Insanity

The Fighting

"The bodies had been identified as the couple Jackie Wilson and Harold Wilson, who had been killed sometime between midnight of last night. No weapon could be found at the scene, and the couple's daughter had not been present at the home during the attack. Police will continue to investigate the situation."

Gumball abruptly stood up from the sofa, and quietly left the room. He had done his best not to show it, but uncomfortableness could be seen in his facial expression. He didn't need reminding. He didn't want to even look at what he had done.

The family gave confused looks to each other, but decided to let it slide, continuing to watch TV. However, Nicole did not. She stood up as well with worry, and went to enter the kitchen.

She found her eldest son looking rather.. Stressed. Frightened. She wasn't sure why, and the thought of not knowing what was with him startled her. "..Gumball honey, are you alright?.. You've seemed.. Off lately.."

Gumball spun around, eyes wide, before quickly relaxing. Well, as best as he could muster. The blue cat was trembling where he stood, as if he had witnessed a nightmare. "I-I'm fine.. Honest.."

Nicole didn't buy it, her expression rather deadpan. "Sweetheart, my mother senses are tingling. I know you're lying to me."

"Why are you so insistent on it? Just go worry about the rest of the family, okay? I'm fine." He didn't mean to, but his voice had a slight edge to it, her presence starting to annoy him.

"No. I won't. Something is clearly wrong and I want to figure out what." His mother's expression deepened into firmness, but remained sorrowful. She stepped closer, to which he stepped back. "You've been so.. Sad lately.. And from the looks of it, a lack of sleep.. You aren't alright.."

"I'm fine just leave me alone!" Gumball was very much shaking with fear now, desperately trying to keep it together. He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes, which he fought to stop. The cat prepared his way to the kitchen doorway quickly, however Nicole kept him from moving.

"Gumball you are not leaving. Please, just tell me what's going on-"

"I'M FINE JUST SHUT UP!" He grabbed a kitchen knife off the counter and threw it towards her in frustration, full of anger. However, the cat's eyes widened in horror, realizing what he had done.

The weapon had plunged into the wood of the doorway's frame, barely missing his mother by an inch. She only looked at him with shock, bewildered by what just happened. Only the TV's sound drowned out the silence, the other family members watching from the couch, same expression.

"..I-I.." Gumball could hardly form a coherent sentence. Horrible memories flashed through his mind from the other horrid timeline.

"Okay I get it! I won't tell anyone!"

"And if you do, it'll be off with your head.. Got it?"

He could still remember Anais's terrified face, the way she looked at him. Why did he do that? Why did he have to do that?

"..Gumball?.." Nicole finally spoke, not stepping near him just yet, only looking onward with concern.

"I-I'm sorry." The cat promptly left the kitchen, running up the stairs. A loud slam could be heard.

Nicole left the kitchen as well, gazing up at the steps. She stopped Darwin from going up them. "No sweetie. I think he needs some time to himself for right now, okay?"

Darwin knew better than to stand by watching his brother suffer. But he also knew better than to disobey her. He quietly nodded, walking back over to the couch, as did the rest of the family.