41A/N: Hola amigos! Wassup? Did you all like the cliffy? Well, I hope so. I can't promise you guys anything. Mostly because I have no idea where I'm going with this story. Okay, I have one goal in mind. How I'm getting there and what else will happen… you guys have just as much of an idea as I do. Let's get going so we can figure out what happens next!
Next
9 dropped the talisman to the rain-soaked floor.
As it came in contact with the water it began to glow, something it hadn't done since they'd said their last goodbyes to the others. He backed up, breaking free of the splinter in his haste. That thing had been nothing but bad for them. Following suit, things were about to go downhill.
7 cried out in shock and pulled 9 back even further. What was going to happen now? What other hell were they going to have to endure before they were finally at peace?
The light grew brighter as the talisman shook violently. Suddenly, it shot upwards, extending all the way to the ceiling and possibly beyond. From within the center of the pillar of light a darker green slowly pulled itself from the metal trinket. What seemed to be a hand followed by another and slowly formed into a hunched body.
It was an outline of a Stitchpunk, one without a number or name. Its eyes were hollow and didn't appear to see or take in what was before them. It turned until its empty eyes peered at 7 and 9. A hand reached for them, but vanished when it tried to exit the pillar of light. The Stitchpunk's mouth opened, almost as if it were trying to call out to them. At its feet more hands flailed at the opening of the talisman. The Stitchpunk looked so sad.
9 stood, pulling 7 up with him. He took a hesitant step towards the unnumbered punk. "Who are you?"
"9! Careful!" 7 hissed at him as she clutched his arm tightly. "That thing has been nothing but trouble for us. You have no idea what this could be!"
9 nodded numbly. There was something so familiar about that figure… Why couldn't he see it?
Rain fell hard outside, harder than it had since they had last seen their friends. The wind was also picking up, shaking the old building slightly. Some droplets managed to find their way inside through various cracks and slits. They splattered around the two Stitchpunks and their ghostly counterpart.
Something odd happened every time water hit the ghost, though. It would flicker and change shape. The change would only last less time than it took to blink, but it was there. It could be seen. 9 glanced over at 7, just to make sure she had seen it too. A quick jerk of her head up and down again answered his unasked question.
Without warning a huge gust of wind shot out from under the large door, blasting them with a burst of wet, cold air. As they cried out 9 saw something that made his world stop dead in its tracks. In the wind stood 5, staring at him with the same endearing, friendly look he remembered so well. 9 reached out his free arm, for 7 was still holding on to the other. 5 tried to reach for him, but his arm vanished… just like the ghost's had.
"5! No!" he cried out, trying to break free from 7. "Let go! It's 5! I can see him!"
The sound of her voice was hollow and pained as she said with finality, "No it isn't, 9. 5, as well as the rest of them, are all dead!"
Her eyes were screwed shut and her head was turned away, hidden behind 9's back. "Look, 7! Just look!"
She shook her head. "NO! It isn't him or anyone! That stupid thing is trying to trick us again!"
The wind slowed and came to a stop. As it did the image of 5 flickered and became fuzzy, until it was just the nameless ghost again. 9 stood there, unbelieving. He knew what he had just seen. He knew that only a few seconds ago 5 was there, standing right in front of him, trying to reach for help. And, something told him they all were.
He turned to 7, who, though her eyes were open now, was still refusing to look in the direction of the talisman. Her face was hurt and 9 could tell she just wanted to go back and find the twins, find some sort of comfort in the fact that there were still some of them around in this world and that not everyone had died fighting the Great Beast.
Sighing he patted her on the shoulder. "Go ahead, I'll grab this thing and put it away somewhere."
She looked him dead in the eyes. "No. you go find the twins, make sure they are alright. I'll handle that thing." He made to protest, but she cut him off. "I'm sorry 9, but right now, I just don't think it's smart to leave you with this… thing. Please, just go."
He did, with a scornful look and heavy feet he made his way back through the building in search of the pair of little ones. As he went, he kept listening to make sure 7 wasn't in danger. He could only hope that she stayed safe and that she didn't destroy the object. He knew they were still around, and that thing was their only clue so far on how to find their lost friends.
TBC…
A/N: Sooooo sorry this took so long to update! But here it is! I hope you liked it and I also hope it'll hold you over until I get around to typing the new chapter, which might be pretty soon. Keep reviewing! They were what even got me working on this!