"William… I'm begging you, please, stop this. This isn't you!"

"Oh really? You think you know me that well, Brother? Well guess what? You don't. You just don't!"

"William, please, just stop-"

"It's MAXWELL, and I'm not stopping anytime soon. No matter what you, Charlie or ANYONE else says!"

"WILLIAM! DON'T!"

Maxwell's eyes snapped open. He was in his throne room again, sitting in his chair. He had only closed his eyes to rest for a moment before sleep took hold of him entirely, dragging his mind to unfamiliar memories.

Brother… I had a brother…?

He got up, pacing around, rubbing his temples.

Why can't I remember anything clearly? I see it in front of me but then… it just gets blacked out… yet the feelings linger…

His hands moved to gripping his head, growling a bit at himself.

"I hate myself… I HATE ALL OF THIS!" He lashed out, waves of shadow flames coming off his hands. "THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANTED! I just… I…"

"Do you even know what William wants? What you want? Let's remember, we had a deal, Maxwell."

Maxwell hissed at bit at hearing the other name.

"Who in the whole world is William? I've always been Maxwell… Haven't I?"

"William is a forgotten flame. It's better he stays forgotten unless you're wanting more of this pain, Maxwell. He was weak… but you… you are strong. You may serve us now, but you still have power unlike any other. Just like you wanted."

"Yes… to be the best magician… but I got more out of the deal than anyone could have asked… I'm a king… yes… Yet why do I feel so dissatisfied?"

"It's because of William. Forget all about wanting to know about him. He'll just make the feeling worse. You are Maxwell, the Shadow King… Charlie is nothing but a monster who walks among us. Jack is just a nuisance to be forgotten as well. He was one of the people you've brought here that failed. Nothing special about him. He's just like any other mortal that has come under your spell."

"Just forget it all. For the sake of your sanity."

Maxwell bowed his head… nodding.

"Yes… my masters…"

"Good… Now, we believe there's something else we need to discuss."

Maxwell stood up straight, crossing his arms across his chest.

"And that would be…?"

The shadows formed an image of Wilson before him.

"You remember the original plan we had for this one? It's FAILING, Maxwell."

"What do you mean failing?" Maxwell narrowed his eyes. "He's still struggling like any other survivor."

"Yes… but his heart has not become corrupted as it should have by the shadows. He has changed but not in the way we expected. He was already miserable to begin with, he was supposed to be perfect. But now… it seems he's gone the completely opposite direction of what we wanted!"

Maxwell growled quietly to himself.

"Prey-tell, how do you figure? I would think the maniac I brought in would have burned everything he owned to the ground by now."

"Have you not been paying attention to him recently? That woman has calmed down. It seems he's been HELPING her, and to make matters worse, he found the twins."

"Charlie was supposed to have devoured them…" Maxwell murmured as he sighed. "What can I do to ensure he reverts back then?"

"Make him suffer… He's happy Maxwell… Do you want this once miserable man happy? Because the longer he's alive and has those survivors with him he'll never be corrupted. His heart hasn't even turned the slightest black. If anything, it has become more pure since he met the woman and even further so with the twins."

"Then I'll do something to ensure he's no longer a problem… He's useless now for our purposes… I'll… dispose of him…" Even as he said this, Maxwell felt a chill go through him. Even if he had no issue sending problems for other survivors… Why did it feel so wrong now?

"We agree… destroy him… and destroy everything he cares about."

Maxwell gave a bitter smile.

"I will… and I think I know just the thing to kill him."

He looked at the ground, seeing the formation of a shadow of a certain monster. One that let out a large roar.

"Yes… That'll work just fine."

ooooo

"Hopefully we'll see you again in the future, Wilson. For now, we got other things to tend to."

"Stay safe and don't starve."

"Don't plan to. Come on boys."

Wilson sighed as he milled about the garden. He had to admit, it was hard to watch Wigfrid and the others go. Though more than anything, he just felt bad for the twins. They out of the group had the hardest time saying goodbye.

I know they just went right back to bed after they left…

He looked at where the sun was before looking at the fort. He set down his tools, heading inside to check on them. The twins were still asleep, faces a bit red around the eyes. He frowned at this.

Oh girls…

He knelt beside Wendy, stroking her hair.

"Wendy… You can't sleep all day. You need to get up."

She mumbled a bit, turning over.

"I don't wanna…"

"Wendy… sleep is good, but sleeping all day isn't going to change things."

Wendy buried her face into her sister's cloak, huddling closer to her.

"Dreaming is good… Dreaming of good times are good…" She mumbled, sniffling a bit.

Wilson placed his hand on her shoulder.

"But dreams only work for so long. I know it was hard to say goodbye to your friends, but I'm sure they'll be okay. They've been doing this for two years after all."

Wendy looked up, new tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm sorry..." She whispered. "Just…. Feels like we lose everyone… Daddy… Mommy… Them…"

Wilson gave a gentle look, bringing Wendy into his arms, cradling her.

"You know who don't have to say goodbye to?"

"Who?" She asked, laying her head on his shoulder, curiosity in her eyes.

He smiled a bit, wiping away her tears.

"Me. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, and when I find a way out of here I'm most certainly not leaving you or Abigail behind."

She smiled, huddling closer. "Papa…. You promise?"

Wilson found himself taken aback at Wendy calling him "Papa" again. But he kept his smile, stroking her hair, resting his head against hers.

"I promise… You and Abigail don't have to be alone anymore."

Wendy sighed happily, closing her eyes, nuzzling Wilson a bit.

"Thank you…"

"Anytime…" Wilson set her down. "Now, wake your sister. I could use some help around the fort. I think the drying racks could use some tending to."

Wendy nodded, going over to her sister.

"Abigail? We got work to do. No more sleeping till night."

Abigail yawned before getting up, floating into the air.

"Okay… Let's get to it, Wend."

The two scurried off, giggling a bit as they raced each other. Wilson chuckled, making his way back to the garden. He looked over to where Willow was. She was busy again with the spiders, however nothing to do with fighting them. She was gathering remains, getting the new eggs ready to plant.

Always on top of it… Just glad things are going well… Still need to look into answers concerning everything else but one step at a time…

He looked at the garden. While winter was still holding strong, some of the snow was starting to melt which meant it wouldn't be too long before he could start growing things again. Just had to be sure the ground was properly tended to.

Another winter almost over… hopefully it might be our last.

Thud!

Huh?

He looked around, wide eyed, stumbling a bit from the sudden jolt in the ground.

Thud! Thud!

He looked to the tool wrack, seeing some of the tools were shaking in place and as was the fort.

"RAUGGGH!"

"... That sounded big."

Wilson hurried over to the tool wrack, grabbing his spear, bolting away from the camp.

"Wilson!?" Willow called, trying to run after him. "What's going on? What was that noise?"

"I don't know, but stay here at the camp with the girls, I'm going to check it out!"

Wilson ran further ahead, following the source of the noises, feeling the vibrations in the earth getting stronger. And then… he saw it. His eyes widened as it came into view.

It was a giant deer like creature that stood on its hind legs and had one eye ball. It looked around, growling and hissing at everything in its path.

"What… in science…?" Wilson stumbled back a bit. "A… deer cyclops…? … A deerclops?"

The deerclops seemed to have heard him as its eye looked at him, growling before letting out a loud roar.

Wilson cringed a bit, covering his ears.

And what a roar!

He shook his head, narrowing his eyes.

No matter… Something like that could destroy the camp! I can't let it get near the girls!

He ran up towards it, keeping his eyes locked with its single eye.

"Hey! You want me!? Come and get me you beast!" He yelled, running right under its legs, heading for the opposite direction of the camp.

The deerclops growled, following after him, swiping at the ground, creating icebergs that nearly got Wilson.

"Whoa!" He jumped, stumbling a bit, but kept running. "Oh, I see how it is. Trying to turn me into a popsicle, eh? Well, it's not going to happen with your speed! You have to catch me first!"

"RAUGH!"

The deerclops picked up its pace, swiping at the ground furiously, failing every time to get a hold of Wilson.

"Ah ah ah ah!" He jumped back as another swipe came, nailing the beast in one of its hands. "Got ya!"

It let out a horrific shriek, bringing its other hand down, knocking Wilson off his feet.

"Oof!" He hit the ground hard, but still had a tight grip on his spear. "Ow… That smarts…"

He gasped as the deerclops grabbed him, bringing him to its face. It let out a loud roar, tightening its grip on him.

"Sorry, didn't quite understand that! I don't speak deerclops!" Wilson was struggling to get out of its grasp, managing to get his hand that had the spear in it free. He gave the deerclop's hand a good stab, causing it to drop him to the ground again… Wilson sadly not landing on his feet. "Augh…"

The deerclops was now staring at him with what could only be described as a death glare. Wilson tried to get up, but found himself falling back to the ground in pain.

Ngh… Can't… Move…

His eyes now had fear in them as the deerclops brought its hands up, poised to strike. He braced himself, shutting his eyes tightly, waiting for the worst.

"HEY! OVERGROWN THROW RUG!"

Wilson's eyes snapped open, seeing Willow not too far from him and the deerclops, an enraged look in her eyes.

"Yeah! You!" She shouted, flicking her lighter. "Take me over him! He's not worth your time! I'm much more tasty!"

Wilson's eyes grew wide in horror, shaking his head furiously. "Willow, no!"

The deerclops didn't pay the scientist any mind as it started making his way for Willow as the woman took her chance to get a running start… Getting the beast a good distance from Wilson, the giant towering over her.

Hope this plan works… She kept running in a circle around the monster… Dropping something as she went.

"Willow!" Wilson kept trying to get up, but his body kept protesting. He was finally able to stand, but only by using his spear as a support. "What are you doing!?"

"Trust me, Wilson!" She shouted back, smirking as the deerclops walked to where she needed it to walk. "Shouldn't have done that you big jerk!"

The deerclops roared, not seeming to care.

Willow didn't lose her confident look as she flicked her lighter on again, having the flame touch something on the ground.

"SCIENCE THIS!"

KABOOM!

A huge explosion erupted, the deerclops disappearing in the blast almost instantly. Soon as it ended, meat and fur dropped to the ground… along with a giant eyeball.

Willow grinned triumphantly.

"Hah! Never mess with the pyromaniac." She flicked her lighter off, picking up some of the goods. She took a look at the eyeball before giving it a hard kick as it went flying into the woods. "AND STOP LOOKING AT ME!"

Wilson was stunned, not sure what to say of what he had just witnessed. He was amazed and both concerned… and a touch terrified.

So this is what she's like when she's totally enraged….

Willow finished gathering the goods before making her way over to Wilson… grabbing his shoulders and shaking him.

"Nice going Wildork you almost got yourself killed! What made you think you could handle it on your own!?"

"Augh…!" Wilson cringed as his injuries were aggravated. "Willow, I didn't want it to come into the fort! It would've killed all of you! You have to understand!"

"I understand what you did was bloody STUPID!"

Wilson growled before getting his own enraged look.

"I JUST WANTED TO PROTECT YOU! IS THAT SO WRONG!?"

Willow was silent for a minute.

"... It's not wrong… But dying on us when we need and care about you IS…. I don't want you to die…" She said quietly now… Her voice cracking a bit. "You need to be more careful… You promised… Remember?"

Wilson's look softened… feeling a pang of guilt now.

"Willow… I…" He placed a hand on her shoulder. "... I'm sorry…"

Willow placed his hand over his… before bringing her arms around him, hugging him carefully.

"Just don't do something like that ever again… We're a team… That means working together."

Wilson wrapped his arms around her, nodding.

"Right… I'm sorry, again…"

She shook her head. "Don't be sorry…. Just… Tell me next time you plan on going after a homicidal monster, okay?"

"Okay…" Wilson grimaced a bit, holding his side. "Agh… Looks like the adrenaline wore off…"

Willow gave him a worried look, before she looped one of his arms around her shoulders.

"Let's get you back home and fix you up. I got a good set of healing salves waiting, plenty of glands from last harvest."

"Sounds wonderful…" Wilson gave his best smile, despite the pain he was in. "Then again, anything pain relieving is wonderful…"

"Well, you'll get that soon… and some little girls who will be glad their "father" is back home."

"Yeah…" He chuckled a bit. "It's so odd that they feel comfortable… well, least Wendy, feels comfortable calling me that…"

"They care about you Wilson, just like how you care about them." Willow smiled softly. "They've been good for you."

"I just want to them happy… For heaven's sake they're children. Children shouldn't have to worry about things like this… They should be happy not be…" He lowered his gaze. "Not be… alone… or feel alone or not cared for… that's not fair…"

Willow frowned.

"That's why we're here for them. We won't let anything else happen to them. They've seen enough pain."

"Yes…" He cringed a bit, hissing at his injuries. "Agh…"

"Hang in there, Wilson, we're almost back, and you are not leaving that bed roll of yours til you're healed."

"But the fort-"

"Will not fall to the ground if you're shouting instructions from bed versus helping us directly."

"... Alright, you win."

"Good boy."

Soon as they stepped back onto base, they were met by the twins.

"Papa!"

"H-Hey girls…"

The twins both wore looks of worry as they hugged Wilson gently.

"Papa, you're hurt…"

"Are you gonna be okay?"

Wilson nodded, patting both their heads. "I'll be just fine…"

"Let's get him inside before dark comes. C'mon."

"Right."

They hurried Wilson inside, lying him down on a bed roll, Wendy and Abigail grabbing the things Willow needed as she looked Wilson over.

"Keep in mind I am not a doctor…"

"Neither am I… I trust you though."

Willow nodded, cringing a bit at the bruising she saw on Wilson's chest, the minor cuts he had gotten on his arms that had been hidden by his gloves. Wendy and Abigail handed her the first bowl of healing salve.

Her hands shook a bit as she held the bowl, dipping one of them in. Wilson gave a reassuring look, placing one of his hands over hers.

"It's okay, Willow…"

"I don't want to hurt you… Not like how…"

He got a knowing look.

"It's not like that Willow. You're trying to help me. Not doing mindless things like those people were."

Willow was still for a moment before nodding. She took a deep breath before applying the salve to the wounds. Wilson cringed a bit, gripping at the bed roll, but kept as still as he could.

"I'm sorry…." She whispered but kept going once she was finished, she grabbed a set of bandages from Wendy, wrapping them as best as she could. "T-There… Again… Sorry…"

"It's okay…" He gave his best smile, taking one of her hands. "I'm feeling better already…"

Willow smiled a little, squeezing his hand. "I'm glad…. I just… Never wanna see you hurt like I was. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you like that…"

"Willow." He squeezed her hand. "I know you never would."

"Still…" Willow stroked his hair a bit. "Long as you're going to be okay…"

Wilson nuzzled her hand.

"I will be… just a little roughed up right now."

"Then get as much rest as you can. The girls and I will look after this place. Right?"

"Yeah!"

Wilson chuckled.

"Just no setting it on fire please."

Wendy giggled.

"That won't be hard. Just take Willow's lighter away."

Willow gave a dramatic pout. "That's not fair. Take Wilson's sciency stuff away then!"

"Oi!"

The girls giggled.

"We're joking." Abigail got a blanket for Wilson, draping it over him. "We promise to take good care of the base while you sleep."

Wilson nodded, making himself comfortable.

Wendy knelt beside him, giving him a quick kiss on the head.

"Dream of sciency stuff, Papa."

Wilson smiled softly, kissing her head in return. "Thank you, Wendy… Abigail… Willow… I'll get plenty of rest, I promise…"

"Good." Willow got up, leading the girls away to get chores done, leaving Wilson alone with his thoughts.

He watched them go before closing his eyes, letting his mind wander.

How did that monster find us…?

Is it possible that Maxwell sent it or was it just chance?

Wilson sighed heavily.

Whatever the means…. We're alright...

We're still alive.