Chapter one:

Six years later.

Near's P.O.V.

My hair grows fast and mother brushes it while singing once a week. That is when my hair glows, other than that she just brushes my hair while once in the morning and once before bed. Before bed we sit by the fire place and I just sit there as she sits behind me and brushes my hair.

Mother gives me new clothes so I can change everyday. Usually it's a pair of light brown shorts and a blue tank top with a black t-shirt underneath.

Other than doing all my chores in the tower, that I am not allowed to leave ever, I like to play with toys and paint.

On the ceiling above my bed I painted what I see out my window once every year. A far away castle and lit lanterns floating into the night sky. Below it is a painting of a symbol I keep seeing in my dreams, it looks like a sun. (AN: To see what it looks like: .ca/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSWgkmLwnv19x31BpGCxCwjKcI GjQKMggBEgyiB-EFmgTUBtUG5AUaIOVnVXuqoIZGdH pM_1m95yJvnYmWGNduHCndhZV1dlyBY DAsQjq7-CBoADCH09SrYF4wb1A&sa=X&ei=9b8qUd6QOOK5igKF_oGoDw&ved=0CCkQwg4&biw=1708&bih=804&q=tangeled%20castle%20symbol ) The other paintings are scattered all around my room and the kitchen, along with the stairs. They are a variety of things and there is still room to paint.

Today it is a few days before my seventh birthday.

My mother is brushing my hair as I sit by the fire place.

My mother singing the song to make my hair glow.

Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine. Heal what has been hurt, change the fate's design, save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine. What once was mine...

As the song ends, my hair stops glowing by slowing fading.

"That's a good boy. Mother is so proud of how much you have grown." My mother congratulates.

"Mother, why can't I leave the tower?" I ask her as she finishes brushing my hair, which i have been explained to what happens when it is cut.

"Because there is to many dangers out there I am just keeping you safe. The people out there are greedy monsters and they'll take you away, locking you up forever. Then they'll eat you." She tells me dramatically as she grips my shoulders.

I squeak. "I don't want to be eaten by greedy monsters!"

My mother hugs me. "Don't worry my dear, you are safe and sound here."

Year's later, Near is now seventeen years old.

I have a green pet chameleon named Sweetie. She keeps me company while my mother is out and I have nothing to do.

Right now we are playing hide and seek. "Hmm…" I walk around pretending not to notice Sweetie hiding by a flower pot, her colors changed to blend with her surroundings. "I wonder where Sweetie could be hiding."

I grab Sweetie's tail, surprising her and making her turn back to green. "Found you." I lift her to my shoulder. "That's thirty five games in a row! How about thirty six?"

Sweetie pouts at me and I sigh.

Oh yeah, I am never taught about emotions so I don't know how to show them or how to tell what any of them mean. So why show them if I don't know?

"Alright then. What do you want to do?" I ask her.

She looks to the open window where we can see the outside world.

"No thanks. I like it better in here and so do you." I walk back inside to start on my chores.

Mother is out shopping until this evening or out doing something like usual.

My hair has grown really long from years of not cutting it.

I sweep the floor and sigh.

So this is how my day's go by:

I sweep and wax the floor's that takes an hour.

Then I clean the rest of the place that takes till non.

I'll bake some food for myself then eat and feed Sweetie.

After that I paint, read a book and play with toys not always in that order.

I bake again so I have treats throughout the day then I do some more reading.

Maybe do some pottery with Sweetie using her tail to make designs.

I do a puzzle while Sweetie stands on the completed parts and changes to the colors that are underneath her.

I'll brush my hair, only doing it once a day now.

If I have spare time I will paint some more and try to find room for more paintings.

Then while we wait for mother, me and Sweetie play hide and seek, chess and other games.

By evening mother comes home and she brushes my hair while singing the special song. Though ever since I was eight I learned the song and sang it for mother.

Then I will make supper and we will eat it, mother reminding me all about the horrors of the outside world and why it is safe for me to stay here.

After all that at 9:30 mother sends me to bed and that's how my day goes by everyday.

To tell the truth it is boring but I am used to it.

Except every night on my birthday I sneak past my mother's sleeping form at midnight to see the lanterns fly into the night sky.

My dream is to some day have mother take me to the place where they send out the lanterns into the sky. One day.

Mello's P.O.V.

I run through the town being chased by the royal guards.

I am a professional thief.

I make people think that my name is Mello but it really isn't.

Oh and I am being chased by guards because I just stole the princes crown… yeah.

"Get off my tail." I growl as I head towards the forest.

"Get back here Mello!" The guards call as they continue chase into the forest.

A ginger horse with flowing red hair and goggles over his eyes chase after me as well with the head of the guards on its back.

"Damn it." I swear as I head into the thick undergrowth.

It covers me and I spot a cave so I dash into it.

The guards rush past me, not seeing the cave what so ever.

I follow the hidden cave to an open field with a tall tower. Perfect place to hide.

I use a vine and a broken arrow in my pocket. Putting them together I make a makeshift grappling hook. I throw it to the edge of the window and climb up it.

Once up I toss the vine to the ground and climb inside the tower.

"Wow." I glance at the well done, wonderful paintings that cover the place top to bottom. "Amazing."

Suddenly I am hit in the back of the head and my vision goes black.