Two days had passed, Alexander stood up from his seat as he heard three knocks on the door, leaving his essay and papers on the table. He quickly head to the door, an ordinary delivery man came with a brown box appear before him.
"Are you, Mr. Alexander Michael?"
"Yes" Alexander replied.
"Kindly sign here, sir" the delivery man said, fishing out a pen from his shirt pocket and a paper on the back of his pants. Alexander grabbed the pen and scribbled on the paper.
"Thank you and have a great day" and the delivery man said and headed downstairs. Alexander grabbed the box on the floor and went inside, shutting the door behind and placed the box on top of the table where papers were placed.
He draw out his cabinet and grabbed the pocket knife and delicately opened the package as if the content is fragile. Alexander's eyes gleamed as he saw the glimpse of the book cover. As what he thought, the book looks expensive to look at. He feel engrossed, reading horror novels.
Alexander carefully took the book out of the box as though it's a new-born baby and placed it on the table. The book came along with a fountain pen, he grabbed the fountain pen and put it aside and carefully flipped the page to see the first page with the title written in dark old font but there is no author name written under the title. Alexander flip on the next page, a short dedication is written,
"Dedicated to all readers who appreciates and supports their favourite author. This book is mainly for you. All the short story compilations is based off the reader's emotion and thoughts. Happy reading, reader"
It's written in ancient symbol-like. Alexander turned to next page and read,
"Dear reader,
If you have read this even further, I'd like to appreciate your curiosity on what this book lies however I'll not be held responsible of your experience. This book is written based off your emotion and thoughts. All names, events written may depict realistically.
-TheUnknownAuthor"
Flipping to the next page, another note written in italic.
The following pages can't be opened except the reader must signed the book with his own blood, the reader must use the empty fountain pen.
Alexander brushed off the warning and flipped the next page only to see an underline over the book owner
"Was writing your name in a book is still a thing?" Alexander asked to himself.
Alexander's eyebrows raised, he never read a book like this before. Alexander grabbed the second page to flip. Surprisingly, it can't be opened as if its glued. Alexander headed to the kitchen and look for a ketchup, a tomato ketchup will do.
Alexander pressed the ketchup over the book owner signature and put the ketchup on the side and try to flip the second page but it didn't budge.
Forcefully, Alexander winced as he felt a hot stabbing pain in his index finger as though he is pricked by a needle. He raised his finger and saw a thick dark red blood, oozing out. Alexander placed his finger over the reader signature, putting pressure to ooze more blood out.
As a single drop of blood blotched on the paper, Alexander grabbed the empty fountain pen and scribbled over the underline. Alexander flipped the second page, surprisingly, it gave him access to read and skim through the pages.
He went to his bed and sit comfortably and read. Time ticked by and the clock pointed at 12, Alexander is engrossed and haven't track the time. The drumming sound of raindrops against his windows and the muffled rumbling from the sky, it made Alexander want to sleep and covered himself with a blanket but the curiosity of how will the fictional characters relates to him, Alexander read with half-shut eyes, trying not fell in deep slumber.
"And Yasuke.." Alexander said softly and shut his eyes. The sudden sound of lightning made him jolt and hastily sit up straight. Alexander hop off his bed, shut the book as he placed it on the near table and head back to his bed as he fell in deep slumber.
As Alexander sleep, a sudden red glow subtly flashes from the hollow eyes of the skull and fades in seconds.