Lenalee reluctantly sat up in bed, still half asleep. After breakfast and her brief conversation with Lavi, Lenalee had gone back to her room for a short nap. She hadn't been in the mood for being social, like she usually was. She now found herself awake in bed, vaguely aware of the blaring alarm.
"Lenalee!" Her door suddenly opened. Her brother looked completely panicked and alarm contorted his face.
"Come to my office right away," Komui than left as quickly as he came.
'This can't be good,' was the only thought that crossed the girls mind.
"As far as we know, Allen Walker has escaped. We do not know how, but for now our prime objective is to bring him back." Komui's words were met with stony silence.
"Dead or alive?" Most heads turned towards who spoke.
Bookman just shrugged his shoulders.
"It's an order from the chief. We need an answer." No one objected or agreed, at least not verbally.
"Preferably alive for questioning and such. If necessary, you have permission to attack with the intention of taking Allen Walker's life."
The room was still silent. Komui had delivered his words with as straight a face anyone could muster, but only his little sister could see how how difficult the task actually was for him.
Lenalee had come last as everyone had already gathered in the now cramped quarters of Komui's office. Being in the back of the room and closest to the doors, it was easier making a discreet exit. She did so, seemingly undetected.
Without a conscious thought, she ran. The halls were too empty. The footfalls of her shoes echoed more than they ever had. Lenalee made her way to the hallway that inevitably led to the door that led to the lowest level of headquarters.
With only the firelight of the sparse and spaced torches on the stone wall, Lenalee carefully, but still as fast as was safe, trekked down the steps.
The staircase was ridiculously long. When the girl at last set foot at the end, she began the shorter distance to the only occupied cell. Lenalee had never come to visit Allen. The chances of being allowed to were slim, but she hadn't even tried. She was afraid.
She would have had to search for the right door, had the search not been made easy for her. The cell door stood cracked ajar.
She hesitated. Who would she find? Allen?
'But he's gone,' Lenalee thought, "or is he?" This she spoke under her breath. It was too good to be true, but there was only one way to find out.
She walked quickly the yard between her and the door, disregarding the voice in her head telling her otherwise.
Pulling the heavy door open the rest of the way, as far as it's ancient hinges would allow, the girl found Howard Link kneeling with one knee on the ground. A small burst of air blew past her. Whatever had caused it was gone. It had been too fast. The man turned, standing. His stern face met Lenalee's.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. Lenalee was surprised by the question.
"You're asking me? I could ask you the same Link. What's in your hand?" Link looked down in reference to what the girl was talking about.
"It's my seals. The damn brat escaped and his golem with him," he scoffed in annoyance.
Lenalee hadn't realized until he said it, but Timcanpy was in fact gone. She had been primarily concerned about Allen.
'He's the only one who can remove his seals, with the exception of a few others. But they would never have-' This idea was cut short by Link calling the girl's attention back to him with an impatient clap of his hands.
"He can't be too far now. I'm sure you have orders to bring Walker back to head quarters. I'd get going," Link said in his usual tone, his way of sounding superior of those of lower position than himself.
"I should wait for my brother's orders-" she didn't want to chase her comrade like an animal. Like a traitor. "I think." She spoke this to herself, quiet enough for her ears only.
"He's your friend, isn't he?" Lenalee looked up, Link now stood in the doorway. "You know what you need to do." He was gone. Lenalee couldn't say she was sure of what side the man stood on, traitor or comrade, but she knew enough. Link was helping her.
He had helped because he wanted to. Lenalee spotted the hole in the wall and hurried outside. It was getting dark.
"Innocence. Activate."
In place of the usual red heels and white thigh high stockings was Lenalee's black knee high boots, the butterfly figures forming at her heels. Lenalee took to the air, the green glow of her innocence trailing her.