#shadow within

“I…” Anti glared at him, “Are you disobeying me, puppet?” Schneep fell down to his knees, an invisible force making him stay there. “Well?” Anti growled, “They will see t-through me, master.” Henrik forced himself to say, the word master sour in his mouth. He didn’t like this plan at all. Anti has been obsessing over them for months, that’s why he captured and tortured him in the first place.

Anti glitched in front of him, his knife finding his way under Schneep’s chin. The cold metal gracing dangerously close to his throat, he grins at how submissive the doctor was to him. The perfect puppet, the perfect trickster.

“I know you’ve missed them. But—“ Anti clasped his hand around Schneep’s throat and lifted him with ease. His eyes turned fully black and he started glitching furiously. “You are not going there to reunite! You are working for me, and you will gain their trust and get rid of Jack. Are we clear?” he said with a giggle.

Static filled the air and slowly numbed Henrik’s mind, and in a blink of an eye, they found themselves in a dark alley. “What are we--” he was cut at mid-sentence as Anti slashed him across his chest. He fell hard on his back, letting out a strained groan. “Don’t worry, doctor, you’ll live. Now, it’s showtime.” Anti turned his back on him, and then he warped away leaving him alone in the middle of nowhere. He propped himself against the wall while clutching at his bloodstained shirt.

“Scheiß verdammt...” he whispered, he then heard heavy footsteps approach the alley.  Henrik did his best to hide from whoever was coming. Why was he hiding? This could be a good thing, someone will find him and take him home. He needed to patch up this cursed wound before he lost too much blood.

“Who’s there?”

“Help…” he quickly clasped his bloody hand over his mouth as soon as the words slipped out. Paranoia was settling in his stomach. What if is a robber? He didn’t have any money, he would get captured again and tortured. No, no, no. Not again. I’m sorry, Please…

“H--Henrik?” he heard a voice he thought he would never hear, he opens his eyes and looked at the man towering over him, shock all over his masked face as he stifled a sob. Schneep’s eyes watered as he saw the hero in the red bodysuit, his deep-blue eyes behind the vibrant blue mask. No, this had to be another of Anti’s tricks. This was a test, wasn’t it? To see where his loyalty stands. Schneep covered himself with his arms in defense, “D-don’t hurt me, p-please! I-- Ich habe nichts gemacht!” he yelled, his eyes stinging with tears and his heart threatening to burst out of his chest. “I’m not going to hurt you, Henrik. It’s me, Jackie.” he said gently, stretching a hand towards him.

The doctor looked up to him, he was smiling at him with teary eyes, holding his hand out for him to take. There was no glitch, no cynical laugh, only kindness. He stretched his bloodstained hand to him which only caused Jackie to furrow his brow.

 “Let me take a look.” he said as he gently removed Schneep’s hand. “You’re hurt! We need to get you to a hospital!” he stated, concerned leaking in his voice. “No! No hospitals, please.” he shouted making Jackie jump in surprise. “Take me home, Jackie, please!.” he eyes widened in terror, he couldn’t go to the hospital, people couldn’t see him in this state. Jackie pursed his lips, but he cave in. “Alright, we’ll go home. I’m going to pick you up, is that okay?” He hesitated for a few seconds until he agreed.

Jackie carefully wrapped his arms around the fragile doctor’s body, afraid he would shatter in his arms. He felt how he relaxed in his arms, melting into Jackie’s warmth, something he hadn’t felt in months. 

Jackie landed in front of the entrance of the Septic’s. All those months of search, all the sleepless nights because all he could feel was burning in his back or because he couldn't breathe, knowing and feeling all the torture Henrik was going through and not having a damn clue where his whereabouts were.

Anti will pay for this.

But right now, he needed to focus on getting Schneep patched up. He walked through the door and hurried to the doctor’s old lab, he then laid him down on the table. His heart dropped as he noticed how thin he was, his skin had taken a sickly color. He hesitated before he placed his hand on the doctor’s shoulder. “ Schneep? You’re still with me?” as soon as Jackie shook his shoulder he snapped his eyes open in horror, “Stay away from me!” he screamed, he shoved the hero away from him not realizing he was back to his old lab. All he could see was the dark basement Anti kept him for so long. “I’ll be good, Meister! Don’t hurt me, please!”

‘Henrik!-- Henrik, it’s me! You’re safe!” Jackie said horrified, not because of Shcneep’s sudden outburst, but because of how far Anti went to break his mind. With shaky hands, he cupped his face holding him in place. “Henrik, look at me. You’re home. I won’t let him hurt you.”

“J-Jackie?” he managed to whisper

“That’s right, now breathe with me. Follow my lead, okay?”

“B-Breath…” he took a shaky breath and closed his eyes shut.

“That’s it. You’re safe.”

“I-Ich bin s-sicher…” He squeezed Jackie’s hand, grounding himself on his new surrounding.

“Okay, I’m going to treat this nasty wound. Keep breathing for me.” he did as instructed, Jackie walked up to the cabinet that contained bandages and antibiotics. After a few minutes of Jackie fumbling with the bandages, he was able to patch up Schneep’s wound. Then they heard the main entrance door open and close, cheerful voices making their way to the lab.

Jackie looked up to the ceiling, directing his attention to the rest of the Egos. “Will you be okay if I leave for a couple of minutes?” Schneep nodded slowly, “I won’t be long.” Jackie gave him a quick smile and walked out of the lab, as soon as he was sure the hero was gone he shot right up. All sign of panic and distress gone.

“̸W̵h̴a̷t̶ ̸a̴n̷ ̷a̸c̷t̷,̷ ̵d̵o̷c̸t̶o̷r̴.̶ ̵I̶ ̴m̷u̶s̴t̴ ̷s̸a̷y̸,̸ ̶y̷o̸u̶ ̸h̶a̴d̵ ̶m̵e̷ ̷c̷o̵n̸v̴i̷n̶c̸e̵d̶.̶ ̷A̷n̴d̴ ̷w̴o̶r̷r̶i̸e̷d̷.̵”̵ He heard the glitch chuckle in his mind. ̶“̶I̴ ̴t̴h̵o̴u̷g̴h̷t̵ ̷y̶o̶u̴ ̶w̶e̷r̴e̸ ̷g̴o̵i̷n̵g̷ ̸t̵o̵ ̴r̴a̶n̷t̴ ̴m̴e̸ ̵o̸u̴t̴ ̴t̴o̷ ̴t̵h̵a̷t̴ ̴h̶e̵r̶o̴”̷ he spat the last word like venom.

“Get out of my head…” the doctor said with clenched teeth, Anti laughed making dark spots appear in his vision, his head started pounding and he felt everything was spinning around him. “̶Y̵o̸u̶ ̷t̵h̸o̷u̸g̵h̷t̶ ̷I̶ ̸w̷a̵s̵ ̴g̸o̴i̴n̶g̶ ̵t̸o̵ ̶l̷e̸a̵v̴e̷ ̶y̷o̸u̷ ̵u̵n̶s̶u̴p̸e̵r̸v̴i̸s̶e̸d̷?̷”̸ Panic seized his senses. The sudden realization that he was played by Anti once more hit him; he would never be free. Even if he went along Anti’s plan, he’ll never let him go. He’ll be his puppet forever and he’ll lose everything.

And Jack… what will his friend say? What will he think seeing him submit to the glitch…

Weak

You’re weak

“̶O̸h̷ ̷H̸e̸n̴r̵i̵k̷,̵ ̸w̷e̵ ̵w̵e̸n̵t̶ ̴t̴h̴r̵o̵u̷g̶h̴ ̶t̸h̴i̶s̷ ̶a̸l̴r̸e̴a̶d̵y̵.̷”̷ A shiver went down his spine, he hated the sound of his name coming from his lips. It sounded so wrong, so disgusting. “̵J̶a̶c̵k̸ ̵d̵o̴e̷s̵n̸’̶t̵ ̶c̶a̵r̸e̵ ̷f̵o̶r̷ ̷y̷o̶u̸.̶”̶

“T-that is n-not true!” He stammered. This was a trick, he loved his brother and he loved Jack with his life.

“̸I̴s̵ ̵b̸e̴c̶a̵u̴s̶e̵ ̴o̶f̷ ̸h̴i̴m̶ ̸y̸o̵u̷’̶r̸e̵ ̶i̵n̸ ̴t̸h̵i̸s̶ ̴m̸e̶s̶s̷.̸”̶ Anti kept saying, ̷“̶H̶e̷ ̸u̸s̵e̵d̸ ̷y̵o̴u̵.̸”̵

“Stop…”

“H̴e̴ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̵ ̵y̸o̸u̴ ̵t̵o̵ ̸l̷u̵r̵e̶ ̶m̸e̷ ̶o̸u̸t̵!̶” He growled

“Shut up!” Schneep yelled horrified

“A̵f̴t̷e̴r̶ ̵a̶l̷l̶ ̴y̷o̸u̷’̷v̴e̴ ̵d̶o̵n̵e̶ ̵f̴o̴r̶ ̵h̸i̷m̵,̵ ̴t̸h̶i̷s̶ ̶i̴s̶ ̸h̷o̸w̸ ̶h̷e̴ ̴p̶a̴y̷s̶ ̶y̴o̶u̶.̴” His voice grew louder and more powerful in his mind, drowning out every single thought that tried to say otherwise. “H̷e̴ ̷l̵e̴f̶t̵ ̵y̷o̸u̵ ̵t̶o̴ ̶r̸o̶t̶!̷”̵

Schneep fell off the table and onto his knees. He let out a strained sob as he put his trembling hands over his ears, a failed attempt to block Anti’s voice.

“H̶e̷ ̷n̵e̴v̸e̷r̶ ̸l̵o̷v̷e̵d̵ ̷y̵o̸u̵,̶ ̵o̸r̸ ̴c̸a̵r̸e̸d̸ ̸f̴o̴r̵ ̵y̸o̷u̶.̶” Anti stated, his voice becoming soft, almost as he felt sorry for the doctor. Schneep felt his mind go numb, static taking over his thoughts and feelings. It sure was strange that none of them found him, did they even miss him on his absence? Did they ever wonder what happened to him?

“J̴a̵c̵k̵ ̵w̴i̵l̸l̶ ̵o̸n̵l̶y̵ ̵c̷a̸s̵t̵ ̶y̶o̶u̵ ̸a̶s̵i̵d̵e̷.̷ ̶J̸u̵s̶t̵ ̸l̷i̷k̷e̴ ̶h̴e̴ ̷d̶i̸d̵ ̴t̴o̵ ̸m̶e̵.̶” Anti growled

“But my brothers… they care for me…” he struggled to get out.

“̵T̶h̵a̴t̶’̷s̶ ̷w̶h̷y̴ ̸w̸e̷ ̸m̸u̴s̶t̷ ̴g̴e̶t̴ ̷r̷i̸d̷ ̵o̴f̸ ̴J̴a̶c̶k̶” Anti hissed, “H̴e̶’̸l̸l̶ ̷m̷a̴k̶e̵ ̶t̵h̶e̸m̵ ̵t̵u̴r̴n̵ ̴a̸g̷a̸i̶n̸s̴t̴ ̶y̵o̷u̸.̸ ̴D̷o̶ ̵y̴o̴u̴ ̴w̸a̶n̸t̵ ̶J̵a̵c̸k̴i̵e̴ ̵t̵o̷ ̶h̴a̶t̵e̷ ̶y̶o̵u̵?̸”̶

Jackie hating him? An image of the hero popped up in his mind, disappointment on his face as he turned his back to him and walked away from the doctor. Fear and panic took over him, he already lost his wife and kids, his brothers were everything he had left.

“̶G̴e̷t̴ ̴r̶i̷d̷ ̶o̷f̵ ̷J̴a̵c̵k̷,̷ ̷a̴n̶d̸ ̷I̴ ̵p̶r̷o̴m̴i̶s̵e̶ ̶I̴ ̷w̵i̵l̶l̵ ̴n̵e̷v̸e̷r̷ ̷h̸a̸r̵m̸ ̴a̴n̵y̷ ̴o̵f̶ ̸t̶h̸e̶m̴ ̶a̸g̶a̶i̷n̴.̷”̸

̴

Schneep thought about it, the more he let it sink the more sense Anti made sense. The day he got taken by Anti he offered to help Jack with his video since he wasn’t feeling well. He was trying to be nice to his creator, he wanted to help his dearest friend. Schneep knew how stressed Jack was and with all the trouble Anti was causing he was just drained.

It was just a game! He was playing a game and then… he found himself in a dark cell, Anti laughing at his face…

Anti never meant to take him, he wanted Jack. He knew Anti was going to strike, Jack knew! And yet… he let him take his place. His chest felt heavy with betrayal, Schneep wanted revenge. Nine months worth of torture, nine months! And for what? He didn’t fear Anti anymore, if he wanted to make Jack suffer the way he did, he would need Anti’s help.