Damned If I Do (Lucifer X MC)

Chapter Nine - Shiver

As I pulled my other boot on and double knotted the laces in a neat bow, I heard a creak in the floorboards outside in the hallway. I'd been stalling being ready as much as possible, paying attention to details of my appearance that even Asmo would find impressive.

2:16am ~ Z hadn't spoken since he told me we were going on an "adventure". For a creepy blackmailer he sure did have a lot of patience with me.

My eyes squinted as I listened out for any further movement outside my door, low and behold a small knock rang through the room and even though I was expecting it, I jumped just a little.

"MC... are you awake?" A soft voice whispered, followed by the door inching open and a crystal blue eye peering through the gap.

"Mammon, I- I can't talk right now. I'm gonna go on a walk for some fresh air, I'm not feeling to well." I stuttered. It was kind of true. My stomach was churning and my head pulsed with a dull aching feeling.

His eyes widened as he saw me dressed and sitting on the bed, as if he was expecting to see me sleeping like I usually was at this time, curled up asleep like a kitten drunk on milk.  "You can't walk around on your own at this time! You'll get eaten! Let me come with you." He whined. The whole getting eaten threat had lost its integrity over the last year, as it was used as an excuse for almost everything, whereas I can only think of a couple of times where a demon has truly discussed eating me as a little afternoon snack.

"I'll be fine. Please, I'll be ten minutes maximum. Wait for me here, even!" I put on my best convincing voice and edged past him through the door. I found myself slipping my arms around his shoulders and squeezing tight for a few seconds before releasing him and giving my best attempt at a small reassuring smile. He looked dumbfounded at the sudden affection, and distracted enough that I turned and made my way down the hall as hastily as my legs would carry me. I felt his confused eyes on me as I went.

                                             ***

Off I headed down the path, hugging into myself as I walked. It was much colder than I'd anticipated, the evenings in the Devildom are usually overly warm. I mean, hello, we're in hell. Tonight, however, strong winds swirled fallen grey leaves around the streets, a bitter edge coating the atmosphere. I don't know where I was going. I just walked, and waited.

A few minutes into aimlessly walking down a well lit street a crackle formed in my ear again and I stopped, looking around and listening for that commanding voice to tell me what I was to do now I'm stranded on the streets past two in the morning.

"You did a good job getting rid of that white haired one. It amazes me how you have such a hold on them all." He pondered.

"Where do you want me to go?" I wasted no time, I was intent on finishing his stupid little game so I could ensure the safety of my loved ones. Whatever that meant for me, I didn't care.

"All in good time, dear. Head down the alley on your next right."

I kept walking forward and came to an opening between two street lamps. A dark, unlit path laid before me.

"I didn't bring a flashlight, how am I supposed to see where I'm going?" I questioned, fear now suddenly swelling in my chest.

"Just go. Now."

I took a deep breath and took a slow step into the alleyway. I noticed the floor was cobblestone, gorgeous polished rocks all fitted together in one narrow path leading into the unknown darkness ahead of me, and only a couple of metres ahead was where the street lights failed to spread their luminosity any further. I began walking fast down the path, plunging into the darkness and focusing my full concentration on not tripping up on any loose stones laying about. The further I got the more I begged for the end of the road to be near.

"Stop. Feel around the wall next to you. There is a letter placed behind a loose brick. Retrieve the letter, and proceed to exit with caution." I stopped dead in my tracks.

"With caution... W-Why?" I pressed, my heart was a ticking time bomb at this point.

"Just do as I say, for hell's sake. Hurry, they'll know it's gone as soon as you remove it!"

My hand scrambled around the brick wall next to me. I didn't ask any more questions. My throat wouldn't allow me to get the words out. I could only imagine how absolutely batshit I looked in that moment. Eyes wild, trying to focus on something - anything - in the pitch blackness. I suddenly pushed a wobbly brick in the middle of the wall. I shimmied the brick out and reached my hand in to retrieve whatever was on the other side.

"Shit!"  Z's voice echoed through my ear and I froze. I heard shuffling. Muffled, slow shuffling coming from where I had just been on the path, coming closer towards me. Adrenaline kicked in throughout my whole body and I grabbed at the paper inside the hole, shoved it into my back pocket and held up the brick as a weapon. Whatever was approaching, it was coming closer by the second. It seemed timid, like the darkness was compromising it just as much as it was me.

"Don't come any closer!" I tried to sound intimidating, mean. I was glad my voice didn't waiver.

"M-MC!" The voice carefully called out from a few feet in front of me.

"Mammon! What the hell are you doing here?!" I breathed my words out and felt the fear drain from my body, making me slightly lightheaded. Very lightheaded in fact. I fell to my knees for a brief moment and tried to stop my hyperventilating. Mammon's footsteps went from shuffling to running as he rushed over to help.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to make sure you were going to be safe so I followed you!" His voice wobbled. He must've been so confused, seeing me voluntarily stroll down a pitch black street and hearing me feel up a wall. I hope he was far away enough that he didn't hear me speaking to Z.

"I-It's okay. We need to get out of here. Let's go." I said as I hauled myself up, using his shoulder as leverage.

"You're shivering..." He murmured. We rushed to the exit, and when there was a decent amount of light again I could see his expression. He was panicking. Did he think I was having a breakdown or something? He hurriedly took his leather jacket off and placed it over my shoulders.

I took his hand and he led me through the eerie and empty streets, we walked fast and made it home without speaking. I had thought of a million and one ways to beg him not to tell his brothers about what happened by the time we arrived.