2025 DMC

He remembers that boy's arrival, clutching a book of Alice in Wonderland, alongside his own personal belongings, or what little he has. The social worker who brought him smiled as he talked about the boy, and Anders' "parents" were all too eager to accept a new child. His "siblings" wrestled at the background while he peeks from a corner, knowing all too well on what fate befalls his new brother. And with the looks of it, he won't last.

It didn't took long for the family's true colors to show up. The children continued to jeer and destroy his things, and whenever he calls for help from the parents, he gets slapped and violently pushed around. It's a mess. It's a place that no child should be, but what choice do they have?

Anders tried to fight back in the past too, continuously calling for social services for help, pleading his situation, yet not a single one actually listened, brushing off his cries with a scowl, saying that there's more important stuff to do than move him to another family.

That was enough for a child to realize that there won't be any hope for him in this life.

Still, despite it all, he found genuine camaraderie with his new brother. They're both quiet, meek, and kept to themselves, but shared precious moments together. Anders remembers him as a boy who possesses such brilliant mind, able to tinker on things and create something new from scraps, that's how the both of them were able to keep toys even if everything was taken by their other brothers.

Despite the pain in living in such a household, it was a bearable since they had each other.

That's how it should've been. They should be supporting each other. Be there whenever the other is hurting. Protect one another—

—If only he wasn't such a coward.

Whenever their siblings bully the boy, all Anders can do is watch, afraid that once he steps in, he'll also be dragged into it. After years of living with that family, this is the only time where he wasn't being targeted. The fear of being subjected to their violence once again runs cold within his body, making him turn away whenever his brother asks for help.

Of course, he tried making it up to him by tending to his wounds during the late hours of night, apologizing with a trembling voice. The boy only smiled, through bruises and cuts, assuring that he doesn't hold a grudge. It doesn't make him any less guilty with that.

Those days continued for quite some time, spent with each other's presence as they endure their living conditions, knowing that they have no one else to turn to. The boy frequently reads Alice to him, saying that it would be nice if a rabbit hole were to appear that leads to Wonderland, providing an escape for the both of them. It's a fantasy, a delusion, something to grasp on in their hopeless situation.

Neither of them expected for it to come true one night.

It was the usual instance where they fled to the emergency stairs to hide from their family, snuggled together for warmth as the boy reads the storybook out loud. That's when it happened. That purple light appeared.

The air blew violently at the alley, and down at the ground, the air crackled and trembled. Curiosity got the better of the boy, despite Anders' calls for him to get back up the stairs, and approached the source of the light. Purple electricity shot up from the shard-like hole that grew exponentially in size, before a shockwave nearly knocks him out.

When the boy opened his eyes, another realm waits beyond the unstable portal. A rabbit hole for him to fall into, to escape from his reality, and onto Wonderland. He clutches his book on his hands and looks up at Anders who remained on the staircase, silently asking for him to come with.

But Anders is a coward.

So, the boy went, alone, with his storybook in hand. And Anders was left atop that flight of stairs, staring at the alley that had long since went silent. He never saw the boy since.

His life after that is comparable to a living nightmare. The family blamed him for the boy's disappearance, and he received the end of their abuse again after so many months. The young Anders then thought, if this is his punishment for all those times he looked away whenever his brother was mistreated; if so, he'll accept it wholeheartedly, as to atone for not being there for him when it mattered.

No more shall he turn away whenever someone is in need of help. He may be a weak child, but something changed in him that day. He learned how to take hits, pick up cues, meditate fights without him getting physically involved; everything that he should've done for him, Anders did.

That's how he lived up until now. The moment he was able to move out of that place, he lived an active life. He's the neighborhood helper, someone who's happy to even fix someone's rickety faucet for them, someone that people can depend on. Not once did he refuse people in need of assistance, earning him quite the reputation of a respectable man. Well, that's also how he met his wife in the process.

They lived a quiet life, blessed with two daughters to love, and Anders swore to be the best father that he can be, someone that his family will be proud of. He'll never do anything akin to how he was treated as a child, no. He'll provide for them with the best of his abilities, and give them the childhood they deserve, not like what he missed.

Everything was going smoothly for the first time in his life, it's as if his past was merely a dream, something to forget and move on about. He's got a new life now, loved ones to take care of, and a home to go back to. That's why he didn't hesitate to accept a job in the military, as it has a stable income and great benefits for his family; besides, like the recruiter said, he can help serve the country this way.

What he didn't expect are demons in this line of job. Terrorists? Sure. Criminals? Yeah. But actual, supernatural beings? They're— they don't exist— they—

His whole team was wiped out before he knew it. They were sent by the Vice President to go track and capture a White Rabbit, warned that it's dangerous and should be contained immediately, bringing confusion on him upon receiving such orders. Since when are rabbits dangerous?

He expected bad people, like those who tormented him in the past, not the monsters who stood in front of his battered body. Will he die here? Surrounded by his comrades in a dingy building, killed by creatures that were just myths up until now? He can't! He has a home to go back to! He has a family to take care of! He'll crawl out of this half dead if he has to!

The sound of his name stopped his movements, the voice of someone long gone echoed in the room, all from the target he was supposed to apprehend.

The White Rabbit.

In any other circumstances, Anders would've been elated to see what he witnessed, but this isn't anything normal. The brother he once lost now grins manically at him, revealing himself to be the deadly rabbit who infused himself with demon blood, becoming something that is neither human nor monster. But despite it all, Anders can still see the boy he grew up with, beyond the monstrosity that now breathes on this neck.

He was spared. He doesn't know if it's because he's a convenient person or if the boy— the White Rabbit, still has some lingering affection for him. Needless to say, he's still alive for a reason, to act as a double agent for the demons. That he can do, to spy on the government to help his family. No matter what happens, no matter how much he strongly feels against this, Anders can't turn his back on his family. Not again.

That's how he ended up as the newest member of the DARKCOM special ops, God has tested him and was proven worthy, the vice president says. He's sure that the man has a few screw loose, but he isn't going to complain. He'll be an obedient soldier, one that is known to have survived the White Rabbit and lived to fight alongside humanity against him, all for his brother.

Surely this is the right thing, as after a while, his brother explained his motives and goals. The Makaians are living in a dangerous world, and the Earth is the only hope for them should they wish to live. That situation tugs within Anders' heart, as it is the exact scenario that happened between the two of them all those years ago. It's unfair, and he sympathizes with their predicament. His feelings got cemented when he met them in real life, coming face to face with the humanoid demons, who are just like normal people trying to get by.

Anders felt bad.

His tasks were fairly simple, leak information about DARKCOM and make sure to get some kid's amulet in the process. That he can do, he's considered next to harmless after all, with all his jitters and nervousness, no one will suspect him of anything. He can do this, for his family.

For his family, he keeps insisting. For Anders holds onto a foolish hope that once his brother finishes what he wants to do, he'll join his family and then they'll be able to live together happily ever after. He has faith, God has tested him, didn't he? Things will be just fine.

Until it wasn't.

That night, Lieutenant Arkham caught two individuals, one being the boy who owns the amulet he needs and the other being their friend. He watched them writhe in confusion over the potent sleeping gas, agitated about the situation. They're his targets and yet... this doesn't feel right. She claims that the boy is half demon, and therefore had to resort to such precautions. But, no matter how you look at those two, they're kids...!

He knows his mission well and he's not going to jeopardize it by saying something out of the line. All he needs to do is to grab the amulet during the transfer of prisoners and he's good to go. He'll just ask his brother to take care of those two, as since Dante is a demon, surely his brother will take him in alongside his friend.

But then you just had to make him hesitate.

You plead your case, saying that you've been beaten pretty badly, and that it's unfair. You look at him with those eyes that made all those repressed memories of his childhood resurface. This isn't right... It's unfair! You're just kids! You shouldn't be subjected to this cruelty! All they need is the necklace, so why hurt you two?!

There's a device that Lieutenant Arkham has, that controls your restraints.

She's pretty lax by his side as he drives through the highway, oblivious to the storm that's brewing inside Anders' mind. It's okay, this is fine, lower your guard... Then we'll finally accomplish our plan...

The traffic came as expected, with the signal for him to get out of the vehicle being given to avoid getting involved in the chaos that is soon to happen. While the lady was distracted, he grabbed the chance to steal the device, mentally taking note of freeing the both of you later. He can't help it, whenever he looks at the two of you, he thinks of his daughters back home, and that just adds to the chaos inside his mind.

The attack happened as planned, and Anders' rushed to the van that Dr. Fisher was at, studying the amulet. This is his chance, if he does this correctly, no one has to get hurt...! No one should, but...

Why did his brother kill the doctor?

Huh?

His brother— no, the White Rabbit approaches him with a bloody sword, saying something about making "it" believable, before stabbing him on the shoulder. Anders yells in pain, grabbing his arm as he is dragged out of the vehicle, thrown to the rough asphalt as he bleeds out. He doesn't understand... Why do this? All they needed was the amulet... Why kill people?! Why...

He saw you from across the street, hiding with Dante and the informant as more demons appeared. He doesn't understand what's happening, but he does know one thing. You.

You, despite being with a demon all this time, have managed to stay true to yourself. No matter how much you've been through, not once did he see you falter. That's something that he wishes he had... Then perhaps none of this would've happened.

Anders deactivated your restraints, knowing that you'll come rushing to him once you're free due to your briefcase being in his possession. It's presumptuous, it's foolish, he isn't sure if he can trust you nor if you could understand him in his delirium.

But he's entrusting everything to you.

"There are more in the warehouse."