"So what's your name?"

Maya almost forgot where she was, hugging this man just felt right but she had to remember what Anti had told her! Right?

She stepped back from him but refused to look him in the eyes, "Uh . . . m-my name's . . .. Maya"

"Maya . . that's a pretty name" Jackie smiled down at her, "And . . .how do you know Dark if I may ask? You seem . . important if he came all this way across seas to try and grab you"

"Uh . . . . I . . .. I thought he was nice . . . at first" it wasn't a complete lie, "But then . . he wasn't . . .he said he . . wanted me to be HIS"

"Gross!" Jackie stated bluntly, "So where do you live? Can I help you get home?"

She stiffened. If she let him take her to her home, Anti might walk in or something! That and . . . she had no idea where home was from here. . . . also-

"I . . . I don't really HAVE a home" it was sort of the truth. Her and Anti lived in an abandoned apartment complex that was basically trash. They were homeless, really with a less than great living situation but Anti didn't have a lot of money and he needed to save what he had to take care of himself and Maya. There was no room in their savings for rent!

"Oh" Jackie whispered softly, "Well that's no good . . Hm. I can't just leave you out here on the streets . . and with Dark coming after you, you might not be safe at a homeless shelter, either. ALRIGHT! I'VE MADE A DECISION!"

She flinched at his sudden enthusiasm and almost glitched out but kept it contained so he wouldn't see.

"Huh?"

Jackie smiled reassuringly, "If you're up for it that is! You're welcome to come live with me and my brothers for a while until you can get back up on your feet! And we can protect you from Dark and . . others!"

She had a feeling she knew what 'others' meant. She wasn't sure. Anti might find out if she decided to go with him. But also . . .she was tired of her brother always coming back to her with injuries and anger. Maybe it was time to settle things once and for all.

A different way.

Maya nodded, "Okay!"

Anti scoffed at this guy that was trying to swindle him in a deal, "Look, I know you and your gang are capable. I just don't think you're worth all that you're trying to sell me"

"Look, man, it's either that or no deal. What's it gonna be? You wanna take out Jackieman or what?"

"It's Jackieboyman- you know what? Forget it. I'll come up with something else on my own" with that, he glitched out of the alley, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "Fucking losers"

He took out his phone and looked at it. No messages.

'Hm. . . usually by now Maya would be texting me constantly if I'm gone this long . . . . maybe she's just hanging out with one of the Ipliers and lost track of time . . . .'

He sighed and put the phone back in his pocket, 'I can't worry about her. She's fine. Now what am I gonna do about those assholes?"

He'd leave her with Dark for now. She'd be mad at him for taking so long but he might not be able to come get her until morning. He had to get busy thinking of a plan and now.

Maya looked around in awe. It wasn't every day she'd get to see a nice home that wasn't on the verge of collapse.

"Wow!"

Chase gave Jackie a look, "Dude . .. this is sad."

"I know. There was nothing else I could do, though. I couldn't let Dark find her eventually."

"Tis alright, Jackie" Henrik watched the girl, "She's in need of help anyway. You said she vas homeless?"

"That's what she said"

They watched her go into the kitchen and flinched at her shout.

"YOU GUYS HAVE A COFFEE MACHINE AND A TOASTER OVEN!? THAT'S SO COOL!"

Marvin squinted his eyes, "How LONG has she been homeless?"

Jameson put his hands on his hips, 'Marvin! Not everyone can live how we do! Poor thing, though. It IS worrying how small she is'

"I mean she's not skinny by any means" Chase laughed, "But she IS pretty small nonetheless. Short. Not that there's anything bad about that. . . . So how we gonna do this, dudes?"

Jackie sighed and walked into the kitchen with everyone on his tail. He noticed Maya was trying to peek into the cupboards, "Whoa . .. you guys have a lot of food"

Jackie grunted to get her attention and she squeaked, bolting away from the cupboards.

"I'm sorry! My brother always says I'm kinda nosy-"

"Your brother?" Jackie asked, "This is news . . . . where's he?"

'Shit' she swallowed, "Uh . . . I don't know. I lost him" it was truth. No harm in a little white lie for now, right?

"Fair enough" Jackie didn't seem too bothered, "You have a phone?"

She blinked but realized she didn't even feel her phone in her pocket!

'Dammit, it must have fallen out of my pocket at the Iplier house!'

She shook her head.

"I should have figured. Of course. Okay then . . " Jackie shrugged, "No matter! We'll be able to find your brother in time! So I think introductions are in order! Of course you know me by now! I'm Jackie!"

A man with a hat and dopey smile waved at her, "I'm Chase! I gotta vlog if ya wanna check it out sometime!"

The other man dressed eccentrically with a cape, gloves, boots and glitter rolled his eyes, "Of course she wouldn't bother with that drivel when she could see my MAGIC!" He waved his hand and a small poof of smoke and glitter popped out of thin air!

"Whoa! Cool!" she grinned, making the man smile boastfully.

"I am Marvin the magnificent! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"You have to clean that mess up, you know" Henrik muttered but he was ignored successfully.

The other man in a bowler hat with a mustache made gestures with his hands. It was foreign to her but for some reason . . she felt like she knew what he was saying. Before she could guess, though, Jackie filled in.

"This is Jameson! He's a mute and uses sign language to talk but he's not deaf! You can still talk to him anytime and he can write so you can understand him"

She nodded and smiled at Jameson who tipped his hat to her.

Then a man dressed as a doctor pushed then away, "I am Doctor Henrik Von Schneeplestein! A real doctor! Not like my fake 'colleague'" he muttered the last bit a little evilly to himself.

Maya grinned, "Well I'm Maya! It's real nice to meet you all!"

But there was one thing bothering her but she made sure not to let it show.

'They all look so similar . . . too similar. They're all brothers like Jackie said but . . . something's off. That hair and beard . . . . and those eyes . . . .'

She needed to know something, "J-jackie?"

"Hm? Yeah, what is it?"

"Well . . you said before you'd protect me from Dark . . . and others. . . who's . . . others? There are worse people than him around?"

Everyone's moods shifted and she almost regretted asking.

Jackie snarled a little to himself, "Yeah . . there's worse, alright. He's similar to Dark but WAY worse. Let's see . . do you know anything about egos?"

She did not, "Huh?"

"Of course she wouldn't, dingus", Marvin filled in, "Egos are . . US. We were created from one ordinary person. He does YouTube as a career and in his job, he's generally creative all the time. In his creativity, he's sometimes . . .. made personas of himself an thus . . here we are!"

"Same goes for the Ipliers" Chase continued, "We are created from Sean or better known as 'Jacksepticeye' while the Ipliers are made from Mark or . . 'Markiplier'"

"Oh . . .. I think I get it" she didn't get it fully but well enough.

Jackie nodded, "Well there's another Septic ego and like Dark is to the Ipliers, he's our evil-doer. His name . . .. is Antisepticeye"

Maya expected a lot of things. She had a hunch but she really hoped she was wrong and her heart fell, "O-oh . . . s-sounds like a . . bad guy?"

"He is!" Chase huffed, "He's nothing but a fucking psycho hell bent on killing us for NO REASON! HE'S INSANE!"

She felt the urge to protect her brother's image but kept quiet for now, 'I never knew . . .. all this time . . . Anti was trying to kill his own . . . family? I never even knew his full name . . . .'

She didn't understand it. But hopefully in her time here, she could find answers. She was learning a lot already.

"So let's give you the grand tour, shall we?!" Chase belted out, "Come on! We gotta empty room, actually so you can stay there!"

'Well that's convenient' she thought to herself, 'I wonder how Anti's doing. He's gonna be so worried once he realizes I'm not with the Ipliers. . . . and Dark . . . what's he gonna tell him?'

Her blood ran cold thinking about it but she had to find out as much as she could if she wanted to stand any chance in resolving their feud!

Once Chase showed her the room she'd be staying in, she wanted nothing more than to collapse on the bed but that could wait for now.

"Hey Chase . . . ." she asked him tentatively, "Uh . . ."

The dude leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed and a knowing smile, "You got a lot of questions. I can see it in your eyes. Bursting with curiosity, dude! I know that look anywhere seeing it in my kids all the time. What you wanna ask?"

'He has kids!?' she was floored because not only did Anti have brothers but he also had nieces and nephews! And so did she!

"Oh uh . . . hmmm . . . I well I was just wondering . . . Dark stays with his family . . the Ipliers. What happened between you guys and this Antisepticeye?"

Chase nodded, "Well . . . I mean it shouldn't really matter to you but what's it matter if I tell ya?"

'Can't swing by that logic'

"The crazy dude DID live with us at first. He was the oldest out of all of us but we were all freaking scared of him then anyway. He was . . . . a jerk, always flinging that knife around everywhere he went, threatening us . . we didn't feel safe around him as it was . . ."

'Well that DOES sound like him'

"And then one night during a storm, he just fucking lost his mind! I don't know what happened exactly but I guess he decided that night he wanted us dead! Started glitching like crazy, screaming and laughing like mad and waving around that knife. He ended up stabbing Jackie, cut Jameson, scarring Marvin, choking Henrik . . . and me . . . well he just scared the shit out of me to be honest. We decided then that enough was enough and booted his ass out. I guess ever since he's just made it his mission to kill us all for good"

"Wow . . . uh . . some story"

"Yeah. So dinner will be ready around six. Come on down when you feel like it. You look tired, sis"

"Huh?"

"Oh! S-sorry" he rubbed at his head, "I mean . . . I guess there's just something about you!" he grinned, "Sorry for the pet name, kid. I guess I just feel really close to you already! Weird, huh?"

Maya started to smile, herself, "It's okay. I'll be down in a bit"

"See ya later alligator!" with that, he walked off back downstairs with the others.

Maya closed the door and went to sit on the bed with a heavy sigh.

'So that's how it all went down . . . . Anti never told me. I've seen him in storms before. He IS scary but he's just trying to keep himself together. He said that's how I was made. From his weakness. Except that it was the only time he was okay with it' she smiled at that memory.

'They don't understand that Anti was probably just scared and in a panic and now Anti wants to . . kill them as revenge? Oh big brother, you really are something else' she rolled her eyes, 'So petty sometimes'

Sighing again, she found herself drifting off on the comfortable mattress.

Her eyes opened with a start and she looked around frantically.

'This isn't home!' but then she remembered, 'Oh yeah . . . .'

Maya looked over at the clock that read half passed six, 'Oh shoot! They said dinner was at six!'

Barreling out of the bed, she bolted downstairs and into the kitchen.

"S-sorry! I fell asleep and- and-"

Marvin raised up his hands, "Easy there! No worries! Supper just got done! We were gonna come get you in a bit, actually" he laughed.

"Oh .. . okay . . . wh-what is it?"

'It smells SO good!'

Jackie started making a plate and handed it to her, "Spaghetti and Meatballs! Chase's specialty, actually! We thought you'd enjoy a nice hot meal!"

"Oh cool! I've heard of it but I've never had spaghetti before!"

They all looked horrified.

Especially when they saw her shoveling it in like it was her last meal.

"So" Henrik pushed his glasses back up on his face, "Vhat is your brother's name? Perhaps we could help find him"

"Uh . . . . An . . Andy?"

She got a strange look for saying it that way but Chase moved the conversation along, "So how'd you get messed up with Dark? We didn't even think he had ANY feelings, especially not lust!"

"Oh . . . well"

"Chase, if she doesn't want to talk about it, zhen then leave it alone!" Henrik vouched for her, "Tis a sensitive topic probably"

"Oh yeah, my bad" Chase looked sheepish, "But you gotta admit, it IS curious"

"True" Marvin nodded, "But tell us about yourself, Maya! Any interests? Hobbies? Favorite stuff?"

She had wiped her plate clean and cleaned her face off barbarically with a napkin but they didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, they looked to be sort of amused.

"Well . . . I don't really get out much! My brother makes me stay inside where we're huddled. He says it's to keep me safe. . . . I like to people-watch through the window though! Oh and sometimes he brings me goodies like kids meals or a nice fluffy blanket"

"Whoa" Jackie cleared his throat, "Not gonna lie. But that sounds . . . rough"

She shrugged, "It was . . . but as long as big brother and I are together, I know everything's alright! It's just . . . um . . I hope he doesn't worry about me too much"

Jameson started to write something down and handed the paper to her and it read, 'Don't feel so down! We'll find him and soon you two will be reunited and safe together!'

She smiled, "Thanks" she frowned again, though, "It's just . .. also though . . . hm . . . He's the one that had Dark and the others watch over me while he went out today"

"Oh shit" Jackie cursed, "But . . . but hold on! You said earlier that you LOST your brother. Maya are you . . . are you lying to us about something?"

Her anxiety built up again but she forced it down and breathed, "N-no, it's just . . . you never know whether to really trust others, you know? You guys are . . well . . . . strangers to me and"

"Say no more!" Marvin chuckled, "We get it. Really."

"It's just" Henrik butt in, "Forgive me for speaking like zhis, Maya, but you are a stranger to us, too. Is your brother . . . trustworthy? If he entrusted you to Dark . . . it makes me . . suspicious"

"I know what you mean, bro" Chase agreed, "Sorry, Maya, but your big bro doesn't seem too . . smart?"

"No, he is! It's just . . . It's just that Dark was really good at hiding things, you know? Don't say that about my big brother because I didn't know, either, okay!?"

"Okay, okay" Jackie brought her down, "It's okay. We're just talking, Maya. Trying to get to the bottom of things. But I couldn't help but catch on earlier . . . Chase says you were curious about Anti. It makes me wonder if your brother . . this . . . Andy? . . .knows him, too?"

"Oh yeah!" Marvin piped up, "If this Andy knows anything about Anti, then maybe he knows something about his next move!"

'Whoa' Maya snorted internally, 'These guys are sorta dumb. Anti was kinda right about a few things, I guess'

However, Jameson looked to be thinking . . intensely, too.

But luckily enough for her, the conversation died down to something else and it was soon getting late.

That night, they let her go back up to the room they had for her but before she could go shut the door behind her, she turned and saw Jameson standing there! Just waving so politely, too!

"AH!" She screeched but quickly covered her mouth with her hands, "Oh shoot . . sorry Jameson! You scared me there!"

Jameson just smiled and pulled out a notebook and wrote. Maya really wanted to just go to bed but it appeared that'd have to wait a little bit.

When he turned the paper, though, she stood froze.

It read, 'So that was a close call down there, huh? Sorry but Anti and Andy are way too similar and the coincidence for you and this Andy knowing Dark and the Ipliers?'

Maya shivered, afraid. Of course she was terrified!

'Oh no . . there goes my cover but so soon!? What's he gonna do to me? What're the OTHERS gonna do?! Are they gonna torture me or kill me just like Anti said!?'

But Jameson wrote on the paper again frantically, 'Don't worry! I won't tell anyone just yet. You seem scared. I don't think you're an enemy, that's for sure. But who ARE you to Anti?'

She couldn't say anything, though, having lost her words, 'He's not gonna . . . tell anyone? But why? I don't understand'

Jameson started to write something again but stopped himself and closed his eyes, taking a breathe. He started to sign.

And she could understand it. She didn't know why she did, but she didn't need him to write anything.

'If you can understand this, my suspicions will be confirmed. I won't tell the others, though, until you're ready.'

"Why?" she could have kicked herself. She really was just as stupid as them, maybe.

Jameson just smiled gently, 'So it's true, then . . .. you're related to us somehow . . Look . . I won't pry anymore but I have to know. Are you a friend?'

Maya appreciated the discretion and she couldn't just leave him hanging. Not on this. Besides, it wasn't detrimental to her being there and she nodded, "Yeah. I'm a friend"

'Good. I'll see you tomorrow, then! Have a nice night, Maya!'

With that, Jameson walked off on to his room, leaving her there speechless.

But also . . she DID feel a bit of weight being lifted off of her. It was nice that at someone in this house knew of her true identity to an extent and didn't hate her.

The next morning, Anti finally decided he was getting nowhere. No gangs in the area would dare take on Jackie and they didn't want to give him the firepower, either. That, and he wasted his time doing this where he could have spent it trying to get money for him and Maya to live off of. Granted, he could just blatantly steal and glitch things into their home but Maya hated when he did that.

So he had to resort to stealing discretely and spending that money on anything they wanted. Anything to keep his little sister happy. What she didn't know wouldn't kill her.

But it had been a long night now and the day previous had been hell. He just wanted to go home and sleep it all off but first he had to go retrieve his kin.

'Maybe if I apologize to her enough, Maya'll let me steal someone's take-out.' he cracked his neck and back with a groan and glitched to the Iplier manor.

He felt something was a little off but just thought that maybe it was Dark's aura hovering over the place like a storm cloud.

He shuddered. He hated storms.

As always, Anti wasted no time bursting through the door, kicking it down, "YO MAYA! TIME TO GO! WHERE YOU AT?!"

Silence. Besides a few of the Ipliers that were in the living room staring at him strangely and mumbling quietly to themselves.

Anti didn't like this. Usually Maya would be running up to him ready to leave and get McDonalds or something.

'Where is she? Maybe with Eric?'

He knew where the kid's room was and went upstairs, knocking on his door.

The door opened a crack and the boy whimpered but before he could slam it shut, Anti shoved his foot into the crack with a glare.

"Where's Maya? She in here?" Anti had his knife out, dragging it down the door frame. It was a normal thing for him to fiddle with it and scrape it on a wall but it terrified Eric.

Eric looked like he'd piss himself but then again that was just his normal nature, "Uh . . .um . .. I uh . . . I don't know! I uh . . hmmmm . . . D-dark . . he-"

"Of course! Dark would know! She probably up in his office with him playing that stupid checkers game or whatever. See ya later, kid. Toughen up a bit!"

Anti glitched up to Dark's office, "DARK! WHERE SHE AT?! MAYA!"

But something was wrong here.

Dark stood by his window, his hair in disarray and he wasn't wearing his tie like usual. He seemed to have been mumbling to himself before Anti showed up.

"Uh . . Anti-"

Anti didn't like this. Something wasn't right, "Dark . . . where's my Maya?"

Dark looked like he'd tear up, he seemed so emotional and Anti's worry just grew. He had never seen Dark like this before and it only made his fears worse.

"Anti . . . Anti, I tried to stop them! But they were too strong! I couldn't get her back"

Anti's face started to snarl and his fists clenched, making his body spark, "Who . . . who took her? And why didn't you tell me sooner!?"

"I tried! I don't have your phone number and Maya's phone was smashed in the struggle!" he pointed to the papers on the floor and toppled over end table. There seemed to definitely have been a struggle here.

"But that's not the point, Anti! We have to get her back! I would have tried already but I didn't know where they lived. But I know you do"

"The Septics?" Anti feared this day, "But how did they find out about her? I was sure that-"

"I think Dr. Iplier may have let it slip to his colleague . . .I'm sorry, Anti. But enough of this mindless chatter for now. Just tell me where they live and we can get her back together"

Anti didn't see the malicious intent in Dark's eyes. He figured it was for the same reason he was pissed off, too.

He didn't know the truth of Dark's actions, what he had done to his sister.

To a degree Dark regretted what he did and how he reacted to Maya's rejection . . . .

But there was no way in hell he'd let Anti find out the truth.

Because hell hath no fury like an angry and psychotic big brother in a rage.