We walked back to the orphanage in silence, defeated and exhausted. Near was clinging to Fae, his eyes closed tightly. Matt held my hand, shaking with fear of the outside world.

"I wish," I started, suddenly cut off by a yawn, "that we knew how Kai was cursed."

"Me, too," Matt agreed, tightening his grip on my hand, his fingers pressing to my palm for warmth.

Kai said nothing. He was still stunned from watching his already crazy mother accuse him of being cursed.

L was lost in thought, desperately searching for an explanation. Fae was still holding Near's sleeping body tightly, trying to keep him warm. He mumbled restlessly in his sleep.

A wind blew, buffeting our fatigued bodies. We had walked about a mile both ways, and, when Wammy's came into view, almost three hours had passed. It was about almost one AM.

"I wonder if Roger noticed," Fae whispered. She stumbled over her own two feet, but caught herself before falling. Near didn't even stir at the clumsy movement.

--

"Are you all alright?" Mr. Wammy asked when he saw us sneaking through the window of the main corridor. Kai disappeared at the sound of the voice. Luckily, in the dark, Watari's old eyes didn't notice. "Fae's light was on, but she wasn't in her room. When we looked for her, we found exactly four others missing, as well. L, Mello, Matt, and Near. Good heavens! Is Near alright?"

The youngest boy was shaking and mumbling still. Fae tightened her grip around his body, trying to warm him.

"At least it's not Roger," I whispered to Matt. Watari was much more laid back, and would probably let us off with a warning and without a strict lecture or punishments. At that moment, however, Roger jogged over to us.

We've been worried sick! Do you know how long you've been gone?" Roger demanded.

"About three hours and twenty minutes," L answered. Fae giggled, then me, then Matt. It was like a chain reaction that finally caused Near to finally wake up.

"I'm going to put him to bed," Fae said, walking past Roger to Near's room. She disappeared around the corner as she headed to the children's hallway. I looked up at Roger's angry face and ran after her, Matt right behind me.

"Fae! Wait!" I called, rushing after her. Matt ran behind me until we caught up. We walked in silence to Near's room. When we got there, Fae flipped on the lights and placed the boy in his bed.

"He's got a temperature," she said, placing her cheek onto his forehead. "He's sick. Be quiet and let him sleep. Or, you can get a nurse."

Matt had made his way over to Near. He looked worried. "He's all red and sweaty," he stated obviously.

The older girl nodded as she ran her fingers through the sick boy's white hair. I left the room and returned ten minutes later with a nurse.

"Let me see him," the woman said. Her voice was sweet and worried as she looked at the young genius. She put a thermometer in his mouth and placed her hand on his forehead. "He certainly is warm."

Moments later, the thermometer beeped to signify that it was done. Her eyes widened at the thermometer, which revealed a temperature of one hundred and two point four.

"I've got to take him to the infirmary!" She exclaimed. "Fae, put them to bed, alright? Let me take Near." She picked him up and rushed away, leaving the room feeling suddenly cold as Kai appeared.

He stood in front of us as Fae was bringing us to our rooms. "I got you cursed," he confessed flatly.

"Don't be stupid," Fae answered, her voice annoyed and tired as she dragged me and Matt to our rooms.

"I did! He's sick because he tried to help me!"

"He's sick because he fell asleep wearing thin clothes outside in October."

Kai said nothing as he followed behind us. Fae brought me into my room, which came first. She tucked me in, but I couldn't fight the whine, "I don't wanna sleep!"

"Why?" she asked sweetly, her voice hiding a hint of annoyance. She was tired; I could tell.

"That old lady!"

"Me, too!" Matt cried as he peered from behind Fae's leg.

Kai made a sad grumbling noise, but said nothing.

"Why don't you two sleep together?" Fae offered, rubbing her temples.

"Ew!" Matt exclaimed. "We're not gay!"

"Then sleep alone!" she snapped, dragging Matt to his room.

"No!" Matt yelled. He pulled away from her grasp and climbed into my bed. "I'll stay." He grabbed onto my arm.

I was just as afraid, but I did my best not to act it.

I closed my eyes tightly and fell asleep.

--

That night, I woke up once. I knew Matt was still in my room because of the light snoring sound from behind me, but I didn't turn. I looked at the clock groggily. It read 5:23 AM. My eyes closed, and I heard was a disembodied voice whispering the words "They're forever cursed."

My eyes snapped open and I bolted upright. "Hello?" I whispered.

No reply.

I shook my head. It must have been a dream. I looked over to see Matt curled up in a ball facing away from me. I snuggled back under the covers and buried my head in his back, afraid. I fell back asleep, my frightened heart beating madly as I listened to whispers of spirits that haunted the orphanage.

--

In the morning, Matt shook me awake. I found that funny; I always woke before him.

"Mello! Hey, Mello!" he whispered as he shook my shoulders. "It's lunchtime, I think."

"Lunch?" I asked as I opened my eyes. The room was bright with sunlight, and I automatically squinted.

Matt nodded and pulled me to the cafeteria. When we arrived, Fae was sitting with L, talking softly about something. Matt and I got a sandwich and went to sit with them.

"...really sick, apparently," Fae was saying as our food trays hit the table. "So, I don't know what to do."

L nodded at her statement. "Well, he's a very young boy. I'm not surprised that he caught a fever."

"What? Near?" I asked, taking a bite of my sandwich to humor the cafeteria workers. "He'll be fine!"

Fae frowned, and L said, "he's very sick. They took him to the hospital this morning."

Matt's sandwich was half gone already. "We all get sick."

"True," I replied, taking out a chocolate bar.

Fae sighed. "What if it has to do with the curse?"

"Be sensible, Fae. You're capable of that," L said as he popped a sweet into his mouth.

"The paranormal isn't sensible, L. And We're dealing with a ghost, remember?"

"Touché," I mumbled into my sandwich, examining it.

Fae turned to me, then to L. "So, that could be a possibility, don't you think?"

L bit his thumb as he searched for a response, but it was Matt who spoke. "There's always a possibility."