones in their pursuit. Six started humming letting her hatred of the Tower and her love for Mono fill her with purpose. The light in the elevator flickering until it shorted out. A cold dark wind began surrounding her as she began to walk out of the elevator. The dolls started to advance once again the first one preparing to crush her skull with the hammer.
Then just before it reached her it felt something pull in its chest. A tugging sensation and suddenly its chest exploded. Wood chips splintering as the flesh giving this thing life scrambled out desperately trying to get away. It didn't get far as its essence, its soul, a black shadow floated out of it into Six. Six not sparing it a second glance as she calmly walked towards the rest of the crowd. Still humming her tune, she only looked at them. Every single one of them charging her hoping to kill this demon before she took them out. Every single one of them getting too close as they too felt the pull. Scrambling to get away as each one of the dolls burst open. The flesh occupying them collapsing to the floor as their essence too was absorbed into Six's being.
Six only eyed the pile of useless wood on the floor grinning inwardly as she saw the dolls that resembled that shadowy version of her. Finally conquering her nightmares, she walked onward to her love.
She entered the cremation room to see the Tower Flesh cradling Mono as the furnace was cooling off. The lights fizzled because of her power. The Tower Flesh also began charging her not wasting any time. This time Six had to hold out her hand as she began to absorb this part of the Tower's collective souls. A massive black cloud began to pull from the lump of flesh. She heard the voices of so many depressed and agonized souls. Six didn't care the clear and present now was getting rid of this lump and getting to Mono. As the last shreds of this part of the Tower was absorbed into her, she cancelled out her powers and ran to Mono.
Mono looked terrible. His shirt had been torn apart and his body was just as bad if not worse than Six when she was captured. Six small scratches had been made into his chest like tally marks. Marking every time, a cycle had been run through. But those paled in comparison to the brands on him. Encircling his arms, chest, and back were burn marks made by chains. She pulled Mono up to his knees and they embraced. Mono crying into her shoulder and Six wrapping the trench coat around him and fastening it where it belonged.
"I thought he killed you," he said "I thought I had lost you because I too weak. I couldn't get away even with my power. I want to still stop this cycle Six, but I don't think I'm strong enough."
"Shush Mono" Six dusting ashes off his hair. "I'm here, you've been fighting to save me so many times. I haven't been there to fight with you. I've been there alongside you, and now."
She flexed her palm and black smoke poured from her palm, "I'm fighting with you."
Mono and Six looked back into each other's eye before breaking the distance with a kiss.
Their reunion solidified after seeing each other after the nightmare of betrayal and loss.