We'll Get There {AntiAverage} (ABANDONED)

22: JBM

1061 words

I sat in a living room of the Iplier Manor, pushing myself into the furthest corner of a loveseat to give Marvin more room. He was asleep next to me, limbs curled loosely into his torso and head thrown over the armrest. He'd swayed and stumbled while getting Yan safely in the house, but he wasn't the only one who'd strained himself tonight.

Dark sat on my right, too exhausted to pace, staring down at his clasp-together hands. His hair, no longer slick with sweat, fell into his eyes, and the blood on his shirt was starting to dry and crack.
He hadn't moved since he'd sat down, and unlike the majority of his family, he most certainly wasn't asleep.

Bing was sat on the floor, leaning against the front of the couch Eric, Yancy, and King were softly snoring on. The Googles were as far away from him as possible, staring unblinkingly at the exact same piece of nothing. I was starting to think they'd gone into some sort of standby mode. Silver Shepard was softly snoring in an armchair; it was a rare instance in which he was out of uniform, and if I hadn't known better I might've mistaken him for Mark.

After a few moments of contemplation, I spoke. "He's gonna be fine. He's in good hands.", I looked at Dark specifically as I said it. He silently turned his eyes towards me in a way that made it clear I wasn't helping, and I took the hint.

Wilford did not.

"He's right, Darky. The tyke'll be dandy, he always is!", the eldest Iplier had a huge grin on his face, completely unfazed by the situation. He'd never understood the importance of life, or the permanence of death, but I'd somehow expected him to see this differently.

Dark looked... I couldn't describe the expression. It was like he wanted to simultaneously strangle and protect Wil.

My phone rang, Chase's name flashing across the top of my screen, and I quickly excused myself. Marvin gave a soft moan in his sleep as I detached myself from the couch.

I went to step outside, but almost as soon as I touched the door handle a fat drop of rain hit the window. "Okay then...", I muttered, turning to walk into what I assumed was the dining room. There were two dining tables stuffed together, with an almost comical amount of chairs crammed around them.

"Hey, Chase, what's-"

"L- Die at-cked the house. He- he's follow-g us, I think, h-'s gotta be- we're on our way th-re, but I don't kn-w where he is-", the voice on the other end was obscured by static, words clipping in and out as the speaker's voice grew more and more frantic. It certainly wasn't Chase.

"What? Wait, sl- slow down. Die's after you? Where are you, are you safe?", despite my best efforts to keep from disturbing anyone, I saw Dark's head snap up from the corner of my eye.

"We're in t- car, we're o- ok-y. No-one's h-rt- not yet- he- he's- he bro-e in-", the speaker, who I assumed to be Anti, broke off, stifling what sounded like a sob. I heard someone speak to him, then some shuffling as the phone was passed over.

"It's Chase. We're on our way to you now, we have no idea where he is.", I could tell he was running on adrenaline when he spoke.

"He just... fuck, Jackie, the locks didn't even faze him. We barely got away. I- I have no idea how powerful he is. He could've...", He sounded on the verge of tears himself.

I suddenly felt guilty for leaving the weaker of my family alone. I should've stayed, to protect them- I barely even helped Yandere. He would've been fine if Marvin had gone alone.

Regardless, what happened, happened. I had to deal with it.

"Okay. Just- be careful. We'll be ready when you get here."

"Okay.", he hung up, and I quickly pocketed my phone.

"Everyone wake the hell up, we've got a problem!", I yelled, bursting into the living room once again.

The Ipliers grumbled, some groggily blinking up at me while others just glared. The Google's were startled out of their weird state, not that they would ever admit it, and Wilford very nearly drew his gun. Marvin jumped, leaning half-up as he looked at me through lidded eyes.

Dark was already on his feet, face pointedly void of emotion.

"Die?", he confirmed, cracking his neck rather violently. This brought the room to consciousness.

"Yeah. Chase and the guys are on their way, he might be following them. Are the docs still with Yan?"

Dark nodded. He gave the room a quick once over before jumping to action, "Eric, Wilford, Bim, and King, take Marvin to the infirmary, let the doctors know what's going on. Shepard and Yancy, gather everyone who isn't in this room and escort them there. Hurry back with Illinois and Host, they'll be far more useful here."

Bim opened his mouth to protest, but a single glare from Dark shut him up. Wilford was unaffected, however, and gave the entity a pout. "C'mon, Darky, I wanna get in on the action. You know I love a good scuffle!"

Shepard and Yancy hurried off, disappearing into the maze of halls that the manor hosted. Bim and King helped Marvin to his feet, while Eric hovered around them with a nervous grimace on his face. Bim braced his arm behind the small of the magician's back to keep him steady, while Marvin placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, Wilford, but I need you too keep everyone safe." Even Dark knew the likelihood of Wil protecting them from so much as a plastic bag was low, but it seemed to be enough.

He sighed dramatically, blowing a few of his mustache hairs loose, "If you say so."

The rest of his designated group quickly hurried away, while he trailed a few feet behind.

"Google, wait outside for the rest of the Septics to arrive. If Die's following them it's best to assume he isn't far behind.", the four androids exited the house in a neat line without question, unbothered by the steadily-thickening rain.

"Everyone else stay here and prepare yourselves."