Voices in My Head

Chapter One

Three years...That's how long it has been since he's woken up to his boyfriend by his side. Three years since he's attended Amy's funeral, three years since he's told Wilford Anti had to put his best friend in an insane asylum. Anti knew he had to or Mark would have made the fans take Dark's power, causing him to disappear like the rest of the egos that were used once for a skit and then forgotten later. It was a miracle he managed to convince Mark to put Dark away, it was a miracle Wilford took it so well...That was a lie.

Wilford didn't take it well, and he began staying in his room for dinner, only venturing out for interviews or meetings with Mark. Mark virtually handed over leadership of Ego Inc. to Wilford since he couldn't trust Googleplier. All of the egos took it hard since, while being sadistic, Dark kept his family safe. He wouldn't say it to too many people, and Anti and Wilford were the only two who heard those words come out of Dark's mouth.

Anti began experiencing nightmares about Amy's death, and he imagined Dark arriving through their apartment's front door confused and drenched in blood. The scent of copper immediately pervaded the flat, and Anti didn't have time to ask him what happened before Mark called, wanting to know where his ego was. Even if Anti could concoct a convincing lie, Mark knew where they resided. There was no disguising what Dark did, and the heartbreaking truth was that Dark didn't even remember what he done.

He could still recall them. Dark was on the edge of tears as Anti drove him to the police station, pleading Anti to explain what had occurred. Remember Mark yelling at the cop to shoot him or put him on death row. Mark was so upset that the officer's colleague had to drag him out into the corridor, while Anti sneaked into the room. Dark didn't say anything to Anti, instead of staring at the floor with a drowsy expression, salt lines staining his pale skin. He remembered the first time Dark flinched at Anti's touch, and he realized then that Dark's mentality was similar to Wilford's. Dark could not have led the egos in this manner; he is astonished that Dark is still alive after what he did.

Sure, Mark and Dark had their disagreements, but Amy was always there to keep them apart when things became too heated. Now Mark, like Anti, had to live without the person he loved. The difference was that his sweetheart was insane and imprisoned in a padded cell with only his memories to haunt him. Anti wondered if Amy despised Dark as much as his creator despised him. He also wondered what her thoughts were, did she realize Dark wasn't himself? Or did she foresee him snapping?

If that's the case, why didn't she stop him? Why didn't she inform Mark that Dark was ill!? If Mark and Amy could have saved Dark sooner or sent him to Henrik or perhaps Dr. Iplier, Anti's blood began to boil. Dark, on the other hand, would not have told them about his issues; he was private about his emotions, and he only exhibited his sensitive side to Wilford and Anti when he was in a good mood. Anti shook his head, not realizing he'd traveled from the kitchen to the living room until he found himself squeezing the joystick so tightly that it almost shattered. He knew he shouldn't have done it, but it had been three years.

As his feet moved towards the front door, Anti let the remote fall to the ground with a gentle thump. After catching a glimpse of last year's Christmas party, Wilford spent a long time convincing Dark to host the party at the Manor. Anti sighed, shoving his rationality to the back of his mind, and grabbed the photo and his keys, slamming the door behind him. He knew it was probably the worst decision he'd ever had, but he needed to see him.