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Chapter Text

Six curled thin arms around hungry belly, shivering in the rain that pattered down and splashed off her raincoat.

Her belly growled, and she doubled over. Gods, she was hungry.

Another sound filled her ears, booted feet tapping against wet pavement. Six shrank back behind the dumpster, fear swirling around her in shadowy tentacles.

A voice. “Who’s there?” Light, and childish. Six shivered again, curling event tighter into herself as the footsteps came closer.

“Oh! Hello!”

Six looked up, peering from under shaggy black bangs.

“My name is Fran!” the newcomer chirped. She was small, like Six, and wore yellow, like Six. Her eyes were too big, too blue, her mouth was too happy. She didn’t belong to the world Six knew.

She stared at the Fran-person, willing her to go away. She didn’t need anyone.

“Are you hungry?” Fran-person smiled, brushing heavy brown hair away from her face. “You look hungry.”

Six shook her head, and her belly growled, betraying her.

“I have food at my house. Do you want to come with me?” Fran-person stretched out her hand.

Six uncurled slowly, taking the proffered hand. No harm in looking, anyways. If she found herself in danger, she could take care of herself. Like always.

Fran-person smiled, baring clean white teeth, and pulled Six to her feet. “Come on! Mr. Midnight will be so happy to meet you. And Itward’s coming tonight, you’ll like him a lot. Everybody does.”

Six shuffled through the puddles, letting Fran-person pull her out of the dark alley. She flinched as the glow from the streetlight hit her, instinctively hunching her shoulders and hiding her face even deeper in the shadow of her hood.

“Oh! I never asked!” Fran-person stopped, turning to face Six. “What’s your name?”

Six opened her mouth. Her voice, raspy from long disuse, only had the power to form one word. “Six.”

“That’s a nice name.” Fran-person tugged on Six’s hand again. “Come on. We have to go inside before the shadows get you.”

Shadows? Six liked the shadows. Her shadows were her friends. She ignored the uneasy feeling stirring in her belly, and followed Fran-person. She was hungry. It wouldn’t hurt to see what kind of food Fran-person could give her.

Chapter Text

Fran pushed the door open, pulling Six behind her. “Here we are!” she chirped with another happy smile.

Mr. Midnight uncurled from his bed, his paws pattering lightly on the floor. “Fran, dear, you’re back!” He curled around her legs, purring.

Fran chuckled. “Yes, kitty, I’m back! And I brought a friend, too. This is Six!” She turned to the thin girl in the yellow raincoat. “This is my best friend, Mr. Midnight!”

Six stared down at the black cat, black eyes burning in the shadow of her hood.

“I’m not so sure of your new friend, my dear.” Mr. Midnight settled on his haunches, placing each paw primly in place. “She unsettles me.”

“Mr. Midnight! Be nice,” Fran chided. She turned back to Six. “He’s not used to other people,” she explained. “Only me and Itward and Palontras and sometimes the other Itherstans.”

“I am used to other people,” Mr. Midnight protested. “I simply do not trust them.”

Sorrow and anger and guilt flashed over Fran’s face, and were gone. “Come on, Mr. Midnight, Six is hungry. Let’s find some food!”

Six followed Fran into the kitchen. Fran glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, and resolved to go into the Ultrareality as soon as Itward got there. The shadows followed nearly everyone in the Ultrareality, and she always learned a lot about the person they whispered to.

Fran glanced around her kitchen, struck by inspiration when she saw the pot hanging on the wall.

“Let’s make soup, kitty! It’s so cold and wet outside, hot soup will be good for us.” She stood on her tiptoes, lifting the big pot off its hook.

Six grunted, sitting down and folding her legs. Fran glanced back at her again. “Do you want something else?”

Six’s eyes burned in the shadow of her hood, but she didn’t speak. Fran shrugged, filling the pot with water. She turned to the icebox, pulling out a pile of vegetables.

“These are yummy,” she said. “Itward brought them last time he came! The Itherstans grew them for me. They’re nice like that.”

She grabbed the big knife and started cutting the vegetables. Six made a strangled sort of gasping sound, and Fran turned around, holding the knife.

“What’s wrong?”

In one quick movement, Six got to her feet, pulling a lighter out of her pocket and flicking it open with one hand. The shadows around her feet swirled, reaching towards Fran.

“Did I scare you?” Fran stared at the shadows.

Six growled, a feral, dangerous sound.

Fran stamped her foot. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

Six’s eyes glittered, and a shadow shot forwards, snapping at Fran’s foot.

“Stop it!” Fran yelled, grabbing a cup of water and splashing it on the shadow. “Nasty kamalas! You’re one of them, aren’t you!”

Six growled again. “Not,” she said.

“If you’re not a kamala, then why can you control shadows?” Fran grabbed the knife with both hands. “People can’t do that.”

The shadow retreated. Six held up her lighter in front of her face. Her face was pale and thin, her lips stained with red. She lowered the lighter, as though that were supposed to explain everything.

“I don’t know what that means!” Fran stamped her foot again.

“What’s wrong, my Fran?”

Fran turned with a relieved smile. “Itward, you’re here!”

The tall skeleton ducked under the doorframe. “Why, yes, my darling, I am!” His bones rattled as he glanced at Six. “I see you have a new friend.”

“Yes, this is Six. But, Itward, she can make shadows do things!”

Six snarled.

Itward glanced at her, shrugging. “So? You can see, my Fran, that she isn’t a kamala. She’s a child, like you. Many people can do things we don’t understand.”

Six turned away, closing her lighter and putting it back in the pocket of her raincoat. She went back into the hallway, curling up with her back to the dresser.

“Itward,” Fran whispered. “I’m going into the Ultrareality to see her shadows. Can you make sure she doesn’t notice I’m missing?”

“Of course, my darling.” Itward patted Fran’s head. “Be careful.”

“I always am.” Fran smiled.

Chapter Text

The Ultrareality was just the same as always; dark and bloody and disturbing. Fran glanced at Itward. The clown mask covering his face didn’t scare her anymore. She actually liked it now. She also liked that he didn’t have shadows. That meant he was good.

She slipped into the hallway, ignoring the rabbit carcass that Mr. Midnight had brought back one day. The poor bunny was dead now, and there was no use worrying about it.

A kamala stood over Six, pawing at the hood of her raincoat. Fran paused to listen to it.

Remember how good their souls felt?

Mono deserved to die.

You should’ve killed the other children, too.

Fran shuddered, peering at the wavery figures around Six. The tall lady had a red mark on her neck. She bent over Six, the red light gleaming eerily on her white mask and black hair.

“You murdered me. I’m your mother, child, did you forget that? Useless. Stupid little thing. Good-for-nothing. Back to the nursery, and then it’s the kitchens and the Guests for you.”

Fran stumbled back, pressing her back to the wall. The tiny, skittery thing with the gray hat was putting its hands on Six’s bare foot.

“You killed me. I trusted you, I helped you, and you ate me. Why did you eat me?”

The boy glared at Six, a shredded paper bag in his hands.

“I trusted you. You let me fall. You killed me, again and again and again. Why, Six? Why did you drop me?”

Fran shook her head and retreated into the kitchen. The normal yellowish lights in the kitchen washed over her, and she collapsed to the floor, panting.

“Fran, my darling?” Itward bent over, his bony fingers brushing the floor. “Are you all right?”

She sat up, grabbing his sleeve. “She’s scary, Itward,” she whispered. “I don’t think I like her.”

He glanced back into the hall. “I understand your misgivings, my Fran,” he said. “But she’s alone, and she is hungry and cold and scared.”

“You’ll stay with me and keep me safe?” Fran stood up, grasping at Itward’s velvety jacket.

“Of course!” He stood, smiling. “Let’s finish this wonderful meal you were preparing for your new friend.”

Chapter Text

Six eyed the black animal that sat licking itself. Its yellow eyes burned into her. She could smell its warmth, she could practically taste its blood.

It would be so easy to kill the Mr.-Midnight-animal. A shadow could do it easily.

She crept towards him, silent as a shadow herself. The Mr.-Midnight-animal leaped up, hissing at her and arching its back. She smiled, baring bloody teeth at it.

“The soup is done!” Fran-person chirped.

The Mr.-Midnight-animal lowered its tail, slipping back into the kitchen. Six snarled, subsiding back into a heap against the wall.

She would have to wait to eat the Mr.-Midnight-animal.

She stood as Fran-person came into the hall, carrying a big pot. Six wanted to push Fran-person away, but whatever was in the pot smelled so good, even better than the Mr.-Midnight-animal. Better even than the Lady-that-was-her-mother. She closed her mouth. It wouldn’t hurt to try this food.

The Itward-creature ducked through the door again, and Six bared her teeth at him as Fran-person passed. The Itward-creature stood staring down at her with a curious look in those strange yellow eyes.

“My dear,” he said at last, “Fran’s soup will be getting cold.”

Six slid her hand into her pocket, wrapping it around the familiar shape of her lighter.

Itward-creature stood staring at her for a long moment more, and finally turned away to follow Fran-person. Six grinned.

Chapter Text

Six crouched on the chair, staring at the steaming bowl in front of her.

How was she supposed to eat this?

She glanced around. Fran-person had picked up a spoon, a small one, and was using it to take mouthfuls of the hot-liquid-stuff. Itward-creature wasn’t eating, and Mr.-Midnight-animal was lapping from its bowl.

Six grabbed the bowl, leaning her face down and slurping up some of the hot-liquid-stuff.

She hadn’t expected it to taste… good.

She tilted the bowl, swallowing it faster. It filled her hungry belly, and she had to admit that it tasted better than rats and nomes.

She put the bowl down, glancing at Fran-person again.

“Are you still hungry?” Fran-person asked. “You can have more.” She glanced at Itward-creature, giggling. “Itward, be a gentleman.”

Itward-creature removed his top hat, bowing carefully so as to not hit his head on the table. Six snickered.

“Of course, my darling.” He took Six’s bowl, refilling it from the big pot in the middle of the table.

Six grabbed it from him as soon as it was within reach, slurping down more of the hot-yummy-food. She licked her lips, setting the bowl back on the table.

Her belly was full, and she sighed. She hadn’t felt so good in a long, long time. Maybe Fran-person was okay after all.

Fran-person glanced at her. “I’m glad you liked my soup,” she said, smiling.

Six yawned, her eyes drifting shut. Now that she wasn’t hungry anymore, she was very, very tired. She hadn’t slept since… well, she didn’t remember the last time she was safe enough to sleep.

“Oh, you’re sleepy!” Fran-person stood up. “Come with me, I’ll find you a place to sleep.”

Six let Fran-person take her hand and tug her towards the stairs. It wasn’t that she was too tired to resist, but she didn’t really care to. Fran-person wasn’t going to hurt her, and if she tried, Six could finish her off quickly.

Fran-person opened a door at the top of the stairs. “This is my guest room,” she explained. “I never have anybody sleeping in here, except Itward sometimes. But he doesn’t stay very often. You can sleep here!”

Six pulled away from Fran-person and took an uncertain step into the room.

“I’m going to wash the dishes,” Fran-person said. “You can go to sleep.” She closed the door.

Six pattered across the bare boards, climbing up on the bed. She curled into a ball in the middle of the mattress, wrapping her arms around her legs. The light from the streetlamp outside probably would’ve bothered most people, but to Six it meant safety.

She yawned again, uncurling and laying down. She let her eyes close, feeling some of the tension leave her body.

Except she still wasn’t safe. She heard the dark shape before she saw it, felt its chill on her skin. She snapped, sharp teeth shearing through the thick blackness.

The thing shrieked, and Six grinned. She grabbed at it, both with hands and with shadows, biting down again. A cold metallic tang coated her tongue, and she spat out a glob of black blood.

The door flew open, and Fran-person snapped on the lightswitch. “Go away, you dirty kamala!” she yelled. “You’re not allowed to be in my house.”

The creature shrieked again as Six’s teeth tore through the tangible darkness. She spat out more blood, baring her teeth at the thing in a savage smile.

Fran-person dumped a bucketful of water over the thing, and it writhed, pulling free of Six’s shadows and vanishing through the window.

“Nasty, dirty kamalas.” Fran-person stamped her foot. “Now I have to clean the bedroom again.”

She glanced at Six, and her expression became startled. “What did you do?”

Six wiped the back of her hand over her mouth, barely glancing at the black, sticky blood. She laid back down, turning over and ignoring Fran-person.

“I guess I’ll clean up in the morning.” Fran-person’s footsteps retreated. The light snapped off, the door clicked shut. Six smiled.

Chapter Text

“And she was biting it.” Fran swung her legs, watching as Itward scrubbed out the big pot. “Why would she do that, Itward?”

Itward glanced at her. “I don’t know, my darling. Perhaps she was frightened.”

“Yes, but if you’re scared of something, usually you run away from it.” Fran frowned. “You don’t bite it.”

“Speak for yourself,” Mr. Midnight purred. “I might bite it.”

“Yes, but Six isn’t like you, kitty. She’s a person, like me!” Fran glanced around the clean, cheerfully painted kitchen. “And why was there a kamala in my house anyways? They know better than to bother me. He knows better than to bother me.”

“Maybe they don’t know to not bother Six,” Itward said, shaking water droplets off his bones.

“Well, I think they do now.” Fran shuddered. “It was screaming, Itward. Somehow she was biting it, and hurting it.”

“Maybe that’s for the best.” Itward picked up the dish towel. “Now they know that she’s not afraid of them.”

“Yes, I suppose so.” Fran sighed. “I’m going to have to clean the bedroom again, Itward. It’s a horrible mess.” She cocked her head. “I should probably let Six take a bath too. She looks like she hasn’t had one in a while.”

“That’s not very polite,” Itward chided.

“But she does,” Fran protested. “She’s all dirty. I might ask her if I can wash her raincoat, too. She might like that. Or I could let her borrow some of my clothes! She’s a little smaller than me. They might not fit very well.”

Itward chuckled. “I’m sure you will be a wonderful friend, my Fran. But remember, if Six doesn’t want you to help her, then don’t try. Let her get used to you first.”

“Of course I’ll be nice.” Fran smiled. “Even Mother Mabuka was surprised that I was nice to her, remember? I like to be nice to everyone.”

“And you are.” Itward put the pot and the towel down. “Well, I must be off, my darling.”

Fran hopped off the table as Itward knelt. She threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you for coming, Itward. I love when you’re here.”

“I’ll come again soon,” he said, patting her back.

She let go, and Itward stood up. “Maybe next time you come, we could go to Ithersta?” Fran asked.

“Of course!” Itward smiled. “Everyone misses you, especially Palontras.”

“I know. I wish I could come more often.”

“Well, I’ll take you there soon.” Itward smiled, snapping his fingers and vanishing.

“Goodbye,” Fran murmured.

She brushed her hands over the front of her dress, dusting off the flour and sugar that always seemed to get her messy even when she wasn’t cooking with them. She’d have to clean the kitchen soon too, and probably the dining room, and why not just have a grand spring-cleaning while she was at it? Though it wasn’t spring yet, not for another few months.

She went out, turning off the light, and stepped into the Ultrareality.

Shadows writhed and tangled in her hallway, the walls dripping with blood. Fran scowled.

“I know what you’re playing at,” she said. “I don’t like your game. It’s not funny anymore.”

The black shape materialized in front of her, white goat’s mask gleaming eerily.

Fran stamped her foot. “You naughty, mean monster. What are you doing now?”

Remor’s voice echoed in the hall. “You have a very interesting guest. I want-”

“I don’t care what you want.” Fran grabbed the spray bottle at her hip. “You’re not allowed to be in my house, you know that.”

“You cannot force me to leave. I have a foothold now… and you do not have the power to stop me.”

“I’m sick of your games.” Fran scowled, squirting him with some of the pink water from the spray bottle.

“I am not a kamala. Water is ineffective in this case.”

Fran sighed, slipping the bottle back into her pocket. “Oh well. It was worth trying, anyways.”

“I assume, then, that you will not interfere with me?”

“You assume wrong.” Fran glared at him. “I don’t want you here. We had an arrangement, and you’re breaking the terms. You’re on the wrong side here, Remor. Get out.”

“I will never stop chasing her,” he hissed. “I want that guest of yours, and I will get her… even if I have to kill you to do it…”

Blackness swirled around her, and Fran collapsed in her own, not-Ultrareality hallway.

Chapter Text

Six stretched, yawning.

Sunlight, real and warm and bright, penetrated the curtains. She wriggled, getting her whole body into that patch of warmth.

It had been so long since she was warm.

She basked in it for a long time, drinking in the warmth she’d been deprived of on the Maw. The days of icy cold metal and wet feet and sticky black goo were past, a distant memory that she barely could recall. Not that she wanted to remember the Maw. It would be just as well if it sank into the depths and never returned.

Finally her stomach growled, and she uncurled, sliding off the bed.

Apparently her days of sticky black goo were not past. She scowled, stepping over the remains of the black-shadow-nasty-beast and wiping her feet on the carpet.

For once, her hunger pangs weren’t accompanied by pain, piercing and all-encompassing, or by an insatiable desire for blood. She tilted her head to one side, considering this change.

It was an improvement, Six decided, and she turned the handle and went out into the hall.

Fran-person glanced up the stairs as Six padded down. “Good morning,” Fran-person muttered. Six took note of the dark bags under her eyes.

She stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching Fran-person and rubbing her thumb over the lighter in her pocket. Her belly growled again.

“Are you hungry?” Fran-person perked up. “Come into the kitchen. You can help me make breakfast, if you want.”

Six followed her into the kitchen, bare feet slapping on shiny tile. She contemplated the room, and finally decided that it was cozy enough to be safe. Certainly safer than the kitchen on the Maw.

She sat on the floor, folding her legs up and sitting bolt upright. She fixed her gaze on Fran-person.

“I suppose I’ll make breakfast, then.” Fran-person went to the sink, turning on the water and running her hands under it.

Six cocked her head, watching these strange preparations. She’d never seen the Twins do such a thing before, or anyone else on the Maw for that matter. Except maybe her mother, but the Lady never seemed to eat.

Fran-person glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, silly me! I didn’t offer you a seat!” She pulled out a waist-high stool that sat beside the table. “You can sit up here, if you want. You’ll probably be able to see better.”

Six uncurled, crossing with nearly silent strides to the stool, and climbed up on it. She perched there, swinging her legs and watching Fran.

She started humming; a quiet, weird tune that had often thrummed through the halls of the Maw.

Chapter Text

After breakfast, Fran dumped the dishes in the sink. Six followed her into the kitchen and perched on the edge of the stool again. Fran could feel Six’s eyes burning into her back.

“You should take a bath,” she said, turning around. “I can wash your clothes, too. You know. If you haven’t had time.”

Six’s black eyes flashed. “Clean?” She slid down off the stool, landing lightly.

“Yes, you can get all clean!” Fran smiled. “And your clothes too. I can even let you borrow something else, if you’re cold. It’s always wet here, warm clothes can be nice to keep the cold out!”

“Clean,” Six repeated. “Now.”

“Okay!” Fran beckoned to Six as she went out into the hallway. “I’ll get you a nice hot bath.”

Soon the little bathroom was steamy from the hot water in the bathtub. Six stood staring at the water, her hands in her pockets.

“Haven’t you had a bath before?” Fran giggled. “The water’s not going to hurt you.”

Six leaned over it, sticking her fingers in it. “Warm,” she said, glancing around at Fran.

“Yes, it’s warm!” Fran pulled a towel out of the closet. “Here, when you’re done you can use this to dry off. And I put some clothes over there for you to put on. Then I can wash your raincoat and things.”

Six started unbuttoning her raincoat. “I’m going to wash the dishes,” Fran said, backing out the door. “Yell if you need anything.”

She closed the door, noting Six’s grunt. She’d said more words today! Fran smiled.

But now she had to wash the dishes. And then clean the bedroom. Fran sighed. It was always so annoying to get the kamala gunk out of her carpet. That had been one of the terms of her arrangement with Remor- no kamalas in her house.

Her gaze drifted back to the closed bathroom door.

Remor was after Six, but what for? Why did he want her? Even if she could control shadows, he never had use for humans.

Fran sighed, frustrated, and went downstairs to the kitchen. She tied on an apron and turned on the water. There were dishes to wash now.

Chapter Text

Six stepped into the warm water, drawing in a sharp hissing breath. She hadn’t been this warm in… well, she couldn’t remember how long. But it felt good.

It had been a long time since she’d had a bath, but she had clear and vivid memories of her mother helping her clean herself. She’d never bathed in warm water, though.

Six grabbed a clean rag, dipping it in the water and rubbing it over her skin. She stared at the grime on the rag. Had she really been that dirty?

She heard the kamala before she saw it.

Moaning, raspy breaths, puffing cold on her wet skin. Its whine filled the room with a tangible darkness. Blood trickled down the walls.

Hunger growled in Six’s belly, and she snarled. She grabbed the black-shadow-nasty-beast, baring her teeth at it.

It opened its own mouth, displaying rows of shiny white teeth. Six growled at it, twining shadows around its slimy-shapeless-body. She leaned closer, opening her mouth to bite through its bad-tasting-not-flesh.

“Enough.” The voice rang in the bathroom, and the black-shadow-beast wrenched away from Six’s grasp.

Six’s lips curled in a feral growl.

“You are mine,” the deep-growling-voice said. “You cannot escape my realm.”

Shadows swirled around Six’s feet, rising to her ready fingers. She growled. “Can.”

“You foolish child.” The hideous-goat-monster bent closer. “You cannot harm me… your powers are useless here.”

Six quirked an eyebrow, flicked her hand. The shadows writhed towards the hideous-goat-monster, wrapping around its long black arms.

It broke them as easily as if they had been shiny-black-Lady-statues. “You are helpless… you cannot escape.”

“GET OUT!” Fran-person’s voice screamed. “We had a deal! Why do you keep coming back here?!”

The hideous-goat-monster turned away from Six, and she summoned more shadows. She could hurt the thing, because her shadows were like that. She could reach into the hideous-goat-monster’s body and yank out its essence, absorbing it into herself. It would be good. It would make her body thrum with energy and her skin tingle with life.

“This is the third time you’ve broken our agreement, Remor.” Fran-person folded her arms, glaring at the hideous-goat-monster. “Three times was the limit. Mother Mabuka will not be pleased with you.”

“She does not answer to you… nor does she control my actions.”

“No, but you swore in her hearing that you wouldn’t break our deal. Three times, you said. And then you couldn’t come anywhere near me but in the Ultrareality, and only if I say so.” She scowled. “Do you want me to go and ask her myself?”

Six’s shadows penetrated the blackness of the hideous-goat-monster’s body, and she grasped at its life essence.

“IDIOT!” its voice screamed, and the thing turned back towards her. “Fool! Traitor and a liar!”

Six pulled at it, trying to drain it dry, to suck all its energy into her own body.

“Get out!” Fran-person yelled.

Six stumbled backwards. It was strong. It was bad, and it was strong, and it was tugging at her, pulling her life out of her.

She heard a strange-clicking-humming sound, and then Six collapsed.

Chapter Text

“Is she all right, Itward?” Fran knelt beside Six, draping a towel over her new friend.

The tall skeleton brushed his hand over her forehead. “Yes, my dear, but she isn’t safe here. Neither of you are.”

“Remor wants her.” Fran glanced up at Itward, anxiety racing through her veins. “Why would that be?”

“I don’t know.” Itward frowned. “The safest place for the both of you would be Ithersta, but King Ziar won’t let you in if Remor is chasing you.”

“He’s not chasing Fran,” Mr. Midnight put in, slinking through the door.

“No, but I can’t just let him take her!” Fran folded her arms. “Anything Remor wants her for can’t be good, because he’s bad. What will we do, Itward?”

“You’re stronger now,” he said. “You should be able to keep him away.”

“I can’t,” Fran said, paling. “I tried. He came, last night. He scares me, Itward. He’s not going to keep to the terms of our deal.”

“I can protect you, for a little while.” Itward stood up. “But you have to understand, Fran, there isn’t much I can do. Remor has been growing more powerful.”

Fran scowled. “Well, we have to stop him!”

Six stirred, mumbling. Fran sat back on her heels. “Are you alright?”

Six’s eyelids fluttered, and she rolled onto her side, curling up tightly. Fran exchanged a glance with Itward.

“I thought you said she wasn’t hurt.”

“She isn’t,” Itward said. “She’s probably tired. Remember, she isn’t like you, my darling.”

“Yes, Itward, I know.” Fran stood up. “Well, what will we do now? We can’t stay here, right?”

“No, my dear, we cannot.” Itward stood as well, his top hat brushing the ceiling. “We will take my flying machine!”

“Oh, goody!” Fran clapped her hands. “The kamalas won’t bother us this time. They know better than to bother me.”

“But Fran, where will we go?” Mr. Midnight fixed her with big yellow eyes.

“Knowhere, for now.” Itward ducked under the doorway.

Fran followed him. “Where is that, Itward?”

“It is a very good place to be!” Itward said. “But it isn’t easy to get to. We will have to leave at the precise moment!”

“I’ll wake Six.” Fran clapped her hands again. “I know we’re in danger, but oh, this will be so fun! I haven’t traveled with you in ages.”

Chapter Text

Six was very, very confused.

Her shadows hadn’t worked on the scary-black-goat-monster, and her shadows always worked. He’d done something and she fell asleep. And now she was awake in a noisy-metal-rocking-thing, a thing that was not unlike the smelly-hungry-rocking-Maw.

She crouched in a corner, flicking her shiny-box-lighter open and closed, watching the tiny-hot-flame flicker to life and die again. This, she knew.

Whatever was happening in the noisy-big-crowded-room around her, she did not know.

Nice-Fran-person sat down beside her. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Itward is taking us someplace safe.”

Six glanced up at her from under the hood of her raincoat. She’d made nice-Fran-person give it back after her bath because the shiny-yellow-raincoat was hers and hers only. But it was nice to wear one of nice-Fran-person’s dresses under the raincoat. It was warm.

“I like your lighter,” nice-Fran-person said after a minute.

Six glanced up at her from under her heavy black hair.

“Don’t worry,” nice-Fran-person said. “You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.”

“Want,” Six said after a moment of contemplation. “Words hard.”

“Oh.” Nice-Fran-person looked a bit sad. “Maybe, when we get to Knowhere, Itward and I can help you learn how to talk!”

Six flicked the lighter closed, slipping it back into her pocket. “Want,” she said again.

“Good!” Nice-Fran-person smiled. She stood up. “I need to help Itward now, but it’s okay for you to stay here. I’ll be back later!”

Six watched nice-Fran-person walk into the next room. The soft-creepy-toys watched her with glassy eyes, and Six scowled.

The black-shadow-beast’s moaning cry echoed in the noisy-crowded-room, and Six stood up.

No playing this time.

Shadows snapped and writhed around Six’s feet. She bared her teeth. They were hers now, not the-Lady-who-was-her-mother’s.

She could do anything she wanted to.

Chapter Text

Tearing apart the black-shadow-beast was easy.

When it lay in dripping-nasty-puddles on the floor, another one took its place. Six bared her teeth, snarling, and it came closer.

Hunger growled in her belly and she grabbed the black-shadow-beast with her shadows.

She struck into its core, tearing at its life-soul-essence, tangling her shadows around it and sucking it into herself. It shrieked, and Six’s face twisted into a savage grin as its energy flooded her body.

She was cold and hot and strong, so incredibly strong.

“Stop!”

Six glanced away for a brief second and saw nice-Fran-person standing in the doorway.

That second was all it took to lose her hold on the black-shadow-beast and it flew shrieking from the room. She growled, upset and angry and ravenously hungry. She should’ve been able to take its delicious-energy-life but she couldn’t control the shadows as well as the-Lady-who-was-her-mother.

She dropped to the ground, belly twisting with hunger.

“Six!”

“Fran, stay back!”

Six looked up to see Itward-creature pulling nice-Fran-person away. She stretched out one hand, fingers curling. “P-lease,” Six whined.

“Itward, we need to help her!”

“Hun-gry,” Six moaned, crumpling.

“Itward…”

Six looked up again and saw the hunk of meat on the floor. She grabbed it, tearing into it with sharp-strong teeth. She gulped down the tasty-fresh-meat and it didn’t fill her hungry belly but it sated the worst of it and she straightened, finally meeting nice-Fran-person’s gaze.

“Are you okay?” Nice-Fran-person knelt, still not getting too close.

“Still hungry.” Six frowned, digging her knuckles into her belly.

“I can bring you food.” Nice-Fran-person shifted closer.

Shadows swirled around Six’s fingers, and she scooted backwards. “No.”

“But- but you’re hungry.” Nice-Fran-person frowned.

“No closer. No closer!” Six scrambled back against the wall.

“Come, Fran.” Itward-creature eyed Six. “Let’s find some more food.”

Chapter Text

“Why didn’t you let me help her?” Fran glared at Itward.

He rubbed his hand over his skull. “Fran, my dear, I’ve seen a great many things. I don’t think Six could have kept herself from hurting you.”

“Oh.” Fran’s scowl cleared. “So then that’s why she wouldn’t let me come closer.”

“I believe so.”

Fran sighed, slumping in her chair.

“What’s wrong, my darling?” Itward sat down, leaning his elbows on his knees.

She glanced up, meeting his gaze. “I just want to help her, Itward. I want to help her be okay.”

“And you will. We will.” Itward patted Fran’s shoulder. “That’s why we’re going to Knowhere. Remor can’t get to us there, and I think it may have an effect on Six’s powers as well.”

“We’ll help her get better?” She grabbed Itward’s hand.

“Of course.”

“Like you helped me.” Fran smiled.

“Yes, my darling.” Itward squeezed her hand.

She leaned her forehead against his skull. “I’m scared,” she whispered after a minute.

“Of course you are.” Itward pulled Fran into his arms. “But fear leads to bravery. And you, Fran, are the very bravest person I know.”

She hugged him. “Thank you, Itward.”

Fran pulled away a second later, all big smile and bright eyes. “Let’s finish Six’s dinner before we get to Knowhere.”

Itward smiled at her. “You are a very special person, my darling.”

Chapter Text

Yellow fields stretched out to the foot of snowcapped mountains. Tiny flowers dotted the grass, pink and blue and white. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

Fran took a deep breath. “And we’ll really be safe here?”

Itward ducked out through the door. “Yes, my dear. Remor can’t come here himself, though he may still be able to find you if you go into the Ultrareality.”

“Well, I don’t have a reason to do that, so we don’t have to worry.” Fran took another deep breath, closing her eyes. “This place is a lot like Ithersta, isn’t it?”

“Hmm, perhaps it is.”

“Oh!” Fran spun to face him, clasping her hands together. “Will Palontras be able to visit us here?”

“Maybe.” Itward smiled. “I’m sure he would like to, if he can.”

Fran turned to look at Six. “Isn’t it the most beautiful place?”

Six squatted on the steps of Itward’s ship, staring at the grass. Her mouth puckered, and she rocked back and forth.

“What’s the matter?” Fran crouched beside her.

Six pointed at the ground. “What.”

“The grass?” Fran glanced around. “Haven’t you seen grass before?”

“Guh-rass.” Six said the word slowly.

“Mm-hm.” Fran twisted, sitting down. “And all the bright colors, those are flowers. Oh!”

She jumped up and picked a few, all different colors. Itward watched with a smile.

“Here,” Fran said, sitting down beside Six again. “See, the pink ones look like little stars, and the white one is like a bell, and the blue one looks like my mother’s lilies.”

Six touched one of the flowers delicately. “Pretty.”

“They are.” Fran smiled.

“Guh-rass. Flowers.” Six wrapped her arms around her knees. “Is warm.”

“Do you like it?” Fran smiled up at the sky. “I like it. It reminds me of Ithersta.”

“Ithersta?” Six sounded out the word carefully. “Is what?”

“It’s a place,” Fran said. “I went there once, and I was very happy.” She crossed her ankles. “It’s a little different. The people there aren’t actually people. They’re bugs and plants, and they’re very kind. They helped me when I was in trouble.”

“Helping me.” Six tilted her head.

Fran hesitated for a moment. “We’re trying,” she said softly.

Six’s mouth twitched into something akin to a smile.

Chapter Text

Six crouched in the grass. Tiny things, like the flowers but prettier, flitted around her. She watched them glitter.

Nice-Fran-person and Itward-creature were talking somewhere. She could hear them. Their voices sounded nice. Quiet. Not like the Guest-things that yelled and jabbered, or the scary-Janitor-thing that screamed and chased her.

The sun was disappearing and it was getting darker. But still warm. Warm and dark didn’t fit together. Warm was candles and lanterns and safe corners where tiny-Nome-creatures hid. Dark was cold and damp and things that would suck you dry if you let them touch you.

Her belly growled. She was hungry but not bad hungry, not like shadows eating her, pulling her apart. Good hungry, wanting food.

Grass rustled and she looked up. Nice-Fran-person knelt beside her. “Itward and I made some food.”

Six ran her fingers through the grass. “Hungry,” she said after a moment. “A little.”

“Good!” Fran stood up. “Come and eat.”

The food tasted good. Six knew carrots and potatoes, but they didn’t taste good before and they did now. Even the meat in the thick-tasty-stew was good.

The sky was dark when nice-Fran-person pulled a pile of blankets out of Itward-creature’s ship. “We’re going to sleep outside,” she said, spreading two of them on the grass.

“Here?” Six licked her fingers.

“It’s the safest place you could be.” Itward-creature’s bones clicked. “You’ll sleep safely, my dears.”

Six laid down. Little sparkle-lights glittered in the dark sky, and she pointed. “What?”

“Those are the stars,” nice-Fran-person said. “Aren’t they beautiful? My father told me about the constellations. I can show you sometime.”

Six settled back on the blanket, curling down into it. It was warm, soft, safe.

Beside her, nice-Fran-person let out a sigh. “I don’t think I’ve been this happy in a long time.”

“Ha-ppy?” Six stared at the sparkle-stars.

“Happy. It’s when you feel good inside. Like sunshine.” Nice-Fran-person was quiet for a minute. “Sometimes it’s quiet too, like… like being tired at the end of a long day, but you did a lot of stuff, and it feels good to be tired.”

“Happy,” Six murmured, testing the way the word sounded. “Happy.”

“It’s a good feeling. A good word,” nice-Fran-person said.

“I like.” Six curled into the soft-warm-blanket.

“Me too.” Nice-Fran-person sighed softly.

Six watched the sparkle-stars. The blanket was soft and the breeze was cool and for the first time she really understood what safe meant.

Six closed her eyes and slipped into sleep.

Chapter Text

When Fran woke up, the first thing she heard was Itward talking to someone. She sat up straight, looking around.

A short skeleton, wearing a blue jacket and black shorts, leaned against the ship, talking and laughing with Itward. His arm was wrapped around an even shorter kid in a striped sweater.

Itward glanced over. “Fran!” he called. “Good morning.”

She got up and moved closer, tilting her head to look at the other girl. “Hi!” she said brightly. “What’s your name?”

The girl glanced up from under short dark bangs. “Frisk,” she said, flashing a gap-toothed smile.

“We’re just passin’ through,” the short skeleton said. “Stopped to say hi to my pal.”

“Well, it’s good to see you again, my friend!” Itward waved as the pair walked away through the grass.

“I didn’t know other people could come here, too,” Fran said once they were out of sight.

“Of course!” Itward’s bones clicked. “A lot of children come to Knowhere to rest.”

“Oh.”

Six sat up, squatting in her blanket. Itward tapped Fran’s arm.

“Maybe you and Six should explore! You could make some more friends.”

“I don’t need more friends, Itward! I have you and Mr. Midnight.”

The cat curled around her ankles. “Yes, my dear, let’s go for a walk.”

“What will you be doing, Itward?” Fran pulled her boots on, doing up the laces in neat practiced bows.

Itward stooped to sit on the step beside her. “I need to make some preparations for when we go back. Time won’t pass in the world outside while we’re here, so when we leave, we have to be ready!”

“Oh.” Fran watched Six poke at the grass. “So Remor will still be looking for us.”

“Yes. But while you’re here, you’re safe. Both of you.” He squeezed her hand.

“So Six and I should rest while we can.” Fran nodded and stood up, straightening her skirt. “Let’s go!”

She linked her arm through Six’s and spun around once, picking a direction and starting away.

“Go where?” Six asked, looking around. Fran noticed that her hood was pushed back a little- she could almost see Six’s face.

“We’re not going anywhere really. Just for a walk.”

“Oh.” Six scuffed her feet through the grass. “Is sunny.”

“Mmhm!”

They stop at the top of the hill, looking down into the next hollow. Fran gasped.

There were at least a dozen other children, and a few older people, sitting on the ground or walking around at the bottom of the hill.

A girl in a yellow coat came running up the hill towards them, blue hair shining in the sunlight. She stopped a few feet away, rocking on her feet.

“Hi,” she said. “What are your names?”

Fran tilted her head. “I’m Fran,” she said. “And this is Six!”

“I’m Coraline Jones.” Her voice was matter-of-fact. “You’re new here.”

“Yes, we are.”

“C’mon. I’ll show you around.” Coraline started down the hill.

To Fran’s surprise, Six took the lead to follow her.

“That’s Diamond,” Coraline said, pointing over at a little boy in what looked like a nightgown. He sat on the lap of a woman with long, long black hair. “He’s been here the longest, but he doesn’t really talk to anyone. The lady he’s with is North Wind, he says. She’s nice.”

The soft sound of music floated on the breeze. Coraline gestured to the weeping willow, its branches so obscured with cobwebs that Fran couldn’t see through.

“That’s Hannah playing her ukulele. She comes here every once in a while. Her friend Webby is kind of strange.”

A little farther on was a very small girl, sitting beside a fox. Coraline’s voice sunk to a whisper.

“That’s Misfortune. She’s dead.”

Fran squinted. The little girl didn’t look dead, but then, she supposed, one never knew.

She heard muffled crying as they passed a little hut made of rocks.

“We don’t know that kid’s name. He doesn’t talk, he just cries all the time.” Coraline shrugged. “Sometimes another boy comes and sits outside the hut for a while. He calls himself Gregory but we’re still not really sure he belongs here.”

“There really are a lot of people here,” Fran said.

“A lot of kids come here to get a break from their bad lives.” Coraline stopped, turning to face Fran and Six. “Some of them, like Misfortune, are dead, and this is like their afterlife. Some of us are just passing through.”

“Like me and Six.”

“Like you.” Coraline nods. “You see a lot of strange people hanging around here. Like this one goat kid. He was nice, though. My friend Wybie was here with me then and they got along really well.”

She glances at her watch. “Oh, I need to go soon.”

“That’s okay. It was nice meeting you!” Fran smiles.

Chapter Text

“And this one is my favorite.” Fran picked up the monkey. “It’s a toy monkey, see? And it has little cymbals, and it really plays them because Itward made it that way!”

Six scowled, scooting backwards. “Bad toy.”

“No, it’s not bad!” Fran tapped the cymbals together. “See, it makes a funny sound!”

“Bad toy,” Six growled. “No like.”

“Why not?”

“Bad noise, loud.” Six mimed covering her ears. “Very big, make him come. Him find Six.”

Fran put the toy down, covering it with the blanket. “Six,” she said softly, scooting a little closer, “did someone hurt you?”

“Long arms,” she said. “Him Janitor, him take Six. Him take others.” She hunched up again, knees to chin and arms around her legs. “Him bad.”

Fran was silent for a long minute.

“I’m sorry,” she said at last.

~~~

Hide because the sun won’t rise,

See the darkness in her eyes;

Beware, beware the shadows’ lies.

Come and see my darkest side;

Shadows in my eyes will hide.

Beware, or in the shadows bide.

Daylight dawns upon the hill,

Water runs in cleansing rill;

Beware, for shadows await still.

Sunlight gleaming on my skin,

Shadows writhing deep within.

Beware, for helping me’s a sin.

Walk into the light at last,

See, the world is oh so vast;

Find a shelter from your past.

Teach me how to be your friend,

Tell me this will never end.

Once more into shadows wend.

Walk a ways inside my shoes,

Make the devil pay his dues;

Don’t fall for the shadows’ ruse.

And now, my friend, a soft goodbye;

I will into the darkness fly.

At last, at last in shadows lie.

Chapter Text

Cold-dark-wet.

Six blinks. It’s not supposed to be cold-dark-wet. She’s supposed to be in Fran-friend’s house where it’s warm-light-safe, and this place is like the giant-prison-Maw.

She sits up, her hair falling over her shoulder. She’s in a small-cold-cage in the middle of a big-dark-room, and the Eye on the wall is watching her.

The Eye on the wall.

This place is the giant-prison-Maw.

She can feel the hungry-dark-shadows calling, whispering for her to let them out, but the Itward-creature told her very clearly that she should not use them, not anywhere, and she doesn’t want to anyway. The last time she used the hungry-shadows she almost hurt Fran-friend and she can’t hurt people.

“Sssssix.”

The thin-hissing-voice sounds like it’s all around her and she grips the cold-hard-bars of the cage and looks for it.

“I told you I’d find you.”

The swirling-dark-shadows take shape and turn into the tall-Thin-Man-thing. The thing that used to be nice-Mono-person.

“Wait,” Six says as tall-Thin-Man comes closer. “Six and Mono friends. Were friends.”

“We’re not friendssssss anymore.” Tall-Thin-Man tilts his head. “You left me to die.”

“Mono not hurt Six.” She moves closer. “Six sorry. Didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know?”

The dim-cold-light flickers and tall-Thin-Man looks even more big-scary-tall. Six scrambles back, pressing against the cold-hard-bars.

The dark-hungry-shadows are louder, begging her to use them, to break the small-scary-cage and hurt tall-Thin-Man and escape but Fran-friend and Itward-creature want her to never do that again, never be scary-angry-Six, and she doesn’t want to be like the Lady-that-was-her-mother.

“Please,” she says. “Mono not hurt Six.”

“Mono’ssssss gone,” he hisses. “You left Mono to die.”

He comes closer, blinking away and blinking back beside the small-cold-cage. Breathless-shaky-fear makes Six shiver more than the cold-damp, and she curls up as tight as she can.

“Mono not hurt Six,” she whimpers.

Tall-Thin-Man laughs, high-hard-angry, and disappears again.

~~~

Fran creeps quietly along the long, dark hallway.

Six has to be here. There’s no other place to look and she needs to find her friend, needs to bring her home.

The world flashes red as she slips into the Ultrareality.

Her stomach turns over. Blood drips down the walls, decaying bodies are piled high, and the stench is enough to make her vomit on the floor. She grips the kitchen knife tighter and wills herself to flip back into reality.

The slips are getting more frequent. The deeper she goes into this place, the harder it is to hold onto her own world. The space between realities is thinner here, and she doesn’t want to think about what that means. About what could have happened to Six.

She steps into a large, open room. A wide-open eye stares down at a single cage, and in that cage is a shaking figure with long, straight jet-black hair.

“Six!” Fran calls, running closer.

Six raises her head and moves closer, gripping the bars. Fran drops to her knees, reaching for her friend’s hands.

“Came to find me?” Six whispers.

“Of course I did.” Fran squeezes Six’s hand, moves to look at the lock.

“Hurry,” Six begs. “Coming back.”

“Who’s coming-”

Red, black, red. In the Ultrareality she sees piles of small bones, children’s bones, and black leeches winding through them, and a tall, thin figure moving towards her.

It takes an immense amount of willpower but she flips back and breaks the flimsy lock. Fran throws the door open and pulls Six into her arms.

“We’re going to get out of here,” she says.

“Need to hurry.”

Six pulls away, starting down the corridor with quick light steps. Fran follows, gripping the knife tighter.

“What is this place?” she dares to ask as Six leads her up a flight of mildewy, carpeted stairs.

Six glances over her shoulder, mimes a mouth opening and snapping shut. “Always hungry,” she says. “Always eating.”

Fran lapses into the Ultrareality again as they pass through a large, dusty room filled with bare mannequins. She sees the shadowy dark figure of a woman, standing in the middle of the room, and a broken mirror lying by her feet. There’s a Kamala trying to reach Six, whispering something, but her friend is just out of reach, and that’s a good sign, isn’t it?

She comes back to reality a split second too late.

The tall thin man she saw before is reaching for Six, her friend is screaming, and Fran’s knees are weak.

“It’sssss time to go back to your cage,” the thin man hisses.

“Mono not hurt Six!” she cries. “Mono, please!”

“Mono’sssss gone!” The thin man’s voice shakes the room, and Fran falls to the floor, clutching her head.

Six’s scream snaps her out of the dark fear clutching her, and Fran drags herself back up.

“Leave her alone!” she shouts.

“Or what?” The thin man tilts his head, staring in her direction. She realizes with a jolt of horror that he has no face. “The debt mussssst be paid. A life isssss owed.”

“Take me instead.” Fran drops the knife, scrambling closer. “Let Six go.”

“No!” Six yells.

“Interessssting.” The thin man drops Six, holds out one hand.

Fran’s body jolts, like electricity buzzing through her, and she’s pulled into his outstretched hand. She can’t move, but manages to glance down at Six.

“Run,” Fran says.

“Yessss,” the thin man hisses. “You’re ssssssomething different. Sssssomthing better.”

“No.”

Fran glances at Six again. Her friend is standing taller, a hungry, predatory gleam in her eyes. Shadows swirl around her hands.

“Six,” Fran chokes out. “No.”

“Mono not hurt Fran.” Six bares her teeth. “Mono not hurt anyone anymore.”

“You can’t ssssstop me.” His hand tightens around Fran’s middle, and she cries out at the pain. “Not with your little ssssssshadow tricksssss.”

“Six sorry,” she says. “Didn’t try to hurt Mono. Six sorry.”

She seems to loom even taller as the shadows spread, twining around the thin man. Fran holds her breath, waiting-

but the shadows don’t touch her.

The thin man’s form crumples, shrieks tearing out of his mouth, and Fran drops to the floor, landing heavily.

Six’s eyes are hollow and her face twisted in anger. She tilts her head, and the thin man’s lifeless body thuds onto the ground.

“Six!” Fran calls. “You did it, you finished it.”

The other girl looks over, expression empty, and a shadow creeps towards Fran.

She ignores it. “Six,” she repeats. “It’s over. You’re safe now, you ended it. Hear me?”

“Hear you.” Six’s voice sounds distant. The shadows still, the last tendrils writhing back into place around the fringes of the room, where shadows should be.

Fran scrambles closer, catching Six as she collapses. She wraps her arms around her friend, holds her close.

“You did it,” Fran repeats. “You’re safe now.”

“Can leave?” Six blinks up at her. “Go home?”

“Yes,” Fran breathes, laughing a little. “Yes, we can go home now.”

“Safe now.”

“You’re safe.”

“Didn’t want to hurt him.” Six looks over at the crumpled body. “Sorry for Mono.”

“He wanted to hurt you,” Fran says. “He wanted to hurt me.”

“Not always.” Six sighs, closing her eyes. “Was friend.”

Fran stands up, helping Six to her feet and wrapping her arm around her waist. “Let’s go home,” she murmurs.

Chapter Text

My dearest Itward,

If you’re reading this, then I am dead.

Don’t cry for me. This has been a long time coming. I’m going to see my parents again, and my dear kitty. I know you’ll miss me, but I will be thinking of you every day.

Before you go off to find the person who did this to me, you have to know that this was no one else’s choice. This was my own decision.

He wants to take Six. He is going to turn her back into a monster. Itward, my dear, you’ll know that I can’t let that happen. Not when she’s come so far and become so much more than she was when we met that night in the alley.

He’s agreed to let her go if I let him kill me, and I trust his word. Six trusts his word, which is more telling.

I hope it will be quick. Even if it isn’t, I will be brave, just as you taught me so long ago. I know now that tears are not a weakness, but a strength. Still, I wouldn’t like for Mother and Father to think I’d been sad.

Say goodbye to Palontras for me, and give him the green hat he always liked. I won’t need it any more. Tell all the Itherstans that I love them and shall always miss them. Palontras, of course, knows this without saying, but he may need reminding from time to time. You’ll do that for me, won’t you, Itward?

Take care of Six. She knows what the price of her freedom is, but I don’t think she expects me to pay it. Please, when she comes to you, don’t let her go away angry. I want her to keep on being the light that she is to this world.

It goes without saying, I know, but please, Itward, if you do nothing else I’ve asked, look after Nora. She won’t understand why her mother had to leave her; I know that pain all too well, and I remember how gently you explained things to me. Don’t let her forget me, and please take her on adventures so that she can feel like she is close to me by doing the things I used to do.

And you, my dearest Itward.

I know you always liked the house. If you want it, it’s yours. If you don’t, please give it to the children who don’t have any other place to live. I know you’ll probably take them in anyway. Tell them about me, please, and let people remember me as the little Bow girl with the bright smile and crazy talk. Not what I must be right now.

I’ll always love you, Itward. You have been my best and very dearest friend since the day I met you. Don’t let my death take away your smile or your love for children like me.

How sad, that we all must grow up some day! It seems like just yesterday I was a skinny little girl, barely tall enough to reach the cabinets, and today I am a woman. If only we could stay young forever, and foolish forever.

Give my love to Nora, and to Palontras, and to Six.

With all my heart, your darling

Fran