Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Coming Together ~~

L was laid on the cold wooden floor, and Edra and Bryce were kneeling beside her. Bryce looked as worried as he had back in the cavern.

"L? Are you alright? Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine. I just do not understand why this keeps happening... Her mind should be able to siphon the information whenever she wants or needs it. This should not happen. L, can you sit up?"

L shivered and nodded. With help, she sat up and leaned her back against something solid. She could see the worry in Bryce's face and confusion in Edra's. They both had a hand on either shoulder for comfort, and she assumed physical support.

She felt annoyed at herself for letting the information take over her mind. She felt like she should be able to get to it easily, but something was stopping her. It felt like some kind of blockage. She could either let all of it out at once or stop it all completely. There was no in between. She tried to get up, but Edra and Bryce stopped her.

"You stay there, I'll go fix you a drink and keep the conversation to something safe, at least for now."

Edra stood up, and something moved behind L. It sounded big, and L tried not to think of the box that had caused her to pass out. Edra moved out of her line of sight, and L looked at Bryce to see that he was still watching her worriedly. She arched her brow at him.

"You're worried about me now? That's surprising."

His worry was momentarily replaced with confusion. "Why's it surprising?"

"Because you haven't been bothered the last few weeks. I haven't heard a thing from you. I could have been kidnapped, and you would have had no idea."

Bryce looked alarmed at the thought until he saw the smirk on her face, and he narrowed his eyes.

"I think I've been a bad influence on you... though at least you're looking much better than you were five minutes ago. I'd prefer that you didn't joke about something like that, though. Your safety... that might be a step too far."

L was shocked to hear some sincerity in his voice, but before she could question him on it, Edra walked back in. She had a glass in her hand and a calculating look on her face.

"Here, drink this. It will help you to feel better."

She pushed the drink into L's hands and stood over her expectantly. L didn't have much choice, and she still felt queasy. She lifted the glass of yellow liquid to her lips and sipped a bit. It was sweet and tasted like fruit, but L couldn't tell which one.

She drank half of the liquid in the glass and then took a breath. It helped her feel better instantly, and she was able to get up from the floor. Bryce helped her despite her protests, and once she was seated in a chair, he moved to sit in his own. Edra wandered over to the window with her arms crossed, turning once she reached it and stared at L with narrowed eyes.

"L, I must ask you something, and you need to answer me honestly," Edra spoke quietly, and she was staring earnestly at L now.

L felt uncomfortable now, and she fidgeted in her seat. She didn't like the look in Edra's eyes.

She glanced at Bryce, who just shrugged. He had no idea what was about to come, and that made L feel even worse. She took another few sips of the juice and then a deep breath.

"Alright, what is it?"

Edra seemed almost reluctant to ask her question, but she moved away from the window and walked until she was a few steps away from L.

"When you were younger, did anything traumatic ever happen to you?"

L raised her brow and then frowned at Edra incredulously, "You're kidding, right? Aside from having no parents, no name, and running away from trouble on a monthly basis? No, my life was just peachy."