He grinned. They were all so stupid.

Couldn't they see it was useless?

'Bastard thinks he's so clever' Antisepticeye's green eyes gleamed in the dark, always watching, 'But I've accounted for this. I'm too many steps ahead and they'll never win'

The meddling the magician was doing was all for nought. Antisepticeye was here now where they all were and if the magician wanted to save them, he'd have to come out himself and stop him.

'That is where he'll let his guard down. That is where they'll all see madness and be too busy panicking over themselves to even think of me coming for them'

Antisepticeye's lips curled into a snarl, 'He really should have joined me, my dear counterpart. But alas, he too, was just as weak as them. A mistake'

He saw Henrik speaking to Jackie through the camera.

'It's time'

Henrik was about to explain everything he knew to Jackie when the building's security alarm went off.

Jackie stood up and locked eyes with the doctor, "What's that?"

Henrik just scoffed, "He's here. Early. He must have known. Been watching!"

"What!?" Jackie curled his hands into fists, "That bastard is HERE!? NOW?! Where's your cameras so we can find him! I have unfinished business with that son of a bitch!"

"We all do!" the doctor snapped at him, "You are not zhe only one in zhis building he has hurt! But now's not zhe time for a fight! We have to protect zhe others! Help me get to them before he does!"

The alarm blared and the lights went red. Jackie's vision was blurring with rage but he eased up. 

'He's right. Antisepticeye's after our counterparts. I don't know why we're all so important but the doc seems to believe it really is'

He sighed, "Fine. Lead the way, doc" Jackie nodded to him, "I'll follow you"

Henrik nodded and with a few security guards, they made their way down the halls.

Jameson had never been more confused. 

He was being questioned constantly and then left alone, being told vague and unhelpful things. He had no idea where he was but honestly, he didn't really want to leave, either.

He felt . . oddly safe there.

Jameson had started to hear things, a voice in his head but he was comfortable with the idea of going insane. At least he'd have someone to talk to  and wouldn't be alone.

But then again, something told him, it wasn't his insanity. He didn't know this strange voice but they comforted him. 

He'd be safe there and Antisepticeye couldn't get to him and hurt him there.

That was enough for him.

The memory of that monster killing the love of his life and ripping out his tongue was still all too real. Like it had all just happened yesterday. 

And then he had appeared there.

At I.R.I.S. 

Jameson held his bowler hat to his chest as well as his knees on the bed they provided for him. 

Some days his mouth still hurt. Sometimes he could still taste blood.

These doctors or whatever they were didn't seem to know a lot of sign language but that language barrier was easily avoided with a piece of paper and a pencil. But whatever he wrote, didn't matter. They'd still ask the same questions over and over and over again every day.

Is your name Jameson Jackson?
Can you tell us how you ended up at this location?
What do you remember?
Are you taking the Dr. Hopkins assessment right now?
Do you recognize this facility?
Have you heard of A.L.T.R. 11-4209?
How many pictures have been shown to you so far?
Do you believe in life after death?
Do you regret your decisions?

They were all really odd questions but Jameson couldn't help but know the answers to a few of them.

His name was Jameson Jackson. He closed his eyes one moment and the next, he was here. He remembered being attacked by a man that called himself Antisepticeye. He did not recognize the facility and he had never heard of the specific number they said.  . . . . the pictures. . . . he saw some pictures in his head. 

A mask . . . .

He wasn't sure if he believed in life after death.

Yes. . . . 

Yes . . .. he regretted his decisions.. . . .. 

Very much.

'I should have done something more to save her . . ..  to save them all'

Suddenly an alarm blared and everything went red.

Jameson stood up and huddled up against the wall. He would have hid under the bed but there wasn't enough room to.

This had never happened before while he had been there but he felt an eerie presence.

'He's back'

The door to the room opened.

Chase scurried on his back up against the wall in the hallway. 

He stared up at the monster.

He had killed everyone.

Their bodies laid in the hallway all around him like flowers in a graveyard, blood running across the tiles.

But Antisepticeye didn't care. He stepped in the blood with a grin, coming closer and closer to Chase.

Chase didn't know how or why this was happening. He had been locked up in that room for days on end. He was asked all those weird questions every day, never getting any answers until just less than an hour ago.

Have you ever experienced a terrible occurrence that has impacted you significantly?

He hated that question the most.

Yes, of course he has but that didn't mean he wanted to relive it over and over again!

Being locked away, he thought he was going crazy. Did he really go nuts after his family died?

He heard a voice while he had been in there.

It told him he was special.

It's seen Antisepticeye, too. Or what the scientists liked to call him 'A.L.T.R. 11-4209'.

How he hated that freak. He wasn't a number, he was a monster!

And now he was here. 

They were trying to transport him somewhere safer when the alarm started to go off but it was too late.

Chase had seen that red hallway before.

When Antisepticeye killed his wife and son.

And now he stood over him once again.

That same dreadful smirk on his face.

"Hello . . . . Chase"

Chase shuddered as it said his name so coldly, that smile holding dire promises.

Jameson blinked and when he opened his eyes, he saw a different man.

Two, actually.

They looked. . . . like him but nothing like Antisepticeye.

Jameson tilted his head to the side, confused. He tried to sign but it was futile.

The man in red turned to the man in white, "He's one of them?"

"Yes! Jameson, you must come with us! Antisepticeye is here! We have to run! He cannot get to us!"

Jameson understood that completely and nodded vigorously.

Jackie nodded to him as he came closer, "Come on, I'll protect you guys. Let's go get the other guy and get out of here"

For some reason, Jameson felt safe with him. Who were THESE men that looked like him?

Antisepticeye snickered as Chase cowered before him. 

Really, the man didn't know what to do. Everyone was dead around him, even the scientist that had questioned him the entire time he'd been there.

There was so much blood.

Just like the night Antisepticeye killed his family.

But he couldn't bring himself attack or run away. He was just frozen. Where could he run anyway?

"Such a coward. . . . " Antisepticeye taunted him, "Barely even a man" he came so close to Chase, he even flicked off his hat with his fingers, "No wonder your wife left you"

Chase had words in his throat. He really wanted to lay into him. He wanted to choke him, kill him, stab him, shoot him. 

And yet he said and did nothing.

Because Antisepticeye was right.

The monster snapped his fingers and a knife glitched in his hand, "Don't worry. You'll see them again in hell, Brody. Playtime's over"

Chase shut his eyes tight, unable to face what was to come.

But just as Antisepticeye was about to strike him down, another body came out of nowhere, shoving the monster into the wall!

Chase opened his eyes, looking up.

'What the fuck? No way'

Jackie saw what was about to happen and when Antisepticeye was distracted, he rammed into him with all his might. But he knew that wouldn't keep the freak down for long.

He looked down at his doppleganger, nodding to him, "Go with the others. I got this" he cracked his knuckles.

Chase glanced behind the stranger, seeing two MORE men that looked eerily similar to him!

'What the fuck is happening!?'

But he had the sense that these were the good guys for some reason. He couldn't explain it but it didn't seem like these versions would hurt him.

Mustering all the strength he could, Chase hobbled up and ran to the other two.

Henrik shouted to Jackie, "Come on! We have to-"

Antisepticeye then glitched out of the wall and in front of Jackie with a sneer, "Well well . . . the gang's almost all put together. But not for long"

Jackie cracked his neck and addressed Henrik, "You guys go. I'll hold him off."

"Oh really? YOU'LL hold me off?" Antisepticeye teased, "The guy who could barely hold his own against me last time?"

"You got lucky last time that I disappeared into this dimension" Jackie clenched his fists, ready for a fight, "It's time for a rematch, motherfucker!"

Henrik knew he couldn't stop Jackie from battling it out with the monster. Right now, his main priority was to get the other two to safety. He tapped on Chase's shoulder, "Come with me, you two.  We must get away"

Luckily, they both were compliant enough and followed him.

'I have to get to zhe mask! Maybe it can help me again like before!'

Jameson followed, running after them but he was also concerned for the man in the red uniform. What if Antisepticeye was too strong for him? He had seen first hand what the monster was capable of.

He couldn't do anything about it, though. What could HE do? 

Chase finally had enough when the doctor led them into a central part of the facility. It looked like the research section of the building.

"Dude, what the fuck is going on!?" he shouted, "First I was in the forest and then I appeared on top of a car garage, you bastards in the white coats came out of nowhere and locked me up for literal WEEKS . . . . And then that bastard shows up in my life again! And NOW . . . there's three OTHER guys who look like me!? Somebody PLEASE explain what the fuck is happening!"

The doctor looked irritated but Chase didn't care. He was going to get some answers right now.

"Look . . .tis very complicated and really now's not zhe time but we're zhe good guys, alright?"

Chase snorted, "Yeah, right . . . and how am I supposed to believe that? The freak that fighting that red clad dude murdered my whole FAMILY!"

The doctor slammed his hand on a table, "You vant to know who I am!? Zhen fine! I am Doctor Henrik Von Schneeplestein! Another doppleganger. You are in MY dimension currently brought here by a mask zhat I have no idea how to control or how it works! Antisepticeye or what the scientists here DID call him, A.L.T.R. 11-4209, murdered my wife, my unborn daughter AND my seven year old daughter" he took a pause to let it all sink in for Chase, "  .. . . .  Zhat monster has hurt ALL of us. Killed everyone we loved. He wants to hurt us. . .torture us before killing us all. Why, I don't know . . . But zhe mask I mentioned before is out trump card, for zhat I am certain"

It was a lot to take in.

Chase didn't know where to start with questions but he decided that for now, he had enough answers, "Alright . . . . so where is this stupid mask thing?"

Jameson had a lot of questions, too, but he really wasn't sure if they'd both understand sign language or not so he kept quiet. But on the inside, his head was reeling.

'He's hurt ALL of us . . .  But they've all lost a lot more people closer to them than I have. No family of mine was killed but I lost a lot of friends. I feel so horrible for them all. I wish I could help'

Henrik rolled his eyes but made his way to the center of the room where a strange broken white mask with cat ears floated. It was broken in half just as he found the two pieces. After joining together to fight off Anti for Henrik, it broke apart again.

But he could still feel the massive energy on it as he approached the container.

"Zhis mask is special." he began, "I found the pieces separately on opposite corners of the world. Zhe first piece, I actually found years ago when I was in college. It vas tucked away underground a deserted warehouse. The second piece, I found in Ireland under some old ruins. I have no idea why but I think it called to me. When I put one of the pieces up to my face, I have been able to see visions. I have come to know now, though, that it was a window into another dimension. The mask hold IMMENSE power. Much more than even the world's strongest Nuclear Bomb."

He pauses again, "Antisepticeye used that power to kill my family. Turned them into ashes in milliseconds. Of course, I had converted the power back zhen to a reactor. I called it zhe Pheno Reactor but I am no longer using that to extract the mask's energy . . . ."

Chase could feel the man's pain coming off of him in waves. He could almost forgive him for kidnapping him off the streets and keeping him here against his will.

Henrik removed the container, "Like I said, zhis mask is our trump card. If I put it on again, I am hoping whoever is on zhe other side can help us again"

Chase and Jameson watched in anticipation as Henrik took the two pieces of the mask in his hands and brought them together. They conjoined easily and where the crack was, it lit up with a purple glowing aura.

Henrik shook but put on a brave face, putting it on.

Jackie huffed as he tried to hit the monster again.

But Antisepticeye was faster this time around.

He anticipated Jackie's moves from the last time they fought.

Antisepticeye laughed at him, "You really thought you could go up against me, hero? Uh-uh . . . . I killed you before . . .  I'll do it again"

But Jackie stood tall, not about to give up, "Give me your best shot, asshole. I could do this all day"

He knew he couldn't. He wasn't a fool. Jackie was using a lot of energy even now to stand. Antisepticeye had gotten a lot of punches in, had stabbed him a few times and even clawed at his face.

And Jackie had barely gotten a few hits in. 

It didn't seem to affect the guy.

Which only bode bad news for Jackie.

'But at least those other three got away. Maybe that's good enough. That doctor could have something up his sleeves for all I know'

Antisepticeye outwardly laughed at him, "Hahahahahaah!" he let out a deep sigh and looked Jackie right in the eye, "Funny . . . . that's what the last version of you said, too, before I killed him"

The monster glitched and lunged towards Jackie but the hero had one more move under his hood. Jackie crossed his forearms in front of his face and then broke them apart to his sides unleashing a massive ball of electricity outward off of him.

Antisepticeye was launched backwards but recovered well, swatting the sparks off of him like dust.

Jackie, as irritated as he was with that, couldn't bring himself to stand anymore. He fell to his knee, using his other hand to keep himself from falling onto the ground completely. 

'Dammit . . .. that's all I had left. I forgot he wasn't affected by the electricity itself  . . but the force of it. . . and I don't have any of that left in me'

Anti laughed, "What happened to you could 'do this all day?' Huh?! Where's that fire, Jackie?! Where's that fight!? The other you had more in him than this! You're fucking weak! A disappointment! Even when that mask gave you those powers, you still can't do SHIT with them! They're a waste on you . . . . and you're a waste of my time"

Antisepticeye appeared in front of him and lifted his knife to strike down on him.

Jackie closed his eyes in defeat, ' .. . . Sammie . . . .Benny . . forgive me. I'm so sorry'

He didn't see the purple ball of energy blast into Antisepticye, taking the glitch by surprise.

What he DID see when he opened his eyes was Antisepticeye getting up off the flow, a hole singed in his black shirt. His stomach was burned, too, but he watched in real time as the burn healed itself in a matter of seconds with a flicker of a glitch. Like he was cheating in a video game or something.

Jackie turned. Did the doctor return with some miracle gun or something?

No. 

This man . . .

He was very different from them all.

Henrik, Chase and Jameson stood well behind him as if knowing he could handle this from there.

The stranger wore a white cat mask that had the suits of a deck of cards on his forehead. He wore a purple and black extravagant outfit with gold buttons and a glittering purple cape whisped behind him almost as if it had a mind of its own.

Antisepticeye snarled at him, "Well, well . . . look who finally decided to show up"

The stranger nodded to him, "Antisepticeye . . . I suppose this meeting was bound to happen eventually"

"Yes. . . ." Antisepticeye snarled, "It was"

Jackie had never seen him look so pissed before.

Antisepticeye's lips curled slightly, though, in a small smile, "But finally I can just kill you all right here and now. Just like I did YOUR family, too. Remember . . . . Marvin?"

The man didn't seem bothered by his words, though, as if ready for his taunts.

Marvin smirked with a small laugh in his throat, "Yeah . . . except . . . the only person dying today is YOU"

Hey! Whaddya know! They're finally all together! What you guys think? :D