“Finally!” Mikami breathed as an ambulance pulled into the area.
The paramedics rushed out with all different kinds of equipment to care for Mello. I.V.s machines, and a rolling stretcher were placed on various part of Mello’s body. Beeping, humming, frantically trying to stable his fragile life.
“Holy….” One of the men said looking around. He pulled out a crackling one way. “The boy is at an entire wreck zone.” Inaudible sounds came from the other end. “O.K. We have the boy.” More noise, “we just need to get some kind of name from his companions.” Silence. “No, he doesn’t have any papers on him.”
Another man tagged Charles walked up to the two dumbfounded young men. Near was hiding behind them. Claiming he didn’t want to be seen.
“Do you know this boy?” Charles inquired.
“Umm. Yeah.” They said simultaneously.
“One at a time, please.” He said. “Who is he?”
“Nil Bret.” Matt said smoothly. Fake names came easy to him. “And he is 18 years old.” Matt loved lieing about Mello's youthful looks. Held him feel 'bigger' in some twisted way.
“Where does he live?”
“With me and my family.” Mikami interjected. Near snickered at the thought of Mello living in Mikami's expensive home. For some reason all he could see was Mello dressed in victorian clothes blaming the maids for everything. Funny!
“You had better come with us anyway.” Charles said. “You could all use a look at.”
Near push on his adopted father’s back, “Sirens.” He mumbled.
“Alright.” Mikami tolled the man following him to his car.
As they passed a still burning fire, Near threw all of Mello’s I.D. in it watching as they completely burned away. His vision caught what was missing from Mello’s person.
“Nathan!” Mikami called but Near had already dived behind one of the many car parts that scattered the spot. He returned with a tarnished, yet miraculously intact rosary.
“I couldn’t leave it.” Near muttered sitting beside Matt in the back of the damaged car. He stroked the stones as though it were Mello's hand.
“Please start.” Mikami murmured turning the key. It sputtered and started. “Yes. Now.” Mikami pulled on his G.P.S system giving it the directions to the hospital.
“Now I see why Mello still depends on this thing.” Matt said rubbing the blackened stone beads. “Even though he’s not a good Catholic at all, he still holds this thing very close to him. And if he’s not wearing it he’s got it near by.”
“I believe ‘that thing’ is called a rosary.” Near said giving Matt a silent glare. “Have respect. I think it helped us somehow.”
“Well, I’m not what he is.” Matt whined. “I don’t see why I should be anything than I am!” He turned away, his face slightly pink with embarrassment and anger.
Near nodded slightly. Neither he nor Matt had any idea why Mello even tried keeping his religious views. He defied every law with gusto, not considering his actions or their consequences. Or if he did, he didn’t care. As for them though, they weren’t Catholic at all. He didn’t have a faith of any kind at all and Matt was…what was Matt? It didn’t matter. Anyway, understanding the fallen Catholic was as hard as trying to look through a rock. It was best left alone.
Thoughts like this continued to run through all their minds as they followed the ambulance and screeching sirens to the very place they might get some answers.
In the ambulance, Mello’s one good eye ever so slightly opened; revealing a look of pure wonder and confusion as he surveyed his surroundings. It then closed again. It closed but his mind did not. It spun with thoughts of what had just happened. The cars, the fire, the burning of his own flesh from the surge of the opposite cars explosion and the dumb knowledge of hands…voices, begging him to continue to fight.
‘God…’ He thought, ‘Help me.’
