A Fading Hope

Ch. 2-

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Allen awoke in the middle of the night, sweating and scared. He shook his head, trying to figure out why his heart was beating so fast. Images of his nightmare raced in his mind. Lenalee...Komui... it was all his fault...

He quickly got up, and started to walk outside in the cold and crisp air. Allen figured that he hadn't slept long, just as nights before that. He had the same reoccurring dream for the past couple of weeks, but for some reason, no matter how many times people told him that it wasn't his fault, Allen felt guilty. Deep down in Allen's heart, he knew that it was his fault.

Allen smiled, trying to cheer himself up. His stomach growled, and he headed back into the makeshift tent, digging around for some food. The only thing Allen could find was a left over bagel from yesterday's breakfast on top of his small wooden table. Strange, he thought, why is it that I didn't finish this bagel yesterday?

A soft rustling came from outside of the tent, and Allen accidentally dropped the bagel, letting it become soiled by the ground. Out stepped Lenalee, and she wore a look of concern on her face.

"Allen? Why are you awake?" She asked.

"Oh, no reason. I was just... hungry. Are you hungry too, Lenalee?" Allen asked with a smile. She shook her head in confusion.

"Allen, please, tell me. What am I supposed to remember?" Tears fell down Lenalee's cheek, but she quickly wiped her falling tears away.

"I can't... I..." Allen stuttered, trying not to cry. He choked on his broken words, but he couldn't imagine how Lenalee felt. How does it feel, he wondered, to try to remember something that you can't?

"Why not? Please... tell me! I'm so confused, and it seems you just speak in riddles to me!" She said angrily. Lenalee covered her face with her hands as she sobbed silently. Allen reached for her shoulder, but she tore away.

"Why won't you tell me?!" She said. Allen stepped back, taken aback by her sudden intensity. This wasn't... the Lenalee he knew.

"I can't... tell you. I promised." Allen said quietly.

"Who?! Who did you promise?" She said between sobs. Allen remained silent, not wanting to tell her. She would only experience more pain than she was already feeling.

"Tell me, Allen... please..." She whispered softly. Her voice was desperate, but Allen shook his head.

"I'm sorry." Allen said with regretful eyes. They soon filled with tears, but he quickly pushed them away.

"Please! Tell me! Tell me!" Lenalee shouted. She fell to the floor, sobbing furiously. Allen quickly knelt down beside her, but she pushed him away. They sat there for what seemed like an hour in eternity until Lenalee uttered,

"I don't understand. How can who I am--who I was be so horrible?" She looked up at Allen with grief.

"Lenalee, it's not you who was horrible. It was me." Her eyes widened, but Allen felt a hollow pit rise up inside of him. He let out a sigh, and began...

To be continued...