Once Sean finished talking to Mark on the phone, he rubbed his face with a groan, "He said he'd get a hold of Host and have someone come get him. He can't help us like this. He's done enough, anyways for us"

Henrik nodded, "Yeah. I really thought he'd stand a chance, though. Thought he vas supposed to be the strongest ego there was." he glanced over at Marvin, "Guess ve all underestimated your power, Marv"

Jackie was furious but stayed still so Henrik could treat him, "This really is all your fault. You CREATED him. . . . . .Why did you do it? Who is he?"

Marvin looked ashamed, "I still can't remember. All I know is . . .I just wanted to help . . . him, I guess. I didn't know . . . I didn't know what would happen. I'm sorry" his voice cracked, "I'm so sorry. I deserve to be erased."

Everyone was quiet but Jameson sat next to Anti on the couch, 'This is ALL our fault. We should have given Anti the benefit of the doubt that day and you all know it.'

Jackie seemed ashamed, "It all makes so much more sense. Once we found out about Puppeteer . . . . I didn't want to say anything, though. Couldn't tell Anti"

"Tell him what?" Sean didn't know.

"Um" Jackie started, taken a bit off guard, "Well -"

"Gasp!" Chase suddenly shot up sitting up on the floor, "Guh-Fook. . ." he held his head and everyone stared at him wearily.

"Ch-chase?" Jackie asked. He was still sitting down but he'd brush the pain off if he had to, "Are you . . . you?"

Chase covered his mouth with his hand, tears falling down his cheeks, "Wh-what . . . ." he whimpered, running a hand through his hair as his eyes fell on Anti on the couch, "Oh god"

"Thought the tranquilizer vould last longer" Henrik mumbled to himself.

"Anti!" Chase stumbled up and tried running for him but Sean bounced in front of Anti to prevent him from getting closer.

"Stop it, Chase! Stay right there!"

Chase whined pitifully as he cried, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Sean. Guys, I'm so sorry. I didn't. . . I didn't mean-" he stopped himself.

He remembered everything Puppeteer had said while he took control. What he made them all remember and how they treated Anti when he tried coming to them for help.

All that weight came crashing down, "Oh god . . . . I didn't mean to. . ."

Jackie felt his pain. He knew this was Chase now and ignoring the pain he felt, he limped over to him, "I know, Chase . . . . we know" he brought him into a hug, trying to stay strong as he cried in his chest.

The others relaxed but understood the irony far too well.

"I'm sorry, Jackie" Chase mumbled quietly, "I-"

"It's okay" he stopped him, "I got you."

"I shouldn't have gotten drunk" Chase argued, "He got in my head and-"

"It's okay" Jackie repeated.

Finally Henrik sighed, "Puppeteer was stronger than we thought. Didn't think he could still have so much power"

"No telling how much he STILL has" Marvin agreed, "With all he's done and was still able to do . . . He must be still reserving."

Chase broke away from Jackie and turned back to Anti, "He gonna be okay?"

"He'll be fine" Henrik sighed, "Hit his head but he's got a thick skull so. . . "

He tried to make it seem like a joke but it wasn't all that well received.

"I said all that shit . . . . Puppeteer knew about it, too. That day. What if . . ."

"I doubt he'd remember it yet" Henrik tried to deflect the thought but as a doctor, he knew it could be possible. He was praying with them he wouldn't remember. Or else they might all be in trouble.

"Anyone gonna explain?" Sean asked, "What day? What happened that you guys are all worried he'll remember?"

Jackie grumbled and sat back down. Chase sat as well, feeling tired again all of a sudden from everything that had happened to him.

Sean was the only one who stood, looking over them with a parental glare.

"Anti came to us shortly after he had possessed Jameson. He . . . begged for help. Another chance. At first we believed him. Didn't know of Puppeteer's existence back then, mind you"

Sean crossed his arms, watching as Chase started to cry again and Marvin even looked ready to die.

'Chase was going to make something for him to eat' Jameson continued, 'He took out a knife and it . . . upset Anti. He attacked us.'

"I'm certain now it must have been some sort of PTSD or something" Henrik bit his lip, "His neck vas sliced. Puppeteer must have done that to him."

"We . . . told him to leave. That he couldn't be trusted" Jackie said.

"It's my fault he attacked again." Marvin spoke out again, "I called him a monster. That there was no reason why he existed"

"Jesus Christ" Sean groaned and covered his face.

"I'm the one that forced him out" Jackie blamed himself, "It's my job to see the good in people. To be the hero. And yet . . . . I couldn't see the pain he was in. Right in front of me. He was a hostage and I. . . . " he broke, tears running down his face as well, "I made him walk straight back to that bastard"

They all went quiet again, only soft crying being heard in the room. They had ALL messed up. And now they had to fix it.

*POP*

Everyone flinched as someone just appeared in the room.

Usually this man wouldn't be so quiet but this was an odd circumstance, "Sigh, oh boy. Damien-boy's certainly bitten off more than he can chew, eh!?"

Wilford strolled into the room like he owned it. His walk was peppy but his face told a different story. He was clearly upset.

"Wilford" Sean greeted him, "Puppeteer was too strong. Knocked him out. Hen says he'll be fine, though"

Wilford shook his head, "Nah, his ego will surely be bruised." he chuckled lightly with a soft wink, "I should really take him back to the doctor, though. Iplier'll be upset if I don't."

He started to leaned down to pick up his friend and his cane.

"He fought well" Jackie commented, "When he wakes, tell him not to worry about us. He's done enough for us"

Wilford grunted, "By the time he wakes, your little problem just might be over. I'll have to get him from the void. I can feel it."

"What do you mean?" Marvin asked.

"Welp." Wilford wrapped Dark's arm over his shoulder, "Your Puppeteer fella seemed to have done something to his mind, making him retreat back to the cabin. That's all I can tell ya. But yes" he winked again, "He'll be fine eventually."

Wilford settled Dark to lean on him along with the cane. But before he teleported off, he nodded to Anti, "I hope things work out. I don't know the full story but I don't need to, to know he's been through hell. Could see it in his eyes like looking in a mirror. Take care of him, boys. Ya hear?"

Sean nodded, "Of course. Thanks, Wil"

In an instant, he was gone along with Dark.

They all breathed out a deep sigh.

They were a man down now.

"I'm gonna go get some ice cream" Sean commented, heading to the kitchen, "Anyone else want some?"

With emotions ran high, they all needed some sort of comfort food.

Marvin chose to stay in the living room by Anti along with Henrik and Chase. They didn't want to leave his side. The others would bring them in some ice cream.

Marvin ignored the subtle glances Chase gave him. It was clear he wasn't completely forgiven but Marvin was okay with that. He didn't forgive himself, either.

Henrik ran his hand through Anti's hair, feeling at the bump that was left behind. Luckily it didn't bleed but it might have cracked his skull like his previous head injury.

Marvin felt for Henrik. While Chase could see his children, at least, Henrik couldn't. He blamed it that he had a lot of work to do but they all knew the real reason. He blamed himself for letting those relationships fail.

And seeing Anti looking so vulnerable. . . he must have reminded Henrik of his son.

Plus, Henrik was the first to trust Anti. He had seen him first at his worst and felt pity for him the most.

Henrik stopped touching him but didn't move away from his patient.

Marvin looked away for a moment outside but when he turned back, he noticed Anti's eyes were open.

He was awake.

'That was quicker than I thought it'd be' he thought to himself.

"Hey Anti! You're awake! You feel okay?"

Henrik shot his gaze down to see it was true but noticed something off about the glitch, "Anti? Are you alright?"

Anti blinked and slowly sat up, holding his head lightly. He just stared at Marvin, though, with a solemn expression on his face.

It was almost unsettling and Marvin felt as if he were in trouble with him again, "Anti?"

Chase didn't get the memo and launched himself at the ego, "Anti!" He wrapped his arms around him, "Oh god, I'm so sorry!" he cried into his shoulder and pet his hair lightly, "I'm so fucking sorry. I didn't mean it, Anti. I didn't! I'm so fucking sorry.Please! S-sorry-"

Anti's expression was still stone but cracked just a little. Like he wanted to be angry but couldn't keep it up for long.

The others from the kitchen must have heard Chase's cry and bounded in to see what was going on.

Jackie grinned at first, "Hey! You're-" and then he stopped, seeing Anti's expression almost as if he were contemplating something big. Like whether to beat someone or not.

Chase still hugged him, trying to beg for forgiveness when Anti finally uttered to him softly, "Where's that bullet, Chase?"

Chase stopped immediately, his breathe catching in his throat. Carefully, he let Anti go and stood, backing up a step.

"Wh-what?"

Anti's expression settled to a tired glare.

That's when everyone knew. He at least remembered that day.

"Well?" Anti persisted. 

He knew Chase really was sorry. They all were. But he couldn't fight this pain in his heart. He wanted to see them hurt a little more.

Henrik swallowed and tried to speak to Anti, "You should lay down and rest, Anti. You-"

"WHERE'S THE FUCKING BULLET!?" He glitched erratically with a few sparks flying off of him, making them all tense. It had been a while since they all saw him this pissed.

Chase cried, "I'm sorry. I. . . I shouldn't have. . . If I had known. . . "

"None of us knew at the time, Anti" Jackie tried to console him.

"Marvin knew" Anti glared at the magician. 

Before, he would have defended him for anything. But now. . . . he wasn't so sure, "Marvin knew then. And he did nothing. Said. . . . NOTHING"

Marvin shuddered, "I. . . . Anti, I did a lot of bad things. I regret them all, I do. I-"

"You called me a monster." Anti intervened, "You called ME the monster when you KNEW who the real one was! You could have helped me. But you just watched"

Anti knew they all were sorry. He didn't hate them. He just wanted them to FEEL like he did. Make them feel the hurt he had felt.

Anti stood up and at first he stumbled but caught himself. Henrik tried to take his arm but he glitched out of his grasp, "Please don't touch me. . . . . . I'm going"

"Going?" Sean asked, "What do you mean you're going?"

Anti glared at them all, "I need some time by myself. Don't look for me"

"Anti, no! Wait!" Jackie tried to rush to grab him but he teleported out of the house before he could get close.

Anti knew it was a stupid thing to do but he was only trying to protect them.

Of course he was still mad but if he stayed there, then Puppeteer would only hurt them more. He had already possessed Chase and used him. Put a spell on Henrik to watch them all. Who's to say he wouldn't hurt or use anyone else?

He knew he was opening himself up for Puppeteer to come after him but he didn't care anymore.

'Puppeteer wants this magic so bad. I'll just have to get rid of it. I can help everyone this way. This will help them AND me.'

He sneaked into a pharmacy and grabbed some heavy sleeping medication. Then he popped into his old apartment, ignoring the stench that the smoke had left behind on the walls. It did look a little better though. People must have come in at some point to clean it more, perhaps.

He stared out the window as evening started to come, the sun falling down behind the buildings. It brought a sort of peace seeing something so familiar.

'I'll do what I had planned before. This is the best way, I'm sure. Then no one gets it. Puppeteer can't use it to hurt anyone. And Marvin can't use it to do anything more stupid'

Tears ran down his face and he sat down on his small mattress. He had to do it quick before Puppeteer found him.

He just felt so conflicted.

They all cared about him now, he knew that. Everything was so different now. Here Jackie used to want Anti dead or alive behind bars and now he was his brother. Chase wanted to put a bullet in his head and now they were closer than even besides the fallout this morning. He knew he was just upset about Stacey because he loved her so much.

Henrik used to despise him just as much but saved his life and dotes on him like a father. Jameson was always pretty neutral but he felt a stronger connection with him now more than ever. Marvin . . . .  things were complicated right now but Anti knew the bond they had now would never be broken, even past death they'd remain brothers.

And Sean. . ..  Anti was happy he got to mend his and everyone else's relationship with him. Everyone else needed him right now whether they knew it or not. Sean was their last shot if Puppeteer got Anti again. If Marvin didn't find a way to get his power back.

Everything had just changed so much.

Remembering the other day with everyone. It was the best day of his life. They were all so happy for once. He wished it could be that way all the time.

But he was nothing more than a puppet. Chained to a life of misery. He could never be happy. That's just the way things were.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

No.

This was not how things were. Not anymore.

Anti stood up, ignoring the dull ache in his head.

After everything he has experienced, he shouldn't have to just lay down and die. He wouldn't let Puppeteer win.

It won't end like this.

'I'm NOT the same man I was before. I'm different. I'm better off now. And I won't let him get to me. Not anymore'

He glitched out of the apartment after spilling out some of the pills, a little smirk on his face. 

You know, just to fuck with the glowy-eyed bastard.

As soon as Anti had left the Septic house, Puppeteer grinned to himself. 

'He remembers! And now, he'll come crawling back and we can finish them off to-' 

He stopped his inner monologue briefly, 'No. Maybe not. Not so soon, anyway. He must be up to something.'

If he truly wanted to come back, he would be at his side by now.

'Where are you?' he growled to himself but quickly realized the only other place he could possibly be.

He didn't want to do it but he used a fraction of his remaining power to teleport to the apartment.

'He was here, that much is certain. I can feel the power' 

But if he had been there, he just left.

He took a step and his foot lightly tapped on something. He looked down to see a prescription bottle. Pills were strewn about the floor.

Puppeteer narrowed his eyes, 'You little bastard. You wouldn't dare'

He had to find him. His heart raced as he thought of all his hard work going to waste. He couldn't let Anti kill himself and have all that power just disappear!

'When I find him, I'll make him WISH he was dead!'