Remington went to the gym and took a quick shower before heading to the office. He tapped on the door gently and waited for a prompt to enter. “Come in.” He heard from behind the door. It was Sigil. He pushed the door open and walked in cautiously. Sigil was sitting behind the desk looking fairly busy. Zexich happened to be in the room this time. Remington approached and waited to be acknowledged.

  “Hello Remington, how are you doing?” Zexich asked very politely.

  “My head hurts.” Remington said roughly. It seemed his head hadn't stopped hurting since he lost his eye.

  “Would you like some pain medication?” Zexich asked.

  “No thank you.” Remington said meekly.

  “Just an offer. If you change your mind just let me know.” Zexich said with a friendly smile then he paused for a moment. “I wanted to thank you for bringing Sunshine home safely. We are all very glad to have him back.” Zexich continued sounding very sincere.

  “Oh, I am glad to help. I just wish I would have known how to do it sooner.” Remington said. “Hopefully now I can free Ziona much easier now that I have an idea on how to do it. I just need Rocks to go with me. Can either of you let him know I would like to go on this mission now?” Remington asked, keeping his eyes fixed to the floor. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and out of place now. He was trying desperately to hide it.

  “I just sent him a message. He will be here soon.” Sigil said. It wasn't long before a portal opened and Rocks arrived. He greeted Remington mildly looking fairly unhappy and then they both left to the portal room.

  “Before we go in, I need to explain what we are going to do. I have to destroy her comfortable delusion that she is stuck in. It needs to be pretty horrible for her or she won't want to leave. So basically turn it into a nightmare. I need you to do whatever you think will achieve our goal. I want you to arrive in stealth because I have an idea on how we are going to ruin this delusion.” Remington said very seriously.

  “Right, I got you.” Rocks said. He still looked unhappy.

  “What's wrong?” Remington asked, now feeling concerned.

  “It's nothing, I really want to get started…” Rocks said looking anxious.

  “Rocks, I can tell that something is bothering you. If you don't want to tell me that's fine, I understand, but I need you to be focused.” Remington said seriously. Rocks took a deep breath looking at the floor.

  “Ziona and I have been fighting since I was recreated. I told her I was going to continue to train you and she is angry about that. She didn't want me to come on this mission with you either.” Rocks said looking irritated now. Remington paused wondering what he should say. He didn't want them fighting because of him.

  “Well tell her not to worry about it anymore because I quit. I don't want to train anymore.” Remington said getting irritated quickly.

  “No Rem. You are not going to quit. She will get over it I promise. Now let's go do this mission.” Rocks said firmly. The authority in his voice was enough to convince Remington that it wasn't a good idea to argue about it. They headed into the portal. Rocks suddenly looked as if he were scared. It was strange seeing so many emotions from him when normally he was so easy going.

  “Now what is it?” Remington said as they headed further into the darkness.

  “The last time I went on a mission to find the door, it was a very traumatic experience for me, and Maxwell died. They never let me go back on a mission here again because it affected me much worse than it did Skyler. I know this place is different now, but I cannot help but feel terrified.” Rocks said. He certainly looked terrified.

  “Don't worry, Rocks. I will protect you.” Remington said with a grin. Rocks dramatically sighed in relief and grinned at Remington.

  “Thanks.” He said with a mild laugh.

  It wasn't long before they were standing in front of the control terminal. Remington activated his 'telescope' and soon they were zooming into the universe and quickly arriving in the living room of Remington's parents house. Rocks arrived and was already in stealth mode. Remington wasted no time scaling the couch and dropping down his crystal blade swiping at the imaginary Rocks and with a sudden swoosh, he evaporated into nothing. Ziona immediately sat up screaming as the fake vanished into a puff of smoke.

  “No Remington! Why would you do that!!!” She screamed at him.

  “Ziona you cannot stay here anymore! This place isn't real!! That wasn't my brother!!!” Remington shouted as Ziona leaped up from the couch and sprang at him like a cat pouncing on its prey. She began to shake him by the chest of his shirt and punch at his missing eye. Being that he was actively trying not to hurt her, he did very little to stop her, but defend himself by shielding his face.

  “I hate you!!! Why would you ruin this for me!! I don't want to leave!! You don't make a good fucking replacement for him!!! I hate you!!! I hate you so much!!!” She screamed at him as she punched and attacked him. Suddenly she was snatched away from Remington who immediately fell backwards covering his head protectively. Ziona thrashed about in the invisible tight grip kicking and screaming as something began to drag her away from Remington who stayed on the ground, sobbing and cringing in pain.

  “Ziona! Stop it!” Rocks whirled her around then secured her against the wall and shifted back to visible. She immediately froze.

  “Rocks?” She said softly.

  “Yeah….not some generic illusion either.” Rocks said looking very irritated. Ziona lunged to hug him but he pushed her firmly into the wall.

  “No Ziona! I know what you did and I could never be with someone who would hurt my brother the way that you have! Look at him!” Rocks shouted at her then pointed towards him. She cringed, glancing at Remington for a moment as he held his face and cried.

  “But!” She began. The living room began to shutter.

  “No buts Ziona! You hurt him! I am taking him and we are leaving without you! You can stay here with your fake hollow fucking fantasy! You are just……horrible and I never want to see you again!” Rocks shouted then he pushed away from her to help Remington stand up and turn towards the door to leave. Suddenly it felt like an earthquake growing under their feet.

  “No! Do not leave me here! I need you Rocks!” She yelled in a panic. The shaking got worse.

  “Well I definitely don’t need you.” He said, jerking the door open and leading Remington out of the room. He slammed the door behind them and as soon as it shut their surroundings shattered like glass falling to the ground all around them as Ziona covered her face and screamed. Rocks watched the delusional world shatter around them while feeling overwhelmed as Remington suddenly lost consciousness in Rocks’s arms and Ziona continued to sob into her hands.

  He was nearly awake now but too woozy from the pain to surface all the way out of unconsciousness Sigil must have arrived to investigate the aftermath of freeing Ziona from her delusion.

  “What happened?” Sigil asked quickly.

  “Ziona was angry at him for destroying her delusion. She started to punch him. He passed out, and his face is bleeding.” Rocks explained quickly as he cradled Remington in his arms.

  “Take him to the infirmary. I will take Ziona.” Sigil said. Remington could feel his body being lifted from the ground and now movement as Rocks took him to the infirmary. Soon he felt a soft bed underneath him and the sound of Zexich's polite voice.

  “What caused his stitches to break?” Zexich asked politely.

  “Ziona punched him repetitively.” Rocks answered. He sounded very worried.

  “Dear me, he shouldn't be put through so much physical trauma so soon after sustaining such critical damage to his face. He really should be allowed to heal before he is thrown into such dangerous circumstances.” Zexich sighed. It was quiet for a moment then suddenly there was a putrid smell that made Remington gag and jolt awake.

  “Ughhh….” He cringed, feeling dizzy and sick from the smell.

  “Would you like some pain medication before I repair your stitches?” Zexich asked softly.

  “Huggghhh…..” Remington couldn't even manage an answer. He held his head painfully.

  “I am going to assume that means yes. One moment please.” Zexich prepared a syringe of pain medication then found and disinfected a patch of fleshy skin under his hip to administer the dose. The medication worked rather quickly and soon Remington’s face stopped pulsing with pain. He laid back on the pillow feeling relieved that the pain had subsided. Zexich sat near him now unwrapping sanitary tools to restitch the broken skin on his missing eye. Rocks turned away for a moment now as Ziona was in the bed not far away softly crying. Remington listened as Zexich began to close the parted skin.

  “You're not really him are you?”

  “I am…..just not the same one you fell in love with.”

  “You’re from another world….the world that Skyler is from.”

  “Right.”

  “I'm sorry. I've just felt so out of control since…..since the 'you' that I know….”

  “I know. I understand that you are hurting, but I need you to stop taking out your pain on Remington. I may not be the same Rocks, not the one in your world, but Remington is still my brother and I will not tolerate anyone hurting him.” It was quiet.

  “It was difficult for me because after a while I couldn't pretend that he was you anymore. Then I fell in love with him, but I know he would never love me the way that I love him. So I just want him to be happy. I won't hurt him anymore. I promise.” It was quiet again. Soon Zexich was finished stitching and he applied gauze to Remington's eye then began cleaning up the mess.

  “I must insist you take some time off, Remington. You have been running yourself ragged lately and you need to take the time to let your body heal now.” Zexich pressed insistently.

  “I'll try.” He said softly. “Do I have to stay here?” He asked.

  “I do not require you to stay but you are welcome to be here as long as you want to be. Please get some rest wherever you decide to be at.” Zexich said politely, before walking away. Remington sat up still feeling dizzy and slowly slid towards the edge of the bed. Rocks was now in his view.

  “Are you alright Rem?” Rocks asked in concern.

  “Uh, yeah. I'm fine. I think I am going to go rest like Zex said that I should.” He stood up shakily.

  “Do you want me to open a portal for you?” Rocks asked.

  “No, that's okay I can walk.” Remington said softly then he turned to leave.

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  “Rem, wait!” Ziona said urgently from her spot sitting on the bed.

  “Yeah?” Remington didn't bother to turn and look at her.

  “Thanks for rescuing me. I never would have been able to leave without your help…….and I'm sorry for everything I did to hurt you.” Ziona said, her voice growing sorrowful.

  “It's okay Ziona. Just do me a favor….go home. Everyone in Reality is worried about you.” Remington said, turning to try his best to smile at her. It probably wasn't very convincing. She only nodded and tried to return the smile. It wasn't very convincing either. Remington continued on until he found himself in front of Lux's bedroom. He didn't bother to knock this time. He wandered inside and crawled onto the bed and finally let out all of the emotions he was hiding. It was a long moment of sobbing and cursing then screaming into the pillow all of the angry words he wanted to shout at Ziona, before he finally calmed down. Lux didn't bother to acknowledge him at all for an even longer amount of time. It was so long in fact that Remington began to wonder if Lux knew he was there. Lux sat at the table and continued to read the book. After a while he placed a bookmark in the book and laid the book down on the desk.

  “Are you in physical pain or emotional pain?” Lux asked curiously. Remington continued to cry while struggling to retract enough to answer.

  “Both.” He finally managed as he sat up in bed.

  “Mmm. You are in need of emotional support again. True or false?” Lux said mildly. It was almost as if he was unsure of how to interact with someone who was upset.

  “True?” Remington asked feeling a bit puzzled as to why Lux needed to ask these questions.

  “Alright…” Lux stood up and wandered over to the bed then very awkwardly sat down and put his arm around Remington's shoulders again. It was quiet and the only sound was that of Remington's soft crying now. Even though it was a strange interaction, Remington found this unusually comforting.

  “Um….sooooo……” Lux began then he paused as if distracted. “Is this working?” He asked finally.

  “Uh….…yeah it is….” Remington said as he was nearly finished crying.

  “Mmm……good.” Lux said. It was quiet again for a while as Remington was now silent.

  “You are coming in here repeatedly because you seek to hold some sort of extended relationship with me. True or false?”

  “Um…true.” Remington said meekly.

  “Mmm…..really? At first you did not like me.” Lux said.

  “You made me feel threatened.” Remington said softly. “I was afraid Vezaias would leave me for you…..” Remington paused. “….. because he loves you.” Remington added.

  “Ah….I see….” Lux said, sounding amused. “…..but you know you are perfect right? Why would he ever leave you for someone like me?” Lux said as if it were an obvious observation. Remington blushed immediately and shook his head in disagreement.

  “I don’t feel like I'm good enough for Vezaias, and that's one reason I felt so threatened by you.” Remington explained.

  “Well what made you decide to like me?” Lux asked curiously. “Sorry I'm trying to learn more about how to be social. I do not have very much experience with it.” Lux said very factually.

  “Uh, well, I started to understand why you behave so strangely, when before it just seemed confusing to me and it was difficult to feel any sort of connection to you. Then Vezaias was killed, so I no longer felt threatened that he would leave me for you…..well because he is dead. So I became curious of you and I started to feel an emotional connection towards you, now that I better understand the way you think and behave. You’re also extremely attractive.” Remington said meekly. He looked at Lux very coyly, who didn't seem to notice and only looked very serious as he considered Remington's reasoning.

  “So you think I am unusual and attractive?” He asked to confirm.

  “Well…..yeah.” Remington answered.

  “Mmm….” Lux hummed curiously.

  “What do you think about me? It's difficult for me to tell.” Remington asked meekly.

  “I've already told you I think you are perfect.” Lux said as if that wasn't a loaded observation.

  “Why do you think I am? And how do you feel about me?” Remington pressed.

  “You are perfect because you have just the right amount of confidence. You are impossibly strong but you are not arrogant about it. I saw the way you were so protective of Vezaias. How fast you were at stepping in to keep him safe. You are very very threatening and dangerous when you want to be, but at the same time when you are not in a hostile situation you are very meek and docile and fuck if that is so very attractive. I assume this is because you were probably bullied a lot as a child, and you never expected to become so strong. I felt very intimidated by you at first, plus you seemed to automatically hate me which was reasonable, so it made me defensive but it seemed like when you stopped feeling territorial, I could finally see that you were trying to connect with me. It was strange, and it still is, because normally people avoid me, or are scared of me, or they think I'm too strange to interact with, but for some reason you are not like that with me. You are also perfect for Vezaias in every way. You are extremely physically attractive, your physique is very delicious, you are like just perfectly toned and solid. I guess I feel attracted to you in the most carnal way possible, I do find it difficult to emotionally attach to anyone. I have felt like that with Vezaias before, and a little bit with Ava, but it was short lived. I am very curious about you now that you are here. I am trying my best to learn how to interact with you in some sort of normal way. Like I said, I am not very familiar with how to socialize with people. Not that I never wanted to learn, but because I wasn't always offered a mutual opportunity.” Lux explained very thoroughly.

  “Oh….wow……okay.” Remington said very meekly.

  “What?” Lux asked, looking puzzled.

  “I'm not perfect. In fact, I feel very inadequate most of the time.” Remington said softly. “Plus I didn't expect your response to be so well thought out…..” Remington said as if he were embarrassed.

  “Wow Rem….that's pretty judgmental of you.” Lux said, looking serious.

  “Uh! Sorry….I didn't mean that you aren't…..um….” Remington stammered.

  “Did you think when I told you that I thought you were perfect that maybe that was as far as I had gotten with my observation?” Lux asked now almost accusingly.

  “No! I just wanted more of uhh…” Remington paused. Lux waited looking impatient for a better explanation. “I just wanted…..more context than that……” Remington stumbled over his response.

  “Did you think somehow I needed coaxing into making a better observation?” Lux asked, getting angry.

  “No! It's just….I didn't think you would…” Remington was now nearly panicking. Lux paused for a moment looking distracted then suddenly he looked even more angry.

  “Like maybe my tiny brain wouldn't be able to fathom how absolutely breathtaking you are?!” Lux shouted.

  “No Lux, that's not…!” Lux stood up abruptly, interrupting Remington's rebuttal. He turned and sat at the desk quickly pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. He brooded for a while as he sucked down the cigarette in record speed. Remington sat awkwardly soaking in the tension of the moment wondering how he could repair this horrible situation and what exactly he did that caused such an outburst. He really didn't mean to be judgemental or offend Lux at all.

  “I know that! Don't you think I know that?? Ugh! Just shut up already, you are making me feel like shit!!!” Lux snapped as if to someone that wasn't there. He looked very distracted again. Remington was quiet and patient. Lux began to look more distressed.

  “Alright, you made your point can you just leave me the fuck alone now! Just shut up already! Please just leave me alone! Shut up please! PLEASE JUST SHUT UP ALREADY! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!!” Lux was now covering his ears and crumbling into the desk as if he were in pain. Remington was alarmed now and got up cautiously and approached Lux. He carefully rubbed his shoulder to alert him that he was next to him, then he slowly guided him into position and put his arms around Lux firmly.

  “Are you okay?” Remington asked.

  “Ughh….yeah……” He was crying but suppressing it as desperately as he could. “…..I don't want to be like this anymore…..I want it to stop…….I want them to shut up and leave me alone……” Lux cringed and fell against Remington's chest. He cried silently for a while. “….Remington……I think I'm sinking…..” Lux huffed.

  “What can I do to help you?” Remington asked worriedly.

  “I don't know! Nobody has ever really been there when I start to sink…..not for a long time at least!” Lux sobbed. Remington had no idea how to stop this depressive state. He thought that maybe he needed more of a professional medical opinion to help so he pulled Lux helping him stand then he took Lux's keycard and opened a portal to the infirmary then coaxed him through. He guided him to the hospital bed to sit and wait. Lux looked lifeless now except for his heavy breathing.

  “Hello, Remington, Lux…what can I help you with this evening?” Zexich's polite voice popped up from the door to his office. He approached slowly, looking mildly pleasant and curious.

  “I was in Lux's room to check on him and I asked him a question and he provided me an answer too. It was surprising to me how well thought out his answer was and I disagreed with him but that seemed to offend him then suddenly he was angry and shouting at me then he freaked out more at the voices he hears, then he told me he was sinking….now he is just very…. unhappy and lethargic…..I didn't mean to offend him, and I am worried about him but I don't know how to help him. So I brought him here to you.” Remington said looking very worried.

  “I see that does sound concerning. Can you tell me the nature of the question you asked him?” Zexich asked curiously.

  “I asked him why he thought I was so perfect.” Remington said meekly.

  “And you also disagreed with his answer?” Zexich asked.

  “Well…..yeah.” Remington said softly.

  “Is there anything else you can tell me about this incident that might be relevant?” Zexich asked.

  “Well he said he does not know a lot about being social, not that he never wanted to learn, but he was not always offered a mutual opportunity, so he was trying to learn how to be more social with me.” Remington said solemnly.

  “I am sure you understand what it feels like to be inexperienced with social situations.” Zexich paused.

  “Yes….it's a bit terrifying.” Remington said looking unhappy.

  “I think he is most likely experiencing some intense symptoms from his two mental health conditions.” Zexich said. He glanced at Lux who seemed to be nearly asleep while sitting upright. “Lux? Is it alright with you if I give you a medical evaluation? I only want to help ease the uncomfortable symptoms you must be having.” Zexich said delicately. Lux was quiet for a short while as if distracted.

  “You want to implant some sort of mind control device…..true or false?” Lux said seriously now without looking up.

  “False. If I wanted to do that I would have done it already when I recreated you. However you seem to have control over yourself since then correct?” Zexich suggested. Lux seemed to be considering this now.

  “Touche Doc, touche. What do you want me to do?” Lux said softly.

  “Would you lay back in the bed for me please?” Zexich said. Lux cooperated and let Zexich give him a check up including his heart rate, blood pressure, eye dilation, reflexes, and several other basic things before Zexich settled into a chair to talk to Lux.

  “Can you tell me why you became so angry at Remington today?” Zexich asked.

  “He doesn't realize how perfect he is.” Lux said softly. Now he looked as if he would cry. “He was surprised that I noticed so many perfect things about him. He keeps coming to my room to see me. I'm afraid of his responses. Usually people want to hurt me. Especially while I was in prison. They would see my behavior and hear me talking to the voices and get angry and want to hurt me. I keep anticipating this from Remington. I know how strong he is. Have you ever been expecting someone to punch you, but you just don't know when it would happen? It's a bit distressing. Then the voices keep telling me he is about to turn on me and destroy me but it just never happens. He leaves to go on a mission, comes back, he is wanting to build some sort of relationship. I don't know how to do that. I don't know what he expects from me. I don't know how to satisfy what he wants. I don't know how to talk to him. I don't know what I am doing. I don't know where to go. Basically I am just guessing. It makes me feel frazzled, and then I……” Lux stopped talking abruptly and became quiet for a while offering no other information.

  “Well that is a lot to be dealing with all at once Lux. I am going to do my best to help you alright?” Zexich said as comfortingly as possible. Lux nodded softly. “Can you tell me about where you were before you came here?”

  “It was a structured state run halfway house. They thought I would need extra help adjusting to life outside of prison since I went in when I was so young, and because of my diagnosis." Lux said meekly.

  “Oh? How old were you?” Zexich asked.

  “I was 17 when I entered. They spent a few months going to trial convicting and sentencing me. I was sentenced to 5 years. They dropped off one year, I was segregated for a year, and I served 3 years total, then I got out on parole.” Lux explained.

  “What was your daily life like at the halfway house?” Zexich asked.

  “I would wake up, go to breakfast, take my medication, then there would be any appointments I was supposed to do as required by my parole terms. I would have to meet with a counselor three times a week and my parole officer on Friday. After that I was free to do anything I wanted for a few hours. I could leave and go into the city, and I was supposed to be filling out job applications which never seemed to work out for me, then usually I would just go to my bedroom and fixate on something monotonous. Then there would be another meal, more medication, and then curfew.” Lux explained.

  “So it was a fairly structured routine?” Zexich asked.

  “Yeah.” Lux said.

  “And were your symptoms this bad while at the halfway house?” Zexich asked.

  “No, not at all. I think I was down to maybe one manic episode a month and less than a day in length, I only had two manic episodes that were bad while I was there but the trigger was pretty severe both times, and my low periods were not nearly as low. The voices were only whispers right before bedtime, and I couldn't even understand them anymore. Now my manics are worse than they have ever been before and this low feels like I'm dead, the voices are loud and angry and shouting at me, and now I just feel completely out of control and unstable. I thought that maybe, or at least I was hoping that zombies didn't have these sorts of problems, but now I feel like zombies have it worse.” Lux said, sounding miserable.

  “Do you think going back to the halfway house would be better for you than staying here?” Zexich asked curiously.

  “If I go back I will get in trouble for leaving. They will probably violate my parole and send me back to prison for another two years.” Lux said unhappily.

  “Well that is no good. We will just have to set up something just as structured for you here.” Zexich said, sounding a bit upbeat. “Is it alright if I speak with Remington about your care and how to handle this situation?” Zexich asked. Lux nodded softly. Zexich turned to Remington now. “May I speak with you for a moment?” Zexich asked, then they both headed to his office to talk.