"Matt…I never thought you'd be killed…forgive me…." My heart was heavy with sorrow. I promised him that we'd catch Kira before Near. That we would win. Now I don't care what happens anymore. Without him, my plans have to change significantly. He was a big part of it, but now I'll have to fend for myself. My mind raced faster than the truck I was driving but then I heard a faint noise. A barely audible 'scratch…scratch' from behind me over the revving of the engine. A noise that sounded a lot like…
I turned to look at Takada, the woman I have abducted. The connection that gave me the upper hand. She was writing something down. My eyes widened as I glimpsed the paper in her hand…M-I-H--
I heard a loud beep as I turned to find I had accidentally veered off into oncoming traffic. "DAMMIT!" I shouted as I jerked back to the right. I heard her scream and a loud thump as she was tossed around like a piece of luggage. She has a piece of the murder note. How did she sneak it? I stripped her of her clothes! She must've had it hidden. Dammit, and how did she know my name? The only one who saw my name was that Deputy Director Yagami but as far as I know he's dead. If he knew, and Takada knows, then Kira must know because she has a piece of the notebook. Kira must've given it to her at one point and told her my name. I looked in the rearview mirror to see her writing again. I gritted my teeth as I jerked the wheel again, knocking her off balance again. "I know you have it! Drop it right now or I'll kill you." I shouted as I took out my gun with my right hand. Looking over quickly I glimpsed the paper again….M-I-H-A-E-L
"No!" I growled as I pulled the trigger. The shot just barely missed her head. She screamed in fear and ducked into my blind spot. I turned around as my heart began to race. I have to kill or be killed. I might lose the upper hand if I kill her but I'll gain nothing by dying. Then Near will win. I gripped the wheel with my free hand as I searched for her. That must NOT happen at any cost. I veered off course again and swerved out of the way of oncoming traffic. I couldn't find her, she must've ducked out of view. I held my gun downward in the back and I felt something grab my arm and a piercing feeling in my wrist. I screamed and let go of my gun as I quickly pulled back. "You'll pay for that you little bitch!" I braked hard and felt a hard thump against the wall behind my seat. I heard her whimper as she moved away from me. Without my gun I couldn't do anything. I kept moving keeping the flow of traffic which quickly avoided me. I saw an old abandoned church up ahead on the side of the road. I hit the gas which worked the engine into overdrive. It roared as I drove off the road and crashed into the building. My chest hit against the steering wheel leaving me winded and tearing in pain as it scraped against the scarred bit that was burned in the explosion I had caused a while back.
I rested against the wheel wondering why I am still alive. I heard the woman sobbing behind me. I lifted my head up weakly and turned around. "Mello, Mihael Keehl." I heard her say. "You will die in the next 40 seconds."
I gasped as my eyes widened in fear and I turned back around. It was the longest forty seconds of my life. I wonder if this is how L had died…I remember when I first learned his death at the orphanage almost five years ago…
Roger had told us what happened. I was shocked but Near…Near just put together his puzzle over and over again. Him and his damned toys.
"So who did L pick?" I asked him, almost demanding. I had to know but in my heart I already knew.
"He hadn't chosen yet." Roger replied in his solemn tone.
I sighed heavily. I knew it. I thought. It has to be Near. He was always better than me and L knew it. "You know what?" I said aloud. "It's fine, Near should be the one to succeed L. He doesn't let his emotions get in the way. He just thinks logically like it's a puzzle. Anyway, I'm leaving this institute. I'm almost fifteen now, I can take care of myself."
"Mello…" I heard Roger protest but I ignored him. I didn't care what he had to say anymore.
I immediately went to my room and began packing what I needed to take into my backpack.
"Going somewhere?"
I chuckled. "I'm leaving this dump, Matt." I said. "I'm going out on my own to catch Kira."
Kira? I thought L was on the case."
"L is dead." I responded a bit too harshly. Matt went quiet.
"So he's chosen you then?" Matt asked me. I merely sighed and shook my head.
"He didn't choose, so I chose for him."
"So Near is officially the one to take over." He knew me too well. I turned around to face my red-headed friend.
"I'll keep in touch." I said as I reached out and rested my hand on his shoulder. "You've been a good friend all these years. I thank you. But now I just can't stay here any longer. Not with that murdering bastard still out there. I'll find him and bring him down before Near." I smirked as I released him and finished packing my essentials. "You'll see, Matt. I'll show everyone that I should be the true successor of L."
"If you say so, Mello." Matt sighed as if bored. "But how exactly are you going to survive out there?"
"I'll manage." I replied as I slung the pack over my shoulder.
"Not by eating chocolate constantly right?" Matt chuckled. Such a comedian.
"Hey I eat whatever the hell I wanna eat!" I retorted coldly as I stood there face to face with my best friend here. He was almost like a brother. I gave him a cocky smirk. "I guess with me out of the way then that makes you number two here compared to Near."
"That's a lot to live up to, besides I'm not interested in rankings." I chuckled as I nudged his shoulder.
"Be sure to torment Near while I'm gone." I added as I began to walk out of my room and down the hall.
"It's a part of my daily routine." he said as he followed me out. "But it just wouldn't be the same without you."
"Eh I'll find some other way to eventually." I chuckled and stopped at the front door.
"You're really serious aren't you?" Matt and I turned around to see the little white-haired twerp standing there just idly playing with his hair. "Then I wish you luck."
I scoffed. "I don't need it, especially from you."
"How often will you keep in touch?" Matt asked.
"I dunno, every few days. Maybe weeks. Depends when I can." I smiled and gave him a small salute and left the orphanage. I had absolutely no idea where I was going but I did know what exactly I had to do. I had to catch Kira before Near and avenge L's death. That was enough to fuel me. I had to achieve those goals no matter what the cost. I paused and took a chocolate bar out of my pack, unwrapped it, then began to lick it as a child would a lollipop. Old habits die hard.
