[ WP ] When 6 found out that 7 eating 9 was just propaganda .

Miss Six had been watching the house next to her for a little while now. 
 
 There wasn ’ t much to see. The wind toying with the corner of a dusty curtain, the lament of the settling house, the dancing leaves of the trees across the window. Mr. Seven ’ s death had happened long ago. The house ’ s sole caretakers now were the gnarled hands of time, tearing away at the rotting deck, peeling the paint off in curling flakes in its own selfish boredom. 
 
 That ’ s why, when Miss Six awoke to find Mr. Seven knocking at her door, she was hesitant to let him in. 
 
 But she did what any lady would do. She put the kettle on, with shaking hands, and sat down opposite him to listen to him. 
 
 He slurped the tea loudly and set the cup down with a clatter. 
 
 “ Things haven ’ t been good since the old man took power. ” 
 
 Six glanced to the side. She knew the hardships since he had inherited the throne from the old lady before him. Her rule was kind and prosperous; falling to an untimely end after her death after choking on the leg of a horse. 
 Since then, the old man had ordered the destruction of Six ’ s acres of pine forest. The fire had poisoned the sky with smoke, leaving only blackened stumps and broken twigs in its wake. 
 
 And she wasn ’ t the only victim. 
 
 Three lost both legs when he didn ’ t bow to the old man. He was brave, but stupid. It taught them that the old man was cold and unforgiving; merciless. 
 
 Seven ’ s hands wrung together in his lap. 
 
 “ He thought I was a threat to him. Convinced that I was plotting his murder; that I would be the one to send him to heaven. ” 
 His voice cracked, he shifted in his chair. 
 
 “ So, he sent Nine down to do it. His strength, his blind loyalty. He pulled out a gun and shot at me in public, but he didn ’ t hit me. And so, I ran. ” 
 
 He looked out the window, tripped up by his own paranoia. 
 
 “ And I haven ’ t stopped running since. ” 
 
 Six ’ s eyes were wide in disbelief. 
 
 “ They told us you were dead. ” 
 
 “ They wanted to scare you. He ’ s really not that powerful. ” 
 
 Her chest was tight. 
 
 “ So what are you going to do now? ” 
 
 Seven paused to think for a moment. He raised the teacup to his lips and took a sip. He put it down and smirked. 
 
 “ There is only one thing to do, I guess. ” 
 
 His eyes gleamed. 
 
 “ This old man comes rolling home. ”
