Disclaimer: Never will own W.I.T.C.H.

I'm gonna "try" to update once a week on Saturdays. This week's a little early but I'm heading into New York tomorrow to see "The Tree" and all of the holiday windows.

Just a shot warning. While it doesn't go into great detail there will be a flash back in this chapter where Matt discovers Mandy's body after her suicide. If this still disturbs you, you can skip that part. Needless to say Matt's having a really...

Bad Day

Had a bad day again,

She said I would not understand

She left a note and said,

"I'm sorry I had a bad day again" -Fuel

Will didn't remember leaving school, she didn't remember walking all the way to Matt's house, all she could remember was the grief stricken look on Nigel's face as he told her Mandy was dead. Dead...by her own hands. She remembered trying to deny it, shouting that it wasn't true. She may have even caused a scene in the hallway shouting at poor Nigel but that didn't matter now. Right now she had to see Matt, he would tell her it was just a mistake and everything was alright...right?

She rang the doorbell twice before Matt's mother answered the door. That was a bad sigh. Mrs. Olsen was never home from work this early. The look on her face made her flinch. She had caused her own mother enough grieve in her short life to recognize a distraught parent. Who was she kidding, this was never going to be alright.

"Will?" Mrs. Olsen said glancing in the direction of her son's bedroom. "Will...I don't know if you knew but...a good friend of Matt's died last night. He's..." she trailed off stealing another glance. "Will honey, maybe you should come back later."

"But I have to see him!" she said as tears started to form in her eyes. "I...I need to apologize!" A single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Mrs. Olsen looked torn but opened the door and let the distraught girl in.

"Just keep in mind...he's really upset right now." Will nodded and Mrs. Olsen stepped aside. His room was right down the hall but it seemed like each step was weighed down with lead boots. By the time she reached his door it struck her how quiet it was. Every time she'd ever been to Matt's room there was always some type of music flowing from with in. Weather it be the radio, MP3 player, or just the soothing strumming of his guitar, music always seemed to emanate from wherever the boy was. The silence seemed just...wrong.

It took her a few moment to gather up her courage and knock on his door. "I said I didn't want to talk right now Mom!" she heard Matt shouting from within. She flinched at the pained tone in his voice but it only made her want to go and comfort him more.

"Matt it's me, Will." She pushed open the door and let herself in. She wanted to rush to his side but the sight before her made her stop. Matt was sitting on his bed facing away from her in a darkened room staring a something in his hands. It was then she realized it was an old photograph of a young Matt and Mandy no older then 7 years old.

"Matt...Matt I-"

"I want you to leave Will." He said in a flat even tone without turning around.

"Matt I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry and-"

"Sorry?" His voice rising a little still refusing to turn around. "I should have been there for her last night. I was suppose to be there! I...I got there too late." A strangled sob escaped his thought. "I don't even know why! Why would she just...how could she..."

Will was in tears herself now. Because of Mandy's hidden pain and the pain Matt was now left to bare. She just wanted to try and take some of that pain away. But as she reached out her hand to him he stopped her.

"Don't." he said again in that quiet even voice. "I want you to leave now Will. I can't...I don't want to say anything I can't take back."

Will pulled her hand away, a new pain now forming within her heart as Matt still refused to look at her. "Matt, please. I-"

"I SAID GET OUT!!!" He screamed slamming his fist down on the desk more tears escaping his eyes.

Will jumped in surprise and then ran. This was her fault, all her fault and she knew it. She ignored Mrs. Olsen and everyone else until she got home. She fully intended to lock herself in her room but as it so happened her mother was home early that day.

One look at her daughter's tear streaked face and Susan instantly knew something was wrong. "Will, honey, what's wrong?" Will was surprised to see her mother home so early, but eternally grateful. She really didn't want to be alone right now. She launched herself at her mother and instantly started crying.

"Oh mom...I've done something terrible...and it's too late to take it back!" Will said between sobs as she relayed everything that happed yesterday and when she tried to see Matt. The two Vandom women just sat on the couch taking comfort in each other's arms.

Matt on the other hand was keeping everyone at a distance. The pain, guilt and anger were all eating away at him as he remembered that horrible day...

He arrived at Mandy's home around 6:30 and was greeted by her father. He told Matt that they had already eaten dinner and even had some birthday cake.

Matt tried to look sheepish. "I think there was some miscommunication. My girlfriend didn't know about Mandy's birthday and may have sounded a little rude on the phone."

Mandy's Father frowned. "I do hope she apologizes, Mandy seemed upset at dinner. Come to think of it even before then. I don't think she was in a very good mood all day." He glanced up the stairs in the direction of his daughter's room. "She was real quiet at dinner; I do hope someone wished her a happy birthday."

Matt fallowed the man's glance. He couldn't explain why but he felt a little uneasy looking up at the dimly lit hallway. "Well, let me go up and say 'Happy Birthday' maybe I could drag her out. I know she's already eaten but it's not that late. Maybe I could take her bowling or we could grab some coffee."

The older man nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. Go and try to drag her out."

At the time Matt thought he was just being stupid. He had been over Mandy's house more times then he could remember but today it felt...eerie. As he reached the top of the stairs and entered the darkened hallway, he could see a glow of light spilling out from the bottom of her door into the darkness as if beaconing him and warning him at the same time.

While he was walking at normal speed it seemed to take an eternity to reach the door. Gathering up his courage he forced his fist to knock on the door. "Mandy! It's me Matt! Come on out so I can sing my famous "Happy Birthday Mandy Pandy" song I know you hate so much. Also, so I can apologize for Will, she didn't know it was your birthday and got a little jealous for some reason." But there was nothing but silence.

"Hey Mandy, you OK in there?" Again there was no answer. 'It's a little early for her to be asleep, maybe she not feeling well.' he thought, all the while something in his gut was churning.

Deciding he could live with her yelling at him, if he barged in on her and she really didn't want to see him. So he gave her one last warning.

"Mandy, I'm coming in." No more hesitation he turned the knob flung open the door...and for a moment his world froze in horror.

Hanging from a ceiling fan in the middle of the room was Mandy slightly swaying by a rope tightened around her neck. The moments after that were a bit blurry. Matt remembered screaming her name and trying to lift her up hopping he wasn't too late. He must have been screaming a lot because Mandy's father came running. They managed to get her down. Matt tried CPR while her father called 911. But it didn't matter... they were too late.

And she swears there's nothing wrong

I hear her playing that same old song

She puts me off and puts me on

And had a bad day again

She said I would not understand

Left a note and said, "I'm sorry I had a bad day...again"

"I was too late..." Matt said softly to himself as the memory ended, his hands still tightly clutching the old picture of Mandy and him. He tried to quell the negative emotions that were collecting and festering within him but the memory of Mandy's cold lifeless body in his arms was only stirring them further.

And deep from within the darkest regents of his mind someone was watching and waiting. Shagon smiled to himself as he felt the boy retching in pain and grinned as he felt the boys hate slowly burning. 'I could take him now.' he thought to himself. 'He's weak right now, and with the right prodding I could stir up that hatred 100 fold.' but he held back. 'No, not yet.' With Matt now wearing the Mage ring Nerissa had managed to reach her last servant, Shagon, and told him about the magic she had hidden with in the boy and how to access it. The power would be able to release Nerissa. Then he would go after all of the remaining power of the Heart of Earth and all that power would be all his. But first things first, he had to take control of his body permanently.

He had been waiting patently for over a year now plotting and testing the reach of his limits. The advantage of being so deep within the boy's mind was that the boy couldn't hear or feel what he was doing. Over time he managed to collect little bits of hate from Matt hear and there. Hate was a natural raw human emotion something very few people could ever fully turn off entirely. He had been collecting it and savoring it, waiting for just the right time to strike. But, not just yet. Shagon had had over a year to consider his mistakes.

One was thinking he could just push the boy out of the way. No, Matt had proven stronger than then he seemed. Subconsciously he placed a hand over the small scar on his chest. Small, but memorable. It was what proved that Matt Olsen and Shagon the Angel of Malice were not two separate being sharing the same body, rather they were the same being with two separate personalities. Right now, Matt was the dominate one. His love for Will had been so strong it had forced Shagon back to the deepest part of their mind. But with the tragic death of Mandy, and the argument with Will, the boy's love was wavering.

"Ah, the poor boy's mad at his little girlfriend. Maybe with a little persuasion I can twist that anger of his into something more..." he licked his lips at the thought. "Hateful"

Unaware of the looming danger Will kept her distance from the boy she loved. She honestly didn't know if she should approach him again or wait for him to call her. Her friends were being very supportive but had mixed opinions about what to do about Matt.

Will wanted to go to Mandy's funeral but wasn't sure how Matt would respond. She didn't think he'd make a scene but it wasn't the best place or time to talk about what had happened. Still she at least wanted to pay her respects and say goodbye to her. She owed her that much at least.

Mandy's funeral was held a few days later. Matt was getting ready to go, all that he needed was the cake his mother bought for Mr. Anderson for afterwards. As he packed up the pastry he tried to rid himself of the nasty thoughts that were running through his mind. He wasn't sure if Will was going but he kind of hoped not. He wasn't ready to face her. Deep down he knew Will had nothing to do with Mandy's death but those nasty thoughts just kept creeping up in his head.

"What would have happened if I had got the phone first? Or if Will had just given it to me instead of blowing Mandy off? Could I have stopped her?" He sighed and grabbed a glass of water to calm himself. He didn't want to start crying again, not in front of everyone.

"You would have talked to Mandy if Will had given you the phone." a stray thought came up. "Hell, if she had just told the truth after Mandy hung up you might have made it there in time." Matt shut his eye, these thoughts were and weren't his. He had been thinking them but never aloud it go any further. Today however, he didn't seem able to halt them.

"If you had gone to her place as planned this wouldn't have happened. If Will had not come this would never have happened." His hand gripped the glass tighter. He had been denying these thoughts since...that night... but it was getting harder and harder deny them any more.

"It's her fault, isn't it." the thought seemed to purr. "She's not really sorry, is she? She should be happy now that there's less competition for your heart." If Matt wasn't such an emotional wreck he might have realized these thoughts, while they were his own, were being twisted, and not by him.

"Don't you hate it that Will is so jealous that she'll drive away anyone who you care about? Don't you hate that she was so jealous that it drove one of your best friends to suicide?"

Shagon had been patient indeed. The hatred he had been gathering slowly over the long year was being put to good use. Matt emotions, already fragile, as well as the boy's mental process were becoming clouded by truths, half truths and lies. Leaving it very hard to sort out which was which at the moment.

'Come on say it.'

Nudged the demon lying in wait. All he needed to escape from darkest part of their mind was for the boy to express his hate. Just saying it would be enough. 'Just a little more...'

"Admit it, don't you hate HER!" Shagon let images of the fight and the discovery of Mandy's body flood the boy's mind weakening his defenses further.

"I..." Matt began a bit in a haze trying to shake the images out of his head. 'SAY IT!' The images just flashed over and over again non stop until tears of anger and misery leaked out.

"Yeah, I..." Shagon let out all of the hate that he had left giving the boy the final push he needed.

"I hate her!"

"And that was all I needed to hear." Shagon said in a loud and clear voice cackling as Matt realized just what he had said.

"Wait, No! NO! I didn't mean that I-" Matt felt the familiar tug on his mind as he was violently pull back and shoved into the endless cloud filled void from his nightmares.

He struggled to his feet as gasped with horror when he saw Shagon free, no longer imprisoned, and eager to take back control. 'NO! Not him, not now!' Matt thought frantically. He knew he wasn't ready for a fight especially a mental one. 'How did you get free? We made a pack and I won!"

The demon just chuckled. "You should have been a little clearer on the rules boy. We agreed the strongest will would take control and the looser would be banished forever. Too bad you weren't more specific because right now I'm the stronger, therefore this body is mine!"

While Matt was just realizing the terror that was beginning all over again, things were about to get worse. The door bell rang and Mrs. Olsen answered the door. "Nigel, thank you for coming. Matt's been real upset but he keeps shutting people away. I think he needs a friend right now even if he doesn't realize it."

Nigel, who was dressed in black for the funeral as well, nodded. "Yeah, we talked once or twice since...that day. He didn't seem up for any long conversations though."

Matt's mother had a sad smile on her face. "If you could just be there for him right now, that's all I ask. I know he'll thank you for it later." she glanced at her watch. "We should get going, Matt's in the kitchen getting some food for later. Could you get him while I go get our coats?"

"Sure thing Mrs. Olsen." And not knowing he was heading into dangerous territory Nigel headed towards the kitchen to check on his best friend. "Hey Matt, I'm here!" He shouted out giving his friend a heads up.

But within Matt's mind thing were going from bad to worse. Matt was already being beaten back by the demon of hate when they heard Nigel's voice. Shagon laughed. "Well now, look who's come to join us."

Matt's eye widened in horror. "Nigel get away! Get my Mom and Get out of here NOW!" But his voice was barely getting through.

Hearing a glass break Nigel ran into the kitchen he found his best friend on the floor, one hand bleeding from the broken glass and the other clutching his head in agony mumbling something. "MATT!" The red head ran to his friend trying to help him. "Matt! Dude what's wrong?"

This gave Matt the strength to try and fight off Shagon all the while trying to warn his friend. All Nigel could hear was a strange message. "Ge-get away! B-back...he's back...can't hold...AHH...get out NOW!

But instead of fleeing Nigel called for help. "Mrs. Olsen! HELP! It's Matt!" Inside his mind Matt cursed Nigel for not understanding and for bringing his mother into danger as well."

As soon as she heard her son was in trouble Mrs. Olsen came running. "Nigel what's going-" That was when she saw her son writhing on the floor clutching his head. "Matt!" She screamed as she ran to her son. "What's wrong? Come on baby answer me!"

Shagon was cackling like a mad man. "Oh how sweet....and so perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down." He said blasting Matt with his eye beams before he could try and summon his guitar like last time. "You haven't forgotten what I said when you defied me the last time do you?" Matt struggled to get up but was blasted back down. "I told you I'd kill your parents to teach you a lesson. And since that annoying Nigel is here as well, might as well get rid of him too." Matt was panicked and frantic trying to think of a way to stop the demon. "And since Nerissa isn't around to stop me I think I'll do just that."

Desperate and dangerously short on time Matt did the only thing he could think of. He started to shut down his mind from his body. Matt had learned a lot from training with Yan Lin and Halinor, including some very helpful meditation tricks. Normally this technique was used to shut out the excess noise from all of the Animal chatter, but he found out that if he put too much into it he might put his mind in danger. But right now this was his only defense and it was working. Shagon looked around surprised but not angry as the landscape began to change and darken. In fact, he seemed pleased.

"You're such a fool. This fight is far from over and you're actually moving it to MY territory?" But Matt paid him no mind and poured everything he had, more then he thought possible into the shut down. Until finally he succeeded and shutting down his mind from his body. He hoped it would keep his loved ones safe because he didn't have very much fight left in him

Back in the real world a frantic Nigel and Mrs. Olsen watched as Matt cried out then went limp in their arms. Neither Matt nor Shagon could hear their cries of concern or Mrs. Olsen shouting for Nigel to call 911. It was just the two of them both now trapped within the darkest part of their mind with no connection to outside world.

Matt, while grateful his plan worked, was severely weakened and unsure if he could reverse the effect. Yan Lin had warned him not to dive too deep into his own head or he might no be able to come out of it. But that could wait, Shagon certainly would not. Surrounded in darkness and not by clouds Matt could barely tell where he was never mind where Shagon was. Soon enough, the demon's cackling could be heard from all directions.

"You stupid little fool. All you did was buy them some time but believe me, I will have my revenge." Matt wildly looked around hoping to find some clue where Shagon was lurking. "I fully intend to rip apart and destroy everything you hold dear." Matt took a half hearted swing at the shadows, he was simply too exhausted to go on much more but he had to try, he just could give up.

Suddenly he was grabbed from behind, strong arms pinning his limbs to his body. Matt struggled trying desperately to get free. "Let me GO!"

The demon just laughed and leaned in close to his ear. "But it's like you said Matt. I'm a part of you and you are a part of me." Matt gasped as he felt a sharp pain on his chest. It took him a moment to realize that Shagon had extended his claws and scratched him...right on his old scar. The scar he got when he tried to take his own life to try and end Shagon's reign of terror over a year ago. He told no one about that secret. And now the memory seemed ever so painful now that he knew, really knew the pain it would have caused his loved ones had he succeeded. Mandy's face flashed behind his eyes but he shook his head. This was not the time, he couldn't afford to sink any deeper, he was already drowning.

Shagon suddenly dropped Matt to the floor. Matt tried to get up and run but a surging and burning sensation flared up in his chest. It started at his scar and slowly radiated outwards, coursing throughout his entire body. "Wha-what did...what did you do to me! AHHHaaahh!" It was like venom was coursing through his veins like barbed wire. He couldn't help but cry out.

Almost casually Shagon walked over to the fallen Regent. He kneeled down and grabbed his face forcing him to look directly into the infamous gold mask. "I'm just putting a little of myself into you. And while I can't kill you..." he tightened his grip causing Matt to wench. "...I can make you beg for death."

As the venom-like hatred sapped away the last of Matt's strength he felt himself beginning to drift off. The last thing he heard from the beast was an ominous proclamation. "Mathew Olsen, Welcome to HELL!"

To be continued...

Next time: Lies

As Matt lies in a coma, his friends and loved ones gather to be with him at the hospital, all the while his internal struggle rages on. But will Shagon's new plan end it before it even begins? Just who will be the one to wake up?

-Shiroi Misa

From Fantasyfan551:

this is really really, really awesome so far I can't wait for the next part! (squeals in excitement)

Shiroi Misa

-Oh, better get cracking then.