Game Over ~AntiAverage

9. Chase

I found myself seated patiently on the couch waiting. Jackie sat on the floor in between me and Marvin and JJ sat beside Jackie. They never really told us what was going on. Just that we had to be here and wait. Of course, I had an idea. After all, Dr. Schneeplestein was here pacing and I spotted Jack walking Anti off to his room. At the time I never liked the fact that Jack had a room for Anti. The one ego that never showed up until god nows how long... But Jack still had one for him. It never got opened. It never got used. It was always just sitting there waiting for its the owner. Now... I'm glad Jack kept it. I don't think they're gonna let Anti out of their sights for a while.

Speaking of Jack...

"He's resting." I looked up to find Jack walking in with this sad look on his face and I frowned. Henrik was currently standing in front of us all waiting patiently as Jack took his seat beside us. They called a family meeting. A family meeting no doubt to discuss Anti. "Hen..."

"There is a lot we didn't know him." The doctor cut right in unaware that Jack was even speaking. We all tensed up... even Jackie who looked concerned, if only for the rest of us. Henrik started to pace a bit rubbing his temple in thought before crossing his arms in annoyance. "For starters let me just put it out there I did not appreciate being thrown into the fire without so much as a thread of information." Jackie went to say something but Henrik glared at him cutting him off. "Telling me to 'watch my neck' was not sufficient enough warning. To be able to properly address the situation and assist in providing my patient with the right means of support and understanding, I have to first understand. You never gave me any info. I walked in on him sitting on my couch waiting for a doctor that never knew he was going to be there."

"Wait, patent?" Henrik sighed seeing Jacks concern and I got confused. "You spoke like..."

"I plan on taking the glitch on as a patient, yes." An explosion of voices filled the space as people lit up with questions like fireworks. Henrik waited patiently before holding his hand up signaling everyone to be quiet. Everyone was... expect Jackie.

"Don't tell me your falling for it too, Henrik. I thought you would at least spot the act." Henrik's eyes went dangerously dark at Jackie's whining.

"It was not an act, Jackie." Again an eruption of voices until one rose above the rest. "WITH YOU ALL QUIET DOWN SO I CAN EXPLAIN?!" I glanced around to see the shock in everyone eyes before Henrik cleared his throat and straightened himself out. "Anti was not lying when he said he couldn't remember." Jackie again started to speak but Henrik growled before he could. "HOWEVER... I do not believe it's amnesia."

"What else could it be?" Jacks voice was soft and thoughtful. I could only imagine what must be going on in his head.

"I believe he still has all his memories however... his consciousness is unable to access them." Henrik sighed as he leaned against the wall. "Of course that's just a theory. Think of it this way, he has no memory pertaining to himself or others that he has come into contact with. He has no idea who or what he is. He didn't even remember Jack." He narrowed his eyes as he continued. "Which is impossible because there is no way an ego would forget their host. Regardless that's what happened. All personal and physical memory is somehow gone. " He glanced up at everyone with this serious look in his eyes and even I felt a chill down my back. "However he still knows the English language. He is able to not only understand but communicate as most with total amnesia cannot. His level of knowledge outside of himself is extensive. He was on par with me on many different aptitude tests. It just doesn't make sense."

"It does if you take into account... the backfired spellwork JJ and I had done." Henrik's eyes went dark again as Marvin looked around. "I don't want to say it is but... I am 100% certain this is on us."

'Our spells must have combined and warped... to be totally honest, I don't even remember what it was I was trying to do.' JJ signed as he started to tear up. 'Will he ever get his memory back?'

"Why would you want him to? That guy was a total fucking monster." Jackie groaned as he leaned back against the couch in annoyance.

"You don't understand Jackie... I have... discovered things about Anti, I did not know about before." The room went deafly silent as Henrik spoke softly as if his own heart broke for the darker ego. "Anti... I have become aware of something very troubling..."

"Does this have to do with the voices he's mention?" I spoke without thinking. Henrik just narrowed his eyes nodding slightly and my blood seemed to turn to ice.

"Anti is exhibiting signs of Schizophrenia. As well as a posible... Secondary personality." By now it was so quiet not even the crickets outside were making a sound. "What's even more troubling... Is that second personality reminded me a little too much of the old Anti."

"So both Anti's are psychotic basketcases hell-bent on murder?" Jackie laughed a little in spite of the tension even he could feel but Henrik just shook his head.

"I believe that the Anti we have come to face after the memory loss is what he would have been in the beginning. Like... he regressed." Henrik started to tap his fingers against his own arm as he closed his eyes to think. "I believe... The Anti we now have... He's scared and struggling. To have these people in your head telling you things over and over. This particular personally is very violent... I worry that is violent nature wasn't... wasn't HIS nature but that of the second personality."

"What are you talking about? This is Anti. His only emotion is psychotic. His only desire is to hurt Jack..."

"Except it isn't." Henrik cut Jackie off for the third time and Jackie just narrowed his eyes. Jack looked as confused as I felt. "He has expressed a feeling of guardianship."

"WAIT, WHAT?!"