Magnificently Malcontent

Chapter 2

          Marvin threw his books and scrolls off of his desk in a flurry of paper and ink. "This is useless! None of this even makes any sense!" his voice reverberated against his bedroom walls, but he couldn't care less. Marvin had finally found the spell to soundproof his room a few days ago. He couldn't take the chance of his family hearing what he was doing anymore, especially not with how active the glitch was becoming. It's fine. Keep working. They'll be so happy that you did. Marvin sighed, "Easy enough for you to say. You don't have to worry about being caught." He bent down to pick his books back up. You wouldn't have to either if you just did what I told you to do. The work would go faster too.

        "You know that's off limits, Anti. I won't betray my family like that. There are still lines that I won't cross." The glitch had been offering him the same deal day after day. Become his puppet for just a little while, and he'll lend his aid in Marvin's project. I'm family too. Marvin felt his blood boil at that comment. "You are not family! You gave up that title when you tried to take Henrik," he screamed. He turned around and punched the wall. What was he doing? Working with Anti of all people? It was a new low, and he knew it. Suddenly a set of hands were on his shoulders and spinning him around. It was the glitch himself, Antisepticeye.

        "So what does that make you, hmm? After all you are the one choosing to work with me ," he hummed. If Marvin hadn't been so sleep deprived, he would have noticed the gradual sound of static slowly filling the room.

         "I'm not like you. I'm not! Shut up! Just shut up!" Marvin snapped his hands up to cover his ears and tried to get out of Anti's grasp.

          Anti's hold wouldn't budged, " Aren't you? This magic you're using? It's dark, darker than you've ever experienced before. But you say you're doing it for a good reason: to help your family. It's not that far off from what I do. You just don't want to face the truth ." Anti roughly grabbed Marvin's face to force his eyes to make contact with his. Marvin could tell he was starting to panic, but there was no way he would show that to the man- no, demon- in front of him. " No matter what you do now, you'll be branded. They won't trust you. They won't see how you have been working so hard to help them. They'll only see a villain, just like me ."

           Marvin's eyes widened. "No. No. That's n-not true. I-I'm not like you," he whimpered. His heart rate was steadily picking up, and even Anti at this point could see that he was shaking. All it would take is one final tug at the right string.

          "If you don't believe me, go tell them about what you've been doing ." Marvin stopped breathing. His brothers would never forgive him. They'll throw him out. They'll beat him up. They'll cast him aside. There was a reason he hadn't told them about his plan before now, but he wasn't about to let this glitch be right. His anger towards Anti was a lot stronger than the panic welling up in his chest.

          "Fine! I know they love me. They said that they would always accept me! They know that I am nothing like you! I'll prove it! You'll see." Marvin rushed out into the hallway and slammed his door before he could lose his nerve. In his hurry to get away, he didn't notice JJ until it was too late. They both fell to the ground from the sudden force of running into one another. In the back of his mind Marvin registered the sound of breaking dishes. Upon further inspection he could see a wooden tray with the remnants of food and shards of plates surrounding it. JJ was bringing him dinner. Marvin didn't have time to be grateful as he could hear the pounding footsteps of the rest of his family drawing nearer.

          His eyes flickered back and forth between his door and the wide eyes of his little brother. Those caring, worried, fearful eyes. One look and Marvin knew he lost every ounce of courage he had. How could he tell his broth- no, his best friend that he had gone behind everyone's back to work with someone who had hurt him no less than 5 minutes after his creation? You can't . Marvin didn't have it in him to disagree.

          "JJ? Marvin? Are you guys alright?" Jackie's voice came booming up the stairs filled with a level of concern that Marvin didn't deserve.

          "We are fine. Just a light scuffle." JJ signed as soon as they were all in the line of sight. If only he knew how wrong he was. Marvin could see it now. They would all turn their backs on him. Their concern for him would turn to contempt. A slight buzzing grew in the back of his mind at the same rate as his heartbeat. Chase crossed over to them quickly, and Marvin scooted himself backward until his back was pressed up against the door. Although he couldn't hear him, he knew exactly who was behind that door and what would happen if it were to open. It was an event that he had to prevent at all costs.

           "Marvin? Hey we just want to talk to you. Make sure you're alright, dude." Chase slowed his pace toward him.

          "Hyperventilation. Zhat is not a good sign." Henrik piped up from the back. All eyes were on Marvin. They could all tell he was panicking. They were all going to find out. No. No! They're mouths kept moving, but Marvin couldn't hear their voices. All he heard was a steady, deafening static filling up his senses, filling up his mind. They were coming closer. No, they were going to attack him! He couldn't breath. He couldn't think. He couldn't escape.

            And then it happened. Marvin glitched. The whole world went still. Everyone's eyes went wide with shock. No one could process what they just saw, least of all JJ. His eyes were welling up with tears. Before they knew it, Marvin dashed back inside his room. They were all left frozen in the hallway, left to pick up the pieces.