Well, I recently finished reading the Death Note novel, Another Note: The LA BB Serial Murder Cases, and I watched the movie 1408. Thus was I inspired to write this.

Mello POV, which is amazingly fun to write. Also, my first time writing about Near as a functioning character, rather than just having him mentioned. He's really tricky for me, and I'm still trying to find a comfortable, fitting way to write about him. I'll give more author's notes at the end of some of the following chapters as well.

I appreciate reviews/critiques. They make me happy

Oh yes, the characters aren't mine. Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata created them, and I just write about them.

…

In the eastern wing of the House, in the northeast corridor on the left hand side, there is a room marked 259. It can be recognized especially by the small "A" written above the door handle in thick blue ink. It must be noted by all staff that this room is to remain locked, and is not to be used or entered for any reason. It is unfit for use, and this is what all children must be told, should they ask….

…

I hate having information kept from me. Especially when such information is just begging to be discovered, and it is separated from me only by the stupidity of those who already know it, but refuse to tell. Yes, stupidity. I don't care what's said about it, respecting one's elders is near impossible when they are so wretchedly foolish! They dare to tell me, me of all people, the 2nd in the House, that I am not being told something "for my own good"? As if there remained anything in the world that I hadn't already heard in some form, as if there remained anything to "taint" me. It made me just ache to tell that old man Roger some sinful little thing I knew, shock him really well, but I kept my mouth shout.

Sort of.

Well…not exactly.

I suppose I didn't shock him with what I did say, but it certainly did irritate him. Which was why I was sitting here on a chair in a corner. A painfully humiliating punishment Roger. I'm sure you think you're so clever and authoritative for inflicting it on me, don't you? You probably think you're teaching me a lesson. As if you could possibly do such a thing! Just because I asked about the stupid room, 259, the "A" Room…

I was beginning to wear down. I'd worked myself up into a fine huff about this, and I had to admit, I was beginning to feel a bit tired. I was not ready to submit though, certainly not. If he expected me to apologize for swearing at him I'd just have to sit here until I rotted. But he knew me better than that. He'd let me go once I quieted down. Which I would do on my own time, thank you very much.

Still, I despised getting tired, because then my mind started softening and those nasty little "I deserve it" thoughts began to creep in. Such thoughts as "I shouldn't have kept pestering", "he told me not to ask again the last time", and, the very worst, "it wasn't polite to talk that way to him". I despised it so much, it got me angry again, and I gave the chair a good kick with my heel, then glanced down at my watch in frustration. I'd already been here forty-five minutes. And…ooooh, it would be dinner soon! Which meant everyone in the house would pass this room on their way to the dining hall. Roger had to have done this on purpose. Putting me here just to embarrass me! Then again, maybe he wasn't smart enough to think that far ahead.

Still, this was a wretched predicament. Matt would tease me for days about this. Near…he would pretend he didn't care, but he would love seeing this, just because he never did anything wrong and was oh-so-perfect genius number 1 Near. The annoying, bratty little twit.

I exhaled loudly. Five minutes until the meal bell would ring, the dining room doors would open, and everyone one would come rushing down. I squeezed my eyes shut tight.

"Roger!" I called, immediately wishing to take it back. My voice sounded terribly loud as it rang out in the quiet little room. He would triumph in this! I could just imagine his thoughts already. He would think he'd done so well, think he'd put me in my place. I gripped the chair, as if trying to dig my nails into it, and I heard soft footsteps enter the room behind me.

"Do you have something to say, Mello?" came the familiar voice of the House's guardian, Roger Ruvie. I grit my teeth, suppressing a growl.

"I'd like to get up now." I didn't want to say it, I didn't want to say it… "Please." I choked the word out and nearly gagged on it.

"Ah. Then I assume you are prepared to conduct yourself properly and politly from now on?"

I really needed to work on getting my temper to behave a bit better, as it was starting to flair viciously. I had to give myself a few moments to get it a bit more controlled before I answered. "Yes, I'll be doing that."

"Then you are fully prepared to apologize?"

I must have looked as if I was having a fit. I curled over and gripped my legs, my yelling muffled against my thighs. I sat up again quickly, my back rigidly straight. "Yes, I apologize. I'll behave. I'll be polite."

He might as well have stabbed me.

…

Roger let me go, but not before I had to sit and listen to a lecture, though it was blessedly short. I managed to dash out of the room right as the flood of hungry children came down the hall, and within seconds I managed to blend into the crowd. A close call indeed.

It was not that I didn't want them knowing I'd gotten in trouble. They all already knew I was no angel. But there was a delicate hierarchy here in Wammy's House, and I had to make sure my place was maintained. It was by no means enough to be just "The 2nd". I needed something that set me apart, something that built a very clear, very thick wall between Near and I. That something was my personality. I was the bold one, the trouble-maker. The one who wouldn't apologize.

Well…as for the latter…at least I had been that.

Near had his wretched policy of "If you do wrong, just say sorry". I despised that. I despised it as much as despised him. Well he could say sorry all he wanted, but I certainly would not. I'd had a good record of it too, until Roger found out how much I hated such humiliating and juvenile punishments as being put in a corner. Banished to my room for a few hours was even better than being put out on public display. Oh it burned me right through, and I squirmed all over just thinking about it.

But it was over. Time to get my mind off it, and stop letting it ruin my appetite. I took my seat at the long dining table and began filling my plate. I needed chocolate, but Roger had taken away the bar I'd had earlier. Just heaping insult to injury.

"Hey Mel," Matt appeared beside me suddenly enough to make me tense up, if only briefly. Still, I couldn't help but grin. He had such a big smile spread across his face I couldn't help it. "Where've you been for so long? I thought you were going to ask Roger about…" he lowered his voice, "about…you know…The Room."

He was wise to keep quiet. Room 259 was an endless source of gossip among the children. It was the one thing, other than L, that was a true Wammy's House mystery. One word about "The Room", and everyone would be talking, throwing around their "I heard's " and "it's been said's".

"So did you ask?" he said, continuing to pester even as he stuffed his mouth with food.

"Still nothing Matt," I said. "The old man isn't cracking."

"Awww," he frowned. "I thought you had him this time."

I put a forkful of potatoes in my mouth, and as I did I caught sight of a brief glimpse of white entering the room. I swallowed hard. Near. He was always the last one into the dining hall, so usually he ended up sitting on an end of the table, but somehow the seating had worked out differently today. Friends were grouped together, loners were scattered between, and the very unfortunate thing was the only real open space was next to me. My heart pounded, and my stomach threatened to revolt against the food I'd just put in it. I would not sit next to him. I wouldn't, wouldn't, wouldn't!

"Linda!" I whispered loudly to the girl sitting down the long bench from me. She glanced at me with a slight frown. I'd interrupted her conversation. "Move down!"

She rolled her eyes and turned away, and I nearly leapt up and dragged her down the bench. If only they'd all just move down a bit…

But no, too late. Here he came, looking as dull and lifeless as ever, a little white-haired freak buried in too-big white pajamas. A silent ghost moving among the laughing children. I turned back to my plate quickly, trying to ignore him, and he sat down beside me without a word.

"That seat is taken," I said quickly. My words got Matt's attention, and he glanced up to watch. Near didn't even give me such a glance.

"Mello," he said, his voice as dull as his eyes. "This seat wasn't taken until I sat here."

"Yes it was!" my voice shot up a few notes. "It was taken!"

"Is there a guest in the House today? All the residents are already seated."

I could feel my face growing hot, and somewhere in my mind I acknowledged that Matt had put his hand on my shoulder, as if to hold me back. "Oh are they? And how would you know that?"

"I can see them all clearly Mello."

I hated him! Hated him! I turned back to my plate with my breath coming hard and fast, furious. I certainly didn't feel like eating now, but to get up and leave would be acknowledge his victory. He would think he had intimidated me! And if I stopped eating, while he went on enjoying his meal without a care…I couldn't allow it! I would eat, and I would eat every bite of food on my plate!

"Mel, come on. A little breathing room please." Matt was pushing against my arm lightly. Apparently, in a unconscious effort to put space between Near and me, I'd crushed up against the redhead to my other side, and he was having to make an effort not to bump the kid on his other side.

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, moving over just a bit. A very tense silence followed. I sat there fuming, Matt fiddled uncomfortably with his silverware, and Near went on eating as if the rest of the world wasn't even there.

"So, uh, Near," Matt said, in such a terribly polite voice I felt like slapping him. "Do you know anything about Room 259?"

I really came close to slapping him now. I knew he was trying to break the ice, get rid of the suffocating tension surrounding us, but that was our subject! How dare he bring Near in on that!

"Yes," was Near's simple, uninterested answer. My mouth dropped open, my eyes widening. Oh so he knew something, did he? Just what sort of thing? It couldn't be possible that Roger had told him all about the room. He wouldn't tell Near and not tell me! But he'd always favored him hadn't he? He'd always liked Near better, always thought he was smarter-

"Really?" Matt's excited voice interrupted my thoughts. "What do you know about it?"

We were beginning to attract stares from the other kids. Still, I was glad Matt had asked, because I certainly wasn't going to. But this way I could still get some information, and then Near and I would be equal in this aspect at least. Well, nearly equal. He had uncovered the information first after all.

The white-haired boy faced us fully for the first time, his eyes wide and blinking slowly every few seconds. "Would Mello like to know about The Room, too?"

I just knew my face was reddening again. "No! I already know all about it! Roger told me weeks ago." Just keep your mouth shut Matt, just keep your mouth shut. "I already know everything about it. I don't need you to tell me anything!"

"Oh, alright." Near turned back to his food, looking slightly more gloomy than usual. Disappointed that you won't get to rub your knowledge in my face, you little brat? "You should probably ask Mello about The Room then, Matt. He probably knows more than I do about it."

I could have throttled him! He knew I was lying, didn't he? I was getting so angry I felt ill. I couldn't stand this a moment longer. I got to my feet, my face burning. "Come on Matt. I'm done eating."

"But I'm not-" I grabbed him by the collar, jerking him to his feet and dragging him from the table. Everyone was staring, and as soon as I left they would start whispering. They'd think I was afraid of him. Near…

"Mello, what the hell?" Matt twisted away from me as soon as we were out of the hall, rubbing his neck as he scowled at me. "I'm still hungry!"

"Well you can just stand it!" I snapped, storming down the corridor furiously, towards the stairway. He followed after me, as I expected he would. "That little brat! He thinks he's so much better than me!"

"Mello, I don't think he was trying to insult you," said Matt, frustratingly calm. I started up the stairs, taking them two at a time. "Really, it's not as bad as you think. You're getting kind of paranoid about him."

"Paranoid? Paranoid?!" I slammed my fist against the railing. "Maybe you're just stupid Matt, and that's why you can't see it! It's perfectly clear what he was doing!" We were now off the stairs, heading toward my room. Matt was having to jog to keep up with me.

"Come on Mel, don't be like that," he said, sounding somewhat hurt. Well good! He deserved to be hurt for bringing up the wretched subject to Near in the first place! "I just meant maybe you should calm down a little-"

I slammed my door right in his face.

…

I took my anger out on the bed pillow, twisting it in my fists as I yelled into it all the things I would have liked to say to Roger, Near, Matt and every other idiot in this wretched House. I'm sure plenty of people thought we were fortunate to be living here, but they were wrong. This place was miserable, pitting us against each other in a race to be better, constantly pressuring us to improve. Better, better, better. Nothing was ever enough here. It wasn't enough until you were 1st, until you achieved what Near had. Until you tore it away from him, stole it for yourself. Only then had you truly accomplished something.

I curled up, hugging the pillow to my chest, and snatched a chocolate bar off my bedside table. I bit off a piece, letting it slowly melt in my mouth, concentrating on the smoothness of the taste. Even if I did achieve such a thing, even if I did become 1st, I still couldn't relax, because there would always be others trying to steal the title. Just as I was trying to do. I was Near's biggest threat. But he…he didn't even care. He didn't see me as such, I knew he didn't. I didn't intimidate him. I doubt he ever lay awake at night, too frustrated to sleep. I doubt getting back test results made him feel so nervous he'd go without eating the entire day. He didn't feel what I felt. He never had, because he'd always been 1st. Matt didn't feel this. Nobody felt this way but me.

And now this. Near knew something about Room 259 that I didn't, something I couldn't achieve, something I'd tried so hard to get, and he already had it. How? How was it possible? Why was he always a step ahead, always better?

No. Not this time. In this, I could catch up. There were other ways to get information. I didn't have to ask. I'd find out for myself. Tonight Roger would leave his office and go to bed, and then I would be up. Room 259's key was somewhere in that office, and if it took all night, I was going to find it.

…

I waited until midnight, when I was sure everyone would be in bed and asleep, including Roger. Only then did I get up from where I lay on the bed, making my way quietly across the wood floor and snatching up my flashlight from the foot of my bed. I opened my door carefully, checking first to see if anyone was about, then emerged into the dark hallway.

I made my way down the stairs, heading past the dining hall and common room, all the way to Roger's office, right near the House's main entrance. His door was locked of course, but I had some knowledge of lock-picking and could manage some as long as they weren't too advanced, or too old in make. This one was very simple. I had it done quickly.

I didn't like his office even during the day. It smelled of dust, and there were enough books in here to make one dizzy. Not to mention it just had a distinct "aura of Roger" about it. But that key, where would he be keeping it?

I looked over the desk, making sure to leave everything how it had been originally. If he noticed his things had been tampered with, the first person he would suspect would be me. I began searching through the drawers next. There were two that had locks, and I searched those last. The left one held nothing, but the right held within it a slim, dusty old file.

It picked it up curiously, and as I did I caught sight of a thick key beneath it, with the numbers 259 molded into the rusty handle. I grinned triumphantly and picked it up, stuffing it into my pocket. It sure was a heavy little thing. As for the file…why was it being kept locked away?

I sat beneath the desk, using my flashlight to see. I wasn't sure what I was looking at, at first, but then I realized it was medical records. No full name was written down on any of the papers, just the letter "A". Then the "A" written above 259's door handle wasn't just a simple letter, it was a name! A had been a person… one of the children chosen to live here. Judging by his date of birth, he would be about as old as L. One of the first ones chosen then, one of those here before me and Near, perhaps before we were even born.

But these records had a very interesting story to tell. The oldest ones were perfectly normal, saying, in short, that A was a healthy child. Then that changed. He was prescribed depression medication and his weight dropped. The doctor's visits grew more frequent. These two papers here were typed up in the same month, only weeks apart. And then…

The doctor's papers stopped. Only one paper remained in the file.

A death certificate.

Deceased at 12 years old, my own age. Cause of death was marked suicide, and the location was in this very house. Suddenly it clicked. A had died at Wammy's House, and I knew exactly where. Room 259.

A room unfit for use. But why? This still didn't explain everything. A death alone wasn't a good enough reason to keep a room locked up and unused for years. Something had happened before A died, something that couldn't be erased. Something that was still waiting to be found.

I put away the file quickly, leaving the office and relocking the door. Had Near seen that file? Or did he know even more than that? Did he know what made the room unfit for use, or did I now know as much as he on the subject? There was only one way to be sure. I had to find out everything there was to be discovered about that room and what had happened there. Now that I had the key, I could do just that.

Tomorrow night, after lights out, I would get into Room 259.

…

Here's some information on the character of "A", another of the Wammy's House Boys. For those of you who have already read Another Note, you may remember him being mentioned, on page 105 of the novel. We are told only he was the first child taken in after L, and he committed suicide because he was unable to deal with the stress of living up to being L. So other than that little bit, I've had to create A from my own imagination.

Roger's last name really is Ruvie, according to Death Note 13: How To Read.