Chapter 2 - 2053

2053, Tokyo, Japan

Alan's POV

It's been three years since I invited Nier and Yonah to live with me, in the first few days there was a barrier between us, we didn't trust each other completely after all we were total strangers, they looked at me as if at some point I would attack them and I was paranoid thinking that at some point they would run away with my water and food, it was difficult, but we managed to get closer, they became younger brothers for me.

But the good times had to come to an end, Yonah started to get sick at first it looked like just the flu, but it kept getting worse, none of the medicines I had here helped so Nier and I made a difficult decision, the three of us would go to a shelter who was taking care of people harmed by WCS, the problem this shelter was funded by the Hamelin Organization, but with no option, we prepared for the trip.

Alan, Nier, and Yonah braced themselves for this risky rag, while Alan was getting ready he failed to notice the mysterious book with face creeping into his backpack in the living room, Alan put the backpack on his back and the baseball bat in his hand, the three left the apartment, when the door closed a mysterious person appeared in the center of the room, with an open book in one hand and a large suitcase in the other, the figure said.

"Interesting, so this is where the anomaly lives, whatever happens from now on I can't predict."

Nier's POV

As I walked towards the shelter I started to think about everything that had happened in the last three years, at first I thought Alan took us in only 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 he tried anything but in the end he only helped us, in the end, it may seem strange but he has become a big brother to me and Yonah right now he is walking in front of us to be sure that the way is safe, I am grateful for all he has done for us.

But something is bothering me, why he doesn't trust the Hamelin Organization, after all, they're funding the shelter which means they're good people right?

Yonah's POV

We kept walking down the street, I didn't know where Alan and brother Nier were taking me, they just said we were going to get medicine for me, I feel bad for being the reason they have to go through so much trouble, when our parents died Nier took care of me the best he could, finding food and shelter and now Alan has taken care of us for years, I think I should do something to reward them, I know tonight I'm going to cook dinner myself.

Alan's POV

We got to the shelter, and I could see military trucks and armed soldiers at the entrance so what do they need all of that? The legion was destroyed years ago. "Stay behind me." I said to Nier and Yonah.

"Yes".

"Ok".

As we reached the entrance to the shelter, we were stopped by a soldier. "Why are you here?" he asked. "For the same reason as everyone else, to get food and medicine." he stared at me for a few seconds. "Fine, but you'll have to leave this here," he said as he pointed at my bat, I sighed but did as he said.

"You three can come in now."

"Thanks, let's go," I said to both of them. Inside the shelter we were surprised at the number of people, the place was filled to the brim, and something even stranger happened, the welders started handing out books instead of food. What the hell! All those people came here they are handing out books, goddamn book.

The book was black with several arcs one on top of the other, descending and getting smaller until it reaches an oval-shaped "face" with large lips and on top of this face, there was a theater "mask". One of these books was also given to Nier. Then I heard a voice "Use my power" I jumped back in surprise, looking around it seemed like I wasn't the only one listening.

"Did you hear it too?" Nier asked me. "Yes." I replied. Then the voice came again "Use my power!" this time higher. Until I realized, the voice was coming from the book, the book was talking to me "Use my power, use my power, use my power..."

Suddenly there are screams, all the people who took the books started to writhe on the floor, then something unbelievable happened it felt like a nightmare, the people on the floor turned into monsters, their skin started to darken, their eyes turned completely white, the arms and legs elongated to impossible sizes, claws formed on limbs, they were no longer people, they looked like living shadows.

"Nier, Yonah we need to get out of here now!" I screamed, and we ran out of the shelter, I took my bat that was thrown on the ground, while looking back I was horrified by what I saw, those monsters were tearing the soldiers to pieces blood and guts flew everywhere and the worst of all they were coming after us.

"Keep running and don't look back!" I yelled, we kept running until exhaustion, but we couldn't keep going. I saw an abandoned market and yelled "Into the market now!"

We ran inside, I closed the door, and I hid Nier and Yonah behind a shelf, those things were still 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 the Nier and Yonah's face, I knew what I should do, so I took a deep breath and said, "Stay here and stay away from the books!" I said as I pointed to the two books on the floor.

Nier's and Mine.

"Wait what you are going to do?!" Nier yelled. "Stop!" this time it was Yonah, she was crying, this sight broke my heart, but then I kept walking towards the door, my bat in my hand. "Use my power!" the book kept screaming, but I ignored it. Outside the market I looked around, there were ten of those things, took a deep breath, and screamed.

"Listen up here you bastards, if you want to get those two, you're going to have to get through me first, so come on, I'm going to finish you all off and put your heads as decorations on my wall!"

Then they came, the first one ran towards me with open arms, I raised the bat and descended with all my strength on his head, with a splash of blood he fell to the ground, the second came right after my left, he hit me with the claws of the left hand, I got out of the way just a little bit, but I ended up getting a cut on my side, the blood was seeping through the wound, taking advantage of the creature's moment of distraction I hit its belly with the bat, the creature bent over and I hit the back of the thing's neck hard, it stopped moving.

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 moment the monsters saw 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 wide eyes, until I realized what was happening, those things circled me and were beating me, the world went dark again.

"Use my power!" that voice again, I opened my eyes and saw the book dragging towards me, two dark arms were coming out of his sides, he was getting closer and closer.

You want to know what, to hell with it! "I want your power!" I screamed, and I was blinded by a light.

When my eyesight came back I was on my feet, still injured, but I felt stronger as if I could face all the armies in the world, the monsters were moving away from me and the black book floated by my side, I took my bat that was on the ground and I went on the direction of the creatures.

It was a massacre, with each blow I shattered their arms and legs, their heads exploded in a shower of blood, but I was not unscathed, they were many, while I was focused on one, others hit me in the back, I felt the blows knew I was hurt, but I felt no pain.

I fell to the ground, I was losing a lot of blood and the book floated in front of me staring at me, when I looked to the side I saw something that scared me Nier was there with his book also floating, he had accepted the power of the book, I tried to get up, but I was very weak.

I think it was due to blood loss, but as I died there on the floor I was sure I heard someone singing, it was a woman's voice, and accompanying the song was the sound of bells, so those words came out of my mouth.

"I hear a song."

END OF THE CHAPTER