It was dark. The floor being a black and white checkered pattern that seemed to trail on forever. There a laugh…a metallic, robotic, echoing laugh that sounded like it came from all around him. Glitch could see something in front of him in the distance. A dark silhouette that looked exactly like him…at least it did.

The arm, legs and torso got taller, lankier. The shadow stepped closer and closer, the laughter getting louder and louder. Glitch couldn’t muster out a thing nor move. He simply stood there, trembling. In an instant, the silhouettes arms extended to him. The hands gripping his shoulders. It pulled him over. What terrified him most was how it looked exactly like him. The screen came on, but instead of eyes like his…it was a just a small singular lime circle. The laughter got so loud, it was all Glitch could hear.

Then it all went silent.

“Wake up.”

He woke up, sitting up immediately, panting. He looked up at the mirror in front of him, seeing his wrinkled and disheveled clothes. Still slightly shaken up, he got up and changed into his usual attire. He left his dorm into the main area of the underground level of M.O.T.H., where the team awaited.

Otto was spinning around in a spinning chair, bored out of his mind, Flara watching Otto spin from his chair nearby, and Dr. Lite was writing things down in his clipboard. Otto stopped spinning, eyeing Glitch up and down. “The hell happened to you ?” Dr. Lite looked up at Glitch from his clipboard.

“Just dreams. Nothing really.” He answered, trying to hide the fact that he was still slightly shaken up. “So dreams are the reason you look like shit ?” Otto asked, not buying it. Glitch sighed. “Yes. Dreams are the reason I look like shit.” He answered sarcastically.

The large screen on the wall once again blares red. Dr. Lite looked at the screen. “Well gentlemen. Time for work.” The four walked over and looked at the screen. “Downtown.” Dr. Lite said. “Where Downtown ?” Asked Otto. “If I knew, I would have told you. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Now get going.” The three left and dashed to the garage. It was empty. No van in sight.

“Oh right! We left it at The Lilacs.” Said Otto. Otto nudged Glitch’s shoulder. “Green-Screen. Make a portal for us, will ya ?” Glitch rolled his eyes and made one. The three walked through. The place was bustling with monsters and robots alike. However there were police vehicles and caution tape surrounding a large building. It was a large theater with a large sign that read: “The Benedict Theater” in large glowing yellow letters.

Otto, in seconds slipped under the police tape and walked onto the scene. “Hello officers. Zack I see you’re doing well. Oh and Grey, still as intimidating as ever.” Clearly, Otto was enjoying annoying the two officers. Grey was tall and intimidating. He wore a blue officer uniform, plus a blue officer hat that overshadowed his face with only his right eye being visible. Zack was shorter and the exact opposite of intimidating. Like Grey, he had pitch black skin, but also vibrant green hair and a single red eye. He wore the same uniform as Grey, but unlike him, didn’t wear a hat.

Zack looked his way and seemed very happy to see him. “Otto! Haven’t seen you in ages! How you been, buddy ?” He said walking over and bending down to his level. His voice was happy and full of joy. “Zack, stop talking to the criminal.” Grey ordered Zack, his voice soft but also deep and commanding. “But Grey…” Zack said, whining playfully.

Glitch and Flara walk over. “The heck happened here ?” Asked Flara. Zack stood up straight. “Oh! Benedict’s been kidnapped!” He said excitedly. “We think Benedict’s been kidnapped.” Said Grey, walking over. “Uh…who ?” Asked Glitch. “Uhm, Benedict! Owner of the greatest theater in all of Mendax City! Everyone knows who he is!” Zack answered, excited and happy to explain. Grey sighed from his enthusiasm, but couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Could we maybe have a look inside…?” Flara asked, looking at the front entrance to the theater. Grey sighed. “Guess we can’t stop you three.” “Get ready for a world of entertainment!” Zack said excitedly. The trio walk into the theater.

The theater’s lobby was big, with black walls and red carpet flooring. The walls held a variety of movie and musical posters, as well as a few mirrors. In the middle was a giant golden statue of Benedict himself. His head was a projector, and wore a dress shirt, a blazer with coat tails, a bow-tie, striped pants, gloves, and derby shoes. “Clearly someone’s compensating for something.” Otto said, crossing his arms. Flara smacks Otto on the back of the head. “Ow! What I do?” Asked Otto.

The trio looked around, Flara examining the room, Otto secretly stealing some snacks behind the snack bar, and Glitch looking into one of the mirrors. His eyes narrowed at the mirror. He could…make something out. A tall, pitch black, lanky figure in the reflection in the distance that-…

Looked exactly like him.

Glitch saw the figure look at him with its singular lime eye, and he turned around immediately to see what was behind him. But there was nothing. Was it all in his head ?

He looked back and the his reflection was replaced by the figure. In an instant, it reached out for him through the mirror. Glitch fell back, startled, and the whole place changed. Glitch got up and was in a long, seemingly endless hallway. The walls were a dark purple, and the floor a black and white checkered pattern.

At the end of the hall was…the figure. Simply starring at him. The long arms’ hands reached the floor and were being dragged against it as it slowly walked towards him. The dragging created occasional sparks and a sharp grinding noise. The laughter echoed through the hall. Glitch ran. He ran and he ran. The steps behind him got faster. The laughter got more manic, more distinct.

Then it all went silent.

The footsteps stopped. The laughter stopped. All of the noise just stopped. Glitch stopped running and dared to look behind him. Empty.

He looked back and there it was. Staring directly down at him. Glitch fell back in fear.

“Finally! No more running off.” He giggled. He…kinda sounded like Glitch, but also not at the same time. His voice was a bit higher, and more…mechanical and robotic. He leaned down and was now fully visible. He was tall, lanky, had the same exact TV head as Glitch, but with a singular lime circle for an eye. He wore a black dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, the shirt failing to cover his long rubber-hose of a torso. Over the shirt was a green vest. He also wore a similar bowler hat to Glitch’s, but it was black instead of purple, having a green hatband that was cut into a triangular pattern that looked similar to a crown. He as well wore green trousers that matched the hatband and vest, and brown leather shoes like Glitch’s.

“W-What are you…?” Asked Glitch, his body slightly trembling. “Not what, but who.” It circled around Glitch like a shark, watching him with its one eye. “W-Well then who are you…?” It stopped in front of him.

“Well I’m Bug, and I’ve been dying to meet you…” His last words held a mechanical and sinister edge to it.

Glitch’s eyes suddenly opened wide, his body shaking forward and back. It was Otto on top of him, shaking him awake. “Wake up, dammit!”

“I-I’m up! I’m up! I’m up!” Glitch blurted out. Otto got off of him. Otto scoffed. “Finally. You passed out of freakin’ nowhere. The hell was that about ?”

“Was it just a dream…?” Glitch mumbled to himself. “Huh ?” Otto asked. Glitch shook his head. “U-Uhm, n-nothing. I-It’s nothing.” “Passing out isn’t nothing, Glitch.” Said Flara, concerned for his friend. “S-Seriously guys, I-I’m fine. Now did ya’ll find anything ?”

“Well we-“ Otto cuts off Flara. “We got a lead!” He said proudly, holding out a picture. It was Benedict with some other person in front of the theater. It appeared to be the grand opening of the building. The person had an 8-Ball for a head, a white dress shirt, a dark blue bow tie, dark blue trousers that matched the bow tie, white fingerless gloves and black leather shoes. “And uhm…who exactly is this…?” Glitch asked, never seeing that person in his whole life.

“That is Benedict’s old business partner, 8-Ball.” Flara answered. “8-Ball ? His name is actually 8-Ball ?” Glitch asked in disbelief. They all shrugged and made their way out of the building. The team had a lead.

Once they were back at the base, they explained the whole thing to Dr. Lite. “Ah, I see. But why would our suspect want to kidnap their business partner…?” Dr. Lite paced back and forth. Otto watched Dr. Lite pace back and forth, amused. Flara was busy on a computer, trying to find out about 8-Ball’s history with Benedict, or any history 8-Ball had at all. Glitch was just…sitting there, thinking. About the nightmare, if that was the right word for it. It all seemed so real…so vivid. The chatter amongst the team was muffled while Glitch began zoning out.

“Welcome back.”

In an instant, Glitch was back. Back in the world of dark-purple walls and checkered floors. In front of him awaited Bug, who was sitting on what looked a black spinning chair. His legs were crossed and his right elbow was propped up on an armrest, his hand propping up his hand. He seemed…bored. “Going to run off again…?” He asked.

“Th-This is just a dream…” Glitch whispered to himself, trying to assure himself that what was happening…what he was seeing wasn’t real. “Just…a dream…?” Bug asked, his voice carrying a mechanical, distorted edge. He got up and started walking forward. “I am much more…than just some night terror.” His screen was mere inches away from Glitch’s, looking down at him. Bug spoke quieter, as if other people could hear on their conversation. “I’m a part of you. A part you can’t hide anymore…”

“A-Anymore…? B-But I’ve never seen you in my life…” Glitch said, confused and…slightly scared from how intensely Bug was staring down at him. Bug took a step back, standing up straight but not breaking eye contact. “Oh please. Since day one of your pathetic, mundane life, you’ve been keeping your cards close to your chest. Don’t lie to me, Glitch. I know you…”

“I-I-…” Glitch stuttered out. He didn’t know how to respond. “I know everything about you. Everything…” Bug’s voice carried a distorted, mechanical edge that sent shivers down Glitch’s spine. “So do. Not. Lie. It’s rude to lie to a friend!” His last sentence sounded happy and sincere, as if he wasn’t threatening earlier. “F-Friend…?” Glitch said questioningly. “Yes! Friend! We’re friends! I mean, we might as well be. Since you’re stuck with me, and I’m stuck with you.”

Bug’s arms extended and coiled around Glitch’s body like a snake. He couldn’t move anyways but just his head. Bug leaned in close. “This is going you be your new forever!”

“Just me!”

“And you…”