Jackie didn't know what the hell happened but he was confused.

He had been out with Sean, JJ and Chase when he got a message that a building was on fire. He was prepared to rush in until he saw it was just the basement of Henrik's practice and both him and Anti were just standing outside of the building waiting on him. They even looked content!

Why!?

He didn't get it but they seemed fine. More than fine, really.

He messaged Sean to tell him they were all on their way home. One thing was certain, though, Henrik had a lot of explaining to do.

'I wonder what happened. They better not lie or stretch the truth, I fucking swear. . . . .  I bet it was insurance money. Henrik was probably doing weird things he's not supposed to again. I don't know. This better not be a repeat of that one nuclear experiment he tried to do a few years back.'

As Henrik pulled in the driveway, Jackie pulled up on the side of the road. It seemed the others just got back as well and were waiting inside, just as curious.

'Well let's hear it. Let's see what mess he tried to get into this time'

-88888888888888888888888888888888888-

They were in the cabin. It was a blizzard outside and dark and cold. Damien looked to be dressed in warm winter clothing and had bits of frost stuck to his scruff still from the outside. 

Dark stared at the man before him, "Wh-what? What do you mean by that?"

Damien stared at him blankly but his eyes were filled with sorrow, "I told you. I told you not to trust her."

"I don't understand, though . . . .w-why. . . I don't understand any of this"

Damien took a deep breathe and motioned for Dark to sit down, "I'll explain. Although we probably don't have much time. I won't be able to repeat myself so ears open."

Dark nodded and sat down on the bed and watched as Damien took chopped wood and placed it into the fire. As if by some weird magic, a fire lit in the fireplace, starting to burn the wood. Damien then came up to sit beside Dark but stared into the fire.

"It's no longer Celine pulling the strings."

Dark was even more confused, "I'm sorry?"

"The . . . .thing that's been in your head. You may think it's her but it's not. It has the same voice and same 'look' but . . . . Celine was gone the moment you were born."

"Can you explain further? If it's not Celine then who is it? Why do they want to kill Actor and constantly lie to me about feelings things. That part can't be a lie though! Every time I get emotional or whatever, the auras in me freak out!"

Damien gave him a look as if he were stupid, "You may not have been born yesterday but you sure sound like it. Geez, you're more like me than I thought" he gave a weak chuckle.

Dark felt the urge to argue but thought better of it. He didn't want to give Damien even more of a reason to call him a child. He waited for Damien to go on.

"Just as gullible as I used to be. . . . You were always able to express your emotions freely, Dark. It's the void that wanted you to think otherwise. Every time it felt you were straying from its agenda, it'd lash out to try and hurt those close to you. It's me that prevented that from happening. While you think both your auras were lashing out, it's been 'Celine' and I fighting in the environment around you. I'm afraid, now though, there's nothing more that I can do now that it's taken full control, forcing you in here."

Dark felt as if something cold slid down his back. All this time. . . his whole existence, he was being tricked the whole time.

He took a breathe, thinking about Damien's words, "What does it want?"

"Think of it like a virus. This being is the void itself taken shape. The void is pure nothing that feeds off of others suffering and fears. Probably quite similar to hell. And what does a virus want, Dark?"

He let that sink in, "Control. But it's going after one specific person. Surely it's not that bad? Then once it gets what it wants-"

"Once it gets what it wants it will continue to grow and feed more and more off of the suffering around it. The only reason this thing is after Mark is because it was Celine's inherent vengeance mission. She wanted to take out Actor and that's who the void thinks it's going after. After that. . .. anybody's fair game"

"Shit" Dark swallowed, "That means. . . .the other Ipliers are in danger."

"Not only the Ipliers, I'm afraid. It seems the void has taken an interest to another set of egos, too."

"The Septics?"

Damien nodded, "I believe it took quite the shine to Anti a long time ago. Quite recently, too, actually. He was stuck here for a long time until his magician friend got him out. I saw the whole thing from the window."

"The window?" Dark looked over at the glass pane covered in light frost but only saw the blizzard outside.

Damien smiled at him, "I've been here for so long. . .I can see beyond it all. The only reason my soul hasn't completely disappeared is because of Celine. It was her last wish I suppose. She could never let me take the burden. . . . although I wish she had. She would have been able to stop this all . . . "

It fell silent between them for a few moments and Dark felt the urge to show affection. He didn't know why. He was never that sort of person. 

But as he went to lightly touch Damien's shoulder, he was floored to see his hand go straight through him!

Damien smiled sadly, "Thank you for trying but. . . . I'm afraid having been here for so long has made me dissociated with reality. I'm no longer a corporeal being. Truth is, your not too far behind, either Dark. Anti was close, too. You don't have much longer and then the void will have your corporeal body forever. You'll never be able to take back control no matter how much stronger you get."

There was nothing Dark could really say to that. He was at a loss. His shoulders sagged but he was deep in thought, "There has to be something we can do. I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. You can't be, either."

Damien got up from the bed and walked over to the fireplace again. On top of it were a few pictures. One being of him and Celine before this whole mess happened. It was a parting gift from her so he'd have memories at least when she was gone. Dark could tell Damien was a little lost in memories at the moment but he didn't have the time to sit and wait. If what he said was true then he had to think of a way out NOW.

"You said the void took a shine to Anti. Why is that?"

Damien still stared at the picture but hummed, "He's special. You were created out of the void itself and thus that is how you were able to travel in and out of it before as long as 'Celine' could steer you away from me. You should be the only person to be able to travel in and out of the void because you are a part of it. Anti, however, is NOT a part of the void. Even though all egos were created from within the nothing, the void had nothing to do with others creation. It's fascinating, though, that Anti can travel through the void as well with his abilities. The void doesn't like this. It feels threatened."

"That's why it wanted Anti in the beginning. It wanted it on its side to use him."

"Then you started becoming friends. He started to become corporeal and feel emotions and it made you start to feel more freely in turn. You were straying off of its agenda"

"That's why it did what it did at the party. I didn't want to do it"

"And I'm proud of you for it, Dark. I really am." Damien smiled at him, "You tried to get out of the situation and even though you let the void take control, you were not the one to pull the trigger. There are other ways that day could have gone. . ..  but at least you made ONE good call for yourself. Even if it ended whatever kind of friendship you had with Anti."

It was Dark's turn to stare blankly into the fire. Had he really had a friend in Anti? Maybe he did. But it was too late now to even think about it. He used him too many times. Took him for granted and hurt him to the point of no return.

Dark sighed, "Even still . . . . if I can't get out of here alone. . . there's still one more person who could help. I think he knows. He can sense bullshit a mile away, that man"

Damien smiled in remembrance, "Ah yes. I remember old Wil. Never took shit from anyone. I miss him. He seems to like you more than the other Ipliers, too, which is good"

Dark snorted, but smiled sadly, "Yeah. . . .but yet another brother I took for granted"

A low rumble suddenly sounded outside the cabin. Dark stood up cautiously at the sound and Damien looked concerned as well.

"It knows now, I think. Took it a while but I suppose even it can't be two places at once"

"But wait" Dark bit his lip, "'Celine' said that I would see you here. Before it sent me here, it even mockingly told me to tell you hello! Why would it. . . is it freaking bipolar or something?"

Damien hummed but smiled, taking hold of the picture once more, "I guess there's still a little bit of Celine in there, after all. But not enough, I'm afraid. I'm sorry, Dark. Our time together has come to an end."

A squeaking noise could be heard and they both looked over at the window. A message was being written on it. Dark read it out loud, "You've gone against me for the last time. If you won't accept the inevitable, then you can stay in darkness forever. Wait, what's that mean? Damien? Damien what's that me-"

Suddenly he was gone, leaving Damien alone in the cabin once more.

Damien sighed and went over to sit on the bed, "It was good to have company while it lasted. . . .let's just hope Wil really does come through like you were hoping, Dark. I can still hope. I think I can. . . .I think I can"

-888888888888888888888888888888888888-

Anti and Henrik sat together on one of the dining room table. To anyone else, it'd look like they were two children about to be scolded as the other egos waited patiently for them to explain themselves.

"Well?" Sean sighed with his arms crossed, "Want to tell me why your office blew up, Hen? Why the fire department reported seeing very a strange Star-gate portal in your basement that Jackie helpfully deterred as expensive scanning machinery?"

Henrik bit his lip, "I mean not particularly. Wasn't the best planning on my end. And it wasn't the whole office that blew up. Just the basement"

Anti groaned, "You could have just broken everything down or whatever instead of starting a d̷a̷m̴n̴ ̸f̶i̷r̵e̶. Without telling me, might I add."̶

"Yes but I also would prefer to burn all of the evidence"

"True, I guess"

"WHAT EVIDENCE!?" Jackie couldn't keep it in, his eye twitching.

"̴E̸x̶a̵c̶t̶l̴y̷"̶ Anti winked, "It's not important. What's done is done. Can't we just leave it?"

Chase narrowed his eyes, "Now hold up. I know that deterring tone anywhere. You have something big to hide, don't ya, Anti?"

"Besides" Sean rolled his eyes, "Pretty sure that's now how insurance works, Henrik. Just tell us the truth, already"

"Or do I have to butt in and make you guys?" Marvin smirked.

Anti kept his mouth shut, clearly not afraid of the magician but Henrik gave in, "Fine, fine. Twas less of an experiment and more of a mission, I suppose. . . On my part. . . Anti didn't want anything to do with it. He didn't even really know about it until we were in zhe basement"

Anti still kept his mouth shut, intent on letting Schneep tell the story, hoping he would keep out the emotional tid-bits.

Sean raised his brow to motion for him to continue.

Henrik and sighed and looked over at Anti before going on, "For zhe last few years. . . . I've been trying to get Olivia back"

The whole room was just silent.

Henrik grunted, "I . . I thought zhat I could bring her back. I thought. . .She was in zhe void. So I made a portal to it. But I knew I couldn't go in alone. . . ."

"No." Chase glared at Henrik, "You didn't"

"I'm not proud of it" The doctor supplied, "But yes, I tried to make Anti go in with me. Of course he refused and I got angry. I ran in on my own. Then I saw truly vhat the void really was. Olivia wasn't in there. She's gone. Anti came in after me. He saved me"

"̶O̵k̵a̸y̸ ̷n̵o̸w,̸ ̴h̶o̷l̷d̵ ̸o̴n̴ there a second" Anti didn't like that phrase, "I . . . .̵t̶h̸a̸t̵'̷s̴ ̵n̴o̵t̸. . .I couldn't just leave you in there"

"So you saved him" Jackie smiled softly.

Anti snarled a little, "It. . .well you guys don't know what it's like it there! All your worst memories and fears come to life and go on loop and never end! I couldn't just. . . .l̷e̵a̷v̶e̴ ̶h̴i̷m̷ ̸t̴h̸e̶r̶e̸.̶"̴

Henrik gently placed his hand on his shoulder, "Anti, it is alright. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm very grateful to you, my friend"

"Yeah, I mean it's not like it's the first time you saved a life" Marvin butt in and Anti glared at him.

Chase narrowed his eyes, seeing the tension, "Okay that's not the first time Marvin's mentioned something like that and you've gone all defensive-looking, Anti. What's he talking about?"

"Yeah" Sean was curious, himself, "I mean if it involves you saving someone, that's good. Does it have something to do with the little girl you saved the other day? Jackie told me about that. Good job. I'm proud of you"

Anti made a strangled noise, "̷F̷o̴r̶ ̸t̸h̶e̶ ̵l̵o̴v̷e̴ ̶o̴f̴ fooking--!̵ ̵Just please stop it! I don't want to t̸a̸l̸k̶ ̷a̴b̶o̷u̶t̵ ̷i̵t̸!̶ ̸ I'm not a hero! It's not i̷m̷p̸o̸r̶t̵a̶n̷t̷!̴"̸

"Just because it happened a few years ago doesn't mean it's still not relevant, Anti." Marvin brought up and Anti growled at him.

"̵Y̵o̵u̷ ̸c̸a̸n̶ ̷j̴u̸s̶t̷ ̴s̴h̵u̵t̸ ̶u̶p̶,̵ ̶M̸a̵r̵v̶!̶ Why can't you just mind yer own damn business!? What if I don't w̶a̶n̴t̴ to talk about it!? What if I just want to f̷o̷r̸g̴e̶t̶ ̷about the whole damn thing!? All it is is p̷a̵i̸n for me, can't you see that!? I  . . ̷I̴ ̵t̴h̵o̷u̶g̴h̴t̷ ̴h̵e̸ ̷w̴a̸s̴ . . . . It's my secret to keep. I've kept it for this long. . ."

'Secret?' Jameson signed, 'A few years ago . . . Does this have anything to do with what happened at the party by chance?'

"Oh yeah!" Jackie piped up, "It's a good thing you were there when you were. Who knows what would have. . . ." he stopped and put the dots together, "Oh . . . .something else happened that day we don't know about .. . didn't it?"

Henrik pushed up his glasses on his nose and put a hand on Anti's shoulder, "Anti. . . . I saw something in zhe void before you got us out. The party. It's a bad memory for you, obviously. But it is also important. Perhaps you NEED to talk about it."

"It has something to do with Dark, doesn't it?" Sean licked his lips and finally sat down across from Anti, "You're keeping a secret for him. . . . . Anti . . .Dark has nothing to do with you anymore. You are not his vault. Tell us what really happened that day. If it involves us then we should get to know, too. Please, Anti?"

The glitch shook a little and the lights flickered a tad but Anti took a breathe and glared at Marvin, "̴I̸ ̵f̸o̴o̴k̶i̶n̶g̵ ̷h̸a̶t̵e̵ ̸y̷o̶u̵ ̸s̶o̴m̷e̵t̸i̵m̴e̵s̵"̷

Marvin merely stood there with his arms crossed as if he knew something even Anti didn't, "You can't keep it in forever. This will help you, too, you know. It'll take a load off of you, I promise. Plus I've only seen snippets. I don't know exactly everything that happened and the suspense is killing me"

"̶R̵o̴t̷t̸e̷n̴ ̴m̷a̴g̵i̴c̷ ̴b̴a̵s̸t̴a̸r̵d̶"̷

Chase sat on the other side next to Anti which was actually sort of convenient. Anti didn't like it too much but let it be. 

"̷F̶i̴n̷e̴.̴.̶ ̶.̵ ̸.̷ ̶.̶" Anti sighed, "You really want to know that badly?"

The room was silent but the answer was a clear most definite 'yes'

Anti spoke blankly as he started the story, remembering what happened all too clearly. His mind could no longer block it out and the void had tarnished his inability to.

"It wasn't just a random chance that I was there in time . . . . "

Alright! Now I'm gonna ask this: Does any one have any questions about what the hell is going on? I try my best to make things clear but sometimes my explanations get convoluted or too complicated. If you have a question, please let me know and I will answer the best way I can without giving away any spoilers. 

Also feel free to keep theorizing :) There's still a lot of mysteries about that have gone untouched and this story is far from over. . . .