The kitchen is filled with a surprised silence. The fires silently crackling behind the melted flesh pile. The world has been given a child filled with power as Kai looks at the Alchemists prepared to skewer Six. Kai stands there as the Alchemists and Six stare at him. It's a very strange sensation filling him. Like a static gel running down his arm. He curls his fingers and he feels liquid running down his arm and into his hand. The very air distorts his view where his hand is.
A roar of outrage erupts from the club wielder as they run forward trying to squash Kai into a bloody pulp. Kai stands there only for a few moments as a word is heard in his head.
"Null."
Kai tenses up and then starts charging the Alchemist. His power filling him with vigor and bravery as he faces the threat once again. With a grunt the Alchemist slams down the club with Kai sidestepping the weapon before latching onto it with his hands. His power attracting him to the empowered altered object. His power begins to distort the weapon as it turns into blackened burnt flesh scorned from the touch of the empowered. The Alchemist drooling venom attempts to grab Kai and swallow him. Kai feels heavy pressure from the Alchemist. He struggles planting his palms on the Alchemist the flesh steaming and smoking from touch alone.
The Alchemist drops Kai and panics as his arm feels ablaze. Making any attempt to put out a false fire was fruitless as the energy covering Kai now covers the Alchemist. All other three watch in horror as the blue-eyed Alchemist starts to melt. At the same time however, the Alchemist begins to shrink albeit not by much. Wounds on the arms of the monster begin to heal, the mouth shrinks no longer exhuming green drool, the eyes fall to floor merely balls of glass.
The flesh melts away showing a different monster now. One that is eyeless and the only feature on its face is a mouth with a gray tongue. Six recognizes it as one of the chefs without its mask on. It stands there for a few moments before it tilts forward falling face first onto the floor. Before Six registers anything else a hard impact hits her sending her away. The three other Alchemists now watching the scene with outrage snap of their trance and are on the attack again.
Kai hunches over for a few seconds the power taking it out of him as the three of them charge. The red-eyed Alchemists pulling flesh from the walls as it stretches and shifts. Kai looks up the confidence once filling him now gone as he watches a spear made from transfigured flesh fly towards him.
He dodges out of the way as the shaft makes a deep stab into the wall. Six begins shuffling away her arms scraping against the floor as she tries to rise. Kai runs in the Alchemists direction as the other two swing their weapons down. Tiles crack from the force of the two weapons colliding. Both narrowly misses as Kai leaps through their legs. Kai runs toward Six with a determined look on his face while Six takes it as one of vengeance. Kai reaches a hand-out to her when the flesh of the room begins to tremble and shake. The Alchemist with the red eyes keeping their hand on the flesh looking at the two teens with malice. The other two monsters see what the Alchemist is doing before diving for cover.
The room shudders as metal spike erupt from the veinous flesh of the room. Striking the ceiling and the floor Kai and Six are separated only for a moment. The spikes begin to shudder again directly in front of Kai and Six. Six's eyes widen before she yells out.
"DUCK"
Both take to the floor as more spikes erupt from where their faces would have been a few seconds ago. Kai reaches a hand through the hardened spike before grasping onto Six chains channeling power into them. The chains shudder as they fall to the floor and as the Ferryman's symbol touches the spikes, they recoil allowing Kai to get through before going to the door with key.
He beckons Six to hurry as he unlocks the door with Six looking very confused. The locks pops open and with a shove the door quickly opens. Kai runs first as a glaive just hits the doorframe above him. Six quickly runs after Kai, she's still afraid of him but given the alternative she's taking her chances.
Six feels the mist flow down her fingers and she is very tempted to unleash her powers. She almost let them out but also fears the possibility that she will kill Kai as well. So instead, she grabs Kai by the wrist running ahead of him. Using her power, she floats off the ground lifting Kai off the ground a few inches as well. The hallway is pelted with many spears and axes from the Alchemists while they still wait for the spikes to retract completely.
Entering a small room with a meat grinder and a few sausages Six remembers there's a vent. She lets go of Kai quickly running to the vent to offer Kai a leg up. Kai graciously accepts the help leaping up onto the vent. Kai disappears for a few second and Six thinks for a few seconds.
'He left me behind. He knows everything and thinks I'm a monster not worth saving.'
At least that what she thinks before Kai holds out a rope for her to hold onto. The Alchemists enter the room all armed with clubs and axes. Six quickly takes it and climbs up. Both scrambling into the ventilation. The one with the glaive stabs their weapon into the vent. Both Kai and Six both retreating into the darkness far from the reach of the Alchemists. A small trail of flesh is lining the ventilation watching the two of them as they walk. Both of them drop into a cleaner area of the vents. Six taps onto Kai's shoulder with him looking back at her with a solemn expression.
"I'm sorry, but can we just take a break for a second?"
Kai looks at Six before placing a hand on his heart. It's beating furiously all adrenaline slowly wearing off as he's in a calmer state. He nods before sitting against the walls with Six taking the opposite side.
Six just looks at Kai as he flexes his fingers. No longer does he seem like the boy that was freaking out over anything. There's an air about him that exudes confidence. It's his new power maybe it's something else. She's afraid of what might be going through his head right now. But she's slightly unprepared as Kai looks over in her direction.
"Are you okay?"
Six still very uneasy just nods as Kai looks back staring at the wall again.
"Are you okay, Kai?"
Kai just sighs as he looks at the wall, "I'm alright for the most part. Just dealing with a lot of information right now. When I was trapped in the flesh, I had a conversation with a frightening creature. It told me a lot of things, tried to convince me of lies, and when I denied it, it tried to kill me. I escaped and now I have a power I never knew I had before."
Six, very afraid, asks, "And what did it tell you?"
Kai looks reluctant to say afraid of the truth. "It told me about the Cycle. Elaborating on things that you didn't say. It talked about a girl in a yellow raincoat falling to her death."
Kai pauses as he notices the look of shock on her face. She knew where this was going yet he said it anyway.
"And how my life ends, or how it was supposed to end. Transformed into a Nome walking the halls before running into a sausage on the floor and then…"
Kai pauses again as he hears Six's sobbing. He looks down to her as she hides her face away from him.
"So, it's true, that part at least. The last Cycle you did devour me. So, I ask you this: Did you actually mean to kill me back then?"
Six looks back up at him, "I never wanted to do that Kai. I was affected by a curse that caused me terrible hunger. A hunger that grew worse and worse as I moved through the MAW. By the end of it all I became a true monster. I didn't know who you were when we first met all those years ago. I didn't recognize you when we reunited down in the depths. It was only when you told me of your nightmares I realized who you are. That's why I ran, so I didn't drag you into death again"
Kai stays silent as he moved forward towards her. His face expressionless yet Six recoiled from fear.
"But I'm sorry Kai! As long as I'm alive I will do what I can to make it up to you."
In her sobs she doesn't notice at first but there's a hand on her shoulder.
"I've seen who you are Six. I've seen how you act with myself and Mono. I can tell you aren't a soulless creature with no care. You carry regrets with you and the need to fix them."
"Kai…I, I won't blame you if you decided to walk away from all of this. Leave the problem of the Geisha to Mono and me. You're certainly free to just stay here wait for the Alchemists to go away and go back to the Prison. Mono and I will certainly be able to stop them together."
"It's true I could do that. Just leave my problems up and run away again. But I'm not going to do that."
Six looks up to Kai who's now holding out a hand for her to stand up.
"I wonder, if you've ever felt crushed by the weight of your sins. Maybe back before all of this before you met me you felt downtrodden. That's what he's there for, isn't he? It's not just the fact that he loves you and you to him. He's your lifeline the thing that keeps you going."
"He's my everything."
"Hmmm, well aside from that I don't plan on running away again. The name RK was given to me because I was an attraction who escaped danger by being a coward. Did you say you want to stop the Void and the Geisha? Well frankly I think you're going to need all the help you can get."
Kai starts to help Six to her feet a small bit of awe on her face.
"Maybe if I had learned about that before you saved my neck over and over again I'd have sought revenge. But I've seen the type of people you are and you are not worth some pointless revenge. But I didn't tell you of my nightmares because I wanted to make you scared. I told you because I trusted you. I can tell you Six you don't need to regret any longer. Because I'm not that Kai from back then. But if it's any consolation I forgive you for what you have done. Because I see the person you are. Besides the Void tried to kill me and now I want revenge against it not you."
Kai puts a hand on her shoulder before smiling. Six looks at Kai before launching herself in a fierce hug.
"Thank you."
Kai is surprised before pulling Six into a hug. Slowly patting her on the back while also thinking.
'Thank God Mono isn't here or I'm quite sure I'd be dead right now.'
The two of them break apart before continuing through the ventilation. The air grows cold and Six pulls her cloak closer together. For Kai his bare feet sting from cold metal as they near an opening. Six taps Kai on the shoulder grabbing his attention.
"Careful, last time I went this way there was a chef, so we have to be quiet."
Kai nods dismounting from the vent onto the cold floor. Pulling out the flashlight he waves it around seeing they were in a meat locker. Calling out silently Six hops onto the floor as well. Instead of sacks of meat dangling from the hooks were now just bodies. Some of them plump Guests freshly drained of blood. Others were skeletal in appearance their skin pulled close to their bones. Huge claws dangled from stick like arms. It was familiar and yet Six couldn't pinpoint why.
An assortment of limbs also hung from the ceiling a couple pairs of arms and meaty legs. Kai and Six stick close as they sneak in the darkness of the refrigerated room. A fleshy thunk hits the floor behind them along with the rattling of chains. Both of them turn around to a harrowing sight.
The Rakshasa's arms from before fall onto the ground. Their claws glowing red and just as alive as they were when they were chopped off. They seemingly look at Kai and Six before lunging in a scratch. Six jumps to the side while Kai stands there from shock. Kai puts up his arm to block the scratch. Just a finger reaches him before it blasted back with a massive crack. The arm writhes as the finger are broken. Kai looks back to his arm seeing a transparent object form in front of him. A buckler shield forms on Kai's arm before disappearing from lack of focus.
The arm finishes writhing before lunging again. Kai forms the shield and charges again pushing one of the arms away. The other pulls itself towards Six before trying to stab Six with its venomous claws. Six once again sidesteps the arm before grabbing the arm with her power and launching it into the wall with a larger crack. A yell of frustration comes from Kai as he continues bashing the arm he's fighting over and over. Each impact making an indention into the blackening flesh. It slowly disintegrates into ash as he finishes punching the arm with the energy surrounding his arm.
Six looks back to the arm before activating her powers draining the fallen arm of any life it has left. It falls the floor cracking before becoming ash as well.
Both catch their breath as they check each other for energy.
"You seem to be catching onto what that power can do really fast."
"Yeah it's almost like it's natural to use it. Like I've had it my entire life."
"As good as that may seem I do have to advise against using it. Even now the Geisha knows where we are when we use our power."
Kai nods disengaging the power before moving on leaving the meat locker. Kai groans out seeing another locked door.
"What now?"
"There's an elevator and if memory serves me right there's a key to the lock up there. Remember we can't be power happy about this. We'll need to sneak past the Alchemist up there get the key without being noticed."
Both ride the elevator up they stand on opposite sides of the doorway. Looking inside they see the room is also lined with flesh with an assortment of cooking supplies. The yellow-eyed Alchemist is seen walking around now wielding a massive meat cleaver. A table stands in the middle of the room. The top has a cutting board with a human head placed on—
Wait that thing isn't human.
At least it didn't look human. It had some resemblance to the Guests' facial features but they were warped. Milky white eyes lay open with scratches on the crown of the head. Its mouth slathered with blood and razor-sharp teeth. Before Kai and Six could gather anymore details of the creature the Alchemist slams the cleaver down splitting the head in two. Kai and Six look back at each other making a small plan.
"I can distract the Alchemist Six. While you grab the key quickly."
Kai runs in first calling out repeatedly as the Alchemist turns holding the now bloody cleaver. Dashing and ducking Kai moves as he dodges swing after swing of the Alchemist's attempt to sever head from neck. Kai taking small breaks by hiding under the kitchen equipment. Breaks not given easily as the Alchemist slams down the cleaver splintering the equipment in kitchen. Kai tries to leave the kitchen as part of the mystery meat's head fall to the floor. The milky white eye staring right at Kai giving him chills.
Six charges inside looking impressed at Kai's brashness. Not having the time to focus on that Six sneaks into the other room. She looks to see Kai getting cornered with the Alchemist's weapon raised high. She quickly goes over to the meat grinder but not before chucking few pieces of silverware in the machine and turning it on. With a squeal the Alchemist quickly runs into the other room just as Six sneaks through the ventilation and picks up the key from the shattered table. Calling out to Kai both take the elevator again and quickly unlock the door.
Kai enters the room before turning back to Six.
"Okay Six so what's the-"
He's interrupted as Six pulls down on a chute before hopping inside. Kai recoils as a horrid smell hits his nose. He sighs as he clenches his nose and hops into the trash chute.
It's even worse inside the chute but frankly it's not as bad as the Alchemist's slobber having been up and close with that. The chute looks like it hasn't been cleaned out in a while with most of the pieces of garbage overgrown with white and black mold. It takes a few seconds for Kai to see Six as she struggles to move a piece of garbage out of the way. Mold overlaps in a vine-like pattern. Regardless of design Six is trying to pry it off with her fingers before pulling the lighter out to burn it. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be flammable. She looks over to Kai and just shrugs her shoulders.
Kai looks around the room hoping to find something that could help them out. Small squishes are heard as he walks around poking through piles of mold before something catches his. A pair of scissors are sticking out of the mold. Kai pulls on the handle as hard as he can right as the blade pops off. Kai is now holding a half of the scissor. He swings it a few times testing the weight before walking back over to the blockage.
With a few heavy swings Kai splits the mold away. Satisfied Kai holsters the scissor next to his hip and the two of them continue. Both of them walk into the drainpipe with a small trail of water and suds run through the bottom. Both shiver as the air grows just as cold from the meat locker. Then footsteps are heard much lighter than the Alchemists but they are none the less threatening. Then both of them stand rigid as the Void calls out to them.
"You know my offer still stands Kai. You could still give up Six to save your own hide. I can still reward you with your freedom and guarantee that you stay alive. Besides I think it would be more beneficial for Six to die. I've already sent Mono to the abyss, surely you'd like to join him in death."
That gives Six pause as she worries for Mono. It had been awhile since she saw him. She knew Mono was strong but the Void might have been stronger. Was he dead? Was he alive? Six's head was filled with doubts and fears as she heard the Void say that. Six looks back for a second to see if Kai is considering it only to see him shaking his head no. He's already made his choice and he just looks up.
"Then Perish!"
The Geisha then leans down towards the vent before pulling back and jabbing her hand into the drain system. A black fog rolls off their hand pushing its way towards Kai and Six. Kai holds his arms out in a barrier style action but the force of the Geisha's power is too strong pushing him back. Six attempts to push back as well failing as much.
"Six start running. I'm gonna keep shielding her power. If they're this strong I actually have an idea."
Six nods before running down the drain. Seeing that she's a good distance away Kai jumps up letting the force of the Void push him forward. Grabbing Six with his other arm they are propelled through the pipe before being pushed up into the air. Covered in food matter and suds Kai and Six land in a slippery manner in the dishwashing room.
Six gets up only to freeze in fear as all three Alchemists have their weapons drawn pointed at the brats. As if matters couldn't get any worse the Geisha bursts through the door. Words unspoken as the Geisha uses her powers to lift plates. The Geisha uncaring as she launches plates into the Alchemists and children.
The Alchemists caught off guard as plates shatter against them causing them to stumble. In that moment of distraction Kai and Six hide behind one of the Alchemists. Kai in his focus starts causing the one he latched onto to melt. The monster then turns back into the chef as its covered in bruises by the ceramic as they shatter into an ocean of glass. Kai and Six are climbing the Alchemist and chef to avoid the rising pile of shards.
The shard storm finally stops revealing the damage. The Void clearly uncaring decimated the Alchemists and Chef. All three of them groaning out as The Geisha lifts her arm up again and the shards begin to float upwards. One by one the glass is surrounding the Geisha. Piece by piece the glass moves faster and faster circling the Geisha. Soon she is invisible shrouded by a tornado of glass. Kai and Six using this opportunity to run.
Both run as the Geisha follows quickly the glass shredding up any obstacle in her wake. The Void also begins warping the kitchen in ways to obstruct the two. Floorboards open into gaping maws, lights try to paralyze them as they run, winds try to impede their flight as they flee. Six then sees a familiar sight. The pulley system she used to escape last time.
"KAI HURRY!"
Both run towards the edge before the Geisha screams out. Both having to duck as the shard storm flies forward scratching their backs until they collide into the wall. Seeing them weakened attempts to pick them up and snap their necks. Only for something to smack the Geisha in the back of the head. She turns around to see a group of Nomes tossing cans at her. The Geisha quickly grabs the Nomes instead to kill them.
Kai and Six using this opportunity run for the pulley again with Six leaping first. Kai jumps as well holding onto Six for dear life. Both take a breath of relief and they both watch as the Geisha's wrathful face disappears but not before the sad sight of the Nomes being torn apart and chucked at them is shown.