Six looked up to Mono before grasping his hand to be pulled up. As the last few rays of warm sunshine left her face and droplets of rainwater began dropping down on the two.
"Well Mono, first things first I would very much like to get out of this rain." Mono only grinned as he pulled her to his feet.
He turned to go and grab his coat when a flash of black hair passed him and snatched up his coat.
"Wha- HEY!" Six laughing as she snagged the wrinkled trench coat before slipping it on and heading into the trees. Mono mouth agape at her sudden foolishness just shook his head and instead went to go pick Six's raincoat.
Grasping the material, he looked down at the coat a somber etched on his face as he remembered the green country again. The raincoat girl, without her he never would have been able to remember Six. Without her he would have passed on not caring about anything anymore.
Looking up to the sky he closed his eyes and gave a small nod of thanks. He then turned around to the forest, slipped on the raincoat being a snug fit, pulled up the hood, and then dashed off into the woods after Six. Following only a set of footprints and scattered brush as he left the plateau of concrete rubble behind.
"Six? Siiiix?" he called out a few times after losing sight of her. When he received no response, he began to sneak around the forest. He heard the rustling of branches above him, and a twig snapped behind. Thought process deducing that Six did not have time to at least climb up a tree. He tensed up slightly at the different sounds preparing his static just in case. His right blue eye starting to flicker with static as he sent a wave of static from above him hitting something. A small rodent plummeted to the ground in a heap.
Looking it over Mono breathed a sigh of relief when the heap was not Six. Although that relief did not stay as something tackled him from behind.
Looking up he then saw a shiny grin and looking up even further his saw those red eyes of Six. Her face in a smug smirk of amusement as she pulled the raincoat hood down. Static fading from his right eye as he gave a small chuckle. Six doing the same as she got up from him though pausing as a small growl sounded out. Both looking around hoping that the little game did not attract any unwanted attention. When the growls got closer, they both looked at each other up until the growls appeared to be coming from Six.
Six looking a little sheepish as she grabbed her stomach. No animal, Six was just hungry after everything that happened.
"Don't be embarrassed Six it's been quite a day since we had anything to eat." Mono turned around to see the dead animal he blasted earlier still laying there. "Besides, I may have already caught us dinner."
The two decided to set camp near an old road under a large tree providing them with enough cover from the rain. Six, with Mono's help, carved the animal using the last fishhook they had. Also using the last of the matches, they lit a fire to keep themselves warm for the night. Both taking small bites of cooked meat from the fire they leaned against each other. Simply happy to have a small moment of respite. Six having a small smile to looking a little down sat up to face Mono.
"So… Mono?" He turned to face her, "I've been thinking about where we should go next now that the Tower's been taken care of. I thought about where the best place for us would be and I only have one place in mind."
Mono looking a little concerned for Six then said, "Six I'm sure wherever you're thinking of it'll be fine. We've probably seen the worst the world has to offer." He then calmly took a swig of water from a nearby hanging leaf.
"Mono I think we should go to the MAW."
Mono spat out the water from shock. Choking as he tried to control himself.
"THE MAW!? That's the last place I had thought you would suggest. Is it your hunger? Did the Tower manage to curse you with endless hunger again?" Mono turned from a coughing wreck to a deeply concerned individual.
Six quickly shook her head in disagreement, "No no. I wasn't cursed by the Tower I've just been regular hungry, I guess. Hear me out Mono please. While the MAW was where the shades directed me to go initially there are a few reasons I think it is best we head there. For one it's a very secluded place with only a few monsters."
"What about the massive amount of people that travel to the MAW?"
"As long as we stay out of their way, we should be fine. They are, only there for the food. Speaking of which that brings me to the second reason it is a good idea. The MAW is well known for having a practically endless supply of food. As long as we only sneak a few fish and vegetables we'll be eating like a king and queen."
"Why those two specifically Six?"
"Trust me when I say that you don't want to know what they put in the meat." Six just gave him a look that said if he valued what he just ate he shouldn't ask.
"Right and what's the third reason you want to do this Six? Safety, resources, and security are nice but there has to be a personal reason why you want to go back."
Six looked down at her hand the smallest bit of smoke curling off her fingers, "We took care of one of this world's problems, it being the Signal Tower, I want to try and fix this world as best we can. Look at us Mono, we could be the only two people in the world with powers. You have said it yourself that you know as well as I do that monsters rule this world. The MAW is just like the Signal Tower an overlord swallowing up smaller prey. What if we took over the MAW Mono? We could make the MAW a haven for other children and us. At the same time, we gradually get rid of the other monsters by using their greed of food. I also want to see if I can get a better grasp on my powers through the current Lady, so I don't accidentally kill you just because you were closer to me than what I perceived as the worse threat."
Mono mulling it over in his head finally gave Six a determined look.
"Alright Six if you believe that this is best place for us to be then I'm with you. We've been together through so much it'll take more than a few monsters to tear us apart. Do you know exactly where the MAW is located?"
Six opened her mouth to reply before thinking about she even got there in the first place. Remembering she said, "Unfortunately I don't quite know how to get there but I do know someone who does. When I was traveling alone in one of the other cities, I was captured by one of the city's many inhabitants. I didn't see much of him in terms of appearance, but I do remember they had this massive sagging face. Apparently from what heard from the other children his job is to find children all over the world."
"Did they have a name or title?"
"Just one the Ferryman, I think the best way for us to be found by him would be to head to one of the larger port cities. So always staying riverside would probably best for us till we hit oceanside."
Mono gave Six a look of understanding looking back to the slowly dying flames. Six watched as the light flickered in his face slowly turning to realization and confusion. Standing up he began to roll his sleeve of his button down up. Examining it he started to look a little more confused. Six also being confused at what Mono was doing also began to examine his arm. Then she realized what caused the confusion.
Mono, earlier today, was only recently branded with those red-hot chains and as a result his skin was raw and tender. Now? The skin was completely healed over with white scar tissue now outlining the links of chains on him. Mono was poking the areas of skin before he traced the brands not feeling any pain from it. He looked up to Six finally understanding why.
"Six call me crazy but I think your powers don't just consume people. I think it's all about intent and what you're trying to do with your power. You become a black hole when you wish to harm someone, but because you were so focused on trying to bring me back to life, I think your powers became a life-giving spring."
Mono reached over to give Six a hug.
"Not only did you bring me back from death, but you also took my pain away. Thank You so much Six!"
Six returned the embrace when she realized what that meant. Through her intent she may be able to master her abilities to control what she attacked. They would still go to the MAW or rather they would find the Ferryman first.
As the last embers of the fire died down Mono stood up from the ground and walked further into the cover of the tree. "I think it's best we turn in for the night. We can continue on the road when it's day and dry." Six in agreement nestled into the curvy roots using the raincoat as a makeshift pillow. Mono doing the same with trench coat. Both of them closed their eyes and zoned off into dreamless sleep. The wind rattling the trees ever so slightly. A small sound of static buzzing in the air.
In a nearby town
Quiet and derelict not much happens in this town. Not since most of the populace fell to the whims of the MAW and TVs. In this town lives not much life but there exists a small amount. Those who resisted such desires and evolved due to it. Said monsters also turned in for the nigh as well. Each of them putting down their tools of trade. A craftsman's hammer left by long spindled fingers, a shiny harmonica begrudgingly dropped by broken fingernails, a knife buried into a poker table, and pair of shears lovingly set aside. Four figures turned in for the night as the wind, albeit softer than the forest, rattled through.
The next day
Light filtered through the leaves and branches dancing on Mono's eyes as they fluttered open. Slowly sitting up, stretching, and getting that oh so satisfying pop of relief. Looking back at Six sleeping peacefully he honestly considered going right back to sleep enjoying the joys of sleep for a little while longer. He mentally disagreed with that, slipped on the trench coat, and did a quick inventory check. Like he thought no more matches, but he did have the flashlight. At least that's what he thought before turning it in his hand and a small stream of water spilled out making it useless. Frustrated he flung it away from campfire.
'Okay so the next town we hit we're going to have to salvage both food and small essentials.' Mono thought as he patted his now empty pockets. He turned back towards Six and softly shook her shoulder.
"Come on Six it's better we get moving now while we still have light guiding us."
Six's eyes also slowly opened as she took in her surroundings. Her hair a curly twisted mess slightly stuck to the side of her face as she groggily looked up to Mono.
"Sleep well," Mono teased as he held in a small giggle at this somewhat adorable side of Six, he didn't see too often. Six fake glowered at Mono before grabbing her raincoat and chucked at Mono's head.
"OK ok, I get it! Take your time." Mono now struggling to not laugh as he untangled the raincoat from his face. He went to go sit on the side of the road while Six was coming to her senses. He admired his surrounding during the day. A lush green forest emitting an aura so alien to the Hunter's woods. He could hear life all around him and he couldn't help the smile on his face as he absorbed. Then there was something else Mono noticed. It was faint but it sounded like a chuckle in the breeze. Mono chalking it up to him coming to his sense shrugged it off as he heard footsteps form behind him.
Six walked up slowly behind Mono stretching off the peaceful sleep she didn't get to have in a long while. She saw Mono turn around holding out her raincoat. She took it off his hands and wore it with the hood down. She extended her hand and Mono grasped it warmly as they began their trek down the road.
A couple of hours later
Mono and Six were taking a small rest for themselves after the ongoing walk with Mono looking out in the distance and Six using her fingers to groom her hair. They were on the edge of the forest now leading into a barren countryside.
"So, Six when we get to the next town over it'll probably be best if we scavenge it for a while. We'll need supplies since we don't know when we'll find the Ferryman or vice versa."
Six paused "You're not going to suggest we split up for that, are you?"
"Definitely not unless absolutely necessary. We'll need to look for both food and light sources as our matches ran out and I don't think we'll always be as lucky when it comes to catching like we did yesterday. Is there anything you might want to look for?"
Six still combing her hair with her fingers said, "I may want to look for a comb or a brush just a small pleasantry aside from you."
Before Mono could reply to that a voice whispered out, "I think you have more problems than pleasantries to worry about right now."
The duo tensed up suddenly back-to-back from this sudden mysterious voice. Each of them searching around as the wind picked up slowly growing more and more powerful.
Mono's blue eye flickering with static as his emitted the glow while Six doing her best to focus as the smoke filtered from her fingers.
"How cute the children wish to play a game," the voice called out as it jumped from branch to branch.
"LOOK THERE!" Six pointed up towards one of the branches and Mono saw them too. Standing up there was a shadowy figure. It looked to be made of storm clouds but also appeared to be flickering in and out of existence. Mono thrust out his hand sending a wave of static towards this mysterious creature.
The creature simply stood there as the static flew right through it. Mono eyes wide in shock as the figure, unharmed, threw his head back in manic laughter.
"OH, THAT IS RICH! You genuinely believed that would actually hurt ME!?" The wind starting to surround this figure in a dark swirl. The figure then went to regard Six as if she were a small kitten. "And you think your little soul manipulation will be able to kill me? I love to break this to you… I have NO SOUL. Meaning you can't just inhale me whole."
A flock of birds flew in their direction towards the forest. The figure merely looked up unimpressed at this flying V. Mono and Six looked up in horror as something began falling from the sky. Bones, several skulls and vertebrae fell from the sky. Both of them slowly backing away from this threat seeing as they were rendered useless against him. Mono once again looking back towards the countryside and saw a few buildings in the distance. The sound of a throat being cleared grabbed their attention and they looked right back to the figure who was now holding one of the skulls.
An eyeball sagged out of one of the eye sockets. "Alas poor Tower I know him well…" it paused as it held out its hand in a grabbing motion. Suddenly a static figure with a paper bag appeared in its hand being held by the throat. Mono startled as he realized what it was. It was the remnant left behind from the Tower Man's last stand.
"Or at least…" and the shadow crushed his hand," I did." The figure fell as it dissolved into static particles carried off into the wind.
"Now onto more personal business. Y'see I have a little wager with an associate of mine. They wager they can save more children whilst I wager, I can kill more children. And well I unfortunately appear to be losing that bet despite…" as he flung out his arm. More bones fell to the ground with Mono holding his mouth. Fighting the urge to throw up as hundreds of skulls fell to the ground. "My rather impressive kill count. So… you two and I are gonna play a little game. Are you familiar with cops and robbers? It's like that only except I play FOR KEEPS."
Laughing maniacally the figure jumped off the branch as the beautiful landscape around was suddenly pulverized. Trees torn apart scattered to the winds as the figure turned into a crow halfway through descent. Its talons extended out as it descended on the now fearful couple.