Chapter 1

Sage Levise stepped out of the jet black limo into the bitter fall cold. She shivered and wrapped her thin gray coat over her. It was patched and frayed, even though her guardians were so rich they could have bathed in all the gold they possessed. A limo door up front opened and slammed with such force that the car shook. "Lela! Get your trash out of here so we can get moving!" the figure screamed. "Lela" was actually Sage, but the form that came with her gave her a different name. Her guardians had no knowledge of this, however. Sage hurriedly grabbed her equally patched and frayed suitcase before the door could slam her fingers. "Come!" commanded her 'mother'. The woman walked with the force of a bull in rage. The woman straightened her glasses and smoothed back her hair into a bun as she made the earth shake.

Sage nervously shifted toward the looming gigantic orphanage. The fall cold held the white mist of her breath in front of her face. Hugged her shivering body, she glanced at all the gray around her. She hadn't been able to see color in a long time. She stopped seeing it when she was six, the age when her parents were taken by the FBI, and never seen again. They finally arrived at the gate to the looming orphanage. It had a clock tower comparable to Big Ben and it had a feeling of something majestic.

A small group of children were waiting behind the black wrought-iron gates. In front of them was a figure shadowed by his overlarge trench coat. The figure shifted the lock on the gate so it began to squeak open. It spoke from under its fedora hat. "Welcome. Please hurry inside for the business we must attend to. It is far too cold for the children."

"We understand. LELA! HURRY UP!" screamed her mother. Sage's father just walked forward without a sound, a shadow in the quiet night; a cigar hanging loosely from his lips.

They all walked slowly to the front door. Sage studied the children crowded around it. They all seemed wary of her. One boy though seemed a little annoyed and a little curious. He had black hair and a pale face, but his most striking feature were his eyes; dark and mysterious, underlined by black shadows. Sage also had shadows under her eyes. At least I have something in common with someone, she thought.

The inside of the orphanage was surprisingly warm and inviting. The floors were furnished with wood, the walls were painted a happy yellow, and everything looked comfortable. The guardians sat down to talk with the strange figure from the gate. Sage sat in front of the children, restless.

"So, what's your name?" asked one of the children.

"I think they said it was Lela or something." replied another.

"Your wrong. My name isn't Lela. That is just a cover up. It is actually-"

"Oh so famous Miss Raccoon Eyes needs a cover up. Maybe she needs to meet Mr Raccoon Eyes." The child pushed the boy she saw earlier into her. She yelped as she fell to the floor. The rest of the children laughed.

"Isn't it nice to get acquainted like this? Right L?"

L? Is that his name? Or is that an alias just like mine? L stood up and dusted himself off. Before he went over to the children he cast an angry glare at her. Sage put her knees to her chest and let the tears from her eyes go onto her pants. This was not a good start. She stood up, wiped her red-ringed eyes, and dragged her suitcase over to a friendly looking person.

"Hello?" she said. The boy turned to look at her. He had blond hair and glasses. Smiling, he answered, "Yes?"

"Umm, could you show me to where I am staying please?" she politely asked.

He nodded, excused himself from his friends, and pointed to a hallway on the left from what looked like the kitchen.

"Go down there, and at the end of it go to the room on your left. You share a room with three other people. Your bed is the one that isn't occupied." He slightly smiled, satisfied with the way he answered; he resumed talking with his friends. Sage let out a breath of relief. At least not all people are bad here, she thought in her head.

...

"So it is decided?" the figure asked the guardians.

"Business is done." they replied with no emotion.

"Good. I am sure we will welcome her with open arms."

The guardians left the premises, never to be seen again. The figure uncovered himself and put his coat on the coat rack.

He let out a groan and massaged in between his eyes with his fingers. How heartless people can be, he exclaimed in his head.

"L," he beckoned to a child in the corner of his room. The boy emerged from the shadows.

"Yes?"

"Look at the cameras." Panels of camera screens filled up one of the walls, depicting every area of the orphanage.

"Look at number 43." Watari commanded.

"My room?"

"Yes." L peered at the screen and gasped in horror. "She's assigned to my room!" he complained.

"That isn't all." Watari continued, "I want you to befriend her." L muttered under his breath, "I'm no good at making friends."

Watari raised a gray eyebrow. "You shall do as I say. It is the good for both of you." L snorted and stomped out of the room. Watari sighed. He will learn soon, Watari thought, he will learn to be more social; and this is the perfect time, a new child to experiment on.