Night 3

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Mark heaved for air and spasmed to get up then realized he was in his own bed again. He reached around in the darkness, feeling for his little biscuit. He found him and held Tim. Mark looked up into the darkness. The glow from the never sleeping city he lived in came into his room through the edges of his curtains, allowing for a bit of light to flow through. A silent moment passed before he turned on the light.

“I don’t think sleep is a good idea anymore,” Mark told himself as he sat up, debating if he should go make some tea to calm himself down. After a moment, he put on his glasses, moved the covers off him and he was still wearing his pajama pants. He put on his black and red flannel, left it unbuttoned, put on his glasses and carried Tiny Box Tim with him to the kitchen.

Mark turned on the light, making the whole room light up. He glanced at the clock.

“3 AM isn’t too bad.” He mumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair, making it fluffy and the sweat made it stay that way. He put water in the kettle, set it on the stove and turned it on. He opened the cabinet and reached for a mug.

His arm completely missed. He sighed heavily. “Not this again.” He moved to get the mug and it spun away from his fingers. He swung his arm and slapped another mug into the side of the cabinet and managed to pick it up. He moved to put it on the counter. The mug spun on its base and almost didn’t land right.

“Stupid game.” Mark mumbled as he moved for the tea in another cabinet. He glared at the tea bags as his arm kept missing and swinging some other way. After a few tries he got a tea bag and got it into the mug.

The water started to heat up. Mark waited a few minutes longer for the water to be warm enough. He picked up the mug, barely, and moved it to the kettle and put it down. The tea kettle worked for him and he got his tea.

He sighed softly and took the mug with him to the couch and sat down in the corner. He curled up under some blankets and nestled Tim by his chest. He put the mug over the blanket and on his lap.

Mark closed his eyes and sipped the tea after it had steeped long enough. It felt like it’d been an hour or so, just trying to keep his mind blank.

His eyes snapped open when he heard a mug land on the counter. He turned to see another version of himself. A flicker of fear coursed through his blood.

This version turned around and showed himself with a white streak in his hair. He moved through the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea. He wore a black shirt with a light blue M on it. His white wings shifted behind him, “I am Light.” He explained further and took off his dark sunglasses as he went to sit down in the chair near Mark. “I am opposite to the one in your nightmares.”

“How are you here?” Mark asked, straightening up to face him.

Light put down the tea and looked at Mark. “I can appear in your reality while Dark appears in your subconscious. He’s up to something and with that helper of his, who I think you’ve seen…” He trailed off for a moment. “He’s even more powerful than I remember.”

Mark spoke up, “What is happening to me?”

Light looked past Mark into the dark hallway then at Mark, “You are dealing with every alter ego you have ever created. Dark wants power over you or your body or something so he woke the rest of us up. When we didn’t join him he pushed us farther from you.” Light looked passed Mark again and nodded. “Hero is on your side and so is Tim.” He explained as Tim wiggled from Mark’s arm and lit up. The same sidekick in his nightmare was standing behind couch now.

Hero joined Tim, “We are up against two alter egos that have embodied everything you aren’t.”

“But I didn’t create you,” Mark said to Hero.

“Like I said before, ‘I am the hero within you’.” Hero explained, “You may not have created me, but through everything you stand for, for the good in this world, for every follower on YouTube, for the money you raise for charity, for the fans you get to meet and everything else. I have been created.” He held his arms up as he spoke then put them down.

“Okay, well I did create Wilfred.” Mark said, turning to Light.

“We don’t talk about Wilfred.” Light replied quickly, looking away from Mark.

“He’s a goofball and can’t do anything serious.” Tim said.

“Alright… So what do we do?” Mark asked putting down the tea he can no longer finish due to the knots in his stomach.

“We,” Light gestured to Hero and Tim, “protect you from them.”

Hero jumped and turned to the shadow of the hallway. Tim faced it as well. Light stood up and displayed his white wings.

“We have names, you know.” Dark said as he walked out of the shadows. His white shirt clung to his pale skin, revealing the teeth on his stomach. He stuck his hand in the pocket of his black pants and leaned back on the wall. At contact, black tendrils reached out. They didn’t go far, but they were there.

“You see,” another Mark appeared from the shadows, the same from the first nightmare. His voice was deep and demonic and outright scary. “Dark, here has a plan.”

“We will never join.” Light said defensively.

“We don’t need you to join.” The other laughed. His red pupils landed on Mark.

Dark laughed and stepped forward. “We want to make a bet.”

“What kind of bet?” Hero demanded.

“You and me fight,” Dark gestured to Hero. “And whoever wins, gains control of the body.” The other nudged Dark, “Demon wants a part too.” Dark looked at Light, “You two will engage in battle. The outcome of yours will not affect the outcome of ours.”

“What if we don’t want to fight?” Tim asked.

Dark moved to him and towered over his short self. “You don’t have a choice, Tiny.” Dark’s eyes pierced right through Tim. Hero put his arm under Dark and shoved him away. Dark stumbled back and looked shocked. Hero was glaring at Dark.

“Are you angry?” Dark taunted with a smile.

Light raised his fists and punched the air towards Dark. A fireball flew through the air and Dark easily dodged it. “Do we look angry?”

Demon looked at Dark and whispered, “Light isn’t very powerful right now. When the sun comes up, that’s when…”

“That’s when I get to actually kick your ass.” Light said, stepping onto the couch and onto the floor on the other side. He didn’t look away from Demon.

Dark backed away, “Let’s go,” Demon growled and Dark detoured through the kitchen. He grabbed a box of Cheese-Its and turned to Mark. “You need to eat more.” He said as he ripped the top off and pulled up his shirt. He walked into the darkness feeding his stomach mouth. When the crunching stopped Mark picked up his tea again with shaky hands.

Pre dawn peered over the horizon and a bit of faded light got into the room.

“We are with you till the end, Mark.” Light said to him, wings lowering and fire fading away.

Tim jumped over the couch and landed next to Mark.

Hero saluted and walked away with Light. “And don’t be afraid to take a nap this afternoon.”

Tim hugged Mark, Mark wrapped his arms around Tim and after a few moments, Mark felt the plushie in his arms again. He sat in silent fear as it all started to flood his mind. What could he do? He was only human. He didn’t have any special powers like they did. He could only be protected by them.

Or die… if they lose the fight.  

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