Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Who? What? Why? ~~

"Why do you care if I get hurt or not? In fact, why does anyone care if those creatures take me to this woman?"

Bryce peered down at her, and his brow was deeply creased, although there was a trace of a smile on his lips.

"We care because nobody deserves what she would have in store, and you're an important person, L. Now that's all I can say, we need to get moving before your foster parents start up a search party. Are you ready?"

L frowned at his cryptic answer, but she nodded and turned with him. They headed down the street, and from then on, L followed Bryce's directions.

They walked towards the edge of town, and L looked around at the streets they passed. She knew she wouldn't miss any of it, not the people or the school, or the Smiths. The only people she would have missed were the only ones she had been staying for, and now they were gone. L just hoped she'd get the chance to help them.

She found herself thinking about the Worcesters a lot while they walked the outskirts of town. She wondered if there would even be anything she could do to save them. Deep down, she questioned if she would choose to give herself up in exchange for them.

A few minutes later, Bryce stopped them. They were over the road from a petrol station, and Bryce answered L's unasked question without looking at her.

"I told you we need a few extra supplies. I dont suppose you grabbed food while you were packing?"

L rolled her eyes, "No, because I didn't expect this to be some kind of expedition."

Bryce smirked at her attitude. "I have money to get what we need, but this is the only other thing open at this time of night around here."

It must have been around midnight or later by now, and L had been wandering around with a strange guy. It almost made her laugh to imagine what Eileen might have said if she knew. She contained herself and stared over at the petrol station until a problem sprang to mind.

"They'll have security cameras so I can't go in, the Smiths would be here in minutes; and they can't see you to serve you so what are we supposed to do?"

"I've got that sorted, don't worry, just wait outside the door and keep out of sight. I'll be as quick as I can possibly be."

L didn't have a chance to question him further as he strode towards the petrol station without another word. He was so fast that L had to run to keep up with him. There were lights on inside the building, and from what L could see, there was only one guy working. She couldn't make out who it was, but it was a guarantee he knew her and the Smiths.

She ducked down by the wall, and Bryce stopped beside her.

"Wait here and don't move, please."

He seemed to add the 'please' as an afterthought, like it would make sure L listened to him. She did this time and watched him walk up to the automatic door. Surprisingly, it opened for him. L knew the guy inside would have looked around, but he wouldn't have seen anyone there and would probably blame faulty technology.

L wondered if that's what people did to explain away things that didn't make sense. She knew she'd done it many times before.

She waited silently for Bryce. It was barely a few minutes, but it felt like longer out there in the cold. L looked up when she heard the door open again, and Bryce stepped out with his bag in his hands. He moved to the side of the door and knelt down beside her.

He opened the bag and tilted it so she could see inside, "I didn't know what you like to eat, so I just grabbed a bit of everything."

L peered in to see a pile of sandwiches, snacks, and drinks, her brow furrowed as she looked at him.