The thought of sleeping forever sounds much better than acknowledging the person frantically trying to shake me awake.

"Wake up. We don't have the luxury of letting you stay like this. That infuriating glitch is back." Dark gives me another shake, and I let out a pitiful groan.

My throat is drier than the Sahara Desert, but this is the most comfortable I've been since Dark and Anti started this whole thing. Even with all the pain, I'd rather stay here in bed than deal with whatever Dark wants. "We need to merge again, Bri. I'd rather not have to, but unfortunately, we are connected, and neither of us can stay like this if we don't want Anti to take advantage of it."

When I open my eyes, I'm somewhat surprised at the amount of fear showing on his face. It's not like him to show this much emotion, which is a scary thought. Why does the thought of Anti seeing us like this make him so terrified? "I don't know why you didn't just do the thing. It's not like I can stop you." My voice comes out in a raspy whisper, making me cough.

The bed dips a tiny bit as Dark sits down. He doesn't look at me as he talks, but he no longer gives off an air of confidence. Now, he just seems tired and gives off this air of defeat. "I could have, but I don't know if it'll be just as painful merging again as it was separating. You being aware of things might make things easier on both of us. If you willingly do this, then the pain should lessen."

I don't want to do this. To be locked back up and have no control. To be a participant in whatever heinous plan Dark has. I don't want to give Anti any chance to get at me, though. If it's the lesser of two evils, I'll pick the one that's less psychotic any day.

Pulling an arm out from beneath the warm covers, I hold out a hand. Turning to look away from Dark, I mumble out a yes. He takes no time at all, gently grabbing my hand. From a scientific standpoint, the entire merging process is fascinating. I tried not to watch, but the sensation was too much for me. It felt like a shield or a thin layer of plastic was covering me. I could already feel all my pain becoming distant. I no longer felt the stab wound quite as bad. When I turned to look at Dark's hand on mine, it was like looking at an almost perfect layered picture. I could see my hand, but I could also see his simultaneously.

The effect doesn't last very long before I'm shoved back and into my mind. There are no chains or cages this time. Not like it matters much. Eating one meal and drinking some tea isn't enough for me to get the strength needed to fight back. At this point, I might as well be a teddy bear for all the help I am. "How do you live like this? This constant need for sustenance? It's rather annoying and something I don't have the time for." A cup of something comes from nowhere, and Dark quickly drinks it before getting up. The cup disappears just as soon as it has appeared.

He throws the covers back, looks down, and with a simple wave, the wrinkled clothes I had been wearing changed into something leaning more towards Dark's style. I must say that a trick like that does save some time.

Neither of us says anything as Dark takes us to wherever Anti is waiting. I'm too tired to say much of anything, even with the growing tension. The clicking of shoes walking echoes in the hallway. I don't really recognize any of the hallways we walk down, but I do start to hear talking. I can hear Anti yelling, but whoever he's yelling at is speaking too low for me to understand.

The talking stops the moment Dark steps into the room. Anti and someone who looks like Phantom quickly looks in our direction, with suspicious guilt on their faces. Anti is still in the tv, looking as though he's standing in Sean's recording room. "There is a suspicious lack of Mark taking up occupancy in this room. You're also lacking a member. I had no idea that the incompetence had spread so rapidly."

Anti stomps around the room, at times disappearing from view. Various objects are thrown across the Tv as he yells profanities, but nothing he says makes sense. We watch that for a few seconds before Dark turns to the other guy. "Maybe you had better explain to me how you three managed to come back so empty-handed that you are in the negative when it comes to people."

The guy, who gives off a very Disney villain vibe, runs a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. "Everything was going fine until Natemare decided he'd rather play for the other side. Marvin is too well-matched for me to break through his defenses without help. I was in a standoff with him while Mare fought Anti, and then the superhero showed up. We were outnumbered, and Anti pulled me away."

I have to laugh at the exasperated sigh that Dark gives. Every time he thinks he's about to get anywhere, his entire plan is shot to hell, and he has to rethink his whole strategy. It's almost as if Fate would rather he not enact this entire scheme. I shouldn't laugh at any of this, but you really have to find pleasure in the small things in life, and I haven't really had any reason to laugh lately.

Anti is still having his tantrum, throwing things around and shouting. Dark tries to talk to him, but Anti can't hear him over his noise. Dark has to yell his name before Anti notices. "I told you not to come back unless you had Mark. I don't see Mark, but I do see you. Do you need another reminder of what happens when you cross me?"

Anti throws a random lamp against the wall behind him before turning to Dark. "It's not me fuckin fault the wannabe rockstar decided ta have a change of heart. I can nae read minds. I did beat the shite out of the little prick. Woulda killed him too if that stupid arse of a hero hadn't shown up when he did. He better watch his back cause the next time I catch him alone will be his last."

Rage flares through me and the slightest bit of relief, and I honestly can't tell which feelings are mine and which are Dark's. The lines between the two of us are blurring more and more, and it's harder to differentiate. "Obviously, you are useless. You've had two chances to bring Mark to me, and you've failed miserably both times. It's clear that if I want something done, I need to do it myself."

Dark stares down Anti standing up straighter and as tall as he can in my body. I can tell that Anti is getting angrier, but I'm not sure if it's just because he hates Dark or something more specific. Either way, a small burst of fear shoots through me as I look away from my little viewing screen.

The sound of crashing makes me look up in time to see the tv shaking and a crack splitting the screen in half diagonally. Anti glares at us and, with a pointed finger, snarls. "I don't see ye gettin yer hands dirty. I've been doing all the work while ye sit and hide in yer lil hole. I'm the one that had ta track em down. Ye din nae even try ta help us when we had ta fight. Ye just sat in there like a bitch. Ye want him so bad then get yer fuckin mopey arse out here and help. Unless ye really have gotten ta weak ta do anything."

The smirk on his face made it very clear what Anti thinks of Dark. It's clear that Anti is baiting Dark into leaving the one place where we are both the safest.

"Don't do it, Dark. The minute we step foot out of here, he's going to turn on us." I say.

He ignores me, but it's not like I really expected him to listen to me anyway. He looks at Phantom, "Go. Gather whatever you think you might need. We are going to end this today. I need to make sure everything is ready, so I'll meet you back here in an hour."

Dark looks at Anti, who is still smirking. "I want you to keep an eye on things. Don't interact but let me know if anything changes. We can't have them disappearing on us and setting us back. I'm warning you, Anti. If you do anything to alert them or make them suspicious because you can't control yourself, I will obliterate you and make you wish for Sean to take control."

Anti rolls his eyes, "Ye say that like ye expect me ta just waltz right in." He says sarcastically; then the tv abruptly shuts off.

Phantom leaves shortly after to go… wherever it is, his place is leaving Dark and I alone. He sits on the edge of a chair with a massive sigh, and I almost want to ask what's wrong, but I don't want to know. It's bad enough that I can feel his constant anger and that slight hint of desperation sprinkled in with a little bit of loneliness. I don't want him to say anything that will soften towards him and cause me to feel sympathy towards my kidnapper.

I shift on the floor while watching the screen, trying to get into a more comfortable position. Dark must have sensed how uncomfortable I am because the barren emptiness of my prison changes into something a bit more comfortable.

The tv changes into large windows, and the hard ground changes into bright green grass. It's not a dark void anymore but a bright, welcoming area. Not sure why the change, but I'm not complaining. It makes looking out easier, and my pain seems even farther away.

"I don't want your pity, Bri." Dark's voice is coming from behind me, and it startles me enough that I give out a small shriek. Whipping around, I see a more disheveled Dark pacing back and forth. His hair looks like he's run his hand through it a few too many times. He lacks his regular jacket, and his shirt is slightly askew. It makes him look a bit more like Mark, as much as he would hate to hear that.

"What?" I reply in confusion.

He stops and looks at me, running his hand through his hair. "I don't want your pity. I can feel it like a needle poking at me, and I don't want it."

I snort, "The last thing I'm going to do is pity you. I'm in this mess because of you." Wasn't I just thinking about how I didn't want to sympathize with my kidnapper? I couldn't have Stockholm Syndrome already. His whole look makes him look more welcoming, but I'm not going to suddenly run into his arms.

"As long as you understand that." He starts to pace again faster, this time as if he'd rather be running from something. "I know this is a trap. Anti has something planned, and when I leave, I'll no longer be protected by the Void. You can hate me and fight to stop me from getting Mark, but we have to come to an agreement about Anti. He is dangerous, and we can not be weak around him. Knowing him, he'll wait until I'm distracted and then try to kill me. Unfortunately, that means you will be a casualty, and I'm trying to avoid that from happening. That moronic hero and equally idiotic magician might think they are the ones keeping Anti from going on a rampant killing spree, but they'd be wrong.

I've been the one sabotaging his efforts when I can and when I can't; I prove that I am the more powerful of us. If it weren't for me, he'd have killed Mark years ago to torture Sean in the hopes of breaking his mind permanently. You can fight me any other time but when Anti is around. Can you at least agree to that?"

This is not the same Dark that I first met. That Dark would never have negotiated with me or asked for a compromise. He'd have taken what he wanted. This Dark seems to lack control and is way more desperate if he's talking to me like this. I find it hilarious. What he's telling me is not as funny.

"Why should I? If he kills us, then that's one less person they have to fight. They can focus all their attention on Anti and the other guy." I will gladly sacrifice myself if that means they can keep Mark safe. We're in this mess because of me and my big mouth.

Dark stops to stare at me, his face darkening in anger. "You... Idiotic girl. I'm trying to save our lives! All of us!"

"You've never cared before. Why start now?" I say. It's true. He has never shown an ounce of mercy to any of us before, so it seems strange that he would start now.

"BECAUSE YOUR HUMANITY IS CHANGING ME!" Dark seems surprised at this newest revelation. He clasps a hand over his mouth in shock before he disappears.

What can he mean by that? Is my humanity changing him? Then I start to go over the things that Anti said earlier. How his aura had changed and that Dark had poured too much of himself in to me. Now, we can feel each other's emotions, and when we had separated, I'd tapped into Dark's powers.

"Anti is right, isn't he? You're going soft. When you kissed me, you were pushing power into me." Puzzle pieces start to click into place the more I talk. "Was that all you did, or did you accidentally do something you shouldn't have when you possessed me? What is happening to both of us? What did you do?"

Of course, Dark doesn't answer me. Instead, I see that we are walking through the inky blackness of the Void. He doesn't speak, but the feeling I get from him is frantic and hurried.

We finally step into bright lights and what seems to be a giant science lab. "Matter? Where are you?" Dark calls out.

The ego of Matpat steps out from behind a large machine. I can't even begin to explain what it is. With tubes and wires crossing in all directions. It looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Connected to the central part are several chairs that look reclined with straps that attach to the arms and feet piece.

Matter pushes up his glasses, "Do you have him?"

"No, not yet. I need to make sure you have everything prepped and ready because I have a feeling we'll have company not too long after I bring him here." Dark walks towards the machine, looking it all over as if he has any idea what he's looking at.

"I'll start it up now but wait until you've brought him before I start the final process. How much of a window do you think you can manage before more guests arrive?" Madpat pats at his lab coat, grabs an object out of a pocket, and swiftly turns to the computers behind him. He presses buttons, and something on the machine starts to whir and come to life. There are a few more button presses, and the entire thing lights up like a rave, and the theme is punk.

When Matter turns around and sees Dark still standing there, he raises an eyebrow. "Was that all you wanted, or was there something else? I don't exactly have the time to play host."

"I need you to do another scan. Something is wrong with me. With us. It's almost too much." Dark quickly says.

"I thought you said nothing was wrong. You told me you had it under control. What changed?" Matter says.

"I thought so too, but now we can feel each other's emotions. She's been able to tap into my powers. It's…. It's painful to be apart. This bond is not normal. I wasn't sure how to make a connection, so when I pushed my power into her, I also pushed in bits of myself. I think I gave her too much of myself." Dark says.

"I'm sorry but can you fucking repeat that?" How kind of Dark to just start throwing information about me around and not even inform me that he fucked up. "What the fuck do you mean you gave me too much of yourself? You can't just say that and then not explain. Are you even listening to me, you asshole?"

Matter walks closer to us, looking into our eyes and moving our head around. "That is very abnormal. I'll do a scan, but I also want a blood sample. I can make a comparison, but I don't know if I can fix the problem right now."

"Just do it. We can fix whatever is happening after I separate myself from Mark."

—-

Twenty minutes later and the results are in. Dark is sitting in one of the chairs hooked up to the machine staring up at the scientist.

"Well, I have bad news and worse news. Which would you like first?"

"Just tell me what's wrong and how we can fix it," Dark says. A surge of panic floods through me, and I can't tell who it belongs to.

"The worse news is that I have no idea how to fix this. Nobody has ever done what you've done, so there aren't any examples to follow. I can do multiple tests, but it'll be trial and error, and I honestly have no idea how long you have." Madpat says all of this clinically. I have no idea what any of it means, but it sounds terrible.

I might not have any idea what he's talking about, but Dark seems to have a little. Cold-blooded fear courses through me. The kind that makes your brain shut down and your body freeze in one place. The kind you see happen to the protagonist of any horror movie when they are facing down the monster. If this is what Dark's reaction is to the worse news, then I don't want to know the rest.

With a shaky voice, Dark replies, "What is happening to us? What did I do?"

"When you pushed those pieces of yourself into the girl along with your power, you created a bond on the molecular level, unlike Anti and Sean, who are two separate people sharing a single body when in the same realm. You two are merging in such a way that it's almost as if you are twins fighting over a single body. Your very essence is corrupting her DNA, and what makes her a human is corrupting your existence. The bond you have with her is so much stronger than what Mark has with you that it's overpowering that influence.

I can still destroy that bond between you and Mark, but this… this is something I didn't know could happen. I am afraid of what will happen if I destroy that bond without destroying this one first. It might be the only thing keeping you from merging together completely. I'd have to run more tests, but the only reason you haven't combined more is because of how much she's fighting you. The more she resists, the more you remain separate individuals." He takes a step back once he's finished, and I don't know if it's because he's afraid of what will happen.

The pain and panic and fear and everything surrounds the both of us. We spiral off of the hopelessness of this whole thing together. Pure agony rips through me along with rage that only comes from a place when you have nothing left to lose. None of this would have happened if I had never made that deal. I did this to myself. He would never have gotten a foothold if I had been stronger. My brain is stuck on repeat, and I can only cry out as that white-hot poker of rage sears through me.

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT I TRADED ONE CAGE FOR ANOTHER?!" Dark screams as he stands up. "I did all of this so I could be free! I let everyone vilify me so that I could do the things necessary to break these bonds. I let myself be so corrupted that I tortured this girl until she was almost dead, and you're telling me THAT ALL OF IT WAS FOR NOTHING!" Dark hunches over as he grabs our stomach and screams.

"Dark! Calm down! You'll destroy everything if you lose control." Matter tries to get through, but neither of us can really hear him over the racing thoughts.

I don't understand half of what Matter said, and I didn't understand what Dark meant, but I understood enough to know that Dark might have trapped the two of us together forever. That we might never be us again. It's a horrifying thought that I can't escape from, and soon enough, my anguish has joined Dark's. I'm not sure how long I sit in that space screaming, but it isn't until the building walls start to shake that I come to.

Dark hasn't moved from the spot, but something is different. My hair is whipping around like I'm in a tornado. I see Dark kneeling in the grass, looking up at a black sky when I look around. He seems so lost and broken at that moment that I can't help but call out for him. He doesn't respond. Doesn't even look at me. He's so wrapped up in emotions and thoughts that I'm not even sure if he knows where he is. Another ripple of agony sears through me, making me gasp. It dawns on me that if Dark is this lost in himself, he's no longer in control. If I can take over again, maybe I can get answers and save Mark and Matt.

It only takes that thought before I'm behind the wheel and back in control. I don't know if that's a good thing because it's just as bad out here as it is in there. Maybe even worse. Madpat is shaking me and yelling Dark's name over and over again. It looks like the Void is trying to take over the room because there's almost no light left. The room is shaking like an earthquake has hit, and the shadows are moving around the room so quickly that the wind has started to pick up.

"Dark! If you don't calm down, you'll destroy the equipment. We might be able to fix this; it just takes time!" Matter says, panic written all over his face.

"He isn't answering. He's so hurt that I can't get to him. How do I stop this?" I yell out, waving my hand towards the blackness that surrounds us.

"Bri?" he asks, confused.

"Tell me how to stop this!"

"Dark said that you can use his power. Concentrate on what happened when you did it before. What you were feeling in that moment, try to copy that feeling to warp his power to your will."

What was I feeling? I remember feeling hatred for what he'd done to me. That fury for making me feel so weak and useless after finally giving up. I thought about how I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him, how we wouldn't be chained together for who knows how long if he hadn't come into my life. I gathered all that anger and fury until I couldn't hold it any longer. "STOP!" I screamed.

The wind died down, and all movement stopped. It almost feels like the dark is holding its breath, waiting for a command. I let out a small breath and willed them to return to where they came from. It takes a few moments, but eventually, it leaves. Nothing seems to be broken, but I don't know how it was supposed to look, so I could be wrong.

"Are you alright?" I ask the scientist.

"I'm fine, as is my lab, I think. I thought Dark was in control. How did you happen to come back." He asks.

"Whatever you told him sent him spiraling. He's so lost in his pain that he's kind of just sitting there staring into nothingness. I called for him, but the depression is real with this guy. What's his deal anyway? I got the whole possibly becoming one person bit, but I don't understand what you meant about the bonds between Mark and him." I'm hoping he'll give me the answers that Dark has been refusing to do.

He looks at me hesitantly before talking. "W all have creators. Dark and Wilford have Mark. Anti has Sean. I have Mat. Each of us has a bond with those who created us, whether we feel it or not. There are those of us who feel trapped by that bond and hope that by destroying it, we can be free to live a life outside of what has been written. If Mark suddenly decides that Dark is a vicious murderer, Dark is more likely to change into that. If he were to cut that bond, he no longer has to follow the script already written out for him, and he can grow to become a gardener or a chef." Madpat explains.

"That's why he's done all of this? He doesn't want to be trapped in a life that he never asked for?" It brings into light a lot of the things he's said in the past. It doesn't exempt him from everything he's done, but I understand why he did it. I absolutely hate the route he took, but I kinda get why he chose it. It doesn't explain everything, but only Dark can answer the rest of my questions.

My eyes widen when I remember that Dark is supposed to be meeting Anti and Phantom. I need to bring Dark out of it and let him take back control if I want to make sure my best friend doesn't get hurt. I'd do it myself, but I can already feel the adrenaline draining leaving me hurt and tired. Anti would see right through me immediately. No, as much as I hate it, I have to put him back behind the wheel.

His turmoil rages through me like a hurricane buffeting me around so much that I struggle to feel my own emotions. Closing my eyes, I center myself and return to that inner prison. The area is worse than when I left. Rain pours down in buckets making me drenched the moment I appear. The wind is blowing so hard that I'm unsteady as I walk, and the sky is black, making it hard to see. Only a single star in the sky lights up the night and shines the way to Dark, who still sits in the same way as before.

He continues staring upwards, unseeing as this vicious storm rages. He seems so much smaller like this, kneeling on the ground. He looks so broken that I can't help but want to fix him even though he tormented and hurt me. My hands rest against his face as I force him to look at me. "Dark? Dark, you have to come back. You can't stay in here forever. Anti won't let you."

Dark doesn't seem to hear me and stares at me unblinking. No! He can't do this now. He doesn't get the right to do this when my friends' lives are on the line. "Dark! You don't get to fuck up my entire life and then hide away like a coward! You got us into this mess, and you better get us the fuck out of it!" I scream at him as I slap him as hard as I can.

"Please, Dark! You can't leave me here to do it by myself. I'm not strong enough, and Anti will see right through me." I start panicking as I grab his shoulders and shake him. I cry, but the rain washes it away as it continues to fall heavily. "My best friend is in danger because of you, and instead of fixing this, you want to hide away. HELP ME SAVE MY FRIEND!"

Dark doesn't respond to anything I do. Nothing I say is getting to him, and I don't know what else to do. I sink to my knees, the grass turning to mud, not that I care. I sob harder, my head falling against his chest as my heart breaks in two. "Don't let Anti kill Mark and Matt. Please don't let them die because I was too weak to hold out. Too weak to save them. I don't care what happens to me, but they don't deserve any of this."

I can't stop sobbing into his chest while holding on tightly to his wet shirt. Both of us are soaked through by this weird inner rainstorm.

It's not until an arm wraps around me that I realize the rain has stopped. My cries slowly die off as a hand pets my hair softly. When I'm nothing more than a hiccuping sniffling mess, I look up only to see him looking down at me with a sorrowful pity in his eyes.

"I both pity and envy humanity. It truly is a feat to feel such a range of emotions that your body can feel as though it's being ripped apart. I thought I wished to feel even a fraction of what you do, but if this is the cost, I'm not sure if I wish to do so any longer. I do not understand how you can keep moving after such hopelessness cripples you. Or how you can still stand to live after feeling such paralyzing fear." Dark chokes up, and rather than let me see the emotions, he leans down, putting his face into the crook of my neck.

He starts to shake, and it takes me a moment to realize that he's the one crying now. It's my turn to comfort him, even though I'm not entirely sure why. "Oh, Dark," I whisper to him. "If all you ever see are the negatives in life, you'll miss all the positives. Even in the most hopeless of situations, there will always be the smallest glimmer of hope. If you only ever see the dark, then you miss the light. The world doesn't work on such certainty, Dark. There will always be a little bad with the good and good with the bad."

Regret courses through me, and I know that all of it comes from Dark, but I don't know what he regrets. "What was the purpose of all this, Dark? What are you trying to do that you had to go through all of this?" Something big has broken free from Dark, and maybe now I can get answers for why I had to go through all this pain.

Dark pulls back, not looking at me as he stands up. "What does any caged creature wish for? Freedom." He disappears so quickly that I don't have to respond.

Everything changes, and I'm left sitting in a muddy field with dead flowers everywhere. Is he purposely changing the area, or is it just a reflection of his emotions? I stand up and walk over to the window to watch what plays out and find a small Iris flower starting to bud. I wonder what that could mean?

Looking through the window, I see Madpat looking at us apprehensively. Dark has straightened up and pulled the small suit jacket into something more presentable while smoothing down the button-up shirt. "Please, excuse my outburst. I'm not used to such a wide array of emotions, and controlling them is harder than I thought."

"Dark? You're back then?"

"Yes, and I haven't the time to waste. I've been here far too long, and Anti is not the most patient person. I need to leave." A shimmer of darkness expands on one of the walls, and we turn to leave. "Make sure you're ready at any minute. Thank you, Matter."

"Dark?" Matter waits until Dark has turned back around before continuing. "Just call me Mat. Sometimes the ego names get a bit ridiculous, and I'd rather be called something simple."

Dark gives Mat a small smile and nods his head. "As you wish." Then walls into the wall of shadow.

"What are you planning, Dark? Why do you need Mark so badly for this to work? If you're just trying to get away from Mark, just leave."

"I want to cut the bond from Creator to creation. Mark is the Creator, and I am the creation. I can not simply walk away. It doesn't work like that." He says casually.

"Will it hurt him? Cutting this bond?" I ask.

"No. Mat tested it on volunteers and has finished the machine, so there is no pain. Some small discomfort but no harm or pain."

"That's all you need him for? Just that, and then you'll let him go?"

"That has been the plan unless someone else decides to interfere. As much as I am painted the villain, I did not actually intend to hurt anyone; I merely wish to live my life the way I want. No one was supposed to get hurt." Dark says with a small sigh.

That seems like a simple enough thing. Like a small harmless surgery. Why hadn't he just told me this from the beginning instead of all the dramatics? I would have helped him change Mark's mind because really… who wants to be chained to someone else for their entire life when they have no choice. It's a sad way to exist.

Making up my mind, I call out to Dark. "I'll help you. I won't fight you if you let me try and talk to Mark first. Maybe if I can talk to him, I'll be able to change his mind, and he can call off the goon squad. They'll be able to focus on the real threats. None of this would be necessary if you just call Anti and Phantom off."

He says nothing for a moment, making me think he'll reject my offer to help. I'm shocked by his answer. "Phantom, I might be able to call off. I can tell him I've changed my mind, but Anti is another story. He's too much a predator to let go of such a hunt. Even if I threaten him, he'll ignore me. I'm not as powerful out there. Especially in the daytime, and he'll be surrounded by things that enhance his power. I'm sorry, but he will still be a problem. If you are being honest about your help, I'll let you try your plan. This was always a last resort effort. I've been trying for years to do this, and he always turns his back on me. He's simply too biased when it comes to me, and Anti has colored his perspective even more." Dark says the moment before he walks into his house.

Phantom is sitting in one of the chairs, pointed towards the television, looking annoyed. Anti is on the Tv ranting about something but immediately stops when he sees Dark. "It's about time ye got yer arse over here. We've been waitin fer over an hour on ye. If ye had taken much longer, I'd have grabbed him meself."

Phantom rolls his eyes, tapping his fingers against the orb on his staff. "AntiMatter had to finish a few calculations, so it took longer than I thought, but I'm here now. We can finally get started." Dark says calmly to both of them.

Phantom sits up straighter in the chair, and Anti cracks his knuckles and gives a grin that sends shivers down my spine. "Phantom, I want you to distract the magician while the hero chases after Anti. Hopefully, they'll be so distracted that I can simply walk in and grab Mark and leave. If I can do that, then I'll open up a portal for you both to get away. If I can't, it will be Anti's job to get you back here. Do you understand?" When they both give a nod, he smirks. "Good. I suggest we be on our way. We have an influencer to grab."

The Tv clicks off, and I'm assuming that means Anti has left. Phantom leaves through a wall that starts to ripple like a pool after someone has jumped in. That leaves just us.

Dark appears next to me and gives a slight bow as he motions toward the window. "I believe it's your turn. I'll give you as much strength as I can but don't stay for too long. I can maintain the condition of your body while I'm in control, but it's harder to do with you in control. The longer you stay, the harder it is to keep you healthy. Eventually, I won't be able to help, and all your injuries will come rushing back."

"Got it," I say before slipping back into my skin. I nervously fix my outfit and run my hands through my hair before walking through the same ripple that Phantom disappeared into.

I step out into a room that's seen better days. TVs are smashed, and lamps have been thrown to the floor, not to mention the blood pooling on the floor in spots. Mark sees me first and comes rushing at me with a bloodied baseball bat, yelling loudly, "Let her go Dark!'

I catch the bat with my hand and grunt a bit from the force of the swing. Looking up, I give an impish grin, "Hiya, Mark. I can't tell you how much I've missed that ugly mug of yours."

That stops him as he really looks at me with a shocked expression. "Bri?"