Pure Colors

DGM

Chapter 21

24 Hours At The Black Order

{Part I}

Lenalee had to say she was utterly confused. So many questiosns were roused and something crawled on her skin, making her feel annoyed yet excited and happy to see Allen standing in front of them. She thought for a nanosecond Howard Link had been telling a lie when he said Allen Walker was at HQ in the Infirmary. It was undecipherable. Absolutely incomprehensible. She wanted to blurt out so many questions becuase she knew, she just detected, that Allen would answer most of them, possibly all of them without lying, but no words left her mouth. All Lenalee could do was gape at Allen. He hadn't turned around to view anyone who had entered. He just stared out the window at the snowy grounds. Lenalee took a few steps towards Allen, but she wasn't sure what to say or do. So she said the first thing that came to her mind. "I heard you personally requested for me to be here." Lenalee said slowly.

Silence.

Lenalee took a few more steps forward. Gazing around you could see the distrust in everybody's eyes. Half of those glares were meek and the rest were hardcore. She saw that most of them were angry at Allen, but it wasn't that they truly hated him. Most of them were curious. Curious as to why Allen came here. He has made it perfectly clear his loyalty was with the Noah. That doesn't mean Lenalee will give up trying to reach him. "Why are you here, Allen?" Lenalee asked.

Allen inhaled sharply. Lenalee studied the room to see all who was here before this got too much further. Bak, Reever, and Komui. Bak was the only Branch Head left other than her Brother that wanted to be anywhere near Allen. Link was here with a few more CROW members, but Lenalee didn't know them. They all seemed to be somewhere around her age. They couldn't be more than two years younger than her or more than five years older. There was five of them, too. Although she may not recognize them, Lavi, Timothy, and Kanda do. Two of them had been at Paris with Reever and Didi when they went to assist the exorcists at Hurst Orphanage. Also, the Head Nurse was still here. "Allen, you must have a reason. Why are you here?" Lenalee asked, but desperation sounded through her voice this time.

Allen inhaled sharply for a second time. It reminded her of the time on the Ark after the battle ended. He was in so much pain and having a hard time breathing. In that condition they left Allen there. What was wrong with them? Sure they may not deserve Allen's trust anymore because of what they did, but Allen still shouldn't be with the Noah. "Allen, why won't you speak?"

Allen inhaled sharply for the third time. He slowly turned around this time. His small fake smile adorning his face, but it fooled no one. It just helped in showing his sadness. He tilted his head to the side a little, just enough so his head was off to the side. Just like when he first approached the Black Order, he put Lero's head on the ground gently, observing his surroundings before setting his silver-gray eyes on Lenalee. "Is this everyone, Supervisor Komui?" Allen asked softly. He was so quiet that it could hardly be counted as talking. He was murmuring, but his words seemed to shout out. With the rest of the room mute Allen's question crashed into their ears. "Good."

"Will you answer my question now?" Lenalee inquired.

"I wasn't given the chance to answer your question, my fair lady. You see, I said earlier I will not repeat myself. This speech may be tiring. I do not wish exhaust my patience here with you people." Allen replied.

"You're back to your smart-ass, snide, formal personality." Lavi stated, narrowing his eyes. "Cut it out. It really pisses me off."

"Padon my annoyance, Junior, but I was raised to be polite in another person's home. The guest has a role to play as much as the host." Allen said curtly, sending him a glance before fixating his eyes on Lenalee again. "As I was saying, I am here to talk to you. I have 24 hours of complete truth with you. After the time expires I shall not hold back from harming you if I deem it appropriate."

"We understand this already." Komui uttered.

"As long as you understand." Allen mumbled, tapping the umbrella on the floor once. "It has dawned our realization that General Marian Cross as taken my Lord's precious Akuma Egg before the dowload of the previous Ark was complete. While stealing the Egg you killed dozens of our Skulls, General, but it's also known that in order to break the magical barrier to steal the Egg you had to use up a lot of your energy and time. Meaning you had snuck your way onto the Ark without my Master's acknowledgement. This is the point where I should ask you how you accomplished such an act, but I find it unnecessary. You wouldn't tell me." Allen paused long enough to view General Cross and his smirk. "That is what gave you the win in our battle. Although you managed to defeat each Master Noah on the Ark, it was pointless. A total of 13 shards of innocence had been deminished and seven exorcists executed perfectly. Your home is in shambles and you have lost many of your workers here at Headquarters. Each of your exorcists are bedridden except four as far as I'm aware."

"What's your point?" Link asked.

"And what's this Akuma Egg?" Lenalee included.

Allen's smile twitched. That small sad smile of his appeared priggish. When he spoke next he was conceited with interest. "You never told them, General? Did you even give the Egg to the Black Order or are you holding back on your allies? Not a wise decision if you ask me."

"The Akuma Egg is in the hands of the Black Order, kid, but not everyone has been informed yet. Can't you see why? Everybody is preoccupied with leaving this hellish building and heading somewhere else for a new Headquarters." Cross said, puffing smoke out of his mouth as he held his cigarette in front of his face. "But that's not your concern."

"Indeed, it's not. I must say I'm impressed you understand your situation enough to immediately head out of here. Just think how badly this would have ended had a Master Noah come along with me." Allen shook his head. "However, General Cross, shall I explain to your comrades what the Akuma Egg is since they do not yet perceive their advantage?"

"Advantage? We have an advantage? Over you?" Mei Ling questioned.

"Aye." Allen muttered. "As I told you, General Cross' efforts in stealing the Akuma Egg from Lord Millennium is what gave you the win in this battle."

"Doe-does that m-mean the Noah are still a-alive?" Miranda asked nervously.

Allen melodically, but mockingly laughed. He took his top hat off and set it on the foot of Miranda's bed since she was right next to him. The sadness he had moments ago was forgotten. "Each of them are very much alive." Allen laughed, settling down as a smirk presented itself. "It has been made apparent all of us underestimated those of you who had been brought to the Ark."

"But Road was burnt to a crisp in her dream world! You can only harm her in her dream dimension. She should be dead!" Lavi yelled.

"I sliced that Skin bastard in two. Tch, close enough at least." Kanda remarked, frustration evident.

"Ahh, yes. It seems you have yet to comprehend the Noah of Dreams and the Noah of Wrath, or the Noah in general." Allen laughed again, but he stopped when he found Krory. "All three of you had been lucky to walk away from Road, Skin, and Jasdevi. The twins may appear to be chilidish, but they are certainly capable of executing a General. Might I add that the only Noah that had gone full out with their powers was Skin?" Allen walked over to Krory, his gaze softening. "Going back to the Akuma Egg and it's critical ability..."

Lenalee studied Allen. What was bothering Allen? Something has him down in the dumps. He normally shows his superiority over them, constantly making snide remarks. "The Akuma Egg is made of Dark Matter. We usually hold it on the Ark in a secret room protected by Skulls, akuma, and magic barriers. General Cross being a sorcerer, it's no surprise he managed to get to the Egg, but taking it while my Masters and I were busy was a desperate act. Had you made a move sooner, the Noah and I would have been there altogether. Being a General you are capable of fighting a Noah, maybe able to kill them, but with everyone there, you surely would have died. You being a reasonable man and understanding this, waited for the downloading of the Ark. I was told you were a wise and intelligent threat and you've proved that to be fact, General Cross." Allen said.

"You're sitll not answering any questions here! Stop your musings." Kanda snapped.

Allen sighed, pacing back to the window. "The Akuma Egg is made of Dark Matter. It's vital to us because without it the Earl is incapable of furthering our forces. In simple words, that means we are unable to create the akuma. I was told that almost five years ago the Black Order had found this out and sent General Cross out to capture it. It seems that whole five years everyone thought you were purely wasting your time you were just waiting for the right time to find it and take it from out grasps properly. Well, five years ago the Black Order was only aware of the Milennium Earl, though."

"And I suppose that is exactly why you're here, aren't you, Allen?" Cross responded, inspecting the enemy.

Lenalee forced her feet to step closer to Allen. Every step she took, though, the more a knot tightened in her chest. She was afraid of him. Why? When she looked at him all she saw was a lonely soul. Someone in the dark. Lenalee just wanted to rescue him and set him free from his suffering, but he didn't even see his own suffering. "I told you I am here to talk." Allen said, staring at the snow again. He tensed when Lenalee got closer to him, but with each step she wished to get away from him. Something smothered her and she wasn't sure what it was. And a shock ran through her body when he looked back at her.

Lenalee gulped, but finally, she stood beside Allen. Her eyes burned as she thought about her next question. "Ho-how did you survive? How are you alive, Allen? We took your only exit."

Allen reversed his gaze. He couldn't focus on anything or anyone long enough. It was like Allen had been on edge himself. So when Allen finally kept his gaze on the snow that began to fall, his eyes drooped as everything came rushing back to him. The inquisition, the fight, the Ark, the 14th, everything! It was far too stressful for Allen to bear, and now this. "At the last minute Lord Millennium came into the Ark. He brought me to the new Ark and tended to my wounds I have received from those three over there," Allen paused to nod at Zeres, Pandora, and Rick. "Road had helped with that as well."

Lenalee noticed Allen was starting to lose the formality he had been speaking with. That would be the first time if you didn't count the time he had freaked out. "You used Road's door?"

"Yes."

Cross stood up. Slowly he walked over to Allen and stood on his right. Allen tensed again, but acted as if nothing was wrong. He only looked up at the red-haired General. The elder was scrutinizing Allen and Allen did the same to the General. Honestly though, Allen started feeling insecure with his gaze on him like that. It was the cold touch on his neck that startled him. Before he knew it the General was yanking his coat away from his neck and the smirk grew. "What's with the marks, boy?" Cross inquired curiously.

Allen tried pushing Cross away, but it was hard to do that with the condition was in. "What marks?" Allen asked, unhappy.

"The love bites." Cross said, peering at Allen's neck.

"Eh?" Allen blushed, dropping Lero as he forced Cross to let go, but fell down on the ground as Cross laughed at him. "Wha-what the hell? That's none of your damn concern you filthy mongrel!" Allen stood up, taking his umbrella and bashing Cross in the head with his, but his face was growing redder and redder by the moment. "What kind of question is that? Thi-this has nothing to do with why I'm here you-you-you bloody bastard!"

Everyone stared at the scene, alarmed because of the outburst, but completely flabbergasted and stunned about the topic and Allen's action. They were all a little apprehensive right about now as Allen continued to bash the pink umbrella against Cross' head. "Ow, lero! Please stop, Allen, lero! It hurts, lero!" The umbrella screamed.

Allen brought the talking umbrella to his chest and massaged the jack-o-lantern, but gave it a look akin to apologetic. Cross didn't seem too happy about the whole head bashing, but all he did was sulk as he examined Allen questionably. "What's with that umbrella?" Timothy asked, schrunching his nose up in distaste as he remembered Allen and Road sitting on it at the orphanage. "Why's that dumb thing talking?"

"This umbrella is a golem." Allen mumbled, still blushing as he crossed his arm over his chest indignantly. His face was the color of Lavi's hair now. "Unlike your dumb golems, he can speak."

"About those marks..." Cross grumbled, putting his hand on Allen's neck. "Who gave them to you?"

Allen smacked his hand away. "That's none of your damn business!"

Lenalee giggled as Allen and Cross argued about the love bites on his neck. It was nice to see just how much of a human Allen really was for once. He never shines through when they meet him, but now... "It was Road Camelot, wasn't it?" Lenalee asked.

Allen's face got redder. His neck creaked as he turned his head back in her direction, dumbfounded. "N-no! Wha-this has nothing-you can't just-urgh! You're just as bad as Jasdevi and Tyki! This isn't important!" Allen slapped his neck again.

"But it was her, wasn't it? She did kiss you on the Ark, so it's obvious you two have share a fond relationship." Komui said, smiling a little at Allen's reaction.

"What are you suggesting, Supervisor? That I sleep with her every night? Well, I do, but not like..." Allen's face twisted into thought and his entire face lit up like a lightbulb. "THAT!"

"You sleep in the same bed every night?" Cross asked.

"Not every night!" Allen flailed his arms around frantically, shaking his head. "Besides, it's not my fault. She won't go to her own room most nights."

"So you do have a relationship with Road Camelot." Komui mused.

Allen palmed his face and brought his hand down, growling. "So what of it?" He grumbled, closing his eyes and taking a few steady breaths. This time he refused to go back to the window. Instead he sat in a chair after dragging it away from Miranda's bedside and setting it at the end of the room, about a meter away from the window and Cross. Lenalee walked in front of him, sitting down on Mei Ling's old bed. "I'm not here to discuss such frilly things with you. That is a private matter and this has nothing to do with this my close relationship with the Noah of Dreams." Allen sighed as his face went back to his casual pale color.

Lenalee let her amusement vanish as it dawned her what that meant. If Allen had been that close to Road Camelot, Noah of Dreams, then why would he ever leave them? It just ruined Lenalee's confidence in convincing Allen to leave the Noah Clan. As much as she wanted Allen to join them, would he ever actualy do that? "What message did the Earl bring you here to tell us, Allen?" Reever asked, stepping forward to look at Allen. The boy was still the same as when they met. It was sad. A human with the Noah. He was a kid, too. The way he spoke about life was depressing for someone who hasn't really lived at all. "You mentioned the Millennium Earl sent you to give us a message, right?"

"Oh, yes. That." Allen said, his eyes finding the floor as he took his coat off to show everyone his white shirt-what they usually saw him wear. "These are Lord Millennium's own words: Hello, my dear Black Order. The Three Days of Darkness is drawing near and the preparations are being made. With each passing day and breath you take, the Noah Family is recuperating, our power strengthening. Expect the worst to come. Fear for your lives and your friends' lives. Death will reek your air, chaos will rise to the climax, and the show is just beginning. Very soon your terror shall be ceased for humanity hasn't much longer to live. All of you will die, if not by the Clan of Noah, by the Three Days of Darkness because this time the devastation will wipe you all out. Your life won't be so simple, your fights will become harder and harder, and grief will strike as fear cripples your hearts. With the chaos the Heart will show itself and when it does we will destroy the Heart, leaving every last human being vulnerable to us." Allen said monotonously, emotionless.

"The Three Days of Darkness?" Chaoji repeated.

"Why don't you repeat that one more time and I'll decapitate your head!" Kanda shouted, pissed off.

"I'm sorry, but I told you I was merely quoting what my Lord's words. If you want my honest opinion about his words, I expect them to be accurate. With everything going as it is, you will no doubt lose to Lord Millennium. That's not a completely biased opinion either." Allen said flatly, his tone staying even as he pulled out a deck of cards from his coat pocket. Lenalee watched him shuffle them out of boredom. The air became tense as everyone thought about Allen's words. "I bet you don't comprehend your unlucky situation. Well, not everyone. I'm sure the elder Bookman realizes everything and understands my Lord's message perfectly. Do you not, Sir? Care to redefine everything for me?"

Bookman slanted his eyes. He was wary of Allen. The short man didn't try to hide the suspicious glances he gave to the conspicuous Allen Walker. "You've discovered the Heart?" Bookman asked, crawling out of his bed. With each soundless step he took, the more Allen marveled Bookman. He stopped shuffling his cards and sat on the floor before setting them in front of himself.

"I was told to keep certain information classified, Bookman, Sir, but no, that's not the meaning of the message. Try again." Allen remarked, flipping the top card over and placing it at Bookman's feet. He didn't look at it, no, instead he looked at Bookman's inquisitive expression. "Tell me what you see in that card, Bookman."

Bookman lowered his head, picking up the card. His fingers inspected the card to make sure it was indeed an average card, which it was. "You can tell fortunes with cards, Allen Walker?" Bookman inquired.

Allen chuckled. "I don't believe in such ridiculousness. It's a type of religion. I have a simple philosphy I go by, if that's what you want to call a religion, but I worship no Gods or Devils or anything. The only people I 'worship' are the Noah, but then, there's no religion for that, is there?" Allen paused, surveying the deck of cards as he ran a hand through his hair. "My philosphy is that people are born to die. You live, then you die; it doesn't matter if you live for a thousands years or a second, you were born to just die. There is no such thing as immortality. Anybody else who believes otherwise are delirious."

"Some religions are a way of hope when there's nothing else to have faith in." Bak told him.

"When I needed something for hope I didn't put my faith in ludacris delusions, I put faith in myself. There is no one other than yourself you can put faith in when you're out of hope until you see a glimmer of hope." Allen snorted. "The Noah were what I saw and thus I took their hand. They acknowledged me and I acknowledged them for who they were. I serve them, I obey them, I follow them, and I... I love them. They are my family. That is my belief. It's not a deliriious God I put my faith in. It's the Millennium Earl."

"That's stupid." Kanda sneered.

"So is being an exorcist puppet!." Allen hissed, flipping another card over, but tossing it in the air. The card flipped for a few seconds before landing directly in front of Allen, face up. Allen fingered the next card on top of the deck, but he looked back up at Bookman. "So what is it you see?"

Bookman studied the card. There was nothing on it. No marks, no stains, no details! Except for the back that had been checkered black and white. When his index finger tapped the card once more, ink painted itself on it very slowly. The markings wer unusual, it didn't seem to make a pattern or any sense at first, but piece by piece it clicked into Bookman's mind. It was an optical illusion. It took some time, but Bookman's eyes adjusted as he angled it a certain way. "Fourteen, the number 14." Bookman concluded.

Allen narrowed his eyes. "That's a magic card you're holding." Allen eyed Mei Ling. "Like your little fortune teller over there, that magic card can detect glimspes of the future. It's very different from her visions, rather vague. You get one detail with one card. You must piece it together, but you Mei Ling may be able to touch that card and get a prominition from your crystal ball to disover all hte minor and major details it is trying to tell you about." Allen's brows furrowed together wiht frustration. "Fourteen."

Bookman sat down and watched Allen. By the way he was reacting Bookman could gather that something irked him. With Bookman's undeniable knowledge he could solve the unspoken question about what was bothering him easily. To be truthful it wasn't what Bookman wished to be true. "There was orginally 13 members in the Noah Clan." Bookman stated.

"That's true." Allen slid the other card in Bookman's direction and only Bookman heard Allen whisper "Orginally" as he slid the card over to the older man. "But that has nothing to do with the number 14."

Bookman picked up the second card, tapping it with his index finger. It was the key to unlock the fortune from the card, so it seemed. Allen's frustration only increased when Bookman gazed at the card. Anticipation grew fast. Allen wanted to know what Bookman saw. The elder only waited for the ink to be drawn by an invisible pen. Another small detail after the other collected themselves on there. Dot after diamond and square, another dot, diamond, and square, and the pattern repeated itself until the secret was disclosed. "Musician is written on this one." Bookman declared.

Allen blinked. By now Allen had already grabbed the next card off the top of the deck. He held it out to Bookman, but after his last anouncement, he withdrew his hand. Hesitation was obvious. Instead of handing the card to Bookman, Allen looked at the third card himself, tapping it once with his finger and sliding it down to the edge, gulping as he watched markings after markins be drawn on the card without haste. This time, though, Lero hung over Allen's shoulder. When the last marking was completed, Allen's eyes slowly widened. 'Neah Walker?' Allen gather the threee cards together and frowned. He tapped the top of the deck three times. Everyone assumed it was to deactivate the spell casted on it. Allen didn't say anything else about the cards after that.

Allen stood up just to sit back down in his chair. "As I was saying, I am here to speak with you, and I've said this a billion times, but when I said that I did not mean I am here to talk about the present situation. I am here to talk to you about what you wanted to tell me before." Allen said, eyeing Lenalee again. It was then everyone could say the 'you' in his sentence meant Lenalee.

Lenalee could feel the shock course through her body. He was going to listen? "You're going to listen to me?"

Allen placed the cards back in his coat. He held that sad smile again. Something flashed in his eyes as he leaned back in his chair, but then lowered his head slightly as placed his hands in his lap. His hidden eyes held so much emotion, all his feelings: Confusion, depression, slight happiness, and more. If only everybody there knew what Allen had known. Maybe Lenalee could help clear his confusion. "I am a reasonable person on most occasions. I'm willing to listen to what you have to say to me. You can try to change my mind, but remember the difference between trying and doing." Allen told her.

"You've made it perfectly clear you're a monster just like the Noah Clan! It doens't matter what the hell anyone here gots to say to you." Chaoji proclaimed.

"Chaoji!" Lenalee shrieked.

"Chaoji, calm down. I understand your feelings, but now really isn't the best time for this. Remember everything that is happening." General Tiedoll said, putting his hand over Chaoji's to comfort the angry exorcist. It didn't calm him down much, but Chaoji didn't make any sound after that. "Go on, Allen. I'm sure everybody would love to hear this."

General Sokalo scoffed. He wasn't one for sentiments. He didn't even care what side Allen was on. He was either with the Black Order or the Noah Clan. You were either ally or enemy. Personally the General would rather stalk out of the room now, but the nosy Head Nurse was still there. No one would be leaving quite yet. Not even the Generals. "Uh, I don't know where to start..." Lenalee mumbled, walking over to Allen and sitting on her knees beside him. "I guess I should start with I'm sorry."

Confusion was evident on Allen's face, but Lenalee only pressed on, even taking his hand in hers. Allen's body visibly tensed and he pulled away, causing Lenalee to sigh and put her hand on his knee instead. "I'm sorry for leaving you at the Ark. Basically we all left you there to die and that was wrong." Lenalee tipped her head backwards to look Allen straight in the eyes. Allen could see her them water and cringed, but tried looking somewhere else, failing in doing that. "I'm sorry I don't understand you or your feelings. I'm sorry none of us were there for you when you needed someone most. I'm sorry we don't know you. I'm sorry for hurting you with my words and I'm sorry for any physical harm we have done to you. And I'm sorry you believe I only care about you because you have innocence of your own, but I assure you Allen that is not true. At the time innocence was the only thing on our-my-mind in the Ark. I'm sorry for everything." Lenalee said calmly and a tear ran down her face.

Allen opened his mouth to reply to her, but shut it just as fast. No one knew whether it had something to do with what she said or if he was going to wait until Lenalee completely finished. Lenalee lightly smiled at this and continued. "I have many questions to ask you. See, Allen, ever since you've appeared the Black Order has had suspicions about you and we're curious to know why you joined the Noah. You're cryptic details are, well, exactly that, unhelpful. I also want to know you. I want to see you and not be afraid that I may have to fight you. I want to be your friend and know that someday I can see the real Allen, the one who isn't always full of gloom and all about doom. You may have made mistakes in your past and even now you are doing that, but it's better to be late to realize what you're diong is wrong than never realizing it at all. However that may be our personal biased opinions. I mean, you are trying to kill us, our friends, and our family... It hurts me to know you want to kill humankind, but I keep wondering how that would work. If you're a human then the Earl would surely have to kill you to accomplish his goal, right?" Lenalee squeezed Allen's knee. Would such short-sighted and indiscreet words reach Allen when he was so far in the darkness? How could she help? Before Lenalee never really thought of what to say to Allen so now she was just throwing words out there, but they were not all too helpful and didn't seem the best thing to say.

"You want to know... you really want to know why I joined Earl? Why I love the Clan of Noah? The reason why I hate humans?" Allen whispered shakily.

Lenalee saw Allen's eyes glaze over. How odd. Nodding, she answered Allen's questions, but the problem was... could she handle the truth? Lenalee was far more sensitive than other people, but a whole lot more understanding. "If you would please explain. Maybe then, Allen, I could find the words. Maybe then I will know how to help. Even if you won't join us, I want you to be sure of what you're doing before everything gets too far. Please, let me in, talk to me."

"Why should I let you in?" Allen seethed, but sincerity lay in his gray orbs. "You're an exorcist and a human like the rest of them."

Lenalee wanted to reach out and slap Allen right then and there. "You're a human being as well! Did you forget that? Surely those wounds you've received are still there!"

Allen pushed her away and stood up, walking over to the window. He leaned on the wall. All his formality that he had previously had as viciousness surorunded him, but that viciousness didn't last long, for when he spoke next he was forlorn. "I wish I was anything but human. Need I also remind you that every Noah is a human, too?" Allen replied, blinking back his tiredness. The sun would be rising soon and he wasn't used to staying up all night long. Not lately. "You have 12 hours left." Allen added, the sun outside the window stinging his eyes.

"Why 12?" Komui asked.

"The 24 hours began the moment I took my first step on your property. That was at the cliff. It took forever for you to let me inside the building, then I had to wait for everyone to gather." Allen counted the past hours on his fingers as he spoke. "Actually, you have 11 hours. We've been talking in here for about three now. So..."

"That's plenty of time. Anyways, will you tell me why you hate humans?" Lenalee said, coaxing Allen with a sweet smile. "Allen?"

Allen contemplated her quesiton. He had a whole bunch of time, but he was indeed surprised how much time had flown by so quickly. Still, just to make sure, Allen took a pocket watch out of his pocket and checked the time. It was almost seven in the morning. So he arrived around six o'clock last night. Sighing, Allen put the watch away. His past was something he didn't want to speak about, but he had to listen to Lenalee. Not only had the Earl ordered him to speak with the people at the Black Order to help Allen answer Earl's proposal, but Allen's gut told him to listen. Somehow Allen knew that one way or another this was only going to make things more complicated, but he also believed that clearing this up, listening to the Black Order scumbags, would get them to stop trying to convince him, but it may not work. Then there was two reasons why Lenalee had been requested. One for Allen's sake-Lenalee is the only person here Allen would slightly trust with anything. And he had been told to give the message to every exorcist. The second reason was because of the Earl. You'll find out why later.

Allen paced around in circles, showing how deep in thought he was, but when he stopped, a grim expression adorned his face. "Very well. I have many reasons, though."

Lenalee sat in the chair Allen had previously occupied. A small glare came from Allen as he perceived everyone in the room, leaving his thoughts to himself as usual. Finally finding something to focus on, Allen sat on the floor, right under the window, before stretching one leg out and curling the other up to his chest. "It's a little vague, but..."

-|*Memories*| *Allen's POV*|-

I sat here for hours. In the dark, no light, not even a speck of brightness, all alone. It was nighttime. I only know this because I can't hear a sound from outside the door. I remember all day I wanted to go out there and talk to someone, become friends or play like every other kid my age, but no. I could not. I can't for they would see it. They would see what makes me different from them. I still don't get why everyone sees it like they do. What's so bad about my arm? I don't understand. In the end, if I had gone out there to play with'em, they would see it and run away. Just like all of 'em before, like every person I meet. That's why I'm still here at this bloody orphanage. That's why I am an orphan. My parents left me here when I was born, says Father Clive and Sister Rita and Father Superior and all'em older old people. I wish I could understand them, but those old bints and gits speak old folk rubbish. "They left meh 'cause of it, too." I whispered.

So it's nighttime. I should go to bed, but I can't. I am not sleepy... And I have a sore. On my head. No, in my head. I don't remember what those persons call these sores, but it hurts. I got it 'cause I 'fell' down the stairs in the morn. I know it was Rupert who pulled on the rug. The movement of the rug under meh made meh trip. The sounds outside this door made my head worse. So it's another reason why I could not go out there. I don't think any of 'em know meh anyways.

I hid my face in my arms. I had brought my legs to my chest and hugged them. I have been like this all day. My back hurts, but I do not wanna move. I could even sleep like this. I won't like it in the morn, but... The door opens and Sister Rita looks at me. She smiles, but I know it's fake. Definitely fake. I know it's all fake, but I go along with it. "There you are. Father Superior was upset that we couldn't find you. Come on. You have to go to bed. You have a curfew. You know that." Sister Rita tells me and shows me her hand. What am I to do? Take it? I have never touched any person before. "Well, what's wrong?"

The smile is gone. I show her my hand 'cause I'm worried she might do something. Sister Rita never does try to hurt meh like everyone else, but I do not know if I can trust her. As soon as she sees my hand she smiles again, taking it. Good thing I gave her my right hand. She helps meh stand on my feet and pulls meh out of the closet I have been hiding in, but when I see who is with Sister Rita, I wanna go back in the closet. Father Clive was giving meh a mean look. That's when Sister Rita lets go of my hand, but I miss hers. It was warm. I have never felt warmth like it before. There was somefink weird about it. Like that nice touch was not real. How could it not be?

Sister Rita closes the closet door. I let my head fall so I am looking at my feet. Er, my socks. "What were you doing in there? You know there a rules to follow. It doesn't matter is you're a little devil or not, we can at least try to bring you up with some decent manners and behaviors. Are yeh listening?" Father Clive yells at meh.

"I am, Father Clive." I whisper.

"Are ye?"

"I am, Father Clive." I say louder.

"Yeh know the rules, don't yeh?" He went on.

"Yes."

"What do yeh have to say for yerself?"

I look at Sister Rita. I could not see her eyes. What did she think of this? A frown was on her lips. She was not happy. Was it 'cause of meh? Now I look at Father Clive. He's angry. We have free time during the day. So what did I do wrong? If we don't go to dinner, lunch, and breakfast on time we don't eat that meal. We have to clean ourselves every two days. I don't do that. I do not know how and never have the time to. Father Superior definitely won't help meh. Father Clive won't touch meh. He hates meh. I don't know why, but he does. Then Sister Rita is not allowed to clean boys much. She takes care of the girls. "About what, Father Clive?" I don't get what I did wrong. I know I did not eat, I know I am not 'clean', and I might have missed curfew, but... Don't matter. That's reason enough for Father Clive.

"Why ye were missing all day, Demon. Yeh missed an important lesson today about God and the amazing things he's done for us. To which yeh should be grateful. If not for him yeh would not be here. Ye should be honored God has a righteous enough heart to let yeh be here!"

"Shhh, Father Clive. The other children are sleeping. You don't want to wake them." Sister Rita said.

"Yes, I'm truly sorry. Thank you, Sister Rita." Father Clive gave meh another dirty look before he walked up to meh. I took a step back, but he grabbed meh and the back of his hand slapped meh across my face. I landed on the ground, but I didn't move. I was used to this. Father Clive did this a lot. I was lucky it had been a slap. The punishment he gives meh are painful. How come he only does this to meh? "Get to bed you filthy monster. Hurry. Now."

"Yes, Father Clive."

I push mehself off the floor. My back hurts as I walk out of the play room. I hurry up the stairs as fast as I can after I hear Father Clive yell at meh for being slow. I run into the attic. That's where I sleep, alone, in the dark, with no light. I lay on a blanket on the floor before I hear something. People talking. Near the corner of the attic I see a speck of light lighting up the dark attic. I slowly crawl over to it and peep down through the hole. Father Superior and Father Clive and Sister Rita were in Father Superior's office. I hate going in there. Father Superior is mean. Worse than Father Clive. But they are nice to the other kids. So why with meh are they mean?

"That Thing is getting worse." Father Clive said. "He's a demon and starting to act more like one. Why do we keep It here, Father Superior? Why don't we give It away? Bad luck will be sent down upon us from the Devil. Just glance at that bloody arm! It horrific!"

"We have policies to obey. Believe me when I say I completely agree with you. That Monster has to go, but I have yet to find out how to get rid of It." Father Superior said.

"You should hurry up. I fear the other children are going ot be harmed by It soon." Sister Rita added.

I don't know how I know they are talking about meh, but I just know it. Why? Sister Rita hates meh to... I knew she was faking. "Curse It to Hell. Just cleanse It or amputate the arm. If It lives much longer who knows what will happen!" Father Clive said.

That's mean. It bothers meh. "All I can say is that I'm grateful that It knows Its place and stays away from the other children. It'll corrupt the others. Which by the way, I do believe you're in a need of purification, Sister." Father Clive said.

"Tomorrow morning would be wise. I don't know what I was thinking touching him. Thank Lord it was not the other arm." She replied.

I left the hole. I am angry. They wanted to get rid of meh. They called me It, Demon, Monster, filth, and more names. It hurts. I don't understand yet, but someday I'll will. "Bloody bullies." I mumble and my face feels wet. Why does it hurt so bad?

"This was only the mere beginning." Allen growled.

So sorry for the lack of strong vocabulary on the memories and sorry if it's not the best yet, but Allen was really young when all this went down so he didn't know much then. So please bare with me on this. It was in his POV so I had to do it like that since he was a young child. The memories will get better with speech and language. Thanks for reading and please review! And thanks for your help. I now know exactly what I'm going to do with Allen's choice now. ;D