Deadly Secrets

Chapter 5

Author Notes: Sooooo...I missed my upload for this chapter yesterday. Sorry about that. Things were a bit chaotic so of course I forgot to post. What does that mean? It means you guys get a double post tonight lol.

Oh and before I forget, this chapter is going to start from Anita and Allen's perspective from the last chapter. Ok? We good? Ok then, here we go ladies and gents. I do not own DGM.

? P.O.V

Shattered glass, splattered blood, immobile corpses.

All of it up in smoke.

The screams were ignored.

Their cries went unheard.

Now they linger, clinging to what sanity they have left.

But time is running out.

It won't be long till all is lost.

3rd P.O.V

"Oh Allen, you sweet boy. I should've known after you started coming home late every day. But the Noahs are a touchy subject to Cross. Feel free to ask me anything but don't bring it up around him. He...still hasn't gotten over what happened to them." Her grip around him tightened.

The white haired teen could only sigh as he nodded against her. "I understand." He appreciated her warmth and concern, promising to be more careful. Together they pull away, with Anita softly brushing a few white strands away from his face.

Revealing two different colored eyes. "I think you've done enough investigating for a day. Why don't you head into your room and rest. I'll get to work on dinner." Allen didn't really have a choice in the matter as he's helped to his feet. "Thanks Anita...for everything."

Smiling softly she helped him out of the room. "Don't mention it. Come now-let's get you to bed." It was times like this where Allen wished Anita was his true mother. She acted more like family then any of the 'relatives' or foster families he's been forced to live with before.

Even if Cross was a jackass, she cared. Carefully she escorted him to his pathetic room. A small area with a mattress, a couple bins to store his clothes and knickknacks and candle to see at night. It couldn't even be considered a room. Just a little piece of territory in a storage room.

Still it was Allen's and he was grateful as he gently plopped into the soft blankets. Sighing he laid on his side, glancing up just in time to see that familiar look on her face. Anita was feeling guilty again, ashamed that there wasn't much she could provide the already neglected and abused teen.

It was a miracle he was alive, let alone under the care of the woman. "Love you Anita." When his last home kicked him out after getting into a major fight with the bullies in his previous school, his options was juvie or Cross-a distant uncle or some such.

Frankly Allen hadn't cared at that point. But he wouldn't regret his choice knowing there were people who actually made him feel like a person instead of a pest that needed to get squashed. Despite the harsh circumstances, Anita treated him like family.

To him, her and Miranda were family. And it made it all the harder, watching both women struggle. Anita with her illness, and Miranda with her crippling insecurity to go along with their endless amount of sadness.

"I love you too Allen...sweet dreams." Still...there was a time where it wasn't always this difficult to receive warmth and affection. "Miranda...I don't know if you're here or not, but if you are, watch over him for me?" Allen was barely able to hear Anita's faint whisper before falling unconscious.

'Dad where are we going today?'

A smile was on the man's lips as he held the child's hand softly. 'We're going to meet up with my little brother-your uncle. I spoke to him over the phone the other day and he's finally got some time off from his job.' Silver eyes were twinkling with innocent curiosity.

He had often been told about his this supposed uncle. An ambassador that traveled all over the world to speak with all sorts of important individuals. Many a times Allen's father Mana told stories of the supposed Neah and how silly he could be.

It was rather puzzling trying to image a man that held such a responsible position be considered goofy or crazy. But Allen had hoped that he would be as nice and kind as Mana said. 'Do you think he'll like me?' The traveling performer looked down for a moment.

His face furrowed in confusion-before brightening within a fraction of a second. 'Wa-hey! Dad!' Mana laughed as he lifted the young five year old into the air. 'Of course he will! In fact it was his idea. He wanted to meet you and introduce you to his wife and her family~'

A gasp escaped the child, his excitement growing. 'Really?' It was going to be another crazy fun day. 'Absolutely. Apparently his wife Lulubell has a lot of little nieces, nephews and cousins. Some around your age. It'd be nice for you to make some new friends.'

A small squeal escaped him. His eyes lighting up in wonder at the news. 'Do you think we can do a show with them? I wanna do that new trick you taught me!' They were so happy and excited. They couldn't make it there soon enough.

'Absolutely! I'm sure they'd love to hear the song you've been practicing as well~ Those piano skills of yours are top notch!' But they never arrived.

Allen took a sharp breath as his eyes opened up. Silver and red finding a familiar ceiling before he sits up, panting. Shaking hands reach to clench his face, the memories threatening to swallow him whole.

A man.

A gun.

Fire.

Taking a shaking gulp of air he glances around, relaxing slightly before looking down at his arm. His face scrunching up in distaste as he immediately reaches for his coat and gloves. "Been awhile since i've had that dream." Stretching he cracks his back and shoulder.

Relieving him of the stiffness he had been dealing with since first falling asleep. Though the aches he felt from his guardian's beatdown was going to stick around for awhile. It was a common occurrence these days. "Allen..." He casts his red eye to the left, latching onto a familiar figure.

"Hello Miranda. Sorry I couldn't greet you earlier..." The floating woman had tears in her eyes as she takes in his latest batch of bruises. "No-no i'm sorry that I couldn't help you. Again!" Allen offered her a smile, but it didn't console Anita's dead sister in the slightest.

If anything she looked worse, the longer her gaze lingered on his tired, battered frame. "It's not your fault Miranda. Don't worry about it." She rambled as those salty tears fell down her transparent cheeks, wishing she could properly hug her adopted nephew.

But past experiences proved that she would only go right through him. "I know but still! Ohhh if only i didn't trip into the lake-I could help my sister protect you." Out of all the ghosts Allen's found himself baffled over it was Miranda.

Before becoming a member of the society of deceased, she was a pessimistic, depressed clutz. She was lovely despite those flaws, especially when it came to him and her younger sister Anita whom they both adored.

"Allen." What was supposed to be a simple walk turned into a tragedy as she drowned, leaving the newly weds Cross and Anita to grieve. Forced to watch as the couple spiraled further and further into darkness. "What is it?" Now, she remains stuck, unable to move on until her brother in law and sister find peace.

It's been the teens most difficult task yet. "While you were resting, there were children speaking with Anita...they were around your age." Eyes went wide as he met her concerned expression. His complexation paling. "What did they look like?"

His gut coiled with sneaking suspicion as three particular faces came to mind. "A girl with long black hair with green highlights. A boy with long black hair with blue highlights carrying a sword, and lastly a boy with orange hair who wore an eyepatch." Of course it was them.

He knew the moment Miranda brought up the fact they were his age. If she stated young children he would've assumed it was some of the homeless kids begging for some food or money. But no. It was them.

Allen had thought they were acting weird, and a time or two he thought he saw a certain ginger while he was in town. But...up until now he thought nothing of it. Now he sees it was a mistake not to trust his paranoid instincts.

"Do you know what they were talking about?" The spirit bit her lip as she nodded meekly. Even if she wanted to lie, she couldn't do it to the young boy. He was the sweetest thing ever-besides, both in the life and death Miranda was terrible at hiding things.

Let alone lying. "Y-yes. They were asking about you. And why you were living here in the slums. It seemed like they thought something was bothering you and wanted to help." The teen found himself conflicted at the information. Ice and fire spread through his veins while trying to gather his thoughts.

On one hand he was happy, somewhat relieved that they were only worried about him. On the other...they now knew too much about him. Time and time again he's learned that it's pointless to seek true friendships with the living.

Ignorance is bliss and the moment they find out there's a ripple of differences they show fear and hatred. Though he cared about those three, he never expected them to go to such lengths to learn about him.

Allen only had to last one year with Kanda and Lavi, then another two with Lenalee and he would never have to fear their rejection or disdain for the secrets he kept inside. His plan was unraveling at the seams. Just like his resolve to stay away from the Noah mansion.

Then again, he hadn't realized until talking to Road that the home in question was where his father had planned to bring him all those years ago. He didn't know they were his family. "Are they still here?" Miranda shook her head, offering him a ghostly kiss to his hair.

Though he couldn't truly feel any sort of pressure from her actions, he still leaned into the maternal action. "They left a little while ago. They told Anita that they didn't want to bug you, especially since they saw what Cross did to you. It looks like they truly care about you Allen...won't you let them in?"

She deflates as he refuses. "I can't Miranda...besides, I don't want to involve them with my latest investigation. Road warned me that her father and some of the other ghosts are starting to lose themselves. It'll be too dangerous if they find out." Time was running out for the spirits of the Noah Mansion.

Their darkness and the pain of their death was starting to become too much for them. He had to help them now before it was too late. "Have you found your uncle Neah?" At that Allen frowned, growing frustrated.

"No unfortunately-i'm thinking he either moved on or is hiding from me." Right now the only two ghosts in that entire building even willing to talk to him-let alone aid him is Lulubell and Road. But he was still stuck. Despite talking to nearly everyone in town, he was at a lost of who killed them or found the motivation why.

Too many things were out of place. If anything he knew that there was some sort of cover up. It seemed too convenient that no real investigation went on. That despite people going missing and a random fire happening in a rich filled house, it was considered an accident on record.

You didn't have to be a cop or some sort of rocket scientist to see that there is a serious problem. And since no one else could-or would check it out, well, Allen has volunteered himself to the job. Especially if it means he get's some closure for his father's mysterious murder too.

"Tomorrow I'm heading back to the mansion. I plan on searching ever nook and cranny for clues. But Miranda...do you mind telling me about their history? Since Cross refuses to tell me anything about them, I only have you and Anita to go to, and I don't want to bother her."

Miranda sat down next to him, understanding. She didn't want him to get involved with such danger, but considering his powers, it wasn't a surprise. Whether he wanted it or not he would always be a ghost magnet. "Of course." Allen gets comfortable as Miranda begins pouring her past.

Revealing what she knew of the Noahs. Though Cross or Anita would've been able to go into far more details than her, she was still grateful that Allen was seeking someone about this. And she understood and respected his decision to tackle this alone.

Messing with spirits, especially the more wicked ones could be dangerous. But she still believed he should talk to his friends and wished he could be open about his feelings and abilities. Whether Allen was truly aware of this or not, it was clear to those that lived on her plane of existence that the boy needed peace as well.

For so long he had kept up a mask to protect himself from the world. Seeking the solace of isolation while bringing salvation to the dead. The white haired teen thinks that he can find tranquility for solving the case of his dead uncle and saving an entire family of ghosts...but there was more to it than that.

Miranda hoped with all that she is that his friends would be the ones to set his heart free. He needed every bit of love and peace that the ghosts he aided did. Now if only the others could see it too.

to be continued

Author Notes: Yes I love Miranda and I will not apologize making her a ghost. Let's be real, the poor woman would probably accidently die if she didn't actually off herself first. How she survived to adulthood I dont know but I love it all the same.

So yes, expect her to be popping in and out of this little series. But that's it for now. As per usual everyone, thank you for reading this series. If you like it please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean so much to me! Tchao for now.