The clock read 8:02 AM. Mallory stirred his black coffee, his mind blank. He sipped, then hastily drew back his head after burning the tip of his tongue. He cursed under his breath as he went up to get water to cool down.

Don came last night to celebrate and spend some time together. He then just left after 4 AM urgently, and Mallory still hasn't cleaned up the mess in the bedroom. He mentally reminded himself to change the sheets and the pillowcase. 

He recollected the memories of last night, staring at Don's overcoat left on the sofa. He chuckled at how flustered and unsure Don was in the bedroom. It was too late to give it back as Don disappeared in the apartment hallway. 

There was a rushed and stern knock on the door. Mallory thought it was Don coming for the coat. He then realized it was very different from Don's knock, which was rhythmic and paced.

He looked at the door viewer and saw it  was the tenant next door. He opened the door and answered. He frowned internally as he saw his neighbor.

"Oh, Hey Ryan," Mallory greeted unwillingly.

"Hello, Marshall. Can I come in? There is something I would like to ask about."

Mallory sighed, "I changed my name. Legally. It's Mallory now."

"Oh really?" Ryan replied as he sat down.

"Yes, I told you last month," Mallory said  with disbelief. He sighed and grabbed a coffee pot, "Do you want dark coffee?" 

"Sure," Ryan said with a forced smile.

Mallory poured coffee into the porcelain mugs on the dining table.

"Yes... If you would like to complain about the noise yesterday. It was my bandmate, they came over at noon, and he was freaking out after knowing his girlfriend cheated on him and he needed emotional support."

"No, Rose already told me those details. And I honestly don't care about you peculiar youths.."

Mallory side-glanced as he carefully poured the second cup. 

"...It's about your visitor last night." 

Mallory paused and slowly put the coffee pitcher down, "...Yes?" 

"What did he do last night here?" Ryan probed.

Mallory pretty much did not want to say what happened last night. It's personal.

"How did you even know, officer?" 

"I always see him by the elevator." 

"We just hung out. Watched some movies..." 

"Alright. Look, your friend is not like what you think he is." 

Mallory's thoughts raced frantically. Was Don a criminal? What did he do? Did he do something terrible? ...Was he actually married?

Ryan slammed down his file binder on the table, making Mallory jump and curse. He flipped over some pages and pointed on a bunch of old images with dates beneath. Mallory looked and leaned his head inquisitively to the binder. 

"I have been observing this man for years. This file binder is collected from my grandfather himself. See this image? Is this person not familiar?" 

Ryan gave the selected photos to Mallory. Mallory realized that there was a man who looked like Don in the aged pictures.

"Oh, is this his ancestor?" 

"No, that's him." 

"What?" Mallory exclaimed with a completely baffled tone in his voice.

Ryan sighed, massaging his temple. "Mallory, you gotta believe me on this---"

"No, Ryan! Don't get me involved with your conspiracy theories!" Mallory berated, slamming the photos on the table.

"These are not conspiracy theories! I stole this from him myself!"

"You stole?"

Ryan stammered, "It's not that... I... Wait for me to explain, okay?"

The officer flipped over the pages and showed the other person some documents. Lists of images with several names with men who uncannily look like Don appeared. 

"He has no family tree, no proof of ancestors, his parents are unknown or nonexistent, no nothing. I have sources and evidence! See? His documents are inconsistent and fake!" 

"I... I refuse to believe any of this," Mallory replied. "This is unreal."

The officer shushed him and turned to the last page. It's a peculiar sketch of a creature with many eyes that cover its whole skin. 

"Your friend is not human. He's a monster," Ryan warned to Mallory. His eyes were full of utter seriousness and fear.

Before Mallory could protest, the sound of a rhythmic knock came from the door. He became unsettled instead of relieved as he saw Ryan's face quickly turned pale.

An odd, irrational fear kicked in and paralyzed him. He can feel his heart beating furiously in his chest, and his breathing gradually becomes heavier every second, as if this is what moments before death feels like. 

"Mal, dear. I left my coat. Can I come in?" Don calmly uttered. 

The officer grabbed Mallory violently by the collar of his shirt and whispered urgently, "He knows I am here. Don't do it!"

Mallory looked, eyes wide and mouth agape, at the door as Don knocked again with increasing impatience in his voice.

"Mal? Are you there?"

Officer Ryan took something from his pockets and poured some kind of water from a bottle to the cup of coffee. He then hastily took the file binder and hidden it under the table. 

The officer spoke in muted tones, "Distract him. I will hide. Offer him this coffee."

"Will he notice?" Mallory angrily asked.

"Pray he won't," Ryan said before quickly slipping under the table. Mallory glared at him with confusion before walking towards the door, trying to calm himself. He slowly turned the doorknob, peeking between the space of the door and the doorframe.

Don smiled as soon as he saw Mallory. It was eerily not as warm as the last time. 

"Mal, have you seen my coat?"

"Yes, It's on the couch."

The blonde man came in and gently pushed him away. He stopped by the table and examined the coffee.

"Oh, do you want some?" Mallory asked hesitantly.

Don did not answer but took one cup and sniffed it. He became nauseous and hastily put the cup away. He then looked at Mallory, his eyes piercing him. "There is something wrong with this coffee."

Mallory tried to stop his knees from shaking and leaned against the wall. He crossed his arms and shrugged to look casual, "How so?"

Don sniffed again in assurance. His face crumpled from disgust as he spoke, "Oh, it smells like the church. Awful."

"...The church? What are you talking about---"

Don turned to Mallory. He sprang towards him and grabbed him vigorously by the arm. He glared and asked very grimly, "Where is he?"

"W-what?" Mallory replied, his heart about to jump out of his chest.

Don shook him, and asked again with a serious and intimidating tone, "I know that son of a bitch  is here; where is he?"

"Don, you're scaring me!" Mallory cried out.

"I am not going to let him ruin all the hard work I did!" Don lowly said, "I won't hurt you, just tell me where---"

The table flipped over as the officer splashed Don with holy water. Don grunted in pain and threw himself to the other side of the room to examine his burning skin.
His skin smoked and reddened mildly. He frantically ran to another room. 

"Ryan, what did you do?" Mallory yelled.

"I splashed some holy water on him. He should be melted by now..."

They carefully stepped into the dark room. Ryan pushed the door and saw him.

The blonde man was still wincing from the pain. Every visible part of his skin is covered with glowing blue irises. Mallory became overwhelmed and stepped back, almost tripping and fainting from terror.

"Don? What are... you?" Mallory thought audibly.

Don closed his eyes shut tightly for a moment; then it opened to glare at Ryan. He abruptly jumped to Ryan and tossed him to the wall. The officer hit his head and blacked out. The demon covered the door before Mallory could sprint for it.

"Mallory... Don't be afraid," Don pleaded.

Mallory paced back and ran to the balcony as the eyes-covered demon sprouted red wings, crawling as it's sharp nails scratched the vinyl floor. 

"Mallory!" Don screamed in anger.

His heart beat rapidly, he skipped his leg on the other side of the railing and faced the sky and the busy road below him. His mind tempted him to jump, but he was uncertain.

The crashing and banging of furniture came nearer.

In desperation and fear, Mallory forced himself to shut his eyes as tears fell on his pale white cheeks, forcing his shaking hands and cold palms to let go of the railing.