"What!? Save him!?" Sean glowered, "Why!? He just-"

"That wasn't him" Anti stopped him, "In fact, whatever has control over Dark's body isn't even C̷e̷l̷i̶n̵e̴.̴"̸

Wilford looked to be deep in thought but offered no words in light of the situation. He just stared at Dark's limp body on the floor.

Marvin coughed, clearing his throat, "Well we better figure out what we're doing now before that thing wakes back up. It's stronger than I thought" he was still cradling his bleeding shoulder, wincing every time Henrik tried to check it.

Mark crossed his arms with Amy at his side. He felt very conflicted. He never felt quite safe around Dark, always worried he'd snap on him and just end him no matter how many people were around. But now . . . . To have learned that something had just been controlling him all this time, telling him what was best. . .  Mark just felt downright awful. He should have been there more for him. He should have been able to help him.

'What exactly did you see in the void to want to help him so bad, Anti?' Jameson asked.

Anti swallowed but sighed heavily, "̶A̴ ̵l̴o̷t̸.̶ I saw a lot. His memories . . . . I don't know why. Usually the void is supposed to project your own but for some reason-"

"Must have been when we knocked him out" Wilford piped up, "No longer having control, the beast couldn't taunt you."

Marvin nodded, "Instead, it projected on the only other person who was there. Dark."

"Did you see him in there?" Mark bit his lip, "Dark, I mean? Is he okay?"

"No" the glitch narrowed his eyes, "Of course he's not f̷o̴o̴k̶i̷n̸g̵ okay, F̸i̴s̵c̸h̸b̵a̷c̴h̸! He's been manipulated all his fooking life by a fooking . . w̴h̶a̴t̵e̸v̴e̸r̵ ̴t̷h̵a̵t̷ ̴t̶h̷i̸n̸g̷ ̷i̵s̷!̷ That thing has been making him do things he never wanted to do."

"Including getting you into trouble?" said Henrik, "I am sorry, Anti, but Dark has to have some amount of accountability for himself. It's not all the void or Celine's doing"

Wilford sighed, "I wanna say you're wrong but I guess you're right, doc. But we can't just leave him like this. Dark isn't just the villain in my book"

Mark ran a hand through his hair in contemplation but Amy was the first to speak up, "What do we need to do, Wilford? You know more about the void then we do. Got any ideas?"

The pink-mustached man gave a small smile, "Why of course I do! But I suppose we better hurry unless Markipoo's got any objections?"

They all looked to Mark for the approval. They knew that if he really wanted, Mark could end Dark and they'd be rid of this whole nightmare in a snap. But did he really want that?

Mark nodded, "Alright. What do we need to do, Warfstache?"

"Well first I'd say we need to tie up the lug so they can't get away or fight back as easily. Then someone needs to go in the void and get Dark."

Everyone waited for Wil to say more. . .. only he didn't.

"That's I̴T̴!̶?̴"̷ Anti shouted at him, "I was T̷H̴I̷S̷ fooking close to getting to him when you fookers pulled me out! I could have d̷o̶n̶e̵ it!"

"Wrong"

"What?"

Wil strut over to Anti and poked him in the chest, "You may have been in the void for a bit but not nearly enough to know the full extent of what the void IS. There's a reason not even I will go in there! You may have thought you were closer but you couldn't have been more farther away. Not only that but you are unaware of the risks. You need to be fast"

Sean blinked in confusion, "What are you saying?"

Wilford sat in Mark's office chair with one leg over the other, his hand holding his chin in thought. Wil rarely looked like this but it only meant he was serious which frightened them all.

"The longer someone stays in the void. . . . the more it takes from them. If you stay in the void for long enough . . . . your physical form will be taken from you and you will never be able to escape. I've been in the void far too much in a collective span of time therefore I cannot go myself. Otherwise, I would . . . . No use going only to get stuck, myself." he gave a weak chuckle.

There was a hushed silence over the group until Jackie spoke up, "How long does it take?"

Wilford shrugged, "Collectively, probably around two days or so. Which is why I'm concerned for Dark. He doesn't have much time left. He might have a tad more time since his being was 'created' from the void but it won't matter all that much. So who's it gonna be!? Not it!" he tapped his nose to signify he wouldn't be 'it'.

"I'll go" two voices said at once.

Both Jackie and Anti stared at each other.

"No." Jackie growled at him, "No fooking way am I letting go into that death trap again, Anti."

"Jackie, you don't understand-"

"What don't I understand!? You've been in the void for a LOT longer than we have. I haven't been in there which means-"

"Which means you won't be able to tell the difference between what is real or f̷a̴k̶e̸!̸ The void will d̸e̷s̷t̷r̷o̷y̸ you!"

"All the more reason I'm not letting you go in there!"

"Well we have another problem, guys" Marvin spoke out, still getting treated by Henrik, "I'll only be able to send one person in. Once. I won't be able to get whoever goes in out. Depending on whether or not this thing wakes up, Anti's powers to be able to leave will be compromised."

"Like I said." Jackie stated, "I'll go."

"You're f̶o̵o̵k̵i̷n̶g̴ ̷s̸t̵u̴p̸i̴d̴ if you think you can last in there AND find Dark AND get both yourselves out!" Anti was getting furious. 

Why did Jackie ALWAYS have to be the hero!?

Why did Jackie ALWAYS have to be the one to rush in knowing of the consequences?

"I agree with Anti on zhis one, I'm afraid." Henrik pat Marvin's shoulder lightly, "I'm sorry, Jackie but he's the only one that can go"

'I agree!' Jameson grinned, 'I believe Anti can do it!'

Chase, having been quiet this whole time, looked between Jackie and Anti. He didn't know what to think. Normally this wouldn't be an argument. Why was Anti so adamant about this?

 "No!" Jackie shouted, losing his temper, "NO. Anti's been in the void for too long. He has a higher risk of fading out than I do."

"But he also has a higher risk of finding Dark than you do, Jackie" Chase crossed his arms and stared into Anti's eyes. Determination looked into concerned. 

Chase didn't like it anymore than Jackie but he didn't see any other way, either, "You guys are connected more so than anyone else here besides Wilford. You know the void better than anyone else here and how to avoid its traps. You have a power unique to yourself that none of us have to glitch in and out of physical reality at will and that will help you as long as this thing stays unconscious. And you know where Dark is. I think you got this, bro. If yer fast about it"

Anti was surprised at Chase's support but took it nonetheless as he continued, "I agree with Anti's decision. But we need to act quick and have a back-up plan in case he doesn't get to Dark in time before it wakes up"

There was a moment of silence before Henrik shouted, "The portal! Zhe portal I made! We could use it to get you back!"

Anti narrowed his eyes at him, "Henrik, you blew up the portal along with everything in your basement office"

"Hey!" he said in a scolding tone, "I made that damn thing from scratch and I can do it again! I do not need notes, chicken-scratch or zhe 'proper equipment' to make that damned thing again! Now you get to going so I can make it!"

 It slightly concerned the others that he said 'proper equipment' in air quotes but no one was going to argue with him.

Suddenly Anti's blood was pumping faster. This was really happening. He asked for this and now the others agreed. Was he ready? He just got out of the void. Barely made it out the last few times alive. And now he was just going to willing jump in to save a man that might hate him? He didn't know for sure. So why was he risking it!?

Were they just letting him go because-

But after everything, they wouldn't just-

Right?

Nothing made sense! He was so confused and scared and-

"Anti" 

He looked over to see Sean with his hand on his shoulder, "Are you absolutely SURE you want to do this? You don't have to."

Something changed in that moment. Anti looked around at the others. There was a similar look in all of their eyes Anti couldn't remember seeing before all at once.

Concern. 

For him?

Marvin walked up to him after him and Jackie had finished tying Dark's body up in Mark's office chair. The magician never looked so worried. Usually he knew what was coming from a mile away. Either he knew what would happen or he didn't and Anti couldn't decide which was a worse thought.

"You can still back out" Jackie piped up, voice slightly cracking. He'd admit he was proud of Anti but he didn't want him to take this risk. It was too much.

"̵N̸o̴"̷ ̵The words just left his mouth without any real thought. Anti swallowed, his mouth going dry, his anxiety burning within his stomach, "I need to do this."

"Now listen, bro" Chase bit his lip, "You have nothing to prove. We all want you to realize that. AND I want you to remember all the shit Dark's put you through. You don't owe him anything"

Anti's eyes hardened, "Chase. . . you couldn't be more wrong. I understand you're just trying to make me feel better but . . . I actually owe him more than you all realize. There's a lot that you don't know"

Sean let go of his shoulder and crossed his own arms, "Still. You don't have anything to prove. Jackie could still just go in and when Henrik gets the machine done-"

"Just let me do it, Anti" Jackie pleaded one last time.

Mark, Amy and Wilford stayed silent, watching the Septic egos bicker among themselves.

Mark felt awful but he still wanted Dark back. Whatever this thing was that had a hold of him had been corrupting the man for most of his life. And now he had to know whether or not Dark was really that person or someone completely different. Was he worth saving as much as Anti thought?

"Marvin, send me to the void" Anti made up his mind.

If there was a chance he could see the REAL Dark again, he'd take it. He had to know.

They all stood around dumbfounded still that Anti was making this decision after just recovering. It really hadn't been that long since Sean and Marvin trapped him in the void for nearly half a day.

"Better hurry" Wilford eyed Dark's body, "No telling when it'll wake"

Marvin took a deep breathe and cast the spell slowly, giving Anti enough leeway in case he wanted to back out. But he wouldn't.

Jackie hated this. He hated every millisecond of it, "Why are you doing this!? You don't have to! I'M the hero here! If anyone should have to go through it all, it's ME, not you, Anti! You don't deserve to go through all the pain again!"

Sparks snapped off of Anti. He was starting to get irritated. Why couldn't they just let him go? It wasn't that long ago they'd all watch this gladly happen.

But that only meant now that they all really cared about him and he just smiled at that thought.

"It's okay, Jackie. You shouldn't have to be the hero all the time. In fact, sometimes, you have to be your O̶W̴N̸ hero, not to sound cheesy or anything. I'll see you later after I save Dark. Don't worry, you can kick my ass later"

Anti nodded to Marvin and the magician sent him off.

He was gone. Just like that. There was no going back now.

Everyone stood stunned at what just happened. Jackie and Chase looked ready to cry but kept it in. Sean looked damn proud albeit scared out of his mind.

A lot had happened since Anti's ordeal in the void. He had changed a great deal for the better, opened up more to the others. His attitude had gotten more positive even if he himself didn't even realize it.

He wasn't the bad guy he always thought himself to be and just now he was starting to see that for himself.

Sean couldn't be more proud of his ego.

"Well damn, I didn't think that'd happen!" Wilford laughed loudly, "Scout's got some bollocks on him, don't he!?"

Mark was broken out of his musings, still surprised the glitch just did what he did. He never would have thought the same person who nearly destroyed his entire career would risk his life to save the man who manipulating him into doing so.

Amy cleared her throat next to him, "Now what?"

Henrik shuffled, "Mr. Fischbach, if you vill, I need a few things from you to help build another portal! We will need to hurry as well! It'll take some time but we best hurry!"

'Onward lads! Let's not disappoint Anti!' Jameson signed, 'Let's rush so we'll be ready to aid!'

Jackie still looked lost but nodded, determined to at least make sure Anti would make it back home if he failed.

Sean saw the look in the hero's eyes and wanted to comfort him, knowing him and Anti and Chase had been close these last few weeks, "Jackie, listen. I know you're worried and pissed off about Anti going bu-"

"I'm not" Jackie smiled a crack, "I'm proud of him. Little bastard really would make a fine hero one day, wouldn't he?"

Chase snorted, "More like a vigilante in a gray zone. But yeah, sure, let's go with that." 

The group shared a light chuckle and set to work. These next few hours would be either life or death.

-888888888888888888888888888-

Anti opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness, 'Why is it I'm already getting used to his fooking place? No wonder Dark's out of his goddamn mind'

He started to walk. He tried to listen carefully past the ringing. He needed to see if he could hear the voices again that guided him to Dark. He didn't have very long.

There was no telling how long that thing would stay out of it. If it really was. 

He thought about the frozen lake. The harsh cold and the cabin. The forest that enveloped the land. Anti took a breathe and tried glitching to where he was thinking.

Opening his eyes, he grit his teeth, 'Damn. Guess that won't work. I'll have to figure out a different way.'

Anti closed his eyes to try again when  a deep voice growled and echoed around him.

"I didn't think you were going to show up"