''The Difference between Wants and Needs''

Chapter 2 (A1)

(PENNY- POV)

Penny wasn't sure what kind of instinct she'd had to follow Mark. But she was glad she did. Home intruders were no joke.

She looked down at the body before her, then back at Mark. "How- how did you get here? How did you find me?!"

Oh. Mark had questions. She wasn't surprised. "Well, I followed you here. Because... I'm not sure why. I just did."

Mark nodded, clearly still shocked about the whole situation. He leaned down to face Cesar, who was still unconscious. "Is he dead..?"

"I don't think so. I didn't hit him that hard." Penny answered. She leaned down to face the person on the floor. She supposed he might have some brain damage, but that wouldn't be so bad. A little brain damage never hurt anyone!

They came to the agreement to interrogate the intruder, though Penny wasn't certain on why Mark refused to call the cops. Upon asking, he had only responded with: 'They won't do anything.'

Soon enough, the intruder was tied to a chair, while Mark and Penny sat across from him at the table.

*****

(MARK- POV)

Mark watched with a scowl as Cesar woke up. The alternate quickly realized the situation it was in, it was very vulnerable right now. "Listen here, you f*cking monster. We're going to ask you questions, and you're going to tell the truth. Understood?"

Cesar nodded quickly, eyes wide. Good. He had every reason to be scared. Mark asked his first question:

"What are you things?"

Cesar laughed bitterly before answering. "We are the descendants of God himself."

"Quit messing around and tell me!" Mark demanded. Penny was wide-eyed next to him. Cesar laughed again. "I can lie to you if you want. Here is the truth, I was sent here by God to replace you. All of you."

*****

(PENNY- POV)

Why, Lord? Why would you be so cruel? She glanced at Mark, who looked equally terrified.

"You're lying." She said quietly. She wouldn't believe something so awful. The intruder turned his attention to her. "What's the matter- cat got your tongue? C'mon now, you haven't said pretty much anything this entire time! Let me hear your voice."

Penny shook her head, eyes wide. She looked up as she heard her voice, but it wasn't her speaking. This thing... it was mimicking her! She wasn't aware such a thing was possible.

"Jane Doe... What a lovely name. Very fitting on you." The intruder said softly. Penny's hands formed fists. "That's not my name." She said angrily.

"That's what the coroner said. They found your body after that accident, didn't they...? But I'm curious, how are you still alive?"

Mark turned towards Penny, eyes wide as if asking her whether it was true. Penny nodded slowly. "I don't know. I don't remember much from the 'incident'. I only remember the front axel of the ride breaking at the apex of the loop-de-loop. We were sent hurtling towards our deaths. And when... when my head was disconnected from my body, I remained conscious just long enough to hear my friends' demises."

Mark slowly turned toward Penny, horrified. "What the hell..." He said slowly, quietly. Penny continued speaking.

"I remember, when I died, all I could think was- 'Why Lord? If this is how I die, Lord... Why be left with no family and no friends?' I remember only bits of what happened after. A fortune teller gave me the chance to be resurrected. And I took it."

*****

(MARK- POV)

Mark didn't have any words. Who was this fortune teller? Did she really come back to life? How is that possible? If she was an alternate, Mark figured he would've been dead by now...

He glanced at Cesar, who looked intrigued.

"Fascinating.. Where is this fortune teller-"

Cesar asked- Mark interrupted.

"I'm asking the questions!" He took the gun off the counter, aiming it at Cesar's head. Cesar glanced up at the gun, then turned back to Mark. "Would you really shoot-"

Bang!

Mark didn't hesitate. He didn't think- he just wanted it gone. Penny slowly turned to Mark, blood staining both of their clothes. She looked rather unfazed, but considering her story, Mark assumed she had seen worse. He slowly turned back to Cesar. Damn it...