Anna's POV
Our hotel wasn't too far from the first crime scene so it didn't take very long to sneak out of the hotel room and get down there, only about fifteen minutes. I walked casually by 211 Insist Street and looked at the scene. It looked so normal from this side of the street. You'd never think there was a murder and a suspended FBI agent just beyond its walls. Before I could really think things through, the door opened and I had to duck down between the two houses to avoid being seen.
Naomi came out first and quickly turned down the street, evidently eager to get away from her companion. I waited patiently for Beyond to come out, but I was unprepared what I actually saw. The door reopened and L came out of the house. My heart stopped. I pulled out my phone and pressed it to my ear. It rang a few times before it picked up.
"Where are you? You can't just disappear like this, Anna." L's voice came through the line, but the L on the other side of the street didn't have a phone.
"L, where are you?" I questioned. What was going on? I felt like I was in the twilight zone.
"I'm at the hotel." He said, his voice dropping. I guess I sounded scared. "Where are you?"
I blinked a few times. "I'm outside the crime scene and I swear I'm looking at you."
There was a sharp intake of breath and then silence. After a few moments L spoke, "I'm coming to get you."
I noticed the other L look over to where I was and begin walking toward me. "Shit." I mumbled. "That's unnecessary." I said quickly turning from the scene and rushing down between the houses.
"What's going on?" L questioned.
I hopped the wall and rushed across it into the ally way behind the houses and headed down the street as the sun started setting. "Nothing, nothing." It wasn't long until I felt someone following me.
"Anna…" L's voice was warning.
I look a deep breath and sped up. "Nothing, I just have something stuck to my shoe." I said as calmly as possible. I had said I wouldn't be seen. God, I was such a failure. This was the last thing I needed to happen.
There was silence for a moment, "You're being followed?" L questioned. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it sucks." I replied pulling out my compact and opening the mirror. It was too dark to make out any actual features in my little mirror, but there was definitely a silhouette of someone following me and the gap was closing between us at an unsettling pace.
"I can come down there. It's getting dark." L tried again. If he came down here on my account there would be problems. He would be in danger, he would have to confront Beyond and I knew he didn't want to do that.
"No. I'll handle it." I assured.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
I hesitated, could I handle this on my own? Last time I checked, B was the one with the upper hand. That was a long time ago though. He was out of practice as far as I knew. "Yeah, I'm sure. I'll see you in twenty." I hung up and listened to the second pair of footsteps behind me growing louder. I was in so much trouble.
I weighed my options. I could run, but B might be faster. I could fight, but I wasn't sure how that would go either. I couldn't go back to the hotel until I was sure I lost him, putting L in danger was not an option. I could wait until he acted, or I could act first. That was the only two options that were going to work right now.
I tried to calm myself as I walked. When I heard the steps almost directly behind me, I spun around on my heels, swinging one of my legs up, but it was blocked easily and I was spun around in a complete circle. I kicked the middle of his chest as he pushed me away, sending us both flying backwards. He fell back and I took the opportunity to pin him down.
"Why are you following me?" I asked breathing hard, partially due to the sudden physical activity partially due to being afraid of what was about to happen.
A sadistic grin broke out on his face, "I had to be sure. Hello, Anna." The voice was familiar, deeper than I remembered but familiar.
I pulled back, letting him up off the asphalt, "Beyond. Still stalking people I see." I moved back.
"You're here with L?" He sounded hopeful.
I shook my head, "No. I'm alone."
He took a step toward me as I took one back, "You're lying."
I felt panic fill me and I swung blindly, evidently it caught him off guard because I actually made contact. With what I'm not sure, but I didn't stop to check, I just ran. I got to a crowded street after about fifteen minutes of running and ducked into an open liquor store. I picked up my phone and dialed L's number.
"Anna? What happened? Where are you?" L asked.
I looked out the glass window for the street sign, "The 711 on 34th Street and Sheridan Street. Could you send Watari to get me?" I asked smiling awkwardly at the cashier as I browsed the candy aisle.
"Of course. He'll be there in five minutes. Just stay where you are."
"No problem."
"Would you like me to stay on the line?" He asked.
I considered it for a moment, "No, I'll be alright." I didn't need anyone over hearing us talk.
It wasn't long before the headlights of Watari's car were shining in through the window. He rushed into the store, black cloak and all and came over to me. I bought some random candy bar as a thanks for letting me hide out in the store and allowed Watari to usher me out of the store and into the car. We headed back to the hotel and he led me up the stairs to the room. When we reached the room he opened the door and let me in.
L was sitting in the corner of the room, looking over something on his computer. When I shut the door behind me, he looked up. He pushed back from his desk and started over to me. I had prepared myself for him to be angry. He had every right to be angry. He told me not to go and I did it anyways. I looked down and took a deep breath, readying myself for whatever he was going to say.
I waited for a few moments for a scolding that would never come. L wrapped his arms around me tightly. Shock prevented me from returning his embrace for a few seconds, but eventually I did the same. He smelled like coffee and cake batter.
"Please don't ever do that again." He requested, holding me tightly, "You had me worried. I was about to go looking for you."
I buried my face into his chest and fought back tears, "I'm sorry. I just needed to see for myself. Confirm things, you know?"
He pulled away from me and offered me a light smile, "Come on, you must be exhausted and I want to hear what happened."
He started to lead me toward the bed room we shared when I pulled him to a stop, "He's trying to be you."
"What?" He asked.
I gestured, "He dyed his hair black and it's all messy and he's got the white long sleeve and the jeans. He's pretending to be you. I thought he was you." I admitted. "I didn't really get a good look at his face though. It was too dark."
L brought me closer into him and pressed a kiss to my temple. "Come on, let's get you to bed. We can figure this out in the morning."