I had been trying to think of a machine that would still be large enough to scare a human in perfect fighting condition like Dylan, and this was the result.

CHAPTER 20: SOLDIER WITH NO MIND

The entire building shook and crumbled as the machine attempted to get at the group. It was so massivly large that 9 could only see parts of the machine from the windows and holes in the walls. Dylan quickly crouched down and put his arms out to allow the stitches to climb on him. They clung to his clothes and shoulders and hair, for they would have fallen off otherwise. Dylan had moved so swiftly down the stairs some of them had almost been shook off of the boy. Dylan stood on the first floor of the building. 9 thought that he was considering running for it,

"Dylan we can't just run for it, the machine will surely catch us!"

"I'm not running 9, I'm going down."

Before 9 could comprehend what Dylan meant, the boy was already showing him. He pushed away some rubble and revealed a trap door in the floor. With a little effort he was able to open it, the machine still lurking outside attempting to find them. The stitches looked into what seemed like a deep hole, but could see nothing. Inside the floor it was pitch black darkness, but Dylan didn't pause. With Caleb following behind, Dylan quickly descended down what looked like invisable stairs, shutting the door behind them.

"How are we supposed to continue if we cannot see?" 9 believed it was 1.

"9!" 7's voice though, was unmistakable, "Use your staff!"

9 had almost forgotten about the new light staff, he had been holding it on a small pack on his back the entire time. Now he pulled it out, shifted it in his hands and lit it. He was surprised at how bright the light was, and he was glad for it. With sight being restored, Dylan continued down the stairs. The unseen ceiling shook with the machines movements, but it had not found them. 9 took some time to investigate his surroundings. The stairs were old, creaky wood, and the walls on their sides were cut stone. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust, even the air. 9 had to continually rub his optics to keep his vision clear. They walked down stairs for a few more seconds, then the underground area they found themselves in opened up into a much larger room. It seemed like a second lab, in a way, full of old desks and books long forgotten. Time is unforgiving towards everything, for everything becomes dull and old after a while. Nothing seemed to really catch 9's attention, but he did see several other tunnels leading in multiple directions. Everything seemed to take a faded yellow tint from 9's light. Dylan took a match from his pocket and went around the room lighting candles and lanterns. Once the room was mostly filled with light, he put the stitches on one of the desks. He then got a chair that was leaning against a nearby wall and took a seat. The noises of the machine could still be heard from this far below the earth, but other then that all was silent. 9 was the first to speak after a moment,

"What was that thing? Why is it after you?"

Dylan didn't talk for a moment, but then he leaned in closer to the stitches, his face serious.

"As far as I know, it's the last of the soldier machines from the war. It was an earlier model, so it wasn't equipped with the poison gas bombs, but it did have big guns. These tunnels were dug by groups of people who had expected the machine revolution, like my father. They connected important buildings with tunnels so that any survivors of the war could travel in safety."

7 spoke up next,

"So you're saying that there are other survivors like you? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Dylan turned his gaze to the female stitch,

"Originally, there were many survivors living down here. But that machine hunted us down, and for all I know I'm the only one left. Thankfully though, the machine has become old and rusted, so most of it's weapons don't work anymore. I don't know if it has adapted and made new ones, but I do know that it can be outsmarted."

Dylan then got out of his chair and walked around. When he came back he said,

"There looks to be enough supplies here to create the new set, but I think we can wait for a moment."

The stitches didn't complain, and so the group waited in silence, underground, in the dark, with a giant monster hunting them. They were asleep in moments.