Chapter seventeen:
Mello is glad that Near seems to have heard the same thing as him. "What in the world was that?" He wonders out loud before listening for any sign of another noise.
There isn't anything that followed it up for a good few moments.
Mello is about to brush it off when he hears footsteps.
Way too many to be any orphan just sneaking out plus they sound like they are moving towards the bedrooms instead of away.
Mello approaches the door and cracks it open to which he gets a better spot to be able to hear a little better. His eyes slight widen when he hears the sound of a changeling spreading their wings quick enough to make a sound. He even hears the flapping of wings. He turns to look to Near quickly realizing that the other is standing right by him to listen better as well. His eyes meet the other's as they both know that this isn't good. He wishes that they had figured out a way to keep them from coming back as now they have helped to lead them to their world.
Where they could potentially wreck havoc upon those that live in this world that they call home.
"We have to stop them." Near whispers as Mello quietly closes the door so they won't be heard. His hand going into one of his pants pockets though before he can pull that hand out Mello speaks.
"I think we should get out of here first. Before they get to us to drain us. I highly doubt that they'll stop before we are dead." Mello suggests to Near who looks concerned about this idea.
"And leave the others to get drained and killed?" Near points out though they don't have time to debate this as the changelings are almost at this part. He removes his hand seeming to have let go of something in that pocket though Mello doesn't notice, as he is too worried about who is coming for them all.
Mello hisses at this as he doesn't want to just run to leave others to die though he isn't sure if they have any other choice. He thinks that they may be forced to sacrifice some in order to save the entire world from the changelings.
"Mello. What if we lead them away or distracted them?" Near offers to Mello who blinks at him. "Maybe we can save everyone from getting killed. We distract them from the prize so to speak. Giving them another one to chase after. We could tell them that we already told everyone else to not sleep here tonight just in case they came here."
"I'm not sure that'll work." Mello tells Near who glances away. "I know you want to save everyone but we have to go if we are going to stop them from destroying the world. They have magic to drain us if we get too close. How can we fight that?"
The two hearing someone hurry out of their room then down the hall before skidding to a stop. They listen wondering who that is and what the changelings plan to do.
"Stop!" Matt's voice can be heard making Mello groan slapping a hand lightly against his face.
"Damn it Matt." Mello lowers his hand and sees Near head out then go to join Matt with the hot headed blonde following along behind him. He stands beside Near and Matt as they stare at the changelings that stand before them. His eyes end up meeting with changeling Near.
"Perfect. You came here all by yourself." Changeling Near hums softly sounding a little pleased by this. "You can be first." He flicks a hand at changeling Mello then changeling Matt who move towards their orphan versions.
"Hold on. You don't have to do this." Matt tries to protest as changeling Matt approaches him making him take a step backwards.
Mello glances back hearing other orphans open their doors. "Go!" He calls to any orphans that could be listening. "Find a way out from your rooms before they can get to your room!" He brings his focus back to changeling Mello who leaps at him just as Mello jumps out of the way.
Changeling Near charges forward with a loud hiss which seems to act like a signal as the other changelings charge forward as well. He goes to grab Near while the others rush past to get to the other orphans rooms to start draining them. "I am going to enjoy draining you." He growls and Mello rushes over to stand with Near as the two of them face their changeling versions.
Matt having been already tackled down to the ground by his changeling version. He is trying to get the other off while said other is trying to get in the right spot to be able to drain him.
Mello sneaks a glance to Near as they are now forced to just fight potentially dying along with the other orphans. He hates that they should have planned for this. He gets a slight glance to Near almost as if there is some assurance in it. He shakes it off as he doesn't have time to even think about it. He puts his focus on his own changeling version that he charges at while he feels Near move away to charge as well. He leaps onto his changeling version that uses his wings to give himself a boost of power. He is slammed down to the floor to which he tries to get his feet to be able to push his changeling version off of himself.
Suddenly the loud pop of a gun going off is heard startling all of them as it is so loud.
"Unhand them!" Roger's voice speaks up as they all turn to him to see where that gunshot came from. He is holding a weapon that he looks still ready to use if he has to.
A few other teachers rushing past to try to help the orphans as they cry out in fear at being attacked in their own rooms.
Changeling Near glares at Roger. "You shoot any of us and all you'll be doing is making things worse for yourself. We have back up plans in case any of us fall. He flicks a wing dismissively at Roger who points the gun right at the cchangeling.
Mello spots a shift as something moves into a hiding spot somewhere behind Roger. He opens his mouth to tell the elderly man only for the changeling version of himself to slap a hand over his mouth. He makes sounds while wiggling to try to warn of the danger. He stares at Roger silently hoping that he'll understand his look. He even glances to behind Roger before looking back to the old man in the hopes that he'll get it.
If they are going to have a chance against these changelings then they are going to need a weapon, and a gun would be rather handy in being able to shoot them down. If they lose that weapon, and Roger will likely be killed as well, then they are going to be set back into a disadvantage.
Mello doesn't like the chances if Roger isn't able to stop the attack that is going to happen to him. His mouth falls open and he freezes as he feels like everything he has is being sucked from his entire body. He realizes that he is being drained by the changeling above him. His body unable to move from the feeling of his energy being taken forcefully from it.
