9: IF

Chapter 5

My name is Odette. Nice to meet you."
With those words, her kind smile, and her gentle hands, the stitchpunks felt more safe than ever before. For 9, his first time meeting a human certainly left him a good first impression. As for 5, 2 and 7, their impressions were more of shock and relief to see another human after all these years.
With all four stitchpunks in her hands, Odette lifts them up. "W-woah!", 9 shouts. It was like being picked up by a giant with how high they are! "Alright, everyone hang on.", The human warns them, "We're getting out of here!"
"Couldn't have said it better myself!", 2 agrees. Odette marches out of the room and through the factory, her strange new friends enjoying the ride.
"Weeee!", shouts 9 filled with child-like glee.
"Wooooo!", 7 yells at the top of her voice.
2 only laughs with excitement.
5 was nervous at first, but starts to laugh along side 2. "Yeah, this is...kinda fun!" he says.
When it was the last time he had this much fun? In fact, when it was last time any of them interacted with a human?
Before they knew it, they were already outside the factory. Odette was certainly right about her being faster. But she doesn't stop there. She walks over to a wheeled object.
"What is that?", 9 asks.
"It's a bike," Odette replies, "We humans use these for transportation if we don't have a car. Think you guys can get on the little basket? I need my hands to steer it."

*Odette's POV*

Luckily for Odette, the dolls obliged and jump from her hands and onto the basket tied to the front of the bike. "How fast is this bike?" 7 suddenly asks. "Err...pretty fast I guess, depends on how fast my legs are," Odette hesitantly replies, "Why? You want me to go fast?" 7 nods her head excitedly. This was the same warrior who not even a few moments ago had threaten her with a spear, and didn't had that much trust in her to begin with. Not that it stops Odette from granting 7's wish right away, she wanted to get away from the creepy factory as soon as possible.
Before long, Odette was riding away on her bike, with the dolls in toll and 7 absolutely having the time of her life. With the wind blowing in her face, and the occasional hill-jumping making her feel like she was flying, 7 was having the most fun she had in a while! 9 and 2 were joining in on the fun as well, whopping and hollering all the way.
"Hey, there's a really BIG hill over there! Jump over that!"
"Haha, OK!"
"Again!?"
5 on the other hand....not so much. For the whole trip he had a death grip on a side of the basket, screaming in terror every time they went through a hill. By the time they were inside the city, Odette slowed down and stopped.
5 thanked the Creator it was over.
7 was about to ask why she stopped, but then she noticed that the human looked exhausted. "I'd love to continue guys, but my legs are tired and beat." Odette says, breathing heavily. "We'll just have to walk the rest of the way." "That's quite alright dear," 2 reassures her, jumping on her hand once again, "You look like you need a break from that bike." Giving him a tired smile, Odette decides to rest a little before she moved on. Having the dolls hanging off on one arm, while the other leans the bike against a building, the young lady sits down right next to it. Odette sets the dolls on ground, watching them settle down and relax.
Suddenly, a question formed in her mind.
"Hey, guys?" she calls out to the dolls. All four of them look up.
"If you don't mind me asking, why were you all at the factory if you're so scared of it?"
They all look at each other, as if they're figuring out what they want to say. "It's....a long story." 9 says sheepishly. "Try me." Odette challenges him, "I've got all day."

It really was a long story. Turns out, 9 had met 2 a few minutes after he awoken. But then 2 got taken away by "The Beast", with 9 barely escaping its grasp. He was then found by 5, 2's apprentice, who brings him to the Cathedral. 5 and 9 decided to sneak out and rescue 2 themselves since the leader, 1, believed 2 to be dead and venturing out in the "Emptiness" as they call it, is strictly forbidden. The duo reached the factory and found 2, only to be ambushed by the Beast. That's where 7 drops in and kills the Beast.
As the dolls conclude the story, Odette's walkie-talkie statics to life:
*Bzzt Bzzt*
"This is Malaika calling to Odette, come in Odette."
Odette reaches into her walkie-talkie and replies back, "This is Odette speaking, what's your status on the library? Did you find any books that could be useful to us?"
The library? 7 perks her head at the human with concern. If someone's at the library, then that could mean....
"Dude, not only did I find the book we're looking for, but I also found something VERY interesting living in the library!"
7's eyes widen with horror. So she DID find the twins! What they're in danger?
"Excellent! I'm pretty much done with the factory on my end, so I'll meet you at the library."
"Perfect! See you then, Malaika out!" *Bzzt*
The mere second Malaika hangs up, Odette is suddenly face-to-face to a very angry 7, spear pointing dangerously close to the human's throat. The other three are just as shocked at this turn of events.
"7!?"
"7, no!"
"7, don't kill her!"
But 7 doesn't budge. Instead, she demands in a low, threatening voice,
"Care to explain what your 'friend' thinks she's doing?"
Once again fearing for her life, Odette gives in, "It-it's like I said! We-we're here for information. Malaika's over there for the same reason. I assure you, we are not even allowed to use force or violence of any kind to obtain said info. We're all friendly folk!" When 7 doesn't seem convinced, Odette also adds, "You know, I don't even know where the library is. Maybe you can show us the way! My legs are certainly rested enough to take you there!"
9 finally pipes in, "7 please! I'm sure she's telling the truth!"
2 also rushes in to Odette's defense, "7 dear, there's no need to be violent against this human, especially since she hasn't done anything to hurt us and I doubt her friends mean any harm." This seems to convince her, as she takes her spear away from Odette's throat. "Fine." she says, "I'll help you lead the way, only because you'll get us there faster."