Chapter one:

Mello blinks as he awakens in his room in the orphanage. He sits up and pauses as he feels like something is off. He gets out of bed and brushes his hair trying to shake it off. He heads out into the hallway then down the stairs to the main floor. He pauses as he sees the others moving around, almost as if unsure of what to do with themselves. He turns hearing footsteps only for Matt to appear at the top of the stairs playing his video games.

Soon Near comes to the top of the stairs as well. He glances around at the others while twirling a strand of his hair.

Mello turns back to everyone and approaches a teacher. "Mrs. Maeve? What is going on here?"

The teacher pauses and turns to Mello. Her ginger hair falling around her shoulders. Her hazel eyes almost seem to stare right into Mellos soul. "Why didn't you hear Mello?" She questions bending down to his level as she is much taller than him. She is a rather tall woman anyways. "Classes are starting late today." She mentions and others glance at Mello. "It was thought that you kids could use a slight break."

"Oh. Right." Mello turns and heads upstairs. "Matt you're with me." He grabs the others arm dragging him down the hall.

Near decides to follow after them as the others seem to go back to what they were doing. He leans against the wall by Mellos door that is open just a touch.

"Something weird is happening." Mello tells Matt not knowing that Near is listening. "But I have no idea what."

Near decides to step in and he does causing the two to turn to him. "I'll help." He offers and Mello rolls his eyes. "Mello think logically here. It is possible that for some reason the three of us weren't affected by whatever's going on. They've kept to their routines making sure that we don't have to worry about changes. We just have to worry about our studies. They would never make classes start late."

"So wait." Matt puts his handheld gaming console into his pocket. "If everyone is infected then why didn't we get infected with this too?" He questions as the two turn to him. "Shouldn't we be like them right now?"

"That's a good question." Mello taps his finger against his chin as he glances up in thought. "Why weren't we affected?"

The orphanages announcements come on and Rodgers voice comes through. "When you get to your class be sure to face forward and do as you're told. Everything will be fine." Then the announcement ends.

"Rodger doesn't sound right." Matt ducks his head in slight fear. "He doesn't make those types of announcements."

"We have to find out what happened and find a way to stop it." Mello drops his hand to his side and looks at the two who turn to him. "Let's go to the library. There has to be something there."

"Should we try to warn L?" Near brings up as a question and attention is turned to him. "Maybe he'll be able to help us."

"Would he even believe us?" Matt looks down. "I mean saying that everyone is acting weird and that things changed a little? He might think we didn't get enough sleep last night. Or that perhaps we're looking too much into this."

"We can handle this." Mello snorts then heads to leave the room pausing to glare at Near. "L should be a last resort. He is probably very busy." He then heads off hurrying down the hall as the other two stare after him.

"Mello never changes." Near sighs softly as Matt walks over to stand next to him. "Though I will go along with that idea. We don't really have time to really debate about this. We will need to make our moves quick and careful." He wraps a strand of his hair around his finger pausing to rub it between his two fingers. "Before it is noticed that we are not affected by what is going on."

"Where are we supposed to start with all of this?" Matt questions glancing around at the other two that are in the room.

"Well maybe in trying to figure out what might have caused this." Mello stands tall placing his fists onto his hips as though he has decided to take charge. "Okay, so here is my plan. We will split up and search the orphanage grounds. Look for any sign of anything that might help lead us in the right direction of what happened. Try to not bring attention to yourself. If you find something then don't linger there. We will meet back here to discuss our findings. If there is any."

The other two nod their heads then the trio leave heading off to split up like they need to in the plan.

Mello heads along towards the library only moving his eyes to look around though he does turn to glance into rooms he passes by. He has his hands in his pants pockets trying to look casual as though it is just another day at the orphanage. He doesn't spot anything odd in any of the rooms and he heads into the library. He heads further inside taking his hands out of his pockets. He feels the gaze of the librarian on his back though he doesn't turn to her. He can't let her catch on to what he is doing. He starts going around through the different isle's made by bookshelves. He makes sure to glance at some books along the way as though possibly doing some research for a project. "This might be a good topic for my project." He mentions in one of the isle's as another student comes beside him staring at some books. "I might as well continue looking though. Don't want to waste this time." He heads off seeing the student relax a little. He holds back a smirk that he tricked the other into thinking he wasn't up to something. He checks all of the isles though finds nothing. So he takes the book he had grabbed for show.

The librarian glances to the book. "A book on cursed paintings." She mentions adjusting her stereotype librarian glasses.

"Yeah. It's for a project." Mello shrugs casually. "I thought it could be an interesting topic."

"Indeed." The librarian checks it out for him then Mello leaves the library.

Mello enters the rooms that he passed by on his way back. He notices Linda sitting at a table in a study room. He sees her turn to him and he pretends to be looking for someone.

"Who are you looking for?" Linda questions staring at Mello in almost a spaced out way.

Mello turns to her trying to look the same as her. "Matt. We are friends." He turns and leaves in which Linda turns away. He tries to think of somewhere else that he could go. He brings up a map of the orphanage in his head as he thinks it over remembering the directions that Matt and Near went off into.

AN:

Part of this was written on my phone so hopefully I caught any autocorrects.

I hope that you are enjoying this so far!

Mello.