Chapter five: Escalation in tactics. Matt's P.O.V.

I am in the room with Near while we eat.

We are currently in the nurses office.

Rodger wants us to stay where we'll most likely be safe and since the nurse is usually working in here then we have me and the nurse keeping an eye on Near.

We even gave Near a fresh pair of clothes which is a pair of pyjama pants, a button up long sleeved shirt and socks.

I can't get my mind off of why Mello would turn his back to us and even join the other side going as far to call the bastard who did this master.

Near ate half of the snack then he puts it on a nearby nightstand by the bed he is sitting on. "Matt. Do you still want to go so the place?" He asks making me pauses with the spoon close to my mouth.

I lower the spoon back into my stew since it's the first thing I ate today. I look to him. "Near we need to keep you here. It's safer and it'll be dangerous to go to that place right now." I tell him. "We'll need a plan before we can even think about going there."

Near looks to his lap then he looks up to me. "Matt. As we speak there is more of them being groomed into the masters pets and more being transformed or being killed trying." He informs me.

I look down at the stew. "Near… I don't really know what we can really do right now… If we just go storming to that place then who knows what'll happen. We could even be killed."

Near looks down. "Just like how they killed big brother Beyond." He looks away sadly.

I look up upon hearing this. "They killed him?"

Near nods. "He was meant to be wolf. But he was killed because he escaped and tried to free me so we could escape." He says and a tear falls down his cheek. "I couldn't do nothing as they dragged him away from me only to kill him in front of me."

I blink and I put my stew by Near's snack then I move to the bed sitting beside Near. I pull him into a hug and he lets me. "I'm so sorry." I tell him and I pet his super soft hair.

He closes his eyes tightly and we stay there for a few minutes with Near silently crying along with me trying to comfort him. He starts to calm down and I keep telling him it'll all be alright.

Rodger comes in and comes over.

I look over to him.

"Can I talk to you?" He says then moves away from the bed to the other side of the room.

I turn to Near. "I'll be right back." I tell him then I get up and head over to Rodger.

"Matt. They killed one of the teachers." Rodger informs me. "Then while we were inspecting the crime scene there was a scream. We saw the panther running away from a crime scene where they killed an orphan. I have already contacted L when we found out that there is two trying to get Near. I explained everything to him. But Matt they killed and I can be there is more on the way. This is turning dangerous and we may not have enough time to wait for L to get here. Who knows how many others they will kill."

I feel surprise devour me then I take a few moments to fully process this new information. "What do you want us to do then?" I ask him. "If we kick Near out then who knows what'll happen to him and not to mention that there is still going to be more abductions with them being turned into animals!"

Rodger sighs and rubs a temple. "I know Matt. I know Matt. I'm not entirely sure what to do other than try to capture the two."

I look down. "That's our best course of action." I say then my eyes flicker back up to him.

He nods. "I know. Then for anything else we need to wait for L to arrive. Just please." He lowers his hand to hang limply at his side as he stares at me. "Keep Near safe for now. He is a valuable piece and he is right now the only one who can give us any information on everything."

I nod. "I promise." I say.

He nods, pats me on the shoulder, then leaves.

I go back to Near who is now standing and looking out the window closest to the bed he was sitting on earlier.

His bunny ears seem to have been moved down a little almost like they are indicating nervousness or sadness.

"Near?" I approach him and he glances over his shoulder at me. "You alright?"

He nods then looks back out the window. "Yeah just thinking."

I nod and gently lead him back to the bed telling him to rest right now. I know I should get some information out of him but not right now since he already seems saddened probably from thinking about Beyond.

We talk for a few minutes and at some point Near seemed to be getting tired so I had him lay down.

He seems to be asleep and I watch him for a few moments while sitting in a chair by the bed.

I start to feel drowsy and I lay my head down only to slip into darkness.

When I awaken I can sense something out of place.

I sit up and I realize it is now evening with the sun setting. I turn to look to Near and I leap to my feet knocking down the chair I was sitting on.

Near is gone.