AN: Thank you all so much for the support. I'm glad you're all still enjoying this so much. The response has been absolutely amazing. I mean, I'm only nine reviews away from reaching 100! That's amazing. This story ended up much bigger than I thought it would be. So now I'll stop ranting and just let you read it haha. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Why do I bother saying I do not own Death Note? It is obvious I don't.
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Chapter 12: Be My Escape
Mello wouldn't even let me move for several days after that particular incident. I argued against him leaving me defenseless when I was sick while he made food runs, but he didn't buy it. He had recovered much faster than I did. I guess he was right and I had pushed myself too hard. But I'd do it all again for him. He was worth it.
So the next couple of days were quiet and relaxing. It wasn't a terrible way to spend my time, but I did miss moving around on my own. Mello's glare was enough to keep me lying down unless it was absolutely necessary.
Finally, when Mello deemed me healthy enough, he let me leave the alley. It was good to walk around again, even if we didn't really do much. I was just happy to be moving.
We were out late that night. Time had passed quickly as it often does when you're enjoying the day, and we found ourselves in…let's say not the best part of town. Mello had said he didn't want to spend the night around here, so we were slowly navigating the streets to avoid trouble. I wasn't sure how late it was…it was dark though, and almost no cars were on the road.
There were a lot of bars down here, and the alleys were filthy with trash. I heard loud moans coming from one alley and Mello and I moved past it quickly, eyes glued to the ground until we were well past it.
We were getting closer to a safer part of town when we saw two men standing in an alley entrance. Mello motioned for me to stop. Neither man noticed us. One of the guys was looking towards a bar beside the alley nervously, before he silently followed the other man into the shadows. He was pale, brown hair sticking to his head. It looked like he hadn't bathed in weeks. The other man looked calm as he reached out, as if to shake hands. It would have seemed that way to any other person, if I hadn't caught sight of the bag of white powder vanishing into the pale man's pocket.
They were hard to see now, but in the silence of the street I could hear one of the men speak. "Remember what we discussed." He sounded threatening.
"Y-yes," the other man stuttered. Both began walking down the alley, voices dropping in volume. I could no longer hear them as Mello cautiously led us forward.
By the time we reached the alley and glanced down it, both men were vanishing from sight.
"Come on," Mello said, moving away from the alley entrance. "I don't like this area. It isn't safe."
I nodded, taking one last look into the now empty alley. How many alleys did these drug deals take place in? Had they taken place anywhere we stayed? Now that I really thought about it, how could I ever be sure Mello and I would be safe at night? Would a drug dealer be against killing someone watching their deal? Or what about the customer? I shuddered to myself at the thought.
"Matt hurry up!"
Mello was passed the bar's entrance, waving me over impatiently. Brushing away my dark thoughts, I took several quick steps forward. He turned and took a step forward, probably sure I'd be beside him in just a moment.
"What do we have here?"
My blood ran cold and I froze. Against my will my eyes rose to the door of the bar. Pale light lit the cracked sidewalk from the now open door from which someone was exiting, stumbling to a halt in front of me and blocking Mello from my sight.
"Been awhile huh Mail?"
A gasp escaped my lips as I took a desperate step backwards, but suddenly his hands were there, gripping both my arms and holding me in place.
My dad had always been fast, even with alcohol in his system.
"You ran off," he slurred, a deranged smirk spreading across his face. "You left your poor mom with me."
I tried in vain to pull out of his grasp. His hands clasped down on my arms harder and he walked me backwards. He was still talking as he pushed me backwards, but I wasn't listening. "Mello!" I shrieked. "Mello help!"
He was already there though. "Let him go!" He was at a bad angle though, and before he could even try to land a blow my dad released one of my arms. His hand shot out and caught Mello sharply across his cheek, sending him flying to the ground.
"Don't touch him!" I struggled against him as my dad lifted a foot and kicked him hard, causing Mello to roll back. "I said don't fucking touch him!" I raised my free hand and punched him as hard as I could in the jaw. He grunted in pain but retaliated instantly, his fist shooting out and catching me painfully across my left cheekbone. I stumbled back; right into the alley entrance, and his hands burrowed into the material of my shirt and shoved me backwards into the wall. My head hit the wall with a sharp crack and I cried out as he leaned in closer to me.
"Know what happened to your whore of a mother?" he asked. I could smell the alcohol on his breath and I gagged. He chuckled darkly. "She's dead Mail. Dead!" He laughed as if this was the most hilarious thing in the world, and I could only stare back at him.
She was…dead?
He suddenly gasped in pain, hands releasing me as he slumped forward. Mello's hand shot out and pulled me away as my dad caught himself against the wall before turning his full attention on me, eyes full with hysteria. "It's you fault Mail!" he said, lurching forward and grabbing my other arm, pulling me back towards him. "You ran off! It's your fault!"
"Let him go!" Mello demanded, but my dad was bigger and obviously stronger. He yanked my arm suddenly, throwing Mello and I both off balance. I landed hard on my knees beside him with Mello sprawled beside me, hand still clutching my own.
A hand tangled painfully in my hair and lifted me up, tearing a sharp cry of pain from my lips. Mello released me and I could hear him moving behind me as my dad pulled me closer. My eyes squeezed shut in pain as he hissed in my ear, "It's okay though. Without you two around I can do whatever the fuck I want!" He laughed again, and it was even crueler than I remembered. I couldn't help but think that he had finally snapped, he had finally lost it, and I was absolutely terrified.
Suddenly Mello was behind him, a brick clutched in his hand. He brought it down and struck my dads temple soundly, and I fell to my knees as he released me. Mello was beside me, pulling me up, urging me to run.
I did, not looking back. We ran for what felt like forever, until my lungs were on fire and I couldn't breathe. Finally we collapsed against the metal gate spread along the park, both breathing heavily.
"Mello," I choked out. He pulled me to his chest tightly before I could even move, and to my complete embarrassment I could feel a heavy lump in my throat and tears stinging my eyes.
"It's okay, I have you."
"I'm sorry." My voice cracked and I buried my head farther into his chest. "He hurt you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
His arms just tightened around me. "It's not your fault. Not at all. I should have helped you sooner. I should have stopped him."
I shook my head. "Not your fault. Mine. All mine." My dad's words replayed over and over through my head, like some messed up song put on repeat forever. My mom…dead. She was dead. How? Did he kill her? Did she kill herself? If I hadn't run away would she still be alive? Sure she'd been awful to me, but for him to kill her…
"It isn't your fault. It isn't your fault." He kept repeating it as a soft sob escaped me. God I was pathetic, crying like this. I was trembling although if it was from the tears or fear I wasn't sure. His hand threaded through my hair comfortingly, still reassuring me that I was not to blame.
"He found me. After all that he can still find me. I'm scared," I admitted softly. "What if he finds me again?"
"He won't," Mello stated, voice hard. I said nothing. The tears had vanished as fast as they had come, but with his arms around me, I actually felt safe. I didn't want him to let go. Not ever. Not if something as simple as this could make me feel so secure. "I'm sorry," he murmured quietly.
"For what?" I asked, baffled that he could have anything to apologize for.
"I broke my promise. I let him get to you. I said he'd never get a hold of you again." His voice was filled with guilt. I simply relaxed against him, hoping I could convince him it was okay.
"You did what you could. It's alright. You still saved me. You helped me escape again. If you're always with me, then it'll be okay." I looked up at him slowly. "You will right? You'll always protect me right?" The words sounded selfish, but Mello's eyes were determined and I found myself melting against him at his next words.
"Always. I will always look out for you."
"Thank you," I whispered, laying my head back against his chest. I was suddenly so tired, and I found I didn't have the will to move from where I was. I closed my eyes and without thinking, said aloud the thought that has been with me since Mello first rescued me. "I love you."
I don't think he responded. Even if he did, I was asleep moments later, in the security of his arms.
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AN: What do you think of that ending? And what about the unexpected confrontation? I've been waiting for so long to write this chapter. I think it came out rather well. So tell me, do you guys think it came out well? Leave a review and tell me!
I'm hoping to update on schedule at least one more week, but after that I may be busy. There's a small con, anime Milwaukee, in two weeks, and the week after is solo ensemble (and I'm not even close to being ready). I'll try to keep up my weekly updates though.
