Unknown L (Book 1)

~ Who? What? Why? ~

L was especially confused now, "So what, you're claiming to be something fictional then?" L took a second to realise what else he'd said, "Hang on a second, you've been watching me? Exactly how long have you been following me?"

The stranger shrugged and adjusted his grey beanie hat, "According to you I only exist in your head... as for following you, it's been about a week or so, it's not really important, but we do need to get off of the streets as soon as possible. It's not safe now they know we're both here, but with my plan, we can fix everything. I can prove I'm real and we can get some help."

L didn't have a clue what he was talking about, but she was too surprised and confused to argue. Instead, she nodded and began walking with him out of the cemetery. He didn't walk as fast as the last time she'd seen him, and he was whistling an unfamiliar tune. L couldn't believe he was so casual after what they'd just seen. After a few minutes of walking, she was bursting with more questions and couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"Okay, so why did my parents hide me? What were they hiding me from? Surely we can talk while we walk to wherever we're going."

"You managed a whole five minutes," he paused to laugh, but the look L gave him must have made him rethink it. "I'd rather concentrate on our surroundings right now. It's a long story, and I don't know everything about it. Just be patient, L."

L stopped in her tracks and stared at him. Not only did he know her name, but he used it correctly, rather than 'normalising' it like everyone else did.

"How do you know my name?"

The stranger turned around as soon as she'd stopped, and he grinned widely, gesturing for her to keep following him.

"You still think I'm part of your imagination, so I probably just got it straight out of your head... Or the more realistic answer, I overheard it being used while I was observing."

"That's doubtful. Nobody else uses it correctly around here... but you still haven't told me. Why were you following me around?"

He tapped his nose but didn't say anything else, and L rolled her eyes. She reluctantly fell in beside him. She couldn't get her head around any of the events that night, and she wasn't entirely sure if she did want it all to be just an elaborate imagining of hers.

She stayed silent, for now, despite the questions burning inside. The cold in the air did make her question how it could all be imaginary, though. She was almost tempted to pinch herself, but that would solidify it one way or the other; she wasn't sure she wanted to know for certain just yet. This was actually one of the more interesting things that had ever happened to her.

After a few minutes, L realised they were heading towards the outskirts of town. She calculated whether or not she could get to Robbie's house in time if things went sideways. She knew it was a stupid idea to be walking around with a total stranger in the middle of the night. She could think of a few simple ways to get away from him if she needed to.

They walked through the ginnel and out onto the road leading to Robbie's house, amongst others. L tried to figure out what they were doing in this part of town. Who up here might know this guy, let alone help with the unnatural creatures?

"Where are we going? It's cold out here, you know?"

"I didn't think you'd believe me if I just said it outright, so I thought I'd show you. The Worcesters will be able to see and help me, they have done before."

L stopped in her tracks for a second time. The stranger seemed to anticipate it, however, and he stopped in the same moment to look over his shoulder.

L attempted to speak. "Y-you... you know the Worcester family? Even Robbie? Because he never mentioned anyone like you or anything about supernatural things. I'm pretty sure he would have said something to me if he knew."