Anti couldn't sleep that night. He couldn't bring himself to do so with a crazed murderer in the living room.

Which was ironic, really, since he's the exact representation of what HE used to be like. It brought a whole new meaning to hating yourself.

Sam was practically glued to him still even though he adamantly tried to force him out multiple times.

'Damn eyeball. Doesn't it understand what I've been trying to tell it? If this bastard wants, he could kill him without a second thought. I'm trying to prevent that but it needs to go to the others. . . .no matter how much I hate them, they'd keep this thing safe'

He thought about trying to look for the book while Infect was asleep but he himself was always a light sleeper so he figured that move wouldn't be successful.

'Infect . . . . what a stupid fucking name. But he's turned into a large thorn in my side rather quickly. This was all a fucking massive mistake. Dammit, I wish I could take it all back!'

And as soon as he thought that, an idea hatched in his mind.

'Infect's idea . . . . getting into their heads and getting them to let their guard down . . . maybe it really could work to my advantage more than I'm giving it credit for . . . maybe I could . . .. I hate to think it but . . .'

He sighed to himself deeply and bit his bottom lip, 'My pride might have to take a hit with this one . . .'

Laying in silence for a little while longer, he went through everything he could think of in his head but just kept coming to this solution.

Finally, he picked himself up out of bed, stirring Sam and started to force his shoes on. Sam was tired but seemed to understand a little bit what was happening. And he was worried about it.

Sam wrapped his tail around Anti's fingers, trying to either latch onto him or stop him, it was sort of unclear, but either way, it got his attention.

"Sam, please . . . I know you're panicking but I see no other way"

Sam hissed and Anti scoffed at him, "I'd figured you'd love that I'm going to them. Isn't this what you wanted all along?"

Sam whined and whimpered, laying limply on Anti's hand and the glitch sighed, "Sam . . . . I know you think I'm taking a huge risk of pissing Infect off but it's better than succumbing to HIS every whim and becoming his bitch. I didn't create him only for me to become inferior. This was a huge mistake"

Sam just stared at him, strange tears leaking from his eyeball body.

" . . . . ." Anti shook his head, "And you can't come with me. Not just yet. He might leave the apartment today to follow me and what he'll see is me enacting with the plan and while we're BOTH out . . . you can find the book. It's gotta be here somewhere. Will you do that for me? Please?"

There was a stirring silence between them until Sam finally growled but it nodded in affirmation, finally giving in to his friend.

"Good. . . . thanks, Sam. I'll trust you to it, then and soon this nightmare will be long gone behind us."

It was still in the middle of the night but Anti would still make some noise to alert Infect a little. He had to be just enough clueless to lead his copy on.

Meanwhile, Sam hid in his spot that that even Anti knew about until Infect would leave. This would work. This HAD to work.

He now stood in front of the Septic's house. He hated this. He hated them all. They were all fucking idiots to him.

But in his head, he knew this was right. He couldn't win against Infect alone and if anyone knew how to beat him, it was them. It was crossing himself but he continued to remind himself this was necessary.

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend . . . .' Anti swallowed hard and rolled his eyes, 'Look at me fucking pondering this like a fucking child. Just go the fuck up to the damn door and knock on it! It's easy! Just do it! Tell them and that's that! Jackie already blindly likes you for some fucking reason!'

Anti groaned and rubbed at his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, 'This is so fucked . . .. I'm sure they'll laugh at me. Jeer. Snort and Scoff. I have not astounding reason to ask for help. Nor do I want to but . . . this is for all of our benefit, right?'

He sighed loudly again to himself, "This is bullshit"

"So's this cold but here were are out in the middle of the night OUTSIDE"

Anti glitched, flinched back at the sudden voice behind him. He took out his knife in defense, his heart racing.

Only to see Jackie standing there with his hands in his pockets and that same stupid smile on his face.

"sUP?"

Anti calmed, which confused him. He was actually expecting Infect and instead, he relaxed knowing it was the hero.

How bizarre.

He kept the knife up but a shudder coursed through him, urging him to relax further, " . . . How long did you-"

"I've kind of been here the entire time" Jackie smirked and only then did Anti notice he wasn't in his costume like usual. A hoodie and jeans. How . . .pedestrian. He actually looked normal for a change.

"You know" Jackie started, "I know I said you should swing by sometime and talk with us . . but I honestly didn't expect it to be at night like this . . . and so soon. You look shaken up. Everything alright?"

'So stupid. This was stupid' Anti snarled and berated himself, 'Why am I here? I can't do this!'

Jackie seemed to notice his distress, though and continued the one-sided conversation, "Before you say or do anything, you should know that the others are up and know you're here as well. Marvin's ready to blast you to hell . . . Chase is on a roof with a sniper, Henrik is ready to heal us and Jameson wants peace but is also willing to fight back if necessary. And I really want us to get along but if you do decide to fight us again or hurt my family, I WILL beat you down until you beg me to stop. . . . which I assume would be never. I WILL kill you, Anti. Just food for thought" he shrugged but for once, Anti was startled by him. His threats had never seemed so real.

Anti lowered the knife. He was tired all of a sudden, 'I have to remember why I'm here . . . for Sam, if nothing else'

Jackie titled his head curiously at the lowered weapon but also smiled softly. He reached for it and took it from Anti, seeing no resistance, "Alright then . . . " Jackie pulled out a walkie talkie from his hoodie's pocket, "Stand down everyone . . . . it's time to talk"

Anti snarled at him, "I hope you realize I still fucking hate you"

"Noted." the hero snorted, "Now come on and let's get inside. It's fucking cold out here"

Jackie led him across the street and up to the house further until they were at the door. He opened it and offered Anti inside but the glitch found that he couldn't step forward.

Was it a barrier of some kind? One of Marvin's spells? Or something else?

Jackie suddenly slapped his back, forcing him in, "Come on in and we can pour some drinks!"

Anti stumbled forward but found his footing before falling on his face, "Jaysus fucking christ. Don't fucking do that!"

The hero just chuckled, "Come on out, guys! Time to talk!"

Anti turned only to see a wand and a gun in his face. Looking to the other side, he saw Henrik and Jameson on the other side of the room. Just seemingly waiting for whatever was next to unfold.

"Where's my fucking book, asshole?" Marvin growled.

"Marv!" Jackie jested him in a scolding tone, "Lower your wand. And put down your gun, Chase. We're here to talk. I'm sure Anti has a good reason why he's here, right? But by the way, DO you have his book, Anti?"

Anti just shook his head.

"Fucking liar" Marvin stomped his foot on the floor, "I know you took it! Jackie said you did! That you pretty much admitted it yesterday! Where is it! You have no fucking idea the power that's in that fucking thing and the shit storm it can create!"

The feeling a guilt rose in Anti's throat, burning like acid reflux, "Actually . . . . .. I do"

Chase lowered his gun and stared at him with a fatherly look. Not the good kind of look. The disappointed one, "You fucking idiot . . . . what did you do this time?"

Jameson quickly wrote something on his board and held it up, 'You didn't hurt Sam, did you?'

Anti shook his head with a slight glare. Of course he wouldn't hurt Sam. He would never say it out loud but . . . well, he couldn't hurt HIM. Sam and kids. He couldn't hurt either one, not that they knew that exactly.

"Right" Jackie nodded, "So Sam's fine . . . what happened then? Must b pretty bad for you to come to US for help, right?"

"Who ever said I'm here for your HELP!?" Anti hated how right he was but he couldn't be soft. He was resilient at heart and that wouldn't stop now. And that's what would probably get him killed in the future.

Henrik rolled his eyes, "Tis all over your face. All over your actions . . . Vhy else vould you be here like you were? Why lower your weapon? Vhy even speak vith us when you never had before?"

"The book, Anti" Marvin raised a brow at him and sighed, "You fucked something up in it, you can't handle the repercussions and you're here now hoping we can rectify it, right? You won't say it out-loud but just fucking nod if we're in the ballpark"

He wanted to pout but a scowl seemed to work just fine enough for him at the moment and he nodded.

The Septics were quiet and Anti knew they were waiting for him to continue.

And Anti finally had to face the fact that he was doing this. He was actually asking for their help.

He cleared his throat and stood as tall as he could even though Jackie stood just a hint taller. It wouldn't intimidate him, though.

"I may have . . . . done a spell. The uh . . . the copy one"

Marvin closed his eyes and groaned, "Oh for fucks sake, you dumbass . . . . you didn't"

"I did. What of it?" Anti growled, "Whatever. It's done and now I need to know how to reverse it. It was a fuck up and I'm fine with admitting that but now I need to get rid of the bastard"

"Oh shit" Chase laughed humorlessly, "There's another one of you? And he's WORSE than you? Is that what you're saying?"

"If that's so, this is really bad, isn't it?" Jackie crossed his arms, "Want to continue? Elaborate?"

It wasn't often you'd see Jackie serious but those were the moments he was to be feared. It gave Anti a little hope in this scenario, though.

He let Jackie lead him over to the couch in the living room. The hero also had a knack for reading emotions and could tell he had been through some hard shit recently, "Need a drink?"

Anti sat down and his shoulder's dropped, finally giving in to this whole thing, "You got whiskey?"

Chase laughed, "Of course we do. I'll get the glasses"

A few drinks later and some moments and Anti was explaining everything with loose lips.

"Infect, huh?" Marvin crossed his legs and arms in thought, "He sounds exactly like you. And you hate that? It's curious"

"It's not like that. He's worse" Anti snarled, "So much fucking worse" He shot down another drink.

"How so?" Henrik asked, "He killed more people than you yesterday?"

"Hen" Jackie scolded him but Anti just snorted with a small laugh.

"Believe it or not, I actually went out with him earlier today. This afternoon, we were going to kill someone together at the park. But he . . he tested me. And I failed. And now he's forcing me under his boot like I'M the copy. Inferior."

"You kind of deserve it" Chase chuckled, "But go on further on that. How could YOU have failed on killing or hurting anyone? It's what you do"

"Did . . . ." Anti shrugged, "Haven't been much into it lately. But that's beside the point. . . he wanted to kill a mother and child. He wanted to torture and kill the child in front of her and then violate the mother, torture and kill HER. I refused."

"Why if I may ask?" Marvin had to admit he was curious. Was Jackie right in giving him a chance after all?

Anti shook his head, "I may be a killer and an insane son of a bitch but I have some standards. . . one of them being . . . I will NEVER kill or harm a child. I can't do that."

"Why?" Jackie asked bluntly and Anti glared at him. Jackie seemed unphased by it, though, "What? You want us to trust you right now, right? Be a bit more open. We need that. We deserve it. Say it"

Anti took another shot of whiskey and avoided eye contact with Henrik and Chase.

" . . . . . when I see a kid, I just see my nieces and nephews . . . and I could never do them any harm . . . . I can't do that to a kid . . . . it hurts to imagine . . . I suppose. And when Infect spoke of it he seemed so thrilled by the thought. I could see it in his eyes. The blood lust. The blood lust I once had but so much more . . . chaotic. It was terrifying. For the first time in my life . . I was scared. And then he killed that poor delivery boy . . fuck. I was scrubbing the floor for hours while that bastard licked blood off his knife and ate the pizza he brought."

"Jesus Fucking Christ" Chase coughed out, "WHAT?"

Jackie exchanged a look with Marvin, of course, already coming to a decision, "Is there a reverse spell?"

Marvin groaned, "Probably . . but you know what I'll need to do it?"

"Let me guess . . ." Henrik sighed, "Zhe book?"

The magician nodded.

Anti swallowed, "I might have it covered. We'll see when I go back home"

'How so?' Jameson wrote down.

They were all curious on what he meant.

"I'm sure that he followed me and if he did, then Sam was in charge of finding the book."

"Hold on right there" Marvin stopped him, "You don't HAVE the book . . . and you're getting SAM to find it?"

"Infect hid it somewhere"

"He FOLLOWED you?" Jackie actually seemed pissed for once, "Let's go back to that, shall we? The fuck do you mean by THAT? And why do you seem so CALM about it?"

Anti realized his mistake already and bit his lip again, "Well . . . you see . . . .Infect and I HAD a plan. It's irrelevant now but-"

"What plan?" Chase forced him to continue.

". . . . . . . . . To breach into your home, befriend you and get you to let your guard down"

"For fucks sake, Anti" Jackie pinched the bridge of his nose and bowed his head in exasperation, "Do you realize how that sounds when you're HERE with us RIGHT NOW? How do we even know any of what you said tonight was true, then? I've trusted you astoundingly so, Anti. Do not fail me now"

Anti snorted, "I don't have a fucking answer, asshole. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. But it's the truth. And if you don't believe me then we're all fucked. Maybe literally, too. This guy's a bigger freak than I'll ever be which is very shocking, really"

.

.

.

.

.

Silence filled the room and it was awkward but Anti could tell they were all thinking. They were careful and Anti understood their reasonings. But he was also impatient.

"Well? Will you assholes help me or not?!"

"We'll think about it" Jackie finally spoke, "You can leave now. We'll give you an answer tomorrow, maybe. Perhaps if you can get us the book first, we'll trust you but we need to talk this out amongst ourselves first"

Anti felt fear bubble up inside of him.

'Hold up. What? They'll . . TALK about it? But don't they realize . . . don't they . . . but why?'

He knew why but he was trying to escape the obvious. He didn't want to go back home without an answer. Without the assurance that'd help. If they didn't, they were all fucked, starting with him and Sam.

He shuddered involuntarily at the thought of being in that bastard's presence again. He couldn't do it. But he'd never admit it. He couldn't.

But for some reason, these Septics were very good at reading his emotions just as Infect was.

"You're afraid of him" Chase stated.

Anti looked up to meet his gaze but he couldn't argue with him. He just tried to gulp down his anxiety, wishing it away so he wouldn't stumble.

They could all see it now, though.

"Look" Jackie's shoulder's dropped, "This sucks . . . we can see you're scared . . . but for any plan to work anyway, you'd have to go back to your home either way. At least just try and look for the book again. If you still can't find it, let me know. We'll pretend to be ignorant that we know of the real reason you came here. Tell this Infect you were enacting his plan . . . we'll see what we can do on our end, too. Alright?"

It wasn't much but it was something.

Anti hated being so open. So soft and revealing about himself. His pride had taken a serious tole.

He just wished this could all be over soon and things could go back to the way they were before.

Anti nodded, "Fine . . . . Sam and I will try our best. We expect your support soon."

He got up and went to walk out but the others stood up as well.

Chase actually held out his hand to him to shake, "Hope this ends quickly. Then maybe we can finally be friends after all the bullshit, huh?"

Anti was confused.

Why would he say that?

But the others seemed to have the same hopeful expression on their faces. Were they stupid? Why seek HIS friendship? After everything he's done?

He could understand helping him fix a mess he created that would be bad for ALL of them but afterwards, become friends?

Not be enemies with one another? The thought was weird and he cringed and he didn't answer. He didn't know what to say.

It didn't matter anyway.

As he left the house, he noticed a strange electrical charge in the air and a shadow suddenly disappearing in the night. He HAD followed him.

So now it was time to face him once more and pretend. Put on a show and hope he'd be rid of him soon.

'Soon . . . . . for fucks sake, it better be very soon . . .'