Jack's head spun with dizziness, disorienting him while he tried to gather his scrambled thoughts together once more. A warning stab of pain in his ribs made him keep his breathing shallow. Maybe cracked or broken, he mused, resting on the floor of his recording room. Damn it. Why couldn't he have stayed gone? Despair hit him almost as hard as Antisepticeye had. Tears of anger and frustration threatened to well up in his eyes, and he squeezed them shut tighter.I was just starting to feel normal again.

The short hairs at the nape of his neck stood up, and he knew he wasn't alone in the room. Sensitive to different forms of energy now, he could feel a presence just a few feet away from where he lay. Opening his eyes, he blinked a few times before the figure came in to focus. A man with dark hair, wearing a gray suit knelt down to look at him, a slow smile crossing his familiar features. Cold dread shot through Jack's bloodstream as realization took hold. His heart sped up with a burst of adrenaline-laced fear, threatening to jump right out of his chest. In a desperate effort to escape the man, he pushed himself to a sitting position against the wall, wincing at the pain jabbing different injuries across his body.

The intruder held up a hand, his eyebrows knitting in concern. "Please, don't try to move," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Do you know who I am?"

"Darkiplier," Jack whispered, almost choking on the name. He shook his head with regret, never taking his eyes off the demon. "So… you're real too, just like Anticepticeye." Sliding away another couple of inches, he held his ribs, gritting his teeth. "What do you want with me?"

The gray man returned his steady gaze for a moment, and held out his hands in a gesture of non-aggression. "I assure you, Jack, I'm not here to hurt you." One side of his mouth quirked upward in a smile. "In fact, I came here to see if you'd be interested in working together on, shall we say…a project of mutual interest."

Everything about this demon disturbed Jack to the core. The man's voice had a small echo to it every time he spoke. A red and blue aura surrounded his entire frame, no matter which way he moved. He wasn't sure if the quiet creaking and ringing noises in the background were due to his own injuries, or if somehow, Darkiplier emitted them. All of these traits combined to give Jack the creeps in a way Antisepticeye never had. His own green demon behaved quite the opposite, screaming in his face, tossing him around like a rag doll with incredible strength, and illuminating the room with that luminous emerald glow. The two entities were different, but terrifying on many levels. It all added up to nothing but pain and fear for Jackaboy.

Gathering his courage, he pushed with his legs and slid up the padded wall with his shoulder to a standing position. He held on to his ribs with one arm while supporting himself on the wall with the other. The room swam in his vision for a moment before clearing. The pain, on the other hand, flared up and seared through him like a flamethrower blast. He stood still, taking short gasps of breath before addressing the gray man. "Sorry…but no thanks. I've had enough experience to know working with demons is not good for my health, as you can see by this latest example."

Darkiplier stood, clasping his hands behind his back. He regarded Jack with calm, ebony eyes for a moment before speaking. "Would you like to be free of Antisepticeye?"

Hope leaped in Jack's heart for a moment. Memories of the last few weeks without his chaotic demon using him as a punching bag flooded his mind. No more painful injuries to hide from his YouTube channel fans. Catching himself, he remembered who he was talking to. "That's not possible. He's part of me, and in order to get rid of him, I would have to die, too. Sorry, not in favor of that plan." A spike of fear stabbed at him, making a black circle dance around his field of vision. "Or are you here to accomplish that deed right now?"

"As I said before," the gray man answered, slowing down his words and pronouncing each word with care. "I'm not here to harm you. If I'd wanted you dead…you would be already." The smile returned, and he straightened his jacket lapels. "Now, would you please take a seat and relax so we can discuss this project I have in mind?"

Jack shook his head, remaining in his position against the foam-covered wall. "I'm fine right here. What project are you talking about? Why do you need me?"

A chill of fear crackled through his stomach when he caught a brief flare of red glowing deep in Darkiplier's coal-black eyes. The demon walked over to the overturned gaming chair and set it upright. Without a word, he wheeled it over beside Jack. "Take a seat, and I'll answer your questions," he said, using that quiet, melted-chocolate voice.

Jack decided to sit down before his weakened system made him fall. Maybe I can get some energy back while I find out what this fucking demon wants, he thought, trying to picture several escape routes in his mind. In his heart, he knew he didn't stand a chance against this being. He sank into the familiar chair, grateful for the comfort and security it gave him. Keeping his eyes on the gray man, he said, "I'm listening."

Darkiplier nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. "The mutual project I'm referring to is Antisepticeye, of course. He's tried to practice his unique skills on several others besides you in the last month. I had an issue with him myself, in fact."

"Why would he bother you?" Jack asked. "Aren't you Mark's dark side?"

"I am many things," the gray man stated. His intense gaze made Jack even more uncomfortable. "Yes," he continued, "I'm connected to the Mark in this dimension, in a small way. I'm an interdimensional being, able to cross timelines. I came to this one when I sensed my Host in danger. When I arrived, I found Antisepticeye torturing the Mark here, and had to put a stop to it."

Adrenaline surged through Jack at the news. Antisepticeye tortured Mark? Fear and anger for his friend had him leaning forward despite his injuries. "What happened? Is Mark all right? What did the fucking bastard do to him?"

Darkiplier held out a hand. "Your friend is recovering. I arrived in time to save his life, and his human companions had him taken to the hospital. I managed to send Antisepticeye to an earlier timeline to keep him from doing any more harm to my Host. I have other business to attend to, but I can't continue until I've dealt with him in a more effective manner."

Realization helped clear some of the fuzziness in Jack's mind. "That's why Mark had to take a break from making videos! Also, the old-fashioned pumpkin carving! I know why I felt such a strong pull to film it. Antisepticeye was trying to get back to the present."

"Yes," the gray man said. "It took him some time, but he figured out how to come back. Since this is his original timeline, and I'm a visitor here, I have no wish to destroy him. However, I can't allow him to harass my Host any longer. I would like your help to arrange a more permanent solution for keeping him away."

Jack lowered his eyebrows in confusion. "But, why did he go after Mark in the first place? I don't understand that part."

Darkiplier looked down for a moment before answering. "I'm afraid that's my fault," he said, his tone apologetic. "In the middle of my search across the timelines, I discovered a dimension called the Void. I felt comfortable there while I conducted my business. Other entities resided there, causing issues now and then, but I managed to keep them in line. That is, until Antisepticeye showed up and challenged me. Since we're almost even in power, he knew he couldn't beat me without an edge. He got the idea in his crazed head that killing my Host would weaken me enough for him to destroy me. He's mistaken about that, but reasoning with him doesn't work, as you well know."

Jack pictured the two demons trying to have a normal conversation, and couldn't help giving a small laugh. Jabs of pain reminded him of his injured ribs, and he returned to a more sober outlook. "Yeah, he's not big on listening to anyone else but himself."

Darkiplier nodded. "You're the most familiar with his thoughts and actions, and may have the best solution for dealing with him." The slow smile crept across the gray man's features again, giving Jack a chill. "So you see, working together against Antisepticeye, instead of fighting him as individuals, will have the largest mutual benefit for both of us. Don't you agree?"

Jack hesitated before answering. His mind screamed at him to jump at the chance for relief from his demon tormentor, but his gut instinct rallied just as much against the idea. He gazed at the gray man for a few seconds, paying close attention to any energetic changes he could sense in the atmosphere. This often helped him know when his green nemesis was about to make a move against him. There's something he's holding back, but I don't know what it is yet.

The smile disappeared from Darkiplier's features at Jack's reluctance. "Perhaps you need a little more time to decide," he said, his tone shifting from persuasive to agreeable.

Something dripped into Jack's right eye. He reached up to clear his vision, and noticed bright red on his fingers.What the fuck? He thought, staring at the crimson smear. Antisepticeye's getting careless, giving me a cut that shows. No wonder I'm dizzy. His gaze snapped back to his visitor when he noticed the gray demon took a step forward to study him.

"Forgive me for chattering on while you're in need of medical attention," Darkiplier said, his voice soft and filled with measured concern. "I have the ability to heal your injuries, if you will allow me to help."

Something about his smile reminded Jack too much of the Cheshire Cat; pleasant on the outside, twisted and filled with dark intentions on the inside. "No," he said, waving a hand. "I'll be okay after I get some rest. I'm used to this after Antisepticeye visits."

The red glow flared in the depths of Darkiplier's eyes for a split second before vanishing. He glanced over at the computer equipment, and then back to Jack. "Speaking of him, we have a limited time until he returns."

"Then you'd better leave before he comes back," Jack replied without thinking.

Darkiplier shot him an intense stare, his demeanor slipping enough to show a glimmer of frustration and anger. "I can deal with him if I need to." The smoothness returned. "You, however, would be collateral damage. Since that isn't part of the plan, we must relocate to a safer place."

Without further explanation, Darkiplier stepped forward and placed his hands on Jack's shoulders. Before he could question or object, crackling energy and black and white static filled the room, pulsing through everything, including him. The space around him seemed to jump and shake for a second, and then swirl as if they were moving. He cried out in pain from the unbearable sensation of static electricity surging through him before his mind slipped into darkness.