The Puppeteer had indeed been watching. And he was furious. 

Here Anti was having such a great time with everyone . . . . .  and as always he was left to rot.

It pained to know that Sean didn't even realize who he actually was.

Of course he had forgotten. He was his first creation  . . .  thrown away in light of these egos. He had high hopes for Anti in helping him with his plan. He still did. He had been like him in the beginning, after all.

But in order for that to happen, Anti had to see that they didn't actually care for him. They were just afraid of what will happen once he remembers. And then they'll throw him away just like puppeteer was. Anti will come crawling back and they'd kill them all together.

But keeping in mind of Anti's previous rebellion before his memory loss . . . . . let's just say a lot of things were going to change.

Puppeteer watched as they all enjoyed their little cuddle fest. It was so sickening, he wanted to puke.

And yet weirdly enough, he felt a boiling jealousy in his belly.

He shook his head roughly, 'No. They'll all burn. Starting with Sean and then Marvin. Last will be Anti for leaving me just like Sean did unless he can prove himself. I'll take all of Marvin's power from Anti and then I'll be the next Jacksepticeye. Then no one will ever forget me again! They'll see ME!'

Calming himself, Puppeteer looked away from the scene. He had had enough of waiting.

Sitting around and doing nothing wasn't working for him. He had to move things along. Anti had been right in his desire to turn them against one another. He knew it wouldn't be easy but it wouldn't be impossible. Things were stressful for them all at the moment, after all.

Even if Anti didn't remember yet, he could still hurt them.

Anti was cuddled into his bed under the blankets, staring at the lava lamp on his bedside table. Watching the blobs slowly move up and down in the hot glass container soothed him, every once in a while lulling him into nodding off.

He knew Dark was in the room with him watching for Puppeteer, though, so he couldn't fall asleep again.

It had been a couple days since the mall adventure and still there was no sign of the puppet master but Dark and the others weren't going to take any chances. Especially Dark. Anti knew he had taken his loss hard so he didn't complain when he noticed Dark watching him sleep.

It was weird but he knew he was just trying to help.

Marvin was planning on looking more into the memory spell again to remember more today on the TV and they were all anxious about it. Anti could feel the tension in the air like butter.

Everyone was still weary about Marvin and what he did but Anti was positive there had to be a good reason for what happened. Whatever happened.

Suddenly a noise cut through the still night. A siren. Anti jolted up in bed at the loud blaring and recognized it to be a firetruck siren. Shivers ran down his spine.

He heard sudden heavy steps rush downstairs and he knew right away it was Jackie rushing to go help.

This was the third fire in almost two days. If Anti didn't know any better, he'd think something was up.

He couldn't go back to sleep now, his mind plaguing him with rough visions of him waking up in that fire. It was a little over a month ago by now but it felt like years. It felt so long ago now but whenever he thought about it, he remembered it clear as day. The smoke filling his lungs, the stinging sensation in his head and the bright flames all around him, roaring for his flesh.

He knew why it happened now and he didn't fear puppeteer for doing it to him. He did fear the flames, though. He had been so close to death that day. He was grateful for the firefighters and Henrik for saving him. 

There was sometimes, though, he also remembered when Jackie found that note and the pills under the mattress . . . . Would it just have been better if-

"You doing alright?"

Dark's voice startled him. He almost forgot he was there.

"Oh . . . hey Dark"

"I apologize for startling you." he came out of the shadows with his hands behind his back, "You heard the hero running out, too?"

He nodded, "Another fire. And don't give me shit." Anti smirked at him, "You've been in here far longer than that"

Dark huffed lightly but didn't deny it, "Something seems odd about the fires. Don't you think?"

"You think Puppeteer is the cause?"

"They are deliberate but come out of nowhere. Jackie says that even the firefighters or detectives do not understand how the fire come to be. My guess is-"

"Magic"

"Correct." Dark crossed his arms and looked out the window, "He's plotting something. What, I don't know"

Anti shrugged, "Well sitting in the middle of the night worrying about it isn't going to help. You should get some sleep"

"So should you" Dark was still just looking out the window, "Don't worry about me. I don't necessarily need sleep."

"Well I can't exactly sleep soundly with an audience" Anti huffed, making Dark smirk.

"I'm not leaving. Not letting it happen again. I don't take failure well. So just deal with it"

Anti rolled his eyes and flopped back down on the bed. There was silence again as the sirens deadened, making it awkward again, "You know you could always-"

"No. I'm not giving Sean any more reason to hate me. I'm fine. I'll go back in the shadows. You won't even notice I'm here"

"Yeah right" Anti mumbled to himself. But Dark was right. Soon enough, his tiredness started to win over again and he forgot once more about the Iplier ego in the room, fading off into dreamland. His least favorite place as of late.

The next morning, Anti was awoken by shouting downstairs. 

He couldn't feel Dark in the room and he thought at first maybe someone was hurt so he rushed up and out of his room.

Then he heard glass shattering on the floor and his rushing halted, suddenly turning hesitant.

What if it was Puppeteer? Anti told him he wasn't afraid of him anymore but . . .  really who was he kidding? The man obviously had control over him for years and nearly killed him! It'd be impossible not to somewhat fear him.

Slowly, Anti crept his way to the stairs down each step, still listening. 

The voices were garbled from being in the other room but he could tell the voices mostly yelling were Chase, Sean and Jackie.

Finally downstairs, Anti made his way to the kitchen where the voices were coming from and popped his head in.

"If you hadn't gotten drunk, it'd be one last thing for me to worry about!" Jackie shouted.

"Oh fuck off!" Chase yelled back, standing over a bottle on the floor that had been smashed to pieces, "I don't need you worrying about me, you fooking spiderman wannabe!"

"The fuck you just say to me!?"

"Guys enough!" Sean yelled just as loud, "Arguing isn't going to help anyone! Just fooking knock it off!"

"Fook off!" they both yelled at Sean.

The others were there, too but obvious gave up in trying to calm them down a while ago.

"What's going on?" Anti finally made himself known.

Dark's face turned worried at his presence, "Uh, nothing. Let's go in the other room. Let them hash it out"

But Anti wasn't having any of that, "Oh fuck off! I'm not some helpless lamb like you all think I am! Now what the fook is going on!?"

"Chase here thinks just because Stacey doesn't want a relationship right now that it's okay to go ahead and get hammered off his fucking ass!"

"Oh fuck you! I can get drunk if I want! You don't know my life!"

"Don't know your life!? I TOLD you this would fucking happen!"

"You didn't have to smash my damn bottle!"

"Screw you! I go out night after fucking night working my ass off and I come home to your drunk ass! You're lucky puppeteer didn't come to pick you off in your state!"

"Guys please!" Sean tried to stop them from fighting but their anger issues were clearly taking the front lines.

Chase kicked at some bigger pieces of the broken bottle, "You saying I don't do shit around here!? I'm the one doing the cooking an' the cleaning this fucking house, Jackie! I don't see you lifting a damn finger!"

"Guys, we don't need this right now!" Marvin tried to intervene, "None of this arguing is going to help anything"

Jackie turned to him, anger in his eyes, "Oh you're one to talk! You lying magic bastard! If you're so great, then why don't YOU clean this mess up with your magic!"

Marvin flinched at his words, hurt, "I . . . ." but he couldn't think of anything to say, choosing to back off.

Anti growled, "Why don't you all shut the hell up!? Why are you all fighting like this!? Yeah, tensions are high but remember this is what puppeteer wants!"

Chase suddenly shoved Anti, "Shut up, cunt! I bet you're still working for the bastard! Yeah, this is just all a part of your plan, isn't it!? We were too trustin' with you! Bet Marvin's in on it too, huh!?"

Anti felt a lump in his throat, hurt by the accusations but Henrik was at his side in an instant, "Chase, you need to settle down and drink some water. You are not thinking clearly. You are definitely not sober"

Jackie wanted to argue more but Anti's words hit like a rock in his stomach. He looked over to see Jameson glaring at the both of them as well. Now that was something you didn't see every day.

"I'm not nearly as drunk as I need to be!" Chase tore away from them to go to the fridge for beer but Jackie got in his way.

"No. Just go into the living room and take a seat. We all need to just calm down"

"Who's the one who came home screaming his head off like a damn banshee!?" Chase shoved his chest hard, "Ooo! So you helped put out weird fires! Oh big deal! As if the firefighters couldn't do that job without you!" he snorted sarcastically, "You're nothing but a fooking hack"

"Chase please" Anti pleaded with him, "This isn't good for anyone right now and you know it"

"Like you'd know anything about good, fucking piece of shit! It wasn't long ago you came to us begging only to BETRAY us! How we know this isn't you doing the same thing AGAIN!? HUH!?"

Everything got quiet and Chase's words sunk in. Anti was confused at his proclamation, trying to piece it together but he really couldn't remember what he was talking about. Was that true? Had he . . . . but that didn't seem right.

Jackie could feel his rage burning again but chose to bury it for now, "Go to the living room. . . . . NOW"

Chase snorted again but wobbled his way out, leaning on the walls to not fall, "Going to my fooking room. Don't bother me"

Everyone took a breath and Jackie looked over to Marvin. He felt bad for what he said and seeing the magician look like that hurt him, "I'm sorry, Marv. I shouldn't have said what I did."

"It's okay"

"No, it's not. I'm sorry. You're not a liar. You just don't remember. . . .like most of us. And I'm sure that you had your reasons"

Marvin just shrugged.

Anti took a deep breathe, exhausted already. What a hell of a morning to wake up to. Dark nudged his shoulder, "Should have just scurried away when I told you to."

Anti rolled his eyes and Jackie looked over at him, too, "I'm sure Chase doesn't really mean what he said, Anti. He's just . .  not himself at the moment."

"Yeah. . . " Anti crossed his arms, "And he didn't mean to blurt out that information? When were you guys gonna tell me?"

'It's not important, Anti' Jameson tried to sign but Anti ignored him.

"Whatever. We'll talk about it later. Not in the mood right now." his head hurt.

Sean rubbed his temples and took a deep breathe, "So . .  . third or fourth fire in the last two days?"

"Something's up" Jackie crossed his arms.

"Yeah, that's what Dark said last night" Anti agreed.

They all looked at him with odd expressions but Anti was confused, himself. What did he say?

"What he meant" Dark interceded, "Was that something IS odd. I say it's puppeteer causing trouble. A distraction, maybe?"

"Hm" Jackie nodded, "Could be. Can't do anything about that, though. If he IS behind it then that means he teleports out just as quick as the fire started."

Marvin cleared his throat and gently escorted Henrik out of the room. Obviously the doctor understood and let him. Once Marvin re-entered the kitchen, he told them the answer, "It also means he's using up a lot of magic"

Then it all clicked for them. 

Puppeteer is planning a move very soon. Which means they had to be prepared.

As they all sat down on the couch about an hour later, Sean hummed to himself, "If he's planning something soon. . . . maybe it's time to cut off Henrik's eye connection with him?"

Marvin swallowed, "You're right. It's not an easy spell but after this we'll take care of it" Marvin took Anti's hand to take some power without asking making the glitch light-headed.

He snatched his hand away, "I told you not to do that! You know I hate that, Marv!"

"Sorry" but he didn't really seem all that sorry, getting ready to watch his new memories again. The last time was scary and worrisome but they couldn't just pretend that there wasn't any more to see.

All of them except for Chase were in the living room in front of the TV behind Marvin. They waiting tensely for the magician to utter the spell with bated breathes.

"Just. . . ." Anti bit his lip as he was trying to cut through the silence, "Let's not forget the other day, alright? We all had such a great time together. We can't just . . . . pretend like it didn't happen and hate each other."

Jameson pat his shoulder, 'No worries, Anti. I'm sure everything will be okay. We're all family, after all and family stick together'

Anti nodded and they all waited as Marvin started chanting the spell like he had days ago. His eyes glowed and the screen turned on.

He was searching through some books when he thought of a great idea. It was an advanced spell but not impossible. 

Reanimation.

Marvin thought of who or what he could possibly reanimate when he had the perfect subject in mind!

Rewatching some of Sean's old videos, he knew what he was supposed to be like. It wasn't Sean's fault he was gone.

Drawing out a symbol on the floor, Marvin readied the spell.

A spell had gone wrong. Blood everywhere. Marvin held his wound.

It was a continuation of another memory . . . or rather. . . . before that.

A man stood before Marvin that had similar features to him. His green eyes glowed dangerously, "Stupid magician" he chuckled, "You've brought me back. . . Given me life. And now . . . you'll all suffer . . . just like I had to"

"Who the fuck are you!?"

Marvin tried firing a spell at him but the man just shot towards him and gripped his throat, "You'll all die like dogs! Filthy mutts!" 

Marvin could feel something happening. He started to feel tired. Like his energy was being taken from him. He tried to fight back but before he could try anything, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

A bright glow departed from him, crawling its way to the man and inside of HIM.

The man dropped Marvin to the ground and laughed wildly, "Ahahahaha! You see what you've done!? You'll all die at me feet! Disappear like nothing just like I had to! I- ugh!"

He suddenly held his chest, a pained expression on his face. The glow of Marvin's magic already trying to break out, "Damn it all . . . . may not be meant for me . . .but I'll . . . .rghh . .  I'll make it mine. You can live for now. . . . but I'll be back . . . remember this day little magician. The day you failed everyone!"

The man was about to teleport when Marvin yelled at him, "Wait! Wh-who are you? Tell me!"

The man had an evil glint in his eyes, staring him down like a piece of meat, "Not that it matters to tell someone as insignificant as you . . . but my name. . . .  is-"

'BANG!' 'BANG!' BANG!'

Everyone shot back, startled as gunshots were fired and the TV started to smoke. Marvin lurched back as it shocked him, cutting off the connection to the memory.

Behind the TV stood Chase with his gun in his hand and a smile on his face.

His eyes glowed green.

"Oh, let's keep the secret a little while longer, eh!?! Figure it out yourselves!" he laughed but it wasn't his own. 

Chase was being possessed and they all knew who was controlling him.

'Chase' grinned at them all but mostly towards Anti, "Little puppet . . . . You see? I can make more."

"But you need the magic in me, don't you!?" Anti fired back, standing tall in front of him, "Let him go or else!"

"Or else what, puppet?" he snickered and put the gun to his head, "I have the upper hand"

"Sean, what are you waiting for!?" Jackie shook his shoulder, "Erase him!"

"I can't!"

"What do you mean you can't!?" Henrik yelled as well.

"I can only do that to an ego if they're in front of me! I'm sorry!" Sean felt helpless. There was nothing he could do.

Dark stood by Anti with determination in his eyes "It's time for a rematch"

The puppeteer in Chase's body laughed, "Hardly. One more step and I kill him" his smile grew wider, "And I know none of you want that."

Silence filled the air. Tension surrounded them. There was nothing any of them could think of to do.

Anti clenched his fists and grit his teeth together. 

They were stuck.