Chapter two:
"Huh?" Matt's questioning sound causes Mello to look up from his phone. He's staring at his computer in confused shock. "Why does Near have access to the dark web?"
"Hold on. Isn't that like the most illegal place of the internet?" Mello questions looking to the computer where he sees Matt hovering over a desktop icon. He knows that he's looking at Nears computer desktop, and he figures that of course Near just has a simple blue background. "Let's find out what he's been doing there."
"Even my skills can't do that." Matt mentions causing the two to turn to each other. His eyes meeting Mellos blue ones. "Look Mello I really would if I could. But there's a reason that the dark web is so elusive. It is so anonymous that it's even hard for police to crack down on what goes on there."
Mello glances to the desktop screen wondering just what Near is up to. "Is there any other clues to tell us what's going on?" He questions Matt as the other turns back to the screen as well.
"Well his computer doesn't really offer up any other clues. It is really clean. He doesn't even have notes on this thing. Probably why he uses sticky notes instead."
"Hm." Mello hums then blinks as they notice the mouse moving.
"He's using his computer." Matt keeps his hands away to not touch anything. He doesn't want to cause suspicion or alarm for Near.
"Let's see what he is up to." Mello mentions as the two of them watch what Near does.
Near opens the internet going to the maps where he looks at a route to get to a certain spot. He is looking at a spot that seems rather random. He doesn't really seem to have any reason to actually go there.
Mello gets to his feet. "Let's go there. Beat him to it and see what's going on." He insists and Matt briefly is about to protest.
Matt pauses and thinks it over before he nods his head. "Let's do this." He agrees carefully clicking out of looking at Nears computer; in a way that won't alert Near that he had been hacked.
The two set up the pillows so they seem to be sleeping, just in case they miss curfew and room check to ensure they're in their rooms, they then sneak out of the orphanage heading towards the location.
Mello stays in the lead having remembered the path Near seemed to be planning to take. His mind does bring up questions about why would Near go to this spot. He wonders if Nears buying things off the dark web, or if there is something else that is going on. He gets them to the spot only to see a car with heavily tinted windows start to pull up. He pushes Matt into some bushes following after him.
The two watch the black car come to a stop with a man stepping out of it.
The man is wearing a black hoodie, black pants that are just tight enough to barely confirm it's a guy, and black shoes. His face hidden as he keeps his hood up. He slightly glances around before going to some tall reeds by a pond. He crouches down pulling a small envelope from his pocket. He slips it on the ground before letting go of the reeds to let them hide it. He goes back to the cars front passenger side. He shuts the door once inside and the car drives off.
Mello waits for the car to disappear from sight then he heads towards the reeds. His eyes focused with determination of finding out what was just dropped off here.
"No! Wait! Mello!" Matt calls out reaching after his friend. "What if they're still watching?! You don't mess with people on the dark web!"
Mello doesn't actually listen to what Matt is saying. He keeps going and crouches by the reeds. He parts them only to grab the envelope from inside. He flips it around in his hands after letting go of the reeds. He only turns away when he turns to look at Matt who had rushed over to him. He turns back to the envelope and decides to open it.
Which isn't hard as it's only sealed by a crossbones sticker.
Mello tries to not tear the sticker. He pulls out the envelopes contents expecting something incriminating. He blinks as he just finds a flash drive. His hope returns when his mind reminds him that something incriminating could be on it. "We should see what's on this thing!"
"Well I'm not using my computer." Matt insists to the blonde. "It's likely bugged so the dark web people can hack Nears computer. Anyone who knows the dark web know that it's a risk you take with any part of the dark web. Especially being on it and using flash drives from there."
"If Nears willing to take that risk then whatever is on this thing must be very important." Mello slips it back into the envelope resealing it. He slips it back into the reeds then gets up. He turns with a smirk to Matt. "Then let's let him do the damage to his own computer. We have access to his computer already. We can watch to see what's so important that he takes this risk."
"Okay." Matt agrees hesitantly and the two hurry back to the orphanage before they're caught.
The two slow to a stop by a corner just before they reach the orphanage. They can see Near landing from using the tree orphans use to sneak out.
"There he goes." Mello mentions watching Near follow the path the two stayed away from for this reason. His eyes narrow at Near who either doesn't realize or doesn't care he's being watched. He turns away once the other is out of sight. "Come on. He'll probably get that flash drive and plug it into his computer right away. While we'll be waiting to find out what it is." He leads Matt back over the fence using another tree to do so.
The two get back in sneaking into Matt's room. Glad that they are back after the room checks. They sit in front of Matt's laptop to watch Nears desktop waiting for him to return.
Mello shifts as he wonders if Near will end up incriminating himself out of the number one spot. He fidgets with his phone that he has ready to record whatever is on the flash drive.
AN:
Was a bit busy this weekend so this was written on my phone. So hopefully I caught the autocorrects!
Hopefully you're enjoying the story so far!
Mello.