2053

-2053, Tokyo, Japan-

It's been three years since I invited Nier and Yonah to live with me. A barrier formed between us in the first few days, we didn't trust each other completely, and after all, we were total strangers.

They looked at me as if at some point, I would attack them, and I thought that they would run away with my supplies any moment. It was difficult, but we got closer with time, and they became younger brothers to me.

However, the good times ended. Yonah got sick with what looked like the flu, but it worsened and none of our medicines helped, so Nier and I made a difficult decision.

The three of us would go to a shelter that cared for people harmed by WCS. Hamelin Organization funded this shelter, which worried me greatly, but with no option, we prepared for the trip.

-XXXXXX-

Alan, Nier, and Yonah prepared themselves for this risky endeavor while Alan readied himself, he didn't notice the mysterious book crawling into his backpack in the living room.

Alan hung his backpack on his shoulders and held his baseball bat, leaving the apartment with Nier and Yonah beside him soon after.

When the door closed, a mysterious person appeared in the center of the living room. With an open book in one hand and a large suitcase in the other, the stranger scanned the area curiously.

"Interesting, so this is where the anomaly lives, whatever happens from now on I can't predict." The stranger spoke, disappearing in a blinding flash.

-Streets-

While walking toward the shelter, I thought about everything that happened in the last three years. Firstly, I thought Alan cared for us because he wanted something from Yonah and me. 

After our parents died, Yonah's safety became my priority, I was ready to protect her if Alan tried anything but he only helped us. 

It may seem strange but he became a big brother to Yonah and me. I'm grateful for everything he did for us.

However, something bothered me. Why shouldn't we trust the Hamelin Organization? After all, they're funding the shelter, which means they're good people, right?

-In the same street-

We walked down the street but I didn't know where Alan and brother Nier were taking me. They said we were getting medicine for me, I feel bad for being the reason they have to go through so much trouble.

When our parents died, Nier cared for me the best he could, finding food and shelter. Now Alan cared for us for years, I think I should do something to reward them. I know! Tonight I'm going to cook dinner for them!

-Shelter-

We reached the shelter. I saw military trucks and armed soldiers at the entrance. Why do they need all of that? The legion died years ago.

"Stay behind me." I said to Nier and Yonah.

"All right." They answered simultaneously before following me towards the shelter.

However, a soldier stopped us as we approached the entrance.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"For the same reason as everyone else here, to get food and medicine."

He stared intently at me for a few seconds before sighing. 

"Fine, but you'll have to leave this here." He said, pointing at my bat.

I sighed but did as he said, handing him my bat.

"You three can go now." The soldier replied, stepping to the side.

"Thanks, let's go." I thanked the soldier and called Nier and Yonah.

The number of people inside the shelter surprised us, filled to the brim you could say. 

We looked around, searching for the responsible for the shelter, but something strange got our attention; the soldiers handed out books instead of food to the people.

What the hell, all those people came here searching for help and books are what they got, goddamn books!

The book cover was black with several arcs one on top of the other, descending and shrinking until it reached an oval-shaped face with large lips and a theater mask covering its eyes.

Nier, Yonah, and I received books too. 

Then I heard a voice.

"Use my power."

I jumped back surprised, looking around, I saw other people around us having the same reaction, it seemed like I wasn't the only one who heard it.

"Did you hear it too?" Nier asked me scared.

"Yes." I muttered nervously.

Then the voice returned higher.

"Use my power!" 

I realized the voice came from the book; it talked to me.

"Use my power, use my power, use my power..."

Suddenly all the people around us screamed, falling on the floor while shaking uncontrollably. 

Then something unbelievable happened, it felt like a horror movie.

The people on the floor turned into monsters, their skin darkened, their eyes turned completely white, and their arms and legs elongated to impossible sizes with claws at the tips. 

They were no longer people they looked like living shadows.

"Nier, Yonah we need to get out of here now!" I screamed scared. 

We quickly ran out of the shelter. The soldier, upon seeing the commotion, threw my bat to the ground and passed us, running towards the shelter.

I picked up my bat and when I looked back, I almost vomited with what I saw. 

Those monsters cut the soldiers apart, blood and guts flew everywhere, and the worst of all, they were coming after us.

"Run and don't look back!" I yelled to Nier and Yonah.

We ran through streets, alleys, and buildings, we ran until exhaustion, until we couldn't keep going anymore.

Looking around, I saw an abandoned market.

"Enter the market now!" I yelled, pointing at the building.

We ran inside it, closing the door behind us. We hid behind a shelf, but those things were out there and I knew the door wouldn't stop them; the whole front of the market was made of glass.

I saw the fear in Nier and Yonah's faces. I breathed deeply, thinking about the stupidity I was about to do.

"Stay here and away from the books!" I exclaimed, pointing at the two books on the floor, Nier's and mine.

"Wait, what are you going to do?" Nier yelled, extending a hand toward me.

"Please stop!" Yonah screamed with teary eyes.

This sight broke my heart, but I walked towards the door with my bat ready.

"Use my power!" 

The book screamed, but I ignored it.

I stepped outside the market and looked around; there were ten of those things. Preparing myself, I breathed deeply and screamed.

"Listen here, you fuckers, if you want to get these two, you have to get past me first, so come at me! I'll wipe you all out and put your heads as decorations on my wall!"

The things advanced with a series of high-pitched screeches. The first one ran towards me with open arms and claws ready, it looked like a dark blur rushing towards me, but the careless advance left a large opening in its attack.

I raised my bat with shaking hands, swallowing hard and sweating profusely, I waited for the thing to get closer.

When it happened, I swung my bat with all my strength towards its head, and with a cracking noise and splash of blood, the ting fell motionless to the ground.

I laughed nervously, realizing what I had done. I was alive! However, my eyes widened when I noticed more of those things approaching.

The second one came from my left with its claws aiming at my side. I stepped out of the way, but received a cut on my side; I held back a pained scream, and glancing down, I saw blood seeping out of the wound.

I hit the thing's belly, taking advantage of the creature's opening after its attack. The thing bent down with the blow, and quickly swinging my bat, I hit the back of the thing's neck, sending it to the ground.

For a moment, I thought I could win, but it wasn't like in the movies where the henchman came one at a time. 

The instant the monsters noticed that I killed two of them, they all came at once and I braced myself as the world darkened.

I don't know what happened. All I felt was pain. My eyes opened for a moment and I saw Nier and Yonah looking at me through the market window, crying with despaired looks.

It took some time for me to realize the situation I was in. Those things surrounded me and beat me; but before I could react, the world went dark again.

"Use my power!"

That voice again. I opened my eyes and saw the book dragging itself towards me using two dark arms that came out of its sides, and it was getting closer and closer.

Know what? To hell with it, I'm not dying here!

"I want your power!" I screamed, reaching my hand towards the book. 

A bright light blinded me, but when my eyesight came back, I jumped to my feet, still injured, but I felt stronger as if I could face all the armies in the world. 

The monsters moved away from me while the black book floated beside me, I picked up my bat and with a furious scream, ran towards the creatures.

I massacred them. I shattered their arms and legs with each blow, their heads exploded in a shower of blood. 

Nevertheless, I wasn't unscathed, there were many of them. While I focused on one, others took the chance to attack. I felt the blows but I felt no pain.

I fell to the ground when the fight ended. My vision blurred, I think I'm losing a lot of blood. 

Looking around, I saw the book floating in front of me, staring at me and when I looked towards the market, I saw something that scared me. 

Nier with his book also floating beside him, he accepted the power of the book. 

I tried to get up to warn him, but I couldn't.

I think it was due to blood loss, but as I died there on the floor, I was sure I heard someone singing. 

A woman sang somewhere with the sound of bells accompanying it. I don't know how, but those words came out of my mouth.

"I hear a song."

END OF CHAPTER