Listen to 'I'll Be Your Hero' by Tommee Profitt! This was the whole idea for this story to begin with and it's such an amazing song. :D

. . . . Plus it fits this chapter really well . . . .. you'll see soon.

"Finally . . . time?" Mia repeated his words, "WH-What are you talking about? Why are you doing this, Dark!?"

Anti growled, "Yeah, and why go after us? Me, I can understand. We've never gotten along but Mia?!"

Dark just chuckled, covering his smile with his hand as if so delighted by all of this, "Oh, that's hilarious! You really are that dumb? Don't you remember what I told you in my office that day? I'm not after you . . .. I never was. You were just a small pawn in my chess game"

"You were after me . . . but why?!" Mia couldn't figure it out for the life of her. She didn't understand any of this. Was Dark EVER her friend?

"Your power is special, Mia" he grinned, "And you can thank dear Dark for mucking your life up for you!"

She cringed back and shuddered, "W-wait . . . . what?"

Dark's aura started to separate and somehow, the atmosphere got even colder as he started to laugh, "Ahahaha. . .. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" His hands fell to his knees as he could barely contain it, laughing so hard, "Ahahahahah! I had you fooled the entire time! That just proves how competent I am! I AM the best and fuck those bastards for telling me otherwise! But anyway, that's another rant" he grinned.

Anti clenched his fists and sparked, his neck already starting to bleed from all of the chaos and now with this . . . . . it was almost too much. He felt like he'd start slipping.

The imposter laughed again, "I AM ACTOR MARK, YOU IDIOTS!"

Mia gaped at him, "Wh . .. but how is that possible!? Mark would have noticed-"

"But he didn't, did he?" Actor went back to chuckling lightly, a snide look on his face, "He's just as stupid as all the rest of them. But not Anti . . . no, he realized right away something was up. Are you SURE you and Dark weren't really friends? Or at least just rivals?"

Anti scoffed, "Well if you're Actor . . . then what have you done with Dark? Did you kill him?"

Mia covered her mouth. She didn't even want to think about it. She was still trying to process that this WASN'T Dark. Relief hit her but also . .. where WAS her friend?

Actor held out his hands as if pointing to himself, "Well he's right here, of course! Flesh and blood and all!"

"What?" Anti took a step back towards Mia again just in case Actor was tricking them into lowering their guard.

"What are you talking about!?" Mia was losing her patience. No matter how scared she was suddenly, her anger was pushing through, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO DARK!?"

"Easy now, easy, little one" he cooed, "I'm merely borrowing his body is all. I had to use it to get to you to see if he really was telling the truth and lookie here! To my surprise, he really was! Even HE was shocked, though!"

"WHAT ARE YOU FUCKING TALKING ABOUT!?" Mia pushed past Anti, tears starting to stream down her face, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?"

Actor sneered, his teeth showing like a predator. A wolf ready for the kill, "My dear . . . . . I found it quite evident the other day when you launched the poor hero out into the lake that even you didn't know of your power. But Darky's been hiding something from you. You see . . . he knew you had this gift . . or at least . . he speculated."

"What?!" she hissed, "You fucking piece of trash, I swear, I'll-"

"I'm not lying. Do you want to ask him yourself? I'll gladly throw him the phone" he snorted. But he didn't even give her time to answer and his aura waved out of control going from a red to blue.

He shouted in agony and suddenly fell to the ground, "Ah . . .. shit . . Mia?" he looked up with softened eyes.

Mia went to rush over to him but Anti held her back, shaking his head.

Dark shivered at the pain Actor was causing him, "Uahahahgh . . Mia . . it's true! I'm sorry but it is! But never mind that! You have to get out of here! The both of you! Hurry! Ahaagh!"

Suddenly the other aura took control again and Actor chuckled, "What a nuisance. I don't blame him, though. Really, I don't. He knows what I want."

"And what DO you want from her?" Anti's sparking got bigger. He never was one for keeping promises but he'd be damned if he let Actor lay one finger on her.

"As if you really care?" Actor snorted but tilted his head at the glitch, "Or . .. " he chuckled, "eheheh . . Or DO you. ..? . . . My my . . . isn't THIS a development."

Mia reached out for Anti and pat his arm quickly as to not get zapped, "A-Anti . . " she whispered, "We . . we should get out of here. Can't you teleport?"

He muttered back as quietly as he could, "No . . .. I'm trying to stall . . so maybe Marvin could get us out when he builds back up his-"

"But Anti . . . I can't give him his power if he's not here"

Anti's heart dropped but he knew right then she was right. Of course she was. Of course they were fucked over like this.

'Then . . . then I'll have no choice but to snap . .. but hopefully it doesn't come to that . . maybe he'll just keep on talking and by then Marvin and the others could come up with a plan to get us out without fighting. Not that I wouldn't enjoy ripping out his entrails . . . but I also have no idea what this asshole can do'

Jackie and Marvin called Sean and the others back. Luckily they weren't too much far out so they could come back and pick them up.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE!?" Sean lost it.

Evelien tried to comfort him but he was beyond that.

"I mean, they just fucking VANISHED out of thin air!" Jackie shouted back at him as they got back to the house. Felix and Marzia stuck with them for now. They weren't about to leave their friends at a time like this.

Marvin didn't say anything and just ran to his room.

Sean was about to tear his hair out, "Oh god . . . what if they can't come back?! What's Dark gonna do with them?! What should we do?!"

'Should we perhaps call Mark about the situation?' Jameson asked, 'Maybe he'd be able to reel Dark in and interrogate him?'

"I doubt it" Henrik sighed, "Mark never has had any real control over any of his egos. If Dark's gone awol, then zhere's not a lot of people that could contain him. Right now, maybe Anti is our best best to keep Mia safe"

"Ah shit" Felix groaned, "Sean, you sure you can trust Anti?"

"What do you mean?"

His friend sighed, "Sean . . it wasn't that long ago that he was a villain himself, right?"

Before Sean could say anything in response, Marvin swooped down from upstairs with a ball.

"I GOT IT!"

They looked at him strangely.

Even Chase was confused, "Got what exactly, dude?"

"Is aunty Mia gonna be okay?" Kallie asked.

Stacey hugged her daughter and son close, "Of course she will. Come on, guys. Let's go get some some hot chocolate, yeah?"

With the kids effectively led out of the room, Marvin continued.

"This ball . . . is a crystal ball and I stored some magic in it just in case we might need it"

"That's brilliant!" Jackie sighed happily, "Now can you USE it, though, without Mia's powers?"

"We'll see"

"Wait, what?"

He waved his hands over it, trying to take just a little of that power and lo and behold, something started to happen!

Sean was the first to shout, "I see them! It's them!"

"Yeah but. . where the hell are they?" Chase wondered out loud, "It's . . snowing?"

"Zhe cabin in Dark's void" Henrik guessed, "That has to be it"

"Why isn't Anti just glitching out of there?" Jackie asked.

"Because he can't" Henrik supplied, "Zhere is no electricity in zhe void. They are stuck there"

They all stared at Henrik equally all as shocked and frightened.

Sean fell into a chair and covered his face in his hands, "This is all my fault . . . I should have never agreed to go to the Amusement Park . . ."

"Sean, this isn't you fault" Jackie tried to help but it wasn't doing much and he sighed, "We just . .. . we just gotta hope that Anti's got this"

He didn't like it but for now, they all had to put their trust into Anti.

Chase looked around, "Uh . .. so you guys mentioned before on the phone that the creature was really Dark Chica so uh . . . where is SHE?"

Marvin and Jackie stared at each other for a moment and Marvin slapped his own face, "shIT . . . Did we really forget to grab her?"

"What are you two whispering?" Actor glared at them but calmed, "Not that'll matter . . . . I know you two can't escape here. Not unless I will it and I won't. Not until I get what I-"

"Oh for the love of-" Anti was losing his temper, "THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM HER!? JUST FUCKING TELL US ALREADY!"

"She . . is the key to bring Celine back"

They stilled and Mia shook her head, "Wh . . what? What you talking about?"

Anti growled, "I know she's dead. Dark told them when he became a reality that Celine was sleeping but he just told William that so he wouldn't panic. Well FUCK that! I know she's dead but like HELL I'm gonna just let her leave like THAT! IF SHE'S GONNA DIE THEN I'LL BE THE ONE TO KILL HER!"

"But I can't bring her back even if I wanted to!" Mia argued, "No one can bring back the de-"

"Oh but I bet you could" Actor interrupted her, "And you're gonna help whether you want to or not"

"But I-"

"Even if I have to beat that power out of you"

Anti snarled and lightning zapped around Mia as if to protect her, "LIKE HELL YOU'LL LAY A FUCKING FINGER ON HER!"

"Anti?" Mia recognized this tempered voice of his. He was unhinging himself. Just like that one time . . .

But right now . . perhaps now was the time they needed that rage the most.

Anti grinned wide, "JUST FOR THE THREAT . . . I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU! Ȩ̵̏̚h̸̘̜̉͝H̵̝̳͒H̵̜̳̍̕Ạ̵̾͒H̸̳̠̀̐ḧ̴̫̭́a̴̡͛h̵͖̐͘a̴͎̩̓h̶͓̯̃̾ä̵̰ͅ!̷̞̂͒"̷͚̀

Mia stared in awe as Anti glitched and suddenly he was in front of Actor.

The fight had started.

Anti ripped a knife out from his back pocket and reach up to stab Actor through the throat.

But Actor saw it coming and managed to dodge with a sneer, "It's pathetic that you think you can even try and kill me"

Anti was about to attack again but in a flutter of black smoke, he was just . .. gone.

Anti's neck bled continuously and he growled low, looking around for the bastard.

Mia didn't like it. He looked way too. . .. feral. But at least he was on her side. At least . . . she hoped so.

She didn't have much time to think either way. Mia felt an eerie presence behind her.

"Got you"

But Anti was quicker and glitched to shove Mai out of the way, his grin even wider, "NO YOU DON'T!"

Quicker than anyone could have seen, Anti managed to slice Actor cheek as he moved to get away.

"Agh! You fucking beast!" he wiped some of the blood away, "My face! How DARE you!"

"I told you" Anti's body crackled with sparks and electricity, "You won't lay a hand on her . . .. . . S̵H̵E̵'̵S̴ ̴F̴U̷C̷K̸I̷N̴G̷ ̵M̵I̶N̶E̶!̵"̷

Jackie blinked. Now that . . .. he really should have expected it seeing as close as they were today. It hurt but . . .. at least he was there to protect her.

'I have to trust Anti . . . . . I have to. But Actor IS strong. What if he's just toying with him?'

He didn't like where this was going.

Mia didn't know what to think. Maybe it was just in the spur of the moment in Anti rage. That had to be it, right? But on the other hand on the Ferris Wheel . . . . . was something about to happen between them, then?

She shook her head. No, she couldn't think that way. She didn't think of him like that. She couldn't! But . . ..

No, that's just how it should be, right?

Anti bolted towards Actor again but this time he was ready with a smile . . and snapped his fingers.

"ANTI, LOOK OUT!"

He just barely heard Mia's cry out when he looked over to see the great beast coming straight for him!

"WHAT?!" he dodged out of the way just in time and Dark Chica slid towards Actor to protect him.

Mia gaped, "You son of a bitch! Let her go!"

Actor ran his hand through the beast's fur, "oH but she IS useful . .. did you know she could replicate herself, too? Fascinating power Dark had given her, really."

"What the hell does that have to-" Before Anti could finish, Actor gave his example.

And suddenly Anti wished he wouldn't have said anything.

He blinked and suddenly there were nearly a dozen of the beasts.

And Anti couldn't even handle one of them, "Oh shit"

He looked back at Mia who was starting to shiver in the cold. He looked over at the cabin.

'So Celine's dead . . . has Actor been a demon inside Dark's mind this entire time? There's gotta be a way out of this. I know I can't fight them all'

"Mia" he motioned to her, "You need to figure out your power now and fast. Can you do it again? Because now would be a great time"

"I . . . . I can try. Just . . can you buy me some time?"

Anti was back to normal for now out of his blind rage but that also meant that his own energy was depleting. They needed a saving grace.

Marvin shuddered, "Anti can't fight all of those . . . what can we do?"

Sean didn't want to give up but honestly he was losing hope, himself. If Anti died then Mia wouldn't have anyone to protect her and then they'd all be vulnerable if anything happened to her.

Jackie grit his teeth, "Marvin . ... store some magic from the crystal ball to yourself now"

"What? Why?"

"Kill him"

The beasts tramped towards Anti at full speed and the glitch glanced back at Mia before waving his hand and a ball of electricity covered around her like a barrier.

"Anti, WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU CAN'T-"

Anti just turned away, "Just focus on going ape-shit like before. I can hold them off until you can"

She could only watch, her lungs frozen but not from the cold.

The black and dark beasts were suddenly on Anti and Actor laughed again, having far too much fun with it. He knew, too, that he didn't have a chance.

'Come on, come on, come on! Why aren't you working!?' she pleaded to herself, 'It worked before when they shouted at me! I was under pressure! I'm under pressure now though, too! COME ON, DAMMIT!'

She didn't understand it. Why wasn't it working?!

Anti by a miracle, managed to push through the barrage of wolf-like beasts straight to Actor. Covered in claw and bite marks, he angled his knife again, ready to lunge.

It was a one last shot ditch effort.

But Actor still had one last trick up his sleeve. He conjured Dark's cane and slammed it into Anti's stomach.

It was a horrid hit, sending him flying over the dozens of beasts and his body slid nearly all the way to Mia who was still in Anti's protective barrier.

Which just started to fade as Anti's power did.

Shit.

Mia whimpered and crawled over to Anti, holding him in her arms, "Anti . . Anti, I'm so sorry! I couldn't- I tried! I don't know what- I-"

He stared up at her and grabbed onto her arm, "Hey calm down . . alright? . . .. y-you still got time. You can . . do it"

"No, I can't! I-"

"I'm sorry, Mia"

She watched his eyes close as he lost unconscious yet again.

Shuddering, she didn't want to believe this could be it. It couldn't, right?

The others weren't there. She was in an isolated wasteland in Dark's mind. Anti was unconscious and she couldn't use her power and she didn't know why!

Jackie shared a look with Marvin, "Marv . . . . send me there now"

It wasn't all that unprecedented.

Marvin had a feeling but he didn't want to believe it, "But . . but if you go in there, you'll probably die! You saw what happened to Anti and for some reason, Mia can't use her power!"

"I DON'T CARE!" he shouted, alerting all of them. His glare was stone, his face showing that he was all too ready for anything that were to happen, "I need to help them"

Sean saw something new in Jackie. It was no longer obsessed love that drove him to Mia. He hoped that maybe he COULD help them now.

Jackie looked to Sean who looked over to Marvin.

Actor laughed and Mia yelped as Anti's body was suddenly ripped from her grasp and suddenly in his own.

"Come on, Mia . . .you're better than him. You could help me. It wouldn't be so bad."

She backed up and clambered to her feet, trying to get as far away from Actor and the beasts as possible but also, she really wanted to help Anti. She had to save him. What would Actor do with him AND if she COULDN'T do as he wanted?

"L . . . leave him alone! Let him go!"

He laughed at her, "All I need you to do is get in that mode and bring her back! You can do it here. Your power is far greater than even SEAN knows!"

"I . . I don't WANT to! Please! Just leave me alone! Let Anti go!" she cried out, "I can't do what you ask! I don't even know how to access if myself! I CAN'T DO IT!"

"I heard you just need a little push" he started to grin, his face like a snake, " . . . I can help you with that" he took Anti's knife from on the ground and held it almost delicately in his fingertips.

"No . . . NO, YOU LET HIM GO RIGHT NOW!!!" she cried. She didn't know what else to do. She's tried everything! It just wasn't working!

"What a shame. Guess he'll just have to die then. Oh well . . no skin off my back" he lunged to stab him.

"NO!!!!!"

Everything moved in slow motion. The knife. The movements. The beasts. Everything.

That little something out of the corner of her eye.

'Wh . .what? How?'

She didn't have the time to think.

Jackie found himself in the snow suddenly but not exactly near where he was supposed to.

'Marvin got me here, though and that's all that matters!' he just started to run, 'Hold on, guys! I'm coming!'

Even without his powers, he could still run fast and he gave it all he had even in the frigid cold of this void.

And not too much ahead, he could see the cabin but it wasn't good.

'He's got Anti! And Mia . . . . . shit, he's gonna kill him if I don't hurry!'

In the back of his mind, a horrible thought crossed by that maybe that wouldn't be so bad but he shoved it down.

'No . . . now's the time to be a hero! And even Anti deserves that!'

With his adrenaline emboldening him, he ran even faster.

Maybe he really could make it.

She saw him running and there was just one thing that rang in her mind that she could do.

She held out her hand to him just in time.

Just in time for him to slam his fist into Actor's face, knocking him into the cabin at full force!

Jackie grabbed Anti and jumped over to Mia, "Keep him safe, okay? I'll take care of this and then we'll all be able to go home safely, kid"

Mia took Anti in her arms, holding him tightly. He didn't look good, bloody and battered. But before she could say anything, Jackie was off. She blinked and he was suddenly fighting Actor.

And yet it still looked as though Actor was holding his own, 'He must be drawing on Dark's power' she thought to herself, 'Anti . . . you're barely alive, I can feel it . . . just hang in there, okay? I'm sorry I couldn't help you' tears streamed down her face.

'I choked when it mattered most . . . froze on the spot. I couldn't . . . I couldn't protect the ones I care about because I'm so fucking weak-minded! Why can't I do anything right?!' she cried, holding Anti.

Hopefully he wouldn't think too bad about her when this was all over.

Jackie found himself locked in a brawl with Actor, "You rat! How long have you been in Dark's body!?"

Actor grinned, "Oh just the whole time you and the Septics were at the house last time! You remember my strength before, do ya!? Well let me REMIND YOU WHAT I CAN DO!"

Actor used his trick again, conjuring his cane and slammed it into Jackie's gut but unlike Anti, he didn't waver too much. It stung but he wouldn't let this bastard get the better of him.

"Ooo, now that's power! Magnificent things she can do to you and the others! Simply wonderful! I have no doubts she'll bring Celine back at full strength and then-"

Jackie didn't waste time and kicked him in the side, sending him back into the cabin, the sound of breaking logs in the air, "You waste time talking too much"

Actor merely got up and dusted himself off, though, "You're strong, I'll give you that. But can you go up against my dogs?" he snapped his fingers.

But before the beasts could attack Jackie, the hero made the first move. He knew he couldn't really go up against the Dark Chicas so he concentrated more on Actor, going after him.

But the hero could already tell this wasn't going to go down easy.

'Marvin couldn't have come or else he wouldn't have had the strength to do so. None of the others could have come this far . . . that's why I have to finish this! I have to protect them!'

He glanced back at Mia for a moment. Seeing her so broken with Anti in her arms brought fire to his heart. He had to protect them. Both of them.

'I may not care too much for Anti but do know now that he's been through a lot of pain. He understands Mia in ways I'll never know. It pisses me off that I never knew her like I wanted to but at least I can give them a fighting chance at happiness . . . even if I'm not a part of her life!'

Mustering all he could, Jackie lunged at Actor with everything he had full throttle in one punch!

Only . . . .

Only for him to catch it, his aura blazing at his fist holding Jackie's. Smiling at him so sinisterly.

"Is that really all you got, hero?" he suddenly turned his hand sharply, breaking Jackie's wrist.

"Aaaah!" Jackie to break free of his grasp but it was useless.

Actor snickered, "Such a shame. I expected more out of the great Jackieboyman . . . . Tell me . . . . do you still love her?"

Jackie tensed, still struggling but didn't reply.

"I wonder if she'll even care if I rip you apart? Seems she's more worried for Anti, you know. How sad that you'll never get what you always wanted. . . .her heart"

Jackie growled low, "I don't . . . I don't need it . . . . .. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters"

"Hm . . ." he frowned, "You've changed since the last I saw you. Just a couple weeks has it not been? How . . .. grown-up of you, I suppose. But still you have to wonder. Will she even mourn your death?"

"What?"

Jackie didn't have the time. He couldn't move. Couldn't escape.

Actor used his cane and shoved it into Jackie's stomach, clean through his body.

He was so in shock, he couldn't even utter a sound.

Mia watched in horror and became the sound for both of them, screaming in pain.

"JAAAAACCCCKKKKKIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!"

Actor ripped the cane out and then proceeded to slam him onto his knees, "You're pathetic . . . . Don't worry, maybe in the next world, you'll be resurrected as something useful . . .like a mutt or something" he chuckled.

Suddenly Actor brought out Anti's knife again and stabbed Jackie in the chest with it before ripping it out again, "If it makes you feel any better, I'll try not to kill her when I'm done with her . ... if she behaves, that is" he laughed and proceeded to kick him to Mia.

The beasts wanted to lunged at his body but they stayed still in wait for Actor's command.

"J-Jackie!" Mia didn't want to let go of Anti but he was so close, she only had to crawl a little bit to him, "J-jackie, no! Hang on! Marvin can teleport us back home and Henrik will heal you! Everything's gonna be okay! It will! I pr-promise!"

'Mia . . . ' Jackie thought to himself. He could feel that this was it. He gave it his all but it just wasn't enough.

"I c-couldn't . . .protect you . . ."

"No, no! Don't say that! You did! You did! Just please hang on!"

"There's . . . too much blood . . . Mia"

"nO! No! Shut up! Just shut up! It'll be okay, you hear me!?"

"You know . . . I think your power manifests when you're in a rage . . . Didn't Anti say something like that? You'll . .. you'll be alright, Mia . . . . You'll be okay"

"Jackie . . . . Jackie, don't you dare die on me" she could barely keep it together, her face was wet with tears and she could barely breathe, "J-Jackie"

"Mia . . . . . ." he stopped her, "I'm . . . I'm so sorry for . . . for all the pain I c. . caused you"

"N-no, it's okay! It's okay, Jackie! I forgive you, just please don't-"

She stopped.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

It was too late.

.

.

He was gone.

Mia swallowed . . .. her throat tight from all the crying.

A dead friend in her arms and another unconscious behind her.

Blood everywhere.

The beasts snarling and drawing closer.

Actor smiling that wretched smile. So snide and full of himself.

Mia started to shiver but it wasn't the cold anymore.

She could feel herself breaking.

Her heart shattered and ripped apart.

Actor grinned devilishly as she began to glow, "Well well . . . . it's about time. I was beginning to think you were just as useless"

She stood, her eyes glowing and her body covered in a white fire.

She just stared through Actor. Even if it was Dark's body, that didn't matter to her anymore.

Mia didn't know why her power decided now to appear. Perhaps it was because she was relying on Anti and Jackie before to take care of it so it didn't want to unlock. They were right. It was her own fiery rage that awakened it.

And right now her rage was glaring at Actor right in his soul.

She was staring at a dead man walking.

'This is all my fault' she thought to herself, 'All of it . . . . . Anti's hurt because of me . . Jackie's dead because of me . . . . because I couldn't muster up this power beforehand. Well now . . .. this time . . . this time I WILL protect the ones I love. I won't let Jackie's death be in vain!'

"I'm sorry, Jackie" she gave one last look at his fallen body before charging at the man responsible.