Chapter nine: Come play in the night.
For the next few days everything is quiet.
No sign of Near at all and the guards from the kingdom Near comes from are begin sent every now and then to see if Near is hiding in Whammy's again only to return empty handed.
Everything is settling and becoming peaceful again.
Now it is the thirteenth of the next month and the guards are keeping an eye out for Near but the Whammy's are also restless once again as they wonder if Near will be lifting away kids once again tonight.
Rodger and a few other adults of Whammy's are planning to see if they can see how and possibly where Near takes the children. They are outside now as the moon is about to climb the sky.
"Ok. Remember the plan." Rodger says the adults nod.
"We want to help too." A young girl's voice says behind Rodger.
Rodger turns around and sees the orphans. "No it might be dangerous. Go back inside." He tries ushering them back into the orphanage.
"No time." One of the adults say. "They'll have to come along. No time to get them back inside."
Rodger glances to the sky and sees that it is true as the moon is climbing the sky. He sighs. "Alright but stay out of trouble." He says and the orphans are really happy they get to tag along.
The moon gets to a good high point in the sky and that's when it all starts.
There is the sound of music gently floating in the air like a leaf dancing on the wind.
They look around wondering where it is coming from and if it is connected to what Near does.
"Come Little Children, I'll Take Thee Away." Near starts to sing in a beautiful voice and it flows in the air nicely. "Into A Land Of Enchantment." He continues and though the Whammy's haven't spotted him he is actually on the roof of the orphanage. "Come Little Children The Time's Come To Play." He opens his eyes half way as he sings 'the time's come to play' only to close them again as he realizes 'not yet.'
The moon becomes full and the Whammy's turn to it only to spot Near's figure on the roof.
"Here In My Garden Of Shadows." Near opens his eyes as he sings the last bit of the word 'Shadows' this time his eyes are glowing white with power as he adds extra power so the Whammy's can hear the song but they won't be lifted away. He knows that it is a little risky but he also knows that there is special magic involved in this so really the risk is quite low of anyone figuring out how to use it properly. His eyes return to normal after a quick flash of dim light. He looks to the town and spreads his wings as he continues to sing. "Follow Sweet Children, I'll Show Thee The Way." He flies off of the roof and into the town as he sings.
The Whammy's follow watching while trying to stay hidden.
"Through All The Pain And The Sorrows." He sings as he flies over the city and sends a moon beam down to a small young girl laying in the entrance to an alley way with a newspaper wrapped around her curled up body like it's meant to be a blanket. "Weep Not Poor Children." He sings as he spots a young adult with a gun about to attack two young homeless boys in the place they made their cardboard home in. He goes to them landing in front of the boys like he's protecting them and sends some sleep powder onto the young adult knocking him out as Near continues to sing. "For Life Is This Way." He glances back to the two then moves to the house right by where the two are and he stands in front of it looking at the window with light as dark figures are seen there. "Murdering Beauty And Passions."
The figures are showing someone, most likely the dad, throwing what looks like a glass bottle at two young ones then chasing them until they run off out of sight.
The two Near saved from being hurt by the young adult come to him and one grips his pant leg like a young child would do to their mother when looking for protection while the other stays close to the one holding Near's pant leg. Their actions make Near glance to them again then he puts on hand on one of their heads gently only to turn back to the house.
Near lets a moonbeam fall onto each of the windows where the rooms for the two young ones in the house is. "Hush Now Dear Children, It Must Be This Way." He sings as the windows open like magic. "To Weary Of Life And Deceptions." He continues to sing as the two young ones, twin brother and sister who both look alike in the boyish way, float out of the house from the windows on the second story down to where Near is. "Rest Now My Children." He sings as he crouches to inspect their wounds. He rips off part of his sleeve and wraps it around it one child's bleeding wrist then pulling out a cloth for the other wrapping it around the others injured head. He stands up once this is done since any other wounds will be fine until they get to the others. He turns and spreads his wings as he continues to sing. "For Soon We'll Away Into The Calm And The Quiet." He sings the last bit as he flies up into the sky.
The children reach after him like they are saying 'take us with you' only to be lifted into the air so they can follow Near away from their old lives of Hell.
The other children all over town who were chosen and wanted to go are lifted away following Near flying in the sky as Near smiles watching as they follow only to turn back to continue leading the way.
The Whammy's step out of hiding as they watch in amazement at this watching as Near continues to lead them away flying through the sky.
The kids look happy and are having fun as some even play like it's possibly the first time they have ever had fun.
Three of the kids move closer to Near and while two do a loop around him only to return to the others with the last one that comes up to underneath Near.
Near watches as the two do the loop around him then he looks down to the one under him and the music continues to go on. "Come Little Children I'll Take Thee Away." He sings as he wraps an arm around the child brining the child a little closer only to rub their foreheads together as they both close their eyes as Near does the gesture like a parent to a child. He then lets the child return to the others as they open their eyes. "Into A Land Of Enchantment." He sings as he makes sure the child returns safely to the others only to look back to where he is going then as he sings the word 'enchantment' he moves up a little so he is flying a little higher than the children. "Come Little Children The Time's Come To Play." He takes a pause but still flapping his wings to keep himself from falling to the ground and as he begins singing the last part he flies down to be a little below the children then back up to be level with them. "Here In My Garden Of Shadows." He does a spin as he sings the last part of the last part of the song and to the Whammy's he looks like just a dark flying figure flying towards the moon as he sings the last word while the children he has lifted away also start to become dark figures.
The music doesn't stop as the children continue to follow Near.
There is a single cloud moving towards them and as the music starts to fade the cloud passes over them blocking the Whammy's view for a few seconds then once the music comes to an end, after the few seconds the cloud blocks their view, the cloud is no longer in the Whammy's way but there is no sign of Near or the children like they had simply vanished.
Rodger looks down then around at where the place some of the kids Near took away were before Near lifted them away.
All the children Near took away looked like they wanted to go and they were struggling through life whether it be for survival or just pain of their life of Hell.
They can see why Near believes he is doing the right thing as who knows what would have happened to them had he not taken them away but still the Whammy's know it is kidnapping.
Mello stares thoughtfully at the moon and sees two guards flying by the moon as it goes back to how it was before but there is absolutely nothing to lead them to where Near even actually takes the children.
The other orphans are mostly still trying to process all this and Matt takes note that no one else other than the children Near took away and them seemed to even be able to hear the song.
Rodger and the adults that came with them take the orphans back to Whammy's but not many got any sleep that night as their heads buzzed with questions as well as what they had witnessed.
Rodger sits at his desk when they get back and he puts his elbows on the wood of his desk brining his hands up to his face rubbing them down his face with a sigh. He lets his hands fall to be crossed on his desk as he thinks.
They've seen how Near takes them away without knowing where he actually is taking them but still the question comes up of 'what now?'
Near's P.O.V
The children are now being taken care of and I sit with the rest as they also sit close to me.
Rester, one of the older ones, looks up to me as he is leaning against me. "Mother. Are you going to be staying tonight?" He asks.
I give a gentle smile. "I can stay until tomorrow night." I agree making my children of the night happy.
We eat dinner, talk and even play together for a bit but I take a break to write the newest arrivals into my book with the other information on the others until the sun rise starts in which then we head inside the cave to get some rest.
They all gather as close to me as they can while still not being crowded as we all lay there.
I spread my wings over those closest to me even the ones snuggled up against me. I gently lay my wings over them like a blanket. I smile softly as I watch my children rest peacefully as the sun comes up. I lay my head down onto my arms crossed under my head like a pillow. I close my eyes and I let myself be taken away into the land of sleep where I can visit people's dreams. I go into one of the newest children of the night's dream and I see that he is dreaming of his father, who had hurt him with the glass bottle before I lifted away him and his sibling away, moving towards him like he is going to kill him. I walk up behind his father. "Enough!" I say and I use my magic to destroy the dream world father. I give a gentle smile to the boy who runs to me hugging me in relief. I hug him back. "It's alright little one. You are safe. No one is going to ever hurt you again." I tell him petting his hair.
He nods and snuggles closer to me closing his eyes. "Thank you mother."
I smile and give a gentle kiss to the top of his head. "Anytime my young one. Anytime." I tell him.
Things fade to darkness and his dream self disappears so I move onto the next dream which happens to be one of the younger Whammy's.
They are seeing a headless horse chasing after them cornering them against a rocky wall as they stare in horror at the headless horse.
I remember when some of the teens told some of the younger ones a horror story of a headless horse scaring them as a Halloween prank. I destroy the dream headless horse then fly into its place giving a comforting look to the young one.
"Near!" He recognizes me. He has slightly messy dark blonde hair and dark purple eyes. He is wearing a black t-shirt and brown shorts with black runners. "It's just you."
"Are you perhaps disappointed?" I ask though I know the answer I still ask anyways.
He shakes his head. "No. You're much better than the headless horse." He says moving closer to me. "What are you doing here?"
"I am ruler of the night so it is my duty to come into your dreams." I explain.
"That makes sense." He nods.
"Your fears will only continue to haunt you." I tell him and he glances away ashamed. "We all have fears so it is nothing to be ashamed of. You need to conquer your fears and be strong."
"You mean like the headless horse?" He asks watching me.
"Hmm." I think for a moment glancing to the rocky wall behind him then I look back to him. "Is the headless horse really what you fear?" I ask him.
He looks down. "No. It's scary yes but not what I truly fear."
"Then do you know what it is you truly fear?" I ask watching him with a gentle gaze.
"I'm scared of Nickolas finding out that I am scared and not as tough as he thinks I am. I'm scared of disappointing him." He explains.
I put a gentle hand on his shoulder getting him to look back to me. "You need to face your fear or the nightmares will continue." I tell him.
Things start to become warped and I know he is awakening.
I let go of him and begin flying back towards his dream world moon.
"Wait!" He tries to chase after me.
"Face your fears." I tell him and the dream vanishes. I blink awake though it is sunny out. I sleepily look outside raising my head then I look to the others around me as they sleep peacefully making a smile appear on my face. I hear a soft grunt and turn to see that one has accidently rolled onto another with both resting under one of my wings. I let out a soft laugh and gently reach to them gently moving them so they are not piled on top of one another careful to not wake them. I then return to my laying down position and I close my eyes hoping for some more sleep. I eventually drift back to sleep.
No one's P.O.V.
Light is the first to awaken out of any of them. He sits up and looks to L who is laying next to him on the double bed still asleep. He smiles at the detectives peaceful sleeping face only for L to blink open his eyes.
L looks to Light.
"Good morning." Light greets the other.
"Good morning." L sits up only to get up. "Might as well get ready for the day." He starts to leave the room when Light calls his alias making him stop then turn to the brunette.
Light comes over to L and wraps his arms around the other. "We don't have to get up yet. It's still early." He says. "The others won't be awake yet."
"Light." L says bringing a hand up to rest his thumb on his bottom lip. "What are you doing?"
"Well what would you like me to do?" Light asks with a smile.
L looks to Light analyzing. "What are you suggesting?"
Light keeps his gaze locked onto L's. "What would you like me to be suggesting?" He smirks.