After breaking their kiss Six stood up from the floor offering a hand to Mono. Mono still gathering his breath took her hand a took and got up from his resting position. They looked at their surroundings with Six noticing the Cadaver on the floor.
"So, what had happened to him? We saw he wasn't climbing the walls normally." Six questioned to which Mono said. "The Tower was essentially using him as a puppet transforming and lengthening his ribs to climb and only used the limbs when needed. I'd rather not discuss it anymore, than we need to. Let's just get out of here."
Hand in hand they both walked into the elevator. Mono still wincing from his injuries took off the trench coat. He then tied the trench coat sleeves around his waist.
"As comforting as the coat is my burns still hurt from when he branded me." He said as Six looked at his change in attire. Six giving a once over understood why. He wasn't bleeding but she could see through the small tears in his shirt that the skin was still raw.
"We need to leave the city." Six said abruptly. Mono looked up seeing her eyes filled with worry for him and her. Mono walking over to her placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"I know Six I know. When I was the Thin Man, I got to see all over the city through the TVs and aside from how we got into the city from the Hunter's woods. At the edge of the city there's only one way in and out. A bridge we cross that we should be free of the Tower's strong influence. On the outside world there aren't as many TVs."
"So, there's a chance it could still find us."
"Unfortunately, yes, but that's not the worst bit Six. Despite what the Tower has done in this city, you know as well as I do that monsters still rule this world."
Upon finishing that statement, the elevator doors opened and Mono lead the way out. Heading out into the lobby Mono was pounced on. Six didn't recognize what it was until it lifted its head. It was the first fake Mono who was now restraining real Mono. Six began running up to the two of them preparing to attack when fake Mono flicked his wrist and a needle popped out of its other arm.
"Ah Ah Ah, I wOUldn't mAkE AnY sUddEn mOvEmEnts GIrl." It said as it brought the needle closer to Mono's neck. "AftEr All ThIs Isn't AnEsthEtIC."
Six at the implication activated her powers and started drawing in on the doll's soul. Mono at the exact same time felt something drawing on him. In a similar fashion to how Mono first transmitted his consciousness to the past he felt it slipping away. Six unknowingly or rather unintentionally was killing him so weakly he said.
"S-six p-please s-stop."
Six canceled out her abilities now seeing what she was doing. The doll's chest had already burst open now keeping a much tighter grip on Mono. Looking back from Six and Mono the Flesh looked on in glee. Mono trying to bring in as many lungsful of air as his chest heaved.
"Ah nOw Isn't thAt IrOnIc? YOU sO desperately wAnt tO sAvE hIm, bUt YOU cAn't." The Flesh began walking back toward the exit Mono in tow.
"ThE cYclE wIll cOntInUE As plAnnEd And I'll lEt YOU lEAvE gIrlIE." The Flesh knowing full well that at this point it was now or never. He needed Mono alive to put his consciousness back into the Thin Man. From that point on the Thin Man now with a shorter leash would bring the next girl back to his domain. The next Mono would kill this Thin Man, break the girl's music box, and fall exactly as planned. He would then curse the girl with hunger and send her to the MAW to become the next Lady. Everything was all coming together. At least until Mono caught his breath.
Mono leaned his head forward and quickly threw it back hitting fake Mono in the face. The Flesh quickly moved its hand up to restrain the head better this time injecting Mono with the anesthetic. Drooping slightly Mono pulled his arm out and quickly elbowed the Flesh in the chest where it existed. Fighting the pain, the Flesh desperately held onto Mono when something else flew into the fake's face. Mono was let go as he fell to one knee fighting off the effects. Six then charged the fake into one of the nearby chairs. The Fake then flicked his other wrist with the deadly needle and began thrusting his palm towards her. It cornered her preparing to euthanize her when a pop of static occurred, and the Fake's hand was grabbed.
Mono, eyes black and white, began tugging on the arm away from the Fake. As it was distracted Six grabbed the other end of the fake's body and pulled as well. The Fake desperately trying to stab either one of them with the anesthetic when a wooden pop signaled that the Fake's killing arm popped out of its socket. Wasting no time both Mono and Six grabbed the arm and jammed it right into the Flesh's eye. It writhed and wriggled before the flesh melted into a puddle. Seeing the effect, it had Mono flung the arm away and it shattered into the wall slowly melting the area around it.
Mono and Six looked at each other before giving a small high five.
"So, you think that's the last of them."
"One can hope Six after all," and he cupped her face, "there's nothing that could be more perfect than who I'm looking at right now."
Six blushed heavily at that and moved in for a kiss when a small quake erupted through town. Concerned Mono looked out the window to see what had happened. Eyes widening, he dove for Six as the world suddenly exploded around them.
Just after the Cadaver's flesh died.
It was dying The Tower knew that. All these efforts to catch Mono and get rid of the stupid girl finally took their toll. The Tower could feel it, the stable structure of stone cradling its form was on its last moments before crumbling. It turned to its last servant the Thin Man who was holding to two objects. An old worn fedora and an old rusty music box. The Tower just looked at the two objects rage building as it grabbed the two and flung them against the wall. It was dying because a child had a revelation. It was dying because that child kept resisting and fighting. It was dying because that child fought tooth and nail to save the one, they loved. Now it knew there's no going back from this even if it could get Mono back it already spent so much trying to get him back. So, it too had a revelation.
If this truly was the last cycle where the Tower would die, then it would take those two with them. Turning its attention back to the Thin Man it began to transform him. Turning its consciousness into its own after it did not need the mind of an old man so bent of the revenge of just one individual but two. The Tower Flesh that held up the Tower's structure let go and it began to fall. The Flesh then cocooned the Thin Man encapsulating him. It began to turn him younger his nails became sharp as knives. The Thin Man kept his height, but his clothes changed now looking more like a suit and cloak. It no longer needed to hide his jawless face as it regenerated bone, muscle, and sinew. His skin becoming gray with purple veins. His eyes gray pupils with purple light filtering through.
The Tower Man flexed his fingers and turned his attention to the brickwork that laid before him in ruin. Only having a thought, he raised his arms, and the stone blocks began to rise. Expanding his arms, he let them fly far away into the city. He didn't care now as long as he got the two bastards. Listening closely, he could still sense two heartbeats synchronized in the now damaged hospital. Sneering the Tower Man eyed a nearby TV and dove for it. Disappearing in the static as it still had a job to do.
Back with Mono and Six
Mono had just dived for Six when the bricks pelted through the walls and glass. Six laid under Mono strong grip as the dust settled. Quickly getting up Six looked outside and what she saw shocked her. The first blast from the Tower heavily damaged the surrounding building and it was taking its toll. Several buildings collapsed, many with Viewers standing right on top. Mono just joined her and saw the resounding chaos as well. They shared a look that they both understood.
'We need to get out here, RIGHT NOW.'
Not wasting anymore time they ran out of the hospital only to be halted by the flickering of static. A nearby TV let a screeching wail as a pair of sharpened hands pushed against it. Mono grabbed Six's hand and began running away from the TV and center of the city.
"COME ON, the bridge should just be down this road. We get there first and then deal with him." Mono hoping to get away from the TV before the Thin Man could get out.
'If we can even deal with him' Mono thought to himself.
Suddenly the Tower Man shot out of the TV quickly getting back up. It started to pursue the two when it noticed a Viewer on the ground. Reaching down it grabbed the Viewer by the throat. Eying it over for a second before elongating his jaw and snapping it shut on the Viewer's neck. Using his powers to absorb the Viewer leaving behind only the Viewer's clothes. Fueled the Tower Man gave pursuit to his world enders.
Six felt like she had been running forever when a thought struck her. Spotting a TV Six started pulling Mono in that direction.
"Mono use your powers to get us far away from here."
Mono nodded as they approached the TV. Just before Mono could activate a hand shot out of the TV trying to swipe at them before beginning to pull itself out of the TV. Instead, Mono grabbed Six by the waist and focused. He could just barely see the archway of the bridge and envisioned being over there. With a heavy pop Six and Mono tumbled on the road of the bridge.
Not having any time Six dragged up Mono to his feet and started leading him across the bridge. They had just reached the end when a massive flesh wall of vicious, bloodthirsty eyes was erected and glared at the two of them. They turned around only to see an army of Viewers taking up the rear. The Tower Man parading this massive crowd before it stopped and looked at a car. Raising its hand, the car rose into the air, and when the Tower Man threw his arm, the car sailed right in their direction. Both split up as the hunk of metal and glass affected the ground. The wall of Flesh slowly inching its way towards them with the crowd of Viewers also walking forward. Slowly encircling them, slowly trapping them. The Tower Man smiled darkly as he extended his hand palm up. The Flesh of his hand slowly turning into a music box that played such a calming tune.
"Ah, a beautiful tune, a beautiful trinket if I remember you would listen to it for days on end girl. So much to the point that you had fallen in love with it and defended it with your life."
The Tower Man crushed it in his hand letting the metal mold back into his flesh.
"Defend it you did, right up until you were released and got revenge by dropping HIM." He gestured to Mono who was still standing protectively in front of Six.
The Tower Man then started to squat down as the flesh from his legs extended and warped into a wooden chair.
"And then there's you Mono. The boy who so valiantly rescued his friend only to be dropped by her in the end. I offered you a home and asked you for one thing in return. Find her and Bring her. Thus, a beautiful cycle where I would live forever began to roll."
Eying Six over he then said, "I believe we were on our Sixth cycle. I was already getting prepared for the next pair of fools when a thought struck that stupid little head of yours. A thought of Freedom." He spat that word out with contempt for these two.
"Now we stand here on the edge of the city all of us here with a death sentence." He gestured to himself. "You've done enough damage to me that I will fall no matter what." He gestured out to the crowd, "When the Signal dissipates, they will tear each other apart and the city will fall." Then he gestured to the two of them, "and before I go, you're coming with me to the next world." He started advancing on the two of them his hand shifting into a blade before charging.
Mono took one last look at Six before gesturing toward the wall of flesh. Six understanding got a good distance away from Mono before activating her powers once again near the flesh wall. Mono then turned to face his old shell turned monster. Focusing heavily on keeping the Tower Man away he let the static erupt from his palm.
The Tower Man didn't stop the charge as he commanded the Viewers to attack the Mono. Six began eating the wall of Flesh with her power slowly draining it of life as she saw the crowd. Ignoring the wall for now she turned to face them slowly walking toward them. The Tower Man drawing closer and closer trying to slice the boy's head of as he was repelled. Static flying off him and pain flaring through his body he commanded the wall of Flesh to begin attacking the bridge. It then shapeshifted his right arm into the Predator's shotgun taking aim at Six. Mono seeing this teleported tackling into the gun making the Tower Man miss. Shifting his arm back he grabbed Mono and threw him to the ground preparing to stab him.
Six was still walking towards the Viewers as they stampeded across the bridge. Preparing to let out their sonic screeches as they got close. Too close when Six started draining them of whatever miserable life they had left. It didn't even last a minute when the last Viewer had fallen to the ground. Six feeling quite full of her meal looked backed to see the Tower Man preparing to stab Mono into the ground. Six let out her powers again to start pulling on the Tower Man. Mono rolled out of the way before the blade struck him and once again began letting out the static to finally end the Tower for good.
Being pushed and pulled like this the Tower Man started to glitch out. Its skin starting to turn to ash and static as it flew off his body. Collapsing to his knees as his body started to shrink more and more. The body of the Tower Man getting younger and younger but losing what little physical form it had left. Right up until the point where the flesh began to disappear from the bridge as well leaving a static figure. It was child whose skin was pale, wearing a trench coat with a key ring attached, it glared hatefully at Mono before placing its own paper bag hat on its head. After that it turned and walked away not being to do anything else before dissolving into smoke as a black wind carried it away.
Mono and Six both looked at each other. A look of victory and relief washing over them just as the bridge began to shudder. Cables went flying, the concrete cracked, and it started to collapse into the river. Six and Mono began running away from the collapse. Six quickly taking the lead as she jumped the quickly forming gap between land and bridge. Not wasting time Mono leapt over to the other side reaching out for Six's already outstretched hand. Grasping it Six winced, it appeared the fight had taken a lot out of them already. As he was dangling, he noticed the foundations of the bridge on Six's side were starting to crumble. If she was tired already what were the chances, she could both pull him up and they both got off the bridge? Looking down and then back up he quickly came up with a decision. Looking back up into Six's pleading eyes as she realized what he was thinking he said with a sad smile.
"Goodbye Six," and he let go.
Satisfaction…. This was the sensation Mono felt as he let go of Six's hand. As he looked up to the one, he loved and protected throughout the Pale City.
It was just moments ago they put an end to the monster that set them up to die over and over. Freedom was there at the end only for that monster to have one last card to play. Yet he was satisfied as he plummeted down to the water because they had won. He fell with knowledge that Six would live even at the cost of his own.
That was the thought he had before seeing a small patch of yellow in his vision before hitting the water and all fading to black.
Six had just watched Mono let go and in that moment, it felt like all time had slowed down. She was brought back to the moment where Six had dropped Mono back in the Signal Tower. When she had dropped him then his face was full of confusion and terror. Now? He was smiling as if he was happy to fall. Looking back even further she looked back to The Nest when she first had a friend. A friend who she thought Six had rescued but was for naught. She remembered the raincoat girl's look of terror as she fell. A tremor shook her out of her thoughts Mono was still falling. Looking back down Six tugged at her sleeves. She lost a friend once she wasn't ready to lose her love as she dove off into the water after him.
It took a few seconds for her vision to clear as she saw him drifting away unconscious and submerged. Using all her strength she pulled him up to the surface and began swimming to the shore. Mono still wasn't moving. She put a finger to his neck and felt for a pulse.
Nothing.
Biting back tears not ready to lose him yet she began compressing into his chest. Over and over as many times as she could desperately trying to bring him back.
A flashback to the time they had first met with him breaking down the door.
The first time they had ever held hands.
When they brought down the Hunter together.
Still no pulse she began breathing air into his lungs.
The times when Mono rescued her from the Bullies.
When they had found the raincoat together.
The time they fooled around with the X-ray.
Still nothing but she didn't give up.
Defeating the Doctor together.
Mono pulling Six out from the wreckage.
Mono pulling Six out from the darkness.
Breath after breath she kept compressing.
When Mono restarted everything just for her.
When Mono shielded her from the Predator.
When she regained Mono's trust again the hope filling his eyes.
"COME ON, PLEASE!" tears filling her eyes.
When he pummeled that Parasite when he saw her.
That first kiss they shared together.
"P-Please come back" she shook Mono her voice quivering.
She pulled Mono's still unmoving body crying into her shoulder. Her face cradled into his shoulder as she wept. And then the faintest sound reached her ears.
A Heartbeat.