A Cheat's Survival Journal

"This, this feels different." I said inside the nearby forest while Pete was screaming and howling, calling me a monster. A loose cloak of RC Cells covered me from head to toe, hiding all of my features making me look like a genderless entity. My left arm carried a chain with a hook at the end and my right arm carried a scythe that you would see a grim reaper with, both made from my RC-Cells. I felt hungry, hungry for flesh but I didn't know why; but it seems to have to do with my transformation.

A kakuja's transformation was focused around psychological trauma, it seems like mine is based off of death. It feels different but that doesn't mean it doesn't feel good, I looked down towards Pete and I smiled beneath the cloak but Pete couldn't know since it was eternally dark under it. I began to step towards him and decided to test my new transformation, my instincts told me to start with the scythe.

I raised the scythe and swept it across his right leg, I thought I missed at first but it cut perfectly through as if nothing was there.

Pete looked at his leg in horror and blood began to gush out of it, his screams and cries for help made my smile turn into a grim. I told him in a voice that I didn't think was mine but a demon's, "This, is your fault and you'll pay the price with your flesh." I raised my scythed and swept across the rest of his 3 limbs, leaving just his head and torso. Pete was crying as he repeatedly said, "Why, why, why?" I looked down on him and said bluntly, "I don't know why. This form calms my mind and it seems to give my the sole objective of devouring flesh; I don't know how I would devour flesh in this form. Lets try this hook, shall we?" My instincts told me that, the hook would devour flesh but I didn't know what would happen.

I swung chain in a circle and threw it, hooking his left arm with it. The effect? Tiny tendrils came from the hook and quickly devoured it; there was more to it though, I left his flesh becoming apart of the cloak that wrapped around me. I began to hook each limb in front of Pete's eyes, much to his horror as he saw the climbs that were once attached to him get devoured from tendrils that to his human mind were as if a demon was robbing him of everything. Pete in a small, terrified voice muttered, "No..." I looked at him and said, "This is your fault but I don't hate you. You allowed me to gain something that will contribute to protecting what I love and I thank you for that. I won't let you suffer, now let your flesh become mine."

A howl was heard in the forest that echoed to Alexandria, it signified that someone died a death filled with fear. Pete was completely devoured by my chained hook and a small tattoo of him appear on the cloak, showing that he is apart of me, the Reaper of Flesh. A suitable name for this kakuja since it takes flesh and makes it become apart of it, like how death claims souls and it becomes apart of death. Now all that was left was Pete's clothes, the others would want to bury him and this is all that's left so I will bring it with me.

I wandered the forest and killed the zombies who came due to the howling of a dead man. I didn't use my hook since I felt like it would make my state worse and cause me to lose my rationality. I roamed around Alexandria in circles, killing any zombie that I saw with my scythe. Occasionally, I would see someone from Alexandria; it seems like they were searching for me since they were shouting for my name, I ignored them and continued circling around. But while I was doing that, I heard a voice that I recognized. It was actually four voices that I recognized, 'Jessie, Edin, Ron, and Sam. Why did they leave the walls?'

I walked towards the source and arrived 15 feet in front of them. They saw what I currently am, I simply stared at them and asked with my demonic voice, "Why are you out here? I don't want anyone to see me like this." Shockingly Ron was the first to speak up, "We're out here to bring you home. Everyone already knows about you and no one, not even my brother or mother are upset that you killed Pete." I listened to his words and I could tell that he didn't blame me, in fact I saw something that I didn't like. I saw pity coming from him, something I don't want or need. I let out a deep, audible breath and said, "You think no one would be afraid to see me like this? That's pretty funny to be honest. I can see that you four and Rick's group won't be." I sighed and said, "I once read this novel in high school. The protagonist was an anti-hero, humanity's worst killer. When I say worst, I don't mean that he was bad at murder; instead he was the best at it. His task was to kill the hero and the hero's party, one of the members of the party had an ability and two words caught my eye, 'Memento Mori.' It's Latin and it means, 'Remember, you must die.' I used to say that to myself, but if I return and they won't accept me... It would be the final words they hear since I wouldn't be able to handle it."

They stood silent with hesitation. But Edin walked towards me and grabbed my wrist, telling me, "Lets go home, you need some rest after staying up for over 24 hours." I was dumbfounded by the words but scoffed and allowed her to drag me along. The family of three followed along and Jessie patted my back, Sam and Ron were talking in whispers about how cool I looked. While I walked in silence and eventually we arrived at the gate of Alexandria. I was expecting everyone to be afraid but instead, Reg counted to three and I heard a cheer filled with welcoming, "Welcome home."

I stood in place, amazed and relieved. I knew there would be a few people afraid but with the majority here saying that to me, I could live with a few stares of fear. My kakuja transformation began to dissipate into mist and I was back to how I was before but with a red streak in my hair. I smiled and fell asleep, quickly getting caught by Jessie.

I felt light as I slept, I felt that everyone here was my family. I don't need anything else besides this feeling. Two words caused all the negativity to disappear and I was truly sound of mine without any chaotic thoughts.

{

...

RighteousHero: Family truly can make anyone pure.

MommyGF: Be quiet, let us all enjoy this moment that my baby found peace with himself.

}