I'm really dragging Gumball in the mud here huh? Yeah... It's only going down from here. Sorry. ^^' But enjoy the chapter!

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"The bodies had been identified as the couple Jackie Wilson and Harold Wilson, whom had been killed sometime between midnight of last night. No weapon could be found at the scene, and the couple's daughter had not been present at the home during the attack. Police will continue to investigate the situation."

Gumball abruptly stood up from the sofa, and quietly left the room. He had done his best not to show it, but uncomfortableness could be seen in his face expression. He didn't need reminding. He didn't want to even look at what he had done.

The family gave confused looks to each other, but decided to let it slide, continuing to watch TV. However, Nicole did not. She stood up as well with worry, and went to enter the kitchen.

She found her eldest son looking rather.. Stressed. Frightened. She wasn't sure why, and the thought of not knowing what was with him startled her. "..Gumball honey, are you alright?.. You've seemed.. Off lately.."

Gumball spun around, eyes wide, before quickly relaxing. Well, as best as he could muster. The blue cat was trembling where he stood, as if he had witnessed a nightmare. "I-I'm fine.. Honest.."

Nicole didn't buy it, her expression rather deadpan. "Sweetheart my mother senses are tingling. I know you're lying to me."

"Why are you so insistent on it? Just go worry about the rest of the family, okay? I'm fine." He didn't mean to, but his voice had a slight edge to it, her presence starting to annoy him.

"No. I won't. Something is clearly wrong and I want to figure out what." His mother's expression deepened into firmness, but remained sorrowful. She stepped closer, to which he stepped back. "You've been so.. Sad lately.. And from the looks of it, a lack of sleep.. You aren't alright.."

"I'm fine just leave me alone!" Gumball was very much shaking with fear now, desperately trying to keep it together. He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes, which he fought to stop. The cat prepared his way to the kitchen doorway quickly, however Nicole kept him from moving.

"Gumball you are not leaving. Please, just tell me what's going on-"

"I'M FINE JUST SHUT UP!" He grabbed a kitchen knife off the counter and threw it towards her in frustration, full of anger. However, the cat's eyes widened in horror, realizing what he had done.

The weapon had plunged into the wood of the doorway's frame, barely missing his mother by an inch. She only looked at him with shock, bewildered by what just happened. Only the TV's sound drowned out the silence, the other family members watching from the couch, same expression.

"..I-I.." Gumball could hardly form a coherent sentence. Horrible memories flashed through his mind from the other horrid timeline.

"Okay I get it! I won't tell anyone!"

"And if you do, it'll be off with your head.. Got it?"

He could still remember Anais's terrified face, the way she looked at him. Why did he do that? Why did he have to do that?

"..Gumball?.." Nicole finally spoke, not stepping near him just yet, only looking onward with concern.

"I-I'm sorry." The cat promptly left the kitchen, running up the stairs. A loud slam could be heard.

Nicole left the kitchen as well, gazing up at the steps. She stopped Darwin from going up them. "No sweetie. I think he needs some time to himself for right now, okay?"

Darwin knew better than to stand by watching his brother suffer. But he also knew better than to disobey her. He quietly nodded, walking back over to the couch, as did the rest of the family.

It felt as if it was only getting worse.

Gumball solemnly walked through the school hallway to his locker, trying his hardest not to notice everyone straight up terrified of him. He could understand why, after having shouted at them before. Though he knew that wasn't all they were scared about.

Suddenly, he was stopped in his tracks, a student whom he couldn't recognize standing before him. It was a rather harsh stop, as the kid almost made him fall over. Raising an eyebrow, the cat looked at him with confusion, yet somewhat dread. "Uh.. Hi?"

"None of us here are stupid Watterson." The kid said, his voice low and sounding miffed. "You think you can get away with everything and go back as if it's suddenly all okay. Am I right?"

"What are you talking about?.." Gumball slightly furrowed his eyebrows, but it suddenly clicked. Oh. Oh.

"Don't you play dumb with us. Those deaths were your fault, weren't they? It sounds too suspicious for that Killer Skull guy to decide to murder people connected to another death."

The other students were watching by now, all very afraid at the moment. It was as if they were expecting another outburst. Another breakdown.

Gumball internally sighed in relief, knowing at least his wretched persona was okay. However, he wasn't sure what entirely to say. He only looked at the kid with his tired, sorrowed face. He didn't want a fight today, not even another scene at school.

"Well?" The student raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem to deny it."

"..I didn't."

"What was that?" Now the kid was a bit ticked off, though knew not to get close yet. "Speak up."

"I said I didn't." Gumball gazed at the floor, tired of having to look at him. He could tell he was angry.

"You really have the nerve to lie, don't you?" The student had approached now, inches away from the cat's face. "Why don't you tell everyone here the truth?"

"Just stop. Leave me alone." The feline lightly pushed him away, trying to leave. By now he was starting to get agitated himself. It was like the cube man inciden- The cube man incident. Of course it was going to happen again.

His fear slightly rose.

No. Not again. Anything but that. He had to get out of here. He didn't want to bear going through that horrible day from the timeline again.

"You aren't going anywhere," The kid blocked him, now angry. "Y'know, I don't know if you're aware."

Gumball backed away, as the kid leaned in, clearly intent on whispering something only to him. No. Stop. Stop.

"Horrible psychopathic murderous freaks like you deserve to rot in jail."

He snapped.

The kid's eyes widened, as Gumball suddenly lunged at him, throwing punches left and right. He fought back, and the two began a full-on brawl, other kids crowding around to witness the event.

Some recorded it on their phones, others watched in fear and horror.

"I knew it!" The kid shouted, through his punches and blows. "You really did do it!"

However the kid was cut off abruptly. His look of triumph morphed into terror, as he was lifted up from his place by the collar.

Gumball was breathing heavily, fur slightly messed up as his 'insanity eyes' had appeared, showing nothing but utter rage. He tightened his grip, the student whimpering, as others watched with wide eyes. The cat slowly raised one fist, aiming it towards him, nearly about ready to murder this kid.

Suddenly, a pair of fins grabbed him by the torso from behind, pulling him away from the other. "Gumball stop!"

The feline refused to listen, struggling in Darwin's grasp as he was angrily trying to reach for the kid, whom had been scooting away from the sight. All he punched was air. Slowly, his fists loosened, and his frantic movements stopped. Gumball could only feel utter shame, watching what he had done.

No wonder they were afraid of him.

He began to break into sobs, Darwin's hold loosening as well, the fish quick to turn to him, trying to comfort him.

"Come on buddy.." His brother took him by the hand and led him away, away from the watching eyes of the kids. Eyes of fear. All the cat could do was cry in response.

He could hear some shouting at him awful things, not completely, but he understood the message. They didn't want him here. He could never change their views now.

The two now entered a vacant storage closet, sitting down on unopened cardboard boxes, as the door was swiftly closed, blocking out any noise.

Darwin hadn't said anything, patiently letting the other begin speaking. He flinched slightly, as the cat sobbed harder, hugging him tightly. All he could really respond with was returning the gesture, careful in his hold.

"T-They all hate me.." Gumball uttered, as he hugged. "I tried so hard to change.. But they don't care.. They never care! I can't take it anymore Darwin! I just.. I can't.." His grip tightened, as if he was almost afraid to lose him. The fear was fairly accurate. Last thing he needed was to lose the only one that still comforted him.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay.." The goldfish replied, his words comforting. "They're stupid.. All they've been doing is making it worse. But you'll be okay.. You got me and the family to protect you, remember? Your girlfriend too even.. We aren't going anywhere."

Gumball broke away from the embrace, tears streaming down his face. He slightly hesitated, but continued anyway. "I don't.."

"What?" Darwin raised an eyebrow, confused by such response.

"..I-I'm the Killer Skull Darwin.. It was me.." His tears poured harder, the feline waiting fearfully for an answer. He knew he made a big decision, but he couldn't bear keeping it under wraps forever. He needed someone. He needed help. He knew his best friend and brother wouldn't turn his back on him, right?

Darwin only hugged him again. "It's okay Gumball, calm down.. Your mind's coming up with weird thoughts from all this."

It felt as if he had been kicked in the gut.

"..Heh, yeah.. Sorry.. My brain's just kind of all over the place right now from all this.." Gumball said, practically lying through his teeth. "..I really didn't do anything to Tobias's parents.. Honest.."

"I figured it wasn't you," The fish said, making the cat smile slightly. "Don't worry dude, I've got your back, promise."

"Thanks buddy.." As Gumball hugged back, thoughts raced through his mind. He felt slight comfort knowing he still had his best friend, but the pain only felt worse like a stinging wound. Darwin didn't believe him. Did he really think he wouldn't do any such horrible things?

Was anyone going to believe him if he confessed?