He sat glumly in the chair across from her, while she stared into her coffee like it had the secrets to the world and wouldn't tell her. He drew small circles in the tabletop with a single finger, watching her once in a while to see if she'd looked up at him- she never did, and might never, he realized. "Look, whatever happened in the past, Jennet, we can put it behind us. Whatever grudge it is you're holding, drop it please, I'm-"

She cut him off, voice cracking, but he could see by the frown on her face she was trying hard to speak strong. "Stop, just... stop." She finally looked up at him, in a look of utter despair. "Don't apologize, don't say you're sorry, okay? Just... don't." The ending was more of a panicked mutter, and though he'd know their past was bad, he had no idea it effected her this way.

It was this point that another person made themselves known to him, standing a small ways away, he could see himself standing from over her shoulder. The person who appeared to be his exact copy looked over at him with an eerie grin, bright crimson eyes glared into his own. He blinked a few times, shifted his focus to Jennet, but he wouldn't disappear this time. Mark finally stood, mumbling something about going to the restroom.

He shouldered past a few people until he got to the men's restroom. He slipped inside, and immediately stopped at the sink. "Go away, go away, go away..." He whispered with his eyes closed tightly, knuckles white from gripping the sink. He finally looked up and surprise twinged his nerves to see the him from the cafe standing right behind him, behind his shoulder.

And... he felt breath, on his neck. He slowly turning his head, keeping his eyes on the mirror until last second. When he turned he bumped into... well, himself. He immediately stepped back, hitting the sink counter. "There you are..." The other him whispered in a huskier voice than his own, and he soon found himself trapped as this duplicate- this hallucination- placed a hand on the counter on either side of him.

Mark found his breath again, and stood up straight, putting himself too close to this other person for comfort. "What are you doing here?" He spat angrily, of course he knew who this was, but he hadn't seen him since they had run. He never looked back... should he have? What would he have seen?"

"Mark you left me there..." The other said, looking thoroughly hurt, but to be honest he didn't care. He couldn't care, this other is what caused Jennet's pain, of course he'd leave him! "You weren't going to find me, you never even looked back... So, I found you instead." The other him dragged his fingers lightly over the skin of Mark's left arm, over his shoulder, and smoothed his palm over Mark's cheek. He leaned his forehead onto Mark's, eyes closed as his brows furrowed, and he inhaled deeply.

"Darkiplier, you can't be here." Mark whispered, finally bringing a hand up to push Darkiplier away from him. This twin of him looked like he'd break down, the hurt in his eyes, the despair. Not quite the same look Jennet had, something was hidden in those deep crimson eyes. Dark stepped forward, again backing Mark into the counter of the sink, but this time Mark did nothing as Dark placed his hands on either side of his other's jaw. "Mark..."

(If you choose to, you can listen to "Runaway" by Crywolf and Ianborg from this point on. I'll say where to stop, but you don't have to, actually, I really like and suggest you listen to, the song~)

He breathed, before leaning forward and closing the distance between their lips, it took Mark by surprise. The kiss was not rough, like he'd have expected, but he was too surprised to push Dark away this time. Why would his other do this, was this why he was here? He felt Dark's hands trail down his neck and shoulders and down his arms, and back up, bringing one arm around the small of his back and the other hand fled up to the back of his head, running his fingers through Mark's hair.

Darkiplier finally separated to give them both breath, and Mark finally recognized the darker look in his twin's eyes, a few moments after the other backed off slightly to breath, he pushed him away again, walking out of the restroom with his hair out of place, looking hot and bothered, and a bit scared even.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he picked his drink off the cafe table, looking over at Jennet, who seemed confused. She looked to have calmed down a bit, and he offered a hand to her. She hesitantly took it and he helped her stand, letting go of her hand and walking outside, suddenly grateful for the soft rain that had begun to fall, just sprinkling at this point. "Come on, you can come to my hotel room." He offered, since it was starting to rain- and he didn't want her taking a taxi on her own.

"Okay..." She mumbled, following him closely. "Look Mark, I'm sorry if I... over reacted..." She started, seemingly about to continue when he cut her off completely, "You didn't. You were right to react the way you did after everything- I would never blame you." And I sympathize, he thought to himself.

Darkiplier had once been a part of him, for a long time. At first they were thoughts. Quiet ones he never thought anything of, how could he? Then they were whispers, they sometimes scared him. Then words, he became edgy, off put. He started seeing Darkiplier, as what the fans had made him. He was horrified, when ghostly reflections and such replaced his own reflection. No body else saw it, not even Jennet.

All the pain Darkiplier caused her, in his body and mind, and she would never know how he didn't mean it. She wouldn't forgive him, she'd always be wary. Back then, it wasn't like he could control Dark at all, he didn't know what the other was, how to deal with it. So, whenever this darkness of his mind took control, he blacked out. He got glimpses through the darkness of his own mind sometimes, but seeing through Dark's eyes not his own.

Dark had physically hurt her, wrecked her emotionally, and distorted Mark's own mind. He refused to touch Jennet when these black outs started, he was nothing but sweet to her when he was himself, he knew how distraught this must have made her. But if touching her, whether it be in the way Dark had been or not, might strike another black out, and the less he risked the better.

She became upset with him when he seemed to only ever be rough, she wondered why they couldn't ever just be sweet, why they didn't ever just cuddle on the couch anymore. He had no answer for her, no way to explain that Darkiplier was never sweet and never could be, because she had no idea that he existed. That darkened part of his mind he could not rid himself of.

He'd finally talked to Bob and Wade about it, when he found memories from Dark of him even turning on them occasionally, be really mean to Wade especially, giving Bob a cold shoulder even. So, he told them of his predicament. After researching as much as they could, they found a way to separate Dark and Mark into separate living breathing beings- except that Mark had to imagine Darkiplier as human for it to work.

If he didn't imagine him human, and didn't accept that Darkiplier was as much a part of him as himself, then it wouldn't work. If he accepted him, but imagined him as the monster many fans saw him, that's what he would be. So he had imagined himself, imagined a man that grew the way he did, looked the same, but those red eyes wouldn't leave his mind.

When they were apart... he ran. Ran in terror, in relief, he ran simply to run, without hearing remarks of some sort echoing in his head. But little did he know, if he'd watched behind him at all, he'd have seen what Bob and Wade saw from a distance...

Wade watched Dark while Bob was going over to the car to get it started and drive after Mark, who was running and not stopping. Wade watched as Darkiplier took his first few steps on his own, was it weird that he felt he should be proud? It was like Mark, exactly like him, just darker for some reason they were unable to find out in their research, he couldn't help feel proud of them both for accepting each other even just to push each other away.

Which is what he thought was what would happen except that... "Uh, Bob?" Wade called, watching as Darkiplier took a few steps into a run before stopping, turning to look behind him, where Mark was running down the beach. Away from him. Dark didn't even stumble backwards, just awkwardly fell, sitting on the sand and bringing his knees up. He crossed his arms around his legs, and rest his forehead on his knees. "Is he?" Bob started.

"He's... crying?" Wade asked in surprise, looking over to Bob with confusion and concern.

Yes, for the first time being on his own, it struck Darkiplier hard, the second he was out he felt a rush of adrenaline. He wanted to run like Mark, no... He wanted to run with Mark, but the man who had been his host for years had no intentions of that, running the other way entirely. He tried to run away too, but couldn't stop himself, Mark would... he would look back, wouldn't he? Didn't he feel the tug too?

Dark wished he hadn't looked, because there Mark was running away from him, practically with joy, relieved to be rid of him. It struck him hard, and he felt himself fall. He curled tightly into himself and felt hot salt water burn from his eyes leaving trails down his cheeks. His chest hurt, it was an ache that wouldn't go away, like heartburn.

His shoulders shook with the silent sobs that began to bubble up, his breath unsteady. He suddenly felt something on his shoulder, and in surprise tried to back away, seeing a bleary Wade in front of him. Wade held out a hand, which he hesitantly took, and was pulled to his feet... And into a hug? He didn't know what to do at first, but Wade held him tightly, so he slowly brought his arms around Wade in a way of showing he accepted the embrace, and let the sobs flood his mind.

His empty mind, so lonely, no one to talk to, no one to hear. "It'll be okay. You're going to stay with me for a while in Cincinnati okay?" Wade told him, keeping one arm around Dark to help him to the car, Dark's steps still unsteady and unsure for not being used before without the common knowledge he once so easily accessed from Mark's mind.

"Why does it hurt?" Dark asked, his voice wavering.

"How do you mean, where does it hurt?" Bob asked, sitting beside Dark in the back while Wade drove, looking for Mark. Darkiplier explained the pull on his mind and the ache in his chest, how he felt the need to sob for some reason, though he thought he should not be sad, but overjoyed.

Wade almost stopped the car hearing all this, but continued, Mark must have left the beach already. "You miss him?" Wade asked, amazed that a being as dark as his friend had described- I mean, the things Darkiplier had done, to Mark and Jennet, to him and Bob even. How could he miss Mark? How could he regret leaving.

"It makes sense Wade, they've been in one mind for a very long time." Bob reasoned, they may not have gotten along, but he was willing to bet Mark had to be missing Dark as well, even a little. The silence in his mind would be new and exciting at first, sure, but he'd eventually find himself sitting there with nothing to think about, no one to retort to his thoughts.

(Now would be a perfectly A-Okay time to stop playing the song, but again, no pressure to, the song is great, listen to the rest while you read if you want, just know it's not really referenced from now on~)

Wade nodded, watching the streets as he passed them. He watched in the rear view mirror as Bob stared out the window too, but Dark suddenly leaned forwards to put his hands on his knees with a jolt, as if he might puke. His eyes were wide, and he blinked rapidly before shaking his head. He leaned his head back breathing heavily.

"Darkiplier?" Wade asked suspiciously, flicking his gaze from the rear view mirror to the man that looked exactly like his friend... aside from the eyes. Bob turned to face Dark as well, with a look of confusion. "Stop the car." Dark said, his voice hoarse, but stronger than it had been ever before.

Wade did as told and pulled onto the side of the street, Dark almost immediately opened the door and stepped out, vomiting onto the cement. His entire body shook, and he frowned as he held his sides, still leaned over... waiting. "He-he... He's... at his apartment..." Dark said, before he turned to see Wade and Bob watching him with surprise. Was it unusual for him to know that?

He'd felt like he was jolted out of him body, thrown into the living room of Mark's apartment, where he sat on the couch. He watched Mark with surprise, as Mark watched him, now sitting up straight, sill breathing heavy from his run. Then he blinked. Darkiplier got instant nausea the second Mark's eyelids closed, and he felt himself dragged back into his body and it was as if his stomach was bubbling.

He started to back away from the door, and ran. Finally, he ran. The way he should have on that beach, he didn't know where he'd go but... He ran. The second he hit the shade of the building... he seemed to disappear, people had stared at him on the street, but in the shadow no one saw him... What was this? Who was he? Darkiplier, I am Darkiplier. I am Mark's darkness, I am... in the shadows of his mind. Of his world. He pieced it together.

He fell to his knees just before the edge of the shadows, and began to weep again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." He whispered over and over again. It was never Jennet he was after, never, he'd always just wanted Mark... Now Mark had run away, back home. And Darkiplier was lost. He'd find him again, he would. He swore to himself, he'd show Mark, he'd show him... what he was after now, what was his, now that he was on the outside, he could.

It's all he wants now, and maybe it's this new humanity Mark created of him, maybe that's why whatever goals he'd had, taking over Mark's body, spreading darkness... no longer existed. No, he had a new goal, it both angered him and intrigued him.

But what was it called? He'd heard Mark say it time, and time again, but never in association to him. Never, of course not, how could he? Darkiplier had taken everything from Mark, save for his channel and fans. He'd made his friend wary of him, his girlfriend hate him, made him hate himself. He'd done some things that Mark was ashamed of, because after all the body was his own, it frustrated him that there was nothing he could do to stop or limit Dark.

And now, they were both free of each other... except, it wasn't really a freedom. What was it called? Well, how would he describe it? That feeling earlier, that feeling of ache that feeling of being lost, afraid of the unknown, being wary outside of Mark's mind, longing to be there- Wade had said he missed Mark. A feeling, yes, of something lost that he wanted back.

That, that's the word that would be a good descriptor for this. Want. He wanted Mark, god did he ever, he needed him in fact, and Mark was the fool if he thought he didn't need Dark. But this was need, want, and... what? And What? He wasn't sure. He... felt warmly towards Mark, he somehow appreciated him, but what was the word for that? He'd heard Mark say it, in his mind, used it to block him out. Jennet, it was always in reference to Jennet.

It was... What... What was it? It finally clicked in Dark's mind, the words he was looking for. The same thing that clicked in Mark's own mind so long later at that cafe.

I have adoration to the host of the body I've been stuck in since existence... Darkiplier thought in sheer shock.

The look in his eyes... Lust... but how could? How could, after everything he's done to me, after everything he's done to those closest to me... Mark thought

How can I... how can he expect me to... how could he love me?

Hey, wasn't that exciting?! Finally you guys get to hear about more of the story of the past... I wont be going into much detail about it, since I'll probably be doing a special Prequel sort story to explain all that happened back then in full detail- well, most detail. I wouldn't be able to rate this at T if I went into full detail. So Jennet seems to be getting more comfortable with the situation, however, Mark is just getting into hell right about now. Who would have expected this all to happen? Everyone, probably, I mean it was obviously gonna happen. By the way, any chapters that go into a bit more detail than they probably should I will warn you guys about at the top of the chapter. I don't want you reading anything you aren't into. As for the preview having no warning, well, you didn't have to read the preview. It's gonna happen in the future anyway, so no need to really read it. I'll hopefully be focusing on this story a bit more, also the Reference Song in the last chapter was "Youth" by Daughter however in this song was also another two songs referenced. These were "On The Outside" by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, and "Runaway" by Crywolf and Ianborg, which I will tell you when to play in the story if you choose to. Wow, this one got pretty long, huh?

Also! If you spot any grammar or spelling errors, please PM me and let me know, I'm going back and reading over stuff to be sure the story makes sense and is easily read.

Thank you all for reading, and as always, I will see you... in the next chapter. Buh-Bye! -Adamented/Ada