The lights flick on and I feel an arm wrap around my chest. My breathing becomes rapid and heavy as his warmth makes me feel uneasy.

̷"̵W̸h̶o̵ ̴s̷a̸i̷d̴ ̶y̸o̶u̷ ̵c̸o̴u̴l̸d̴ ̴r̵e̶t̸r̷i̶e̷v̶e̵ ̴y̶o̶u̵r̷ ̴b̴o̴o̸k̷?̶"̵

Anti is clearly amused by my fear, as I hold against him with whatever strength I still have.

"Please don't hurt me." I whimper.

̷"̶I̸ ̷s̸h̴o̵u̶l̴d̴,̸ ̴s̸h̷o̸u̴l̸d̸n̶'̵t̵ ̴I̸?̶ ̵B̶u̵t̶ ̵y̴o̵u̵ ̷h̵a̴v̷e̴ ̸a̴ ̶p̷u̵n̶i̸s̸h̶m̷e̵n̵t̵,̶ ̶a̸t̸ ̸l̸e̷a̷s̵t̸.̴"̵

"P-punishment?"

"Electricity keeps you in line."

I clench my teeth tightly but my mind is screaming in pain. Electricity rushes through my neck like water and the main makes tears drain from my eyes. The volts are ten times worse than before, enough to show the faint yellow electricity around the collar.

When it's finally over, I breathe heavily. The electricity leaves an after feeling on my neck. A scratchy sore feeling that I can't get rid of. I whimper in pain and tears drain from my ears.

̴"̸H̵a̵v̴e̸ ̵y̸o̵u̴ ̴l̶e̵a̸r̸n̸e̷d̶ ̵y̷o̷u̶r̴ ̶l̵e̴s̵s̴o̴n̵?̷ Y̵o̶u̷ ̶s̶h̷o̵u̴l̵d̷ ̶e̷n̸d̷u̸r̶e̷ ̶t̵h̶a̸t̶ ̵p̴a̴i̷n̸ ̷o̶f̷ ̸y̴o̴u̶r̸s̵.̶"̴ He purrs, I can see his permanent, devilish, grin plastered on his face out the corner of my eyes.

I nod weakly, and I flinch as he picks me up bridal style. It almost disturbs me and makes me feel unsettled, especially how his face sits in a normal rage, not having a care in the world. He hasn't taken my book away so I should be thankful for that. At least.

Eventually, he reaches the recording room and he opens the door silently.

"̷G̶e̵t̶ ̸y̷o̴u̵r̷ ̷r̵e̷s̴t̷.̴"̸ He snarls sharply.

He drops me roughly on the mattress which hurts my back. My landing out of line. "Oof..!"

"̵C̶o̸m̵e̶ ̴o̴u̶t̸ ̶a̷g̶a̵i̴n̵ ̸a̸n̶d̸ ̷y̷o̶u̶ ̸w̸i̴l̵l̵ ̸w̸i̸s̴h̸ ̴I̷ ̷k̷i̷l̸l̶e̴d̴ ̴y̶o̵u̶.̴"̴

I flinch as he slams the door, making the house shake with the force.

I let out a sigh then look down at the book. At least I was able to retrieve it successfully. But there's nothing else I can do now. At the moment. But I made progress. Now I have Bonnie's help on my side.

With his help, I might be able to figure out what's really going on and maybe even save Jack and Signe. Weakly, I lay my head down and slowly fall asleep.

* * *

I wake up to the sound of the air horn blasting in my room. I jump but it doesn't scare me too much. The loud noise hurts my ears and it frightens me a little so I cover my ears until the sound stops.

"̴H̷m̴m̸,̴ ̵y̶o̷u̸ ̷s̷e̷e̵m̶ ̸l̸e̵s̴s̵,̶ ̸d̶r̴a̴m̸a̶t̷i̴c̶~̸.̵"̴ Daiishu says thoughtfully.

I look up at her with an anxious look and she stares down at me with a mighty glare. I really hope she doesn't try to wake me up like that every day.

"̵C̵o̷m̸e̷ ̶d̸o̵w̶n̴s̷t̶a̷i̵r̷s̵,̸ ̸y̸o̵u̸ ̴n̴e̵e̵d̶ ̵f̴o̴o̷d̵~̸.̴"̷ She says and giggles away.

Nothing too interesting after that. Go to the bathroom, have a quick shower, get dressed, downstairs, eat a bowl of fruit. However, my thoughts stick to my plan.

Anti and Daiishu sit beside each other, it's actually a little cute. Wonder what their ship name will be...

Once Anti finishes his breakfast, he looks up at Daiishu with somewhat caring eyes. His eyes are blue, but they're a dull blue. I've begun to notice his eyes aren't always black, neither is Daiishu's. But the dull color? I'm gonna have to find that out sooner or later.

"̴I̷'̵m̷ ̴g̴o̷i̵n̷g̵ ̴o̷u̶t̴ ̸t̵o̴d̶a̴y̴,̴ ̶s̷o̵ ̵I̵'̷m̸ ̵l̶e̸a̷v̴i̷n̷g̸ ̶y̵o̸u̶ ̶i̷n̷ ̵c̸h̵a̶r̵g̸e̶.̸"̷

My eyes widen. Could this be my advantage?

"Really? Where are you going?" I chirp in, pretending to be intrigued.

"̴N̴O̴N̷E̸ ̶O̵F̶ ̷Y̵O̴U̶R̶ ̸B̴U̶S̶I̴N̷E̸S̷S̷!̴"̶

He shoves a fresh bloody knife he was holding under the desk in my face, eyes turning black. I yelp back startled. His voice shakes with an anger that sends my heart to my throat, and the aura in the air makes everything much worse. It makes my vision dark and shakes intensely with his mood. My body goes numb through fear as his twisted smile feeds on my terror.

Everything slowly returns back to normal as he fixes his gaze back to Daiishu.

"̸W̸h̴e̴r̵e̴ ̴a̷r̵e̶ ̷y̷o̵u̵ ̶g̷o̶i̵n̸g̷~̵?̷"̸ Daiishu asks truly intrigued.

"̸T̸h̸a̸t̶ ̵m̷a̷n̴,̶ ̷h̷e̴'̵s̶ ̶g̷e̷t̵t̷i̷n̶g̵ ̷o̵n̶ ̵m̴y̵ ̴c̷a̸s̵e̶ ̷a̴g̴a̷i̸n̸.̶ ̸H̷e̷ ̴w̸a̴n̵t̸s̸ ̴t̴o̸ ̷c̵h̶a̶t̶ ̷w̸i̶t̶h̵ ̴m̶e̷,̴ ̸s̸o̶ ̸I̵'̷m̷ ̵g̴o̵i̴n̴g̶ ̷t̶o̶ ̴s̸h̵o̶w̸ ̷h̷i̷m̸ ̷w̴h̷o̷'̶s̵ ̸b̸o̵s̷s̶ ̸b̸y̵ ̸T̸U̴R̴N̵I̷N̶G̷ ̷I̴T̷ ̴I̶N̷T̴O̵ ̴A̷N̷ ̷A̵R̸G̶U̴M̴E̴N̷T̸!̸"̵

"Darkiplier?"

I suddenly blurt it out without realization. Me and my dumb mouth... The two stare at me with a mix of anger and confusion and once I finally realize what came out my mouth, I cover my mouth with my hands wide-eyed.

"̴S̵o̷,̸ ̵s̶h̵e̶ ̵k̸n̵o̵w̶s̸ ̵w̸h̶o̴ ̸h̴e̸ ̶i̷s̵.̷ ̷T̶h̸a̴t̶'̵s̴ ̸j̴u̷s̵t̴ ̷P̵E̵R̸F̴E̸C̶T̸!̴"̶

He laughs maniacally but it isn't hard to tell that he's furious. REAL, furious.

"̸D̴o̵n̸'̵t̸ ̸y̴o̵u̵ ̷w̵o̷r̸r̴y̸ ̵A̸n̸t̵i̷.̵"̸ Daiishu purrs.

"̵I̶'̸l̶l̶ ̷t̷a̸k̸e̷ ̷g̶o̴o̵d̸ ̷c̵a̷r̵e̶ ̷o̴f̴ ̷h̷e̴r̴.̵ ̵Y̴o̸u̵ ̶g̸o̷ ̸d̷o̵ ̸w̸h̷a̵t̶ ̶y̵o̸u̵ ̶n̴e̸e̸d̷ ̵t̶o̷ ̸d̷o̴.̵"̶

For once I see a genuine smile on Anti's face and he leans in sideways to kiss her. My heart dances with excitement and awe.

Daiishu doesn't hesitate and she closes her eyes, kissing back.

I watch as both of them, in front of me kiss each other. I want to squeal with excitement but that would infuriate both of them. Instead, I do something else.

"Ewwwww, get a room..!" I tease in a childish voice.

They both tear away, but they both give a genuine laugh.

I'm so confused, what's happening? 

I expect them to stare or shout at me, but instead, they look at me with their dull eye colors and warm smiles. I have never seen this on them before, especially Anti.

"̴W̷h̸e̶n̵ ̵I̷'̶m̶ ̸g̴o̷n̷e̵,̷ ̵y̶o̴u̸ ̵b̶e̷t̷t̸e̷r̷ ̴b̷e̷ ̸g̸o̵o̷d̸ ̶f̷o̴r̸ ̵D̷a̵i̵i̷s̴h̸u̵,̷ ̵o̴k̷a̴y̷?̵"̴

His voice is calm which really surprises me compared to his normal nature. I don't know how to feel about it.

He seems to notice my confusion and lets out a deep chuckle.

"̶D̷o̸n̸'̷t̸ ̷w̷o̵r̶r̸y̸,̸ ̷t̸h̵i̴s̴ ̶w̶o̴n̶'̴t̵ ̸l̴a̸s̸t̵ ̶f̶o̷r̸ ̸l̸o̸n̵g̸.̵ ̶A̸f̵t̵e̸r̸ ̸a̶l̸l̵,̷ ̵I̸'̷l̴l̷ ̷n̸e̸v̴e̶r̴ ̷p̴l̷a̴n̸ ̸t̸o̴ ̷b̴e̸ ̵n̴i̵c̷e̴ ̸w̷i̷t̸h̸ ̵t̷h̶e̴ ̵o̷n̵e̴s ̶I̴ ̵d̶o̸n̷'̸t̷ ̴l̷i̶k̴e̶.̷"̷

A shiver runs down my spine as he slams his hands on the table to push himself up. Me and Daiishu stay silent for a couple of minutes as Anti leaves, walking around the house for a bit then walks straight through the barricaded door without opening it.

"̴S̵o̸.̸.̷.̵~̵"̵

My attention flicks back to Daiishu who grins at me horrifically.

"We have rules, don't we?" I ask nervously.

I jump, she slams a knife of her own, the aura is twisted and heavy. Furious and insane.

"̸W̴h̴e̷n̶ ̶I̶'̶m̴ ̷i̵n̵ ̸t̴h̴e̷ ̴h̴o̶u̸s̶e̷,̸ ̵y̸o̵u̴ ̸a̵b̴i̵d̶e̶ ̸b̴y̶ ̶M̸Y̷ ̴r̵u̷l̴e̶s̵!̴"̵ The look on her face is beyond insanity and I feel my arms and legs go numb from her twisted smile.

"̶I̶ ̷w̶i̴l̸l̴ ̴g̸e̶t̴ ̷y̴o̶u̶ ̸t̵o̸ ̸w̸o̵r̶k̶ ̷f̵o̸r̴ ̶m̵e̵ ̴i̶n̸ ̵a̸n̴ ̵h̷o̶u̴r̷,̴ ̴u̷s̶e̵ ̸y̵o̷u̴r̴ ̸t̵i̴m̸e̶ ̵w̸i̸s̸e̵l̸y̴.̶"̷ She yawns, crossing her arms over her head and leaning back tiredly.

I nod gratefully and dash back upstairs to Sean's recording room. The feeling of working for her doesn't make me feel comfortable, what would she even get me to do?

I know what I need to do. I need to find a key and a four-letter code which will go to the lock on the cabinet.

I look toward the bedroom where Daiishu and Anti sleep at night. Would it be worth searching right now with Daiishu running around? This might be a risk I want to take if I'm going to move forward...