The door was shut gently and he set down his bag, breathing out silently. The air had the scent of vanilla and he could tell that some cleaning had been done. Slowly, his feet led him to the living room.

A pair of golden eyes met him and immediately he stopped, swallowing.

"Ray."

The man looked back at him from his seated position at the empty table, save for a cup of green tea that was sitting on the lonely wood.

"Max."

Max nodded his head and gently took a seat next to his friend, adjusting his hoodie so that he was not hidden at all. They sat in silence for some time, Ray occasionally sipping at his tea and taking a glance. Max could feel his heart pounding in his ears, his hands clenched in fists on his lap. He didn't remember anything but feeling that one love for her… that one love for the person that he wanted so badly.

But he had done wrong… and he didn't know if he could stop himself.

"Max…" his voice startled him and immediately Max snapped to attention, seeing Ray glare at him.

"What did you do?"

Max swallowed again, his time feeling his entire body shake with uncertainty. He licked his lips, a cold sweat beading from brow.

"Ray… I can't…"

"You stopped taking your meds… didn't you?"

Of all the people… Ray could always figure out what was going on before anyone else did… he may not be the oldest… but he's got everything figured out… oh Ray…

"…. I did."

At his words Ray moved closer and gripped Max's shoulders, shaking him back and forth gently.

"You can't do that. You need those. You know you have some disorders… you know that you're susceptible to-"

"I know that." Max retorted, pushing Ray off rather roughly. Ray stared back at him almost in shock at his movements. Max could feel his aura changing, that voice appearing in his head.

"I know exactly what I'm capable of…" he grit his teeth, his eyes narrowing and his heart icing over.

"I'm no pussy… I'm nobody's play thing…"

"Max…"

Getting up hastily, Max glared down at Ray now, fury nestling in his bosom. He loved the idea of using his cavern, of using his little cell of torture. Thoughts like that made him happy… because then he could prove to everyone that he was not a child. He was truly a man… a man of power.

"Max this isn't like you." Ray said softly, standing up as well. "I thought you did those things on accident but… I'm beginning to think that deep inside you…" his voice became more and more silent.

"There are things inside you that you have to hide… like demons and monsters inside you that only you can hear…"

Stop it.

Shut up.

I know what I'm doing.

The world was closing in around him, the air becoming more and more musk with the scent of dead bodies. As Max stared into the open space he began to see the vision of the man's face. The dead rolled back eyes white as powder, the open mouth that held a silent scream. The blood that traced down the nose and past the mouth onto the blue suit and stained his clothing. Softly he could hear the man murmuring to him, whispering only things that drove Max's head insane.

Good bye.

"Max?"

His eyes lifted to see Ray standing over him now, concern written all over his face. Max hadn't realized that he was upon his knees, upon the ground clutching his head and making marking all over his face with his nails.

"Max what's wrong with you?"

Hands approached him and he shoved them away quickly, seeing another person come in through the doorway. Grey eyes lined him as Max stood up and staggered towards the door, shoving the grey haired man out of his way.

"What's with you?" the man asked.

"Fuck you."

He could hear the man gasp as he regained his conscious state of mind, the world beginning to seem more normal now. Max grasped at his hoodie and pulled the hood over his head, murmuring to himself.

"He'll pay… he'll pay for what he's doing to me…"

Laughter erupted from his chest in little bursts, his feet finding the path towards his hideaway. He had his own place now, his own place to call home, his place where he had power. Where he could do as he pleased and made himself at home.

The place he could share with her.

She would not judge him.

She would see him.

She would see who he really was.

She was understand.

Miriam… it's been a few days since I saw her… we text all the time though… I want… I want to make her happy… I want… I want…

"Max get back here!"

A firm grip on his arm stopped him from going any further, Tyson glaring at him through pain streaked eyes.

"Max, Ray told me that you cussed out Kai. What the hell is going on? What's wrong with you? Where are you going?"

At that moment he could feel the anger and rage boiling inside of him, all the pent up anger seething into his core and making him cry out in anguish.

He saw her face.

He saw the face of the woman who called him a pussy. Who didn't believe in him at all, who claimed he was too soft.

Soft…

"None of your damn business!"

His fist connected with Tyson's nose and the man was sent flying onto his back, gripping at his face. Max's knuckles twitched with the red blood dripping down his fingers. His eyes dulled over, and he spoke quietly.

"Go away."

Tyson groaned in pain and as the other two came out to see if he was alright Max took his leave. His body whirled around to the streets and he took off hastily, not bothering to look back at the calls of his name or to the sounds of crying men.

He was all powerful.

The moon shone her lovely face upon the snow, Max burying himself deep in the cold to keep himself from freezing to death. He had not set up to be prepared for a frozen night. The caws of crows kept him at edge, his teeth chattering and his feet eventually finding the doorway to the only place he could truly call home.

I will make her happy.

I will destroy those who get in her way.

For her… I would do anything.

The familiar scent of blood made him calm as he held his head back and inhaled gently. The door creaked open and closed, Max making sure that the windows were boarded up good before he went downstairs to his little chamber. No one had been in his space or even knew this place was still being used. He made sure not to touch anything or make his presence too obvious.

The walls were lined with soundproof material… his tools were all laid out. He knew everything… he knew where everything was supposed to be.

He kept everything in order.

The stairs creaked under his weight as he went down, hearing the sad sobbing of a man coming from his hidden chamber. The sweet scent of blood intoxicated him and made him smile, his mind finally calming at the sensation of pure love.

I will do this. For her.

"So…" his fingers wrapped around the knife and he tilted his head, letting his hoodie fall off his body and onto the ground. Slowly he rotated the knife in his hand, examining the dull blade and seeing his reflection in the steel.

"How do you like to cut your meat?"

The man whimpered and shook his head, Max finally lighting the room to aide in the shadows that were creeping along the wall. The fixture was old and dusty, giving off a small light that created dark creepy shadows with pairs of eyes that followed one's movements.

"Personally I prefer lean meat… you know, the type you can put in a sandwich… with some mayo of course."

"P-Please…" the man whimpered more, trying to reason with Max.

Holding the knife up to the man's throat, Max smiled softly.

"You know, I like to see where I'm cutting all the time… force of habit I guess. And you're already prepared! Look at you!" Max exclaimed joyfully, his eyes rolling over the naked man that was chained to the wall like an animal. The metal cuffs dug into his skin and the scent of his blood reeked in the air.

"Stark naked in a basement with no body to call for you!" Max waved his knife around now, putting on his apron that he had in the corner. The white apron was soaked with blood, dried and brown and caked over.

"You know I like making a nice cut… clean… so that not all of it comes out at once…" he put on a surgeon's mask now and held up his knife once more to the light.

"The key is to make it slow, that way you get to hear the screams."

"Why are you doing this to me?" the man begged, his pale skin reflected in the dim lighting. His eyes were bloodshot from crying and his body was weak and thin. Max turned towards him a little now, speaking.

"Don't you think it's right…" he said slowly, turning toward the man fully now, wielding his knife in his right hand. "That a person who treats women like animals… should be killed like one?"

The man breathed out and swallowed, Max seeing that wonderful look of fear in the man's eyes.

"What was your name again?" he asked, gathering the only chair in the room and sitting down next to the hung man.

"Y-Yahiko…"

"Yahiko… lovely name. I like it. Strong." Dusting off his pants Max leaned back in his chair and rolled his finger over the edge of the knife, smacking his lips together.

"I hate getting blood everywhere… I like to keep things neat and clean."

The dim lighting finally became a little brighter as Max turned the light knob to more power. Max could see that the man was young, maybe twenty to twenty five. About his age.

"Yahiko… I think you'll like me. I mean I'm here to cure you right? Cut you up and cure you of this horrible disease that you have."

"What?"

Slowly, Max turned towards the table that was laid across the room from Yahiko and examined the items upon a deerskin roll.

"Ah… I love this one. She's been through at least two of you so far." His hand gingerly picked up a drill and he hugged the tool to his cheek, rubbing the soft steel against his nose.

"You know it's not every day I get to use her."

"How many of us…" Max's ears perked at the sound of Yahiko's voice, paying attention.

"How many of us have you killed?"

Max counted on his fingers and shrugged, fixing the drill up to the power line that lay across the floor.

"You know that's a great question. I lost count after about five… ten… I'm not sure."

"Where are all the bodies?"

"Wouldn't you love to know?" Max replied back casually, examining the drill with one eye. "She's a real keeper, don't you think? Got her at a hardware store for about twelve bucks. Best deal ever."

"You're insane." The man answered, gritting his teeth. "You're mad!"

At this Max smiled and cocked one of his eyebrows. He let out a chuckle, holding his stomach.

"Mad? Oh I'm not THAT kind of mad."

The laughter was cut short by Max gripping the man's throat with one hand, choking him harshly and letting his fingernails dig into the skin.

"I'm just sorry that people like you live on this Earth and have to put down others… people like you who can't just accept people for who they are… for who they can become…"

Miriam…

Miriam… she'd see me. She already sees me.

"So… Yahiko." Max let go of his throat and smiled softly now, his eyes fixated upon a spot on Yahiko's head.

"Tell me… which part of the brain do you hate the most? Your memories? Cerebral vortex? Frontal lobe? Oh come now, don't be shy… I'm your doctor…"

Max's smile turned vicious as his eyes widened into an insanity that pierced through Yahiko's soul. His teeth became fangs with his rage, his laughter filling the room.

"I can cure you of your disease."

Squishing sounds of a drill and blood splatters were all that filled his ears as he dug into Yahiko's brain, the skin breaking easily at the pressure point of the drill.

I can cure you…

"Miriam?"

The door was swung wide open and she stared up at him, a surprised look on her face.

"Max…"

The moonlight was well in the sky by this time, Max smiling at her presence. A few crows cawed above them, their feathers landing on the snow softly.

Her apartment wasn't hard to find, as he had tracked her down once before. He knew almost everything about her, and he felt as if he had known her his whole life.

"Miriam… I'm sorry for waking you up this late."

Her tired eyes smiled at him as she spoke.

"No, it's alright. I was just getting some water anyways… what's up?"

"I wanted… well I…" his heart beat fast with emotion and a shy smile lit his face. His fingers found the item in his pocket but he did not want to ruin the surprise.

"May I come in?"

Slowly the door slid more open and he shuffled inside, sitting down on a couch that was to his left. Miriam sat along with him, turning her head as she yawned.

"You know… you can't keep doing this to me." she giggled as she spoke. "I need my beauty sleep you know!"

"You're always beautiful."

Miriam stopped when Max spoke, Max feeling his heart race a mile an hour in his chest. He stared at her intently, his mind finally accepting the pleas of his heart.

I want to share everything with you.

"You are."

The moon was shining in upon them and he carefully slid himself over to her, letting his hood down to reveal his sparkling blue eyes. She gazed at him before speaking.

"I never noticed how blue your eyes were…"

They were nose to nose now, and Max could feel the soft warmth of her body against his as he embraced her, her loving curves fitting into his form perfectly.

Don't take her away from me.

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner… and I want to share everything with you. Everything. No secrets, nothing. I want you… for you."

"Max…" Miriam pushed him off gently, murmuring.

"This is all so sudden… I mean… are you…"

With his fingers he lifted her chin and nodded his head, his eyes warming at her sweet sight. His heart filled with love.

"I need you."

With a swift movement he forced himself upon her, their lips locking in a sweet sensation that made him lose control of all thought of the world. Nothing mattered to him anymore except being with her in that moment, in that one sweet moment that he wished would last forever.

They fell upon the couch and Miriam did not hold back, for Max could feel her tongue sliming in and out of his throat. His hands could not keep a hold of her figure for long and soon the quiet apartment was filled with the noises of scraping knees on carpet and the cries of loose clothing.

The air became hot and filled with love, his urges beginning to get the better of him as he released himself, his naked body finally coming in contact with hers. Their love was unparallel, he could feel her warm soft bosom and her ever loving thighs around his hips.

"I've wanted this so much… you make me so happy…"

Miriam gazed at him as he took off his shirt and thrust himself into her, her screams echoing throughout the tiny apartment. They were on the floor, not bothered by the light of the moon streaming in from the open glass door. Their shadows moved back and forth in rhythm, Miriam finally speaking back to him.

"I wanted this too… for so long… I always knew… that…"

"Shhh." He silenced her with his finger, his body thrusting in and out forcefully until he exploded inside of her, his sticky seed filling her core. Once he was done his world twisted around and around, colors and lights flashing in his view. The hot sweat that overcame him suddenly felt cool and he landed face first on her breast, his tongue too tired to lick.

"I know… I could feel it…" he panted, his hair matted up against her.

"I knew you wanted me… just as badly as I wanted you…"

"That was the surprise right?" she asked tiredly, rolling over onto her side and allowing Max to nuzzle her breasts with his nose.

"Yeah..." he mused, breathing onto her. "Thank you… Miriam… for curing me."

At his words she looked down at him curiously, Max gazing up at her with no indication of anything. He smiled and pulled her closer to him, nursing her head into his chest. Her arms wrapped around his body and she inhaled, breathing.

"You were my first."

Gently, he kissed her head, his nose inhaling the sweet scent of ash wood. He loved everything about her, every fiber of her being. He wanted to engulf her into his body, so that they would become one and he would never ever have to let her go. He wanted everything perfect for her.

He wanted everything that was her.

His fingers played with her long blue hair and as she slowly drifted off to sleep in his arms he closed his eyes, whispering into her ear.

The moon was passing beneath a cloud now, the darkness consuming them as Max pulled a blanket from off the couch and onto them, covering her fully so that she would not be cold. He smiled and pulled two pillows off the couch as well; taking care of her was now her top priority. He would do anything for her.

I love you.