Circa: Set during/after "Golden Boy" (AU)
"Yes! We did it!" Ethan cried happily from outside as he watched Dr. Mercer leave the Cybercafe with his executives. He looked over at Trent, confused as to how he got there, but grinned anyway. "Hey, you coming inside or what?"
"I'll be there in a minute." Trent replied, trying to act as normal as possible, as he took a glance at his father leaving. He continued to try make sense of this. How was a portal that was in his father's office lead him outside? With a sigh, he followed Ethan back into the Cybercafe.
"This is too confusing...How could my dad have that sort of thing in his office? And does he even know about it? What if it's something really bad? I can't deal with this, I just can't..." Trent muttered quietly so only he could hear, hiding his face in his hands as he sat at the bar.
"Something you want to share with the rest of the class, Trent?" Hayley asked from behind the counter, arching a brow at her employee.
"Oh, um, nothing." Trent shook his head. "I just-"
"Problems with your father?" Hayley assumed, knowing how his family functioned.
"I guess you can say that...I mean, I've known him longer than my real parents but..." Trent sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just too confusing."
Hayley gave a half-smile. "You'll be fine. Anything you need, just give me a buzz." She replied before going into the back room to check on the inventory. The young artist laid his head down on the counter, resting his head against his arms.
"The dude looks kind out of it." Conner nodded over at Trent.
"Well, you got to admit that being put under that much pressure can do things to you." Ethan shook his head. "His dad's not really helping him."
Kira let out a quiet sigh. "I'll be right back, guys." She said before rising from her seat and making her way over to Trent. "Hey. You got a sec?"
"Yeah, I guess." He lifted his head off of the counter and gave a half smile.
"Are you doing okay?" She asked, concerned for him.
Trent hesitated before speaking. "I really don't know...I'm confused and I...I don't know what's going on with my dad." He explained. Normally, he wouldn't open up to his family with anyone else. But with Kira, it was different. "I mean, I feel like I don't even know him anymore."
"Trent, what are you talking about?" Kira arched a brow.
"It's just...C'mon, Kira, we're going over to my place. There's something I got to show you." With that, Trent took her by the hand and practically raced her over to his house.
"It was right here." Trent said as he led Kira into his father's office. He pointed to the location where he found the Invisiportal. "It was a green...portal thing. I reached over and it pretty much dropped me to the entrance of the Cybercafe."
"A green portal?" Kira's eyes widened a little; was it possible that Anton had an Invisiportal in his own office? What if he was in cahoots with Mesogog? What if...She didn't even want to think any further. "Are you sure?"
"How could you lie about something like this?" Trent bit his jaw down and shook his head. "It was just so surreal."
Kira knew what she had to do now. She would have to let the others know. "Trent...I think you've been working too hard." She shook her head, wanting to make it look like she didn't believe it. It was for his own safety. "I don't know how that can be possible."
"But I saw it. I am not lying." Trent swore.
"Sure, Trent...I got to get home." Kira shook her head. "See you." She then made her way out the door, leaving a stunned Trent behind. The one person he could trust and she didn't even believe him. That kind of hurt was unimaginable to him until now. With that, he made his way to his bedroom and plopped down on his bed, cupping his face in his hands.
"If she doesn't believe me...Then I guess no one else will." Trent said quietly to himself.
"Believe you about what, Trent?"
Trent quickly bolted up and looked around his room. Eerily, no one was around. This began to worry him. "Who said that?"
"No one did...It was me. Your inner demons.
"W-What do you mean? I have no inner demons." Trent scoffed.
"Oh, but you do...More than you know. You suffer every single day, boy. Face it, you have no one you can trust. Not McKnight, not James, not that Dr. Oliver...
"Shut up..." Trent mumbled, clasping his hands over his ears.
"And what about your little friend...Kira, was it? She wouldn't believe you about that portal being in your father's office. Would she?"
"No, she wouldn't. But it's-"
"No buts, boy...She's supposed to be your good friend, right? But I believe you, Trent. I also believe you're capable of anything and everything you desire. You see, it's all in your head. You just need to use it. No more thinking. You need to act."
"How?" Trent questioned.
"Push away those you love...Make them wish they never crossed you. Remove everyone that stands in your way...Use your inner demons to fulfill your ultimate fantasies. Do it, Trent. Join me...
Trent tried his hardest to block out the words, but it just wasn't enough. Before he knew it, sleep overtook him, his "inner demons" getting the better of him. It would not be the last time, however.