Chapter Four – Gabriel Unstane
The average adult would perhaps say that Gabriel Unstane was unusual to say the least. He had grown up with a incredible array of inventive talents. He had originally reminded Whammy of himself as a child, and that was why he was so quick to take young Gabriel into Whammy's house. However, Gabriel Unstane's abilities veered towards clocks.
He was referred to as the letter U. Soon after he arrived he'd begun calling himself Until. It seemed fitting anyways, the way clocks counted the until time was up. He loved clocks. Loved putting them together and taking them apart. Almost every clock in the Whammy's house had been tinkered with by Until
Today was not much different, he sat alone in his room while the other children played outside, overjoyed with England's rare good weather. His main clock was bothering him greatly. He usually kept it above his bedside, and this morning when he had awakened, it had been stopped at noon.
Until glanced down at his wristwatch, noticing that it was only a few minutes before noon anyway and he was slightly grateful that his wristwatch was at least still working. He tinkered with the back of the broken clock for a few more moments until it finally started ticking again and he smiled, pleased with himself.
And then it happened, he was struck with a strange sudden feeling. A feeling that his body was not his own. And there was depression, a sudden deep feeling of depression that overtook him.
The clocks spun all around him, their faces seeming contorted and full of evil smiles, driving him mad.
"Stop, stop." he begged, "Stop laughing at me!"
The clock that he had just been working on was the cruelest of all, its face contorted with the meanest face of all. It laughed at him.
Until picked up the clock he had just been working on and lifted it slowly over his head, bringing it down on his desk, shattering the face. Glass flew everywhere, and Until picked up a glass piece staring at how it sparkled in the light of the window. He could almost see his reflection in it.
He brought the piece to his neck and slowly dragged the glass across his skin, blood squirted in tandem with his heartbeat and he collapsed to the floor.
Blood pooled around him and he stared up at the window and out at the beautiful blue sky. It almost seemed as if it too was mocking him.
In that moment, he heard the large grandfather clock downstairs chime one o'clock. How perfect after all, he was always on time.
Then, his vision faded to black.
"Come on Mello!" Matt snorted, waving wildly. "Throw the ball!"
Mello, Matt, and Layla all sat out in the courtyard, seemingly happy about the gorgeous weather that graced them today. As usual, Mello was playing his own game of keep-the-ball while Matt wanted to play soccer.
"Don't you want to play Layla?" Mello asked, staring at the dark haired little girl who sat drawing by the fountain.
She shook her head, then continued patiently with her sketching.
The scream that littered throughout the courtyard made Layla jump, nearly dropping her sketchbook in the water. Both Matt and Mello stopped their antics and looked up at the orphanage.
"What was that?" Matt asked, looking somewhat frightened.
"Dunno," Mello said, "That scream sounded too scared to be just someone kidding around."
Matt pulled down his goggles over his eyes as if to seem more prepared as he spoke, "We should go check it out."
"Come over here Layla," Mello commanded.
The Estonian girl nodded, gathering her things in her arms hastily before jogging lightly to Mello's side, her pigtails swinging wildly.
Suddenly, a woman burst through the doors of Wammy's House, running out into the courtyard. The woman, Anya was a maid who occasionally cleaned the children's rooms every month. She often complained particularly about Mello's room, noting that he had far too many chocolate bars in the area and that it was going to attract bugs. Mello always had just assumed that she was crazy.
And now, she certainly looked crazy with her hair all in tangles as she ran out into the courtyard. When she reached the three of them Mello could smell the thick scent of blood on her clothes where it blossomed on her skirt like a flower.
Thankfully, Watari rushed outside soon after, cradling Anya in his arms while the students looked on, completely stunned. "There, there." he said gently to her, patting her head in a grandfatherly sort of way. Then, he turned to the children. "There's been a grave accident. Everyone, kindly go inside and wait in the drawing room."
The children waited hastily in the drawing room, all of them gathered in circles around one another. Mello, Layla, and Matt all gathered closest to the fireplace. Matt had his hands resting on his knees, a videogame thankfully not in his grasp for once.
"What do you think it could be?" he said slowly, staring at the fire, "Why was Anya covered in so much blood?"
Mello, who was usually eager to offer his opinion on anything was quiet. He shrugged his shoulders in a noncommittal way and placed his head on his knees.
"What do you think Linda?" Matt asked.
Layla who had been sketching furiously on paper glanced up, surprised at being asked her opinion on anything even if he didn't use her real name. Mello's sharp blue eyes focused up on her too and she felt oddly put on the spot. "I fink..."
"Think," Mello said with a sigh, burying his head in his arms. "You think. Not 'fink'."
Layla fell silent now and went back to her sketching.
Matt scowled, "Mello, let her talk. She never says anything because you always bump her down a notch whenever she mispronounces anything."
Mello glared at the goggled boy. "Shut up Matt. If Layla is going to learn anything here its going to be decent english."
The two glared at each other for a long time, until Layla spoke "Ow."
Mello jumped, looking over at Layla who was rubbing at her shoulders with a slightly pained look. Over her shoulders Zion looked mildly at her. Zion had apparently shoved himself into Layla and she now rubbed her shoulder, slightly pained.
Suddenly, Zion grabbed Layla's shoulders, squeezing roughly. He pressed his lips to her ear, "Cursed be those who see the devil in her eyes. Do you see the devil Linda Levandi?"
"Piss off, Zion." Mello snapped, leaping to his feet and pulling Layla away from the red haired boy's grasp.
"Yeah," Matt sneered, "Why don't you go play in the corner with your bells?"
He pointed a finger at Mello, his brown eyes flashing dangerously, "Beware of the devil in her eyes. The ink that stains her hands is red with blood."
Mello's fingers dug painfully into Layla's arms and she squirmed.
"Its true you know," a voice purred silkily in her ear.
She jumped, her heart pounding in her chest and turned her head slightly. Blood red eyes greeted her that were set in a skull that looked like pictures of bulls or rams that she had seen in classes with Mello and Matt.
It had long shaggy fur around its neck, arms, and legs. It's skin looked leathery and smooth, like the couches and chairs found in Wammy's house. A hugely beaded red necklace hung around it's neck and clinked threateningly when it reached up and used a clawed hand to stroke at her cheek.
The rest of the students stared as Layla began thrashing wildly and screaming "Don't touch me!" over and over.
Mello tried his best to restrain her, throwing himself over her until the two of them fell to the ground, Mello on top of her while they struggled.
"There's nothing there!" Mello said loudly, then focusing his gaze on Matt who was staring at the two of them. His mouth was opened widely and he jumped when Mello addressed him.
"Go get Watari, now!"
He ran towards Watari's office, his goggles bouncing against his chest.
Mello continued trying to calm Layla who was beside herself with fear and she squirmed for a few moments then relaxed underneath him. Mello eased himself off of her, watching her in slight amazement as she curled on the floor sobbing piteously.
He had always known how to throw a punch, how to hurt someone verbally with a word or two, how to give someone a look that would make them fall silent. But, Mello was completely unsure about how to go about reassuring someone so he rubbed Layla's back and prayed Watari would arrive soon.
Watari arrived a moment later, and thanked Mello gently telling Layla to go with one of the maids to her room. She wiped at her eyes with a closed fist and nodded.
Mello look at Watari and spoke, all the students watching them with fascinated expressions.
"What happened this morning?"
Watari sighed suddenly, looking very tired and Mello fancied he could see every wrinkle that was etched out in his face. "Until is dead."
There was a collective gasp all around the room, but Mello's sharp blue eyes were focused on Zion who merely played with his bells as if he could not hear.