Wow another massive break… god I suck. But for all you must know I have started school and I got a job and because Christmas is almost here I will do everything in my power to get chapter 26, 27 and 28 up before SANTA CLAUS comes to our door, or have the 9th candle be lit. I will try and I actually finish this chapter twice but because of a massive plot hole and a case of the chapter being boring I deleted it… it felt like waiting so long you deserve a good chapter. Hopefully I will give it.

(Earl's POV)

The pain… it was all I felt it burns into my very flesh those I knew I did not have any it, but that did not stop it from burning.

The stabs pierce into me as it slowly slid into me the cold sharp steel moved deeper and deeper into me slowly oh so slowly as it digs into my flesh. The blade reach and tap into my spine as it began to twist circles over my sensitive spinal cord. As the dagger digs right into the bone moving ever small thrust.

The darkness was all around me as I could only darkness and a tint of red as the dagger was removed and put back in but in a different spot.

Every minute felt like an hour, an hour felt like a day and a day like a year and the years felt like eternity. I could hear the screaming the thousands and thousands of screaming all around me. All of them felt like they were right in my ear yet they sounded like they were miles away.

I prepare myself for the next stab but it never came.

Weakly I move my head up and stare out at a figure who was right in front of me. He was upside down his clothes torn, as he was nailed into a pentagram like object. Even his ears were nailed in. Those that didn't seem to stop him from looking even slightly down… up in his case. Those I saw him look at me. He was me a mirror of me all the way down to the scar on his cheek.

I saw behind him were more of myself and to the sides of them were more of myself. I scan as I realize I was in a forest of myself. They were not clones either they were me actually me. The me who were looking at them was also looking at myself, I went on for eternity and yet with all of our numbers felt the same pain.

Then I saw it to the side of my vision. A dark figure of a man walk towards me. He stares at me with a wide grin. I could only see barley under his hood. His chin was blue with maybe 2 whiskers sticking out under his hooded cloak. He slowly pull out a dagger it was clean those I knew it was the one that been torturing me. I been stab so much every night that I have memorized the shape of the blade without ever seeing it.

"…N…no more" I croak out pleating.

The cloak figure slowly put his blue paw to my mouth letting out a slight shushing sound. He then began to put the blade to the side of my face and he began to slice. Not going deep but just slicing under my sick as he begin to move the dagger back and forth slicing into the skin as he began removing it.

The scary thing is… I couldn't feel the pain all I felt was the cold steel against my flesh as it is being remove from me face.

However the darkness began to turn grey as I look up.

"Until next time Mr. Booregard" The cloak figure grins and as the grey took over the figure just dissipates into the grey.

I sat up quickly holding my blanket close to my chest panting hard. The room was dark but my eyes adjusted as my hands quickly ran to my face feeling where my face he been slicing up but it felt like its normal rugged self.

"Bad dream?" I turn seeing my warthog buddy standing the door way of the strip club as a growl escapes my lips.

"Nothing but the same dream I have every night… lets go I want to be early for the funeral."

(Gumball's POV)

I finally made it home after my little walk down the street. Those it was hard for me to find any comfort in my own home as I stare at my door I felt that ice block from last night still there.

How brave I am until a gun is aimed at me. My gaze slowly cast down to the road as I let down a heavy sigh. "Oh well" the words escape my lips as the event has past and I was safe, those that was more than I could say about people I care about.

However my mind turn back to the event that has happen recently. Me and Penny the girl I thought I have loved throughout middle school and high school, who I have given up so much for has finally we split up. I should have felt relieve now that I was able to focus my heart on someone new, someone who has taken my heart but I knew no matter what I tried to think I know I was not clean of what I did.

I always pride myself with being the bigger man... well more now then back in my younger years but even I know that even if we didn't official break up I know I wouldn't have been faithful to Penny. It was just lucky she showed when she did… I completely forgot about her.

I walk into my house slowly opening and closing the door as I heard noise off on the TV. I turn slowly and gaze at what appears to be a show in a cartoonish fashion with 6 little horses charging a much larger horse who was pure black with a night sky like mane. I believe they said something about friendship and harmony.

Those my sight slightly look down seeing the 3 girls who were watching the show. Not surprisingly on the arm chair was my little sister Anais watching the show without breaking eye contact. However sharing the couch was both Lexy and Carrie both having their legs drape over each arm of the couch and laying down having their heads barley touching as they watch.

"Hello girls," I voice out leaning against the wall.

Almost as my voice rang out Carrie early jump out the couch. Her body turn as she looks at me as she stood up with a massive blush on her face as if I have caught her doing something naughty. She coughs and turns her face into a dull expression. "Oh your back finally, watching this show was getting on my nerves." She blew the hair out of her face that quickly return to their normal place hiding her left eye.

I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle "oh sure Carrie whatever you say." I turn and head into the Kitchen.

"Umm Gumball what you doing?" Lexy question looking up from the couch.

"Getting lunch I am starving." I reply

"Well I hope you like pickles" It was Anais who spoke out this time.

I stare at her puzzled as I hope the fridge to find that all the contents of the fridge that were previous there were now gone. Well all expect for a jar of pickles. With a frustrated groan I slowly push the fridge door close. "Carrie I thought you could control your food frenzies. Was it my dad you processed?"

I should be nicer but… I am hungry and emotionally drain.

"N…no Gumball I didn't take anyone over." I stare at her and she had her head down her hair hiding her face but I could swear I saw her smiling under her bangs.

That is odd.

"Then… who ate all the food… was it just dad?" I stare at her as begin to figure something out.

She slowly look up at me dead in the eyes that smile still planted on her face.

"Wait… did you…?"

She gave just a slight nod "Yes… I ate it… by myself."

I don't think I ever hug someone quick enough as I brought her close to me. She let out a surprise gasp as I pulled her in but soon it turn to a happy sigh getting closer to me.

I held her petting her hair slight has I recall not even a couple days ago how she felt so faded and weak but not this time. She felt more full, err that is the not term for it. She felt like she was more there and I could hug her as tight as I want and not feel like I would just phase through her.

She also didn't feel has cold, don't get me wrong she was still cold holding but not has cold has I remember.

It was nice.

I stare down at her and it did not take long for my mind to drift has I wonder how would her lips feel against mine now, or how her body would feel up against mine at night… or how it would feel to be in…

"Gumball?" My sister voice cut through my thoughts has I turn seeing Anais looking at me those she also seem to be deep in thought.

"Yes Anais?" I slowly let Carrie go those I felt her reluctantly leave my side has I went over to my sisters.

"Do any of you have that scroll with the "Tiers" on it do any of you?" She turns her head and looks at the three of us as those she was slowly piecing the puzzle together.

I turn to Carrie and Lexy as they both stare back. "Tier list?"

"It is a long story Gumball." My twin sister wave it off as she turns to Anais "No I don't believe we got it. We were kind of interrupted."

I could see it in both of their eyes, the pain they went through because of a certain ghost. The ice block in my stomach melted into a boiling raging inferno remembering last night and God knows what else he has done.

"Earl" I couldn't stop the name rolling off my tongue.

I felt the regret almost instantly even before I look at Carrie. Her face seem conflicted and sad recalling it even more.

It is like saying his name givens him power.

"… Well" Anais begun thankfully. "I might have a theory but I do need that scroll, I am sure the ghost know more about themselves then I could ever guess so it is need just in case if I am right."

I wonder what she was thinking as she got up and walk off. I knew better then to disturb her when she is thinking those curiosity was scratching in the back of my mind. However something dong on me as I stare at her.

"The scroll we don't have it." I turn and before I could even ask the question Carrie gave me the answer I was dreading.

"My uncle must have it… we didn't really hide it when he came bursting through the door."

My body flinch at that word.

Uncle

I let it go… for her sake but it was something I will bring up later.

"We are going to have to get that scroll back." I turn to Carrie has she only nods. I felt my inferno get replace with something I have been hiding deep within me.

Fear

Fear because I know where that monster would have put that item. He would have put it in his house. A house that I broke into and was put into a coma in. A house where my friend… my love was locked up in and was force to do disgusting things for that creature. I place I never wanted to return to or have Carrie ever go back to herself.

I stare at nothing for the longest time but I realize that in my deep through I was now looking at Carrie's face. I saw into her ghostly eyes and saw so much emotions.

Fear, anger, sadness, hate.

But there was one emotion I saw that triumph over the rest.

Determination.

My mind race all this flooding into my all at once as I slowly look at her as I open my mouth, nothing planned to say just hoping that something would come out. Anything would come out.

However before I even mutter a word my stomach let out a loud growl.

I stop has both girls turn to me quickly. My mouth still ajar with my eyes wide open for a second I could feel the air thicken with how awkward that was. I got myself together and look over. "Well I am still hungry."

I could feel the tension be cut like a hot knife through butter as Lexy let a small giggle out "Really Gumball, you seriously have a one track mind." She put a hand over her mouth.

I couldn't help but smile at her. "Let's go get some lunch Carrie, I'll grab my car keys."

"But I already ate" She argues.

"Yeah you have and I haven't and I would like the company."

I saw the smile creep to her face as she took my hand. "Come on we can worry about all of this later, for now let's just get lunch and enjoy each other company." I could see the doubt in her eyes vanish and replace with joy. I slowly took her around the waist all my doubt earlier about the break up vanish as I never felt more right than I did right now.

I move towards the door taking her with me. I open the door and turn.

Right out my door in mid knock was Damien with a panic look on his face. "Dam… Damien?" That is when I heard the weeps. I turn quickly on the side walk was Penny holding in her tears with her hand as she stood by her car. I let go of Carrie's waist and took a step forward. "What… what is going on?"

He could only stare at me for a couple of seconds has those he was still trying to process what he has learned. He then met my eyes and said shaking a bit. "It's Masami…"

Masami? How could this possibly be about her?

"… Her father just died."

I felt my body frozen hearing this and for some reason my mind went into the dark reaches has if telling me something. "Wha…?"

"He was shot in his own office" He croak out as Penny wails even louder.

"Oh my God" I heard Carrie's voice cry out.

"…No"

I am sorry if this was a short chapter those I promise the next two will be a tad longer especially 28 I got big plans for that one. I hope the beginning wasn't too bad, I couldn't decide if I should add that but it gave the chapter a bit more meat. So I will see you next time and I will make it longer I swear.