Chapter two: The findings. Matt P.O.V
I walked out of wammys and into the field. The other kids were inside. I saw a giant brown dog approach a small pale boy who cowered from the dog's snapping jaws. I leapt at the dog with my pocket knife and killed it quickly. Turning to the small boy who looked scared for his life. He was a pale boy with white hair and now bloody torn white clothes. Putting the pocket knife away I realise something and I look at the boy again. He had white rabbit ears! Not normal! I picked him up and took him inside. Roger helped and I explained what happened. The boy had fallen asleep while Roger was bandaging his wounds and he later woke up. "What's your name?" I had to know! I heard of tons of disappearances and my best friend Mello was one of them just yesterday. "Near…. But my real name is Nate!" I quickly look at the posters of the missing people and sure enough, I found him. Disappeared two months ago and hadn't been seen since! "Alright well keep you're name as Near around here! We'll get you some new clothes and some food!" Near looked at me hungrily. "Haven't had foods for awhile!" I stare at him surprised. "No food?" Near nodded. "We were only fed once a week!" I pull out my picture of Mello. Near looks at it. "Kitty!" What was Near after at this? "No, his name is Mello!" Near Smiled. "No, master says he be Kitty!" I thought quickly and gasped. "You mean he's going to be turned into a cat?" Near nods and points at himself. "Like he turned me into a bunny!" The boy whined in pain then he slowly transformed into a small white rabbit and I fall backwards.
Roger stared in surprise. Near lay on the bed, still weak from being attacked and transforming into a rabbit. Roger coughs. "Interesting. I didn't think this was possible…" I stand up and pick Near up into my arms. "Can you help us find Mello?" Near looks up at me slightly and nods. Roger sighs. "Let Near rest. He needs it." Near falls asleep in my arms. "Sleep well, little one." I put him on the bed and pull the covers over his small body. He's adorable but I'm worried about Mello. I look at the missing kids posters again. That's when I noticed it wasn't just kids but young adults to. "Roger, there is a wide variation, from grade seven aged kids to young adults, possibly in college." Roger looks over the missing kids' posters and nods. "It's true." I turn to him. "Let's hope we find Mello in time." I nod in agreement. "Let's hope we find him before he's turned into a cat." I glance back at Near and I feel my heart melt. "Do you want to come with me to see if we can get evidence that might help lead to what happened to Mello?" I shake my head. "I'll stay with Near." Roger nods and leaves. I crouch in a chair by the bed and wait for Near to wake again.
It took a bit and I lay my head on the bed about to take a nap when I hear a soft rustle and a small whine, I raise my head and see Near awake in human form. "Near…?" Near looks at me. "Yes?" I'm not sure I want to know anymore but… "Where did they take you when you got kidnapped? What was it like there?" Near suddenly looked extremely fearful. And I bring him close for a gentle hug. "Its ok if you don't want to talk about it right now." Near rests his head on my chest and I let him. Near sobs a little and I try to comfort him. "Shhh…. It'll be alright. You're not there anymore." But Mello is… I don't try to push him for more information yet. "I can show you today…" Near's words shocked me, I didn't think he would want to return there again. "You need to rest and recover." Near sighs a little. "Your presence feels like your missing something important…. someone…. is it Mello?" I pause then nod. "Mello is my best friend, we have always watched out for each other…." Near nods a little. "Big brother Beyond was always there for me until the man took him away…" Beyond…. that name sounds familiar… Oh wait. Not only is he on the missing kids posters, but he went to Wammy's before A committed suicide and Beyond went insane. So he and Near know each other huh. "Alright I was a friend of Beyond before he left here." Near looks thoughtful for a second. "Is this Wammy's house?" I froze then relaxed. Of course Beyond would tell Near about Wammy's house, Near had called Beyond his big brother but I know for a fact they aren't actually related. "Yes, it is. Maybe you can stay here…. I'm sure Roger would let you." Near smiles a little. "Do you have any toys?" Toys? Why does he want toys? "I think we have some in the play room." Near looks up at my face. "I like toys" Oh yah, go figure…. "When were you born?" Near pauses unsure if he should tell me. "I was born in 1991." One year younger than me huh? Why would he like toys then? "Can we play with them?" I nod. "Yah, I'm sure we can." I pick Near up bridal style and carry him to the play room.
In the play room I set him down on the carpet and I find some toys, then I hand them to Near and he starts playing with them. After a bit of watching him I go to the T.V. in the play room and I start playing video games. Near squeaked making me jump and turn to him. He had fallen onto his back and a toy gun lay at his feet. I laugh a little. "Near, it's just a toy gun" Near gets up. "It surprised me." I turn back to my video game as Near starts playing with his toys again. After I beat my game I look at him again and I see him twirling his hair! I've never seen someone do that before…. but it makes him look even cuter. "Are you still hungry?" Near looks up and nods. "Yes please." I take him to the lunch room and I don't see any kids around but the lunch people were cooking and I walk up to the serving counter. "Nancy…?" Nancy is a master chef and the leader of the kitchen crew. Nancy turns to me. "Ah, Matt, how can I help you?" I bring Near over into view for her. "This is Near. He might be joining Wammy's and he hasn't eaten in quite awhile. Will you please give him something? He's very hungry." Nancy nods and brings over some delicious smelling food. "Is this enough?" Near's eyes sparkle and he nods. "I'm used to not getting a lot of food. I used to be fed only once a week for two months." Nancy gives Near the food. "Oh. You poor thing. Well you're always welcome to ask me for food if you want. Don't be shy about asking." Near nods a little and I take him to a table so he could sit and eat. Near, a little shyly, eats the food and finishes, licking his lips. "That's yummy. Way better than what they fed us back at that horrible place." I bite my lip a little. Please be alright Mello. I silently scream in my head over and over again. Near's hand on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. "We must find him today…. the man is going to change him into a cat soon. Mello was next after my transformation." I clench my teeth, I open my mouth to speak but I hear a growl behind me. I close my mouth and turn but I saw nobody there except the kitchen crew in the kitchen. Then the growl came again. I look around and Near comes closer to me, scared. I hear footsteps then the lunch room doors open and close, I saw someone leave but I don't know who. I stand to follow but Near gently grab's my sleeve. "Is there a safe room I can go to for now?" I take him back to his room and I put him on his bed. "I'm going to see who or what that was." Near nods a little scared and I leave the room.
I listen for the growling and I find it in the play room. There in front of me was a black panther attacking a piece off raw meat from the kitchen. I quietly back out of the play room and lock the door from the outside then I run to Rogers office. I poke my head inside and I see Roger alone at his desk. "Matt? Come on in. What can I do for you?" I enter his office. "There's a panther in the play room. Possibly someone like Near but the panther is unfriendly." Roger stands. "Is it still in the play room?" I pause. "I locked the door on the outside but I'm not sure." Roger leads me back to the play room and lucky for us the panther was still attacking the stolen meat. "Hmmm…. Where is Near?" Roger turns to me. "Back in his room for rest." Roger nods and turns back to the panther that we were watching through a partly open door. The panther finishes it's stolen meat and transforms into a boy about two years younger than me with black hair that fell to his shoulders and honey like eyes. F**** did he see us?