This is set one month after the events in the series. Multi-chapter, some later NearxOC. Enjoy! Or don't. But that would make me sad T.T ... Really, it would take like two seconds for a quick review. Epic storyline and plot twists, I assure you.

Rated T for language, violence, blood and gore, all-round morbidity, homicide, suicide, fratricide, parricide, insecticide... Note: This is only sort of a prologue... The flashbacks are in italics, and the normal font is set somewhere near the end. Time will reverse itself in Chapter 2, so I can, you know, actually write the story. I'm not sure if I gave away too much during this chapter, though. Oh well - just keep reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note. *Dramatic gasp* Shocking, I know.

Paper Spiders

Chapter 1: Prologue

Her breath came out in gasps and the cold air bit into her throat like thorns. Rain and sweat plastered her dark, messy hair to her face, not strong enough to wash away the layers of mud and blood that coated it. He has to be here, she thought to herself. He has to... He was so colourless, so emotionless, so methodical, that there was no change he wouldn't show up... And the way he seemed not to care about any of it... It sent her into a rage like she had never felt before.

-X-

She was officially an orphan now.

Finally.

The girl's father was put on trial for raping her, and was judged innocent due to lack of evidence. This was during the peak of Kira's reign, and it seemed that he believed the man was guilty. Kira dealt 'justice' to the man, and he had died of a mysterious heart attack on his way to freedom. Exactly like she had planned it.

She had been abused by him for 'not being good enough', so she falsely accused him of rape, in the hopes of Kira stepping in. She knew it was the wrong thing to do, but it only proved that Kira was worse. He was a tool for the mentally superior; his judgement biased on a hideous level. Anyone could get away with anything, and people like... well, herself... would be able to control his actions by playing on his wants. Like the want for a better world.

-X-

Was coming here the right thing to do? She wasn't sure... But, considering what had happened... She clenched her teeth in an attempt not to scream out loud.

-X-

She knew she did a very bad thing... But she couldn't hate herself for it. He had deserved it.

The ornate doors were already open; a welcoming light spilling into the darkness from the building's interior. But she still didn't trust it. She didn't trust anything that looked so friendly.

-X-

Her face was illuminated from below, the city lights too far down to discern from that of houses and cars, casting long shadows about her features. Hollow cheekbones and a deathly pale face, littered with tiny scars, only added to the dead look in her wide, dull grey eyes. How did this happen? She asked herself, tired of it all. Where did I go wrong?

-X-

Muffled voices could be heard through the door, but only one was coherent. "... I don't think she would ... I agree, it would be horrendous if- ... No, I assure you she has no idea..."

It was then she decided to enter, not wanting to hear any more. The conversation stopped abruptly, and the girl just stared.

"Welcome, Miss... Tenaiah, am I correct?" A man's voice, low and soothing. He turned around in his swivel chair to face her. "While you attend this place, you will be known as Tenn. Never reveal your true name to anyone, am I understood?" His tone softened some. "I am Roger."

The girl glared at him silently, distrust written all over her face.

-X-

She never wanted it to go this far. Too many people had died by her hand... But he had done worse. It wasn't his fault directly, but she knew he could have stopped it if he tried. He didn't try hard enough, dammit! And... and he...

-X-

"Why am I here?" she asked in a monotone, her voice coarse from disuse. "I have no special talents. No unusual gift."

Roger leaned forward slightly, hands folded on the table. "Actually, I believe you do. Or you might, eventually. You see, both your brother and your father were very... talented, and I had a feeling that you would do well here. Any other place may take your gift, whatever it may be, for granted."

"Father? I nver knew my real father. He was... murdered." She wasn't sure if that was the right word, but she let it slide. "And I don't have a brother." Tenn's brow creased.

A hard look crossed his expresion, but cleared in the same second, replaced with false surprise. "They didn't tell you?"

"...There was no 'they', Roger. I never knew my mother, either - she left me. I lived with her sick, perverted, abusive partner up until a few days ago." It was dawning on her then, slowly but surely. She had a family she didn't have any idea existed. But one thing tugged at the back of her mind; something she hoped she was wrong about. "... Are they alive?"

-X-

She saw something across from her; a pale white blur in the darkness. Finally, she thought, determination flashing in her eyes.

-X-

The man hesitated, acutely aware of the delicate subject he was about to discuss with the girl. "Your brother... attended Wammy's for eleven years prior to your arrival. Now, I know this will be hard news, but..." Tenn glared at him until he continued. "The reason for this is that your mother disappeared."

"Can they find her?" Tenn asked her voice bland and sounding not even remotely interested.

"I'm afraid that she hasn't been sighted since she left your brother here when you were born. It was a strange turn of events that we were not aware of at the time. We presumed her dead six years ago, and gave up the search. Believe me, the police tried their hardest. She was quite an unforgettable woman, in anyone's opinion. I'm sorry."

She met his gaze squarely, the pain in her eyes quickly masked by a false smile. Then she was hauled away.

-X-

Sure, too many had died before her. But this... This didn't count. He had to die.

Then so did she.

-X-

She tried to sit alone during lunch. Tried being the important word.

An older girl sat next to her without even so much as a 'hello'. She smiled, though. Tenn turned away, but the girl tapped her shoulder and waved.

"What do you want?" she asked bluntly. The other girl gave a silent laugh as Tenn just stared. Then she began scribbling something down on a piece of paper.

The handwriting was messy, but readable. 'I'm Malice. Who are you?' it wrote. The name was familiar... Yes, that was it. Malice was the top student at Wammy's.

"Names are for friends," Tenn said harshly. "Because we aren't friends, I don't believe that names are necassary."

The girl looked a little less enthusiastic than before, but she kept writing. 'I would like to be your friend.'

"Why?" Tenn was officially annoyed by then.

'You seem nice,' was all the explanation the eccentric girl wrote. But a different story was in her eyes.

-X-

The rain was making it hard to think; the heavy droplets pounding inside her head.

A tear rolled down her cheek before she could stop it.

"Why did you do it?" she asked in a broken whisper, aware that he couldn't hear. "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT DESERVES TO DIE!!" She shouted at the figure with as much force as she could muster. As if on cue, lightning crashed above the pair, briefly illuminating a flash of snowy white hair and an angelic smirk.

He has to pay, she thought to herself viciously.

-X-

Malice was mute. She had been born with a defect in her voice box, and hasn't been able to speak since she was five. That was eleven years ago.

-X-

Her thoughts were a violent mixture of rage, hate, grief, sorrow... and envy.

-X-

It had taken months... but Tenn had grown fond of her mute friend. So much so, in fact, that she didn't feel safe whenever Malice wasn't around. So Tenn had literally attached herself to the older girl, acting somewhat like a creepy shadow.

She had made her first, and only, friend.

-X-

The girl envied the way he was so emotionless... Anything cruel or hurtful that was said to him just rolled off his shoulder like water off a duck's back. She hated the way she was so weak.

But not any more.

After this, there would be no need to feel that type of emotion... Or any emotion at all.

-X-

Tenn, though she kept her usual impenatrable facade, was glowing.

After eleven years, she knew now that she had a good chance at leading a worthwhile life, and she could forget all the horrible things she did to get here.

After this, things could only get better.

-X-

After this, she would end it all.