⚠️Warning! This chapter will deal with heavy topics like rape, abuse, racism, homophobia, and death! You have been warned!
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" Come one! Come all! See your greatest nightmares come to life in the treacherous panic room! Confront your greatest fears and darkest memories for only twenty dollars per person!" Some bat demon yelled out for attention outside a rather large black tent in the middle of Pentagram city square. Alastor was admittedly a bit interested in this particular calling, a room to show you your darkest fears? How very entertaining! Perhaps he could trouble his significant other to join him through the journey? Well, he supposed there was only one way to find out, and with that he teleported back to the hotel.

    Anthony was very hesitant about going to this panic room thing Alastor told him about, he didn't exactly want to share his darkest secrets, but this was Al, and if they were going to have a serious relationship, he supposed he had to trust Alastor. He reluctantly agreed, partially because Alastor had the right to know these things, partially because he couldn't deny Alastor his fun when he was usually so dreadfully bored with everything. Seeing Alastor dreadfully bored was a mixture of heartbreaking and disturbing, while the deer demon typically couldn't stand still, once bored enough he would become completely still, he wouldn't even speak until something happened to entertain him-usually puns and dad jokes worked. It broke Anthony to see the way Alastor's ears drooped and his eyes dulled when he reached his limits with boredom, so he ended up giving in most of the time when the deer asked him to join in fun activities.

   One benefit of dating a gentleman is he insist on paying for everything, a benefit of dating the radio demon; everyone is to afraid of him to charge either of you! Pretty sweet deal if you were to ask Anthony, though he never directly took advantage of that of course-unless some Karen was being a bitch! That said, Anthony had one of his upper arms wrapped around Alastor's shoulders as they entered the large black tent. Alastor seemed rather excited about the venture, which worried Anthony a bit, since he really didn't want his beloved dear to be disappointed if the attraction didn't meet his undoubtedly high expectations. The two walked through the darkness of the tent, Alastor's arms holding onto Anthony's bottom arm while the upper was holding him close to the taller demons side.

It struck Alastor as rather odd when the tent seemed to disappear and they were suddenly walking through a dark alleyway. 'Illusion magic', he concluded in his mind, as he realized his enhanced senses couldn't make out anything distinct. Anthony, however, could smell the familiar smell of drugs and sex as his eyes grew wide and his pupils dilated. His grip on Alastor's shoulder grew tight as they came near where he knew they were headed. Once they reached the end of the alleyway, Anthony couldn't contain himself as he saw the much to familiar sighting. Valentino, bending Anthony over, Anthony squirming, thrashing, screaming in protest as Valentino roughly fucked him against his will. Alastor was disgusted by the sight, and while his first instinct would be to kill the lecherous moth demon, he had to remember this was all an illusion and Anthony was safe now.

Alastor focused on comforting his beloved as he pulled the sobbing spider in his arms, gently petting his hair and gently whispering soft nothings to him. Anthony was gripping his deer tightly with all four of his arms, trying to block out the sounds and the memories flooding his mind. Alastor pet the spiders hair and rubbed his back as he continued to whisper to his dear spider love, "it's not real, it's all an illusion, you're safe now" Alastor reassures . After Anthony had calmed down, he actually felt a lot better being able to feel comforted by his beloved during one of his darkest times. Alastor helped his spider love get to his feet before being pulled into a tight hug and his ears pet lovingly, Alastor sighing in content as this was a sign his beloved was finally feeling better.

As they continued walking, they alley started to disappear and a forest started to take its place, something connected to Alastor if Anthony had to take a guess. Honestly, Anthony didn't expect to see anything, he didn't think anything could phase the overlord-though he could vaguely remember him mentioning a past fear of dogs. Alastor's ears drop as he vaguely recalled the place of his death, but he reminded himself it was just an illusion, despite this he found himself gripping Anthony's arm just a bit tighter. Soon the sounds of dogs barking filled the air, making Alastor's ears spike up in terror, his prey instincts screaming to run, but his mind yelling back that it was all an illusion and it wasn't real. Then the gunshot, one little gunshot was all it took for Alastor to forget his logic and let his prey instincts take over as he detached himself from Anthony and sprinted away.

Anthony had to chase after the deer, but he could hardly keep up with the powerful legs of the frightened deer. Then, Alastor suddenly stopped, as Anthony stopped to catch his breath, he vaguely registered a wood cabin like home in front of them. Alastor looked liked a deer in the headlights as he stared wide eyed at the place of his darkest memories. Anthony pulled his doe in close, he had no idea what was behind that door, but he felt it was time he helped Alastor face it-just as Al did with him moments ago. Anthony was not prepared for what he saw. A grown man with white skin, was beating a child no older than 7, and a black woman lay on the floor beaten up herself. The man was cursive profanities, homophobic slurs and racist bullshit seemed to be the only this on his mind as he screamed "fuckin' dirty faggot! Bad enough ya brown but ya just fuckin' had to be a faggot to didn' ya!?" Alastor trembled, and while the sight was unnerving and sparked anger in Anthony, it didn't make much sense to him why Alastor was so effected by it.

It clicked suddenly, it all suddenly made sense. Alastor was that child, a child born in a world that would hate him his whole life simply for being born if he were to truly be himself. Anthony teared up as he pulled his beloved dear in his arms and pet his ears as the illusion slowly started to melt away. Anthony wiped his beautiful doe's tears away, knowing Alastor would hate being seen in such a weak state before holding his hand as they exit the tent. After that, the two needed a break, so they did something they could both enjoy. They took all the pillows and blankets they could find and made the biggest pillow fort they could. Inside the fort, the two cuddled together as they felt much better, knowing that even in their darkest times, they were there for each other.