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Chapter Text

  I remember it like it was yesterday, even though it has been years since it happened. I can't shake this feeling that it'll come back to haunt me more than it already has.

  How I lost my best friend.

   It was a sunny day, not that any of us would care, anyway; we'd have to stay inside for school. I was running late, as my roomate "forgot" to wake me up when I slept through my alarm.

  He's kind of strange- his name's Seven, like the number. I've wondered if it's a nickname or maybe just some kind of inside joke, but I haven't asked. I wouldn't want to be rude.

   Seven has a cat named Nome. Not "Gnome", just "Nome". He says he named her after some town I'd never heard of.

   Nome found the most comfortable napping spot this morning: my nightstand.

   Unfortunately, she decided to lay on my phone, disabling the alarm.

   And that's how it begins. Honestly, if she hadn't kept me from getting to class on time, maybe this all could've been avoided.

   I was running down the hall, trying desperately to get to class on time, when the bell rang. Defeatedly, I groaned and stopped in the middle of the hall.

  In the empty silence, I could hear students in distant classrooms begin to take out notebooks and pens. I was already late, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to stop and catch my breath. That was when I heard it.

   That was when I heard her.

   "Hey, Bag-Face!" A voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

  I looked around to try to find who said it, but the hall was empty. There was a sound like metallic slamming.

   "Yeah, I'm talking to you," The voice continued. "Get me outta here, would'ja?"

  I realized the voice was coming from one of the lockers beside me. Carefully, I opened it. Immediately, a black-and-yellow shape tumbled out. She brushed herself off, not seeming to acknowledge me.

   "Those bullies..." She muttered. "I'll smash their heads in, you just wait..."

  "Are you..." I looked down at her in confusion. "Alright?"

   The girl glanced upwards, regarding me in silence. I held out a hand to help her up, but she simply shoved it away and stood, walking away. I noticed she was wearing a yellow raincoat over her uniform, despite the nice weather outside.

 Not even a 'thank you', I thought to myself. Maybe I should try to talk to her, anyway.

  I quickly walked up to keep her pace, and she groaned.

  "What do you want?" She asked.

   "I just..." I began. "Haven't seen you around before, what's your name?"

  "Go away," She answered.

   "That's an interesting name," I joked.
The girl stopped walking abruptly and turned to me.

  "Why won't you just leave me alone?" She asked. "I'm already having one of the crappiest days of my life, so can you just go on your way?"

  "Oh..." I didn't know how to respond. "Sorry-"

   She walked into the girls' restroom and slammed the door in my face. Dejectedly, I walked to class. 

  The teacher wasn't too happy with my tardiness, and the other students sniggered when I entered the room. Seven pretended he didn't know me as I took my seat behind him. He was sitting by this girl- I can never remember her name, but I think he likes her.

   I'm the only one in class who nobody wants to sit beside. They all think I'm weird for wearing a paper bag over my head, but I'd never dare to take it off.

   I don't even take it off when I'm alone.

   The teacher began to talk about math and the upcoming test, when there was a knock on the door of the class. Nameless-Raincoat-Locker-Girl walked inside. She fidgeted with the buttons on her coat as the teacher presented her to the class.

   "Everyone," I avoided eye-contact, which is easy to do when your face is covered. "We have a new classmate with us today. Say hello to Six."

   Six? I thought. I wonder if she knows Seven? Maybe they're related?

   Six and I seemed to realize at the same time that she'd have to sit next to me. This earned me the glare-of-all-glares, which caused me to become very interested in the eraser shavings on my desk.

   We both avoided each other's looks as she sat down. There are no words to describe the level of awkwardness that hung in the air.

  The entire class, we avoided looking at or speaking to each other. I wanted to start a conversation, but the "murder vibes" she was giving off convinced me to do otherwise.

   Then, the lunch bell rang. Six stood up quickly, seeming to want to avoid me. I quickly walked up to her anyway, and she groaned. 

  "What is it, now?" She asked.

   "It's just..." I began. "I was wondering if you had anyone to sit with at lunch, y'know, being new and all."

  "And I'm guessing you want to sit with me." 

   "Well, yeah, I mean if you-"

  "Fine," She sighed. "It's not like I'm getting rid of you, anyway."

   We got our lunch, found a table, and sat in silence. As I was about to eat, I noticed Six looking at me with curious anticipation.

  "What?" I asked.

   "Just wondering what you look like under there," She shrugged. "You do take it off to eat, right?"

  I shook my head. 

   "No, I don't ever take it off." I told her simply. 

  "Geez, doesn't it get uncomfortable?" Six tilted her head slightly. "Having to wear it when you're sleeping or showering?"

   "That's a pretty personal question for someone who wouldn't even tell me her name earlier." I tried to change the subject.

  "Are paper bags in the dress code?" She asked.

   "Are raincoats?" I joked. 

  "Fair enough." 

   There was a pause.

   "Speaking of names," Six said after a second. "I just realized I never caught yours."

   "Mono," I told her.

  "'Mono'?" She sniggered. "Like the sickness?"

   "Hey, bold words from someone named 'Six'," I joked. I could see the beginnings of a smile on her face.

   It was strange, laughing and talking like friends when she hadn't even wanted anything to do with me.

   "So," I decided to ask what was on my mind. "Do you know my roomate, Seven? I mean, you both have number names, so I was just wondering."

  "Never met him," She shrugged. "And in a way, you have a number name, too."

  "I do?"

   "Yeah," She turned back to her food. "In some ancient languages, 'Mono' means 'one', that's how we get words like 'monopoly' and 'monorail'."

  "Monobrow?" I laughed.

  "Well it depends," She began to laugh with me. "Do you have one under that bag?"

   We talked and laughed for the rest of lunch. Maybe I'd found a real friend after all?

  But we didn't know what was to come.

Chapter Text

   Six and I didn't share our last two classes, but I did see her in the hall a few times. I don't think she saw me, though. 

  She always seemed sad or angry, always walking alone. I tried to say "hi", but she never noticed me.

   I was on my way to the dorms when I was cornered. 

  "Hey-" I was pushed to the ground. "Bag-faced-freak."

   "I'm not responding to that," I joked, only to get punched in the stomach. "What... is it this time, anyway...?"

  "Noticed you're hanging around the new girl," One said. "You know who she is. We know what you're up to."

  "What are you talking about?" I struggled to sit up. "Is there something-" 

   I was cut off as he was knocked to the ground. Six stood behind him, fist raised. She brought it down on the bully's face, and there was a cracking sound as his nose broke. He howled in pain, blood running down his face as he scrambled away. She dusted off her hands, looking around. 

  "Who's next?" She asked. Immediately, everyone else ran. Six helped me up.

   "Thanks," I told her.

   "Don't mention it," She looked at me steadily. "Really, don't mention it. I'm not supposed to be fighting."

   "Did that happen a lot at your old school?" I asked.

   She winced.

   "Let's go get you to the nurse or something," She took my hand, ignoring my question.

   "No, no, I'm fine," I assured her. "The only thing bruised is my pride."

   "Are you sure?"

  "Yup," I promised, wiping some blood from my split lip. Six gave me a confused look. It must've seemed strange, given she couldn't see my face. "Do you want to get a snack or something before we head back to our dorms?" 

   Six shrugged. 

  "It's not like I have anything better to do," She said simply.

   I took her to a small cafe on the corner. She looked around in awe, as if she'd never been in one before. 

  We each ordered, then we began to talk about school, friends, and life in general. I think both of us could tell we were hiding details from each other, but we ignored that fact.

   "So," Six began after a while. "Why didn't you fight back?"

  "Huh?"

   "When the bullies attacked you," She said. "Why would you just let them beat you up like that?"

  I shrugged. 

   "I... don't know how to."

  Six narrowed her eyes.

   "Why are you lying?" She asked. 

  "I'm not," I tried to seem calm. "I don't know how to fight."

   "You wring your hands when you lie," She pointed out. "It's your tell."

  I looked at my hands, then quickly put them in my lap.

   "Not lying," I shrugged. "Really, can we talk about something else?"

  "Alright, fine," Six sighed, still looking a bit suspicious of me.

   She doesn't want to know what happens when I fight.

  Our food was done not long after this exchange. I noticed that Six had covered a butter knife with a napkin, as if wanting to hide the surface. I didn't ask about it.

   After we were done, we said "goodbye" and headed back to our dorms. The moment I opened the door, I saw Seven sitting on the couch, holding Nome.

  "You were out late," He said. Nome meowed and ran into the other room. She always seems scared of me. Maybe it's the bag.

  "I was grabbing a quick snack with that girl from class," I told him.

   "Six?"

  I nodded.

   "You do know who she is, right?" Seven asked, raising an eyebrow. 

  "Why does everyone keep saying that?" I hung my jacket beside the door. "Is she famous or something?"

   "More like 'infamous'," He muttered. 

  "What?"

   "Nothing," He stood up. "Goodnight."

  Seven walked into his room and closed the door. 

   Sighing, I got changed and went to bed. Seven's a good roomate, never going through my things or trying to see my face, but he does tend to be kind of distant.

  My phone rang, and I picked it up. I already knew who it was.

   "Hello?" I tried to make my voice sound as tired as possible. Maybe he'd hang up sooner. 

  "Hey, kid." My dad answered. "How was your day?"

   "I'm kinda busy with school," I told him. "I need to finish up some homework and go to sleep."

  "Alright, well I won't keep you long," He said. "When do you think you'll be able to visit? We could really use you here."

   I didn't answer.

   "Ah, still going through that rebellious phase?" My dad laughed quietly. "You'll come through and see it my way someday. It happened with me, and my father, and all before us."

  "Alright, then." My voice was cold. "See'ya."

   "See you, kid."

  I hung up.

   If you think I was being cruel, then you don't know my family's business. 

   My dad is famous. Well, infamous, I guess would be a better word.

  He's called the "Thin Man" or the "Broadcaster".

   Well-known leader of the Mafia.

Chapter Text

   When I walked to class today, I wasn't late.

  But Six was.

   I was just about to see if I could look for her when she came through the door, wiping a bloodied nose. It's funny, though, I don't think the blood was hers.

  She adjusted her jacket as the teacher stared at her in shock

   "I fell in the hall," She said simply, though we could all tell that wasn't the case.

  She walked to her desk and sat down. As the teacher began to talk, I wrote a note and slid it onto Six's desk.

   Bullies again?

  She wrote on the back of the note and passed it to me.

   Yup. They tried to push me into another locker for beating up their friend yesterday.

  I couldn't think of what to say, so I replied with a simple: Oof, that sucks.

   We sat in silence for a few minutes.

  So, I passed another note. I don't think I ever asked, why'd you move here?

   Six looked at the note for a while before writing back.

  I've lived here my whole life, actually. I've just been homeschooled.

   That's cool! I wrote. I've lived here for-

  "What," The teacher was looking at us. "Are you two doing?"

   Neither of us answered. The teacher rubbed the bridge of her nose in defeat.

  "Detention," She sighed. "Both of you. After school."

   The class began to snicker. I looked over at Six, who was flushed with embarrassment. 

  "My mom's gonna kill me," She muttered.

 "Sorry..." I don't know if she heard me.

  At lunch, I noticed her cover a spoon with a napkin the same way she'd covered the knife the day before. 

   "Why'd you do that?" I asked.

  "What?"

   "Why do you cover stuff like that?" I clarified.

  "Oh..." She looked down at the napkin. "No reason."

   "Remember when you said I was lying yesterday?" She looked over at me. "I can tell with you, too."

  "Fine..." Six stared at her food. "I just... don't like seeing my reflection."

   "Why not?"

  "I don't ask why you wear a bag, do I?"

   "Good point, sorry." I was silent for a minute. "Doesn't your dorm have mirrors?"

  "I keep them covered," She answered. "Can we drop this subject?"

  In detention, we didn't dare pass notes again, so we didn't really get to talk much the rest of the day.

   When I finally got back to the dorms, Seven wasn't there. Nome excitedly ran up to the door, but once she saw me, she turned and bolted in the opposite direction. 

  Sighing, I walked to my room, wondering about Six. I know why I have to keep my face covered, but why would she not want to see hers?

   Seven did say something about Six being "infamous". Wondering what he meant, I picked up my phone and searched her name, as well as the name of our city. 

  After scrolling through unrelated things, I came across an article. An article with her on the cover. She was standing next to a tall woman, wearing a white dress. Her eyes were red with tears as she stared into the camera.

   The article was titled: Two Dead in Freak Accident at Seaside Mansion.

  I opened it, but it had a block, saying I needed to pay money to view it. I searched the internet for another similar article, but there wasn't. Sighing in defeat, I put the phone away and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

   Today, Six and I both got to class early. I tried to avoid saying anything about the article. I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. 

   Eventually, at lunch, I mustered the courage to ask her.

   "Hey," I began. "People have been... talking... saying things about you."

  "Oh, they have?" Six looked annoyed. "Like what?"

   "Something about you being... famous?" 

  She sighed. 

   "I'll tell you," She said. "Only if I can see your face and know why you're hiding it."

  "But-"

   "I know it's a lot," Six looked at me. "But I'll tell you anything you want to know, alright? We're friends... friends don't usually have secrets like this, right?"

  "Six, I don't know if I can do that." I told her quietly.

   "I just want to make sure I can trust you," She glanced away. "Besides, maybe it'll help to get it off our chests, y'know?"

  "Maybe," I admitted. "But I don't know about being around all these people."

   "Later, then." She said. "I... just want to know I can trust you."

  This remark was a little strange, but I didn't mention it. 

   I met up with Six after school, outside the front doors.

   "So," I wrung my hands nervously. "Where do you want to talk about this?"

  "It's kind of personal for out in public," Six admitted.

   "We can go to my dorm," I suggested. "Seven'll be there, but he doesn't talk to anyone, your secret would be safe with him."

  "Alright," She shrugged. "If you're alright with him, I guess I'll be, too."

   We walked to my dorm and opened the door. I heard Nome meow, but rather than bolt into the other room, she ran directly up to Six and began to purr.

  "Mono, you didn't tell me you had a cat!" Six gasped, picking her up and hugging her.

  "She... er... belongs to Seven," I told her. "She doesn't usually like people."

  I reached out a careful hand, but Nome hissed at me. I frowned.

  "Do you want to sit down?" I asked.

  We walked to the couch. I could hear Seven humming "A Room With A View" in the bathroom. Six hugged the cat close to her nervously. 

  "So," She began. "Where do I start?"

 "The beginning, I guess,"

  "Alright," Six took a deep breath. "I had a sister. A year younger than me. I... don't know if I can say her name, even after all this time."

  "You can tell me," I promised. 

   "No, it's not that," She looked down at Nome. "It's just... painful memories, y'know? Anyway, my mom owns this restaurant, it's made her, well, really rich. You may have heard of it, it's called the Maw."

  "Oh, yeah," I recalled. "It's supposedly impossible to get a table there, it's always sold out!"

   "Yep," She gave a small smile. "That's the one. Well, we have a summer house out by the ocean. One year, my sister invited a friend over. Now, this friend... what can I say? She had a temper, didn't like me, and was really reckless. She wanted to take my sister out to the cliffside, without me."

  "That... sounds bad,"

   "You think?" Six laughed quietly, but it trailed off. Her grim expression resumed. "While they were out, my sister broke her friend's doll by accident. Her friend got angry and... chased her to the edge of the cliff. I tried to stop her,  but the friend... launched herself at my sister, and they both fell into the ocean."

  A chill filled the air. Six wiped her eyes in silence. 

   "The raincoat was all we found of either of them," She continued quietly. "It was my sister's. She was wearing it when... she fell. I look just like her, so every time I see my reflection, I just see her. My mom and the friend's mom blame me. That's why they sent me here."

  "Six..." I tried to hold out a hand to reassure her, but she pushed it away.

   "I prefer to be here," She told me. "Even though Mom showed me all sorts of pictures of people at large. People who might want to hold ransom for me."

  She laughed quietly.

   "Even though I know she wouldn't pay it." This remark was so quiet I almost didn't hear it.

  "I'll be here for you," I promised. "No matter what."

   "Geez," Six wiped her eyes again with a small laugh. "You've got me all choked up here. Now, how about you? What's under that bag?"

  "Well," I began. "It's... hard to explain. I... guess it's better if I just show you."

  I lifted my hands to the bag.

   Slowly, I began to take it off.

  "You!" Seven's voice interrupted me from the doorway. Nome jumped out of Six's lap and ran to him, weaving between his legs with a loud purr.

  Six jumped up.

   "You!" She exclaimed.

  "Wait, what's going on?" I asked.

   Six turned to me.

  "This is one of those criminals I was telling you about! He's called the 'Runaway Kid', he's a famous outlaw!" She exclaimed. 

  "Seven?" I turned to him. "But... he can't be! He's just an introverted weird kid that likes his cat!"

  "Thanks." Seven said flatly, crossing his arms. "And I'm nineteen, not that you'd care."

  "You're how old?" 

   "This isn't important right now!" Six exclaimed. "He's after me, that puts you in danger, too, Mono! He's mafia!"

  "Oh, geez, she doesn't know, does she?" Seven smirked.

   "Know what?" Six asked.

  I tensed. This was the end. My only friend was about to begin to hate me.

   Then Seven took several steps forward.

  It all happened so fast.

   Six pulled something out from behind her back.

  I turned away from the sounds out of reflex.

   When I opened my eyes, Seven was on the ground, covered in blood. Six stood, breathing heavily, knife in her hand.

  Panicked, I rushed to Seven's side. He slowly turned his head to look at me. 

   "She'll... find... out..." He whispered. "You... can't... hide it... forever..."

  He slumped to the ground. Nome came running up, meowing frantically. She nuzzled Seven's unmoving hand. 

   I stood.

  "Oh no..." My breathing quickened. "Oh no, oh no, oh no... What're we going to do? This is bad-"

   I looked over at Six. She was staring down at Seven in horror. The knife fell from her hand.

  "I..." She stuttered out. "I was just trying to stop him... I... I didn't want to kill him..."

   "You have to get out of here," I told her quickly. "Go back to your dorm, pretend nothing happened. You'll be okay."

  "But-"

   "Hurry!"

  Her eyes widened as she ran out the door, leaving me alone with the body of my father's spy.

Chapter Text

   My dad taught me how to clean up crime scenes at a young age. How to make sure no mark was left behind.

  I'd never had to use that knowledge before, but I had to make sure my friend would be okay.

   By the time I was done, nobody would've been able to tell. I silently wondered if the whole thing had been some awful dream, that I'd imagined it.

  But I knew it was real.

   Still full of shock, I went to bed, tossing and turning until morning, then my alarm woke me up. And I headed to class, tired.

  Six wasn't there.

   She didn't show up during class or during lunch. I looked all over for her, worried she might've been with some bullies again, but she was just... nowhere to be found. 

  I felt anxiety begin to burn in my chest with an icy pain. I realized what had probably happened.

   A transmitter, I began to walk quickly back to my dorm. He must've had a transmitter and gotten the information out before he died.

  Right before I opened the door, my phone began to ring. I picked it up, seeing the number.

   Dad.

  I answered.

   "Hey, kid," He said. "Why don't you come on down this weekend? We've got a plan that'll have us set for life. A very rich life. Far from here."

  "A plan?" My voice was shaky. "What kind of plan?"

   "The kind that's already in motion," He laughed. "Come on, you can help us finish it out. It'll be fun, some father-son time, y'know? Get you outta that 'rebellious' stage."

  "I'll be there." I said quietly. I hung up.

   He has Six, I thought. Maybe if I go, I can set her free. 

  I arrived at eight o'clock the next morning, a knot in my stomach. I had a plan to get her out. I only hoped it could work.

   I knocked on the door, and one of the men who works with my dad opened it. I've never learned his name, but he has very large eyes.

  "Ah, you made it," Eyes chuckled. "Dinnit recognize you with the bag."

   I stayed silent.

  "Whatcha waiting for, kid?" He asked. "Come on in!"

   I followed him inside, and he closed the door.

  "So," I began. "What was this 'plan' that Dad was talking about?" 

  "Gonna need to see your face for that, kid," He told me. It was understandable. 

  I lifted the bag just enough for him to see, and he nodded.

   "Gee, you don't look much different from when you were just a lil' kid." Eyes said. "Well, I guess you gotta right to know, then. We found this girl- feisty thing, really, almost stabbed one of our guys when we picked her up."

  It is her! I thought silently.

   "Anyways," He continued. "We're holding a ransom for her- ten million, can you believe it? And we know her mom's got the money. Boss thought it'd be nice if you were there for the exchange when it happens. We haven't gotten word back yet."

  My blood ran cold as I remembered Six's words: Mom showed me all sorts of pictures of people at large. People who might want to hold ransom for me... Even though I know she wouldn't pay it.

   "What happens... if nobody pays the ransom?" I asked.

  Eyes turned to me with a smirk.

   "Then she's got no use to us then, does she?" He laughed.

  They're going to kill her, I realized. If I don't stop them, they're going to kill her.

   I glanced at his belt. There was a handgun in a holster there.

  I knew what I had to do.

   Before Eyes could stop me, I whipped the handgun off his belt and pointed it to face him. He threw his hands up.

   "Whoah, kid, what's the big deal?" He asked. "I'm- I'm on your side, here!"

  "Don't ask questions." I tried to keep my voice from shaking. I had to seem strong. "Where is she?"

   "F-follow me," Eyes stuttered out, keeping his hands up.

  We stopped in front of my dad's office door.

  "Nice try," My hand tightened around the gun. "I know this room."

  "She's in there!" He begged. "Really!"

  He seemed too scared to lie, so I carefully pushed the door open. 

  Immediately, I was shoved in, door locked behind me.

   Well, crap. 

Chapter Text

   I kept my hand tight around the handgun as I glanced around the room, ready for any ambush or attack that may come.

  But there wasn't.

   I slowly began to walk through the room, glancing around cautiously. It was silent, apart from my own footsteps. I listened closely for distant sounds of voices or any signs of people in other directions, but none came. It was empty.

  Someone tapped on my shoulder. 

   I whipped around, brandishing the handgun. My dad raised an eyebrow at me, tilting his head to the side slightly.

  "Been awhile, huh kiddo?" He adjusted his hat. "So long you don't recognize your own father?"

   "Where is she?" I asked.

  "Who?" He smirked. "I wasn't aware you had any... acquaintances."

   "Six." My voice was shaking. "Her name is Six. And she's my best friend."

  "Ah, now is she?" My dad knelt in front of me. "Does she even know who you are?"

   I took a step back, keeping the gun pointed at him. He began to laugh quietly, shaking his head.

  "I'll take that as a no," He said. "How do you know she isn't going to leave you the moment she finds out?"

   "She won't." I grit my teeth, trying to stop my arms from trembling.

  "I'm the only one who will ever accept you," He whispered. "I know who you are, because you're me."

  "I'm not you," I took another step back, holding the handgun as steadily as possible. "I'll never be."

   "Oh, stop with the gun," My dad laughed. "You'd never shoot me."

  "I will if you don't let her go," I told him, but I knew I was bluffing. He was my father.

   "Oh dear," He tilted his head. "That bag seems to be messing with your brain. Why don't we take it off?"

  "S-stay away!" I exclaimed as he took a step toward me. "I-I'll shoot! I'm telling you, I'll do it!"

   But my dad came closer. I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. He tore the bag off my head, and I turned my face away, closing my eyes.

  "Look," He said.

   I kept my eyes closed as I felt hands take hold of my shoulders from behind.

  "I said, look." He repeated.

   I slowly opened my eyes. We were looking into a tall mirror. Though he towered above me, we had the same face staring back at us. 

  The face shown on wanted posters around the Pale City. The one that showed in police warnings on the news.

   The face that the world knew.

  "There," He said quietly. "There's my son."

   I didn't know what to say.

  "You know," He continued softly. "You may have figured it out, but I never stopped keeping an eye on you. Seven, your teachers, they all had connections to me. You know why I did that, don't you?"

   I said nothing.

  "Because I care about you," He told me. "And I just want what's best."

   Tears began to come free. For once, they weren't covered by a mask. I tried to wipe them with my sleeve, but my dad pulled me close to him.

  "See?" He said softly. "I knew you'd see it my way."

   The gun slipped from my hand.

  I couldn't catch it in time.

   I screamed as the shot rang through the air.

  He looked down at the red stain growing across the front of his suit before turning to me again.

   Before falling to his knees.

  I caught his head before it hit the ground, kneeling beside him.

   "No..." I pleaded. "No, no, no, no..."

  But he smiled.

   "Don't... don't worry," He whispered. "This... was how it... was meant to happen. Take... take my place..."

  "No..." I reached a hand to his face, but he took it.

   He reached upwards to his hat and put it on my head.

  "Make... me... proud..." He whispered, closing his eyes.

   It took me awhile to find the strength to stand. Even then, it was only the thought of saving Six that kept me going.

   I stood, putting my bag back on my head, taking off my dad's hat. I didn't yet have the bravery to wear it. It held too much meaning.

  And besides, what's to say Six wouldn't be afraid of me without it?

   I found a skeleton key in the desk drawer, and I used it to leave the office behind. I walked down the hall until I heard sounds of muffled struggling.

  I unlocked the door and walked inside to see Six, blindfolded and tied. I ran up and undid the ropes, only for her to punch me in the face.

  "Owww!" I exclaimed.

 She took the blindfold off.

  "...Sorry," She winced. "You alright?"

  "Yeah," I took her hands. "Are you? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

   "No, I'm fi-"

  An alarm began to blare. My blood ran cold.

  "We gotta get out of here," I began to run with her. 

  "What's going on?"

   "They're going to collapse the building," I told her.

  "What? Why?" She asked

   "I killed their boss," These words hung heavily within me, but Six's eyes simply widened. "It was an accident, but they want to kill us anyway. To make sure we can't cause any more trouble."

  We kept running as the upper floors came crashing down on us. I quickly pulled Six into a doorway as a large piece of metal and concrete slammed into the ground where we were just standing. I pulled her close to me, shielding her as dust stung my eyes.

   We continued to run, and the exit came into sight. 

  The ceiling began to creak, and I tried to stop, but Six didn't notice. She kept running, hand slipping away from mine.

   "Six, wait!" I exclaimed, just in time for her to stop. The exit was blocked by debris.

  She ran back to me.

   "What do we do?" She asked frantically. 

  "Dig out the debris," I told her. "You start on this side, I'll go to that one." 

   We dug through the concrete, scraping our hands, trying desperately to get free. 

  "I got it!" Six exclaimed. 

  I ran towards her, but her eyes widened.

   "Mono!" She screamed.

  She was too late. Another piece of the ceiling fell, pinning me to the ground, crushing me. I felt the bag fly off my head.

  "Oh no..." Six muttered, trying to help me.

  I looked up at her.

   She gasped, dropping my hand.

  "You- Your face..." Six spluttered. "It's... it's..."

   "Please..." I begged through the crushing weight. "Help... me..."

  "He- the Broadcaster- he's your dad, isn't he?" 

   "Six..." I tried to cough to clear the dust, but the tightness of the debris wouldn't let me. "There isn't... time..."

  "Seven... and they all showed up after what happened at your dorm..." She stood, eyes wide. "It all makes sense, now."

   "Help..." I begged, though it was becoming clear what was about to happen. "Please, Six... it... isn't what you... think..."

  "You had them capture me, didn't you?" She took a step back. "So you could have the ransom money!"

    "No..." The dust stung my eyes as tears came forward. "I... I didn't... please-"

  "I... I can't do this," Six turned away. "Goodbye, Mono."

   "Six...!" I pleaded. "Six, come back...!"

  She walked out the door as the building collapsed entirely, the world going dark.

Chapter Text

   "Over here!" A voice called, waking me. "Something's moving!"

  I tried to blink my eyes open, but they burned, and I closed them again. I felt rubble being pulled away from me, hands grasping my arms to pull me upwards.

   I coughed, chest sore from the pressure that was now lifted.

  "Sir?" Someone asked. "Sir, are you alright?"

 "Yeah," My voice was cracked and dry. "Yeah, I am."

   "Good lord," Another said. "He looks just like..."

  "I'm not," I told them. "I... get that a lot."

   I was sat down on the ground outside of the site, eyes still closed. I could feel dust still covering the outside. Someone carefully poured water over my face, washing it away.

  "Sir, I need you to open your eyes so we can check for a concussion," A paramedic said.

   I blinked my eyes open, squinting as a light was shone into them. 

  "What is your name?" 

  "Mono."

   "Where are you?" 

  "The Pale City."

   The light was put away. 

  "You seem to have only minor injuries," The paramedic told me. "I'll go get the first aid kit."

   The moment all backs were turned, someone took me by the arm, pulling me upwards quickly. I looked over to see Eyes.

  "C'mon," He said gruffly. "We can't let them take you for questions."

   I was too shocked to speak for a moment. He pulled me into an alleyway where my dad's other colleagues were waiting. One was holding the hat I had left behind. She stepped forward. 

  "He said if anything were to happen, to follow you, even if he died by your hand." She held the hat out to me. "He said that was the way it was supposed to be."

  I stared down at the hat, a million thoughts running through my mind. About school, about my dad, about the family business.

   About Six.

  But I pushed these questions away, taking the hat and putting it on my head. A heavy weight hung in my heart, but I kept it hidden, looking as strong as I could. 

  Eyes smiled.

   "You're his spittin' image," He said quietly. "His absolute spittin' image."