James had doubts and felt it was not right to think of a friend that way, So, he let it away because he hadn't seen anyone make a move when Danny raised his hand. Then everyone dispersed while Rebecca came towards James and asked, "Did you see how Danny raised his hand?"
James said, "I did but I can't simply suspect a friend like him"
Rebecca said, "I know I also feel the same way, but we must keep our suspicions. Come On! He was a friend to me before I met you"
James asked, "Let's not discuss it out here, someone might overhear us and also it is just an assumption, right?", they stared at each other doubting the friendship they had with Danny.
Rebecca then asked, "Do you know that is the real Danny?"
They kept thinking but eventually, Rebecca said, "Probably we are just overthinking the situation", James said, "Surely?!"
Meanwhile, Takashi was with Allan and the others walking back to the 2nd Bedroom in the 3rd Piece, trying to encourage them but didn't need any because they were enjoying it there. Dean was walking ahead of the pack and talking, "You know that it is easier for us to talk to each other...", Takashi was happy that they were as energetic as the elders were.
Dean and Augustine, fist bumped later Dean continued, "We will see who will kill more zombies than the other", Takashi didn't see that coming, he was then thinking, "I thought being energetic is a good thing because it normally would help the others also to be motivated by the same goal but if they do have the motivation it is like asking for a death wish. No. They are way more energetic than us... Definitely!"
Lara kept staring at Allan when he didn't notice her and when he did she hid behind Allan trying to get away from Allan, Allan thought she was playing with him so he kept acting as if he couldn't see her. When Allan did that Lara giggled always. Takashi thought that was cute because it helps them feel at ease and mindless of the problem. On the other hand, Allan was thinking, "She might have had a rough childhood... But... what I don't understand is... Why does she keep staring at me?!", While he stared right back at her and she again hid behind Allan. At this point, Allan felt annoyed and asked, "Stop playing around and tell me What is it that you want to say to me?".
Augustine looked at Allan and said, "Oh! You weren't having fun with each other?!", Allan replied, "I could be having if she did talk more"
Later when they reached their room Lara still stared at Allan even after and Allan could notice her glaring at him but did give her any notice due to him flustering over her glare. In Lara's mind, she was thinking, "What is it that this child trying to do with me? Father did say "Others will try to play with your emotions, They are the weakness that humans can't control completely" I know I had controlled it well enough to think that he is lying to me in some way", That was before Allan told her to tell him what she had in her mind. She was thinking all this when she glared at Allan and when glared back at her she had a strange sensation in her and hid behind him and thought, "What did I just feel... is this an emotion that is new to me. I should ignore it for now", Then Allan would act like he couldn't see her and she giggled and Allan gave smile back. Lara then thought, "Why did I just laugh? He is creating emotions in me as Father said...", Allan then notices her and she again hid behind him. She thought, "Why am I hiding behind him? Why do I want him to notice me... have I already fallen...", Allan acts as if he doesn't see her again. She giggles again and Allan smiles only slightly this time. She saw that and asked herself, "He didn't like me doing that? Should I stop it? Or ask him if he is alright, maybe I might have done something wrong here", That was when Allan noticed her still starring and he got fed up of it said it and she then thought, "It was what I had been doing I am sorry I messed up again..."
Later in the room, Allan and Lara slept in the same bed before but it felt awkward for Allan with Lara with her staring at him and the same for Lara but in a different way. Allan was sitting on the right side of the bed and Lara sat next to him on the right side at the foot side of the bed. Allan forget what had happened before and stood up from the bed without looking at her because he couldn't give away his flustering and said, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to ask you the way I asked I was curious... then...", and then he looked at with a flustered smile and continued, "Let's be friends!"
Lara didn't understand what was "friends" like, So, she asked, "What is that?"
Allan sat on his knees to look up right into her eyes and said, "It is when we have each other to look at. Like whatever you wanna see me as a rival, sibling or even... a love... if you want to", he flustered a lot to just the last bit.
Lara didn't understand all of it but what it meant to him. Lara got up and smiled happily and offered Allan her left hand and said, "Thanks for making me understand! I promise that I will tell it when the time comes and I will not let anything hurt you because you are dear to me"
Allan thought she said, "Deer" instead of "Dear", So, he replied, "I did say you can see me as anything didn't expect it to be a "DEER" what of me look like a de... did you mean "d e a r"?"
Lara said, "Yes" with the same smile and continued, "I will follow the whole way since I can learn a lot from you"
Allan asked, "What to learn?"
Lara replied, "The world through your eyes", she made Allan fluster even more.
Allan said, "I give up! Alright, stop the... confessions... and knives at my heart I can't take anymore...", then fainted off the shock of hearing that much.
Lara carried him right up and put him in the bed and went out of the bedroom to the 1st Piece's Doctor's Office and got a cassette from the Doctor's desk and went back to the bedroom and handed it to Takashi and said, "It is a tape of the Overseer"
Takashi said, "So, you feel it is time?", she nodded her head.
Takashi then said, "He did say to leave it to you alright then I will hand it to the others", He then got up and typed "52" and called James and said, "I got the 2nd tape, We should call a meeting with the others and show them this"
James said, "Alright! Good work find it I will tell the others you can head to the Hexagon with them"
Takashi said, "Sure, but I wasn't the one who found it. It was Lara and Allan"
James said, "Ok Then! Tell them they did well finding it"
Takashi said, "I will tell them" Then the G beeped. Then they headed to the Hexagon with Takashi carrying Allan on his back.
They assembled at the Hexagon after Allan had woken up and explained what was going on. He was shocked to hear that he had found a tape without even realizing that he had found it. Allan went to Lara and asked, "They say that we were the ones who found the tape but I don't remember us going to the Office to check, Did you go there on your own the find and how did you know it was there?"
Lara was sitting on top of the table hearing what he said after she listened to what he had to say she got down and asked, "I have something I want to say to you and you only for now, before that am I a friend?"
Allan said, "Yes?!", He was confused because he didn't understand anything that is going on.
Lara said, "I am not just a human. I am also a Bit, The only parent I know is Martin, the Overseer you call"
Allan gaped there for a minute, confused about what to say, then asked, "I really don't gaze upon others' past to remind them where they stand or anything. I am happy you told me all that. Does that mean you were a spy?"
Lara replied, "Basically Yes! I was sent here to check o you to divert your path to the Snarl"
Allan asked, "Hmm... Interesting... ! What is the speciality being a Bit?"
Lara replied, "I can do more than the other Bits, they are called irregulars, I have an extended reach over my opponent like the rest but here is the thing, I can form carbon to cover the reach to sharpen my tips making it a lethal combination"
Allan asked, "That is amazing and all, So, What is that all for?"
Lara giggled and replied, "You don't know what is going on out there do you? I guess he washed away the actual reason you are here"
Allan all of a sudden switched his facial expression of happiness to anger and asked, "What is it that you mean?"
Lara blushed a bit and her heart started to beat faster as she heard him in an angry tune and said, "Of Course! There was a War that happened before you got here..."
Allan said, "I know that! I don't want to hear if it's just that!"
Lara nodded to remind him that's not all and continued after he interrupted her, "After the War, the Scientist of the Westuroian Union released a virus in all the streets of the world. The Union Alliance dispatched all the rescue units they had to save you all and brought you to the Underground Headquarters of the UA. In there they gave all of the survivors a vaccine for the virus"
Allan asked, "Was that all that happened or is there more to it?"
Lara nodded yes and said, "Over there one of you decided to send you all along with them here and that is how you are here. Truthfully the pers...", Allan was shocked hearing the reason they are here and asked, "Woah... Woah! There should be a reason for them to send us here it can't be any of us, I believe in Alexa's friend... forget about us what about Augustine, Dean and Katie What is the reason they are here?"
Allan did want to doubt them but he knew if he had asked who it was she would tell him every bit of the truth and he certainly share it with the others. It would break the group from whoever it was. So, chose not to know it and avoid the talk about it.
Lara was in disbelief that he avoided asking who was the person because she was willing to disclose it to him, but she replied to Allan, "They were brought here because they lost everything they had... their parents and all their relatives to the Virus and they were the ones who chose to come themselves. Even if they had chosen not to come, they would be brought here like all were brought because they had high immunity proficiency... and so did you. And now some of your friends also do have it after you met the doctor. I guess that does clear away the reason for the person bringing you all here down to a few reasons. I feel you get it who it is?"
Allan didn't reply to what she asked he did know who it was and so he kept it to himself and said, "I still don't see a reason why would protect and happily give themselves instead of the other's lives and that is enough of a reason to trust them. I believe they were doing this to protect each other!"
Lara was about to say the name of who it was when suddenly Augustine and Dean rushed towards Allan and whacked his back. Allan then shouted, "Ahh! that hurts"
Dean said, "I felt like you both were about to slap each other like the cats do, after a stare down"
Allan said, "Whatever! I am too sensitive there could you not do that again, Please! and damn that hurts"
After that, They all gathered with Takashi taking them all to the 1st Piece where there was a tape recorder inside one of the desks on the table and put the tap in it and played it, "Hi everyone if you found this tape, this is the second last tape and the last one will be the reception, yes... the ground floor is a normal reception... Psych! It is a reception just like you think but with the same Grovelor that some of you had seen in the 1st Piece and the 6th Piece, and yes there are 2 of them there waiting for you, but the next floor is your true final test. Good Luck playing the final game in the Piece", then the tape-recorded stopped.
And then now, after Allan handed Lara the book, "Sure!", with a smile but Alexa came rushing to take away the diary and said, "Sorry Lara! I can't, anyone, read it until I finish"
Lara said, "Sure! It is OK" and then Alexa went away. Lara was pissed at what pulled off there and said, "You knew that was going to happen didn't you!?"
Allan laughed and said, "Did you see Alexi Blushing in embarrassment if you read and saw how bluntly she expressed everyone's emotions, well that is her she sees everyone for who they are, in whatever situation she and the others are in"
Lara looked at Allan with intent when he said that, and then she said, "Are you all right?"
Allan was staggered when she asked that and said, "I am, Why would you ask that?"
Lara said, "Simply"
Allan said, "You don't simply say simply if you simply don't have any simple reason...", he then hulled and then said, "Well... we have to join the others to the elevator"
Lara then said, "Can't believe it's already been 2 months since we arrived here"
Allan said, "I know it has been good, I hope everyone makes it out to the end"
They both joined Dean and Takashi who were waiting inside the elevator for them and then Lara said, "That is doubtful"
Allan was confused about why she said that and so was Takashi thinking, "This time what were they talking about?", then Allan realised what he said before getting here.
Allan said, "What!? Doubtful? Is the test harder than this far?"
Dean and Takashi could hear what he had said Takashi asked, "What are you talking about?"
Lara looked at Takashi and Takashi at her to see if she had told him about their plan, Lara nodded yes and said, "There is another challenge before we get to the last testing ground"
Then the elevator opened and they saw a stair corridor ahead of them as a Snarl appears to them with someone standing far ahead in the corridor, So did the others have a person standing in their corridors too?
Lara said, "That is a corrupted Bit they are extraordinarily stronger than the other ones", she said that as she got off the elevator and then looked back at Allan and continued, "But don't worry about us I am there to protect you and the others" as she thought, "You are special to me now!"...