Nightmarish Echo
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It was rare for one of your friends to take an interest in something you were passionate about. It was almost non-existent for your friend to sit down and ask about it. Wanting to know why you adored the Youtubers so much, and why you found them so funny. You almost leapt at the opportunity to introduce them to Jacksepticeye. You started with the simple, one-time videos. Like the ‘Power Hour’ and some of his sillier content. Slowly working your way into some of his series. And you found your friend absolutely adoring Jack. Which excited you even more. And so, the rest of the weekend involved you and your friend lounging around watching Jack's horror series. You had seen bits and pieces of his “Oulast 2” videos, so it was as much of an adventure for you as it was for your friend.
“I could never play horror games,” Your friend muttered. Curled up with a pillow, their phone being tapped absently as the next episode loaded up. The ad gave you enough time to dash to the kitchen and get food before Jack started his intro
“I think it would be an adventure!” You replied. Plopping back down in your seat as the video started. “But, I would need someone with me. Someone who knows how to handle themselves.”
“So you can do all the screaming?” Your friend asked and you nodded. Not even fazed by their hint at you being a cry-baby.
“Yep. I’ll happily run away from crazed people, as long as I don’t actually have to face them.” The two of you laughed and settled in for another long episode.
By the time you were through the video, you needed to use the bathroom. All the drinks you were idly consuming was finally getting to you. “Hey, once this is finished. Pause it, so I can disappear for a sec.” You said. And your friend nodded.
“Yeah. A break from the horror might do us both good.” They agreed.
With the outro music playing, you dashed off the couch to use the bathroom. Leaving your friend with the option to pause the next video, or go onto a short video while they waited.
As you exited the bathroom, your phone received a message. You didn't realize how late in the afternoon it was now. Almost night-time, and a certain someone was just waking up.
Mothballs: ‘You’ve been watching Jack all day again. It’s unhealthy to stay inside all day.’
You scoffed playfully at the message and typed a reply.
You: ‘You stay inside all day. You can’t lecture me!’
And the reply was almost instant. Mothballs: ‘I don’t need sunlight like you do, sweetheart. Next time you stay inside all day, I’m buying you a UV light to hang over your bed. Is someone with you? Can I hear a second pulse?’
Sometimes you forgot that Marquess’ hearing was enhanced. Enough so that he could hear your friend’s heart-beat from the upstairs bedroom. You have turned down the volume of the tv and closed the door that led up to the second story flat. It impressed you he could hear anything with the amount of sound proofing the guy had in there.
You: ‘Yeah. A friend. They wanted to watch Jack’s videos. So it was an educational day.’
You could practically see Marquess’ eye roll. He disapproved of Jack’s work. Not the good he does, but more or less of how “idiotic” it made the guy look. It was mostly because you teased him constantly about the likeness between him and his mortal look alike.
Mothballs: ‘Fine, fine. I’ll be out for most of tonight. I have a dinner date planned. So don’t wait up. And don’t stay up too late.’
You: ‘Yes, Mum.’
You pocketed your phone after sending the reply. Passing by the kitchen to get a snack before wandering into the living room. You instantly dropped the packet of sweets, panic filling your chest as your eyes took in what was on the screen.
“Oh no. T-Turn that off!” You shrieked, diving for the remote as Jack lifted the blade from the pumpkin and placed it on his neck.
“What? No. This is weird, what’s he’s doing?” Your friend asked, too busy watching Jack collapsed over the pumpkin to care that you had snatched the remote from their hands.Your finger pressing down on the red button as the screen flickered and static took over the screen. Your heart stopped. The red button pushing up against your finger as you forced it into the plastic remote. But the smiling face didn’t go away. His eyes were on you. Face glitching around the screen as your friend ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’
“F̷̣̪͆̆̈́ǒ̵̡ǘ̶͕n̴͕̂͘d̴͙̫̦̓͒ ̴͉͉̦̑̈̓ỵ̸͓͉͙̊͗̽̉̿͜ō̴͜ű̵̟͈̘̔”
A sharp pain seared through your hand. You cried out as the remote exploded in your fingers. Green sparks erupted from the wires, causing you to hiss as the heat burned into your skin. The tv went to static, a loud white noise filling the room before cutting off completely. The lights flashing bright and then going dark. You clutched your hand close and waited. Pain throbbing through your hand as you looked around.
“Oh my god! (y/n), your hand!” Your friend rushed to your side. Taking your arm and looked down at the injured skin. “Goddamn. Do you have a medical kit o-or something? Like… fuck. Quick get it under water. I’ll call the ambulance.”
“N-No, it’s ok. You should go. I’ll be ok.” You said. But you did heed their suggestion to run the water and placed your hand under it. You hissed as the water splashed against your reddening skin. It hurt, but it was somehow soothing too.
“Thanks for coming over. But you should really go. I’ll call you tomorrow and we can watch the rest of…. Hey, are you ok?” You trailed off as your friend entered the kitchen. A vacant expression on their face as they stood in the doorway.
Your friend wobbled on their feet. A hand coming up to press against their forehead. “I’m… fine. I just got dizzy getting off the couch. I think I just need some…”
You cried out as they collapsed to the floor. Their head barely missing the kitchen counter as their body hit the floor with a heavy thud!
You tried to go to them; however a wave of dizziness hit you. Causing you to stumble back, slamming your shoulders into the fridge as your eyes fluttered closed. Momentarily plunging you into darkness. It took some effort, but you shook your head and pushed aside the fog from your mind. The pain in your hand acting like an anchor. You sucked in a breath and pushed away from the fridge. Groaning as your vision swam with colors.
“Hey… hey are you alright?” Your voice slurred. But you forced your legs to carry you over to where your friend collapsed. “Y-You need to get out of… here.”
They were gone. Your friend’s body was nowhere to be seen in the kitchen. Shaking your head again, you went to the lounge-room on unstable legs. Finding it difficult to see anything in the murky green light. Even when you flicked on the lights, the fog wasn’t going away. Seeming to double everything in your vision. Fazing objects in and out of your vision. Causing you to run into the couch, which you definitely don’t remember being so close to the wall.
You called out to your friend. Your voice drowned out by the gentle humming. Your ears vibrating with the sound, even as you covered your ears. Hoping to block it out.
“Stop it.” You whimpered. The noise surrounding you. Pressing down on you until your legs buckled. “Please.”
Somewhere nearby you heard something crash. A thud making the ground shake as your body trembled with the noise. A cold spot seeping over your shoulder as something flung you onto your back. Your arms struck out, hitting something hard and you heard the whisper of a voice. Echoing through the green haze as a shadowy figure loomed over you.
“I̵'̷m̵ ̷h̷e̴r̵e̵ ̷n̸o̵w̸.̵ ̷D̷o̷n̸'̸t̷ ̴w̸o̸r̶r̸y̶.̸ ̸I̶'̷m̵ ̶n̸o̷t̴ ̸g̴o̸i̴n̴g̸ ̶a̷n̵y̷w̶h̶e̷r̶e̴”
The voice was smooth, broken apart by the noise. A face illuminated by the green light as it started to grow. Your arms were trapped against your sides. A weight pressing down on your legs, further denying you the attempt to struggle free.
“Let me go!” You screamed. The face becoming clearer. The green taking on a beacon like shine in the man’s eye, flashing dangerous down at you.
“N̴o̴t̷ ̷u̵n̷t̵i̶l̴ ̵y̴o̶u̴ ̶g̵i̷v̷e̶ ̸m̸e̷ ̵w̶h̷a̷t̷ ̵I̷ ̷w̷a̶n̴t̸” Anti hissed. A predatory grin stretching across his face as the white-noise pitched to a higher note. The pain increasing until your eyes were screwed up in agony.
“Stop it!” You begged. You needed to get out! You thrashed wildly, throwing all your strength into every movement until you managed to free one hand and swipe. But before your hand collided with skin, a cold hand stopped your fist.A voice, close to a snarl, broke through the white-noise.
“That’s enough, Anti. Release them!”
“A̶h̷h̷,̷ ̶t̶h̸e̵r̸e̸ ̶y̷o̵u̴ ̷a̵r̷e̸.̸ ̷R̴e̸a̵d̴y̶ ̶t̴o̸ ̶j̴o̸i̵n̴ ̴t̶h̵e̸ ̵p̸a̸r̶t̴y̷?̸” Anti’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard. Clawing your ears like needles as you whimpered under the pressure of his hold. You felt two pairs of hands holding onto you. The cool and firm grip that clutched your wrist, and the hot, stinging claws that yanked at invisible strings tied to your body. You wanted to scream. To cry out and hit something. Anything to get away from the pricking hooks in your skin.
“You have no quarrel with them, Anti. Let them go. NOW!” Marquess’ voice was like a sword through the fog. Slicing open a path you managed to crawl through.
Your hands found purchase in soft material. The scent of cologne and detergent further pulling you away from the noise. Even the hooks seemed to release some as you focused on Marquess. An anchor that was pulling you up rather then down. You heard Anti snarl. Sharp claws digging into the back of your head; trying to pull you back.
“O̷h̵ ̸n̶o̴,̶ ̵y̸o̸u̴ ̵d̷o̶n̷'̴t̶,̵ ̵d̷o̷l̶l̸.̵ ̴I̸'̴m̵ ̵n̸o̵t̶ ̴f̴i̷n̵i̸s̵h̴e̷d̷.̵” Anti snarled. The noise heightening as you were dragged back into the fog.
“N-No! I don’t want to go.” You whimpered. The material in your hands tearing from your grip as Anti tugged.
“(Y/N), fight him. I’m right here. Come on, little one. You can break free.” Marquess was only a whisper now. A distant echo in the front of your mind. “Fight him, (y/n)!”
You kicked out. Clawing at the invisible hands that bound you. Tugging at the hooks, not caring how much pain they caused now. You just wanted to leave! You felt something catch your hand and you held tight, tugging harshly and twisting. Anti roared in pain. Yanking his hair out of your fingers and jerking back. Distracting him enough for you to pull out of his fingers and scramble back to Marquess. The green light faded to dark as red shimmered around the edges of your vision. Anti’s bellow of anger faded into nothing as you fell into a cold depth.
“(y/n)... come on, love, wake up.” Marquess had you pinned to the floor. Your legs trapped under him as he held your wrists to the carpet. He had found you thrashing beside the couch. Whimpering in pain and calling out with terrified cries. Anger started to simmer down to a smouldering flame as your expression relaxed. The pain you felt easing into a dull throb as your eyes fluttered open.
“M-Marquess?” You looked exhausted. Paler in complexion as Marquess released your wrists and scooped you into his arms. He cradled you against his chest as you mumbled on about how much your wrists ached.
“Sorry, love. You tried to hit me.” Marquess explained. A teasing smile playing on his lips as you scoffed softly.
“Like I’d even be able to hurt you.” You looked around the room. Curling more closely to Marquess when you were welcomed with only a dark room. “W-Where’s Anti?”
“I don’t know.” Marquess hissed. Every fibre of him was tingling. He could feel the other ego’s presence within the walls of the house. Anti seemed to be everywhere, but nowhere at the same time. It concerned Marquess. “You need to get out of here.” Marquess said. Getting to his feet and holding you close as he started walking towards the door.
“But what about you? Is he after you?” You visibly paled when Marquess nodded. His red gaze watching every possible shadow for the intruder. “Why?”
“Does he need a reason?” Marquess snarled. A few more steps were taken towards the door. “He’s a glitch. A pest. A coward who only wants to cause destruction.”
“Y̸̱̕o̵̤̕u̶̝̕'̶̮̆r̸̄ͅe̷̜͠ ̸͚͆ṯ̶͊o̶͖͘o̴̤͋ ̵̱̈k̸̦̎î̷̺n̷̠̑d̵̞͌,̵̤͠ ̷̦̋B̵̼͑l̷̞͛o̶̖͗ó̸̤d̶͈̈́-̴͖̃Š̵̭ǘ̴͉c̴̤͂k̵͚͠e̸̮̓r̴̺̓.̵̻̿ ̵̭́A̴̼͊n̸̠̐d̴̙́ ̷̝͗h̴̲̉e̶̞̿r̸̝̊é̵̳ ̷̘̃İ̸͔ ̴͈̈t̴̞̎h̶̲͌o̴̼̊ụ̶̿ġ̸̼h̷̥̑t̷̺͒ ̵̭̂y̶͖̏o̷͋͜ú̸ͅ ̴͖̂h̷͇͌à̷̤t̴̟́e̷̻̎d̴̮̂ ̷̔ͅm̴̲̃e̷͖͂.̷̹͘”
“I despise you.” Marquess spat. His stance more protective as Anti’s voice echoed through the house. “You’re nothing but a cockroach.”
A flash of green blinded you, the deafening white-noise piercing your mind as Marquess dropped to his knees. The house shook with his pained howl, barely audible over the noise. Whatever you were hearing, would be triple to Marquess. His skull rattled with the sound. The agony causing him to tighten his grip on you and grit his teeth together.
You could feel his fingers bruising your sides. But you couldn’t find your voice to tell him to stop.
“A̴n̵d̴ ̷y̴o̷u̵'̵r̵e̴ ̸a̸ ̸v̶a̷m̶p̸i̶r̷e̵ ̸k̶n̷e̶e̷l̸i̶n̶g̸ ̸a̷t̴ ̸a̴ ̶c̸o̴c̵k̴r̸o̴a̸c̶h̴'̸s̸ ̷feet.̴” The voice pierced through the ringing with ease. Matching the tones to easily wormed into your mind. “P̸a̶t̸h̶e̵t̷i̴c̶.̸ ̶I̶ ̵e̴x̵p̶e̵c̸t̵e̶d̸ ̸m̴o̸r̵e̷.̸”
Marquess groaned. His head tilted at an awkward angle, trying to push against the pressure that weighed down on his back. His gaze was a smoldering red fire. Glowing through the dim light as he turned to look up at Anti. The ego was surrounded by green light. His own gaze mimicking the neon hue that shimmered from his body. A smug grin stretching wide as Marquess’ lips pulled back. Displaying two sharp canines; his fangs.
“What… do you...want..?” Marquess forced the words out. The noise twisting in pitch, as Anti stepped closer. A glint of silver catching your attention and your eyes widened at the sight of the blade Anti was carrying. He spun it between his fingers. Taking a moment to admire the blade before replying.
“N̷o̷t̷h̷i̸n̴g̶.̵ ̶I̴ ̶j̷u̶s̷t̵ ̶w̸a̶n̴t̷e̶d̴ ̸t̸o̷ ̸s̷h̴o̸w̸ ̵y̵o̷u̵ ̵w̴h̵a̵t̶ ̶h̴a̶p̸p̵e̷n̵s̵ ̸w̷h̷e̴n̴ ̷I̴ ̵c̶o̷m̷e̴ ̶a̸r̵o̸u̴n̶d̴.̷” Anti said with a cackle. His eyes shimmering brighter as they landed on your cowering form. A glitch ran through Anti’s head as he crouched in front of the two of you. Ignoring Marquess’ warning growl as the blade inched closer. The point barely pressed against your cheek as Anti spoke.
“I̴ ̸d̷o̸n̵'̶t̵ ̴h̷a̴v̵e̷ ̸b̵e̶e̵f̴ ̶w̵i̶t̵h̸ ̵t̸h̵i̷s̸.̵.̸.̴ ̴p̵u̴p̵p̷e̸t̴.̸ ̷B̷u̸t̶ ̶s̵h̴o̸u̵l̶d̸ ̸y̶o̵u̴ ̴d̸o̶ ̵s̴o̴m̶e̴t̶h̴i̴n̶g̷ ̴I̵ ̴d̷o̵n̶'̷t̷ ̵l̶i̶k̸e̸.̷.̶.̴"̷ The sting was quick. Pain causing you to jerk back as Anti withdrew his blade. The point only carrying a little red as Anti stood. His grin ever present as his head glitched back and forth.
“W̶a̴n̵t̸ ̸t̵o̶ ̴t̸a̴s̵t̸e̸,̸ ̷L̷e̷e̶c̸h̴?̸ ̶O̴r̵ ̷h̴a̶v̵e̵ ̶y̸o̸u̴ ̵a̴l̸r̷e̶a̵d̴y̴ ̶t̶a̵s̶t̷e̶d̵ ̸t̴h̶e̶m̸?̶” Anti asked. The knife coming closer again. Marquess snarled and slapped away the blade. His fangs cutting into his lips as thin spider-web like veins began to show under his eyes. The grey tell-tale signs that Marquess was falling into his instincts.
Anti pulled back a little. Surprise flickering over his face. But it was quickly replaced by a cackling sneer.
“H̷i̴t̴ ̷a̷ ̸n̷e̴r̴v̶e̶,̶ ̷h̷u̴h̵?̴” Anti chuckled. The green gaze flashing dangerously. “D̷o̵n̶'̵t̵ ̵w̸o̷r̷r̷y̴.̷ ̷I̶t̵'̴l̴l̶ ̵b̷e̸ ̶a̴ ̵l̸a̴s̵t̶ ̷a̴p̷o̸l̷o̷g̴y̶ ̸i̵f̶ ̶y̵o̸u̷ ̷t̷r̵i̷e̵d̸ ̴a̵n̷y̵t̶h̶i̴n̵g̴ ̴s̴t̴u̸p̵i̸d̴.̸”
Marquess didn’t make a noise. He just lunged. You didn’t notice the shift in positions until a second had passed. You had been placed on the floor, behind Marquess as he leapt at the ego. His claws had sprouted, grey veins turning black as his speed took him across the few feet between him and Anti. And somehow, Anti glitched out of his path. A hair's breadth away from being sliced open by Marquess’ talons. But Marquess didn’t stop. He chased Anti around the space of the lounge-room. Each swipe a millimetre closer to cutting Anti open. But the glitch was quick enough to see the blurred body and disappear out of its path. To you, it was three seconds of pain and a snarling tornado of fury surrounding you. And then, it was gone.
Like someone had flipped a switch, plunging you into silence more deafening now the sound had ended.
You took a moment to gather your thoughts. Whimpering with every movement. The bruises and the headache was enough to keep you curled up on the floor. Your hand didn’t bother you as much now. It seemed to be the only real pain you were currently experiencing.
A few minutes passed. Marquess was beside you, silently waiting for you to look up. To centre yourself enough to let him hold you. Your slowing pulse calmed him enough to control the other side of him. His features returning to normal as he brushed the back of his hand against your hair. Stirring you from the dizzied state. And when you did peer out from under your hands, Marquess scooped you up and held you protectively against his chest. The dark veins were back to grey, and his lips were healing from where his fangs had cut into them. “Are you hurt, little one?” Marquess asked. “Your hand…”
Marquess only now noticed the burnt blisters on your fingers. His anger displayed through the swirling red of his eyes. Switching between your hand and the noticeable cut on your cheek.
He was going to tear that glitch apart.
“I’m ok…” You croaked. “W-Wait… where’s-”
“Your friend is unharmed in the kitchen. Anti let them be. He knocked the two of you out and tried to invade your mind.” Marquess quickly reassured you. Leaning against the side of the couch as he relaxed. The walls were quiet. The energies in the house returning to normal. A sign Anti had left for now. “Let's get you cleaned up.”
“Are you ok?” You asked. Finally looking up at Marquess as he stood. He carried you as carefully as he would a glass vase. His eyes staring forward, expressionless and cold as he walked towards the bathroom.
“No, little one. I am not.” Marquess growled. But made no further comment. Which only worried you more. You said nothing as Marquess sat you on the bathroom counter. Watching him silently bring out the medical supplies and open the container. Antiseptic, bandages and gauze for your injuries. Even as he dabbed your cut with the antiseptic, he said nothing as you winced from the sting. His fingers careful and gentle. A stone gaze set on your injury.
“What are you going to do?” You asked. But you were pretty sure you didn’t need an answer.
Marquess was quiet for a moment. His body language screaming rage as he began to wrap your burnt hand up in bandages. Every movement seemed to be stiff and robotic. Like he was restraining a great strength. “What I always do, little one.” Marquess said. His voice barely above a whisper. “I’m going to kill.”