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Anti stares at the screen. His own face reflects back in pieces. The blood drips down his knuckles, moving slow, almost mocking him.
One time. Just one time he doesn’t want to be blamed for something going wrong.
A blade appears in his hand, before he throws it at a wall. It sticks in deep as he grabs his sheets and rips them.
Anti falls onto his bed, curling up into himself. He screams, gripping his hair.
Once. Just once.
His body spazzes wildly, as he squeezes his hair. The desire to get out and just leave fills him for a few moments.
He pauses, thinking deeply for a few moments.
What’s to stop him from leaving? Getting away? To escape to somewhere where he isn’t the villain.
Anti jumps off his bed, a bag glitching into existence in his hand. He pulls shirts off hangers, shoving them in. Pants, proper boots and shoes, a dozen of his favorite knives.
Anti looks down at his phone, before sending a shock through it until it breaks. He throws it on his bed, grabbing his scarf. He wraps his neck, as he slings the bag over his shoulder. He moves downstairs, into a spare closet. He pulls out all the batteries he can find, dumping them into his bag.
“Ani? What doing?”
Anti frowns, zipping up his bag. He turns, pushing his hair back.
“Hey Robbie. I’m going away for a while.”
“I come?”
Anti’s heart softens, as he goes to hug Robbie.
“I wish I could bring you with me.”
Robbie makes a sound, slowly hugging Anti. Anti pulls away, smiling at Robbie.
“Don’t tell them that I left. Promise?”
Robbie holds out a pinkie, and Anti loops them together.
“Promise Ani!”
Anti’s smile becomes less forced as he grabs his keys and slips out.
Anti pulls his jacket close, as he walks through the woods. They wouldn’t think to look for him here. They’d think he’d stay in a city. No glitching to draw attention and batteries that can recharge with the sun. He’ll be weaker than normal, but he’ll be fine. They won’t find him. Not here.
Anti doesn’t even see the cabin until he’s right next to it. The top has mostly exploded out, with water damage all around.
Anti steps through an archway, door completely gone. A waterlogged bed, fireplace at the other end, and a mirror, still in perfect shape.
Anti drops his bag down, before picking up an overturned chair. He sits down in it, before looking around.
This will work.
Jackie frowns, typing rapidly on his computer. He glances at a group chat, frowning deeper.
“Come on Sam.”
Sam makes a sound, as they follow Jackie out of his room.
“Marv!”
Jackie pushes his hood back, shaking his head.
“What’s up?”
Marvin steps out, with his mask pushed up his face.
“That’s the issue. Nothing is up. I’ve spent more time helping Silver than usual.”
Marvin arches a brow, crossing his arms.
“That doesn’t sound like an issue.”
“Marvin. Anti isn’t showing up.”
“So what? He’s probably off bothering Dark or Wilford.”
Jackie groans, shaking his head.
“Silver would tell me that.”
“What’s the issue?”
“He’s gone. He’s off my radar. Who knows what he’s planning?”
Jackie stands in front of Dark, glancing at Silver off to the side.
“Why should I be concerned about a glitch? Especially your glitch?”
Jackie adjusts his mask.
“He’s off the radar. I can’t tell you who he’d come after next, and he doesn’t like you either.”
Dark snaps his neck, looking down at Jackie. He looks up at the camera in the room, before there’s a knock at the door.
“Come in Google.”
Google steps inside, not moving beyond that.
“Can you spare Yellow?”
Google’s eyes rotate between four colors, before he looks at Dark.
“Yellow can be spared for a week at most.”
Dark looks back at Jackie.
“You have one week, don’t waste our time.”
Jackie stares at the office in the Iplier Manor. Computer hard drives line the walls, as Yellow types away perfectly at the keyboard.
“Hello Jackieboy Man.”
"Jackie is fine."
Yellow hums, as he continues typing. Jackie walks in, as the door shuts behind him. Yellow relaxes, before pulling his hands off the keyboard.
"Blue gets pissy if he doesn't see us work all the time, and it's Oliver, not Yellow for future reference."
Jackie smiles, laughing slightly at that.
"Do you know how to even start this?"
Oliver grabs a chair, rolling it over to Jackie.
"I've looked over your software that you created. Well done for someone with minimal experience."
"Thank you?"
Oliver laughs, while Jackie sits down and rolls over.
"Let's find a glitch."
Jackie types away at his computer.
"How has there been nothing?"
Oliver glances over, frowning slightly.
"He's a glitch. They're good at hiding."
"You guys are literally Google. It shouldn't be this hard."
"We can only go so far. Maybe he simply isn't in our system."
Jackie perks up, looking at the computer.
"You guys have Google Earth."
"Yes?"
Jackie types away at something.
"Can you look for him in places where there isn't a lot of power?"
Oliver shrugs, before starting to type away code and commands.
"I don't see how this helps."
"The first place we'd look is in a high power place where he can slip through. If he's somewhere low power we wouldn't think to look there."
"How would he survive?"
"I'm not sure."
Oliver taps away at the computer, nodding some.
"I'll get you a list of locations."
Jackie sets the map print out in front of Dark. He taps a forest, looking at Dark.
"I believe he's here. There's an electric spike that wasn't there a month ago. It's deep in a forest so there's no way construction could have gotten to it.
Dark folds his hand, looking at the map. He frowns at the location, nodding slightly.
"Thank you. I'll handle this from here."
"I thought you didn't want anything to do with this."
Dark straightens up, looking at Jackie.
"If he is there. I will gather him. That is all you care about, yes?
Jackie shrugs, looking at Dark.
"I mean, yeah. But what do you care?"
"I'll go there tomorrow. My concerns are of no value to you. You may leave."
"Dark! I have to make sure I get him back here."
"I will check the area, or do you doubt my abilities."
Dark's aura flickers around him, as he stares Jackie down. Jackie gulps slightly.
"I'll keep looking for potential locations."
Dark nods at the door, making Jackie run out.
Dark feels the snow underfoot. He looks around the woods, feeling the snow hit his face. He lets himself frown, holding his cane close. Fully grown trees among miles of stumps. A long time passed, and yet the forest grew back.
He sighs, opening his eyes. He starts forward, following mostly familiar paths. He walks slowly, feet sinking into the snow.
Boots replace his dress shoes. Woolen pants replace dress pants. Fur lined coat replaces his suit jacket.
Dark sees the cabin in the distance, half hidden among the trees. He frowns at the blood around the building, furs hanging around on branches. Dark looks at the one that acts like a door. It shifts.
Anti walks out, axe in his hand. Blood drips off, as he looks up. He pauses when he sees Dark, before sighing deeply.
"Staying for dinner?"
Dark rubs his cane, watching Anti rotate a rabbit over the fire. He looks up at the mirror, before focusing back on Anti.
"So who found me?"
"Jackie with the aid of Google."
Anti nods at that, standing and walking over to an open window. He runs his fingers over the batteries there, a bit of color returning to his skin.
"I suppose you're here to drag me back."
"Less drag if you come willingly."
Anti sighs, moving to sit across from Dark.
"I don't want to go back."
Dark rubs his cane, closing his eyes.
"And why is that?"
Anti stabs the table, before carving into the wood. He looks up at Dark, scratching a design.
"I don't like being treated like I'm the only one who can do something wrong."
Anti glitches a little, before exhaling.
"No one likes being forced to be the villain."
Anti snorts, shaking his head.
"They all blame me for everything that goes wrong. I figured they can't blame me if I'm not there."
Dark stands, before stepping over to the mirror.
"How did you find this place?"
Anti shrugs, slicing across the table.
"I just wandered and then I found it."
"I suppose I should have hid it better."
Anti pauses, looking up at Dark.
"However, I can establish a connection between here and the Septic household."
"What do you mean hid it better?"
Dark laughs, looking over at the waterlogged bed. He steps over to it, before grabbing the axe beside it.
"I was created properly here."
Anti frowns, as Dark turns back to him. Dark grips the axe properly, before throwing it into the mirror.
The mirror shatters, across the ground. The axe sits lodged in the back of the mirror. Dark straightens his back, before walking up to the mirror.
"Can I come back?"
Dark looks over a shattered reflection of himself.
"I don't see why not."
Anti stands, walking back over to the fire.
"Can you hide it better?"
Dark laughs, pulling the frame off the wall. He rubs the wood, wrapping his aura around a section. A door appears, opening outward.
Anti stands, looking out beyond it to his room. He sighs, standing in the doorway.
"You'll be the only one who can open it. You may bring people if you wish."
Anti nods, before walking back to the fire.
"And no one else can get here?"
"Only Wilford and I will be able to visit here."
Anti nods, pulling the cooked rabbit off the fire.
"Thank you."
Anti pulls off a chunk of rabbit, eating at it.
"There is one thing. Do not go to the lake."
"I think I can manage that."
Dark nods, shifting his cane in one hand, the mirror frame in the other.
"Go home. Tonight."
He steps around Anti, pushing his way through the fur door. He disappears after, leaving nothing but footprints.
Dark sits behind his desk, rubbing the handle of the axe. He smirks a little to himself as the door bursts in.
Jackie storms in, looking down at Dark.
"Did you get him back?"
"He should be in your house."
Jackie pauses, blinking at Dark.
"Did he have a plan? Because if he's going to try to hurt us again."
Dark stands, grabbing the axe as he does so. He rolls his neck, glaring down at Jackie.
"He wishes to not be blamed for all your troubles."
"He's the bad guy!"
Dark's grip tightens around the axe.
"He may be forced to play the villain, but that doesn't mean he's instantly the reason."
Dark steps around the desk.
"It will do you good to remember that."
"He's a demon!"
Dark smirks, lifting the axe toward Jackie. His aura splits around him, screaming loudly.
"So am I."
Anti looks at the door in his room. He could slip back out to the woods. He could have never been here.
Anti shifts, slowly pulling off his boots. He feels energy return to him, as he walks to put away his collection of knives.
There's a knock, and Anti looks at the door. A piece of paper slides under it, brushing against several other pieces.
Anti walks over to them, kneeling down to collect them. He smiles to himself, looking over the crude drawings.
Events that happened, clearly drawn by Robbie. Anti smiles to himself, rubbing the crayon. He sets them on his bed, before walking to the door out of his room.
He opens it slowly, before stepping into the hallway. He smiles when he sees Robbie, closing the door behind him.
"Hey Rob."
Robbie turns, smiling wide as he runs back over.
"Ani!"
Anti leans into Robbie's hug, curling his arms around him.
"I missed you too."
Robbie giggles, grabbing Anti's wrist. He tugs him down the hall, to a flight of stairs. Anti follows along, smiling at him.
They go down the flight of stairs, into the living room.
"Ani back!"
Anti stops, freezing at the eyes suddenly on him. Robbie simply smiles, hugging Anti's side. He notices how they shift, as he steps back.
"Come on Rob. Why don't you tell me about your drawings?"
Robbie giggles, before pulling Anti back up the stairs to his room.
Anti walks down the stairs when it's suppertime. He frowns at the yelling, as he steps inside.
"I asked you to do one thing, Chase. Just get the chicken out to thaw."
"Just use the beef, it's fine."
"You know I can't."
Anti looks between Chase and Marvin, opening the fridge to grab a soda.
"I can get you some rabbit…"
They both look at him, before Marvin steps back.
"I beg your pardon?"
Anti slams the fridge shut.
"Never mind."
Anti smiles, watching Robbie run through the snow. He hacks off a leg from the deer he caught, humming to himself. The hide lays over a wall, as he focuses on the meat in front of him.
"Rob! Want a snack?"
Robbie looks up, before running over. Anti holds out a piece of meat, before smiling softly.
"Let's head back? Alright?"
Robbie grabs the leg, as Anti hauls the rest up over his shoulders. Robbie bites into it, as Anti walks into the cabin. Robbie follows after, smiling wide and bloody.
They both emerge, making their way down to the kitchen. Anti drops the deer on the counter.
Jameson jumps, turning to look at him. He blinks at the carcass, looking up at Anti.
"Robbie is fed."
Anti walks around to a knife block. He grabs one, before working on the rest of the meat.
Anti brushes over the pelt on his bed. He smiles at the softness and at how well it came out. He lays on it, curling into it. He inhales the scent of trees and snow, smiling softly to himself. There's a knock, followed rapidly by another. Too rapid to be Robbie.
He sighs, glitching to the door. He opens it, frowning when he sees Henrik.
"Chase has been drinking. The others are out and Jameson can't drive. Will you go get him?"
Anti blinks a few times, stepping back.
"You want me to get him?"
"Yes. I would but Robbie has disconnected his head."
Anti glitches in place, frowning to himself.
"I guess I can. Where is he?"
"The bar across the town. We can get his car tomorrow."
Anti frowns, nodding once.
"I'll get him."
Henrik smiles weakly, before going back to his OR. Anti closes the door to his room, before glitching away to the bar. He walks up to Chase, tugging him up.
"Come on."
Chase looks over, knocking back the rest of his beer.
"Seán? Thought you were in that coma."
Anti sighs, pulling out several bills and sliding them over the counter to the bartender.
"Come on Chase, let's get you home."
Chase wobbles, standing up slowly. He grabs his hat, squinting at Anti.
"Oh. It's you."
Anti sighs, grabbing Chase close and glitching him back to the house. He leads Chase to his bedroom, flinching back at the magic surround the room.
"Right. Marvin."
Anti shakes his head, leading Chase to his own room instead. He pushes open the door, kicking things out of the way as he lays Chase on his bed.
Chase grumbles, before curling up against the pelt. Anti sighs, turning to let Chase sleep.
"Why'd you do it?"
Anti frowns, looking over at Chase.
"Do what?"
"Kill Seán."
Anti sighs, closing his eyes.
"Anger. Desire to be free and on my own."
There's a snore from Chase in response, and Anti shakes his head. He flicks off the lights, before going to crawl onto the couch downstairs to sleep instead.
Anti is awake at the first slam of the door. He glances at the clock on the wall, before closing his eyes again.
Jackie is done with patrol. Marvin will be back soon. Anti sighs, rubbing his neck as he forces himself to sit up. He rolls his neck, stretching it from side to side.
"Why are you on the couch?"
"Chase is in my bed."
Jackie curls his hands up.
"Why is that?"
"Henrik had me get him, can't enter his room, would you prefer I leave him on the couch next time?"
Jackie squints, as Sam pulls off him.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but I don't trust this change in you."
Anti stands slowly, shaking his head at Jackie.
"Nothing's changed. I wish it would."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Anti huffs turning to the stairs.
"Forget it. You won't listen."
Jackie grabs his wrist, pulling Anti back.
"Tell me. Now."
Anti glitches out his grasp. He glares down at Jackie, walking away again.
"Get your head out of your ass and figure it out."
Anti sips from his coffee, looking out at the table. He looks at Dark, huffing weakly.
"Why's he here?"
Dark frowns, turning towards Jackie.
"You invited me."
Jackie huffs, crossing his arms.
"Make him tell me what he means."
Dark frowns, sighing deeply.
"I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific than that."
Jackie gestures at Anti, flicking his hand around.
"He won't explain why he left. He won't explain why he's suddenly changed. I don't trust it."
Anti huffs, crossing his arms as he settles into a chair.
"You won't believe me, so why fucking bother."
Jackie slams his hands down, looking at Dark.
"You see what I mean?"
Dark pinches the top of his nose.
"Jackie, you need to stop seeing us as villains simply because we're demons."
Anti shifts, glancing to the side to avoid meeting eyes.
"Then he shouldn't be so suspicious all the time."
Anti looks over, snarling at Jackie.
"I haven't done anything wrong. I've been feeding Robbie, helping provide food for this house. Hell, I even picked up Chase."
Dark hums, adjusting his tie.
"Does that sound like a villain to you?"
Jackie frowns, looking away.
"I suppose not."
Dark stands, settling his hands behind his back.
"Good. Now I trust that you two can have a conversation without me here."
Dark disappears into black smoke, leaving the pair. The silence is uneasy as they stare at each other. Anti sighs, before moving to slide into the chair Dark was in.
"I'm willing to prove myself if you're willing to listen."
Jackie huffs softly, sitting down across from him.
"Fine. You can start with where you've been."
Anti nods, taking a deep breath.
"So there's this cabin."