Three distinct bangs rang in front of them, but not fired at Six and Mono. Looking at each other for a second they started walking the cobblestone streets cautiously to not gain the attention of whoever fired the gun. They found themselves walking back to town square and the massacre that lay before them.
Two shots rang out still not fired at the two of them but at the One Lady Band. Carefully Mono looked around the street corner to see the assailant. Standing on the streets was an overweight man in a torn-up business suit. The man also had one of the largest heads Mono had ever seen on a person. Their eyes massive and bloodshot in crazy red, their ears trailed with blood both old and new, and their mouth in a never-ending sneer. The suit was torn up by all manner of stabs, slices, and bullet holes. In their left hand was a 12-inch blade freshly cleaned and sharpened for use. In their right was the cause of the gunfire. Mono watched in horror as The Goon raised up a Thompson machine gun and unleashed hellfire upon the town square and the One Lady Band. Bullets striking the already bloody massacre that lay on the ground the One Lady Band charged the Goon. Once again pulling out those jagged cymbals she prepared to slice at the Goon's legs. The Goon seeing this prepared the knife in his hand ready to strike.
The One Lady Band swept low while the Goon leapt up in as try to strike from the heavens. The Goon just barely missed as the knife glanced off the brass pipes that surrounded the One Lady Band. This time she reared back both her cymbals and clapped the Goon's head to disorient him. Not seeming fazed by it the Goon stabbed the One Lady Band right in the shoulder. All the flaps on the brass pipes opened with a nasty screech and she recoiled back. Yanking the knife from her shoulder the One Lady Band chucked it back at the Goon. To back the Goon raised his arms only or the knife to stab him right in the wrist. In bloody anger the Goon released another wave of bullets this time striking true. The One Lady Band turned around to run from the hail of shells when she collapsed on the floor her left leg dripping blood. In a hurried panic the One Lady Band pulled off the drum she used to detect Mono and Six earlier and climbed inside of it. Mono and Six could only watch as the drum rolled away with the One Lady Band inside of it. Seeing the One Lady Band make a retreat the Goon snarled and let loose another wave of bullets. All of them bounced harmlessly off the drum as it continued to roll away.
The Goon seeing it as a waste of bullets ignored the now retreating drum began to turn back inside the building. It paused and turned back around, its eye looking directly at Mono's face from around the corner.
Mono quickly turned and grabbed Six's hand when the Goon pulled the knife from out of its wrist and started charging that corner. Both quickly running into an alleyway as the Goon eyes wide in insanity rounded the street corner they were just at. They both dove for cover behind a trashcan as the Goon slowly stalked the grime covered street shops and establishments. His loud breathing sending both in a small panic. Six clenching her fists in tight fear. Mono wiped his forehead as a bout of perspiration rolled off his head. The Goon's labored breathing drawing closer and closer. Mono and Six could the silhouette of the Tommy gun as it drew closer and closer to their location.
'Is this it? Is this how we die?' Six thought to herself as she looked up towards the heavens. The eye of the storm looking back down at them with glee. The North Wind thinking that it won its little wager as it watched Mono and Six get cornered by this Goon. Just as the Goon was about to see the two of them the Goon arched his back in pain. The Goon turned around and Six could see why. A pair of massive scissors were plunged into the back of the Goon. Mono could see who threw the pair of shears as they exited the barber shop behind them. Standing a little taller than the Goon was one of the ugliest creatures Mono had ever seen. Its face was repugnant wrinkled up in disgust, its eyeballs bulging from their sockets, his eyebrows arched up in never-ending anger, its nose upturned in the snobbiest way, a small little mouth surrounded by flabby cheeks, and its hair was the only that it seemed to care for in split down the sides fashion. It wore a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, a wrinkled white apron, and brown slacks. The Barber walked towards the fallen Goon who was now trying to get up from the ground as blood stained the white suit he was wearing. The Barber yanked the scissors out from the Goon's back and prepared to chop off the Goon's head.
Mono remembering the wager did not want to see if this counted or not grabbed a pebble from off the ground and chucked it at the Barber. It bounced off the back of the Barber's head and it turned. The pupils of the Barber's head dilating as it saw the two little children. It looked down at the two of them in disgust. More accurately it was staring at the top of their heads and did not like what it saw. It grabbed the shears the Goon's fresh blood dripping and then began to chase the two of them.
"WAS THAT REALLY THE BEST IDEA MONO!?" Six yelled after Mono as they dashed from this scissor man.
"I REALLY DON'T WANT TO CHANCE THE NORTH WIND HOLDING US RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ONE." Mono yelled back.
They ducked down when the scissors began to slice down upon their heads. Running back to the Town Square they looked for any place to hide from the two psychopaths. Six grabbing Mono's arms pointed at a nearby cracked window. The building that owned that window was called Pale Journeys appearing to be a restaurant of sorts.
"That'll have to do we got to go." Mono following Six's lead as they ran up the stairs leapt to the windowsill and dove inside. The Barber's blades missing them by inches as they fell to the ground tumbling for a couple of inches. The door long gone and the dozens of wooden boards that covered it saw to it there would be no means of entry or exit that way. With a snarl the Barber stalked away. Rolling on the ground until Mono landed right on top of Six they both just laid there for a few seconds trying recover from the minor pain flaring through their bodies right now.
"Are you okay Mono?" Noticing that Mono hadn't moved at all still pinning Six to the floor with his weight.
"Yeah, I'm fine just give me a second."
Mono slowly got off Six dusting himself off and reached down to pull Six up to her feet. Six accepted the help a small blush dusting her cheeks.
"Are you alright Six? I didn't break anything by landing on top of you like that did I?" Mono eying his surroundings as Six dusted herself.
"No no, Mono I'm fine I just wish that we didn't have to play this stupid game the Wind concocted for us."
Six and Mono were fine with both running away from and if necessary killing monsters. After all that's classified as self-defense but because the North Wind said no killing it put a damper on things. It was clear that the monsters aside from the Toy Maker laid claim to this whole town as their territory. As such they always fought each other. So, they had to be careful about not getting caught or chased by anyone because they couldn't let one of the other monsters take advantage of the moment like just now. The Goon almost died from the Barber and the Wind would have put it on them. They were both sure of that.
Putting aside that for now Mono and Six looked at their surroundings. They appeared to be inside of a tavern although it had seemed abandoned for years. Bottles lined the shelves with dust and cobwebs covering them. Tables overturned with bullet holes that riddled and splintered them. A couple of skeletons in clothing slumped over the bar one of them holding onto a bottle of liquor. Mono began clambering up onto the bar using the stools as a set of stairs. Six in the meantime checked the floor behind the bar and saw another skeleton. This one had to be the barkeep dressed in more formal albeit decayed clothing. It appeared to be reaching for one if the bar taps as it clutched their throat.
Mono walked slowly up to the dead body his feet leaving prints in the heavy dust. He examined the skeleton holding the bottle as it slumped over the bar top. The bottle was filled with a greenish brown liquid with grime covering the surface. Mono could barely make out the lettering as it read Speak Easy. Just as Mono turned away from the body he saw the small glint of metal from one of the body's pockets. He reached down to pluck out a small little box with a hinge on side. He flicked it open to realize it was a small lighter. Flicking the wheel, he found it still had some fuel inside of it. Smirking he examined the outside of it only to find a small eye engraved on the exterior. Growling inwardly, he shut the lighter and thrust it into his pocket.
'As soon as I'm able I'm scratching out that accursed eye.'
Mono turned around to hear that Six was trying to get his attention. He looked down to see that Six was gesturing towards the bar taps next to him. Just to sate her curiosity he walked over to the set of handles. Each of them decorated in all manner of demonic and monstrous heads. A clown's head, the Monster's head, The Tower's Eye, a Smiling Doctor, and a Starving Wolf. Mono seeing the world's pattern with eyes vouched for the Tower's Eye handle. Pushing it down with a clank Six felt the floor shift under her a small bit.
"Down here Mono the floor moved slightly under my feet." Mono nodding in acceptance took a running start and jumped off the bar.
"WAIT MONO-"
But it was too late as the weight from falling so high caused the trapdoor below the to open and slid down onto the floor. Mono gave a small chuckle as he quickly got up although that was quickly replaced by a small cry of pain as Six slapped him on the back. He turned to see Six trying to keep a straight face as she was fuming at him. Try being the keyword as she was quickly failing when the corners of her mouth trembled into a small smile. Staring at each other they erupted in a small bout of giggles.
"You couldn't resist jumping off like that could you?" Six slowly recovering from her fit.
"Hey when you've fought for a second chance at life for your love, you're going to want to spend as much time and fun with them as you can."
Mono pulled out the lighter flicking it a few times before a small flame flickered in the dark supplying a small light. Moving around Mono saw the stairs that lead to secret basement. Slowly climbing down Mono and Six fought the urge to gag as the stale and stinky air hit their nostrils. The door above them slowly but surely venting out the gross air. Mono and Six began palpating the walls to try and find any source of light. Six felt a switch and then flicked it on the floodlights above allowing a small bit of illumination. The room itself was quite small as it was jampacked with an assortment of stock. On the ground before them lay another skeleton this one wearing a silver suit, black slacks, shirt, and tie. Cause of death was also different from the ones above as this one had bullet hole at the base of the left side of the skull and out the front right side of the skull. Past the skeleton was a poker table with various cards, chips, pistols, and knives.
Mono and Six began looking around the room hoping to find any supplies. Six began examining the top of the table. While there weren't any other bodies around the table there was some dried blood soaked into the green fabric. The Eyes once again making an appearance in the table 's design. Upon looking closer Six also noticed on the table next to a box of cigars was another lighter. This one a gleaming silver blank on the exterior. Opening it up she found it also had some fuel to last for a bit. Satisfied she turned to get off the table when she noticed two more things. A small radio that appeared to have been left unused was set on the table as well and underneath was a map of the state. Looking down at it she realized where exactly they were in correlation to the Pale Pile. Beyond that she could see where a few more major cities were along the sea.
'This could definitely help us in our journey as we look for the Ferryman.' She thought as she pocketed the map.
Mono began looking through the different stock noticing something. Pale Journeys was created to be a safe house as it was well stocked with all manner of supplies such as food and water. The small basement area was also well stocked with various firearms and melee. His eye did catch one object. A small four-inch handle with a button on top of it. Holding it out Mono pressed down on the button and blade switched out of its side. Admiring it Mono began folding it back into the handle and put it in his pocket for safe keeping.
'Even if we can't kill monsters, I could still use the knife for other things.' Mono thought. He saw Six on the table and went over to join her. Before he could completely reach her though he heard scratching along the walls. Quickly turning his head, he saw the largest rat he had ever seen squirming out of one of the corners in the rooms. Backing up slowly he pulled the switchblade out from his pocket and held it out in front of him. The rat began sniffing the air and then noticed Mono slowly backing up. With a snarl the rat ran right towards its filthy teeth ready to chomp this child.
Mono slashed the knife in its direction slicing the rat's eye out as it was ready to sink its teeth into Mono's neck. The rat recoiled in pain squealing out as it lost sight in its right eye. Using that time Mono clambered up the chair and joined Six in panic as they both looked for a way out of this. Backing up slowly their backs ran into the radio that was sitting on table.
The radio fell and a massive wave of sound and static filled the room. A voice could be heard broadcasted but it sounded desperate, "Where's the Eye?! Where's the Eye?! The Eye has Fallen! The Eye has disappeared. We must bring him back." Six appeared to be unaffected but Mono was writhing and clutching his head in pain. He was screaming but it wasn't his voice that was heard. Screeches of static and signals erupted from the boy's vocal cords. The rat bombarded by pain and the two different loud sounds fled the room this time taking the stairs to get out of there. Seeing Mono had calmed down after the broadcast turned, she went over to the corner where the rat had come from. She decided to push a crate over the hole so that any other pests could not get in the room. Since that was secured, she ran back over to Mono.
Mono was not in decent shape. Whatever the radio had done it caused Mono to fall unconscious, his body convulsing and twitching every so often, his skin turning different shades from normal, to gray, to pink, and red in all different order, and when Six tried moving his eyelid up she gasped in shock.
His eyes were also shifting distinct colors from the beautiful blue and silver they were, to the static filled eyes he had during servitude to the tower, and finally a harsh gray that was all too familiar.
The North Wind saw high in the sky as it felt the Broadcast through the air. It felt desire to chase it down and stop whatever mad fool was plotting to find and bring back the Tower. It couldn't see as the origin of it was inside the town. Then it felt another presence, one that was fighting a battle on two ends in the same person. The Wind turned its attention to the tavern in the center of town silently rooting for the small boy to win. One last presence came to the Wind's attention. Far out in the forest the Wind sensed a being they hadn't felt in a long time.
HUNGER