8:37 p.m.
Fog. It was all that loomed in front of Nears eyes when he finally opened them. A blinding light accompanied by the most annoying beeping were the next things his mind registered. A pair of familiar voices loomed some were in the mist.
“When will he wake up?” came the first voice. “More like why hasn’t he gotten up.” The second cooed trying to comfort the first.
As his vision cleared, Near’s fingers began to grope around. “Hey!” he called in the direction of the two voices, holding out his hands. Human or God he didn’t care, he only wanted help sitting up. He yelped as he felt four warm arms tackle his chest and waist.
Pressed between the bodies of his best friends, he heard the wolfish laugh of Mello. One of Matt’s hands came off his chest and rustled his hair. “M-Matt? Mell-o?” he managed to get out. They grinned at each other as they let him go.
“Yep!” chimed Mello’s voice.
“Damn. You had us scared!” Matt said placing an arm around Nears shoulder to steady him. “Why can’t I see clearly?” Near asked uncertainly “You gotta concussion, kid.” Matt said patting his snowy locks.
Near sat for a moment thinking, registering what Matt had tolled him. The two older boys had learned long ago to leave him alone when he was thinking. Sighing, they turned around and sat on either side of the bed. Matt pulled his PSP out and began playing. The noises emitted from the tiny machine brought Near back with a snap. Mello watched as Nears gaze flit around the room. As if he were lost or searching for a good way out.
“Where are we?” Both older boys looked at him for a moment before they set to explanations. It had been too hard with the police after them to actually take Near to the clinic so they kidnapped a doctor and made him work in their house.
“He whined the whole way over” Matt declared. Sending both boys into fits of laughter! He ended his charade by acting like the doctor, blindfolded, hands searching for something to grab only to fall over. He laughed with them as he re-sat were he had left.
“Do you need anything?” Matt asked. “A drink? Maybe something to eat?” His hand rested on the mattress while he waited for Near to answer. His eyes full of concern and admiration for his little brother. ‘Why didn’t he eat or drink anything? He knows we would have helped him. Even if that meant us getting sick.’ Matt felt very confused.
“I can feel an I.V. in my arm. Therefore a drink is unnecessary.” Near considered his options before answering anything more. “I don’t know about food.” His stomach growled a reply for him. Matt smiled and ran from the room.
Near felt Mello rise from his place at the end of his bed, the red rosary clinking as it hit the silver zipper of his leather vest. He tried to follow the shadow of Mello’s shape, but lost it half way to the door, if that was the door. Mello’s army like foot steps stopped and sped back to the bed. Near heard the rosary being taken from Mello’s neck before feeling it thrust into his hands.
“Hold it.” He said in a husky voice before he also ran from the room. If he could have seen, he would have beheld Mello's worried expression for the first time.
Near sat moving the ancient beads between his thin fingers. He smiled as he put it around his own neck feeling its weight, touching the cold silver cross. He knew that this was Mello’s priceless treasure. The last article he owned that once belonged to his now deceased family, his anchor to staying sane and calm. Near wondered where they were as he began to fall into a light slumber, dreams forming before his mind.
