Emotions Suck


Chase laid Anti on his bed after wrapping his arms in gauze. The bleeding had stopped and he tried his best to disinfect it. Luckily, the glitch seemed to recover from a lot of things pretty quickly. He laid shivering still on the bed but he was a little more 'there'. Chase covered him in blankets to help try and keep him warm and he laid himself on top of the covers beside him.

Light was just starting to crack through his blinds.

Chase just laid there next to the glitch staring up at the ceiling. He didn't know why he felt so calm next to him now. Perhaps it had something to do with seeing Anti so broken.

He had tried giving Anti some water to flush out his system of the drugs but he would only drink a little, leaving it on the table by the bed.

Anti just stared at Chase.

Slowly coming down from the bad trip, he realized where he was and what had happened. He wasn't really mad though. He was confused.

Head still feeling light and drowsy, he finally spoke on his confusion, throat a little sore from his screams and crying, "W-why?"

Chase turned his head to look him in the eye. He seemed so small at the moment. Like a child.

"Why did I help you?"

Anti nodded his head just slightly.

"Why not? You were in pain. Hurting. I couldn't just leave you like that on my kitchen floor to bleed out, Anti."

"Y-you don't unders-stand." Anti growled at him, "D-don't you remember what I-I've done? Even the unre-repressed memories are proof enough of m-my  . . . . I'm a m-monster. Demon."

Chase sighed, "I remember everything, actually, Anti. I had Marvin let me remember the rest. I know what you did. But still . . . . I can't bring myself to hate you"

"I possessed you. I threw your wife down the stairs. I taunted you into killing those people."

"Yeah  . . . . Stacey doesn't remember. It's for good reason she shouldn't have to. Remembering losing her unborn child could fucking kill her. She'll never have to know."

Anti went quiet and stared at him in utter confusion, "What?"

Chase glared at him a little. Maybe he was a bit bitter still. A little resentful, "What?"

"Unborn child? What are you talking about?" Anti's eyes widened and more fear crossed through him, "No. What? But I-"

Now it was Chase's turn to be confused, "What, Anti? D-did you. . . . not know?"

Anti cowered in the blankets even more, "I th-thought she had j-just gained weight" his voice cracked.

Chase swallowed. He wanted to yell at him. He wanted to strangle him and hit him but the look in his eyes told him . . .  he really didn't know.

"Anti . . . . Stacey was preg-pregnant that night you threw her down the stairs. She uh . . .. she lost the baby because of it"

Anti just curled in on himself, "I. . .I didn't. . ." he went quiet again.

Chase stared up at the ceiling again, "Fucking hell, Anti. You make it hard for me to hate you, you know."

"Do you know where my hoodie is?"

The question surprised Chase but he nodded, "Y-yeah. I found it on the island counter. There were pieces of something in it."

"Okay. Good." Anti just turned over with a groan.

Chase hushed him, "Drink some more water. You'll feel better then. Get some sleep while you're at it. We'll talk more when you're better"

Chase stood up out of bed and walked out of the room. Before he shut the door, he could see Anti reaching for the water, still shaking.

With a deep sigh, Chase shut the door and walked downstairs to start cleaning up all the blood.

He leaned himself against the counter, hovering over the sink, clutching the edge tightly. In a burst of rage, he punched the counter as hard as he could, "Fuck!" 

"That was stupid" he regretted it instantly, hissing in pain and holding his hand.

"Yeah it was"

Chase whipped around to see Marvin standing there. He could tell he just got there because when he looked down and saw the blood, he looked straight back up at him as if checking him over.

"It's not my blood, Marv." he reassured him, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh. Uh . . .  something happened. On the news. Got a minute?"

Quietly, they went into the living room and turned on the TV to the local news. A news broadcaster was talking about a band of sex traffickers being taken down by a single man. They cut to a woman holding her daughter crying about how scared she had been but this man saved her and looked out for her daughter before disappearing.

"Huh." Chase hummed, "Jackie get into something yesterday?"

"Keep watching"

They then cut to the white van with police all around it. Blood was sprayed all over the windows from the inside. The broadcaster described the two men in the van to have been brutally murdered with the cause of death being stab wounds.

"Oh"

"Yeah" Marvin agreed, "Once again, however. . . . I have to commend Anti. He hasn't actually killed anyone that anyone else would miss. Doing Jackie a hell of a service, really"

"Don't let him hear that." Chase snorted.

"So uh . . ." Marvin tilted his head to the kitchen, "You gonna tell me what the absolute fuck happened in there?"

"Funny you should ask." Chase bit his lip, only debating for a moment on whether to tell him or not. But it seemed Marvin trusted him, "Follow me"

Chase led him up the stairs and opened the door Anti was in to reveal the glitch sleeping in his bed cuddled up in blankets.

Marvin audibly gulped and whispered to him, "That doesn't explain the blood"

Chase shut the door softly again and led him back downstairs, "Help me get rid of it and I'll tell you"

Marvin immediately spelled it away. He needed to know NOW. He didn't care that Chase just bribed him.

"Well!?"

"It's Anti's blood. I woke up this morning to a loud crash and came down to see Anti cutting himself and crying."

"Holy fuck" Marvin crossed his arms, hugging himself, "Wh-why? That doesn't sound like him at all"

"I know, right?" Chase's voice crackled a little, "Apparently he has been out partying. He had a lot of evidence of drug usage. He was drunk and overdosing and just. . . .cutting himself to ribbons. He wouldn't stop apologizing to me. Took forever to get him to  stop crying."

"Fuck" Marvin bit the inside of his cheek, his curiosity killing him, "C-can I see it? Please?"

Chase sighed but nodded, "Plus . . . he didn't know about Stacey being pregnant. Gave him a whole new panic attack when he realized. You'll see what I mean"

Shakily, Marvin reached to Chase's head and chanted a soft spell, his eyes turning white. When finished, he gasped and flinched away from him.

Marvin ran a hand through his hair and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was so unreal. So strange to see Anti like that. He never would have believed it.

"You know he might not be like that when he recovers, right? He'll wave it off as a lapse in judgement or blame the drugs."

"I know." Chase shrugged, "But at least I got to glimpse the real Anti. He hurts, Marvin. What are we going to do?"

He shrugged as well, "I. . .I don't know, man. I don't know. We can't just tell the others like this. There needs to be more evidence but even then, they wouldn't take it. I doubt it. They'll want him gone."

"And what do you think?"

"What's it matter what I think?"

"Does Anti deserve that?"

"Well yes, actually. He still has done a ton of horrid shit, man. But I see what you mean. He really has changed, I guess. He didn't have to help that little girl and her mother. And it's clear he feels regret. If we can, maybe we could convince Anti to stay low here for a while? You think he'd agree to it?"

"Of course not" Chase snorted, "He's more stubborn than all of us combined. That's why it hurt so much to see him like that this morning. . . .  You think you could help him out, Marv? It'll take a while for the effects of whatever drug he was on to subside otherwise. Please?"

The magician rolled his eyes but pulled up his sleeves, "Oh fine. He's gonna owe me, though"

Once again, they made their way up the stairs and into Chase's room. Marvin  walked over to the side Anti was facing to see he really had fallen asleep but was still shivering and whimpering a little. Marvin nodded to Chase, "I'll be right back with a potion"

With a snap of his fingers, Marvin disappeared but Chase stayed in the room. He was glad Marvin was helping him. It would have taken a few days, otherwise for Anti to feel better. Waiting for Marvin to return, he sat down on the bed next to Anti, listening to his quiet whimpering. He must be having another nightmare.

Marvin returned in a flash with a vial and Chase watched as he gently shook Anti awake. The glitch flinched and sparked a little as he cracked open his eyes but he didn't really make a move, just staring up at Marvin.

"Hey glitch. Brought ya something that'll help ya. Ya gotta drink it, alright?"

Chase didn't know if Anti trusted Marvin or not but he complied almost too easily and opened his mouth for Marvin to help pour it in his mouth. After swallowing, Anti huffed and flopped back down on the bed, blinking slowly.

"The potion should have worked immediately. I don't get it" Marvin scratched the back of his head mildly confused but Anti just glanced up at him.

"It did." He just sounded so tired. So done with everything.

Chase cleared his throat, "Anti . . . . you remember what happened? You party too much last night, dude?" there was a hint of humor in his voice but he was mostly concerned. Anti just seemed so . . .  chill at the moment.

"Of course I remember" he mumbled, "Sort of. Most things. Don't expect me to pour my damn heart out again, assholes"

Marvin smirked a little, "Typical. You came here this morning though a complete mess I heard. Why even try to apologize for what you've done, Anti?"

"You're the mind reader. You tell me" 

"I want to trust you, Anti." said Marvin, "You've done some good shit, actually, since you've been free and I just want to make sure that you won't . . . .  fuck that up."

"Who's to say I won't?"

"Come on, don't be like that" Chase shoved his back a little, making him snarl, "I want to trust you, too, Anti. I may not forgive you for everything but . . .  if you just show me. .. us. .. . I could learn to eventually. We all could"

Marvin looked a little doubtful but didn't comment. Anti sighed, "Are you both gonna just stare at me all day or are you going to call Sean? What about Jackie, Henrik or Jameson? Let that hero brute kill me and be done with it already. I'm done here"

"What?" Marvin couldn't have been more confused, "Anti. . . ." then he had an idea, "Hold up here a second. I'll be right back." he disappeared.

Chase didn't even get the chance to say anything when Marvin returned with Basil in his arms.

Anti glanced up curiously at the cat in his arms. In his few days being corporeal, he actually hadn't seen any stray cats or dogs around. Of course he had seen them here and there in Chase's mind but not in real life.

"This is Basil. She's my lovely kitty companion and an AMAZING judge of character. Sit up, Anti! Show her some respect!"

Rolling his eyes, Anti sat up, letting the sheets fall over his lap, revealing the aftermath of his previous night's 'fun'. Marvin set Basil on the bed and the cat stared at Anti just as curious.

Immediately, however, the cat mewed softly and came up onto his lap purring, nudging his chest with her head.

"Shit" Marvin grinned, "Well if that isn't proof then I don't know what is!"

"Proof of what?" Chase was just as confused as Anti who was gently petting the cat, scratching her chin.

"If she sensed any malice or murderous intent in him at all, she would have attacked him"

Anti stopped petting the cat and glared up at Marvin, "Dick" he sighed and went back to petting the cat that was now just curled up making herself comfortable in his lap. Just barely noticeably, he gave a small smile to her.

Chase was dumbfounded just as Marvin was but still anxious.

"H-hey Marvin?" Anti suddenly seemed nervous but the magician hummed, "Could you. . . . fix something for me? Chase. . .the uh . . . pieces in my hoodie . . . "

"Oh." Chase nodded, "I'll be right back."

After a few moments of awkward silence, Chase brought up the crumpled and folded black hoodie and held it for Anti. The glitch untied it to reveal the pumpkin ceramic pieces, "Can you  . .  fix it? It dropped on the ground yesterday and smashed." he raked his fingers through Basil's fur anxiously.

Marvin gave him a small smile and waved his waved, immediately placing it back together and fixing it, "There. Better? It uh . .. it looks familiar"

"From Jameson's store. He didn't know who I was under the hoodie. I bought this. Liked it. Never owned anything that wasn't a knife before. . . ."

"Good for you, man" Chase grinned, "Suits you" he watched as Anti ran his fingers along the glaze and textures of the small pumpkin.

"I don't get you morons" Anti had a snarl on his face again, "Why not kill me?" he finally looked Chase in the eye again, "You were very close yourself to killing me that morning. Why didn't you give it a shot?"

"Because I simply just couldn't" he shrugged, "I don't know, Anti. There really isn't a clear answer. By all accounts, you should be locked back up or killed . . . but after the last few days of silence and hurting yourself. Helping others. . . . Call me delusional but I want to give you a chance, bro"

"Bro" Anti whispered and narrowed his eyes at him, "What about the others?"

"We could hide you. They haven't found out about you yet" Marvin shrugged.

Just as they were about to say something else, Chase's doorbell rang. Marvin, being closet to the window, peeked outside.

"Uh . . .  Never mind. They might have. It's Jackie and. . . . yup. That's Henrik and Jameson, too out there"

Chase jumped up off the bed and ran over to look out as well. Seeing Marvin wasn't bluffing, he ran a hand through his hair. His heart was suddenly racing and he didn't know what to do. 

On one hand, Anti didn't care anymore if he was just sent back or killed. But that didn't mean that that was okay! 

"Fuck. Anti, you stay up here, alright? Don't come down no matter what and if someone tries to get in, then fucking hide, alright?"

"Br-brody? What are you talking about?"

Marvin sighed but saw where this was going. He was totally on board, "You keep a hold of Basil and I'll ward the door, Anti."

"Wait, why are you-? Where are you go-"

But they walked out, locking and warding the door behind them.

Anti didn't understand what the hell was happening but suddenly a warm feeling erupted in his chest and he held the cat closer to him, her purring comforting.

'Why would they. . . . I've been a monster to them. A demon that fucked up their lives, especially Chase's. It's my fault Stacey lost their third child! Why would they . . .'

"I don't understand" 

He heard the door open downstairs and a rising fear burned his throat. Anti lightly grazed his scar over his neck and swallowed.

He didn't know what to think. He felt like he wanted to die but another part of him hoped they'd give him a chance.

But why would he want that? Just the other day, he wanted to kill them all. He really had gone soft. Seeing them all live their human lives comfortably. Of course their lives had their flaws but it was better than what Anti ever had.

They always had each other. Even when they were mad with one another, they would still be there for them. And Anti had no one.

Was he just jealous this whole time? Human emotions were still so confusing to him.

"WHERE IS THAT BASTARD, CHASE!?"

That was Jackie's voice and he wasn't happy. Carefully and quietly, Anti crawled onto the floor, leaving Basil on the bed watching him. Anti laid his ear on the floor to listen.



Chase slowly opened the door to see Jackie, Henrik and Jameson standing there. And they didn't look happy. They all gave disappointed looks at Chase and Marvin.

"Hey guys." Chase tried to play innocent, "What's up? Don't you all have work today?"

"We did" Jackie still held his glare, "But something more important came up and you both know what I'm talking about. Don't play dumb"

Marvin giggled, "What?"

"Iz he puppetting the two of you? Vhere is he? We can help you" Henrik tried, "Please just talk to us"

Jameson crossed his arms but didn't say anything. That seemed to be even worse though.

Chase shook his head, though, "Sorry guys but I don't know what you're talking about. Marvin just swung by to help me clean up after the kids and-"

"WHERE IS THAT BASTARD, CHASE!?" Jackie interrupted him.

Chase just looked him dead in the eye, swallowed and took a breathe, "Get off my property" he tried to shut the door but Jackie stopped him, shoving it open again.

"He's here, isn't he?"

"Get out, Jackie." Marvin said sternly, "You don't have the right to just march in here like this"

"HAVE YOU IDIOTS FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT MONSTER DID!? HE NEEDS TO FUCKING DIE FOR WHAT HE'S DONE!"

Chase swung a hard punch on him, sending Jackie stumbling back but that only seemed to anger him more.

"Why are you two harboring him!? What's he done to you!?"

"Just tell us vhere he is. Does Sean know?"

"You guys don't understand" Chase tried to reason with them, "A LOT has happened since then. Things have changed."

"Changed!?" Jackie was furious, "He fucking killed people! Don't you remember!? I'm assuming Marvin gave your memory back, Chase! He killed your unborn child and he made you kill those bystanders! He can't be trusted!"

"For your information, I am the one who killed them!" chase fessed up, leaving them all suddenly quiet, "Anti had nothing to do with that. He was in the car but he didn't make me pull the trigger. I did it on my own and he was just as shocked as you all are right now. Hell, I even laughed when I did it!"  he chuckled humorlessly, "It just goes to show . . . . Anti and I aren't so different after all. We're both fucked up. We're ALL fucked up"

Jackie snarled, "Where is he, Chase? You either tell me now or I swear to fucking god I'll just search this entire house until I DO find him!"

"You'll have to go through us, first" Marvin cast a shield  in between them.

Jackie looked ready to charge and fight his way through, convinced his brothers were possessed, "I'll- . . ."

'TAP'  . . . .  'TAP'. . . . . . 'TAP'

The sudden sound of tapping on wood stopped them all. Confused, they looked and turned to see a figure standing in the living room.

He wore dark clothing, his hair was slightly array and he held a cane in his hand, tapping in on the ground to get their attention.

"Well, well . . . I hate to break up this family quarrel. . . . But it seems I'm not the only one who wants to get their hands on that glitch bitch" he growled the last part, sending chills up all their spines.

The man cracked his neck loudly. Intimidatingly.

"Now then . . . . I wouldn't keep me waiting if I were you. . . . Where is he?"



Upstairs, Anti had thought about just showing himself downstairs until that familiar voice made him freeze.

And then that's when he remembered.

He really did a LOT of stupid things last night.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top