Insert Disclaimer Here: I do not own Death Note. I do, however, possess a very dark and twisted mind at times. And writing this fanfiction challenged me to use it. I warn anyone reading this story – it is not for the faint of heart.

...

Lightning shattered the clouds and thunder roared overhead. Rain streaked like tears across the windowpane. Beneath it, a thin little boy sat on the stairs, wrapped in a large towel. He clutched an old rosary in his hands.

"Confiteor Deo omnipoténti…" he sunk against the wall. Soaked strands of blond hair drooped over large, blue eyes. "beátæ Mariæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo…"

Another boy of about the same age peeked over the banister. He watched the stranger curiously for a few minutes before tiptoeing down the stairs. He'd heard of other kids getting scared or running off on their first day here, but this was the first time anyone made Roger chase them across the roof. And he did it in the middle of a downpour, no less!

"What're you doing?" he asked, crouching on the step next to him.

"… Praying…" the boy answered. His voice was timid, but firm.

"Praying?"

"Yeah. Mama always said… you're supposed to say prayer when you find yourself in big trouble, and you don't know what else to do …"

"Does it work?"

"I… I'm not sure…"

"Can I try?"

The blond boy raised an eyebrow. He let the rosary slide off his hand.

"What do you need it for?"

"For when you teach me how you got up on the roof. That was so cool!" he answered through a lopsided grin. "I'm Matt, by the way. Did they give you a new name yet?"

"Yeah… It's Mello."

Another thunderclap shook the wall.

"I'll show you tomorrow." He slowly smiled. "But you have to help me dismantle that ladder first. Okay? With two of us, I bet we could have it apart in ten minutes."

"You got a deal!"