2022
Anti's Living Room

A few days ago

Mira laid on the couch, laying her head on a pillow while her feet and legs were in Anti's lap.

Anti was irritated by it but he actually didn't feel the need to shove her off.

"You comfy?"

They were watching a sitcom that was just on TV. It was random and they had just gotten sucked into so she was still quite a bit dazed.

"Huh?"

Anti pouted that she still didn't look at him but at the TV instead. He suddenly poked her stomach, shooting her out of the daze pretty effectively.

"Hey! Whatcha doing!?"

Anti snickered and laid his head back on the couch just staring at her, "You're kinda cute when you're gone to the world, ya know"

She kicked him softly in the stomach, "KINDA!?" it was just a tease, though and Anti just laughed more.

He grabbed at her feet, pulling them up with her body so her back was then laying on his lap. He just stared down at her, "Hey . . . . . why are you even here?"

Mira rolled her eyes, "Because . . . . I like you"

"You like me? JUST like?" he grinned, "No, really . . . . . why do you like me? What the HELL do you see in me? Just curious, really . . . . how I ended up with a goddess such as yourself"

She blushed, not expecting that. If there was one thing Anti was, he normally wasn't a romantic.

But he had his moments.

She reached her hand up to cup his cheek, "Well for one, you're handsome . ."

"Of course." he wiggled his eyebrows, "What else?"

"Fishing for compliments are we? Alright then . . . ." Mira rested her hand on his chest, "I understand you . . . . . I feel I've . . . . I feel we've been connected since the beginning, you know? Does that make sense?"

"No"

She swat his chest softly, "Yes, you do. I bet you do . . . . . When I saw you standing there alone . . . . . keeping anyone and everyone at bay from you. . . no, even before that. . . . when we first met. When you walked into Raspy Hill to meet Dark. To go to the set."

Anti felt lost in her eyes and words. What was she trying to say? She was taken to him for . . . that long? No, it couldn't have been.

"You were so alone. So defensive. Unwilling to give anyone a chance to see who you really were. You were afraid of being rejected. I saw you so clearly because that's the person I used to be, myself. Minus the murderous tendencies of course" she booped him on the nose, making Anti close his eyes in a soft chuckle.

He reached down, lifting her head up to half-way meet him, "You saved me, you know . . . . I wasn't sure . . . I wasn't sure anyone could ever stand me. I really thought you'd give up, too"

"Never" she grabbed at his shirt and pulled him down the rest of the way, their lips just barely touching, "I'll never give up on you . . . . and I'd imagine you'd do the same"

"I'd kill anyone for you. . .. I'd DO. . . anything for you. I hope you realize that"

Anti leaned down the last inch and kissed her.

There had been several moments likes these. Several months they had fooled everyone.

Mira had told Dark she got a job for the fun of it but instead, she'd go to Anti's and spend her days with him. And then when the day was over, she'd have Anti glitch her nearby Raspy Hill so she could walk the rest of the way home.

She couldn't leave her home just yet, afraid of what Dark would try to do to Anti.

Dark couldn't best her in a fight but Mira knew he was cunning and would find a different way to hurt him.

They parted and Anti rubbed his thumb on her cheek, "How about I go get us some food, hm? Some ice cream, fries . . . maybe something covered in cheese?"

"Oooo, you know me so well" she sat up on his lap, "But you know I have to leave soon"

"How about you just tell Dark you're working late? Some people couldn't make it in? Some bullshite like that?"

She thought about it, "Hm . . .. . I guess that could work!" she was all too quick to agree, in love with the thought of spending more time with him. It wasn't often they could spend an evening together. Maybe she could get Dark to believe she chose to sleep over with Amy for some girl-time?! Of course she'd have to let Amy in on the deets but she knew Amy wouldn't ask questions OR give her away.

"GREAT!" Anti picked her off of him and bounced up, "I'll take off now and get back as quick as I can!" He winked at her, "Hey"

She smiled back at him with a small laugh, "What?"

"Don't go anywhere, love"

With a quick flickering of the lights and buzzing, he was gone, having glitched off wherever he wanted to go to get their 'meals'.

'What a dork' she thought to herself, but couldn't help but keep smiling.

Mira ended up texting Amy, letting her know what she planned on doing in case Dark asked HER. Of course just as she predicted, Amy was all too willing to agree without having to know much more information.

She turned her attention back to the TV only to hear a creaking noise.

Like footsteps.

"Uh . . . Anti?! That was quick! I didn't expect you to be back already!"

The face of her boyfriend appeared from behind the wall and the man walked into the living room. He was smiling so convincingly.

"Anti!" she bounced up, coming towards him so easily, "You usually glitch back home. . . and where the food?"

"Oh . . . . . my bad" he smiled. But something felt so wrong about it.

"Anti?" she frowned and took a step back, "Hold on . . .you're not Anti"

The man's face lit up, clearly impressed, "Amazing. Perhaps you DO know him better than I gave you credit for. Oh well. Still too late for you"

"Wait, what?!" she stepped back again, "Who are you!? Where's Anti!? What have you-"

But suddenly there was a flash of light and she felt herself blacking out.

The next thing she knew, she opened her eyes only to see darkness.

'What . . . what is this? Is this the void?'

"Try again, love"

She snapped around, seeing a set of eyes glowing a little ways away from her.

Mira wasn't getting fooled this time, though and raised her hands, ready to blast him away to hell.

Except . . . .nothing happened.

The creature in the dark laughed at her but it sounded so . .. familiar.

"Wh . . what? What. . happened"

The creature stepped forward closer and closer until he was almost TOO close and snapped his fingers.

She stared at the light he gave off from his hand.

HER light.

She looked back up at him. A creature that took the face of the one she loved.

"What did you do to Anti?"

"Really? That's your first question?" the thing snickered, "Not . . how are you doing that? Where am I? Why am I here?"

She just glared at him, "I assume you'll monologue about it anyway. But if you-"

"I didn't touch your fuck-boy, love. He's not the one you should be worried about anyway" he cracked his back, "But you're right. I'll monologue a bit. You see . . . . you're in my old prison, darling"

"Stop giving me pet-names and just fucking explain yourself!" she stomped her foot down.

"Easy there . . easy" he looked her up and down, "I can see why he likes you. So much fire. Spicy. . . . . You and Celine have a lot in common"

She closed her eyes, seething, "Why the FUCK would I give a shit about a woman I've never met before?! Why does everyone keep SAYING THAT!?"

"Because it's true" he ignored her rage, "Celine was powerful. Had an attitude. A very sexy woman . .. too brave, though. Got her into a lot of trouble. And then she met me. The worst demon she could have possibly conjured out of her silly toys. Not that she MEANT to do it"

Mira tried to piece it all together, 'Hold on. . .is this crazy freak really saying he's a demon? He KNEW Celine?'

"That's right" it was like he read her mind, "And she might have been too brave for her own good but it served her right that day. She locked me away in a small . . .SIMPLE little blue crystal ball. This one you're in right now."

Mira blinked in realization, "Y-you trapped ME . . in a . . ."

"I sensed your power seas away. I took Actor's ability to change faces . .. . found you . . . . saw loverboy's pretty face and snared you right into my trap. And now . . . I have your powers just as I do Actor's now . . . of course he still has HIS, too . . but YOU . . . that's why you're in HERE . . . you see . . . as long as you're trapped in here close to me . . .. I can take as much of your power as I want and keep coming back for more while you rot away in this prison forever."

"Why?"

The demon snorted, "As if it matters to a pathetic little human such as yourself. You were powerful once, I'll admit . . . ONCE. Now . . you are nothing, just like any other mortal. . . just like Celine now"

Mira went to attack him only for him to disappear, laughter filling her ears loudly, ringing throughout her own personal hell.

But it didn't last long.

She knew Anti would come for her.

She just didn't realize how far he'd go.

It broke her to pieces watching him get beat down and kicked around. She couldn't help and it infuriated her. Boiled her on the inside. This was the first time she had to watch someone get hurt and she couldn't stop it from happening.

She was utterly powerless.

But the last thing she expected was for Anti to be sly and steal her away like he did and faking a retreat. She was still so afraid for him but relief flooded through her as long as she felt his presence and heard his voice.

And then she heard others. The other Septics, Sean, Mark and Dark and even a couple of the Ipliers.

Was she surprised about hearing Google and Illinois there? Yep. She never expected any Iplier except Dark would come looking for her. But she was touched.

She heard all the arguing. All the yelling. All the tears and crying. She felt Anti cradle her like a life-line.

She hated this feeling.

So weak.

She FELT so weak.

Getting. . . weaker.

'What's . . . happening to me?'

She wasn't sure but she felt so tired. Like the life was being sucked out of her. Was this the effect of being pulled away from her own powers so much? Of being contained so tightly and cut off from everything?

"Anti . . . . Dark . . .please . . .. please just"

So tired.

"I. LOVE. HER!!!!!!"

She heard Anti's declaration loud and clear. She already knew this but so smiled softly. And now all the secrets were out. It kind of freed her a bit.

"I . . . . . LOVE. . .. . . HER . . . . ." Anti continued, "And I'll be damned if I let you  . .. . or ANYONE take her away from me . . . . you can count on that, Dark."

What Mira never expected . . .. was to hear Dark cry.

It broke her heart.

This had. . .

This had never happened before.

Was it real? She couldn't be dead already, could she?

"I . . . I know . . . . I'm . . . I'm . . .. I just want her back  . . . I just want her back"

He knew? Mira felt herself fading in and out of herself.

Something bad was happening.

"Me too . . . . . . . . and we'll GET her back . . . . . . . no matter what it takes  . . . . . We'll fuck this demon up together and save her."

"You're right. . . . . . we need a new plan, then . . . . . . are you with me?"

Mira couldn't have been prouder of either of them. She just wished the circumstances were different. Of course they all probably wished that.

"Of course. . . . .let's kill this fucking demon bastard"

She smirked softly with each soft breathe she took.

It was about damn time.

Mira laid down in the darkness, feeling herself floating in the emptiness. She was comfortable but could only wait. What else could she do? She hated this so much.

"It's about time you idiots worked together" she chuckled lightly to herself, "Now hurry the fuck up and get me out of here so I can kill the fucker myself"

And then a thought suddenly crossed her mind that hadn't appeared before.

If Marvin couldn't free her . . . then how the hell did this demon possibly escape!?

Surely there was more to it all . . . .. it couldn't be too hard, right?

Perhaps she could figure out a way on her own if she tried hard enough.

If she wasn't so tried and exhausted.

But like hell she'd give up.

If Anti can't give up on her then she couldn't possibly give up on herself! She wasn't allowed to do that! She had to keep going!

Fight! Fight harder!

'The next time I see that demon bastard, is the last time he'll ever see me. And I will RELISH the fear in his eyes before I fry him to a crisp'