Anti felt like shit warmed over.

He didn't think he was conscious. Maybe something like a lucid dream.

Looking around in his head, he knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be.

It was something like a memory.

He knew this memory.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in a lab. Henrik's lab.

In the corner of the room, he found a large incubator filled with some sort of green liquid. It was empty otherwise, though.

Why was it empty.

This dream felt so odd. Like a fog hovering around in his brain. He knew in the back of his mind what it was but he didn't . . . . . he hated it.

'I . . . I used to love parts of this memory. Not being locked up . .. but taking revenge on them.'

He glanced over at the desk, Henrik slumped over it with his stethoscope around his throat.

'But for some reason now, this memory, too, rubs me the wrong way . . . . I still want to kill them . . . don't I?'

He looked to the door and walked up the stairs into the kitchen.

Marvin's body was sprawled out on the kitchen floor, blood everywhere, lights flickering before shutting off but he could see the chaos still.

He heard the screams in the living room and sighed.

This wasn't . . . . what he wanted anymore, was it?

Walking into the living room, Anti stopped, blinking at the disaster. Chase and Jackie helplessly laying on the floor. Chase was unconscious . . .

But Jackie managed to sit up, leaning on the couch, holding his wounds. He looked so weak back then.

Anti squatted in front of him, watching him suffer.

Sure he didn't like Jackie. . . . . especially after what happened with Mia, but-

"Protect her for me"

Anti blinked, a little shocked. Nobody had ever spoken to him in this dream before! They were already half-dead and he had left in reality before Sean could return.

He swallowed and leaned closer, "What?"

Suddenly Jackie looked different. Stronger and a bit older with his new beard . . . . a hole in his gut and a knife in his chest.

Jackie glared at him but it was more out of anger that he wasn't listening, "Protect her . . Look after her . . . Mia . . . Swear to me"

Anti stood up and shook his head, "This is just a dream! A nightmare! I-"

"Goddammit, Anti, listen to me! Please! There isn't . . much time left"

Anti couldn't really think. His mind was racing, a bit scared of the implications of Jackie saying this stuff to him in his dream.

"What . . . . what happened? The fight with Actor . . ." and then he remembered fully, "MIA! SHE'S ALONE WITH THE FUCKER! I HAVE TO-"

Jackie snorted and Anti stared down at him. The glitch froze, " . . . . . why are you here?"

"I came . . . to help . . . . but I couldn't . . . . not really. Just swear you'll look after her for me . . .yeah?"

Anti found himself mindlessly nodding. What exactly was he promising? And why to him?

Jackie sighed as the blood pool around him, "I got a lot of regrets . . . . . . I can only hope one day she can really forgive me . . . . I really do care about her . . . all of them . . .. . even you, Anti"

Anti stepped back, a little fearful. What was happening on the other side? Was Jackie really . . . and what about Mia!?

Jackie sighed, drawing his last breathes, "I'm sorry to you, too, Anti . . . . I . . . . the Septics are all a big family . . .. we . . we should have welcomed you better . . . should have known that maybe you could have heard us . .. not that it . . mattered. We . . we were stupid and rude . . . . I'm sorry"

Anti didn't know what to do or say. He was just frozen.

But before he could have said anything, Jackie closed his eyes.

He suddenly felt himself gasping for air and opened his eyes again. He was cold and felt wet snow around him.

"F-fuck!" Anti shot up and even though he was shivering like crazy, he only had one concern.

Until his eyes fell on him.

As he turned, his heart nearly stopped, seeing Jackie's dead body, his blood soaking into the snow. Anti felt himself falter and fall more into the snow himself.

'So it WAS real, then . . . and that means . . .'

He looked over to find Mia.

She forgot herself, flying at the man in a rage.

Her light like fire, burning so hot and bright.

Actor laughed at her but found himself running out of options on fighting back.

She was fast and powerful and even though he was delighted at her strength, he wanted that other ability even more.

'She took Dark Chica from me again . . . don't know where she disappeared to after that but maybe I can manipulate her here once more . . get her to slip up'

"Why so angry, Mia!?" he suddenly was able to lock fists with her but he had to use Dark's energy to keep up, "Why don't you just try and bring him back to life if you really cared about him so fucking much!?"

Mia broke out of the lock and slammed her fist against his cheek, knocking him back, "SHUT UP!"

Actor skidded into the cabin and she stomped towards him, starting to catch the cabin on fire with the heat of the flames with her light.

The bastard picked himself up but laughed, "You remind me of Celine, you know . . . so full of spite and fire"

She went to punch him again but this time he caught it thanks to Dark's strength, matching her.

Mia seethed, her eyes white and glowing but to her, she only saw red.

He chuckled at her, "Instead of fighting me . . . you COULD be trying to bring him back to life . . . .I mean I thought you hated him, really but maybe you really are a slut"

What Actor didn't expect was a powerful knee kick to his groin and he cried out, falling to the ground, the cabin roaring in flames around them.

"I'm not ignorant to your tricks, Actor . . ." she hissed at him, " . . . I know there's no way to bring him back . . . and it's all your fault!"

She went for the kill as Actor started to get up only for something to stop her.

A hand over her arm in her elbow, drawing her attention. Sparks popping off it. She turned and saw Anti with a somber look in his eyes.

"Mia . . . he's too strong for now. You realize you're not winning, right? He's just toying with you" he glared at him.

"I don't . . . I DON'T CARE!" She ripped his arm away from him, "He deserves to suffer for what he did!"

"And he will . . . but not today. We have to fall back and get out of here. I know you can get us out how you are"

She shook with rage, "I want . . I want to kill him" she started to whimper.

"And then you'll kill Dark, too. Remember he's being used by Actor . . . . we'll find a better way, okay? I want to kill him, too, but we'll have to find a better way"

Mia's eyes dimmed a little and she turned to Jackie's body which seemed to have disappeared, leaving behind a large red stain in the snow. When she turned back, Actor was gone, too, knowing he wouldn't get what he wanted today. But he could at least take something with him so she'd remember. He wanted her to come to HIM when and if she wanted to try and bring him back. If it was even possible.

"Come on, Mia . . . ." Anti sighed, "I know this isn't ideal . . I know you're hurting. But we'll have to come back to this fight another day . . . . think of Jackie and Dark . . you know they'd agree"

A few days later

Mia curled herself up on the couch with a blanket around her, Dark Chica sleeping with her head in her lap.

That night when she came back with Anti . . . . the light faded away and her sorrow and grief took its place.

They came back without Jackie's body and of course the others were upset at the news but Anti's glare shut them up from saying anything to Mia about it.

Not that they would.

They were all angry and sad and confused. Yelling and shouting at each other, crying and holding one another.

Chase and Sean tried to hug Mia but she closed herself off immediately from them. She didn't want to break in their arms . . . . she couldn't handle it.

She just wanted to be alone.

But even so, Evelien, Stacey and Marzia weren't about to leave her be and followed her to her room to coddle her until she fell asleep.

Anti was just as reclusive but sat in the chair across from her as she sat in the couch . .watching her. Ever since that night, he couldn't just let her lock herself away in her room all the time and made her at least come out into the living room where he and the others could keep an eye on her just in case . . . . .just in case.

Marvin sat next to her with his arm around her. He was always the most comforting brother to her besides Jameson. He'd run his fingers through her hair and hum so she could lull off to sleep and that's what he did right now as he scrolled through his phone mindlessly, looking at messages the Ipliers were trying to send them.

Mia found herself staring at the phone, too, but her heart was sore. She couldn't trust them and the Septics knew that, too. Who's to say that some of them weren't being manipulated by Actor, too?

Chase was at home with Stacey and the kids. Even though he was grieving, he still had a family to look after. Jameson was busying himself in the kitchen cooking for everyone and Henrik was burying himself in his work like always to keep his thoughts busy.

And of course Sean was taking it the worst.

He hadn't uploaded a video all week. It wasn't out of the ordinary by now but he had completely vanished from social media all together and wouldn't answer any of the Septic's calls. He blamed himself for agreeing to go to the amusement park. If they hadn't gone, then none of this would have ever happened.

Anti sighed loudly, "So . . . . what are we going to do?"

Marvin hummed, "About what?"

"About Actor"

They looked over to Mia but she didn't even seem to move, just laying there cuddled into the blanket leaning on Marvin's shoulder with the dog's head in her lap. She just looked so . . . lifeless.

"What CAN we do? Not even Mia with that power could kill him"

"I don't think we need to kill him" Anti mumbled, "It's still Dark's body . . .he's in there being used by him, too. No, there has to be a way we could separate Actor from Dark's body. If we can do that, then maybe with Dark on our side, too-"

"I thought you hated Dark"

"I did until I realized it wasn't actually him at the mansion when we stayed there. Dark's a victim in this, too. Lord only knows how long he's been under Actor's boot."

Marvin's shoulders dropped just thinking about it and he bit his lip, "I don't know . . . . there's still the fact that we can't-"

"Come on, Marv . .. you're a magician, aren't you? Surely you could have some trick up your sleeve?" Anti grinned at him.

Marvin glanced down at Mia, "Mia, kid . . . . . . what do you think? Hm? Talk to me"

She blinked and looked over to Anti who looked more or less hopeful.

"But why?" she huffed, "What does it matter? We can't win against him . . . . . I could have killed him that night if you hadn't stopped me" she suddenly glared at him.

Anti crossed his arms, "You couldn't have and you know it. He was toying with you. You don't know what your power can do or what it really even is, fully. . . . that and . . . I promised Jackie I'd look after you"

Marvin and Mia gave him a look.

Mia sat up away from Marvin, her eyes cross, "What do you mean by that? You were unconscious when Jackie got there. He saved you and then he died. Wha-"

"While I was unconscious . .." Anti stopped her, "I think it was because it was the void. But while I was unconscious, I found myself in my usual nightmare. Except Jackie was there like the last time I saw him with a hole in his gut and a knife in his chest, dying."

Mia went pale.

"He told me to look after you. . . . even if you wouldn't want it . . . . He also apologized to me which was surprising. And then he died and when I woke up, I saw his real dead body in front of me."

"Shit" Marvin cursed but couldn't think of anything else to say.

Anti glanced up at Mia again who looked just about ready to burst.

"Wh . . .. WELL WHAT DO I CARE ABOUT WHAT HE SAID TO YOU!? HUH!?" she snapped at him but in her anger, she started to cry unconsciously, "I DON'T NEED YOUR PROTECTION, ANTI! I AM THE ONE WHO WAS MEANT TO PROTECT YOU ALL! ME! AND I FAILED! I FUCKING FAILED! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"

All her words poured out just as fast as her tears and she couldn't stop now. Hearing her yelling, Jameson and Henrik came in to check in. But they heard what she said and could only look on sadly.

Mia held herself and Dark Chica whined, trying to lick her arm but she was still so angry with herself, "I was created to protect you all! And I failed and now Jackie's dead and that's on me! I know Jackie and I weren't on good terms when he . . .but I didn't want him to die! I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO DIE! I WANT HIM BACK! I WANT MY BIG BROTHER BACK! I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY EVERYTHING USED TO BE!" she couldn't stop crying, sobbing into her hands as she vainly tried to stop the tears.

Then she felt arms around her and through her blurry vision she saw Anti's familiar spiky hair and felt his sparks against her skin just barely.

"It's okay . . . everything's gonna be okay. We'll figure this out . . . . I promise, Mia"

Marvin sighed, watching as Mia broke down in his arms, crying in his shirt.

'It's about time she let it all go . . . . but it's still not easy to watch . . . .' he leaned down to pet Dark Chica as she continued to whine at Mia's sad emotions. She, too, was worried for her.

Marvin sighed and leaned into them, hugging them both. He saw Anti's tears too and knew he wouldn't want anyone to see. So he hid his face with his own body hugging into them.

Henrik wasn't ignorant and neither was Jameson. The two of them slowly came up and hugged them small group as well.

They were just missing Chase and Sean but this would do for now.

They'd need each other now more than ever if they wanted to stand a chance against this new upcoming threat.