Chapter 16
A New Traitor
Kanda pulled Bak to the side where he could talk to him without Allen overhearing their conversation. Then on second thought he turned himself and his superior until their backs were the only thing that Allen could see.
"Have you told Komui about this...anomaly of the Innocence?" The Japanese youth asked quietly.
"Of course," replied Bak. "He was even more impressed than I was, going as far as to say something rather unscientific."
Kanda's eyes widened a margin. "That man never—"
"Nevertheless, he said it. He said that the boy 'may be the one loved by God'."
"The Heart," breathed Kanda. The blonde-haired man nodded his affirmation, his silent agreement. "Does the Earl know about this?"
"I'm sure he suspects," Bak admitted honestly. "It is curious why he didn't kill him just for being the enemy, let alone a potential candidate for the heart."
"More like suspicious," growled Kanda. He glanced back at the boy, surprised to find him standing up with his Innocence activated. "Moya—"
A white tendril shot out, wrapping around Kanda's throat. One strong yank and there was a sickening crack as his neck broke.
Bak, who heard the body slump to the ground turned to see what was going on. A fist caught his jaw, making him stumble back. A kick to the stomach sent him flying into a wall, head smashing into it and knocking him unconscious.
Walker surveyed the room, finding no important documents or instruments in the room besides the portfolio on him. He picked it up, ripping it to shreds. Then he dumped all of the pieces onto the floor and walked out of the office.
His expression lacked any emotion and it was the first warning sign to the people who saw him. But they ignored it, recognizing Innocence when they saw it. They never expected the tendrils to throw them against the walls until they went limp like rag dolls.
One person, however, knew that there was something wrong with Walker.
"Walker, are you okay?" asked Toma. He was standing with a group of Finders who had just come out of one of the research labs. Walker noticed it immediately, and the man who apparently recognized him.
"What would be wrong?" he asked, cunningly devising a plan in his head.
"Nothing! You just seem...different."
Toma's face went slack as Walker's clawed fist shot by his head, knocking out the teeth of one of his companions.
"Nothing is wrong. I'm just following orders."
::+::+::+: ϒ :+::+::+::
Kanda drew in a deep lung full of air, gulping it down as if he had never breathed before in his life. He blinked up at the ceiling, confused as to what had happened. Then his memories began to flood back.
He rolled onto his stomach, looking for the head of blonde hair. His stomach fell at the sight of the motionless body of his superior.
"Bak!" A pained groan filled Kanda with relief, and the Exorcist pushed himself up.
"Where is Walker?" asked the Branch Chief, voice slurred from the likely affects of a concussion. The man was very much aware of the pain in the back of his head and his jaw. He rubbed them both gently. It probably wasn't too serious. He blinked up as Kanda got to his feet clumsily. "Where are you going?"
"You asked where Walker was," Kanda replied. He activated Mugen with a resolute eye. "I'm going to go find him."
The youth stepped out of the office, looking around. There was a strong scent of burning paper in the air. Kanda looked to the left and to the right, uncertain as to what he would find.