Chapter seventeen:

Mello and Near turn to the light as it flickers.

It then goes back to shining normally.

So the two brush it off ….. But too early …

The light goes out and Near notices the camera seems to have powered off too.

"A black out!" Near says glad that this has happened. "This is our chance."

…

"We've found the location they are most likely at!" One of the Shadow's members says suddenly.

"Good where?" Rai demands. "Everyone get ready and fast. We're going to save Near." She adds after being shown the address.

….

"These two locations do seem like good places to hide a group of kidnapped orphans." Light says.

Watari gets a call on his cell and answers it moving away to not bug the two.

When he comes back he looks grave. "L." He speaks and the two turn to him. "The few orphans left at Whammy's have all been taken. There is no orphan left at Whammy's and the bodies have been appearing more frequently."

L's face falls. "Then we must hurry." He says. "If we don't then they will kill all of them before we can stop them at this rate." He turns back trying to pick out which place it is.

Light rejoins.

…

Near closes his eyes and concentrates using his magic to create keys for all the locks since no one can see them escaping without the cameras. He makes the keys out of magic and clenches his fist since he's using a lot of magical energy at once which is draining him.

Mello gives an encouraging look not wanting to break Near's focus.

Near unlocks the cells and once they are unlocked he stops using magic making the keys disappear.

Mello smiles and puts an arm around Near. "Good job." He says.

Near smiles too. "Thank you."

Mello helps Near up since Near is going to be drained but he assures Mello he should be able to walk on his own soon. "Let's go!" He calls to the others.

The orphans rush out and once out they wait for Mello and Near since they don't know which way to go.

"STOP!" Adam screams seeing that the orphans are escaping.

The orphans get ready to fight even as Adam pulls out a gun.

…..

Matt is tied to a wooden pole with his arms wrapped around it backwards. He is also blindfolded. His heart rate increases.

"Black out or not it's your time to die." Jeff says with a slightly pissed voice about the black out.

Matt struggles with whimpers of fear.

The sound of at least two guns being clicked to get ready to fire is heard.

….

"Scatter!" Mello orders. "Find a way out and get out of here!"

The orphans split up going whichever way they can to try to find the way out.

Adam goes after Mello and Near.

Mello swiftly shifts Near to his back. "Hang on." He dashes down a hall that appears empty since the others had run ahead of them and had scattered.

Adam chases after the two and takes out a radio. "Red alert! Red alert! They are escaping!" He calls into it. "They've scattered! Kill them before they can escape!" He then puts full concentration on trying to stop Mello and Near.

….

Linda bursts into a room only to freeze as soon as she sees the room she is in.

Jeff and Jeremy turn to her both holding guns and Matt is tied up.

Linda reacts quickly and rushes towards Matt.

Jeremy shoots at her but has bad aim when it comes to a moving target.

Linda begins tugging at Matt's binds. "I'll get you out of here." She promises.

"Stop!" Jeff aims his gun at Matt. "Time to rid ourselves of two pests."

Linda finally gets the ropes off and Matt tugs the blindfold off thankful.

Matt suddenly slams Linda to the ground in time for Jeff's shot to miss. HE gets up and tackles Jeff.

Linda hesitates but seeing Matt bravely fighting makes her go to tackle Jeremy.

The fight has begun ….

BANG.

…..

Mello keeps running even as he pants.

"Mello." Near speaks. "Put me down."

"I'm … Not ….. Going …. To … Leave ….. You …. Behind." Mello pants out.

Near shifts and his lips brush against Mello's ear. "Don't worry. I'm going to use my magic."

Mello hesitates but then turns a corner stopping to let Near stand on his own.

Near turns to face Adam whop skids a little trying to stop in time to get around the corner. He mentally concentrates on his magic. He has only one shot at this then he and Mello will have to keep running.

Adam begins to charge right at them with a loud battle cry.

Near feels a rush of power when Mello brushes a hand with his own. He raises his free hand up and sends out a magical blast knocking Adam back.

Adam slams into the wall leaving an indent of his body slightly splayed out. He seems to peel off since Near's blast fades to sparkles that disappear midair. He falls face first to the floor. "The cat's gone and took the French toast." He mummers feeling out of it.

Mello catches Near when Near stumbles about to fall.

"We need to go." Near says.

Mello nods and supports Near as they hurry away from Adam who lays there on the ground about to go unconscious as he is out of it as well as thanks to the forceful hit against the wall.

…..

Rai hops onto her motorcycle with Silver joining her.

They put on the tinted helmets as the other members of the Shadows get on either in cars or at most two others are on motorcycles.

Rai takes the lead driving her motorcycle as the rest of the Shadows follow racing as fast as they can to save Near and any others trapped in that building.

….

"It is most likely this one." L says as they come to a conclusion. "It is the one best to keep the screams unheard by anyone."

Light gets to his feet. "Then let's go."

"It's dangerous." L begins to tell Light not wanting to endanger the other.

"It's ok. We have no time to waste." Light says.

L knows from analyzing Light for so long that he knows when Light will not take no for an answer. He gets up as well with a nod.