I am... I am ashamed of myself, that's all I could really say as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I am not much better than Gabriel it seems. To ever think I would use my own blood as a fucking lube...

If Makima would know that she would be so disgusted of me. I don't even think I can look her in the eyes after that.

Washing my hands carefully, rinsing off all the blood, and..... the rest. Using unbelievable amounts of sope. Disgusted with myself for what I did as I pitched my head wound up a bit.

Only knowing her for such a short time and already being like this. This is under me and my own dignity, or should at least be. Talked I down to myself as I tossed my dirty laundry to where it belongs

But it gave me some needed clarity and freedom of mind. So at least something...

So I made my way back down to the living room. Feeling my body still aching but not anymore as much. This shower did wonders but I shouldn't have pushed it so far.

Continued I with my self lectures as I ran into Alice. Only able to sidestep her by a mere second as I pushed myself to the side. Crashing my elbow into the solid staircase railing as a sudden spike of pain flowed through my entire arm. Soon replaced by this weird numbness as a painful tingling kicked in.

"Wow! Bro watch out where you are going you nearly hit me!"

Berade she me as walked past me, turning herself around while she continued to walk and speak with me. 

"Hey, sis look where you are going......."

"I do! Unlike you I got eyes!"

Beraded she me further only to turn around right in time to run head first into a wall by herself.

This was just the right thing I needed as a bright smile made its way across my face. Nothing goes over a bit of well-deserved justice.

Thought my opinion on this changed as fast as this situation played itself off as Alice turned around with a bloody nose. Holding it firmly in her hands as her eyes began to well up.

"Oh fuck, are you okay Alice?!"

Asked I as I rushed to her side. Swatting away her hands as I observed the problem at hand.

It was nothing that I hadn't seen or had myself after one or two fights, but soon came to the realization that I talk here about a girl and not a brute like me.

So I took her by the hand and guided her to the kitchen. She all the while holding her nose with the other hand that was free as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Everythings alright Alice, your nose won't fall off..... probably."

"You are mean you know that?"

Stated she while sobbing.

The same age as Makiam and she still behaves like this, I don't understand what all her previous boyfriends found attractive about that. It even creeps me out, who wants to be in a relationship with someone that behaves like she is still a young teen?

Though I am her brother so that could maybe change that in my eyes.

if Makima would behave like this... I probably still have the hots for her.

Quickly arriving with her by my side in the kitchen I swiftly opened the lowest drawer and took out the gigantic first aid kit. Opening it as fast as I took it out, I grabbed a pair of scissors and two different band-aids. I needed to ask her a difficult decision.

"So... the normal band-aids or those with little pink ponies?" asked I her such a life-altering question as I lifted both options to either side of my head.

"Is this even a question?"

"Sooo.... the normal one is it."

"NO! Ponies please!"

Stated she in such a cute way I could not help but smile once more. Giving me only more reasons to worry about her when she is alone. She isn't made for such a world where demons roam the street in birth daylight.

Taking only one single cut of the scissors I had the perfect stripe in hand. Laying the scissors aside I pushed her hands away from her face and placed it gently on her fragile and small nose. Pressing down a bit as Alice voiced her displeasure instantly.

"Just perfect!"

Stated I as I marveled at a job well done. Dusting even my hands off as if I had achieved true greatness. Though it is close enough.

Looking so at her with the bandaid on her nose I couldn't just don't do something special.

"Hey where are you going?" asked she me as I disappear from her vision only to instantly be back with one of my old caps.

Placing it neatly on top of her. Bringing the brim down over her eyes.

"What are you up to?"

"Now sis you look like a real street thug, even coming close to scaring me away with how mean you look."

Spoke I while observing her. Looking all mean and unfriendly with the bandaid over her nose and..... her pink knit sweater.

Though she wasn't seemingly up for much fun as she quickly took off the cap.

Laying it on the kitchen table before all of sudden hugging me. Not even so strong this time as she usually does.

"Wow, you can be gentle."

Poked I a bit fun of her, expecting her to now hug me as strongly and tight as possible but.... nothing came.

The both of us just stood there in the dim glow of the kitchen light behind me. Enjoying this moment as I could feel that there is something she would like to speak with me about.

But I didn't push her, I merely glided my hand through her long and beautiful hair as it glisters in the little light that was around us. Hugging her tightly back with the other hand.

"(Y/N)?"

"What is Alice?" Asked I her as I looked into her emerald green eyes. Being shocked to see that she cries inside of my arms.

"This book in your room...."

"Our heirloom what is wh-"

Though I could not speak further as she cut me off. Now historically crying as she buried herself in my chest.

"Get rid of it. Please! I beg you please (Y/N) it shouldn't be here!"

Bagged she to me as I could hear the terror in her distressed voice. Making my own eyes well up as well. I was shocked, and here I thought this wild part of that day would be already over.

Not realizing that the worst is just about to come.

"But it's ours I can't ju-"

"I don't care, please! It's something that we shouldn't have brought with us."

I was in the knowledge of its more sinister appearance and that its content isn't for the fain of heart but I could not imagine what experiences she had with it.

As she hears the blood inside of it move at night as its letters contort. Advancing ever still, hearing whatever flesh that is in there crawling through and between the rotten pages as it moves from itself. Moving multiple pages at the same time as it fills her room with the stench of rotten flesh.

Whispering in her ear sinister stories of a long-gone time of death and betrayal.

Telling her futures she can't bare to imagine as it torments her from inside my room.

From great sacrifices and a hero's death to disastrous obsessions and their families' assured downfall. As she cries herself to sleep.

Fearing not for herself but for (Y/N) as it is he who has to carry this cursed legacy of despair and misery their father passed on to them.

"But father...."

"Father is death! What he brought whit him, this, .....this legacy of his isn't worth the price (Y/N). It did not stop as it says"

Spoke she as her tears now ran down my shirt. I haven't seen her ever talk about this book as I thought I was the only one it tormented. Not even realizing that its roots go so much deeper than what I had experienced.

"Please it is not too late even if it says that, I know it!"

Only now I recognized the horror of this situation as I realized that she says that it speaks to her, something I hadn't even imagined in my darkest dreams that it would be able to.

Though before she could explain her own torment further the both of us were cut off by the tumult outside of our window.

As what seemed like hundreds of crows struck down on a single one outside. It barely got away as multiple of its feathers fell to the ground.

I turned around with Alice in my hand. Shielding her from the awful sight as she held her ears as the crowds assaulted the single one not only physically but verbally as well.

With the one single crow, fortunately escaping the house grew dead quite in just a second as the swarm took after the wounded crow.

I could hear my own heart as it pumped in my chest. Feeling how the adrenalin from only witnessing the last few minutes kicked my body into action.

As if this day wasn't shit enough till now.

"Is it over?" Whispered Alice to me as I shushed her.

Right in time to hear footsteps approaching as they made their way to the entrance of our house. A black silhouette clearly visible in the glass that stands in the single light over our front entrance.

Standing there not doing much else as it did not budge a muscle. Unnerving me even further than if it would do something. Just anything else would calm me down but this unnatural behavior frightened me.

"Alice look me in the eyes!"

Ordered I her strictly as I lowered my head down to her. Regularly taking glimpses over my shoulder to see what this man in front of our door does.

"You go find mom, okay?"

"But I ca-

"You go find mom and hide with her in the nearest room with a lock and don't open it till I call you!"

"No, I can't just-"

"This is an order!"

Lashed I out at her. Not wanting to waste any time she might need to get away from that thing.

Pushing her away from me I turned around to the door. Steading myself if tried to calm myself down as I took slow breaths out and in. Taking solace in hearing how Alice runs away.

Walking around the room I tried to observe if this person had a weapon with him as I spoke to myself words of comfort.

Feeling true fear and terror for the first time in my life.

Though I didn't fear for my own safety but for the one of my family.

Feeling how my muscles burned with every step I take to observe this man. Cold sweat ran down my face and back as I observed the knife in its hand as it tried to hide from me.

Oh, how I would love to have Makiam now on my side.

And then it finally moved for the first time. Lifting both his hands. Showing off his knife through the glass of the door to me as he pressed it against it. And the other traveled to the door bell Ringing it once, letting his finger rest on it multiple seconds to make the sound as long-lasting as possible.

The knife hand now moving on its own as he pressed the blade against the door. Dragging it now down as an ear-piercing scraping noise could be heard.

Simultaneously ringing now the bell uncontrollably often. Easily five times per second trying his best to distress me.

I began to shake, and that unmanageable much as I tried to calm myself down anew.

Only for him to now even smash the backside of his blade into the glass. Letting shards fly freely through my home. Even now still ringing the bell as he kept on smashing the glass of the door to pieces.

Seeing no other option than to engage now as he would make his way in sooner or later, I readied myself as I lifted up my fists.

Slowly closing in to the door.

"Now you gonna get it you fucking piece of shit! You can fuck with me, BUT NOT WITH MY FAMILY!

Screamed I out as I yanked the door open. Immediately protectively raising my arms as I dodge back trying to distance myself from him.

But got coughed in a blast of flashing light as I heard the distinct sound of a polaroid camera snapping a picture.

Trying to shield myself I looked away and instantaneously back the moment the light disappeared.

Only to now realized to my shock that there is no one in front of me or the door.

And speaking of the door it was closed once again as fast as I opened it.

I could not believe my eyes as I
saw the cuts this freak made into the glass disappear along with him.

Leafing the door behind as if he never was here, to begin with.

But no there was something different, very different as I could see a photo tangled down from where he hit the glass the first time. It seemingly hanging in mid-air.

I didn't even need to close in to know to who this photo belongs as I could distinguish her face out of one billion.

Grabbing it out of the air I observed it closely and...... and I had no plan what this all means.

A polaroid picture of Makima of all people. Listing up a couple of normal things about her.

And a couple of not so ordinary.

What the hell is going on?

What does this mean?

So much happened today and I have no answer for any of it.

Who the fuck is Denji?

_______________________________________

As always happy to hear your opinion and if you liked it.

Please excuse the possibility of multiple writing errors as I had not have much time to overlook this chapter.

Me trying to be sure that every plot point can still coexist with another.