The Darkness Within

Barely Holding On

Anti's P.O.V.

My mind was racing as I sat there on the couch. The conversation I had with Dark resurfacing the memory of my decision to finally take my stand against The United Front. 

*Flashback*

"Wilford you need to stop this now, otherwise you're going to lose this fight against The Forsaken Agency. This is becoming ridiculous and you know it." I said as I trailed behind Wilford as we walked up the stairs to his office.

"Anti, you have no idea what you're talking about. What do you know about running anything like this? You're in no place to tell me how to do my job. One that I've been doing longer than you've even been here might I add." He said, opening the door to his office and shoving me inside.

I stumbled in through the door and caught myself on his desk. This was becoming tiresome and I was getting to my wits end with him. He's going to ruin us if he keeps up with this shit and I know it won't be my ass being caught in this mess. He'll be going out on his own and I refuse to let him drag me down with him.

"Wilford knock it off. You're being a fucking dick and it needs to stop. I'm tired of you treating me like I'm a child and don't know anything. I've know you for fifteen years Wilford and have been you're best friend for ten of those years. Ever since you took over you've been an entirely different person and treat me like I'm your inferior. Well I've had enough of it and I'm finally putting my foot down."

His face twisted into a glare and he raised his hand and backhanded me across the face hard, making my head jerk to the side. I raise my hand to my cheek and looked at him in shock. He's never laid a hand on me in the years I've known him. This wasn't like him.

"Don't you ever talk to me like that again Anti. We are not equals and we never will be. You may be my friend, but you will never be in the rank that I am. I don't care how long we were friends before I took over. You're lucky you can still talk after a comment like that Anti. I don't ever want to hear you speak to me like that ever again. Is that understood?" He said through gritted teeth as he stared at me hard. His body language asserting his dominance as he was much bigger than I was.

This wasn't the same man I knew fifteen years ago. This wasn't Wilford, this was some monster in my best friend's body. I didn't know what to do at this point. I was in shock and all I could do was nod.

"Good. Now, I have something to show you Anti. Something that I think will make you think twice before stepping out of line again. Come with me." He said as he turned around and walked back out of his office quickly. I stood there for a moment longer before scrambling out of his office to keep up with him.

We walked along long, dark corridors with cells randomly dispersed along each side. He stopped at the third to last cell on the left side and gestured for me to come closer to the door. I crept closer as he slid the peek-a-boo hole cover to the side. When I looked into the small cell, my hands flew to my mouth, stifling a sob.

Inside of the cell on the bed lay the small frame of my younger brother Seán. His head snapped up as he heard the cover slide open and we locked eyes for a moment, a scared, pleading look crossing his face.

"Anti?"

Before I could respond, the peek-a-boo cover slammed shut in my face as Wilford forcefully closed it. I looked at him with a horrified expression, not understanding why Seán was even here.

"What the hell Wilford?! What is Seán doing in there?! Let him out right now!" I said, growing more angry and scared as I spoke.

Wilford laughed, "No Anti. I'm not letting him go. You have started showing signs of going against me and I can't have my closest friend do that now can I? So in order to keep you in your place, I figured the best way was to hold onto the one thing you truly care about. The only family you have left."

I was horrified. I couldn't believe that Wilford would stoop this low just because he was under the impression that I was going to turn against him. This was starting to become too much and I didn't know how much longer I could deal with him. I couldn't leave now because now he had my brother to hold against me. I had no way to fight Wilford and I was officially prey with no vantage point. 

"This is ridiculous Wilford! I can't believe you'd do this to me! Seán has nothing to do with any of this! You need to stop this Wiflord! You've gone bat-shit-crazy and power hungry!" 

He glared daggers at me, pinned me against the cell door with his hands on either side of my head and leaned in close. Our faces were so close I could feel his presence against my skin. 

"Anti, I would advise you to start thinking before you speak to me. You wouldn't want me to take the anger I have for you out on your brother now would you?"

I swallowed and fisted my hands tight, holding in the rage that threatened to boil over. What gave him the right to do this? He would pay for this and I was going to get my brother out of this hellhole if it was the last thing I did. I felt a hand tapping the side of my face rather roughly as I was brought out of my thoughts and into the real world again.

"Hello, Anti. You still there? Did you even hear a word I said to you? " Wilford said as he smacked the side of my face repeatedly. 

"Yes. I heard everything loud and clear." I said through gritted teeth. 

He smiled and patted my cheek a bit softer this time. 

"Good. I'm glad we're on the same page now. I do hope that this makes you realize that you don't call the shots around here Anti and you never will." He backs up and straightens his shirt before gesturing down the hall back where we came. 

I walked toward him before looking back at the cell my last shred of  life clung to occupied. I promised myself then that I would do anything to make sure my brother was safe again. Even if it cost me my life. 

***

Hey there everyone! I hope you're liking the story so far. I'm happy for the feedback I've gotten so far and it makes me so glad that you are enjoying what I've written. I hope I can continue to write parts you enjoy. Until next time, have a wonderful day/night! ^w^