Innocence and Instinct

Chapter 1: Something's Not Right.

It's been about a year now since I'd became his roommate. Always putting up with his shouting and silly antics. Jack had easily become my best friend and someone I counted on through my best or worse times. However.. I noticed something different about him lately. He'd been complaining about his throat and head hurting. At first I put it off as a side effect from his constant shouting but that changed when his complaints became more frequent. How could you help someone if you didn't know what was wrong with them?

One day, I had just finished making lunch for Jack and myself. Just some simple sandwiches and some Doritos nothing too fancy. I'd always brought his lunch up to him as he'd usually be recording or editing as soon as he was up. Once inside, I shut the door with my foot and made my way over to Jack who judging from his screen was editing. But he wasn't looking at it. Instead he was hunched over in his chair, clutching at his head with his hands in a claw like manner. It also sounded like he was whispering and growling too but faintly. Quickly I set his lunch aside and went up to him to see if he was okay. It looked as if he was having one of those crippling migraines. The closer I got, the colder the air felt. Which was odd as the temperature was never messed with. His headset had been on the ground by his feet. Before I could even dare touch his shoulder he shouts loudly.

"G-Get out of my head! I.. won't submit to you!" He shouts still clawing at his head. I knew something wasn't right now. He'd never acted like this before. I felt bad for him and wanted to help somehow. His body began to tremble and shift back and forth almost quick enough to miss if you were to blink. Gathering my courage, I finally touched his shoulder and he felt cold as death itself. His head snaps up and his gaze met mine. But it wasn't Jack's normal blue eyes. These eyes were pitch black and green in the center and they were bleeding black tendrils down his face. His teeth which had been bored at me were sharp. I tried to back away but his hand quickly grabbed my arm. 

"Where.. do you think you're going?" He asked, his voice was cold and intimidating. 

I struggled in his grip. "What have you done with Jack?! Bring him back now!" I exclaimed trying to get free.

"Ohh so it's him you want huh? Poor weak little Jack. Why do you want him for huh? I'm much better than he is." He replies, a wicked grin tracing his lips. Trying to scream was impossible as nothing would come out. His hand had gone from my arm to my throat within seconds, pinning me to the wall.

"I am Anti. And you will obey me. If you don't.. well let's just say you're little friend will suffer. Greatly. Why he cares for you so much and doesn't tell you I'll never understand. I could easily give you everything. Anything you desire." Anti spoke as he held me in place. It took me a moment to notice the cut in his neck. What was Anti? Why was he here? All I know is I wanted my best friend back. And I would do whatever it takes to do so.

Instinct drove me to fight him off and I swung and kicked at him the best I could. Somehow in my wild swings I'd clocked him in the jaw, making him bleed. But he only grinned more.

"Fight all you want darling, you won't win. You're only hurting him the more you fight me. Look what you've done already. He's bleeding. Because of you." Anti growled.

My eyes swelled with tears. He was right, I just struck him without even realizing I'd hit my best friend hard enough to bleed. Before I could retort however, Anti swung at me, it wasn't a punch but I could feel a burning pain across my cheek. He'd scratched me and it bled just the same as his jaw was. He throws me down and for some reason stopped cold, his body shifting and trembling again. It had to be Jack fighting back for control of himself again. His eyes were flickering between blue and pitch black. Eventually he collapses to the ground gasping for breath. As quick as he'd become Anti, he was now himself. He felt the pain in his jaw and reached up to touch it only to be met with blood trailing down his fingers. But then he saw me across the room, also bleeding on the face and panting for breath. There was a look of horror in both our faces.

"W-What have we done?" was the only thing we could ask ourselves.