We're All a Little Crazy

Wake me up Inside

        "Is 'e okay? Please tell me 'e's okay!"
"He'll be fine Jack. He just got a pretty big shot. Give him time." Mark had no way of telling it was true. He hoped Anti would be fine. He didn't know how his friend would react to the possibility that Anti would never recover.
"promise?"
"I promise." Mark sent Jack to get groceries, hoping the task would take his mind off of Anti.
Mark looked at the sleeping demon. "Y' know? 'Anti' doesn't fit you at all." He stroked his fingers through his green hair. "You may be a demon, but you've shown me over and over that you have a heart of gold." Mark thought for a moment. "How 'bout I call you..."

"...Sam?"
That voice! He could've sworn he knew that voice! It was on the tip of his tongue...
"mark?"
Anti slowly cracked open his eyes. Mark gazed back at him, a broad smile on his face. "Hey..."
"I'd like that." He grinned weakly. Mark lay down next to him.
"Rest, now, Sam. I'l protect you from the demons. Sam snorted. "'k." He closed his eyes and fell asleep, his head snuggling into Mark's chest. Mark pulled his phone out of his back pocket and texted Jack.
He's fine Jack responded immediately. on my way
Mark yawned, those nights of insomnia finally catching up with him. He turned off the bedside table lamp and fell asleep.

W̕h̶at ̢did ͝I tell̢ ͝you̧?͡ ͜H̀a̸v̸e̛ y҉ou͡ goņe m̴a͠d, A̶ntise̢p̴tic? Sam stood defiantly. "That's not my name."
O͝h, ţhe͟ hu̸m̶an̡?͡ We̴'͘l҉l j̀u͜s̢t̨ hav҉e fix th̢at.​​​​​​​ The shadow pushed Sam against the wall, grafting his hands in place. Sam refused him his scream.
̵H̴o҉w̨ do̷es ̢it fȩel͢,͠ S͟AM͟?​​​​​​​ The shadow flicked it's wrist, and Sam felt fire on his back. He bit his lip, ungiving. Sam!​​​​​​​ He felt the rope slice open his back. SA͏M͠!​​​​​​​ Dark whipped the rope again. Anti sobbed.

"Sam. Sam! Anti!"
He was roused by Mark's voice, tearing him from the nightmare. "Sam, are you okay?"
He heard the name and flinched. Mark knew something was wrong. At least that demon did some good, he said to himself, sending out his thoughts. What he saw was horrible. Anti--no, Sam, being lashed at, by a monster with his face. Each time time demon sent the whip, he yelled out Sam's name. Sam sensed Mark's probing and quickly closed off his thoughts, terrified.
"....Sam.." He flinched again. "Let me see your back." He turned, and Mark lifted his shirt. Deep cuts ran across his back, surrounding a pentagon. Mark traced it with his finger. He jumped as the mark flared suddenly, a dark, sickly green, burning his finger and leaving behind a charcoal-like substance. It was clear that the injury wouldn't heal naturally.
Mark soaked a towel in Holy Water and returned to Sam. "Is it okay if I..." Sam nodded. "You sure?" Again, Sam nodded, and he braced himself. He lay on his stomach.
"Bite on this." Mark handed Sam a balled-up shirt, and Sam obliged. Mark pressed the towel against his back.
Sam felt his back burn, and he bit down on the shirt, which, he had to admit, helped. He clenched his fists and bit harder. After a few minutes, the pain started to fade. Sam looked over his shoulder.
Not only was the wet towel still on his back, but Mark had just soaked the towel again. The shirt fell, his mouth gaping. "It--it--it--it doesn't hurt...." Sam said, dumbfounded. Mark's eyes widened. He removed and soaked the cloth, then replaced it on Sam's back. He didn't even flinch.
Sam sighed. "It feels.....good." Mark smiled and placed the towel off to the side. The cuts were gone, with only a faint, red line remaining where the star. Sam rolled onto the cloth and grinned in pleasure, invigorated. "It feels great! Are you sure that's-"
"Yup." Sam opened his bright blue eyes. "Okay, I am so fyookin' confused right now. Why aren't I screaming in agony?
Mark shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea. Maybe it was the mark? I have no clue."
Just then, Jack burst into the room. "ANTI!"
"Sam." Mark corrected, as Jack hugged his friend. Jack glanced at Mark, confused. "It fits him better." Jack shrugged and resumed the embrace. Sam ruffled his hair. "Hey, bro. What's up?" His shirt muffled Jack's response. "'m so glad yer okay."
"Well, you have Mark to thank for that." Jack glanced gratefully towards Mark.
"Don't ever do that to me again" He gazed into Sam's eyes. Sam hugged him tighter, as if consoling a small child. "I'll see what I can do."