Sorry about the wait for this, I wanted to build up the suspence for bringing back the originals!

CHAPTER 14: WHERE THE SPIRITS GO

It was a slow and quiet process of moving the bodies, but eventually the deed was done. They had first been lined up at the entrance to the first house, and Dylan suggested he go to the lab and get set up while the stitches relaxed. Instead, 9 offered to go with him, knowing that Dylan wouldn't like what he saw when he entered the lab.

9 was right.

When Dylan pushed open the door that led to the old lab, he was met with a familar chill. When he saw the body, he became completely overwhelmed with emotion. He cried hysterically, and all 9 could do was watch. The little stitchpunk patted Dylan's leg reassuringly, but he knew that the human couldn't feel it. Dylan cried for what seemed like an hour, and eventually ran out of tears. Besides the low whimpers that had escaped his mouth, no words had been exchanged. Finally Dylan stood up and said,

"When we're done here...I want to bury him. It's the least I can do for him now."

9 looked up at the distraught human. 9 knew the feeling that he now felt. The guilt of someone dieing because of you is almost too great for the soal to handle.

"There is still more you can do, Dylan." he said, "You can fufill his wish for you, you can save the world."

The tears were completely gone now, but Dylan's eyes were still red. He seemed affirmed by this, and nodded.

"If you think that you guys can bring your friends up here, I'll get to work with fixing up the lab."

9 didn't know how to respond, so he simply turned and went back down the stairs.

The stitchpunks slowly carried their fallen brethren up the stairs with the help of Caleb, and Dylan covered his father and began work on fixing up the lab. By the time the deeds were finished the sun had already set, and it was getting dark. But the group did not sleep, nor did they even rest. They worked untill the job was done, and the talisman transfer device was working functionaly again. Once the new talisman was in place, Dylan turned to the stitches.

"So, who's coming back first?"

The desision was simple. 2 had been the first to lose his life, so he would be the first one to get it back. Just as the process was ready to begin, it rained. It was the first rain since the day of the memorial, the day that had changed 9's life. If the skies were correct, it would change again. Dylan tied the lifeless doll in the little contraption that 9 had hung from for so long. Everyone was silent as Dylan activated the talisman, then the room filled with white light. Dylan extended one finger and pressed it against the lifeless 2, creating a spark that was similar to static electricity. But 9 knew that it was no simple electric spark, but was the spark of life. The light in the room died down, and Dylan stepped away from the talisman, but he did not look drained. He went over to the tied up stitch and layed him in front of the other stitches. They all leaned in close, wondering if the process had succeded. The room was dead silent, but not dead. Instead, life flowed through the room as the small hum of 2's internal workings began to whir, and his chest rose and fell slowly. His optics opened, and all the other stitches jumped back, all except 9. He reached out to the old stitch, helping him to his feet once again, and embraced him.

"I had killed you 2..." 9 said, his voice of sorrow, "But I brought you back."

When the two pulled away from each other, 2 put his hands on 9's shoulders, a smile on his face.

"My dear boy! Death is but a stage, you did not bring me back from death."

9's face was one of confusion.

"But then where did I bring you back from?"

2 smiled wider.

"My boy, you brought me back from where the spirits go."