“The morphine was to strong Mello. That’s all” Mikami said. His eyes were like light reflecting off fresh blood. They burned warning to the imposter clearly saying ‘Move and it’s your last foot fall.’
Miheal threw himself into a chair motioning his physician to do the same. Choosing a chair close enough that he could grab Mello at anytime, Mikami took his place.
“Mello.” The man was going to have to be gentle with the enraged German.
“Miheal!” Mello snapped. “I will not be given pet names.”
“But it is your name. The name you earned at Whammy’s.” Mikami urged trying to keep Mello focused. Mello wouldn’t look at the man any more. He instead put his crystals on Matt and Near. Gazing at them, causing them to tremble with fear.
Near shifted behind Matt, “I couldn’t take him if he attacked.” Near whispered. Matt’s hand gave his a squeeze. But he didn’t say a word. Matt hated making choices especially ones like this. All he wanted was his life as it had been for the last seven years. Free.
Taking advantage of Mello’s averted gaze, Outa took Mikami’s bag and filled a syringe with clear thick fluid.
Suddenly Mello flung his seat into the wall and stalked forward. Matt’s muscles tensed as Mello’s fingers stroked the side of his face. “Are you afraid of me?” Miheal purred lightly chuckling at how Matt shuddered. He then moved to Near. “Why so pale?”
Near lunged at Mello. The older boy had hit the one nerve of conversation Near hated with his whole being. ‘Why was he pale?’ Mello knew why. Near was an albino, a child born with little or no pigment in his skin. He used to look all pink and white when he was a baby, but had changed as he got older. His unusual coloring had caused him to be teased royally at Whammy’s. Leaving a permanent scar in the young teen’s pride.
Now Near’s fist pounded any were he could land it. Blind rage filling him completely. Mello did alright blocking the simple attacks, but was tiring fast. Matt pulled at Near not surprised at the resistance he felt.
Near didn’t let people see him emotional, but this was unforgivable. Mello new. He new! And yet he still put a knife in the boy’s heart by bringing up this sensitive topic.
Finally Near tired enough that Matt could remove him from Mello’s heaving chest. As a last action Near ripped Mello’s rosary from his neck and slammed it into Mello’s gut.
“Take it back!” He sneered toward his fallen leader. “Take it and pray.” Now he was taunting Mello. “Pray that your family wasn’t looking down to see your disgraceful behavior. If the living doesn’t want it the dead sure wont.”
Matt brought Near out of the cellar; leaving the three men to sit in the quiet.
Mikami and Outa watched as Mello’s hand came to rest on the old stone beads, his fingers slowly making their way between the cords. The cross dangled in mid air as he brought it up over his face to look at it. Nears words echoed through his brain. With a moan bursting from his throat Mello clutched the rosary to his face turning on his side. For a second time tears fell from his starring lakes. The thought of his family hating him not only in life but in death had shaken him beyond recognition.
Outa injected him with the liquid but didn’t touch him further. They left him to his thoughts and exited to find Near. The result had come in and Mikami knew that what he would have to say would hurt the small boy worse than anything Mello just said.
Out side the study he heard Near sobbing relentlessly into Matt’s shoulder.
“H-He knows I can’t help it!” Near choked between sobs.
“You know he wasn’t himself.” Matt said.
“E-L said it might have been what caused my mother to a-aband-don me.” Near whined. “N-no one wants a f-freak like me a-around. It’s why I stayed away from the others at home.”
“Now stop that.” Matt warned. “If no body wanted you around, why do we have you here, hm?” It got quiet save Nears stifled tears.
Taking a deep breath Mikami entered the room to see the boys sitting on the floor. Near with his arms wrapped around Matt weeping into his shoulder. The other gently rocking and consoling into the mass of white hair.
At the sound of his clearing his throat both heads peaked to look at him.
