Marvin made himself forget a long time ago.

But there was something about what Anti said that triggered his brain.

He knew the other Septic. The man that tried to kill Anti. For some reason he wanted Anti so bad again, though. He couldn't figure out why.

There was no way he could go to his brothers.

Why not?

Because they didn't remember anything either and Marvin made damn sure of it unlike him.

But he was still stuck on the why. He had to remember why.

And why could he only use magic again in fits and bursts at a time?! it didn't make any sense to him! It was like life was playing with him. Toying with his heart and mind.

Marvin sighed and paced around in his room in thought. If he didn't hurry, things weren't going to end well, he could feel it.

Anti was playing a crossword game with Henrik down in his office. The doctor was testing his memory with a repeated crossword from the other day and really, he was doing quite well. 

It was boring as hell but Anti didn't mind. He could only suffer through so much silence though.

"Did Jackie find out any more about the apartment? He went with Chase earlier right?"

"Correct. They came back a couple hours ago. You didn't ask yourself?"

Anti shrugged, "I don't know. Sort of on the fence if I want to know or not."

"I see. . . . . Vhat is this word, you think?"

Anti just shrugged again, not really motivated enough to figure it out "I don't know. So the other day then when Jackie came home all disoriented and shit. . . . you think it had something to do with the mystery ego?"

Henrik smirked and removed his glasses, leaning back. It was obvious Anti was done with the game today, "It's very likely. He has magic capabilities so it is very plausible Jackie was hypnotized into coming home instead of going to the apartment"

"And that's why he went back again? With Chase this time? And why Chase? Surely magic would be stronger than a gun"

"Ah but the mind of the caster is only so fast. A bullet is faster"

"Guess you're right. But how would you know?"

Henrik shrugged this time, "Science. The mind can only work so fast, my friend, no matter what sort of abilities you have. Yes, you can think ahead but only so far. We can only try and stay ahead of this . . . . magician for as long as we can."

"Until what? Until I remember everything? And what if that doesn't go so well for you guys? The magic guy seems to want my memories to come back faster"

"We can only hope you'll remember us and how we are NOW rather than before. I can only hope. I wouldn't mind if you stayed like zhis but odds are your personality vill change again. Tis only natural."

"What about Marvin?"

Henrik didn't seem to follow, "Vhat about Marvin?"

"He's a magician, too. He could help and-"

"Anti . . . Marvin is not actually REAL magician."

"What? Of course he is! I saw it myself! He did that card trick and-"

"Anyone could do a card trick if zhey practice enough. Tis slight of hand. Manipulation. Marvin is practiced vell in the art of it. He has grown out of it for a while but it seems with you back, perhaps he has grown a fondness for it again."

"I don't understand"

"Marvin is a street performer magician, Anti. A crowd pleaser. Seeing you light up must have helped him practice more again. But he is not a real magician. Us Septic egos all have our ticks. I am a doctor with knowledge of science and the human body, Jackie is a hero with high strength and agility and you are a glitch with electric capabilities. Chase, Jameson and Marvin are more 'normal' in a sense but still have their abilities, as well"

"So half of us are special and the other half isn't? Sounds stupid to me"

"Zhat is not what I meant, Anti. Sean created us differently, yes, but we all have our part in life to play. We all are better at something than others. Chase, for instance, is a better parent than any of us would be. And Jameson is vell versed in sign language and miming. Quite the story-teller as well."

"And Marvin?"

Henrik paused, looking quite confused, "Well . . . .  slight of hand and tricks suit him well. He has his aesthetic and some senses are  . . . higher than others I suppose sometimes"

"You're saying Marvin isn't special?" Anti couldn't believe what the doctor was saying but also Henrik did look quite perplexed. Like he was trying to put together something but it wasn't happening in his head. Like he was trying to remember something.

Henrik just ended up shaking his head, "If you are going to twist my words, you can leave, Anti. I think ve both need a bit of a break, yes?"

Anti breathed a sigh but got up and left the room anyways, leaving Henrik to his thoughts. Anti was also deep in thought himself. Was Marvin just manipulating him that day? But he seemed so excited, too. Eyes filled with hope. Something didn't add up but he couldn't place it.

Sean leaned over his counter. There was so much that was racing through his head and none of it made any sense. He could believe Anti didn't remember him. He could FEEL that. But wanting to go back to the other Septic egos? How in the hell? They were keeping him with them? How did that even happen? Were they really just 'okay' with it?

He tried calling their phones but none of the numbers worked anymore. He didn't know how it came to this. Why did they just all shut him out? What did he do? He knew where they lived but he felt that if he just came bursting in at their door, they'd retaliate on him or go on the offensive.

Sean shook his head as a ringing started to make itself known.

'Fucking Tinnitus' he groaned and drank a glass of water.

"Hey babe, what's wrong?" Gab came up from behind him. Her kind eyes were filled with worry, putting Sean back at ease.

"I'm fine, Gabbers. Just my Tinnitus acting up is all"

"Have you tried that trick I showed you? The pressure points?"

"Yeah. Not helping. It's fine. I'll just go rock out with my drums to drown it all out"

"No!" she shoved him playfully, "That's even worse!"

He chuckled, "You worry about me too much"

"You have a lot on your mind. Maybe you should turn in early? Start fresh tomorrow?"

"I don't know" BB came in and brushed himself along Gab and Sean's shins, making the man chuckle, "You think BB would snuggle with me?"

Gab giggled a little but turned serious again, "You know . . . . I know you're worried about them. I've never met them but . . . . I bet they don't REALLY hate you. Maybe you guys just need to talk it out?"

"I don't know if any amount of talking could solve it. They've never been this way before. And with Anti being there now? I don't know. Maybe it's a trap. What if they need me? Or what if they don't at all?" he groaned and his hand down his face, "This is all way too fooking much right now."

"I could come with you if you'd want?"

"No way in hell. I don't want to risk you accidentally getting hurt."

"Your ego seemed pretty hurt. Anti. . . .  you sure he doesn't need your help? He seemed pretty scared."

Sean swallowed and thought about it. He couldn't get Anti's words out of his head. How he looked so afraid of him.

"I don't know . . .. I'll think about it. Maybe tomorrow I'll figure something out." he quickly pecked her cheek and went off to take that nap.

'Maybe I should go. I miss them so much . . . . why do they all hate me now?'

Jackie and Chase sat at the kitchen table together. They weren't talking but rather thinking very deeply to themselves. They couldn't piece it together. Who this man could possibly be. When they went there, Chase nearly got sick. He hadn't seen Anti's living conditions before yet and it was deeply concerning to him. And now the more he thought about it, the more it all made sense.

"This mystery guy was using Anti. Willingly or not he was using him for his own gain, that much is clear. He wants us dead. But if he has so much power then why doesn't he attack already? He knows where we live"

Jackie kept biting his lip here and there, "A tactic? Making us let down our guard? I don't know, man. But I think Anti wasn't as willing as we all thought before. I mean the note and the pills . . . . Unless the man planted those there to get us to feel sorry for Anti."

"I don't think so. Living on his own like that must have been hard. Being used like some trained animal." Chase pinched the bridge of his nose, "The questions we should be worrying about right now though are 'who the fuck is this guy' and 'how do we get rid of him?'"

Jackie nodded in agreement, "Yeah  . . .  something else I don't understand. . .  why wear a mask? If he's a septic ego, then that doesn't make sense. We'd still have no idea who he is."

"Dude, I don't know" Chase got up to grab a cup of tea, "Don't know anymore. This whole thing is fooking confusing. I don't see why we can't just ask Dark-"

"Because if we ask that bastard for ANYTHING, we'll owe him and I'm not having that. You know how skewed he is about that kind of stuff. And if it's got anything to do with Anti? Pft. We'd have a whole new problem on our hands"

"I guess" he sipped his tea with a sigh, "This sounds douchey but I hope Anti remembers stuff soon. It would just take a lot off our plate, you know?"

"I hear ya" Jackie agreed, "At least then we'd know more"

Anti was walking to his room after leaving Hen's office. He couldn't get it out of his head. It bothered him and the more he thought about it, the more this weird buzzing noise started bothering him in his head.

Almost like a ringing or static on a radio. It didn't hurt but it was super annoying.

In his distraction, he accidentally bumped into someone and stumbled back only to be saved by Jameson before he hit the floor. The mute man looked apologetic and frantically signed. At first Anti was going to wave it off with a smile but just laughed, "It's okay, Jameson. I understand. I'm fine"

Jameson looked surprised and signed something again only for Anti to answer, "Nah I just got this buzzing in my head. I'm gonna go take a nap and see if-" he stopped.

Jameson signed to him, 'You understand what I'm signing?'

Anti swallowed but nodded, "Yeah . . .uh. . .yeah I guess I do! Man, you must be an awesome teacher, JJ! That's so cool!"

Jameson was thrown off but smiled, 'That's good. I'm glad we can communicate better now. Hope you feel better' and he walked away.

Anti felt like sweating. He actually didn't remember the signing. It just came to him naturally all of a sudden. Hopefully Jameson wouldn't see it as something odd, though. He didn't remember anything else like memories.

Meanwhile, Jameson was thinking about telling the others. He agreed they would tell each other if Anti started to act odd but he didn't want to seem brash about it. Maybe it was just some fluke? Some coincidence?

Marvin left his room finally to go on his way outside for some fresh air. He just needed a breather from all the weird and troublesome shit that was going on. He tried everything he could think of to remember more but it wasn't coming to him. He tried meditating, breathing exercises, napping and even self-acupuncture but it was all for nothing. 

He knew if he didn't remember something soon then something seriously bad could happen. Why did he have to erase parts of his OWN memory!? Perhaps it was the panic. Maybe he thought it would be better for everyone.

Turning a corner, he crossed paths but Anti who seemed to be on his way to his own room.

"Hey Anti" he greeted lightly and noticed something odd.

He nodded in greeting but didn't say anything, holding his head. Before he could go past him, Marvin grasped his wrist, "Hey what's wrong? You feeling okay, man?"

In Marvin's grasp, Anti breathed in sharply and shook.

He saw something in the back of his mind. Blood on Marvin's face. Tears running down his cheeks, his mask cracked on the floor. 

Words rang out, "Please stop! I can help you!"

Anti suddenly whipped out of Marvin's grasp and the blood was gone. The magician just seemed more concerned now.

"Anti. Hey, you okay? Answer me"

But he just backed away, "It's nothing! It's just a headache. I'm fine. Really, Marv. Don't worry. Not like you can do anything about it anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he looked hurt, "I could help you, Anti"

The words rang in his head again and Anti looked away, "No you can't! Maybe if you actually had magic, you'd be able to but you don't!"

He briskly walked off, close to his own room but Marv wanted answers, "Hey now, that's not fair, Anti! Come back here!"

"Leave me alone!" Anti's door was open and he was so close to running in and locking himself inside for the rest of the day. Just a few more steps.

But Marvin was persistent and followed him, "Anti! Get back here and fucking talk to me! You can't just say shit like that!"

Anti reached for his door.

Marvin reached his hand out and the door slammed in Anti's face, making him fall back to the floor with a yelp.

Anti stared at the door and slowly turned his head to Marvin who looked equally as shocked.

"Wh. . . . . how did I? . . . How?"

Neither of them seemed to know. 

But now they knew something.

They were all wrong about Marvin.