Chapter nine: Gone.
L arrives home. "Near? I'm home!" He calls out.
No response.
L begins to look around for Near. "Near?" He can't find Near downstairs so he heads upstairs. He knocks softly but hard enough to be heard if Near is awake though won't wake him if he is sleeping. He gets no response so he grips the doorknob opening the door to peer inside. He sees a shape in the covers as his eyes scan the room quickly. He turns closing the door though he stands there his back slightly to the door with a hand on the doorknob. He knows that was Near since as his parent, adopted parent, he knows how Near looks.
But he has a nagging feeling something is up.
He lets go of the doorknob heading to his own room. "But what could be it?" He wonders about the feeling he has. He enters his room and moves the covers so he can climb into bed to try to fall asleep.
Though he keeps wondering what could be the source of this nagging feeling that something is up.
Little did he know….
The person peeks out from under the bed making sure the coast is clear before coming out. The person turns to Near and puts the rag over his mouth and nose again to make sure he stays under. The person quietly shifts Near out from under the covers and gently place him on the floor. "Good thing that he took the bait that you were just sleeping." The person says under their breath before shifting the blankets and any pillows found to make is seem as if someone is sleeping there on their side.
After that the person turns to Near picking him up again.
The person manages to open the window being careful not wanting to make a sound as the person uses their sleeves to not leave any fingerprints.
Once the window is open the person hops out and uses one hand on the window sill with the other holding Near.
The person tries to make the drop to the ground painless as the person tries to land on the pillow thrown out the window earlier while setting up the pillows and blankets. The person lands on the pillow as it cousins the fall. The person takes the pillow throwing it into the open window before taking off into the night.
….
L sighs softly and gets up heading downstairs to look for something to get his mind to stop whirling with thoughts and feelings like the gears of a machine would rotate continuously. He spends some time on work for a little bit then when it is really really late he heads back upstairs to try to sleep again. He didn't get any sleep that night….
The next morning L goes to wake Near for his last day of school this week.
He knocks on the door then pauses before gripping the doorknob opening it. He blinks when he notices the pillows and blankets have been arraigned to look like someone sleeping there but he knows by the shape of it that it is not Near. He also notices the pillow on the floor and the open window. His heart sinks.
Near is gone.
Most likely kidnapped.
He dashes to the nearest phone and calls Light.
Light answers sounding a little tired though L knows he was already up since he gets up at a specific time in the morning. "Hello."
"Light." L starts but has to swallow before continuing. "I need your help." He can't help his voice cracking slightly.
Light sounds more awake and worried. "What's wrong?" He asks. "Let me know how I can help."
"Nears gone." L explains. "I'm certain he was kidnapped." He feels like whimpering right now though tries to hold it back. "Please help me find him."
"I'll be over there as soon as I can." Light tells him. "Don't worry. We'll find him."
L almost sniffles but nods anyways. "Thank you Light."
"No problem. Now I'll race over right now. I'll see you soon." Light says wanting to get to his mate as fast as possible.
"Ok." L agrees. "See you soon."
The two hang up after that.
L begins looking for anything he can find on whoever took Near.
Light arrives in a good amount of time panting from his run here.
The two search for any clues but as they try to follow the scent trail it becomes faded to the point where they can't figure out if the abductor turned or went straight.
L swears it smells familiar… Yet different at the same time…..
Who took Near? And why?
…..
At school classes begin.
But Near hasn't shown up.
It worries the wolves and the vampires upon seeing this.
Mix it with that the teacher even doesn't seem to know why Near is not here today as she calls his name expecting him to answer.
Yup the two groups know something is wrong.
Very wrong.
Mello shifts in his seat as he begins to become very anxious about what has happened to Near. He feels lucky he left his backpack in his locker today. He can't take it anymore and raises his hand to lie saying he needs to go to the bathroom.
The teacher allows him and he gets up leaving the classroom.
He glances back with a look the other wolves would have known right away.
The message from Mello is clear.
'Meet me after class. Outside of the building. Leave anything that will slow you down in a search in your locker. Alert the others.'
The wolves all know this has something to do with Near not being here.
Mello wanders around school, giving the same message to other wolves he happens to pass by or see, trying to see if he can pick up on any fresh scent trials on Near but isn't finding anything but old scent trails. He growls to himself in frustration.
The bell rings and Mello heads outside to meet with the other wolves.
Once they all have gathered Mello begins.
"I want everyone on a patrol." Mello instructs with a commanding voice. "Matt and Faun will come with me to Near's home If any of you find anything on Near I want to know right away."
"Yes sir!" The pack say ready to help out and they split up in groups heading off to begin looking.
Faun and Matt remain with Mello then they turn heading to Nears place.
Faun is a lovely young wolf who was named after her freckled pale skin and faun colored hair. She is very loving and sweet but can be really fierce at times. Her eyes are a dark green color.
When the three reach Near's home L has just returned to it looking around the house for any signs of where any clues might be to who may have taken Near.
Mello heads over to L who turns noticing him coming over. "Where's Near?" He asks cutting to the chase.
L glances back to the house. "I don't know."
Mello's heart sinks. "What do you mean you don't know!?" He demands.
L turns fully to face Mello worriedly biting the pretty much nonexistent nail on his thumb. "I mean I don't know his location." He explains. "I'm afraid that Near is gone. He has been abducted. I'm only here because I'm hoping to find clues on the abductor."