Egotober - 2024

13. Clockwork || Chase Brody

Chase's eyes snapped open and he gasped in pain, his legs crumpling under him and he lowered himself to the floor.

He reached his fingers under his glasses to feel the spot that hurt, wincing when his fingers came back stained with red.

"An- Anti, where are you?" He called, pulling off his glasses and reaching up to set them on the table that sat in the middle of the room, avoiding the fact that they were splattered with blood.

Here, Chase. Always here.

"Stop, stop trying to act like you're my friend," Chase whispered, leaning forward and resting his forehead on the cool floor.

What do you mean?

"You- I know you keep doing things to me," Chase stammered through gritted teeth. "And I- I want you to stop. I'm not your puppet."

Aren't you? Watch, one move and you don't need to feel in pain or upset again.

"Don't!" Chase cried, cringing in anticipation as he waited for Anti to do something unpleasant. "Wait, please-"

What?

"Don't make me forget things," Chase said quietly. "Don't do this to me, please..."

Aw, but Chase, if you remember things, that means you won't be a good puppet anymore. Remember all the other times you've tried to lash out at me? I'm just trying to keep you safe!

Memories leaked into Chase's head, and he realized that this wasn't the first time Anti had taken his mind from him. There were so many times, more than Chase even thought possible. And amidst everything, his wife and child. Memories from when he had figured out Anti had killed them.

"W- what?" Chase choked, wiping a smear of blood mixed with tears away from his face. "What did you do?"

What I have to.

"You- but you're keeping me here? I don't want to be here! Let me leave, let me remember!" Chase stood up quickly, frantic but angry.

No can do. It's like clockwork, I've noticed. You always start to figure out something's wrong at the same time, about two weeks I think.

"Anti, please," Chase begged, choking down a sob. "Don't make me forget again-"

Chase's eyes blinked open, and he noticed that the skin above and below his left eye hurt, maybe enough to be bleeding.

"Aw shit, that's not good," he huffed. He supposed he would just have to wait for a doctor to arrive.

In the meanwhile, Anti was nowhere to be seen, and he was starting to feel lonely.