Trigger warning for this chapter will be labeled.

Even Chase was getting irritated with Jackie tonight. Once Wilford and Magnum brought out the Kegs of beer, Jackie was gone and getting even drunker than Chase would. Well honestly, Chase hadn't been drinking much lately even without Stacey and the kids around but it was still a lot to handle. He was worried about Mia lately and chose and try and keep an eye on her as best as he could.

But she was still sitting off by herself staring out at the lake.

'Poor kid. . . . and all that stuff with earlier with Jackie, Anti and Dark and all that shit . . . Should I go talk to her?'

As Chase looked around, though, he felt his eyes weren't the only ones on Mia and he turned to see Anti holding a can of beer watching her, too. The beer wasn't even open and he doubted Anti had drank anything all night.

'I wonder what's up with him . . . . . he doesn't . . . like her. . .does he?' but he wasn't stupid. He saw the look in Anti's eyes even if those two were clueless.

Chase shook his head, 'What a mess. . . oh god, why is Jackie going up to Mia?'

Henrik was sipping on some water with Jameson having a light conversation with Host and Dr. Iplier. Henrik was oblivious on emotions sometimes but even he saw something, too.

He feared for Mia's safety with so many suitors but was confident she'd make the best decision for herself if any of them at all.

'She's been more depressed lately. Irritable and snapping at everyone. . . . ' he sighed to himself, 'I hope we get to all go home soon. Maybe things will be better then'

Dr. Iplier nudged him, "Seems Jackie's luring Mia off. What do you think he's gotta say to her? She already knows about his feelings" he snorted.

Henrik snapped his head to look back over to Mia only to find she was gone walking off with Jackie towards the lake.

'Oh sheisse . . . he better not do anything stupid'

Jameson gave him a worried look but neither one of them went after the two.

"You think I should stop him?" Sean tapped his foot on the concrete. He was anxiously drinking, "Jackie's never gotten so drunk before. What if he does something stupid?"

Mark, the ever sober one, shrugged, "I bet she can handle herself. She controls their powers, right?"

"Well yeah but Jackie's also been working out on his own . . . I should go after them"

"Sean, you're not her dad. Maybe you should stop acting like it" he brought up a point.

"Excuse me?"

Mark just shrugged, "Well . .you know . .. I mean don't make me the bad guy here! But you act like they're all your kids . . especially Mia"

"Because she practically is." he argued, "I created her and Evelien even helped name her. She's ours."

Mark sighed, "They're their own people, Sean. And I just mean . . . You care for them too much."

"Or maybe you just care for yours too little. Remember Celine and Damien and what you did to Wilford and Host? To Eric, too?" Mark fell into silence and Sean nodded, "I thought so. Stay out of how I feel about my egos. I don't tell YOU that Dark needs counseling"

"Because he doesn't"

"Did I hear some bite in that? You angry? Well maybe then you should mind your own business about my feelings to my own egos, then"

Mark just sighed and looked back out at the lake, " . . . oh shit. Maybe you really should be the dad right now"

"What? Why?" Sean looked out at the lake again and suddenly dropped his drink in shock.

It seemed as if almost everyone had seen the two walk off. It wasn't exactly discreet.

Mia blushed at what they could possibly be thinking but also hoped that they were watching. Mia had never seen Jackie this drunk before. She had no idea what he could be capable of like this.

But he took her hand in his and brought her to a tree close to the lake. It was beautiful really but awkward. This was the type of setting for lovers . . . . in which they were definitely not.

"J-jackie . . . . what did you want to talk to me about?"

Jackie stared into her eyes, "I uh . . . . ." he cleared his throat and snorted with a small laugh, "Thought uh. . you'd like it over here"

She shrugged, "It's alright. The bugs are biting but the view's . . . . good"

"Good~ . . ..good " he stumbled a little and braced himself on the tree, "Mia . . . . remember the other .. . the other day when you finally came to Marvin and I's room to talk to meh?"

She crossed her arms, feeling suddenly insecure again, "Y-yeah . . . why?"

"When . . When I said I was just stressed and didn't love you like that really . . . . I lied to you" he groaned, "I hate lying to you~" tears prickled in his eyes, "I love you . . I love you so fucking much Mia. I can't stand it anymore"

Mia stood a step back, "Jackie . . . We've talked about this . . sort of. I DON'T love you like that. So please just . . please just stop this"

"STOP!?" Jackie grinned manically and chuckled, "You want me ta STOP feeling these feelings? I can't just DO that, Mia.. . . . I can't. I LOVE you"

"Jackie" she sighed, "Look, can we just talk about this in the morning when you're not drunk off your ass? I'm going back up to the others-"

"To Anti?" he stopped her, grabbing her arm, "You going to Anti?"

Mia turned back to him and tried to pry her arm away but Jackie's grip was strong, "Goddammit, Jackie, you're being ridiculous! Let me go NOW!"

The hero suddenly snarled, "You like him MORE than me? Mia, you've known me longer. What about Dark? You like him too, you slut?"

Mia snapped and just slapped him across the face, "LET ME GO NOW, JACKIE!"

But what happened next . . . . .

She wasn't prepared for.

And she'd never be the same again.

Trigger Warning

"FUCKING HELL, MIA!!" he cried out at her pleading, "They can never love you as much as I do! Let me just-" he stopped himself and just grabbed her face and hips.

Mia went into a panic and tried to get away but Jackie was stronger even without his powers.

Suddenly his lips collided with hers and all she could feel was his hands holding her too tight and wandering, his lips and tongue and her own fear. Her anxiety built into space it was far too overwhelming. She could feel her own tears wetting her cheeks, her body shaking from the panic.

She could hear yelling in the distance but it was too garbled, Jackie's own crying and noises filling her ears.

Mia couldn't take it any more.

All she saw was white.

Trigger End

And the next thing she knew, she blinked and saw was staring out at the lake, watching as a large body splashed into the water in the distance.

There was a faint glowing around her but she just thought maybe Marvin had intervened.

She turned around, expecting to see him, wanting to be comforted.

Only . . . . Most everyone was still up by the shelter. Anti was nearly up to her, glitching and Chase was running right behind him with Sean and Evelien.

But then where was the glowing coming from?

Mia stared down at her own hands, seeing them lit up like a white fire.

Her panic rose again and she shook. She tried to rub and shake the light off but nothing worked and she started to cry, "What's happening?!"

The light grew around her and covered her whole body in it and she just started to scream, "HELP ME! SOMEBODY PLEASE! HELP! HELP!"

Anti suddenly had her, cupping her face with his hands, "Look at me"

Mia cried and sobbed, "hUHH!!" she squeaked, clearly terrified, ". . . An-Anti . . what's ha-happening to me?!"

"Shhh" he just tried to hush her, "Just look at me. Am I scared?"

"N. . . . . .no?"

"That's right . . . just calm down then . . . everything will be alright, lass"

She held his hands on her face and stared into his eyes still shaking and crying, "I'm . . . I'm scared"

"Just breathe with me"

Mia did as best as she could. Following his breathing deeply in and out.

Before she realized it, the light was finally gone and he was just still holding her.

Until Sean shoved him away, that is, "OH MY GOD MIA, ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"

Mia started to shake again but let Sean hug her. Anti took a few steps back but didn't leave just in case.

Before she knew it, all of the others were surrounding her, too and Dark had Jackie by the throat ready to drown him if given the order.

Jackie struggled mildly but not too much given his condition.

Mia couldn't look at him, though and buried her face in Sean's chest, hugging him. She didn't want to leave his side. She needed to be held right now by someone who actually cared about her feelings.

Chase looked frantic, too but finally convinced Dark to let Jackie go despite his own rage at his brother. Marvin and Jameson grabbed Jackie and led him up away from Mia and Henrik was trying to make sure she wasn't hurt. . .. physically, that is.

Evelien hugged her, too and whispered comfortingly in her ears like a mother would. 'Everything will be okay' 'You're safe now' 'Nothing will hurt you now'

'How do they know that?'

Mia's eyes met Anti's again.

'How was he so calm? What . . . what happened to me?'

That question seemed to be on everyone's mind but before that could be asked . . .

She fainted.

When she woke back up, of course Sean was at her side along with Eveline. But she didn't expect Anti to be there, too.

Her head hurt.

She was in a bed in Dr. Iplier's office/room covered in heated blankets and comfy pillows under her head. But her mind was just rolling.

She felt like she'd puke.

"Hey" Sean distracted her for a moment, "How you feeling?"

"Like death"

Anti snickered, "Well you about look like it, too, lass"

"Anti" Sean warned him.

Mia shook a little like before but made herself sit up much to Sean's dislike, "Easy there. You fainted last night. We came straight back to the Iplier house. Jackie's being held downstairs. He's sober now"

"Who gives a fuck about him?" Anti snarled, "He violated her, Sean!"

"Anti, stop! I'm warning you!"

"What happened to me last night?" Mia changed the subject, "Was that . . . real?"

Evelien nodded, "You being lit on fire? Yeah, sorta. It was weird. Kinda cool, though"

"You fucking flung the bastard in the middle of the lake! Fucking impressive if ya ask me!"

Sean gave Anti one last warning look but it was ignored.

"Why's Anti here?" she asked, "I mean . . you don't seem too happy about it, Sean . . . so why?"

"Always quick, aren't ya?" Sean took her hand gently but flinched when she flinched, "Anti was able to calm you down last night after . . . that happened. I wanted him here just in case it happened again."

"Oh . . . . you're scared?"

"No" Evelien stopped her, "Just concerned. For you. We knew Jackie cared for you more than . . . intended . . . but did nothing. We never thought he'd go that far, though"

"He was way out of line" Sean nodded, "I'm considering kicking him out of the Septic house for a while"

"What?" Mia was surprised. Sean had never kicked anyone out of the house before. Not that she wasn't a little relieved, though. Maybe Jackie really just needed some alone time to come to his senses.

"It's true!" Anti laughed, "He's fucking rolling downstairs, too! Everyone's on his ass, even Jameson and Eric! It's fucking hilarious! I even got it on tape. You wanna see him crying?-"

"Okay, that's it. Get out, Anti" Sean lost his temper with him.

"No" Mia stopped him, " . . L-let him stay . . . " they were ALL surprised by that, "Please?"

Silence filled the room but Sean wasn't about to take anything away from her that she needed right now, "Fine . . . just behave yourself, Anti"

"So . . . . the light" Mia tried asking Sean again, "You would know about it . . . so tell me, Sean."

They all looked around at each other and even Anti was quiet. No one knew exactly what to say.

Sean looked to be thinking, though and finally sighed, "You're my light in the darkness, Mia. I've told you that before. You just . . never thought it'd be literal, huh?"

"I don't . . get it"

"Against me" Anti tried to clarify, "You're the light against me. The darkness that hung over the Septic family. Remember?"

She nodded and crossed her arms, hugging herself to try and stop oncoming shudders, "But I didn't . . use it against YOU. I don't-"

She stopped herself.

Anti had never acted on hurting her or the Septics in front of her. But with Jackie last night. . . .

Whatever was inside of her must have awakened by sensing Jackie as a danger.

Sean knew she caught on and exhaled, "What do you want to do, Mia? It's your decision, kid"

"Jaysus, at least give her some time, Sean" Anti argued, "She has a lot to go over in her head"

Evelien nodded, "Trauma causes a lot of bad shit. Mia, don't worry about it. You just take your time, okay?" she pat her leg, ignoring how Mia flinched again.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Chase peeked in, "Is she up?" but he saw her and broke inside, falling on her with a big hug, "MIA!"

She flinched again but fell into comfort in Chase's arms like always. Sean didn't hug her in fear of making her panic but she felt as if she needed this and broke down suddenly, sobbing in Chase's arms.

Anti immediately felt out of place and motioned for Sean that he was going to leave the room. Until Mia grabbed his hand, that is, "Don't leave me!"

It was enough to make his chest hurt. He wasn't used to feeling this way but he couldn't just . . .leave now . . . right?

Giving in, he sat back down, holding her hand as Chase hugged her.

What a weird day this way already.

Meanwhile Jackie was downstairs strapped to a chair surrounded by crazy Ipliers, Marvin, Henrik and Jameson. They looked to be of no helped, though. They looked just as pissed off at him as the Ipleirs. He was screwed.

Of course he knew he deserved it. What he did to Mia was unforgivable and he deserved whatever punishment Sean gave him.

He was disgusted with himself and had already cried a few times already.

He didn't care what Mia had done to him. Whatever it was, it was warranted. He just hoped she was alright.

But he doubted it. She was already fragile-minded before.

'I fucked up so bad'

Dark snarled, still staring at him furiously, "Personally, I hope she lets us beat you . . . My cane may not look like much but it can cause one hell of a welt"

Yandere giggled, "Can I chop his dick off?"

"Too far, Yan" Henrik tried to dial it down but Marvin shook her head.

"No . . I like the way they think"

Yandere giggled excitedly for multiple different reasons.

"M-maybe we should take it easy on him?" Eric suggested, "He already feels really bad"

"So he should" Illinois cracked his whip, "Little Mia doesn't deserve such disrespect"

"The Host agrees with Illinois"

Pretty much most of the Ipliers hated Jackie right now. But he wouldn't defend himself. He knew he was fucked and he'd have to do A LOT for any of them to forgive him. Especially Mia.

Dark glared daggers at Jackie, 'Filthy hero . . . .it's about time he was taken down a few notches. The only hero here will be me' he smiled just a hint.

Nearly an hour later, Mia was finally calm again and they were gently conversing when Anti suddenly remembered something.

"Oh! Uh . .. this . . this fell out of your pocket last night" he took out the tape that Camera Jim had given to her yesterday.

She stared at him, not realizing that Anti already knew full well what was on it.

"Oh yeah . . .. Jim wanted me to watch it. I haven't a clue what's on it. Maybe I should watch it now."

Sean shrugged, "Iplier has a TV over there."

"Looks like it's a VHS tape, though" Evelien hummed, "Haven't used one of those in a while"

Anti stood up, "I'm gonna go outside . . .uh . . . I have a feeling I know what's on it. Just don't hate me" he glitched out of the room.

Sean and Chase looked at each other fearfully and Chase blinked, "That was ominous"

Mia glared, "Well now I HAVE to know what the hell's on this tape."

She nodded to Dr. Iplier, "Can you put it in, Doc? Please hurry?"

Doctor Iplier nodded and carefully shoved the VHS tape in, playing it.

The screen turned on and the volume was turned up.

And shit was about to go down.