Chapter 2:

Of Knives and Betrayals

"I knew I hadn't any choice, hushed my voice, did what any girl would do." -Marry me by Emilie Autumn.

Near awoke from what was, for once, a dreamless sleep. But he didn't like what he found when he did.
He woke to his hands and ankles hurting, because they were bound too tightly, and his left arm feeling so painful that he suspected inch-long needles were stabbing it all over, even in his fingers. Cold, sharp metal suddenly came to rest against his neck, moving to caress his cheek. The sense of touch was vivid, and Near realized he couldn't see; a scratchy feeling over his eyelids told him he had been blindfolded.

"Ah, you're awake," said a voice to his right. Moving his head to face the voice, desperately wishing he could see, Near's thoughts flat-lined, the situation seeming surreal.

"Shhh, don't worry, my lovely little toy," said the voice.

"I'll kill you soon enough, and it'll all be over."

Near felt his heart surge up into his throat, felt like it was choking him; his breath was ragged with fear, and his heart was beating so furiously he thought it might burst.

"Oh, not yet, my little sheep," said his captor. "I won't kill you yet. I want to leave a thoroughly bloody painting for your friends, after all."

The voice was sickly sweet, high-pitched with the half-escaped giggle of a madman.

'Oh god,' Near thought. 'I won't make it this time… No, I mustn't think like that! L will find me… he has to!'

He felt the bottoms to his pajamas drop to the floor, his boxers following. Near bit his bottom lip, trying not to cry.

And then there was pain. It went on for quite a while; then there was a sticky warmth between his legs and the pain stopped, at least for the moment, and Near barely made any noise as he sobbed.

And then, it was worse. More pain, even more intense; and he gave a strangled scream that choked off into a yelp, muffled by his captor's fingers.

"Much as I like to hear you sing, you're my sheep," He said sadistically. "Sheep don't sing, hmm? So be quiet or that knife will go for your tongue."
Near realized, though his thoughts were feeble and quick to die, that his captor couldn't be using a very sharp knife, nor a very long one; otherwise he would die from it, especially if it tore out his insides…

Another sharp twist from the knife, and he forced himself not to scream again, sobbing even more brokenly as an alternative, as he endured what was only the beginning of his torture.

Finally, his captor removed the knife and stroked Near's cheek with it almost lovingly, fingering the hated collar (much like a shackle, which Near hadn't noticed before) that connected Near to a small pole. The chain-- his leash-- couldn't be very long.

"My little sheep," The man said, licking the blood off Near's cheek, causing him to whimper quietly and shudder in fear.

"Do you want to die yet?" Near forced back a smart reply and shook his head minutely; he wanted to make it through. As long as there was hope that someone might find him…

"Good. I'll enjoy making you want it," his captor said. "You'll soon find that death seems the sweetest thing you'll ever think of," he whispered, forcing Near to lay on the ground instead of remaining on all fours.

Tying him further-- so that Near's hands were above his head and he was unable to move-- the rapist picked up something, judging from the rustling sounds. Then a long whip, with knots and shards of glass in it, struck his back and dug in, shredding the flesh it collided with, the impact having the would-be-killer's full weight behind it. The whip fell again and again, and Near soon grew numb to the pain, almost passing out, but hanging on through sheer faith that he would be saved.

Near couldn't help but let out a scream, when what felt like a pot of scalding water was carelessly dumped onto the freshly-made wounds on his back.
Then there was a bang, much like a door slamming open, and a familiar voice screamed for someone to 'get away from the boy'. Near felt a foot dig into his burned, shredded flesh, and screamed until his voice grew hoarse as three gunshots sounded; the knife his captor had held fell to the ground with a clatter, and a thump behind him (accompanied by curses) told him that his attacker was behind him, on the floor. Everything else was a blur as he felt his pants being tugged up hurriedly, and he was swept into someone's arms, the pain of it making him writhe and cry even harder in their grip.

He didn't remember passing out.


When Near woke up again, he felt overly sluggish; he was in a remarkably warm, safe-feeling bed, he realized dimly. He didn't feel any pain, and he saw L sitting beside him, looking worried and relieved all at once; Mello and Matt were on his other side.
Laughing hollowly, he tried to focus on Mello's face.
"F'Mello's 'ere, 'must be dead," He slurred. "So 'e can gloat…"

"'ven't sheen yhou inna while," he mumbled. Mello looked similar to Near's memory of the blonde in Whammy's. "You loo'like'a girl," He commented. "Flat-shested ghirl."

He hated the way his tongue felt thick in his mouth, how he could barely think straight. Though, apparently he was amusing, for Mello tousled his hair affectionately.

"Where'm I?" Near asked, only a little more coherent, glancing around.

"A hospital," L said softly.

With these dread words, Near sat quickly; he froze, gritting his teeth at the sharp stab of pain that the motion resulted in. However, he refused to lay back down.

"You know I hate hosphitals," he managed venomously, despairingly, accusingly.

"M'llo, M'tt, yhou two know, tew… yhou could'a told him not to…"

All three of them looked a little sorry, and with good reason, Near thought.

"I apologize, Near, but you were in critical condition. You needed professional medical care that none of us can give you," L replied.

"I'm not sure if you know it or not, but that bastard broke your left arm and all your fingers on that hand. Doc says you might never be able to use it properly again, he nearly crushed the bones." Mello said.

"Sho?... amphidextus," he said, mispronouncing it horribly due to his unforgiving slur.

Suddenly, he understood why he wasn't talking clearly.

"Why'm I drugged?" He mumbled desperately, suddenly (and visibly) freaking out. He tried to express how, besides the fact that he was in a hospital, he wasn't able to focus, to think, to speak properly, to do anything

"I cannot do anything about it," L replied.

"I CAN'T THINK, SHPEAK, OR MOVE!" Near yelled shrilly, switching clumsily over to English.

"I CAN'T DO ANYTHING, I'M THE ONE IN HERE! AND YOU, PERFECTLY HEALTHY, SHAY YHOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING? YHOU, THE GREAT L, ALMIGHTY DETECTISH, THE GUY WHO CAN FREAKING SHTARE DOWN KILLERSH CAN'T EVEN TRY TO GET ME OFF THESH DAMN DRUGSH?!"

He shouted unevenly, clearly hurting. His speech was deteriorating steadily, worthy of a third-grade English student.

"'M weak! Always been! 'M premature, 'cause of that 'M worse! But now 'M absholutely powerlesh!"
Near was starting to hyperventilate, clearly unable to cope; Mello leaned in and hugged him so suddenly that Near froze.

"I'm sorry," the blonde muttered, as he emptied a small syringe into Near's arm.

As he drew back, he saw the look of hurt and betrayal in Near's eyes, and regretted his actions as soon as he noticed the white-haired boy's tears.

"…were my friend…" he managed weakly, before sleep overpowered him.

L and Matt pointedly ignored Mello for the rest of the day.


When Near woke up again and found the three of them were there, he felt upset, yet forgiving. It was in his nature to forgive.

But then, he realized something. Looking at L questioningly, he watched as the detective blinked back at him, his mind registering quite a bit of pain.

"I convinced them not to drug you…"

"Thank you," Near replied, smiling ever-so-slightly.

"What's the date?" He asked softly.

"The twelfth," Mello replied.

That would mean… a full week after that bastard…?

Remembering something, Near turned to Mello.

"I'm sorry for what I said, after… You had every right to knock me out. I was way out of line. But I'd truly appreciate it if you never, ever did that again. Just… just threaten me with it next time."

Mello lay his hand on Near's, smiling; at least, until Near jerked his hand back out of reflex.

"I'm glad I didn't hurt you…"

"Speaking of hurt," Interjected Near, "How am I, from the doc's point of view?"

"Well on your way to recovery, despite how serious your injuries were, cast and all. By the way, do you mind if I sign it?"

"Us too!" Matt chimed in.

"Only if you two stay with me-- in my floor, that is, if it's alright with you and L-- for a few days so we can catch up before you disappear again," Near said, frowning at 'disappear'.

"It's fine with me," L replied, after giving Near a curious look.

"Can we, Mello? Huh? Huh? Can we?"

The blonde acted as if he really had to think it over. And, in truth, he kind of did.

"Well… Hmmph. Fine, I suppose the guys can wait a few more days," Mello said.

"But if they go soft while I'm gone…"

Near smiled wickedly.

"Huh, with that get-up, they'd be as hard as you want given you're in the same room," He said; he blinked twice, and realized he'd actually said what he had been thinking.
Matt stared at the white-haired boy; Matt and L joined in the staring, before the three of them shared a glance and started laughing. (Well, to the extent that they ever did laugh, that is. Meaning a soft chuckle or two.)

"Y'know, Mello, he's right. I mean, almost all of them have a crush on you… So, who've you been cheating with?" Matt said it so good-naturedly that it was clearly an empty accusation, and that he didn't truly believe what he said.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, Matt. I wouldn't cheat on you, damnit."

As if to further show how important Mello thought it was for Matt to believe him, the blonde leaned over and kissed him. They clearly only stopped because it'd be making out in front of Near and L, both of whom were single, and not because they were in a hospital.

"Well, now, When'd this happen?" Near asked; Matt moved his chair closer to Mello's, and they were now holding hands.

"Little bit after I hooked up with the Mafia--," Mello said; he'd hesitated halfway through saying 'Mafia', but then finished it decisively.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen-- but if you're not the ringleader for the whole of the Mafia, I'll have to slap you. A possible successor for L should be able to do that, at least, by this time."

Mello grinned. "Well, it wasn't completely easy… But I am."

"Still… the Mafia, Mello…"

"I wouldn't be too quick to offer judgment, Near," L began. "The Mafia is the only reason you were found before your attacker managed to hurt you even more."

This was the first time they'd brought up what had happened, and the closest thing to mentioning what had been done. Near visibly flinched, and a type of serious gloom seemed to fall over him.

"Oh?" He replied, almost-- almost-- jovially.

"My boys told me there was a nutcase-- one, so it wasn't very important-- trying to move in on our turf. I took Matt and one of the guys to come take care of it with me. When we were about to storm in, we heard a scream- it felt like death was hovering over my shoulder, warning me. So I changed our P.O.A-- plan of attack-- and went in quiet-like to find the bastard pouring boiling water on your back. Worst thing I'd ever seen-- he stomped on you after, so I told my boy to leave you be and gave the bastard a bullet between his legs, Matt'n the guy we brought took out his legs. He fell over, 'course. So I hurried over and picked you up, Matt 'wired a car, and my boy called over some help to 'clean up'- a.k.a, beat the shit outta the bastard. 'Cause friends of mine, are friends of my boys. Apparently I'm the most trustworthy guy they've had as a leader, so they don't take kindly to my friends being hurt. So, needless to say, he's living through the hell he gave you, and then he'll be put through more hell until he dies his, ah, relatively natural death."

Near's expression darkened, and sitting up sharply, his features twisted.

"Call them off."

Mello blinked.

"Call. Them. Off."

"….What?"

"I won't have you do that. Is he still the way he was when you found me?"

"No."

"Then kill him, as painlessly as your boys can bear to kill him."

"Matt," Mello said softly, his gaze still on Near. The redhead nodded and whipped out his cellphone.

"He doesn't deserve your mercy, Near."

"I know. That's why I'm doing it. I won't sink to his level."

Mello saw him in a different light, then; and as a gunshot was heard through Matt's cellphone, Mello prayed silently; prayed that Near, the rival that always bettered him, the rival that he was so bitter towards in his youth… Mello prayed that Near would make it through this, and that he wouldn't have to suffer through something like this again.

Unknown to any of the others, Near prayed for the same, deep in his subconscious.

Another week came and went, and for a few days before Near was let out, Matt and Mello didn't show- mainly because they had to get some of their stuff and get used to the 'base of operations' that L and Near occupied, along with some of the task force (Light and Misa, too, even though they were still in observation).

Still, Near didn't mind that the other two males didn't show much; it was nice to be alone with L, even if they didn't make a whole lot of conversation.

No, the way L felt could be portrayed in his eyes when he wasn't guarding himself against the world at large; and Near felt special, somehow, to be able to have those glimpses into L's soul, though they were little and few in between and gave little information.

After all, it's the thought that counts.


Okay… so yeah, that's another chapter out. :3

But I have to let you all know, I've only got a page of the next chapter done in my notebook. That's very little compared to how much I want to write. After all, I want to hit ten thousand words before my story is over. I'm going to have to step it up, a lot. So bear with me as I write out the next few chapters, 'cause it's going to take longer than you're used to from me. Especially since I'm now declared 'sick'; stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, and near-puking. Yeah, it's lovely, ain't it?

So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed that chapter, and have no fear-- Near is here, and there'll be more out soon.

Love,

Rianne-ennaiR

P.S.

Reviews are always welcome~ They'd definitely make me feel less sick. x3