Dark couldn't shake that something was wrong.

Nothing seemed out of place or out of the ordinary but he . . . he just had a strange feeling. It was mid-November and soon to be Thanksgiving in the Iplier Ego household and Mark and Dark had discussed about having a Friendsgiving at Raspy Hill so they'd all just have one big holiday together with Mark's friends AND his egos.

Dark was happy to have it there but he was also a bit worried about what trouble would ensue. 

That and this strange feeling he just couldn't get away from.

The feeling was familiar and yet. . . . odd. He couldn't place it. To get his mind off of it, he started doing pointless tasks and hobbies to keep himself busy. Taking Mark's advice and taking a breather once and a while away from paperwork, Dark would either take a walk, play with a puzzle, or even visit Mark at his place and spend time around him and his pups.

He was laying on Mark's couch playing with a Rubik's cube when he had that feeling again and it sent a shudder through him, making him anxious. Mark felt his aura spasm from in the kitchen, "Hey, you okay, Dark?"

Dark sat up looking confused, "I . . . I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right. Been having this feeling off and on lately. I can't explain it"

Mark hummed, "Hm. Are you sick?"

He shook his head, "Not that kind of feeling. It's like when you feel that something's coming. I don't know."

Dark solved the cube and sighed, placing it on Mark's coffee table, "I've felt it before a long time ago but. . . I cant place it"

Mark looked worried, "Well maybe your brain is just pulling tricks on you. Happens to me sometimes. Just worry about the present. If something does come up then you have full rights to tell me 'I told you so'. Now get in here and help me with this while you're here"

Dark stood up and walked to him, "Help you with what?"

Mark was trying to set up a new camera but was having a bit of trouble, "Tyler and Ethan are going to be coming over tomorrow but my camera guy, Amy AND Kathryn are gonna be busy so I got this new system to help us out. There are two cameras that will record together and it's supposed to follow your movements. I don't know how exactly it's gonna work but it's worth a shot."

"Mark I don't think I'm much help here, though. This is more of Google or Bing's thing. Electronics and I don't get along."

Mark sighed, "Oh yeah. Forgot you're not a techy guy. Sorry. But could you at least help me check the focus? I'm going to go in front of the counter. Can you just tell me how fast it focuses in and out when I move? If it looks good?"

Dark shrugged, "Sure."

Mark took his place in front of the counter and started to act out a video, "Hey guys, my name is Markiplier and today we'll be doing blah blah blah. Over there is the bluh!" he made a silly motion towards something and the camera had to focus. 

Dark watched carefully in the camera's screen. He blinked and he swore he saw someone beside Mark! Dark looked up suddenly but it was just him talking normally.

"We're gonna have Ethan, Tyler and of course ME!" Dark rolled his eyes and looked back at the camera to see the other person still there on the screen. Dark flinched when he realized who it was but when he blinked, he was gone.

Dark cringed away from the camera and Mark suddenly stopped talking, "Dark? Hey what's wrong, man? I know I'm cringey but-"

Dark swallowed, deep in thought before looking back up at Mark, "Mark. . . . how long has it been since you've seen the Actor?"

Mark furrowed his brow, "Not since you appeared. Why?"

Dark bit his lip and sighed, "I don't know. I'm not sure. Maybe I'm just worrying myself over nothing and it's making me see things."

"You sure? What did you see?"

He nodded, "I'm fine. It couldn't have been him. I mean why would he appear now all of a sudden? It makes no sense"

"You and I both know that the Actor never made any sense. What did you see, Dark?"

He scratched the back of his head, "I saw him for a second on the camera screen next to you. He was grinning like a fucking Cheshire cat. But like I said-"

"But Like I said" Mark stopped him, "Look . . .  if you see anything more just let me know, alright? I trust you, Dark"

Dark nodded and Mark grunted, "So how was the focus?"

-8888888-

The next day the feeling was still there but not as strong. He just felt like he was being watched. Like everyone was being watched and that's what worried him. If the Actor wanted a fight, he would be wise not to go after his brothers or else face Dark's full wrath.

But like Mark said. The Actor never made much sense only to himself. He was narcissistic and so far up his own ass that the only thing that ever mattered to him was himself. He didn't care who he had to hurt along the way. He was the reason Damien was gone. The reason Celine was still in a deep rest.

He wasn't sure anymore if Celine would even EVER wake back up. And what would happen to her? Would she be apart of him or escape the void into a body of her own? 

Dark didn't know for sure but no was going to hurt his family.

It was night. Somewhere around midnight when the front door knocked. Dark could hear it from his room and since he had insomnia, of course he was already awake.

'Who could be here so late?'

Getting up groggily, he put on a shirt and sweatpants before opening up his door to go answer the front. But it appeared someone else had already answered it. There was silence and Dark was worried when he could hear Eric's voice, "D-dark!!"

Dark suddenly bolted down the stairs to the front. Apparently the others heard his shout, too and started getting up. When Dark came down he stilled when he saw who was at the door. Eric shuffled nervously to the side and Dark stood in front of him protectively. He shook in rage, "What are you doing here?"

The man chuckled lightly, "Damien, old friend. It's been a while." he coughed a little blood, "But I guess you don't go by that name anymore, do you?"

WIlford trotted in suddenly, "Dark, who's at the door? Why'd Eric-boy shout?" he suddenly stopped, just as shocked as Dark, "You"

Everyone came down and was surprised that even Wilford held anger in his eyes. Pure rage. Of course the only ones who knew this man was Dark, Wil and Mark. Everyone else had come after his disappearance.

Dark growled and shook in anger, "Actor. I knew I fucking saw you yesterday."

The Actor was at the front door leaning on the side of the door frame. He looked beaten and exhausted but Dark wouldn't be fooled, "Why are you here?"

Actor chuckled a little blood leaving his mouth as he clutched his arm in pain, "Always to the point, eh, Damien?"

"I'm not Damien. My name is Dark and you'll address me as so. Answer me!" he barked.

Wilford pointed his gun at him, "You heard the man!"

"AW Wil my old friend!" Actor smiled, "You see, I need sanctuary. I'm in a bit of a pickle, really. I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't bad, you know."

Everyone was silent, mostly waiting to hear what Dark and Wil would say or do. Dark growled, "Elaborate"

"Can I at least come in? I mean come on! Look at me, I'm bleeding out, here."

"And?" 

"And we're brothers, are we not? Someone's out to kill me! Are you just going to shove me out and let me die?"

WIlford cocked his gun, "Give us a reason not to kill you right here, scoundrel. You're the reason both Damien and Celine are gone! Dark, just give me the okay and I'll shoot him. I'll kill him right here. Please tell me to!"

Actor even looked worried and Dark was about to let him when Eric spoke up.

"S-shouldn't we call Mark about this? He's from his head, after all too right?"

The others started to agree and Dark closed his eyes, hating that he had to agree with him. With a sigh, Dark agreed for their sake. He didn't want to have them see one of their own, no matter how evil, get killed in front of them, "Google, call Mark now. Tell him it's an emergency. And that I told him so"

Wilford stared at Dark in shock, "But Dark! After all he's done!"

Dark turned and placed a hand on Wil's shoulder to whisper in his ear, "We'll let Mark decide. It's not up to us, Wil, no matter how much I want it to be. Think about the others. I don't want them to see it."

Reluctantly, Wil exhaled and slowly put his gun away.

"Doctor, check him over so he doesn't die right away. Wait until Mark comes and gives the okay to really patch him up and give him pain medication" Dr. Iplier cautiously came forward and led the ego into the living room couch. Actor sat with his arms over the back like he owned the place as the Doctor checked him over. Dark, meanwhile stood over him with his arms crossed purposefully radiating his dark aura intimidatingly making him slightly uncomfortable. 

King poked Wilford, "Who is that guy, Wil?"

The others listened carefully, never having seen Wil so serious and sane, "He was Mark's first ego. Originally he was called Actor Mark but we just grew to call him Actor to diffuse confusion."

Yandere piped up, "What did he do that you and Dark hate him so much?"

They all looked over again to see Dark's eyes had gone pitch black and his pupils turned red, red and blue light pulsating lightly from him as he tried to contain his rage at the man in front of him who had the nerve to smirk.

Wil swallowed, never having seen Dark so furious either, "Like I said earlier. He's the reason Damien and Celine are gone. Actor turned Damien into Dark to be his villain, wanting himself to be the hero of his own story. But I doubt he expected things to turn out how they did with Dark protecting us from him."

King, eating a spoon of peanut butter from the jar, nervously muttered, "He's really evil? What do you think Mark's gonna do with him?"

"The logical step is to terminate him" Google pointed out, "But knowing Mark he'd be too soft for that"

Wil grumbled, "My worries exactly. Should have kill him when I had the shot."

Meanwhile with the Actor, Dr. Iplier and Dark, the man in question chuckled softly, "I'm not going to hurt anyone, you know."

Dark didn't let up on his anger, "Why should I believe that? You killed your own ego-brother and hurt your ex-wife. My sister."

Yes, even thought the egos considered themselves brothers, they weren't actually related to each other being conjured from Mark's head. The strange anomaly had been Damien and Celine who were brother and sister and not being 'related', the Actor had married Celine but they split up, Celine leaving him for Wilford. Of course that relationship didn't last long either with Wil's escapades but they still remained friends. 

The Actor, however, harbored a deep hatred in his heart for all of them since.

Actor growled, "You're not Damien anymore. She's not your sister!"

Dark growled and his black aura shoved him into the couch harshly. 

"Hey be careful! I'm still here too, you know" Dr. Iplier muttered between them, "Although he's bleeding and battered pretty good, I can heal him once Mark gets here."

Dark ignored the Doctor, "You better watch your words, Actor." he uncrossed his arms, "Those wounds will be the least of your worries once I'm done with you if you continue to anger me"

Actor shuddered slightly, just a little worried but still kept a smirk, "You and I both know Mark won't terminate me."

Dark suddenly gripped his throat and lifted him off the couch and off the floor. Everyone watched in shock as Dark's fury was slowly being unleashed and the Actor flailed a little in his grasp, "Perhaps" Dark whispered to him, choking him, "But you do ANYTHING to hurt my brothers or anything with ill intent. . . And not even Mark will be able to save you from ME. Are we clear?"

Actor, turning purple nodded in affirmation but he didn't let him go. Suddenly Mark barged in, "I'm here! Guys what's happening!? Is anyone hurt!?"

They pointed over to Dark who was still choking Actor and Mark ran over to them, "Dark! Easy there, buddy, let him go. I want to hear what he has to say first"

Actor looked genuinely worried at Mark's words just then but Dark sighed and let him go, tossing him disgracefully onto the couch gasping for air.

Mark put a hand on Dark's shoulder, "Did he hurt anyone?"

"Not yet."

"Did you do this to him?"

He shook his head, "No. He came here like that. Wil was going to kill him but Eric suggested calling you first to make the decision."

"Maybe you should have let him."

"You're taking their side?! An evil monster and an insane murderer?" Actor looked appalled, "But Mark . . . I never meant to hurt anyone. Please. I need your help. I'm in deep. Please old friend?"

Mark glared at him but was conflicted, "What trouble are you in, Actor? What did you do?"

"Well you see, I owed these people a lot of money. I was trying to get a gig to pay it off but things didn't go according to plan really. Please, I'll do anything! Anything at all! Just I beg you please give me sanctuary from them"

Mark waved for Google and Bing to come over, "Google. Bing. Can you guys run a lie detector test on him please?"

Google and Bing did as asked and they asked him the questions again but the test was fine. He wasn't lying. Mark was even more conflicted now and looked to Dark for help whose eyes were still red with fury, "What do you think?"

Dark scoffed, "You KNOW what I think. But it's YOUR decision. Whatever you decide, I'll live with."

Mark nodded and groaned, "Fine. You can stay here for a while, Actor, but you're getting a job so you can get the money to pay off your debt yourself. And if you do anything to hurt anyone, I give Dark my full support to do anything to take you down until I get here to terminate you. Got it?"

Actor shuddered, not realizing the support Dark and Wilford had under them. Last he knew, everyone avoided Dark, afraid of him but now it seemed he had earned their trust fully. What had happened? It didn't matter though, right? Actor was telling the truth. The lie detector test said so. He had changed. Right?

He nodded, "Understood. Can I get healed now? Doctor? I'm in a great deal of pain, you know"

Mark nodded to the doctor who started patching him up. With hesitation, Dark let Mark lead him towards the others. Wilford huffed, "Should have let me kill him. How long is he staying?"

Mark shrugged, "I don't know. Until he gets enough money to pay the sharks. Do you think you can get him a job, Wil? The sooner he gets one, the sooner he can get out of here" he gave an incentive. Wil sighed but nodded, "Anything for you, friend."

"Good. And everyone. The moment you feel something wrong about him or feel uncomfortable, I want you to go to Dark. He's the only one who can contain him until I get here, alright?"

Dark felt proud to have so much support but he still felt anxious as everyone nodded hesitantly. If Actor did ANYTHING to any of them, he'd rip him limb from limb.

Host, having been quiet all this time spoke up with a smirk, "The Host wanted to let everyone know that Dark still had something he wanted to tell Mark."

Mark looked over to Dark and the ego smirked, knowing what the Host meant.

"Ah yes." Dark grinned, "I fucking told you so"

Mark snorted and shook his head, "Yeah, yeah. Don't rub it in too hard. Look if anyone does happen to feel uncomfortable at any time, just let either Dark or I know and any of you are welcome over at my place any time. Alright? Dark, do you want me to stay for a while to make sure, or?"

Dark shook his head, "Don't worry. I got this. You go home to Amy and get some sleep. It's only a little after midnight after all. Perhaps you could come back in the morning?"

He nodded, "Yeah, no problem. I trust you."

With that, Mark took off back home, leaving Dark in charge. Wilford nudged Dark and muttered to him, "Where's he going to stay?"

Dark hummed, "Hm. . .  The attic is probably good enough, don't you think?"

"Dirty and drafty. Just like him" Wilford chuckled.

Dr. Iplier came towards them, "Alright, I got him patched up. It shouldn't take long for him to heal. Perhaps a few days. I gave him some pain medication so he should sleep until morning."

Dark nodded, "Alright. Everyone else to bed. It's late. We'll talk more about the situation in the morning."

They nodded and slowly gathered themselves to scatter to their rooms. Eric was the last one sticking by Dark and Wil, "Sh-should I not have suggested we wait for Mark? I'm . . I'm sorry if I shouldn't have. It's just t-that-"

"It's okay, Eric." Dark patted his shoulder, "You made the right call. Besides, we wouldn't have been able to kill him anyways. Mark is the only one who can kill one of his own egos permanently."

"O-oh"

"Now off to bed with you, scamp" Wilford chuckled lightly and Eric nodded with a small smile.

"Night"

It was just Wil and Dark up now and Wil sighed, "Do you want me to stay up with you? I know you don't trust him enough to go to bed yourself, Dark."

"No it's fine, Wil. I couldn't sleep before anyways. You go on ahead. I'll watch him"

Wil patted his back softly before walking away to his room.

Dark quietly walked into the living room to see that Actor was indeed asleep. He snored lightly covered in bandages.

'I don't trust you' he thought, 'I don't care what that test said. There's nothing you can say that can convince me you've changed'

He clenched his fists as he sat in a chair  in front of him, 'You and I both know you're planning something and I'll be damned if I let you hurt any one else'

Dark watched him throughout the night, remembering flashes of Damien's memories. Especially those from in the void in the cabin. 

Actor had made him the villain. So be it.

He'd be his DEVIL.