"You STILL haven't asked her out? My god, you're sad"

Marvin was at Anti's place again after having downed another one of his potions. Thankfully he was able to make this batch taste better.

Anti blushed, "I told you, I have other things on my mind right now"

"Yeah yeah, freeing your brothers and what not. Whatever. Sure." Marvin waved his hand dismissively, "You could at LEAST text or call her"

Anti shrugged, sinking deeper into his chair.

"So Jackie now knows that I know" Marvin continued, "What's your plan for Hen, James and Chase?"

"Uh . . ."

"You don't have one, do you?"

"Not exactly" he gulped a little, "Didn't think I'd get this far, honestly. If I was able to convince Jackie, I was hopeful enough that I could get everyone else on my side, too. . . . I didn't think far enough ahead"

"Why? Because you thought Jackie would just kill you?"

"Sort of"

The magician chuckled, "Nah, Jackie's not that kind of guy. He might have beat you but I don't think he would have killed you"

"My destroyed chair says otherwise. Thanks again for the new one by the way. Except I think Jackie's a little mad about that, though, too"

Marvin snorted, "He's just jealous I beat him to it. Now back to the plan! I want to crack these chains as soon as possible, glitchy!" he snickered playfully, "I think it'd be better to save Chase for last. He brown-noses Sean so hard, his nose might as well be literally covered in shit"

"Ew! Marv!"

"So here's what I'm thinking!" he ignored Anti's disgust and was about to go on until there was a tapping on the window.

'Tap, Tap'

Anti and Marvin looked over to see Jackie at the window but he looked . . . . different.

Anti went over to open the window, "J-jackie? That really you?"

The hero snorted as he made his way in in a regular gray hoodie and jeans, "Yeah? Who else?"

Even Marvin was surprised, "You're not wearing your suit"

Jackie just shrugged, "Yeah, Chase was mad about that too, today. What else is new? What you doing here, Marv? Won't the others notice if BOTH of us are missing?"

The magician rolled his eyes, "I'm always in my room anyway doing something. It doesn't matter. How'd you get past Mr. Sweet & Loyal?"

"Chase and I aren't talking right now. Told Sean I had a lead on where I thought Anti would be. He believed me so he let me out"

"Sly." Marvin nodded, "You're not worried that Sean might be able to track you or something?"

"I snuck a few of your sneaky little potions before leaving"

"Ooooo! I'm impressed!" Marvin wiggled his brow, "We were just talking about how Anti should text that girl he likes"

"No we weren't!" Anti butted in, "That's not what . . . I mean-"

Jackie snickered along with Marvin at Anti's reaction, "Dude, chill. I heard most everything from outside. Heightened senses, remember? I agree with Marv. Chase doesn't need to be involved, yet"

Anti wasn't so sure, "But . . I met him just a couple weeks ago at the general store. He could have told Sean but if he had, you guys would know about it, too, right?"

They didn't look too sure but Anti had hopes, "I just . . . well, I accidentally broke his phone and bought him a new one-"

"OMG!" Marvin bust out laughing, "I totally forgot you trashed his phone! He literally JUST got a new one finally! Heheheh . . . . but seriously, that's not enough to convince Chase of anything. He'd turn on you in an instant"

"Marvin's right, Anti." Jackie agreed with him, "Chase thinks you're responsible for a lot of bad shit that happened to him and he's not gonna just forgive any of it or turn on Sean because of anything YOU say to him."

"B-but what if YOU guys-"

Marvin shook his head, "Chase and I aren't exactly close and-. . .."

"Chase already has enough suspicion to believe I'm brainwashed and if I say anything to him about you, it'll just confirm it to him" Jackie went on, "Henrik and Jameson are our best bets for now. We'll be able to focus on Chase later when we get EVERYONE on board"

". . . . .. " Anti thought about it. Chase didn't seem so bad but he knew Jackie and Marvin were right, "Okay. So how do we get to Hen and Jameson?"

"Good question" Jackie noted, "Sean won't let either of them out ever since your little possession incident"

"I told you guys it was an accident! I didn't know-"

"Right, right" Marvin stopped him, "We get it now. It's all good with us. Moving on."

"If I get hurt" Jackie started, " . . . OUTSIDE of Sean's head, then Sean might be inclined to send Henrik after me to heal me. That might be our only way to get Henrik alone."

"We can think about Jameson later" Marvin shrugged, "I figure he might be the easiest anyway. Man forgives nearly everything. He's a sweetheart too good for this world"

There was still one thing Anti didn't understand, though, "But how are YOU gonna get hurt? Or are you gonna fake it?"

Jackie shook his head, "Nah. Sean will know if I'm hurt or not. It'll just be best to get hurt for real to not rise any suspicion"

Anti still didn't get it, " . . . . . . But then how are you gonna get hurt? Not even all those chains did anything to you"

Jackie shared a glance with Marvin and looked back to Anti, "You're gonna actually hurt me, Anti"

"WHAT?!" he glitched anxiously.

"In fact, it'll probably be best to do this now since he already knows I'm out. Here, just shock me hard and we can-"

"I'm not hurting you, Jackie!" Anti argued, "Honestly I don't think I even can! You're a fooking beast!"

"Thank you but I'm not immune to getting tased. You even saw me that day that woman pepper-sprayed me. I'll be fine, Anti. Just do it"

"No~!" he whined, "I don't wanna hurt you!" Anti didn't like this one bit, "Marvin, tell him!"

"I agree with him" he snorted, "That and I kinda wanna see him get knocked on his ass-"

"Marv!"

"What?"

"It'll be fine, Anti." Jackie tried to calm him down, "I don't see what the big deal is"

"The big DEAL!?" Anti was starting to lose it, "ONE, You'll get SHOCKED which means Henrik will automatically think I of course shocked you and brainwashed you or something! TWO, because I don't wanna hurt you!"

Marvin rolled his eyes, "Honestly, number two is a pretty shit reason"

Jackie gave him a look.

"Look, can't we just think of something else?" Anti tried, "There's gotta be a different way we can-"

Suddenly without warning, Marvin waved his hand, casting a spell at Jackie, shocking him.

"AH! Zzz! Zzz!" Jackie fell to the ground and spasmed a little, groaning when Marvin stopped.

Anti just stared at the magician, "WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!"

Marvin looked scandalized, "We had a plan, you didn't want to do it, so I took charge and did it FOR you!"

"Fuck" Jackie mumbled under his breathe, "Jaysus, you pack a punch, you colorful . . scrawny bastard"

"You want another jolt for fun?" he teased.

Jackie groaned, "I'll call Sean and get Henrik over. Fook . .." he slowly managed to pick himself up and wobbled a little, "I'm gonna just . . .go into the bathroom and do that"

Anti and Marvin watched as Jackie slowly made his way to the bathroom.

"Why's he gotta-?" Anti didn't get it.

"Probably gotta piss himself now after that" Marvin teased, "Or number two"

Anti looked frightened, "Geez, Marv"

The magician just rolled his eyes playfully.

"Remind me to never cross you" Anti returned just as playfully.

"Alright!" Jackie returned very shortly from the bathroom, "So it didn't go as planned . . ." he looked sort of sheepish, "Sean wants me to get outside which isn't really a bad idea but also it might be a problem"

"Why?" both Anti and Marvin asked.

"Because now Sean's coming WITH Henrik. . . . and Chase."

Marvin groaned dramatically, "Are you kidding me, Jackie!? You couldn't have just swung yourself out of that? Sean'll find out where Anti lives that way!"

"Yeah, what the hell, Jackie?!"

"Easy there. Calm down. I told them I was near the park. Marvin, I assume you can get me there before Sean and the others suspect anything?"

"Sure thing"

"D-do I come, too?" Anti wasn't too sure. The plan WAS to lure Henrik to his apartment but with Sean coming . . . it put a dent in it.

"I don't think it's a good idea" Jackie had sense, at least, "We can try this again some other time"

"There won't BE a next time if we don't work around it" Marvin pointed out, "Sean won't let you go out alone anymore after Anti after this most likely. AND he'll make SURE you get back to working out continuously. We should go ahead with the plan. I can lure Sean and Chase away"

"I don't think that it's a good idea" Jackie repeated, "It's too risky. For us AND Anti"

"I mean . . ." Anti shrugged, "I could . . . come along and hide. We could see how things go and if they don't budge then I can just glitch back home"

"Yeah, see?" Marvin snorted, "He'll be fine!"

"I don't know" Jackie still wasn't too sure, "Are you SURE it'll be okay, Anti? I don't want a blood bath going into this"

" . . . . ." Anti sighed heavily but nodded, "Let's try"

They were at the park. Waiting.

Jackie was by himself looking out for Sean and the others while Marvin slipped back into Sean's head without him noticing.

'And Anti's in that street lamp over there.' He went through it all in his head again, 'Still amazes me how he can do that. I should ask him sometime'

It had only been a week of lightly getting to know each other but Jackie was starting to really trust him. After their latest interactions, it was hard to believe he could ever hurt anyone.

'And if what he says about Sean is true . . . we need to save the others as soon as possible.'

"Jackie!"

He looked up to notice Henrik coming to his aid immediately with Sean and Chase right behind him, "Hen . . . glad to see you out for once"

The doctor rolled his eyes, "You know how Sean is. Over-protective. How did you escape zhe glitch? Vhere is your injury?"

"Uh-"

"Yeah, Jackie" Sean looked him over, "You seem to be alright. I'd assume if you were really badly injured, you wouldn't be able to get away let alone out here"

"Well I told you on the phone" Jackie wasn't liking this. Something was up, "He shocked me. Maybe I thought it was worse than it actually was. He ran off again, too."

"That's not fishy at all" Chase remarked.

"Can it, Chase" Jackie growled at him, "Nobody asked for your opinion"

"Still pissed from the other day?" the father taunted.

Jackie was about to snap something back at him when Henrik stopped looking him over, "Zhere is no bad injury. Zhe shock vas not zhat bad"

"Felt like it" he snorted.

Sean narrowed his eyes, making Jackie nearly lose his cool. He knew something was off, "Well at least it wasn't too bad. Did you at least learn anything?"

"Nothing new unfortunately"

"It's what you get for not keeping up with your exercise, dude"

"Fuck off, Brody!"

"Well, it's true!"

"Enough!" Sean intervened, "Fooking brats, the lot of ya. Henrik, is he good to go?"

"Yeah."

"Then we can go. Get back in my head and we can all get out of here"

Jackie didn't want this. This wasn't a part of the plan and he didn't like it, "Maybe that's not really a good idea! Anti could be anywhere! Maybe he's just waiting for you to let down your guard?"

'Come on Marv, hurry up' he pleaded.

Sean nodded, "I guess you're right. Good thinking, I guess. Hen, you can- augh!" he gripped his head suddenly, "What the fook?"

"Vhat is wrong?"

"Fuck if I know . . goddamn headache outta nowhere"

'That's gotta be him' Jackie swallowed, "Maybe you need to sit down for a bit? Hen, let's go get Sean a wet cloth or something to soothe him"

Sean let Jackie force him on the bench close by and groaned, "Fook"

"Actually, I have a first aid kit vith me" Henrik stopped Jackie from leading him away, "It should have Tylenol and a heating pad for him"

"Maybe he needs something cooling?" Jackie tried again.

"I DO know how to take care of my patients, Jackie" Henrik snapped, "Stay in your lane, please"

"Hen-"

Sean snarled through the pain, "What the hell's going on with you, Jackie? Something's not right and I KNOW it. What's that glitch bitch done to you, huh?"

Jackie stared at him, trying to act surprised, "What do you mean? I'm just trying to help you, Sean"

"I don't like this" Chase took out his gun cautiously, making sure no one was around them as he did so, "That fooking glitch cunt is around here somewhere I bet"

Jackie froze as the street lamp flickered just slightly.

But it was enough for Sean to see it.

"There you are"

They all seemed surprised at Sean's spotting but Jackie could feel fear welling up inside of him.

'Shit. No, this is all wrong. We need to abort and NOW. Anti, get out of here!'

Sean just STARED at the street lamp, though, "Come out and play glitch bitch"

Suddenly Jackie felt a great disturbance behind him. It reminded him of years ago. The small shocks and buzzing he felt crawl up his spine. The crazed grin with sharp teeth waiting to tear into flesh like an animal.

This feeling was dire, cold and terrifying. He turned around.

There Anti was, rage in his glowing green eyes, snapping and crackling of lightning coming off of him and his neck bleeding horridly. He looked just as the nightmare he tried to forget so many years ago.

Chase had his gun pointed at him, Henrik already slipped back into Sean's head and Sean . . .

Sean just stared back at Anti, not surprised in the least.

"It's been a while, Anti"

Jackie couldn't believe how different he was. Just an hour ago, Anti was the sweetest and kindest person he had ever met.

And now . . . he looked ready to kill. As if he had been lying all along just for this very moment.

Anti shuddered in his rage, uncaring of Jackie or Chase's presence. No one knew the true reason of it, though.

Anti growled deep in his bleeding throat.

"̴I̶t̵'̵s̷ ̸t̷i̷m̶e̵ ̵f̸o̸r̶ ̵y̴o̸u̸ ̷t̴o̴ ̵d̵i̵e̸"̵