Not An Angel

AN: I know you’re going to hate me, but there is a flashback... its all in first person as this is Mello's chapter..... I also abuse the italics button....

This is actually one of my favorite chapters in the fic…

Suggested Listening: I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin

Chapter 2: The End

~Mello~

Things had all started to go downhill for the last few months; ever since the Great Detective Purge began. It had started small enough, a few detectives here and there. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

Then out of the blue, fifteen died in one day, barely a half hour in-between. All from the same area. The thought of a Death Note had crossed our minds, but L dismissed it.

That was when the world began to get worried. They only began to panic once the media was unable to contain the actual amount of detective deaths; deaths that spanned over four countries.

L and that bastard Near went into hiding. Matt and I didn't really have that luxury. Or rather Matt did but chose to stay with me. Because of all of this, and the lack of leads we had, I had begun to choose what cases I took on very carefully.

Everyone had to be completely checked out, and even then I took precautions when dealing with anyone.

After weeks of no leads and the death toll mounting, along with the disturbing news of an e-mail going out to all those that died, I began to get frustrated. And Matt and I started to drift apart... it was mainly my own fault.

I had been debating whether or not to get my information in a less than desirable manor, even though I would be breaking my promise to Matt who I swore on our real names I would never lie too, but the decision was all too soon taken out of my hands.

-Flashback-

I sighed in annoyance as I slammed the door behind me; Matt wasn't home at the moment. That meant that he was either out getting cigarettes or at the graveyard... In a way I almost hoped it was the latter. Maybe he would… I don’t know... talk to her? It might help.

It wasn't that strange of a thing for people to do. And we hadn't exactly been normal around each other ever since the Detective Purge began. We had... drifted apart.

It was more my fault than anything. I tended to get bitchy and angry when I’m stressed or worried. And those were the things I was feeling most lately. Even Jasper was getting irritated with me, and he has known me almost as long as Matt has. If they can't deal with me then no one can.

Biting irritably into a piece of chocolate I flopped down into the computer chair and moved the mouse to make the screen wake from its slumber. These days it was pointless to even think of turning off the computer as it was almost always needed for something.

I was met with a white screen rather than the usual dark background. “Matt left his e-mail up.” I shook my head in irritation which quickly turned to curiosity as I noted the blinking in the corner of the page. He had a new message.

Knowing that he wouldn't care as long as I didn't delete anything, I opened his inbox. My mouth went dry as I stared unblinkingly at the heading. WARNING.

The sender was 'Red Flag'. With a sinking feeling I hesitantly clicked on it. The message was blank except for an attached file. I debated whether or not to open it. But if this was what I feared...

I clicked on the file. Media Player immediately opened and a scream punctuated the silence.

“No more, please!” a disheveled brunette haired woman yelled. She was crying, the tears making clear tracts down her dirty and bloodied face.

“Not until you repent for all your wrong doings.” the voice, unrecognizable due to a distorter, taunted teasingly to the wounded woman.

A sob worked from her throat. “I-I didn't do anything wrong!” she gasped. The person tsked and walked closer. “I don't know why you are resisting so much. Just repent and all the pain will stop.” she whimpered as a gloved finger traced her jaw line.

The hand pulled away and grabbed something off camera and as soon as the brunette saw it she tried doubly to escape her bonds. It was a pair of pliers.

“You have very nice hands you know. So very nice...” the voice trailed off as a pale index finger was lifted away from the other fingers on her left hand. The pliers were moved slowly closer; the person wanted the fear and anticipation to build.

“NO!” she screamed and tried to yank her hand back, the bindings making it impossible. “You should have repented.” the voice said as the pliers’ grabbed hold of one of her nails. My stomach lurched as the person pulled off the entire nail from her finger. She screamed in pain and was ashen faced when they were done.

“I'll repent! Oh god I'll repent!” she sobbed almost incoherently. “I believe you have already wasted all your chances.” her eyes widened painfully as the pliers descended again and again until all her finger nails were gone.

She was a shivering mess after that. Her long hair hung in sweaty clumps and her eyes were dilated and unfocused. The gloved hand slapped her a few times across the face. “We aren't done yet. I have a few more treats for you.” the person chuckled as the pliers were tossed to the side and a scalpel appeared instead.

“Please... no...” she whimpered. “No...” she repeated fearfully.

The gloved hand took a firm grip on one of her middle fingers before slicing into the finger just behind the joint. The agonized scream that the woman let loose chilled me to the bone. And that was before he got through the muscle and bone.

There was a small spurt of blood and then the finger was gone leaving behind a small bloody stump, hardly anything left to really call it a stump, but still something.

The woman was hyperventilating now, her eyes glazed over and blood flowing continuously from her hand. The person repeated the processes with two more fingers before leaving her to bleed to death tied to the chair.

“Oh, by the way, that was missing detective Anastasia Lanceberg. She says goodbye.” the homemade footage broke off and I though that was the end until a small computerized skeleton holding a large red banner walked across the screen.

“No...”

In the middle of the banner was a single letter. J. That skeleton left and the words 3 weeks appeared in its place. “Oh god..” I breathed out shakily. My fingers instantly fumbled for my cell phone. I couldn't breath, I couldn't think.

I couldn't loose him.

“Mello?”

I hadn't even realized I had dialed the number until the slightly curious yet still very bland voice of L called out to me.

“Matt got an e-mail today...” I trailed off. I had to pause to sort out my jumbled thoughts.

“Mello-”

“L, he got one of those e-mails.” L was silent.

“Mello, are you sure-” I cut him off again. “Of course I’m fucking sure! It had an attachment with the video death of Anastasia Lanceberg.”

“Send it to me.”

Numbly I forwarded the e-mail to L and awaited his reply. “He has three weeks...” L trailed off thoughtfully. “Perhaps we can use this.” I narrowed my eyes. “We are not using Matt as bait.” I snarled.

“I never said that.”

“You didn't have too!” my hand was clenched tight around the phone, so tight the plastic made a cracking sound.

“We have no other leads Mello.” I closed my eyes.

“I refuse to allow this. And you, or anyone else, are not allowed to tell him about this. He has enough to worry about.” L sighed. “I suppose, however I will investigate how I see fit.” in other words he was still going to use Matt as bait. I had wanted to be L why?

“And if he dies because of this, because of you, you won’t have to worry about the killer getting to you. I'll hunt you down myself.” I harshly ended the call and threw the phone down onto the table and watched as the battery popped out.

I stared at the computer screen for a while before doing the unthinkable. I deleted the e-mail. I made sure it was completely deleted, not even a trace of it left on the computer, nothing to alert Matt.

He would just be under more stress if he knew he was on a time line of three weeks. He couldn't find out.

And yet... there was no information to go on. Nothing for me to help him with... nothing unless...

I immediately shook the thought away. I had promised him that I would never do that again. Not L, but Matt. Matt meant so damn much to me, I had to keep the promise...

But at what cost?

What use was keeping the promise if the one I was keeping it for was dead? Then what? I would lose it... completely lose it if he....

I gripped the desk almost to the point of breaking it. With a defeated sigh I slumped down into the chair.

I had a phone call to make....

-End Flashback-

It was harder this time. This time I wasn't looking for Matt. This time I was doing this for him, but hiding it from him was so hard.

Lying to him was worse.

I should have known... if only I had thought it through... then maybe it wouldn't have turned out this way....

-End Chapter 2-

AN: so now we have another part of the story as to why Mello is back to selling himself for information. The next chapter will be in Matt's pov. Um... don't expect this story to be fluffy and cute or anything, its dark..... I just couldn't leave them alone could I? *sigh*

Review and tell me how mean I am to them, and what you like/hate so far. ^_^;