((Hopefully this chapter doesn't get screwed up, was messing with some stuff.))

3:30 am

-SIX POV-

Mono and I were the only ones awake.

I stared up at an air vent on the ceiling, lying on my back. I was right next to Mono's ledge.

Mono leaned over the ledge, looking down at me and blocking my view.

"What are you doing?" Mono asked.

"Being bored." Six replied.

"Then sleep." Mono said.

"I'm not tired."

"Then be bored."

"Hey, Mono?"

"What."

"You see that vent?" Six pointed at the air vent.

He looked up, "Yes? What about it." Mono said. Looking back down at her.

"Does it look like you can pull the air vent duct off?" Six asked, sitting up.

Mono stood on his tiptoes, trying to see if he could.

"I mean, some of the vent screws look loose but it'll take a few jumps to get it loose." Mono said.

"Do you think once we break the duct off we could climb into the ventilation system and possibly find another loose duct in the vents, and break the duct off so we can get out of our cages?" Six asked. "Maybe find out how to free the others?"

"Others? I mean, all we got to do is help everybody into the ventilation system then find a loose vent duct and then try to escape there." Mono said.

"No..." Six said. "I meant to open the other cages, free them."

"You want to help the other children?" Mono said. "All of them?"

"All of them."

"You're crazy. You know that?"

"I want to save as many children as possible from this child fighting place." Six said. "We'll get out together."

"I'll... I'll even free The Pretender, she might be mean and aggressive but it isn't her fault. It's The Maw that made her like that." Six said. "At least, I think so? I don't know how she was like before The Maw. But even if she was really mean even before The Maw, she still doesn't deserve to be here!"

"You got a big heart, kid." Mono said. "That's your weakness."

"I'd think you'd be the most desperate to get out." Six said. "You're nearly 13, a teenager. Been here for nearly 13 years, I sure you'd be craving freedom. Even if it was just for a small bit."

"I used to crave freedom in my first months of being here. After that, those feelings just disappeared. I accepted my new life with all my heart." Mono explained. "Our only purpose now is to entertain The Lady and Guests by tearing each other to shreds."

Six went quiet and just stared up at Mono, "Can I come up there?" Six asked.

"You don't know how to wall jump."

"Can you just grab my hand and pull me up."

Mono sighed. "Fine."

Six went to the side of the ledge, got low, and jumped up as high as she could. Holding her hand out for Mono.

Mono grabbed her hand and pulled her up, the ledge floor creaking but not loud enough to wake the others.

"There you go." Mono said.

"Thanks." She said.

"So I have a question." Six said, sitting down and staring at the cell door.

"Ask away." Mono said as he sat next to Six.

"How come you're the oldest child alive in The Maw?" Six asked. "I'd expect some kids to be over 13 with how long The Maw has been around."

"Huh, the ones who were older than me died or were taken away somewhere when they got too old."

"Like, how old when they got taken away?"

"Well, when they were obviously a teenager now based on appearance they took them away. I knew two kids who got taken away once they were teenagers." Mono said. "I heard from some kids who saw where the teenagers went, they got so close to them since their cage cart stopped for a moment by their destination. Anyway according to what the kids say they get pulled into this strange room that's completely white. The door was white too and had lots of scratches on it."

"They slammed the door shut after dragging both teenagers in there, the cart began moving again before they could hear what happened inside. I believe the children's stories since multiple children told me the mostly same story- 'mostly' since the kids had different comments on certain things, but it was basically the same."

"Do you see them again after that?" Six asked, sounding very concerned.

"No." Mono said, not sharing the same concern. Quite calm actually.

"Do...Do you think they... Euthanize the Teenagers?" Six suggested.

Mono went quiet, for a while.

"I mean it makes sense, The Maw wants *Children* to fight, not *Teenagers*. The Guest pay for children, not teenagers." Six said. "The easiest way to get rid of teenagers is just killing them."

"Okay." Mono said, surprisingly calm. "You're right, that makes sense."

"Al-right..." Mono's voice cracked a small bit, his calm voice disappeared for a small moment and a scared one shined through.

Six stared at Mono. "Are you scared?" She asked.

"No, I don't get scared from stuff like that." Mono said calmly.

"Well that voice crack says otherwise." Six said. "You know it's okay to be scared. You don't gotta act all big and bad all the time. We already know how tough and cold you are."

"I appreciate your offer, but that was only a voice crack." Mono said. "I'm fine."

"Whatever you say." Six said.

"How long until you're 13?" Six asked.

"Two and a half months." Mono said.

Six nodded. "Well, I guess we have a deadline to escape now."

"Huh?" Mono tilted his head.

"There's no way I'm letting you get euthanized, so we gotta escape before that appointment." Six explained.

Six got up. "Now how do I get down?"

"Just jump and try to land on your feet." Mono said.

"Uhh---" Six said.

Mono got up and pushed Six off the ledge.

"AAA--" Six hit the ground. "Ow--"

Six got up, looking up at Mono. Annoyed.

"I said try to land on your feet." Mono said.

"Try to give a warning next time, Okay?" Six said.

"Whatever." Mono said.

--

1:59 PM

-Six POV-

We were in a cage cart pushed by The Hanging Man, we were going to the left Holding Room. Shadow Six stared at me. I don't know what it was about her stare, but it felt weird. It was indescribable, I should ask her if she's okay--

Our Cart suddenly stopped and my cage was picked up.

The Hanging Man grabbed me out of my cage and threw me into the Holding Room. He did the same for the others.

-Third Person (But Still Kinda In Six's View)-

"Being extra rough today." Two said.

"I know right." One said.

The door was slammed close.

Then, it opened again. The Hanging Man was holding another cage.

The Pretender was inside the cage, he let her out the cage and then slammed the door closed again.

"Oh god." Mono mumbled.

"Oh god, I'm being put in with these idiotic children." The Pretender whined. "Oh my god~! How am I going to survive these slobs you call children."

"Are your other Cage-mates that much better than us 'Slobs' " Two said.

"Definitely!" The Pretender said. "Maybe this switch will be much more appealing if you go ahead and bow down to your queen~."

"Never in a million years, not even if my life was on the line." Mono said.

"Oh, you want to talk crap to me? Ragdoll? The Pretender?!" The Pretender said, walking over to Mono.

Mono crossed his arms. "Yeah. Watcha gonna do about it mo---"

"Ugh! Don't even think about using foul language!" The Pretender dramatically said. "Ugh, the grass was greener on the other side."

"Maybe the grass is greener because you're not over there messing it up." Six said, walking over to The Pretender.

The Pretender looked at Six. "Who may you be?" She said. "Actually- No, I don't need to know. You're Brutus, and I don't care to know your real name. It's not worth my time."

"Look, how about you go sit in a corner and mind your own business." Six said.

"You don't have the right to boss the queen around!" The Pretender said.

"You're not a queen, actually no- Maybe you're the queen of stupidity. That's what." Six said.

"You obviously don't know The Pretender." She said. "Everybody bows down to me and loves me!"

"You do realize people only tolerate you." Mono said.

"Yeah, I mean it's right in your name. 'The Pretender'. You just pretend people love you, you could make that actually true by being a good person. But I guess that's too complicated for you" Six said.

The Pretender stared at Six, then spat on her.

"A--" Six said, rubbing the spit off her.

The Pretender smiled then walked off.

"Still want to free her?" Mono whispered to Six.

"Ugh, yes." Six whispered back.

"Look!" Seven said. "Have y'all not noticed this in the arena?

The children went to the barred window.

The Arena was different. There was water in the Arena. The right side had shallow water and the other side had deep water. The Middle had just the usual sand in it.

There was also a Long Dagger lying in the middle of the Arena.

The Tiakos started playing again, however there was a new instrument. A Violin.

https://youtu.be/ChlCAODRDQs

(( Skip to 1:41 for that good stuff-- like dang that sounds good))

The Lady appeared on the balcony.

"Hello my wonderful Guests! I can feel your confusion on why there's water in the Arena? Was there a leakage? No, it was on purpose! We invented a new gamemode for our wonderful children. We even decide to put a Dagger down for extra fun." The Lady said. "We call it a Water Round, it's a normal fight but this time the children can drown each other!"

"Now, I know you're eager to see some drowning so let's jump straight to it!"

--

The Hanging Man came in with a dog snare, the children scrambled around the room. He ended up catching Seven. He tightened the snare and dragged Seven out, slamming the door behind him.

The children rushed to the barred window to watch.

Seven was put inside the left Battle Enter Cage.

-Seven POV-

I felt terrified, I didn't know what to do. And judging by the Arena, this doesn't look easy to win at all. Like, very hard.

The gates opened, I slowly walked out.

"CHIMERA, CHIMERA, CHIMERA, CHIMERA, CHIMERA!" The Guests chanted, it filled me with little-to-no confidence. Don't get me wrong, it feels good having people chant your name, cheering you, but in the situation it isn't working for me.

The other gate opened, a child who I didn't know trotted out.

It was a black girl that walked out with freckles on her face, she had dark brown hair. She looked to be a 10 year old. She was wearing a black, grey, and blue torn hoodie and black torn pants. It didn't look like it was meant to be that way, it looked like she got part of her clothes ripped during fights.

The child quickly ran towards the long dagger, I did too. However she reached it before me.

However, instead of attacking me with it she threw the long dagger to her left, it landed in the deep water. Sinking to the bottom.

-Third Person-

The Child charged towards Seven, Seven jumped to the right. Dodging the attack.

The Child did a sharp right turn and jumped at Seven. Tackling him.

The Child and Seven started attacking each other. Kicking, Hitting, Scratching.

Eventually this fight moved into the shallow water.

The Child tried to pin Seven down in the water, Seven dodged the attempts quickly- However he slipped and fell on his back. Giving the opponent the chance to pin him down which they took quickly.

The Girl grabbed Seven by the neck, holding him underwater. The Girl held him down with all the force she had.

Seven started flailing, the more he needed air the more desperate his movements got.

Seven got free but only for a second, he only got a short gasp of air before the girl grabbed him by the hips, put her leg on his back, then slammed him back underwater with as much force as possible.

The force nearly knocked all the air out of him, air bubbles rushed to the surface of the water. So Seven was already desperate for air once he went back underwater due to losing most of his oxygen from that slam.

Seven kicked his legs and flailed his arms, making big splashes.

-Six POV-

I watched Seven, very tense. I was very scared for Seven. It looked like he was about to die.

I looked at the other kids, by their expressions they might be thinking the same thing as I.

I looked back at Seven, watching.

-Third Person-

Just by the sheer luck, the girl pinning him down lost her grip and slipped. Giving Seven a chance to breathe.

Seven quickly stood up and rushed to land, gasping for air and coughing. Once he was in the middle of the Arena, he fell over. Seven was tired, but he knew he couldn't stop now. So filling his lungs up with air, he got up.

And good thing to, The Girl slammed herself into Seven, launching them both into the deep water.

-Seven POV-

I opened my eyes, I looked around me. The water was dark.

I started swimming towards the surface.

I felt a hand around my leg, I looked down and it was the girl.

The girl let go of the leg and quickly headlocked me, she dragged me deeper into the water.

I punched the Girl's face, making her let go.

I swam to the surface.

I gasped for air, then I heard heavy breathing behind me. I turned around and saw the girl getting some air too.

I took a deep breath and dove underwater, I was planning on dragging the girl deep underwater like she did with me. The Girl went underwater after me, I tried to get behind her but she kept turning around. Preventing me from doing the drag I wanted.

The Girl swam-dash towards and tackled me. We fought underwater. Scratching, Kicking, and Punching.

Eventually I got to the bottom of the water, hitting the sand.

I looked to my left, I saw the Long Dagger the girl threw down earlier.

I grabbed the Dagger and put it in my mouth so I could still swim easily.

I searched for the girl, rising towards the surface as I searched since I needed to breathe now.

When I was near the surface, I saw the girl near me. She looked like she was going to the surface to breathe too. The girl looked at me, noticing me. Pausing my trip for air I swam quickly towards the girl.

The girl noticed I had a Dagger in my mouth and started swimming away. Going deeper into the water.

I took the Long Dagger out my mouth and threw it at the girl with as much force as I could do.

The Long Dagger stuck into the girl's left leg, digging halfway through her left leg. Blood gushed out her leg, staining the water.

The girl screamed, though she stopped herself once she lost nearly all of her air.

I swam towards the surface, though I stopped for a moment and looked behind me.

I saw the girl desperating trying to reach the surface to breath as she bled out. She was crying as she sunked towards the ground. She was drowning.

-Third Person-

Seven continued his way to the surface, not going to help the girl and allowing her to drown.

Seven reached the surface, gasping for air. He swam towards the shore and sat down.

Seven stared at the water, just waiting. Half a minute passed and a dead body rose to the surface.

It was the girl.

The Guests chanted happily. "Chimera, Chimera, Chimera!"

Seven smiled as blue daisies were thrown down. Relieved that this was over now.

--

Seven was placed back into the left Holding Cage, the Arena was being cleaned up.

"I say, that was the most stressful and tiring battle ever." Seven said, lying down on the floor. "Good luck to whoever is going to fight next."

"Hopefully it isn't me." Two said.

A few minutes passed and the Arena was clean again- well clean enough for a new battle.

The Long Dagger was still a bit bloody, it barely got cleaned off. The Dagger lied in the middle of the Arena.

Taikos and Violin began playing again.

https://youtu.be/ChlCAODRDQs

The Hanging Man came into the Holding Room.

Mono and Six were caught and taken out of the Holding Cage.

Six was placed in the right Battle Enter Cage and Mono was placed in the left Battle Enter Cage.

-Six POV-

Surprised Me and Mono were both selected to fight instead of them getting somebody for the other holding cage. I thought, leaning on the wall of the Battle Enter Cage.

The gate to the other Battle Enter Cage opened, Mono walked out. He looked around the Arena, he noticed my gate hadn't opened yet so he quickly went over and felt the water with his hands.

It made me realize, how long was it since these children were able to dip their hand in water? Since all the water they get is bottled, and I don't think they'd want to waste water on feeling it.

Mono looked so fascinated in feeling the water, I couldn't see his face but I could easily tell by his body language.

My gate opened, Mono saw my Gate open and quickly got into a battle pose.

I walked out the Battle Enter Cage, looking around at my surroundings like he did.

-THIRD PERSON-

Six went invisible.

Mono knew about Six's powers, but he never fought her before.

Six did her usual thing with children she'd never fought before. Going easy on them until they realize they can only see her when she attacks.

Once Mono learned, she appeared right in front of him from a distance.

Mono charged towards Six, Six went invisible.

Mono skidded to a halt, while he skid Six appeared to his Right. Six slammed herself into Mono and threw him and herself into the deep water.

Mono's Mask floated off his head and sat on the surface.

It felt weird having water touch the burned side of his face, but he got over it quickly.

Mono looked around the dark water, he didn't see her so he swam to the surface.

Gasping for air, he noticed the Long Dagger was near the shore. Six must've knocked it over here while invisible. Mono quickly swam over and grabbed the Long Dagger, just in time too. He was dragged back underwater by Six.

-Third person (but kinda in Mono's view.)-

Mono looked down, he was being dragged down by the leg.

Six opened her mouth, about to bite into his leg.

Mono blocked Six's attack with the Long Dagger, making her bite into the Dagger instead.

Six let go and held her mouth, in pain.

Mono stabbed Six in the right shoulder, digging the Long Dagger halfway through her shoulder. Six tried to push him away as he did that, trying her best not to scream and waste her oxygen.

But she couldn't fight it let out a scream, bubbles flying out her mouth.

Not being able to swim anymore, Six sank.

Mono swam up to the surface, but he stopped, turned around and watched Six sink.

-Mono POV-

Don't do it Mono. I thought.

You don't get attached to children. Not anymore, no more getting attached to children. I cannot afford to get attached to more children. Seven, Two, Eight, and the others were just mistakes.

But... What if?

No, I'll have to kill her in a guaranteed death round at some point anyway.

I turned around and swam up.

Don't turn around.

Don't turn around.

Don't turn around.

I paused.

Darn it!

Mono turned around and quickly swam after Six. It was easy to locate her since she left behind a trail of blood.

Six was on the bottom, I can see her face starting to turn blue from lack of oxygen. I'll have to be quick.

I grabbed Six and put her on my back, Six wrapped her arms around my neck.

I swam up as quickly as I could, Six leaving a trail of blood behind us.

--

I reached the Surface, I gasped for air. So did Six, however she was breathing much heavier.

-Third Person-

Mono swam towards the shore, once he got onto the land he immediately let go of Six. Mono dragged Six farther onto land once he dropped her.

Six coughed and stared up at Mono before dropping her head on the sand and going motionless except for her stomach going up and down from breathing. She wasn't dying or anything, just tired from nearly drowning and in pain.

"Toyko, Toyko, Toyko, Toyko!" The Guests chanted.

Mono smiled, he turned around and looked at the water. He saw his mask floating in the water, it was close by.

He went over to the water, reached over, grabbed his mask, and put it on.

Cherry Blossom flowers were thrown down, the flowers were a pink-ish white color.

Mono grabbed three flowers and put them in his trench coat's pocket.

The Hanging Man tranquilized Mono and Six.

---

2:59 PM

Mono and Six were placed into their Cell, Six's wounded shoulder was bandaged up. Seven was the only other person that was already there since they already had their battle.

Seven was asleep.

Mono went straight to his ledge, wall jumping to get to it.

Mono sat in the shadows of the ledge, lying down facing the wall.

He suddenly heard a creak and Six saying. "Oof- Ugh."

Mono sat up and turned around to see Six trying to climb up. Not using her injured arm.

"Ugh-- You really need to teach me how to wall jump." Six groaned, trying to pull herself up which was extremely hard using only one hand.

"You know the reason I'm up here all the time is to get away from you guys, teaching you how to wall jump so you can get up here easier will defeat the purpose." Mono said as he walked over and pulled her up, he crossed his arms afterwards and sat back down in the darkness.

"Fine, I'll be self taught." Six said.

"What do you want?" Mono asked.

"I just want to hang out." Six said.

"Metaphorically or Physically?" Mono said, jokingly.

"I want to keep my life, so Metaphorically." Six said, laughing a small bit afterwards.

Mono nodded, smiling under the mask.

-Mono POV-

Wait, I'm getting attached to her. Dang it!

No, no. I'm not getting attached, just talking to her. Being friendly. Yes, I refuse to get attached to this stupid child.

-Third Person-

"You remind me of a girl I've met before. Somebody who was here long before you arrived." Mono said. "You remind me of her both physically and personality wise."

"Really? Who?" Six asked.

"I told you about her before, she was the kid in the story about how I got my leg scar. I don't know their real name, but I know their Gladiator Name was Lindworm." Mono said.

"You really reminded me of her because they wore a yellow raincoat just like you. She had dark brown hair and a long braid with a red hairband." Mono explained. "They didn't have a plan to escape The Maw, but they were very merciful. Wouldn't kill unless it was absolutely necessary."

"I... Feel like I should know this person." Six said. "I feel like I've seen them in person before."

Mono shrugged. "Maybe you have talked to them once before in the outside world or maybe passed by them or something."

"Maybe." Six said. "Is she still alive?

"Died, remember what I said in the scar story?"

"Oh, right." Six said.

The Janitor came to the cell door, he let Eight inside.

Once Eight was inside the cell he immediately went to go lie down.

"Hey, Bread Kid!" Six said. "How was the battle."

"It was fine, and please do not call me Bread Kid." Eight said, annoyed.

"Okay, Bread Kid!" Six said.

"Where are you even-" Eight looked up. "Oh?"

"It was only for a tiny bit." Mono said. "She's getting off right now."

"Huh--" Six said.

Mono was about to push Six off, but then he stopped. "No, your arm." Mono said.

Mono grabbed her good arm and then pushed her off, still holding her arm.

Mono lowered her as low as he could, and then dropped her.

"Ow--" Six said once she hit the floor.

"Did I hurt your Shoulder?"

"Not really."

"Good, now go rest your arm."

Six lied down in the corner of the room, she fell asleep.

Soon everybody else returned.

Shadow Six was sitting near the cell bars, leaning against them. She was staring at Six with hatred, watching her. However she broke her angry stare once she noticed Mono walking towards her.

She did an angry stare at Mono instead.

Mono sighed.

"Hey." Mono said. "I'm sorry for killing your best friend, and breaking your flower headband thing."

"So..." Mono took the Blossom Cherry flowers out his pocket that he collected from his battle, he handed out the flowers to her. "Here's some flowers as a sorry."

Shadow Six grabbed the flowers, she felt them. Noticing they were real. "Which do you think is worse?" Shadow Six said angrily, but not yelling.

"I-I know flowers can't be a very good sorry when the thing you did was kill somebody's best friend." Mono admitted. "But when you're in The Maw, flowers are the only gift you can give somebody."

Shadow Six took her hood down and put the Blossom Cherry flowers on the side of her head.

"Are the stems visible?" She asked.

"No." Mono said. "Just the flower petals are visible."

Shadow Six put her hood back on.

"Thank you..." Shadow Six whispered.

Mono walked away and went back onto his ledge.

A few hours passed, the children slept to prepare themselves for the next battle, and once again. Shadow Six was the only one awake.

Shadow Six sat next to Six.

"No. Not now, not yet, too soon." Shadow Six mumbled. "I cannot kill her now."

"Let's wait a week or so." She mumbled as she lied down.

Shadow Six slept.

--------------------------------

4295 words

eeeee next chapter gonna be... interesting. People who love the Stuff Is Way song, get ready.

also it was surprisingly fun writing about children drowning. 

also here's something that happened to me while trying to upload this. : 

*Finishes proof-reading chapter in google docs and copies it with mouse.*

*Tries to paste it onto Wattpad*

*Doesn't work*

*Tries it again, spamming to past button.*

*GETS 58999+ WORDS WORTH OF PASTING.*

yeah that sucked. The whole browser became unresponsive for a bit.