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Six forced her limbs to keep moving as she stumbled through The Maw.
She hadn't slept in days.
But she couldn't sleep.
Sleep meant vulnerability—
And vulnerability meant danger.
She wouldn't be able to defend herself if something snuck up on her.
Six finnaly collapsed from exhaustion.
Reluctantly, she pushed herself twords a nearby vent, pulling the hatch open with what little strength she had left.
She crawled around for a momment, before plunging down.
She pressed herself against the vent wall, startled.
Six hadn't even noticed the gap in her delirium.
Her breathing slowed.
Her muscles relaxed.
And, before she could think to stop it, her eyes fluttered shut.
-
Her eyes snapped open.
Six looked around warily.
Everything was dark.
Then, suddenly, there was a flash of light.
Six quickly closed her eyes, getting into the fetal position.
There was a horrible ringing in her ears.
She covered them.
"Six."
A soft voice made her go completely still, every muscle in her body tensing.
Was that..
No.
She was hearing things.
Mono was dead.
He had to be.
"Go away.." She demanded, voice shaking.
She didn't look up.
Even as the voice spoke for a second time, softer now—
"Six.."
"I said leave!" Six snapped, standing up and pushing the boy to the ground with a harsh shove.
Her breath hitched as their eyes met.
She scanned his face, expecting to see anger or hatred—
But all she found was sympathy.
That made her chest tightened.
"I don't need your pity."
It came out quieter than she'd intended.
"I.." Mono began, as if not knowing what to say.
"I don't pity you."
Silence fell.
"Just leave me alone.." Six muttered, turning her back to him.
She felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder.
She almost leaned into it, before she caught herself.
"Don't." She hissed, pulling sharply away from him.
Mono's hand hovered awkwardly in the air for a momment, before he let it fall to his side.
Six clenched her fists, shaking.
She wished he would scream at her, hit her—
Have a normal reaction to trying to be killed.
She turned to face him.
Mono rested a hand on her shoulder again,
Slower this time,
More hesitant.
Six didn't pull away.
God, why wasn't she pulling away?
"I hate you." She bit out, voice shaking.
A lie.
But it seemed to work.
Mono's eyes flashed with hurt, but he was undeterred.
"That's okay."
"I mean it!" She snapped, finnaly pulling away from him.
Six felt her eyes prick with something wet.
Was she crying?
How embarrassing.
She hastily wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Mono's features softened at the sight.
He stood slowly.
Holding out his hand, hesitating, before pulling her into a hug.
It wasn't tight.
Six could've shoved him off.
Yet she didn't.
She stood there, going stiff in Mono's embrace.
Tears blurred her vision, falling before she could wipe them away.
Her bottom lip trembled, and she choked on a sob, determined to maintain some level of dignity.
Breaking down now would just be humiliating.
Mono rubbed her back slowly, soothingly.
Six couldn't do it anymore.
She sobbed into his shoulder, hating herself for every second.
-
When her sobs had finnaly quieted to whimpers, Mono pulled back.
His fingers traced her temples for a momment, before carefully taking her hood off.
Six's hair was messy and full of knots, but he didn't mind.
He pressed his forehead against hers.
The girl didn't move away, instead closing her eyes, feeling more at ease than she had in awhile.