Mark had just gotten off the phone with Sean and he looked oddly at Amy, "I don't know. I think I should go check on him. Should I? Or should I call Evelien?"

Amy shook her head, "I heard Evelien in the background."

"Should I call the police in Brighton, then for a wellness check?"

Amy thought about it and shook her head. Something about this seemed off, "He sounded serious. He's your friend, Mark"

"I know, I know. It's just. . . weird. He sounded like he was losing his damn mind. The egos are real? My egos were there? God, I hope he's not suffering from Carbon monoxide poisoning else I'll be the sole owner of a clothing brand and I can't handle that kind of pressure" he gave a little laugh to offset how worked up he really was.

"Well just in case, I booked us a couple of red-eye tickets." Amy put her phone away, "You haven't seen him in a while anyway. Let's go. It'll be fun"

Mark smacked his lips together, deep in thought and sighed, "I guess. . . . if he's not dead by the time we get there because of CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING!. . . .Maybe it's just an elaborate video of his he's talking about, too. Yeah, let's go. I'll grab the suitcases"

Amy was already on the phone talking with Ethan about dog sitting Chica and Henry.

Wilford was popping Sam in the face knock after knock. There was blood running down his face but he didn't care just as he didn't care when Chase had shot him repeatedly.

It didn't matter. He couldn't feel it.

He was so focused on Wilford, though, he didn't notice Jackie coming behind him.

The hero smacked the knife out of his hand and gripped him in a full nelson, letting Wilford go as hard as he could.

They had to try and knock him out. Maybe if Gab got to Evan quick enough, he'd be able to come sooner and restrain him again.

Suddenly, though, Anti got control back again.

Wilford stopped hitting him, "Is he gone?"

Anti snarled at him, "WHY'D YOU STOP!? KEEP GOING! KILL ME!"

Jackie held him, "Anti, I'm sorry. We're not gonna do that. Evan will come and-"

"HE WON'T FUCKING STOP! DON'T YOU GET IT! IT'S OVER! IF YOU DON'T KILL ME, HE'LL JUST KILL YOU ALL, TOO! HE'S ALREADY FUCKING WON! END IT NOW!!!"

Jackie hugged him but hard enough so Sam couldn't catch him off guard, "Anti . . I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's not your fault. None of it was your fault." he cried in his hair, "We'll figure this out. I know we will. We always do.. We ALWAYS do"

Anti sobbed, his breathing hitching, "Jackie. . . . . I'm sorry. . . . . . I should have visited more. . . I should have guh . . .grrrhh I sh-should have. . .." he struggled against Sam who was trying to take back control again, "Huuuuhhhh . . . .. I should have stopped being . . . so paranoid . .. spent more time . .. with . . you all. . . I'm sorry. . . I'm so-sorry"

Jackie held onto him tighter, holding onto him even more secure, getting ready to fight again, "It's okay. We all still love you Anti.. . . Wilford. . . . don't hold back"

Anti's eye went green again but had a burst of strength, flipping Jackie over in front of him and kicking him in the head.

He then made a blast of lightning strike down on Wilford.

When the smoke cleared, Wilford was laying on the ground unconscious.

"WILLIAM!"

Dark had been busy both giving himself and Anthony a healing potion and fighting with Mark about giving him his powers back.

"Dammit, come on!" Mark cursed at him, "He just flattened William! Admit it! You NEED me!"

"I NEED YOU LIKE A FUCKING HOLE IN THE HEAD!" Dark yelled back at him, "NOW STAY THE FUCK HERE AND OUT OF THE WAY!"

Him and Anthony went to join Jackie in the fight, leaving Mark by himself .

But Mark wasn't going to be made useless.

He managed to sneak a couple of healing potions off of Dark.

'If they could move the fight off a ways, I could get to Wilford. Then Dark would HAVE to give me my powers back!'

Gab teleported to Marvin and Evan's home.

It was dark and quiet in the house but she knew where Evan probably was.

She raced off to their bedroom where she saw a soft light emitted under the crack of the door.

Not bothering to knock, she poked her head in. She saw him sitting in the middle of the room reading.

But something was different. There was a bubble around him and it was glowing. The book he was reading. The pages were moving way faster than anyone could actually read them.

There were so many books he had gone through.

"Uh . . Evan?"

He didn't respond.

She came a little closer into the light where she'd think he'd see her but he didn't. He was really focused.

Finally, Gab was right next to him and pat his shoulder, moving her hand into the light, "Evan, are you okay?"

The magician suddenly jolted out of his musings and the spell surrounding him died off, "Gab!? What are you doing here!? Oh no . .. was I too late again?"

Gab shuddered. She didn't want to tell him but she knew she had to, "The demon . . forced its way out of the spelled rope you made. He killed almost all of the Iplier egos. . . Henrik and his family are gone and . . Bella. . . .. it's just Jackie and Anthony left and Dark, Mark and Wilford."

Evan swallowed, blinking slowly, "I . . . . . god. . . fuck" he breathed out shakily, "Dammit . . .. but maybe it's not too late"

Gab squinted, "Not too late? You think you have a spell that could bring them back?"

"I don't know. . . WAIT! Did Sean and Evelien survive?"

Gab nodded, "Oh, yeah. Sorry. They hid in a closet. And actually . . . .. I'm pretty sure the demon forgot about YOU, too."

Evan raised a brow, "Well that's a little insulting. . . but anyway, I think I made a breakthrough. The spell I was in allowed me to alter time in my own bubble. I was in there for probably a few weeks"

"A FEW WEEKS!?"

"It's dark magic but who gives a shit now, right?" Evan chuckled a little, "As if the magic council can do anything more to hurt me . . . But anyway with my findings, remember when the demon said we all exist because of HIM and a mistake HE made a long time ago?"

"Yeah?"

"He was wrong. He told Anti that he targeted the ORIGINAL Sean. Sean was depressed and the demon hovered over him trying to ruin him. But instead, Sean overcame the demon and Sam was spread across the multiverse in atoms."

"Yeah, that's what he said. What how do you know what the demon told Anti for parts you were there for?"

"Magic"

Gab rolled her eyes at herself, "Yeah, nevermind"

"Anyway" Evan stood up, "I've come to a conclusion. . . . All of the multiverse Seans' are the last chain link in the Septic egos. Anthony said a long time ago that to move on to the next set, he had to kill all of the septic egos and THEN that set's Sean or else he'd be stuck. There's a REASON for that! It all makes sense now!"

"It does?" she wasn't quite following but whatever got him to an answer was fine by her.

"YES!" Evan clapped his hands, "Sean was the true creator. The original Sean was the one that with COMBINED with the demon . . . created the multiverse. JUST like how Mark created his own with the Ipliers!"

"So wait" Gab stopped him, "So what you're saying is . . . could we find this original Sean and get him to bring our friends and family back again?"

Evan stopped, licking his lips, "Well. . . . no. Unfortunately, that's not the case" he sighed, "I already checked up on that. The original Sean is dead. . . . he died from a respiratory infection that plagued his world. Combined with his asthma .. . he didn't make it"

Gab's heart ached, "Then . .. then how. . .?"

Evan stopped her, putting his finger up, "I still have an idea. There's still hope.. . . . . OUR Sean. If I'm right and all of the Sean's are connected to each other just like how all the versions of the Septics are . . . . Sean could have an imprint of the demon's power inside of him."

They looked at each other.

Gab didn't know if she believed what she was hearing.

Evan gave a small smile, "There's still hope, Gab. . . . go help the others. I'll go to Sean's"

Dark and Anthony rushed together at Sam before he could kill Jackie.

Wilford was still unconscious and Mark was looking for the opportunity to get to him.

Sam saw the two coming at him and smirked. He grabbed a discombobulated Jackie by his hair and yanked him up with a knife to his throat, "STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Anthony stopped.

Dark was slower but saw he had no other choice. But this was confusing.

Why was Sam threatening to kill Jackie when he could just KILL him?

Anthony recognized that the green eye was faded, "ANTI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Anti dropped Jackie. He got what he wanted. For them to stop. If they knew what he was really planning, they'd try and stop him.

He put the knife up to his throat, "I'm doing this for you"

As fast as he could, Anti slit open his throat, attempting to kill himself.

Jackie gasped, "NO! ANTI!" He grabbed him and put his hand over his throat to try and stop the bleeding, "ANTI WHY'D YOU DO THAT?! WE CAN SAVE YOU!"

Anti choked on his own blood and shook his head, "No . . . no, you can't. . . . . ." blood poured out of his mouth, "You c-can't. . . save. . .. ME. . . .I'm . . .. not w-worth that. . . "

Jackie cried but still kept his hand over this throat, "ANTHONY! Get me a healing potion now!"

Anthony grabbed one out of Dark's pocket.

Dark was getting desensitized to all the blood around Anti but the prospect of losing him was still like a red hot iron rod in his throat.

He was finding it hard to move.

He hadn't been like this in years since he had to fight Mark.

So hesitant.

But before Anthony could throw the potion, Sam returned and threw Jackie off of him, "HIS BODY DOESN'T NEED THAT SHIT! HE HAS ME!"

He stabbed Jackie in the shoulder.

"Ah! Son of a-" Jackie hopped up and stepped back, watching as Anti's body stopped bleeding.

The wound was still there but it didn't bleed anymore.

Dark was knocked out of his daze and went to grab Sam but he glitched, teleporting behind him and hitting him over the head.

Dark grunted but whipped around to attack him.

Anthony went to strike lightning on him but Anti just grabbed the lightning for himself and whipped it around him, knocking them all backwards.

Anthony knocked his head on a rock but he refused to pass out. He was anything but okay, though. He could feel his whole body wobbling.

Dark tried to entrap Sam in his shadows again but the demon was quick to disperse it.

"Are you a fool?" he asked Dark, "I know now that when I was scattered along the multiverse, a part of me latched onto Mark. That other part of me made a deal with him. He accidentally helped in creating you thus a part of ME is in YOU. . . . You can't kill me, Dark . . . that part of myself in you won't let you"

Dark snarled at him, "That's not why I hesitate"

"Oh I know" Sam cooed, "You don't wanna kill your little fuck boy" he teased, "How sweet. . . . how fucking stupid. You sure this is the way you wanna die?"

But the demon was unguarded and cocky. Jackie grabbed him and held him in a tight bear hug from behind.

Sam practically hissed but could feel the knife was still lodged in Jackie's shoulder. He scrambled a hand free and immediately took hold of it, twisting it.

"AAAAHHHH!" Jackie faltered and let go of him.

Sam whipped around and shoved him to the ground. He grabbed hold of the knife and ripped it out and was about to stab him.

Jackie was quicker, though, and grabbed his wrist, "Dammit, Anti! Come on! Help me out, here!"

"You should have killed him when you had all those other chances" Sam taunted him, "Some hero you are. You couldn't even save your own family . . . .. again. How's it feel to be a failure?"

Jackie battled Anti's amplified strength. The knife was way too close to him.

"Anti. . . . Anti, I know you hear me. . . . and it's okay. You KNOW no one blamed you. . . . . you KNOW that. . . . . You remember what we do. . .. . when we feel like we've lost hope?"

Sam snarled but Anti was fighting. The green eye was rapidly changing back and forth from green to normal again.

Jackie continued, ignoring the tears that were flooding down his face, "We sing that song . . . remember when I lost hope fighting against Anthony? You sang that song. . . . it gave us all hope. . . it gave us all strength."

"You're stupid fucking song means nothing" Sam growled, "But if you want to die singing like a dead canary. . .. then be my fucking guest"

Jackie ignored Sam. He just saw Anti. He saw his pain and how hard he was fighting.

"Some . . . .where . . . .. . over the . . . . rainbow . . . . . way up . . . high~"

Anti was fighting. He tried so hard.

Dark held out hope. He knew he needed to help Jackie and yank Sam off but a part him realized.. . maybe Sam was right.

The reason he faltered. The reason he hesitated every time when he had the chance to stop him.

Was it because of the piece of the demon inside of him?

He couldn't bring his legs to move.

Jackie shuddered out, groaning. He could feel the knife's point against his chest above his heart.

"There's. . . . a. . . .land . . .  that I heard of . . .  once. . .  in a . . . lullaby~"

Tears crawled down Anti's angry looking face.

Wilford was still unconscious. Mark was over him, trying to wake him up. Anthony couldn't get up in time.

It was just Sam against Jackie.

"Some . . . .where . . . .. . over the . . . . rainbow . . . . .skies are . . ..  blue~"

The knife dug in harder against his skin. Jackie knew he wasn't going to make it out of this.

"And the .  . . dreams. . . . you dare to . . . . . dream . . . . . really do . . .come true~"

Jackie cried but he could still try for Anti.

He remembered all the good times.

All the Septics and their families.

He knew Anti loved them.

He loved them all so much.

"Some . . day I'll wish upon a star. . . . And wake up where the clouds are far . . . behind  . . . .me~

Sam pressed the knife in harder, "JUST FUCKING DIE ALREADY!!"

Jackie was losing the battle.

"Where troubles melt like lemon drops!  . . .Way above the chimney tops! . . .That's where you'll . . . . find . . . . .  me . . . . . . . ."

"JACKIE!" Anti tried to force his way through.

It was too late.

Sam used the opportunity to stab the knife into Jackie's chest into his heart.

There was a moment of silence.

Anti was back but . . . ..

It was too late.

Jackie looked up at him, one last tear going down his cheek.

He smiled up at Anti.

"Some. . . where. . . . . over the . . . . . rain. . . . "

His breath hitched and his eyes glazed over. . . . . .

Anti screamed, "NNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!"

His heart was broken. It felt like someone had grabbed hold of it and squeezed it tight, clawing it apart.

His body was shaking from both fighting against Sam and fighting his own urges to just give up.

He sobbed, knowing now that he had finally lost all of his first and second family.

All that was left was Anthony, Gab, Dark and Wilford.

But it wasn't enough.

He still murdered everyone else.

Anti made himself stumble off of Jackie's corpse.

He walked backwards.

His head felt like it was splitting open, it hurt so bad.

Sam was trying to take complete control back.

Whatever the magic council had done, Sam was now focusing on sealing his control back for good.

Anti had only one chance.

Anthony was back on his feet but he was still horrified at what he had just witnessed.

Anti was coming towards him.

Should he just let him kill him at this point?

No. . . no, he still had Gab to think about.

"Anthony" Anti wobbled over to him, "Anthony, you have to kill me. Do it now"

Anthony just stared at him, "Anti . . . no . . . no. . I can't lose you, too"

"I'M ALREADY GONE, ANTHONY, NOW HURRY UP AND DO IT! HE'S GOING TO TAKE FULL CONTROL BACK! I WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP HIM NOW! IT'S UP TO YOU!"

"Anti" Anthony cried. Why did this feel so horrible? Losing everything all in one day like this.

He couldn't lose another, "You're my brother, Anti. Please . . . ."

Anti was losing his temper. WHY COULDN'T HE SEE!? HE HAD NO CHOICE IN THIS!

"PLEASE! ANTHONY, DO IT!"

"I WON'T DO THAT!"

"KILL ME! Please . . . please, you HAVE to"

"You . .. " Anthony had his hands in his hair, shaking his head furiously, "You CAN'T tell me to do that! NOT NOW! YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Anti's eye twitched and his whole demeanor changed.

He started to smirk with a deadly promise.

Anthony could FEEL the change.

Anti snickered, "You were too late"

Sam was back. . . .

And this time, he was back for good.