Six dreamed about walking on a shoddy rotten rope bridge. Hand and hand with Mono as they walked the plain unending road. The ground below the bridge a pulsating mass of flesh and eyeballs waiting in anticipation for the bridge to fall unto the ground. The sky above a pale gray with mist hanging in the air. TV screens on either side of them flashes with incoherent words or brief images. On occasion only some would light up for longer and both Mono and Six could see what was shown. The first was a memory that took place two weeks ago.

The Predator's cabin down in the basement where the Predator tried to find Six with Mono trying to protect her. When the image faded the bridge on Six's side fortified itself a small amount. The planks of wood losing some of the rot that had grown and fraying lines from the rope began lining back to the main cord.

Mono and Six continued a few more steps until another series of events played. This one involving the bridge with the gap in between. It showed Mono slowly walking away before Six called out to him. He leapt and Six grabbed his hand, the tender moment interrupted as the shotgun blasted the plank apart. This scene faded to black, and both watched as the bridge on Mono's side began to fix itself as well. This time matching up to Six's side not entirely fixed but improved.

The two began walking further and further down this bridge as their surroundings shifted again. The Pale City surrounding them as they walked until they reached a familiar sight. Lockers began appearing and one of them opened to show another memory. It was Mono who just burst into the bathroom his hands bruised and his face filled with rage as he saw the scene before him. Six laid injured on the floor with the last Parasite hovered above her. Mono in his rage obliterated the Parasite repeatedly pounding it in the face. Using the chains began to choke the Parasite to death. When the miserable smashed face fell to the floor Mono grabbed it with both hands and slammed it repeatedly into the ground. Mono then turned towards Six lifting her into his arms and quickly leaving the school. The image faded to black, and Six's side freshened up even more. The planks of wood turning newer to the point that they appeared a foot never walked over them. The ropes turned to iron chains unbreaking and unending.

They then walked until they reached an alley filled with luggage and a familiar raincoat lay on the floor. In the puddles they watched another scene unfold. Six taking Mono's hands in hers examining the wounds of battle he endured saving her. Words silent as Mono softly pulled her hood down before they embraced in kiss. Feelings from past futures brought to younger lives showing the love they felt for one another. As the two turned to a makeshift shelter and the puddle turned to muddy water. Mono and Six watched as the bridge turned to concrete on both sides signaling that the trust between had solidified. But Six did notice there were cracks in Mono's side of the bridge. Small but noticeable.

They walked for much longer walking past the hospital and they almost reached the end of the bridge when another image flashed in the reflection of the water. Mono dangling from Six's hand as the bridge fell apart around. Six who was seeing the memory looked down to see the cracks slowly fading away as memory Mono let go of her hand. Falling into the abyss below. The scene played out with Six diving in after him bringing his drowned body to the shore. Trying her best to bring her back and then the scene darkened when Mono was brought back to life.

They then walked for what felt like eons as Six noticed something far off in the distance. A lighthouse on a small island. It was barely visible like a candle in the darkest void. Mono and Six hurried in their pace as they saw their destination. And then a harsh wind blew another image in front of them and Six saw events that played out. A woman who died in front of his love, a depressed man pulling all stops to bring her back, never resting never stopping, that man in front of a giant portal, the Eye, the Monster and The Lady, the Tower, and those two eyes in the man's face the same as Mono's. the scene shifted to Mono who looked like his soul was obliterated and was looking at Six if she were the frailest thing in the world. The scene faded to black as Six turned to look back at Mono and he had the same expression.

The cracks in the bridge returned and they began to worsen. Six quickly holding her hand out to help Mono to her side.

Mono started to reach out and take her hand, but then he stared at his own and then looked down to the pulsating flesh. Six looked down at the bridge not understanding what was wrong, they clearly trusted each other so why was the bridge crumbling?

And then the bridge crumbled with Mono falling into the flesh.

"MMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOO!"

And then her eyes snapped open.

It was morning yet still storming around the forest the little shelter they had taken to slowly but surely gaining water. The Boar lifted their head as water pooled around its snout. Snorting as it rose to their feet and then walking to a nearby stream to satiate their thirst. Six sat up with a jolt from her nightmare. Her eyes blear as she slowly blinked out the sleep from them. Patting the ground around her she did not feel Mono's sleeping body around. She did feel his jacket around her legs as her vision began to clear. She picked it up looking it over to see that the music box and knife were still in the coat's pockets. Only his lighter was missing from the inventory. Bundling the coat up she tucked it into one of the roots to keep it from becoming too wet. As much as it supplied warmth it was not so good in the waterproof department.

'Mono probably went to go take a quick look around. Just to make sure there weren't any threats around us.' Six thought in her head.

Although she couldn't shake the remnants of thoughts from her head involving the nightmare from before.

'Why didn't he take my hand at the end? I know he trusts me but what was I missing?' Six was shook from her thoughts as the sound of footsteps could be heard from outside. Six tensed up slightly with her fingertips dancing with her power. Only for them to be dissuaded when the head of that Boar from earlier poked his head inside. Only the Boar had a sad look on his face looking down at Six.

Six slowly walked up to the Boar's head and the Boar lowered their head so they could be eye to eye with Six.

"What's wrong?" Six was a little confused despite knowing the Boar wasn't going to hurt her because the Boar was technically his…

Wait…

"Where's Mono?" Six looked at the Boar in the eye and the Boar whimpered a small bit as it gestured with it eyes leading outside.

Out into the storm.

Out into the forest.

"No no no no, Mono please tell me you didn't." Six hurried outside slipping on her raincoat as she walked into the storm. Lightning and thunder rolling from the sky as Six saw the truth. Footprints going leading in one direction Mono intentionally left her again for the second time. The first being on the bridge to let her live despite the fact she dove down after him. And now? Six couldn't fathom why Mono left her again. But she was not about to let him leave her again. Quickly collecting the knife and music box she tied Mono's coat around her waist and pulled her hood up. Then she started following the prints left by Mono. Six could hear the Boar's footsteps behind her as it slowly trotted up to her. She turned to face it the Boar looking passive as it looked down at her.

"What? What's wrong? Don't you have a family to return to?"

The Boar then looked a little sad as it eyed the clearing around them. The Monster's dead body starting to smell sickly sweet as it began to rot. The ground peppered with shards of broken glass from the broken screens. The Boar was more fixated on the bodies of the other boars that lay about. Warriors and victims from the battle the night before. Strewn about and torn in half they lay eternally resting. The Boar looked back at Six a look of longing in its eyes.

"So, both of us have been left behind, eh?" Six walked up to the Boar as it bowed its head down. Six reaching up to pet the Boar's head. The Boar closing their eyes in small enjoyment of the sensation of their head being scratched. Six enjoying this as well because most animals in this world have treated her like prey. Never would she have thought that one could be so kind or empathic.

Slowly withdrawing her hand, the Boar blinked and then knelt to the ground. Nodding its head up toward its back.

"You… want me to climb up there?" Six slowly approaching the massive Boar still knelt. The Boar giving a small grunt before nodding again. Six slowly and carefully clambered up the Boar's back. Doing her best not to pull too hard on the Boar's coat as she did so. Settling between the Boar's shoulder blades she patted its back in confirmation.

The Boar slowly rose to its feet as it began walking the tracks Mono left behind. Six determined to find her love and at the very least find out why he exactly left her behind again.

And at the very most knock some sense into him if it were for a very stupid reason.

A day has passed as they left from the Monster's dead body. It wasn't easy to ride the Boar at first trying to keep her balance riding the Boar's back. The animal's continuous footsteps and shifting side to side kept her in continuous sway. It helped that they were walking in one direction. For some reason Mono didn't turn in any direction he kept going in a single direction. The rain didn't let up either keeping its same pattern as rain collided with the ground.

And then Six and the Boar found the first body that lay dead on the floor. A Viewer that had been watching a TV from the night before had gotten too close when the TV exploded. A large shard of glass from the screen had exploded outwards and sliced this Viewers head in two from ear to ear. Six got off the Boar to view her surroundings as well as find some cover from the rain. She took one step only to find herself on the floor. Her legs had fallen asleep from lack of use. Laying there for a bit letting blood circulate more she slowly picked herself up.

She took a closer look at the TV. A simple black box with the same dials and switches from before but one minor change was noticed. In the lower right corner of every TV, she and Mono ever came across there was the Tower's brand in the shape of an eye. She slowly patted the scar that lined her back from the school. What caught her attention was that the eye had been scratched out hatefully.

She knew that this was Mono's handiwork, but she could also tell that this wasn't a recent change. During the time Six was asleep Mono clearly gained a lot of ground. It would take a while to catch up to him. Even then what would she do when she did catch up? She was pulled out of her thoughts when a horrible squelching and crunching sound could be heard. Freezing up at first and then slowly turned around at a grisly sight. The Boar was currently shoving its snout into the stomach of the dead Viewer and munching on its innards. Six was glad she hadn't eaten yet nor had felt hungry because the sight sickened her to her core. Although alternatively if the Viewer were still alive and trying to chase them down, she supposed this was the better alternative.

She stared down at her own hand as she thought about how Hunger affected this world too greatly. She had a small thought that Mono wasn't entirely wrong to fear himself. They both knew that monsters ruled the world. Even if Mono didn't necessarily see themselves as monsters before that revelation Six certainly did. Six knew that both her and Mono weren't normal children even before this journey to end the cycle. She accepted the fact that she was a monster while Mono never thought of themselves as monsters.

'Oh Mono…'

She slowly began to understand why Mono walked away this time. He's scared of doing something to her that he'd never forgive himself for. That just made Six even more determined to find him and lay his fears to rest. That despite his "good" intentions, isolation is never the answer to a problem.

Eyeing the storm above she sought a shelter to keep themselves dry from the rainy world outside. Finding a large tree with an abandoned nest close to the roots Six grabbed a couple of sticks that managed to stay dry from the rainwater. Pulling her lighter out she made a small fire and began to dry herself off. After doing so she pulled out the music box the Toymaker gave them by way of Mono's request. Winding it a good long while she let it play. Slowly succumbing to the tune that produced fonder memories with Mono as she fell asleep. The Boar still having its fill from the dead Viewer.

At that same time another fire was burning with a small figure leaning over it. The embers lighting up their exhausted eyes. Examining their tired feet as they too hummed the sound of the music box. Staring at their claw one last time they waited till the embers died out. Sighing they rose to their aching feet and continued their way.

The next morning Six woke up to find Boar waiting for them.

"Alright I'm up just give me a second."

Six rose to her feet as her stomach grumbled.

'Right food first then we continue.'

It took some real searching to find anything edible that she believed safe to eat. Then she found an apple tree with the most delicious shine to it. She tried to climb the tree at first but unfortunately, she couldn't find any good handgrips and the branches were too high. She tried to glide up into the air but that didn't work either. Turns out that gliding is only good to cover ground quickly, but she couldn't exactly fly.

Frustrated she sat on the ground trying to think of some way to get up there. Then she remembered her time as the Lady when she found an intruder in her quarters. A little girl that she didn't kill. The regret from dropping Mono still affecting her then. She didn't kill the girl, but she did remember using her powers to grab her.

Focusing the black smoke in her fingertips she pulled. It took a good while to pull one of them down. But then one of them snapped and fell to the ground. Though she did have to move as the apple was falling in her direction. The apple was about the same size as her, so she had to pull the knife out. She carved out piece by piece and bit into the sweet flesh of the fruit. The juice of the fruit causing her hands and face to get a little sticky. She wept tears of joy as she savored this succulent fruit. What she couldn't finish she offered up to the Boar who took it gingerly from her hands.

A thought occurred to Six, "I can't keep calling you Boar. If we're going to stick together, I'm going to have to call you something in case we get separated."

The Boar tilted its head in confusion.

"What about… Horatio?"

The Boar a little confused about that one.

"Okay… what do you think about Bacon?"

Now it looked very offended at that one.

"Alright not that one… what about Inosuke?"

It grunted in disapproval at that last one.

Six thought about it before a thought crossed her mind.

"What do you think about Jabali?"

The newly dubbed Jabali seemed to enjoy that one as it gave a small trot giving a small sense of urgency.

"Alright I get it we need to keep mo- ACK WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Jabali softly bit Six by the hood and flung his head back. Six found herself flying for a little bit until she landed on Jabali's back.

"Please don't do that again."

Jabali huffed sniffed the ground and once again followed the path of their master.

Six, while focused on finding her love, couldn't help but appreciate the scenery around them. A genuinely pleasant change of pace from the depressing city and town they'd been traveling through for a while. The rain had finally stopped making it appear that the forest had woken from long slumber. Fresh dew dripped from the grass giving a pleasant aroma through the air. Light shining through the branches making shadows of both branch and leaves dance.

The second night Six wanted to make camp but Jabali had other plans as he would not let Six get off his back. Six relented getting used to Jabali's movements at this point she was certain she wouldn't fall off. She laid down on his back and let the movements of Jabali rock her to sleep. As for Jabali he just kept walking off into the night stopping only for water and the occasional food.

The next two days were uneventful as well which had Six a little concerned for Mono. How was he doing as he ventured alone out there? He managed to hold his own against the monsters of the Pale City but that was an environment that he was used to. Out here in the woods? She wasn't sure how anyone could survive alone. Placing her hand to her heart she began winding the music box again. Letting the somber tone fill her ears as she remembered the day they danced together.

She missed him incredibly. He was her warmth and when he left, she just felt empty. That dark cold void in her soul ripped into her heavily. She missed his embrace his protectiveness of her. Only now the protective nature of his is what separated the two in the first place.

Jabali's snorting grabbed her from her thoughts as began hurrying in his paces.

"What did you find something Jabali?" She asked excitedly. Traveling for four days only stopping for rest, food, and water got dull.

Jabali began running and then Six smelled it too.

Smoke from a campfire, they were catching up. 'Hopefully very soon' Six thought.

Jabali barreled into a clearing and Six was horrified at the sight before her. A clearing in the forest turned into a graveyard. An entire herd of moose lay dead before her. Their bleached skeletons picked clean of any meat that ever lay upon. Both adult and infant moose bones lay in assortment.

'This was the Monster's handiwork.' Six thought as she viewed the macabre sight before her. Then under one of the skulls Six saw that someone had recently been there. Getting off Jabali she walked over to a small campfire. She looked around as she saw a horrid sight. Small droplets of blood lay on the ground next to the fire.

'What did you do to yourself Mono?' and she noticed what had fueled the fire. She saw what was left of it. Buttons lay in the coals of the fire and remnants of sleeves lay off to the side. Before she could examine any further, she heard something small off in the distance. Closing her eyes, she listened even more intently.

Off in the distance she could hear the rustle of foliage and branches. Someone was running off in the trees.

Mono was close.

"JABALI!" He came running as Six leapt up to his back using her powers to scramble onto him. In an instant they were both in pursuit of Mono. The clouds above opening in torrential downpour. Lightning forked out across the sky and thunder rang out. As Jabali kept running Six kept an eye out for Mono in the trees. The rain making it harder to see any differing movement. Then the lightning lit up the forest and then Six saw him. Jumping from a branch and then swung over to another limb.

"MONO STOP RUNNING!"

Mono appeared to not have heard her as the thunder clapped furiously. Another bolt of lightning struck a tree close to Mono. The connection setting the tree ablaze and one of the much larger branches snapped off falling toward Jabali and Six. Then a wave of static swept toward the branch knocking it away from both.

Six looked up to see Mono's face looking back towards them his hand outstretched. His eyes full of concern and worry before turning back around and running again.

'So, he didn't leave me out of hate towards me.' Six thought as she continued the chase.

Jabali huffing and puffing as his four eyes remained trained on the retreating figure. Not letting them out of their sight.

Mono finally landed back onto the ground a good distance away from them and continued running. Though it looked like he was forcefully pushing himself. The forests opened into a clearing again and Jabali had to suddenly stop.

Right in front of Six and Jabali was a massive riverbank. While the fall wasn't exactly steep or life threatening the white water below gave concern. Six looked up to see Mono collapsed on the other side of the riverbank. He had used a log that had laid on both sides making an effective bridge over the water.

Mono slowly rose to his feet and Six saw how this trip affected him. His eyes were bloodshot and flickering as she realized that he either rested once during this trip or he never slept. Looking down she saw that Mono had indeed used his shirt as fuel for the fire and it looked like he was carving something into his skin.

No, no he was opening the wounds from the brands. Using his claws, he traced the chains on his arms as they slowly seeped blood. His claws were dark and bloodied from both dirt and blood of his own and others.

Looking down, oh god, his feet were bleeding. Heavily blistered and bloody from the top to the bottom caked in mud as well. He turned to run away again.

"Mono stop running please."

He didn't turn around, "Don't you understand Six? Didn't you see? I'm the one who ruined everything. I'm the cause for your own suffering both as master of this world and unwilling servant."

"No, you aren't Mono. The Tower is the one who did all of this. Just because that "version" of you did this does not mean you will. You've seen the consequences of what happens which is why you will revolt against it."

"You didn't see everything Six. You didn't see or hear my own thoughts when I showed you all that. Six… I considered and almost went with that plan. I almost became the Tower again and you would have suffered for that." Mono started to walk away.

"I will never make you suffer again."

"Don't you see Mono you already are by leaving again. Please don't leave me again. Don't you trust me? Don't you love me?"

Mono paused again and turned as Six saw tears spilling from his eyes.

"I do Six. I love and trust you with all my heart. But…" and he turned away again, "I don't trust myself."

He began walking away as Six digested that in silence.

'No…' Six thought as her powers flared around her hand, 'I'm not letting you leave me again.'

Reaching out with her hand Six pulled back and suddenly Mono stood frigid unable to move as he was slowly dragged back to Six.

Mono eyes wide in terror began doing everything he could to get out of her grip. Hyperventilating he began closing his eyes and then static began pulsing from his body. With a strangled cry Mono flung his arms out forcefully and static erupted from his body. The log below him splintering apart breaking this natural bridge. He was freed from her powers grasp as she was pushed backwards. Landing on her bottom as she looked up fear creeping in her eyes. Mono didn't notice that when he forced his way out of her power's grasp, he was right above the log.

Not ready for the sudden shift from solid sturdy ground to shifty terrain Mono started tilting as he fell. His clawed hand outstretched as it jabbed into the log. Keeping him there hanging over the white rapid water as he tried to stay attached.

"MONO HOLD ON I'M COMING!" Abandoning all current care for minor injuries she slowly balanced her way to the middle of the log. Crouching down she held out a hand outreached.

"TAKE MY HAND MONO PLEASE!" Six just barely able to reach him.

Mono looked up at her hand and then down at the water. Making up his mind he reached up to grab Six's hand.

Just as his claw finally slipped from the cracks of wood and he fell.

"MONOOOO!" she screamed out. Then she began slipping off the log almost following him into the water. Had it not been for Jabali who reached down with his mouth and snagged Six by the hood again. Six dangled there as she watched Mono's head poking out from the water as he was dragged further and further. Six was carried off to the ground and dropped gently.

'So close.' She thought. Mono was willing to grab her hand so that meant that she may have convinced him a small bit. Mounting up onto Jabali's back she patted his back.

"Let's go Jabali, we can't let him get too far again." Jabali snorted in agreement as he began running down the side of the river.

A few hours later Mono washed up on the riverside still clutching onto the piece of driftwood with his claw. He weakly took a few steps forward before falling onto his knees. Small bits of static floating off from his hands as they slowly formed to fists. Raising them to his head he screamed having an internal argument.

'WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!?'

"WHY DO I KEEP PUSHING HER AWAY!"

"IF I'M A MONSTER WHY'D SHE COME FIND ME?"

"IF I'M SO KEEN ON ISOLATION WHY'D I REACH FOR HER HAND?"

"DO I EVEN LOVE HER?"

That one stopped all the questions in his head as he felt a tear roll down his cheek. How could he ask himself that question? Of course, he did. He loved her with all his heart. He'd give up his heart to save her life in a literal heartbeat.

'Then why do you run?'

Because he felt like the scum of the earth. And he felt scum like him wasn't deserving of her returned love. That's why he ran because to him, Six was the purest creature in the world. One who didn't deserve anything bad to happen to her. One who truly deserved to walk the shores and fields of Elysium when they passed… just… like… HE… did.

Mono started walking away from the riverside as he contemplated that little nugget in silence.

If he was such a bad person in an earlier life, why had fate or whatever divine force decided he deserved Elysium other than what he assumed the dark alternative? Maybe there was something different about him? Or, and he looked down at his clawed hand. It was because he had been untouched and unknowing of his past.

Mono walked further and further into the brush still going through the thought process. Almost completing his train of thought as the forest floor suddenly gave way under his feet. Mono slipped and fell onto his back as looked at his surroundings.

A pitfall and by looking at his surroundings a completely fresh one. No spikes or pointy bits to kill him just a means to keep him held as he noticed the walls covered in a slick material. Eyeing his claw, he began to walk towards one of the claws preparing to scale it and keep going.

Before he could though a harsh light shone in his face. Eyes adjusting to the light looked up at the face of the world's angriest bloodhound in the world.