One week later
The Revenant Town was once a place of bustling business. People would come and go to travel to and from the Pale City. A final stop or starting point for a grand journey through the country. One of a few eye-catching attractions was the broadcast station. Always giving the delightful signal playing all kinds of media, music, and news concerning the wonderful Pale City. To those unlucky few who never owned a TV and only had a radio to spare. Those poor, poor sheep who could never tantalize their eyes with promises of completion or success. Those sad sacrificial people who could never part of something immortal. But the Signal Tower had another plot for those few.
As of right now the broadcast station was the most active building in town. Barricaded with assortments of useless equipment with three Eavesdroppers standing by for orders. They were standing behind an upper torso sitting in a chair standing before the microphone. This man was skeletal thin with a conglomeration of wires connected to his arms like life support. The microphone shoved deeply into this Broadcaster's mouth he practically swallowed it. He no longer had use for his legs as his upper torso had melded into the chair, he sat in. The Broadcaster was frantically fiddling with an assortment of dials and switches.
Every so often sending out a message, "Where's the Eye!? Where's the Eye!? The Eye has Fallen! The Eye has disappeared. We must bring him back."
Calling out to their king; trying to find their lost god. It had only occurred a week and two days ago when the Tower's broadcast had disappeared from the world. The Revenant town turned to chaos and madness from going cold turkey on their master's words. The Town Square massacre was the result for only those who were truly devoted or affected in diverse ways that survived. Those that were not, well the cobblestone didn't look too bad that day with a coat of crimson red paint.
Just as the Broadcaster was about to tune the frequency again the Tower's voice could be heard, "brE.. thE… cr…" The Broadcaster turned up the volume on the speakers.
"fre… me.." The Broadcaster and the Eavesdroppers leaning over the desk in anticipation. Hearing those sweet commanding words of their lord. Hearing such somber tones in their voice as the Tower pleaded for help. Two final words were heard before the transmission cut out.
"kIll… rAIncOAt." And the static faded into nothingness. The Broadcaster and Eavesdropper doing their best to decipher what their god wanted. The Broadcaster began looking at the security cameras surrounding the building. Trying to find exactly what their lord wanted and then he saw it.
A little kid adorned in a yellow raincoat as she wandered the streets holding a small piece of paper being chased by the One Lady Band. Noting exactly where she was in correlation to the radio station the Broadcaster screeched at the three Eavesdroppers and got their attention. Their singular eyes wheeling to the screen with the little girl in the raincoat. They understood as they began shifting equipment that was once their blockade. One of the Eavesdroppers grabbed a fire axe from the wall mount. Another given a small radio to communicate. The three left the building with one directive in mind,
"kIll rAIncOAt."
It has been a week since Six and Mono had found the bunker below the bar. A week since Mono started having that static seizure. Six had closed the entrances to the Bunker using it as a temporary shelter. The food and water still lasting them for a good and long while. Though Six was having a little trouble trying to get Mono to eat or drink with all his shaking.
His condition worsened as he wouldn't stop seizing. Six had to keep him bound and secured to the poker table to ensure he didn't accidentally hurt himself. Although that was after Mono tried to stab himself in the eye with that knife. It all happened so fast when Six saw Mono undo the knife twirled the blade around and tried to stab his left eye, which in the moment was that harsh gray. Six tackled him to the floor pushing the knife out of his grasp. Mono just collapsed to the floor fighting an internal struggle. Trying to pull himself away from Six while at the same time trying to grab. He had wrestled himself into a corner and then turned to face Six with two different eyes. The left holding a harsh glare of gray looking at her while the right held a sad blue crying as Mono said two different things.
"LEAvE Us!"
"I'm sorry!"
Six resorted to knocking out the tormented Mono and then wrapping him up using belts from the fallen corpses to keep him restrained. But even those weren't doing much against Mono. A small sphere of static space started emitting from him and everything in that small space started to become warped and bent. The table began curving out of proportions as over the days it started to reach the ceiling. Six at one point tried giving Mono some water to drink and reached over. The effect was almost instantaneous as her fingers started bending in unnatural directions. Out of shock and pain she pulled her arms back. Her fingers returned to normal and she looked at Mono. The water she had spilt from letting go and withdrawing was still falling to the floor.
'He's turning back into HIM' Six realized. Whatever that radio did to Mono it somehow amplified Mono's abilities to when he was the Thin Man. Clearly making him much stronger than the Ferryman's symbol could suppress. However, the amount of stress his body was taking from this increase and not being able to let out said power was taking its toll. Six decided that they would need to find a way out of there NOW. She wasn't going to let Mono suffer any more than he had now. Gathering up the switchblade and lighter she opened the exit to the bar and walked up the stairs.
"I'll be back soon I promise."
Checking her surroundings before leaving the tavern she closed the exit ensuring nothing could get into the Bunker and hurt her Mono. She entered the Town Square checking for threats finding none she ran out to the center of the square. Hearing a set of footsteps, she took cover behind the statue. This time it was the Barber who entered the square. The Barber was slightly bloodied from cuts that lined its arms. It staggered into the square hiding right behind the corner they just rounded. Following the Barber was the Goon who was looking wildly as its knife dripped blood. Taking the advantage, the Barber squealed as it drove their shears into the back of the Goon. Pained from both the present and past attack on the back the Goon fell to the floor.
Checking for any distractions beforehand the Barber raised its shears around the Goon's neck and clamped them tightly. The Goon roared in pain as the shears cut into their neck. The Barber opened the scissors just to clamp them down again this time severing the head from the shoulders. The Goon's mouth opened in never-ending pain and their eyes rolled back into their head. The Barber satisfied with their work turned on their heel and walked back to their shop. Not giving the useless lump of flesh the time of day.
Six waited a few minutes just in case the Barber came back. Seeing that it wasn't returning Six left the Town Square and ventured towards the library again. She figured that would be the best place to look for an escape route for her and Mono to get out of here. She would work out how to get Mono to walk without her touching him. She missed being in his embrace and only felt pity on the poor soul. Taking care of him those past few days, seeing him suffer while she could not do much just struck her with feelings of helplessness.
Entering the library, she began to look through old records of the city. If the tavern had a secret passageway leading to an underground bunker, it could be possible that there were other ways out of the city. Hours upon hours of searching she looked through many different files. She almost gave when she saw the last file. Opening it up she saw a map of a sewer system.
This was it. This was how Six and Mono were getting out of here. There appeared to be a way into the sewers from the tavern via a drainpipe in the restroom. Shuddering slightly not looking forward to the smell she pocketed the paper. Turning towards the exit she noticed the fallen librarian. More accurately she was eying the necklace around the dead body's neck. The Ferryman's symbol adorned in a silver chain. Remembering the North Wind's words, she tugged the necklace off the librarian's neck.
'Maybe this will help Mono calm down with two layers of suppression.' Pocketing the necklace and rolling up the sewer map she left the library in haste to get back to the tavern. Upon exiting the library, she heard a shriek. Turning to her left she saw the One Lady Band had heard her and began charging to her location. Pipes exploding in screech as she was chased. Rounding corner after corner Six kept trying to hide from the One Lady Band. She heard the clattering of metal as one of the jagged cymbals passed over her head. The One Lady Band furious from Six still alive despite her assault. Six hid down into a trash can as stood completely still. Holding her breath as the One Lady Band passed by. The One Lady Band looking in every direction before sighing and picking up the cymbals. Six watched as the One Lady Band disappeared. Taking a few breaths, she began walking back toward the center of town when a massive axe slammed down right in front of her. Backing up in fear she looked up to see three figures looking down at her in malice. They looked like Viewers, but they kept their eyes. The rest of their face those was a wrinkled mess. Seeing the axe in their hands she ran this time going to the outside of town. She did not want to lead them back to the heavily barricaded door of the tavern. With an axe like that Mono and Six would be in danger. Her plan was to roundabout the different alleyways losing track of them and circling back to the town square.
She ran and ran surprised her legs hadn't given out from all this running. The Eavesdroppers shrieking behind her with the one holding the axe in the lead. She looked up to see the North Wind wondering what it thought of this. The Wind however wasn't watching her, it was instead looking at something in front of her near the edge of town. Looking forward she saw what the subject of attention was for the Wind. She almost stopped in her tracks as she saw a canyon of sharp jagged teeth lunging towards. Six quickly turned on her heel and took a sharp right back towards the town not caring now what that was. She quickly ran back to the tavern and slipped inside the bunker. She was startled as Mono was no longer bound by the belts. He leaning over the radio and whispering to it.
Mono was so entranced in his actions he didn't notice Six slowly sneak behind him and slip the necklace around his neck. Mono slumped over to the floor unconscious his breathing slowed to calmer and deeper breaths. Cushioning his head with her lap she began planning out a route using the map of the sewer.
An hour after Six left Mono
"FOOlIsh gIrl As If shE rEAllY bElIEvEs thEsE bOnds wIll kEEp mE still." Mono began tugging at the belt hearing small tears in the leather as he shuffled about.
"Please… why can't you just leave us alone?" Mono appeared to be talking to himself as this part of his body complained.
"FrAnklY bOY YOU'rE jUst stUck wIth mE fOr A lIttlE bIt." The more savage side of Mono argued.
"I cAn't stArt AnOthEr cYclE EvEn If I wAntEd tO. YOU And thAt gIrl dEstrOYEd mY physical fOrm. jUst cOOpErAtE And I'll bE gOnE bEfOrE YOU knOw It." The sad side of Mono just stayed silent after that. Grinning the Tower pulled off the belts that bound him to the table. Standing up and stretching his legs he turned over to the radio he began tuning the frequency to the nearby station and began issuing instructions to any Eavesdroppers listening.
"jUst bE prEpArEd tO rUn BOY."
A few nights ago, in a forest several miles north of the Revenant Town
A herd of moose was grazing in a clearing close to a nearby river under the moonlit sky. Their young close by with their mothers watching over them. One of the calves trotted along to the river for a small drink of water. Their passive eyes noticing their reflection in the water as their ears flicked when a crunch of branches caught their attention. The entire herd turning their head to the noise as they tensed up. Letting out small guttural whine they huddled together preparing for what was coming. The moose turning their heads they saw it.
A bear was running into the clearing straight towards the herd. The herd preparing to defend their young when something unexpected happened. The massive bear ran right past them back into trees. The moose were confused only for a moment when a large cry of pain erupted from the back of the herd. They all turned around to see one of their eldest one the ground. Panting heavily from the pain of three massive claw marks around its neck. The herd in a panic began running away into the trees. The sound of meat and flesh ripping as increased bodies fell onto the ground. All that was left was the calf from the river who saw the horrifying sight.
The herd was obliterated, some of them still twitching a small amount, others soaking the ground with their life force, limbs were torn off, others sliced completely in half, and heads laid on the forest floor. Then the calf saw the Monster as it ate gray matter from the open skull of the calf's mother. Rending flesh from bone as it savagely chomped down on the bodies of the fallen. The Monster paused smelling the air as it detected warm breath in the air. It turned its unholy crowned head as it saw the calf frozen still. It walked over to the calf preparing to slice it open.
The calf knowing there was no running or fighting this creature merely laid down with its neck exposed as much as possible. This was the alpha and omega predator of the forest. There was no stopping this thing, certainly not as a baby herbivore. The Monster slowly bowed down to the calf lifting its throat up to its jagged mouth. Razor sharp teeth lined the Monster's mouth savagely sharp and jagged in all angles. The calf closed its eyes as the Monster quickly clamped down tearing a chunk of flesh and viscera gleefully swallowing it.
Seeing the piles of animal bodies, it left behind the Monster gleefully finished eating the child moose and dove into the pile of carrion. The forest filled with the sounds of grotesque snapping and ripping. Bones breaking as the Monster began scarfing down every little bit of flesh it could find. Once the skeletons stayed the Monster began breaking the bones. Cracking every little bit of bone to find the meat inside if it them. A graveyard of bone fragments and fur littered the once peaceful clearing. The Monster looked up to the sky in anguish. Its hunger never being fulfilled like it once was when it fought the Tower. It hated this little game of hide-and-seek the Tower played. A massive mound of flesh like that could have filled its stomach for the rest of eternity. But the Tower was not the massive mound of flesh it was. Just signals in the wind.
The Monster was about to resume the hunt when it smelled something else. The smell of a myriad of souls. All collected at one point several miles away from here. The Monster pondered to itself as its mouth drooled in anticipation. A usurper collecting souls to grow itself. A delectable banquet now replacing the Tower. Not wasting time, the Monster took to the trees leaping from branch to branch in search of its new target. Madness taking hold in the Monster's eyes as it traveled.
Several days had passed when the Monster finally emerged from the large forest. The Monster not resting as it ached to fill the massive void that was its stomach. It found the bear it pursued so long ago. The Monster dived plunging its claws deep into the neck of the animal. Widening its arms, the Monster pried neck from torso with a loud squelch. The bear didn't stand a chance as it watched its neck get farther and farther from its body. The Monster flailing and scratching grabbing huge handfuls of flesh shoving them into their mouth. The animal's blood moistening the Monster's lips and throat as it ripped and tore into this small snack. The bear a pile of bones the Monster continued its path. The Monster then saw the town the scent of this mysterious being strong. The Monster barreled forward getting ever closer to the entrance of town. It saw her the little kid with its power. Three disfigured humans were chasing her one of them carrying an axe. The Monster pounced towards her claws stretched out ready to chew. Just as the Monster was repelled backwards from where it came. The three humans paid the eleven-foot behemoth in front of them no mind as they also focused on the girl.
Confused the Monster tried repeatedly leaping towards the girl. Repeatedly the Monster was flung backwards. Enraged the Monster began clawing and scratching at whatever invisible force was keeping it at bay. The little girl seeing that it was safe clutched a small piece of paper and ran back towards and away from the Monster and three humans. The three humans began to give chase until one of them pulled out a small plastic device and listened intently. The Monster could only hear a couple of sounds when the one person holding the axe began walking to one of the posts that held the Ferryman's symbol.
The human raised the axe and then swung down. Repeatedly as the post slowly began to weaken as the dent in the wood began to grow and grow. The post with one last creak fell to the floor. The barrier around the Revenant town shattered.
And the Monster began their feast.
At the exact the same time Six was going over the map when Mono's back arched furiously. Screaming in pain as a static signal began spilling out of his mouth and retreating up into the air. Six could faintly see a shiny grin in the signal as it flew away. Six didn't pay it much mind as she turned back to look down at Mono. His skin slowly turning back to a healthy shade of pink, his left eye turning back into silver, and he slowly stopped twitching. Slowly he sat up as he looked at his surroundings. Turning to face Six he lunged to grab her in a hug as he sobbed into her shoulder. Six slowly patting him on the back as he let a torrent of held back pain. Calming down he pulled back to look Six in the face.
"We need to get out of here NOW!"