This time, we´ll remember the events that occurred before the program had begun, and some of them will be from Mal´s perspective, regarding the other personalities too

THANK YOU FOR READING!

EXTRA: MAL´S PRISON

VITO´S WATCH

What I managed to remember when I woke up in my new prison was the time when Mike stopped me in "All Stars" and made me "disappear" wiping me out of existence. However, here I am. As if he really could get rid of me that easily! Mike may have regained some of control, but there is still much he doesn´t understand. He doesn´t know his own mind as I do, or as any of us do. The other personalities count too ... Hadn´t they fought for years to have control of Mike´s body too? The only difference is that they haven´t lived for as long as I have, and they haven´t lived like me ... they don´t understand and they never will, that´s why they keep me locked up.

My cage was big, thick and strong enough to make me want to hit the bars out of all the anger I had. After being so close to the million! that just made me angrier. As I noticed, they were all there, deciding what they would do now...

- It doesn´t make sense! After pressing the button, I thought we would all do ... you know, puff! -. Chester said. The old man looked at me as if I was a wild beast. He´d better keep fearing me.-

- Well, we see we didn´t, old man!-. Vito sighed. - And Mike believes now that we've gone forever ... I'm dying to see his face when ... -.

- Mike must not know that we are still here! -. Svetlana shouted.- Mike has suffered enough, and he finally gets a little happiness. Moreover, it was him who stopped Mal.-

- He did stop him, but ya´ see he´s still here.- Manitoba interrupted her.- If not for the cage that I created, he´d be in control over again.-

I knew it. This invention had to be from Manitoba. Who else would lock me like a wild animal? His stupid explorer and hunter skills complicated my plan´s realization. Besides me, he was the one who knew Mike's mind better, and how it worked.

- But Svetlana is right.- The explorer continued.- Since we all pressed that button together, we're now a team, and we are part of Mike. He is the original, and we already have accepted that fact. We may still be here because ... deep down we didn´t wanna leave for good. But sooner or later we will have to do it.-

- And what about him? -. Vito asked with challenging attitude.- We just leave him there? He´s the one who will never leave by himself. If we disappear, who will keep him locked?-.

Everyone was thinking in silence, not knowing quite what to say. Vito was right, and although they were ready to leave Mike to be alone, having accepted their fates, they knew I didn´t have the same intentions. And how right they were!

- It's the truth, Manitoba. - I said, smiling when I saw him glaring towards me as he was blaming me for distracting him from some important thoughts. - I will not leave. Perhaps you think your small cage can stop me, but I challenge you to leave me here by myself ... I challenge all of you to leave ... this body will be mine in a second.-

- Oh, come on, shut up! -. Vito went straight to the bars and started shaking the entire cage.- Why couldn´t you just vanish !? And now we can´t even go out without disturbing Mike ... -. He seemed even more annoyed. - I'm still alive! I´m person too, like Mike, like all of you. I deserve to live…-.

- Vito, that's exactly the problem.- Svetlana said with a worried expression.- There is just one body, and we all decided and agreed that Mike ... -.

- Mike can go to hell! -. Vito shouted before bouncing away, obviously upset.-

Meanwhile, Chester watched Manitoba, who remained thoughtful, looking for a solution. They all wanted to reach an agreement, even Vito, despite his tantrums. At that time, they were cornered. Manitoba adjusted his hat, took a deep breath and turned to talk to the others. He intended to be listened even by Vito, who could just hear him from where he was positioned, hitting the walls of Mike´s mind.

- As already mentioned, Mike is the owner of the body. I wanna live too, tough guy, but only one person can live one body´s live.- He said, somehow sadly.- Since we made the decision of ... passing on, so to speak, we must fix this problem.- He pointed to my cage with disdain.- You won´t come out, Mal. We'll take care of that. Are you challenging us to leave? Ha! You won´t last much longer. Can´t fool me, you're so weak that you can´t even get out of the cage that I designed. The rest of us will take turns to watch him until he finally disappears. The more balanced Mike´s emotion are, the easier it´ll be for him to resume his life and for us to join him completely. We continue to be part of him, after all. So we should take care of Mal so he won´t reach outside. Maybe it´ll take a little longer than expected ... but the plan remains the same as when we decided to push the button.- He concluded.- Now ... to divide the shifts ... -.

They spent the next hours planning what they would do with me. One of them would stay with me, watching my cage all day, and another would take his place at the end of the shift. They wouldn´t be allowed to talk to me, much less even touch or open the cage. I listened and realized that they were serious. They still feared me, they knew what I was capable of, but they wanted to come together and conspire against me.

Ever since that time I tested all my patience. It wasn´t the first time I had to. When Mike left the juvie, I kept waiting, accumulating energy and planning what I would do when I leave. This might be more complicated, but nothing a bit of sabotage and chaos could not fix. After all ... Vito´s turns were full of possibilities.

One of the many times that Vito was on watch, I got what I wanted: For him to talk to me. He tended to ignore me and walk around every corner of our brain (it was ours, after all), as if it was him who was caged. After me, he was probably the one who had more desire to exist. At that time, I just had to play a little.

- Mike still goes to therapy ... it's almost like he is asking us to come out, huh, Vito? -. I was talking to his back, because he was acting like he couldn´t hear me, although I well knew that he was listening.- Now Zoey even goes with him ... so much tenderness.-

I had decided to come out again, and I knew she would be there. In a way, it was good news. Mike had to pay me for what he had done. Nobody ruins my plans and stays so happy and calmed about it. I would destroy everything that mattered to him, everything that made him happy, and everything he loved ... I would take care of Zoey.

- Doesn´t it bother you? -. I continued.- Is his girlfriend, not ours. It is not like she is Anne Maria ... -.

Vito turned around at the speed of lightning, taking me by the collar of my shirt. Both of us were the strongest personalities, the hardest, and the roughest. It was a pity that he was so stupid.

- Don´t . Talk.- He almost roared.-

- Oh, I thought you were the one who could not speak to me.-

- I can tell you to shut the hell up.- He sat again at his site.-

- The most interesting thing about being here inside…is to see what happens outside.- And it was true. From here, we knew everything that was happening in reality. Mike's eyes were our eyes, and we could see the same as him if we concentrated enough. We were connected.- Oh, they already have left the therap. They have become such a idiotic couple.- I said with genuine disgust.- How boring must she be to think that Mike is cool? ... It should bother you that your body is doing things you really don´t want to do, and with people you don´t even like. -

- Is not my body.-

- Yes, it sure is. - I insisted. - And now Mike is using it to embrace Zoey. He looks very happy. I wish I could ruin the moment, but I am unable now. It must be hard to know that if it was you in charge, Zoey wouldn´t let you get closer to who you really want, you couldn´t do anything to your liking. You know why? Because she loves Mike, but she clearly hates the rest of us, you most of all now that she thinks I´m gone!-. It had become a direct attack on Vito.- She really hates you! -.

Without warning, Vito got up and we were eye to eye. His were bright with anger and, suddenly, I saw him vanish into thin air. I grinned, while everyone else came running, frightened. They had obviously felt the change in the brain.

- What happened!?-. Manitoba shouted.- What the hell did ya´say?-.

- Me? I was just telling him the truth.-

Suddenly, Mike fell from above and landed on dry ground, showing that Vito had actually taken his place outside. But this was different from other times. For some reason, he could not see us. Manitoba wanted to touch him to help him up, but his hand went through him. A funny surprised expression invaded the explorer.

- What the hell…?-.

Meanwhile, Vito was out. From inside the body, everyone (except Mike, of course) saw how Vito took Zoey´s wrists and gave her a frosty look of resentment.

- I want to live, you know? Just because you love him, you have no right to do as if I never existed.- He told her.-

I struggled not to burst out laughing when I saw Zoey´s face. The grip hurt her and she looked terribly confused. She refused to believe it was Vito.

- Forget the damn therapies, forget everything. I would be much better and I would heal quickly if only you would stay out my life forever! -. Vito shouted.-

- Oh, God!-. Svetlana exclaimed.- He can´t say that to her!-.

- We have to do something.- Chester said, also trying to touch Mike´s body without succeeding.- Why can´t we touch him?-.

- He must be in shock.- I intervened. They looked at me with surprise.- What? Didn´t you see when he faced me the last time? A strong enough impression can make us almost disappear.- That was very fun for me.- He hasn´t felt this sensation for a while, since he thought we were all gone, so he doesn´t comprehend it.-

- But Mike was so well, he was living so peacefully…-.

- He thought we were all gone...- Manitoba repeated, like trying to understand something.- But he kept going to therapy, so there is a chance he still could feel us, even Mal, but he was scared to tell anybody. And now his fear has come true… -.

Back in the real world, Zoey was begging Vito to let Mike come outside again.

- Vito, if this is really you, I´m sorry, but Mike…-.

- Stop talking about Mike! What do you know about him? What do you know of his life, or about us, about me? You've treated me as a villain since I first saw you. Because of Anne Maria? Sorry if I didn´t fell in love stupidly with you.-

Zoey started calling Mike desperately. It was frightening, Vito was so upset ...

- Don´t worry, you won´t see me anymore. I´m not sure if I´ll ever cease to exist… -. He glared at her intensely. - But I want you to remember this. I don´t love you, and I am part of Mike, I will always be. So it means that somewhere, deep down, he knows that you are not good enough for him or for me.- His words were like a dagger in Zoey´s heart, who wanted to run away.- Mike will tell you this wasn´t him speaking, but it sure Is.- By this part, Zoey really ran away, drowning in her own tears.-

The exchange was quick. Mike´s almost extinct body vanished and he returned outside, hinting that he was back in control, while Vito returned inside. His expression, solid, hard, did not show the slightest remorse. Not even when Manitoba hit him he changed his attitude.

- I hope ya´re happy now, stupid dingo.- He said.- And I hope ya´ have expressed yourself, because ya´re not allowed to talk anymore.- That was directed at both of us, I guess. He dragged Vito by the arm, away from my ears, so I could not hear what they said.-

I could only see that Manitoba gave him a great sermon, with Svetlana and Chester making moral support. The burly guy seemed to relent and only looked up from the floor to apologize to the others, as I imagined he would. His anger was momentary ... he probably didn´t mean anything of what he said, but he did say it. And boy, it had worked!

From that moment, Mike and Zoey´s relationship had cooled completely. She was hurt and scared, not knowing if she could trust him after hearing what Vito said, thinking that she only bothered him. The others concentrated their efforts on keeping me on watch, and each time it was Vito´s turn, Manitoba came along with him, making sure that he wasn´t manipulated again. His look of constant threat to me amused me more than it frightened me.

Then came the moment when we realized ... we had returned to the show…

The night before, Mike had been looking for us on his own. He himself went into the deepest recesses of his mind, trying to find us! It was so stupid ... I felt motivated enough to make a new move soon. The program was the perfect place to do so, because Mike would be in constant stress, it would be very difficult for him to stay balanced. And best of all ... Zoey was there! This could be enough to leave a vulnerable space in his mind for me to take my chances.

Amid the first challenge, Vito came out. I may have been the culprit since I mentioned Anne Maria last time but what can I say? Playing with other people´s mind was so much fun ... Anne Maria´s presence would mess with Vito´s head, and it would cause Mike to worry even more about Zoey. Things were so problematic that Mike was losing the serenity ... sorry ... it was almost time for me to leave...

When Mike went looking for Zoey that night, Vito was on shift... alone this time. I grinned at him when I saw him coming without Manitoba.

- Smith let you come alone? -. I joked.- I hope you're not nervous about it.-

He said nothing. But you could tell he wanted to talk. It was so obvious that the others had forced him to remain silent ... We began to hear the insufferable conversation Mike and Zoey were engaging ... stupid and repetitive stereotypes of "I missed you" and "never meant to hurt you." And worst of all was how she looked at us, well, at him, whatever. She was so in love, so excited.

- Ugh. - I said, showing my repulsion.- If I am to be honest, I thought she would desist when you said all those things to her. What a pity that they are already about to reconcile. Do you know? The funniest thing about these "watch" of yours is that I feel like I´m in therapy: I talk and you listen. Isn´t it a great irony? -.

I heard him say something between his teeth. From the tone, I assumed it was a curse to me. At least I was sure he wasn´t ignoring me completely.

- You know as well as I do that we are not ready to move forward or "pass on". We can´t leave. You're absolutely right, Vito. Mike can go to hell, same as Zoey!-.

- Every time you speak to me, you mention her. Is it the same with the others? If it weren´t for all the hatred in your voice, I would say you are jealous.-

I burst out laughing.

- So it would be strange if I was? I've known Mike for longer than you, Vito. Perhaps we share tastes. Although I can assure you one thing: when I break from here, Zoey will be one of my top priorities. She owes me a rematch, and I can use her to take advantage and getting back at Mike.-

- You are crazy, man. - He said with disgust.-

- You're the one who hates her the most. How was your meeting with Anne Maria?-.

Vito opened his mouth to close it almost immediately. His actions were faster than his thoughts, so it took longer to realize when he did something reckless. He shook his head and kept ignoring me. Meanwhile, Mike was doing exactly as I hoped he would… he had just make Zoey laugh, and I knew what was coming. I had known for some time, and I finally was ready.

- Vito, I´m leaving this place today. I´m telling you so you know what to say when people ask you. It's a shame, because it´s not your fault, you can´t do anything about it, after all.-

- You are very crazy, man.- He repeated.- You´d better shut up.-

- Oh, here comes the kiss.-

He knew what I meant. Mike and Zoey finally kissed, all the walls of his mind trembled. It was a normal reaction to all this emotion. Vito stood uncomfortably in his site, sighing with resignation. It was funny: without noticing, she was kissing us too. It wasn´t like we felt directly, but we felt the effects on Mike´s body. Vito was so focused on ignoring this effects of the kiss that he didn´t even see me move the cage´s bars. Because of the strength I applied, I shouted with all my might, and watched with satisfaction that everything worked. I felt like me again: strong, resilient, and in total control over this brain. Nobody knew better how to take advantage of the bumps in Mike´s emotions, and that kiss was what I needed to escape the prison in which I had been locked up.

- Wow! What are you doing?-. Vito exclaimed, exalted.-

The cage shattered, and it ended like a sad piece of melted metal. I sounded my knuckles as I saw my opponent putting his fists up, getting ready.

- A battle between us? But what a chance! We have always been the best fighters of this brain.-

However, Vito wouldn´t be able to do anything. I dodged his fists and hit upon his face directly again and again. I was out, and I wasn´t going to let him beat me to cage me again, no matter what. My breath hitched, not by fatigue, but by the intense excitement and fun that circulated inside me. Each hit in Vito´s face or stomach filled me with more vitality. When I got him down, I felt tempted to continue giving him a beating, but was in a hurry. That kiss wasn´t going to be eternal.

- I guess I was stronger this time.- I said, stepping on his hand. He screamed in pain and looked at me with infinite anger.-

- When I get my hands on you, I'll ...! -.

The sound of the other´s footsteps was getting closer and closer. I had to hurry.

- Too bad there´s no more time. Say hello to Mike for me. Tell him that Zoey will be in good hands.- I told him before I left.-

I didn´t need triggers, no special techniques or ornaments. I just closed my eyes, taking advantage of this new vitality I felt, and suddenly I was in the real world, crushing the existence of Mike, confining him to the madness that was to be inside our own head. As I figured, I arrived in the middle of the kiss, and was in such a good mood that I started to have some fun with Zoey´s reaction. I could have crashed her head against the floor, or put my hands around her fragile neck until she begged me for her life ... but wasn´t the time. She soon noticed the difference between in the kiss, but it wasn´t easy for her to escape. When she finally succeeded at separating, I adored seeing the effect of my arrival in her face.

- Hello, Zoey. Does this welcome kiss means that you missed me?-.

- Mal!-. She said with a tear running down her face.- No, no, no. Leave now! You should have been gone! I want you to leave right now! -.

- Sorry to disappoint you. Don´t worry, I just came to say hello. It´s not the time to stay.- I could not resist putting my hand on her thin neck, paralyzing her from fear.- Are you afraid? Why? It's not like I have a grudge against you for what happened last season. On the contrary, I hope we can spend a good quality time together, like just now.- I joked.-

- What ... what do you mean? -. she asked, her emotions were between scared and angry.-

- Zoey, you heard Mike. His nightmares are my home. I really I disappeared for a while, but now have returned. Want to know how? -. I approached her ear and whispered.- Because Mike brought me back.-

- That can´t be true. Why would he do that? -.

- He needs me. He needs us all. There are so many things that he hasn´t told you. And there is no therapy to cure that, not even you can. I will remain alive even until all the others have disappeared. Mike cannot stand pain, directed at him or directed at anyone he loves. You think he can bear to see what I think to do with you? -.

I admit I was a little surprised when she bit my hand. I took two steps back and saw her, growling like a tiger. She was brave. I rubbed my injured hand and smiled patiently without resentment.

- Is this how our relationship is going to be from now on? Well, that would make it more interesting. I like this kind of Zoey.-

- I don´t care what you like. I'll get Mike back. He is stronger than you are.-

- We'll have to confirm your obvious mistake ... any other time.- I touched my bottom lip and looked at her with the obvious intention of reminding her what had just happened.- I have to warn Mike that you could bit his lip.-

There came her anger. Zoey knew that, when it was about me, she had Mike´s "permission" to hurt our body to a certain level, and her fury drove a fist into my stomach. Honoring the truth, it could have hurt a little, except that I went back inside Mike´s mind a second before the impact, leaving him to take the blow. Everything was in chaos inside, with everyone else looking for me like crazy. I hid in the deepest subconscious of Mike, in one of those confines only I knew where they could never find me. Soon it would be time to come out again.

- Arghhh! -. Mike shouted when Zoey hit him in the stomach.-

- What?! Mike!? -.

The boy, kneeling on the floor, was fighting the pain and looked doubtfully at her.

- Did I do something wrong? He asked with innocence.- I swore that everything was going on fine.-

- Mike! -.

Zoey knelt beside him and hugged him with powerful insistence, so much that it scared him. What had just happened? She held him in her arms, not knowing quite what to do. She had no idea how to help him or how to fight against something that lived within him.

- Mike, I just spoke with Mal.-

His worst fears were confirmed. Immediately he concatenated ideas and understood why she had hit him.

- Zoey, then ... -.

- Mike, I forgive you. I just want to say, before you ask something more, that I was never really angry at you, I was just hurt. I know you wanted to find your other personalities because I didn´t believe you when you told me it had been Vito and not you who told me all those horrible things…-.

- That's what I tried to tell you! I would never try to drove you away!-.

- But Vito was right about something, same as Mal.- She admitted painfully.- There are many things that I don´t know about you, and now I understand that we cannot solve this, before it becomes worse, unless you start talking about your past.-

- Wait, Zoey, are you talking about ...? -.

- Mike, you must. You must tell me why you got locked at the juvie.- Zoey's tone left no room for doubts.-

They remained silent for a few seconds, but soon heard the footsteps of the Chef, who was confirming that everyone was in their huts.

- Who's there?-. He shouted with imposing character, pointing his flashlight in various directions, searching.-

- We can´t stay here any longer.- Zoey said.- We´ll talk about this later. I'm on your side, Mike.- She stared earnestly at him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.- Sorry I doubted before. Mike, I promise I´ll help you.-

She entered her hut and Mike ran to his, avoiding Chef. His head was killing him. A painful migraine ran through his entire body, and when he finally managed to lie on his bed, he realized that there was no turning back. He would never have imagined that things would reach the point where Mal would come back again. And he knew that Zoey was right. But ... What wouldn´t he have given to avoid having to dig up those memories ?!

- There was no one outside, Chris.- Chef said, entering the control room.-

- That's what you think, Chef.- Chris said, contemplating some interesting recordings from a couple minutes ago.- This season may not be so boring after all. We even have a dramatic kiss already! -. He laughed, entertained.-

Seeing the recording, the Chef's eyes widened.

- That crazy sick boy again? -.

- Oh, yes, and we will be sure to force him out. Let's get the big guns! -.

For himself, the Chef thought that neither crazy he would approach Mike within two meters, who now was struggling to sleep after the crazy events that had just occurred. He could only think of what Mal could be plotting, and what he had done a few minutes ago to Zoey. He wasn´t going to forgive him, that was going too far! This time he would give Mal the punishment he deserved. Battling his own thoughts, he finally fell asleep.

None of the other personalities, however, managed to sleep that night. The fear of what was coming exceeded tiredness and fatigue, as they began their persecution of finding Mal.

- Tomorrow we will have a great episode! -. Chris said, before turning off the central computer.-

TO BE CONTINUED…

So… tell me what you thought about this little extra