"ANTI! YOU LYING SON OF A BITCH!!!" 

Chase's screaming rang from the halls.

Marvin stared Anti down, just as much in horror as him and the sudden realization.

"Anti . . . . Infect . .  he . . . did he?"

Anti's face suddenly turned steel. The red streaks of dried tears in his eyes stained there but his soul behind them hardened. Breathing out, Anti snarled and quickly wiped his face and sniffled so there was no trace of his pain.

"I'm gonna fucking kill the bastard"

Marvin was surprised by his sudden change in mood but gripped his shoulder, "Anti, now think first. You don't stand a chance against Infect and you TOLD us as much. Remember? I know that look in your eyes just as I see it in any of the others when they're pushed enough, especially Jackie. . . . . . You can't do this alone."

Marvin shoved one of Jackie's shirts in his chest, "Change. . . . then we'll talk to Chase CALMLY. . .and take down this clone. Okay?"

Anti didn't like this plan, "That's stupid. We'd be wasting time"

"You'd lose if you went after him now and you know it. I feel your longing to save the kids . . . as mind-blowing as that is- but it's fine! Great, even!. . . . but we also need a plan. Or else Infect will kill you AND our niece and nephew"

Anti scoffed and looked away but he knew Marvin was right, "Fine . . .  you'll keep Chase from shooting me?"

"I mean, I'll try- I mean yes. Yes, of course"

Anti gave him a look before the magician bolted out of the bathroom.

Chase was just on the other end of the hall with the others behind him but he saw Marvin quickly bolt out of the bathroom.

The father stormed closer, "He's in there, isn't he!? I'm gonna blow his fucking brains out!"

"Chase, now calm down-"

Chase pulled out one of his guns and aimed it at the door, "On the count of three, motherfucker! Tell me where they are!! One-"

"Chase, stop it!" Jackie stood in front of the gun, "This isn't helping and you're wrong! Just lower your gun and let him talk!"

Chase didn't lower the gun and he took the safety off, "TWO!"

"For fucks sake" Henrik pushed up his glasses, "Chase, there are more pressing matters at hand. We've all been through a lot already today! Now stop acting out and just listening with a sound mind!"

"THREE-" Chase shoved Jackie out of the way and was about to shoot the door.

But Anti suddenly glitched in front of him with the gun on his chest. It surprised Chase so he didn't pull the trigger but his gaze dug into him, "You got some nerve"

"Sam's dead" 

" . . . . what?"

Anti looked away, ashamed, "Sam's dead. Infect killed him. . . . I was a mess and I came here. And after he killed Sam and wiped his corpse off on me . . . he did say he wanted to make you all hurt and he was going to bring the kids into it. . . . I  . . . I wasn't myself and I forgot. . ..  I wasted time with my own selfish and stupid emotions. We need to find them NOW"

"Anti" Jackie sighed, "Your emotions are NOT stupid . . . should you have told us? Yeah. But you were in pain, too, man"

Anti refused to acknowledge him but Chase's shoulders dropped, just staring at him.

"Chase, put the fucking gun down" Marvin the gun away from Anti, "Now let's talk strats. Jackie. What you got?"

"Uh . . . ."

Marvin snapped his fingers at him, "Hurry up!"

"AH! Okay Uh . . " Jackie cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head, "Oh! Anti, he's practically you but way meaner, right? Where would YOU go to hide a victim to try and kill or hurt them?"

Chase stared at Jackie, "Dude. . . . not helping"

Anti thought about it, though, "Hm . . . well usually I'd huddle a victim into my apartment. But these are two small kids so it might be different. I'd never hurt hurt or kill a kid so the set-up might be different. There's several other people in the building that KNOW I don't have children and would be suspicious right away"

Jameson tapped his foot for attention, 'So somewhere even more secluded?'

Anti crossed his arms, "I'm not sure where, though. . . .."

Chase grabbed his shoulders, looking him straight in the eye, "Anti . . . think, man. Please"

Henrik hummed, "Vhy do we think he'd KILL the kids, anyway, though. Anti just said . . . well . .  what I mean is  . .  . Vhat if Infect doesn't kill them right AWAY."

"He will, though" Anti stopped him, "He's far worse than I ever was. He's never known Sam personally so he. . . never mind"

"He's worse, though" Jackie repeated, "Which means he wants to hurt us all MORE. And what would hurt us more than just killing the kids?"

Chase gulped, "Killing them . . ..  in front of us?"

Anti blinked, "Shit . . .  you might be right. He could be waiting until we find him to kill them . . .. but that still doesn't help!" he glitched out and stomped his foot, "I have NO idea where he could be or where the book is to get rid of him, where the kids are, NOTHING! I'M COMPLETELY USELESS HERE!"

"Anti-"

"No!" he stopped them, "I am! I couldn't help Sam so how could I ever help Kallie and Sammy! FUCK!" he kicked the wall beside him hard, "THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!! If I had never created him then none of this would have ever happened! All because I was too desperate to want you guys dead! Goddammit!"

"Geez, thanks, man" Marvin rolled his eyes, "You done with your temper tantrum so we can-"

"NO!  . . . . . wait" Anti suddenly thought of something, ". . . . . .I think I have an idea. Temper tantrum"

Marvin blinked, "Yeah?"

"I glitch out when I'm upset enough

"Yeah you do" Jackie snorted.

"And when I glitch, lights flicker out of my control. . . .. Infect's never warmed up to kids. He hates kids. Which means . ."

"Oh, he's gonna be pissed" Henrik smirked, "So ve need to find out somewhere where the power is unstable currently?"

"I can find it" Jackie smirked, "I'll head up to the tallest building in town and look around. You guys get ready. It's gonna be one hell of a fight"

"If the kids aren't already dead" 

Everyone stared at Anti and Chase punched his shoulder, "Shut . . . .up"

"What? I only meant that if he gets pissed off enough, he might change his mind and just-"

"Not another word!" Chase grit his teeth, "We're getting my kids back . . . you're gonna help us . .  we're gonna take this bastard down. Got it?"

Anti was still unsure but shrugged, "I suppose if anyone can take down a clone of me, it's you bastards"

A few minutes later, Jackie spoke to Chase over a walkie-talkie, "Chase, you read?"

"No. I'm more into streaming than reading, my dude"

"No, I meant, do you copy?"

"No, Anti, did that"

"Enough with the dad jokes, man! You hear me! Anyway, I see a building just outside of town. The lights are going crazy once in a while and then stopping  . .. it's repeating that. Might be where they are"

The others looked at each other from back at the house and Anti and Marvin grabbed them all, teleporting to the building Jackie was.

Anti blinked and shivered at the sudden cold rush he felt in the air being up so high, "That's the old aquarium. I thought it was out of power, though"

"Looks like this other you has learned some new things you don't know, then." Jackie sighed, "Which is kinda bad for us. Why an aquarium?"

Chase snarled, "I used to take them there all the time with Stacey . . . . . fucker's toying with us. Let's get closer. I could see if I can snipe him from above. I'll blow his fucking head off"

They all stared at Chase, kind of surprised by his rage but it was understandable.

"What?" Chase pulled his sniper off his back, "The fucker's gone too far . . . . And unlike Anti, we're taking him down NOW"

"Wait, what?" Anti blinked, "What do you mean by that?"

Jackie snorted, "What? Lately, we've been LETTING you go, dude. Ever since  . . . Sam . . . . you've been different. Less hostile."

Marvin pat Anti's back, "Don't dwell on it to much. You're just a lot less scary than you used to be"

Jameson nodded, 'Now Infect's the scary one!'

Anti felt his shoulders drop and pouted but it wasn't the time to dwell, like Marvin said.

They had an infection to take care of.