Another||DBH

Chapter Fourteen

"Is this the place?" Markus asked as the taxi pulled up in front of a mansion. The lights were on, glowing yellow and cutting through the darkness of that night. The clouds were covering the stars and moon, heavy snow continuing to fall.

Connor nodded as he stepped out of the taxi, Markus following suit.

"This is the place. Hank and Charlie are in there." His voice drew quieter towards the end. Markus didn't respond, because he didn't know how to respond to that. So he settled with approaching the doors to the mansion, finding that they were slightly ajar. He shared a look with Connor.

"We're being expected," he deadpanned, watching as Connor pulled the gun from its holster. They shared a look, before pushing open the door and stepping inside. They were immediately greeted with an unpleasant sight.

Hank was tied to a chair, blood dripping from his nose and a on his forehead. The barrel of a gun was pressed against his temple; and yet he didn't seem to be submissive. The Ripper was holding the gun, grinning maniacally at them with rotting teeth.

"'Took ya long enough...now drop the gun! Or he dies..." she pressed the gun further into Hank's temple, her grin only widening.

Connor was quick to drop the gun, kicking it away. Him and Markus raised their hands in surrender, to show that they were unarmed. She still seemed unsatisfied.

"Your skin, remove it."

Connor and Markus looked at each other. They really did not want to do that, but they had no choice if they wanted Hank to live; so they did what she said.

Hank gaped at them as their skin faded away, being replaced with the plastic, porcelain white beneath. Markus and Connor felt ashamed, like they were naked in front of everyone.

"Oh, Charlie!" The Ripper sang. Markus' heart sank as he watched Charlie appear, standing next to her.

His skin had been toggled off as well. Thirium dripped from his nose, a cut on his cheek, and there was a Thirium stain on his shirt; meaning his chest had likely been cut as well.

He held no recognition for Markus or Connor.

He had been reset.

There was a gun in his hands, aimed at them. He looked almost sure of himself. Not the slightest bit of recognition or sympathy for them. He didn't remember.

"It's just a machine. And you're just machines, so I don't see what difference your deaths will make. When he kills ya, I'm gonna deactivate him and rip him apart. Piece by piece. And there's nothin' you can do." She giggled, wrapping an arm around Hank's shoulder as she continued to press the gun against his temple.

"Is there anythin' you'd like to say to him before ya die? It's not like he'll hear it, but be my guest." She seemed almost condescending at this point.

Markus had an idea. It was risky and stupid, but it could work. If it had the potential to bring Charlie back to his senses, keep him safe, and make sure all four of them got out alive, it was worth it.

"Yeah, actually; I do." Markus replied in an almost teasing manner, fully aware of the 'what the fuck are you doing' stare that both Connor and Hank were giving him at that very moment.

His hands still raised in surrender, he started to approach Charlie with slow, careful steps. Charlie didn't react. He didn't waver, didn't flinch, and his eyes didn't soften or flicker between subtle emotions like they used to. Markus missed that a lot now.

"Hold on, just a little while longer." He began to sing, his voice shaky as he tried to hide how terrified and emotional he was right then.