Always - Mono x Six - Little Nightmares

Chapter 25 - Rematch

(Artwork by angge)

The Pretender turned away from the rock golem for a moment, calming herself down. She raised her hand and moved it away, ordering the rock giant.

"Leave."

The rock giant did as it was told, turning around and stomping out of the room. She took a deep breath in and exhaled before turning around, facing herself in the mirror.

"So... what's the plan, Mono?"

Seven whispered as he raised Mono out of the vent. The two silently made their way under what appeared to be a dinner table.

"Let's try reasoning with her... if she doesn't want to be friendly, then..."

"We do it the hard way..?"

"We do it the hard way."

The two nodded at one another as they prepared themselves for the encounter. The Pretender gazed up from her mirror, appearing to notice something in her reflection.

"There you are."

SMASH!!

She pushed over a glass cup on the floor as she turned around to face Mono who stepped out from underneath the table as his cover was blown. She appeared to not have noticed Seven who remained hidden underneath the table, his body covered by Monos.

"Hand over the map, Pretender."

"Come and get it."

Mono rolled his eyes as the Pretender placed the torn map behind her, taking a step toward him.

"I'm not here to fight you."

"Then you're here to die."

She clenched her fists, a grimace forming on her face. Mono noticed Seven sneaking around behind various props in the corner of his eye. He decided he would try to keep her busy until Seven could get to a proper spot.

"Look... I don't want to hurt you. You've been through a lot, and I-"

"Who was the person who put me through this? It was YOU."

The Pretender pointed directly at Mono. He lowered his gaze, shaking his head as he continued to try and calm her down.

"It was me, you're right. I'm sorry..."

"YOU STOLE HER FROM ME!"

She snapped at him, taking a few steps toward him. Mono backed away, feeling fearful. He tried his best not to show it, but he was afraid of her.

"HOW COULD YOU?! DO YOU FEEL REMORSE FOR KILLING MY MOTHER?"

"I..."

Mono felt like a weak, scared child again. He took a step away as the Pretender turned a table over, crashing everything on top of it to the ground. Mono flinched, his fear beginning to show.

"HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR MOTHER WAS KILLED?!"

"SHE WAS!"

He cried out, the Pretender freezing up. Mono felt tears begin to form in his eyes.

"She was..."

Mono couldn't get another word out. He felt as if he was suffocating as he tried as hard as he could to suppress the tears, not wanting to show any sign of weakness.

"Just because your mother was stolen doesn't give you the right to STEAL SOMEBODY ELSES!"

"SHE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME!"

He began to grow frustrated, losing control of himself. Mono yelled back at her, a mixture of anger and fear beginning to build up inside of him. At any moment, either the Pretender or Mono could lose it. Mono knew Seven was nearby and he didn't want to place him in danger.