It's time.

For about a month now, Mark had been planning a huge project for his YouTube channel. It was a "choose your own adventure" of sorts, with video after video in certain sequences. Of course, Dark knew all about this.

He had plans of his own now.

In the time between his meeting with Anti and the present, Dark had surveyed the green demon's progression with a critical eye. He had watched as Anti had gained power, and, in the end, had almost lost everything. Like me.

But that's a different story...

It's my turn now.

Mark was currently filming the horror play scene. "Good idea," he started. "I've never actually seen this play before. I don't even know who made it, so, could be a fun adventure!"

Yes, it could be, Dark thought smugly. Oh Mark, you have no idea what's in store for you.

Mark opened a door and stepped inside a theater hall. Slowly walking backwards and facing the camera, he made his way over to some seats, babbling all the while. Sitting down, he offered some popcorn to the camera. "Oh it's starting!" he suddenly yelled. The camera turned sharply towards the stage, then looked back at Mark.

He was nowhere to be seen. 

Facing the stage once more, the scene began to twist. It zoomed out, farther and farther. Images of the stage reappeared over again, like a kaleidoscope. A piercing, screaming noise grew louder and louder and louder-

Then everything stopped...

Or so it seemed.

"Did you miss me?" Dark asked, leaning towards the camera and smiling. "I missed you... very much..." He drew out the words, almost hissing.

"I've been waiting a long time to see you again," Dark continued, letting his voice drop pitches as he spoke.

He stood up straight, anger flashing through his mind. "I've been pushed aside... replaced... mocked."

Looking away now, Dark began telling his story. "And then, he had the gall to not invite me to his little adventure with you... no more... never again..."

"It's bEen tOo loNG..."

"I've been waiting patiently; he promised he would let me in again." Dark let out the frustration and anger pent up inside of him for years. His eyes burned with emotion, and he felt his power rise within him. "I'm tired of giving people a choice," Dark continued, emphasizing his words by tugging on his suit. He sighed, and calmed his thoughts. "But I suppose I can give give you one last option. Take your pick, anything out of four different choices, more than he could've given you," Dark proposed, clasping his hands behind his back and leaning forward, "and let's see how far down this rabbit hole really goes. So take your pick... show me what you've got... And maybe... we'll have a good date after all..."

Suddenly Dark felt himself being pulled aside. Turing, he found himself face to face with Mark. "What are you doing?" Mark almost yelled at him.

Dark smiled. "Isn't it obvious? I'm helping you!"

"H-helping me?" Mark seemed taken aback.

"Well, of course!" Dark exclaimed. "Your fans love me. So I'm doing you a little favor and adding a cameo of myself into your videos." When Mark didn't reply, Dark elaborated further. "It's perfect, don't you see? I'm a demon, a scary monster. You just walked into a 'horror play,'" Dark said, using air quotes to empathize the last two words. "Trust me, it'll be great," Dark reassured him.

Mark glared at him. "I don't trust you," he spat, "but I don't have a choice, do I?"

Dark laughed. "Of course you don't."

Mark sighed, then asked, "Well, could you at least fit this 'cameo' into a story for the next clip?"

"Sure, I can do that," Dark complied. "What do you have in mind?"

~~~

"Good choice." Dark was back, talking once again to the camera. Adding a questioning tone to his voice, he continued. "But, why would you choose in life?"

Glitching the scene to having himself seated at a table set for two, Dark droned on. "If dinner is want you want, then I could provide. And I could take you wherever you'd like to go." Letting his voice become more sinister, Dark elaborated on his previous line. "I can especially take you to the places that you don't want to go..."

"It's exciting... knowing there are endless possibilities, waiting for you..."

Dark could feel his cool demeanor begin to crack. "I cAn giVe yOU aNytHInG!"

Dark forced insistence into his next words. "I've been waiting a long time to get some personal time between us." That's not false, actually, he thought.

"TheRe's nOtHIng yOu, oR hE cAn dO to stOP mE!"

"So," Dark smiled, "now that we're here together, we can really get to knOw EacH othEr..."

Calmly, Dark leaned forward, speaking softly. "You just need to let me in... It's as simple as that..."

Now for Mark's idea, Dark thought, gritting his teeth. If he had had his way, he'd had ended the video at that. But then things definitely would've been more difficult concerning Mark, Dark reasoned with himself.

Sighing, he transported himself outside, and began to speak again. "You're never, ever, going to escape me, not now, no-"

Dark was cut off by Mark running into him, or more accurately, his friend Tyler who was wearing a mask depicting Mark's face. They wrestled for a few moments, Tyler even taking out a fake pistol and dropping it to the ground. Then the two separated, and they began to argue.

"No, shoot him, shoot him! He's bad, he's dark..."

"Why are you even debating this?! He's the bad guy, shoot him!"

The player of A Date With Markiplier would then have to choose who to shoot, the Mark on the right, or the other on the left. If the incorrect Mark was chosen, Dark would survive and masquerade as the real Mark, comforting the viewer and treating them to ice cream.

"...enjoy some nice, dairy based treats, and uh, get to know each other. Really, personally." Gesturing to their bowl, "Mark" urged the viewer to "Go ahead" and eat the ice cream.

The camera glances down, and the screen fuzzes over. Looking back up, the viewer would see Dark sitting in Mark's place.

"Oops. Looks like you made the wrong choice."

Dark smiled, twitching his head.

"Now we're going to be together... forever."

The video ended, and unknowingly for Mark, so did Dark's captivity.

Now back in his own world, Dark spotted a door. As he watched it, it swung slowly open. Peering through it, Dark saw scenes of the outside world, the real world, depicted there. He eagerly stepped forward, ready to finally embrace his freedom-

When suddenly he stopped.

He stood there, staring at the welcoming realm of the human world.

Then he slowly reached for the door's handle, and closed it.

I'll stay here for now, he decided.

I have more work to do.