When Len ran, he didn't expect to find his way to the basement, yet that's where he ended up. Or to find himself next to that creepy little girl again.

But she seemed different. The way she held herself. The way her eyes flashed around. The shock. Fear. It was all different from last time.

And that was the only thing that kept him from bolting.

She whispered something Len couldn't hear, and all Len could think was, What the hell?

So that's what he said.

She said something in that quiet voice of hers, and he wondered what it was. But he had more pressing questions.

But when he saw her voice, looking closer, he could recognize the expression of self-hate and confusion.

"Are you okay?"

He mentally slapped himself. Of course, she wasn't! Why would she be?

Weirdly, a slight smile took over her features, and Len couldn't deny that it made her look beautiful. Her dimples seemed so tight that it looked painful like they hadn't been forced to stretch in a while.

Suddenly, a flash of panic and pain took over her face. She crawled away from him. She grabbed a piece of glass nearby, and Len knew what would happen before it did. Yet he didn't move until there was a thin line across her wrist.

He moved so fast, he mentally compared himself to Barry. He ripped her hand away before grabbing the glass away. He tried to hide the shaking of his hands, but he couldn't.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She flinched, slinking away. After a second, pain flashed in her expression again, and she bolted, desperate for the glass he held. He held it above her head. 

Suddenly, she started crying. Sobbing, really. 

Len wasn't good with crying children, but he would try, just this once. He didn't know why, but he felt a special bond with this one.

So he pulled a board loose from the wall and set the glass there before sitting down next to her. He wasn't used to this, but he was sure he was supposed to put a hand on her shoulder, so he did. She flinched away, and Len was about to pull away himself, but she placed a hand on top of his and held it there desperately, like a lifeline.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You know, I never got your name," Len asked.

"I never got yours," she replied. She seemed to slowly get a little calmer, and Len couldn't help but proud knowing he was the reason why.

"Call me Len," he answered.

"Isn't Len a little too friendly?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Len fought off the urge to laugh as he replied with, "Fine, Ms. Perfect. Call me Lenny."

"That's worse," she giggled.

"Well, I gave you two options. You can pick," Len smirked. 

"I think I like Lenny," she said.

"Well, now it's your turn. What's your name?"

"I don't know," she whispered back, her voice just as soft as before. With one question, the lighthearted mood had disappeared.

"Well, until you remember, I think I'll give you a temporary one?" Len raised an eyebrow, silently waiting for her approval. He couldn't help but wonder why she didn't remember, but he wasn't going to ask.

"Sure, but I have to agree," she suggested. Lenny nodded.

"Sara?"

She looked at him like he was crazy. "Hell no."

"Okay then," Len muttered. He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a notebook. He grabbed a pencil from inside his coat and wrote down a few things before showing them to her.

She shook her head at some, others she seemed to recognize. Jake, Stephen, Samantha, Oliver (Len had laughed a lot at that one), Clara, and Katie were among a few.

She would tell him the stories as she remembered him with each name. 

Jake was apparently her abusive brother. Stephen was Jake's first crush. Ironically, it was her's, too. She didn't know that, though. Samantha, or Sammy, was her mother, who was murdered (remind you of anyone?). Oliver had been a puppy that caused Clara to become her biggest bully. And Katie had been her best friend.

Eventually, they decided to give up on first names and try last ones. Sure, it was unlikely, but it was better than nothing, right? That was Len's argument, anyway.

"Jackson?" Shake of her head. "Dawson?" Shake of her head. "Jackson?" Shake of her head. "Jefferson?" Shake of her head. "Emerson?" Shake of her head. "Addison?" Shake of her head. "Kason?" Shake of her head. "Orson?" Shake of her head.

It was becoming a process, one that took up time they didn't notice was eating by. When Len finally checked his watch, over five hours had passed since he had run from Lisa and Mick, which he had told her about.

"I have to go," he told her, to her disappointment. "But I'll rattle a few more off." She clapped, making him laugh.

"Harrison?" Shake of her head. He laughed at that one, though. Damn those puns.

"Johnson?"

At that name, she let out a scream.

Len stared at her as she stared straight forward, but she didn't seem to be there.

When she opened her eyes again, they were different. They made Len think of before.

He felt himself press up against the wall as she got up slowly and looked him over. She laughed cruelly.

"I'm gonna make you pa-"

Suddenly, there was lightning. It slammed into her, sending her flying into the wall across from Len.

Barry ran toward him and squeezed him tight. He turned around, likely to make sure she was definitely unconscious, but Len stopped him.

"What are you going here?" 

Barry looked down. "I'm sorry, Lenny," he whispered as he pulled him close. "I ran off too fast. I just... I spent my whole life after one person, and they never returned it. I can't do that again."

Len smiled at him. He didn't try to hide the pain, though, and Barry could see it if the wince he gave was any indication.

"I understand, Barry. But I offered. And I need an answer. Yes or no?"

Barry nodded, somehow pressing Len closer to him. "Hell yeah."

Neither noticed Mick, Lisa, JJ, and Lily in the corner, which had to be some kind of miracle. They were chatting quietly.

...

The darkness had a name.

It called itself Strong. It called itself Powerful. It called itself Reborn. It called itself Better. It called itself the Villian.

But its human name was Alex. It meant 'Defender.'

And that's what it was, whether Carmen believed it or not. Carmen meant 'Song.' The darkness agreed. Songs had high moments, light ones. But they also had dark notes, the ones that go low.

The darkness was Carmen's defender. She took over for Carmen because before the darkness had been created, Carmen's light moments were disappearing. Every time she would see anyone, they would look like Jake, and it would scare her. She was slowly going crazy.

People could argue the darkness was making her crazy. It wouldn't be completely wrong. The darkness was. But it also gave Carmen a bad guy. Before, she had been the bad guy. Now she had someone to blame.

Carmen blamed her for the death of that little girl. It wasn't entirely her fault. She may have accidentally had a part in it, but she didn't directly do it.

See, the darkness had power. The darkness had been born the day of the Particle Accelerator. It had gained the ability to read thoughts. It could sometimes block them. Not normally, but in Carmen's case, yes. The darkness was going to protect her, and to do so, she would need to protect Carmen from herself.

It had seen how sad that girl was. It had tried to comfort her. She failed.

The darkness wasn't evil, and neither was Carmen. They just couldn't find a way to co-exist.

But the darkness was determined to find a way, even if she needed another body to do it.

...

When Alex woke up, it looked around. It saw two men kissing and narrowed its eyes. It searched through the green one's head, seeing things. 

Then the blue one.

They were occupied. 

The others in the corner (JJ, Lily, Lisa, and Mick according to Blue and Green's thoughts) seemed distracted, but Lisa had been raised by a mobster. She would notice if Alex tried to move.

Alex had to get away. These people could hurt Carmen. It was its job to protect her. It wouldn't fail.

Alex's cold green eyes scanned the room, searching for something. It would be hard to fight off a teleporter, a speedster, and a few mobsters, but Alex would do it.

It slowly sat up, giving her a better view. Lisa was still busy. Good.

Alex fought a cough that wanted to make itself known as she ran toward the stairs. It could hear Lisa shout behind it, feel the electricity in the air.

Suddenly, there were arms around her and Alex was in front of Len.

Alex snarled. It tried to lash out, but the speedster had Alex in his arms.

"Who the hell are you?" Len, Lenny, Leonard, CC, whatever you wanted to call him, asked.

"I'm nunya," Alex hissed. 

Len walked toward her and grabbed her chin. Alex couldn't help but recoil, couldn't help but think of Jake.

It ripped its head away, nearly hitting Barry.

"What happened to her?" Len asked.

Alex wasn't trusting. It knew masks, and she could read this one. He wanted to talk to one he could manipulate. It wouldn't let her.

"She's gone," Alex hissed. It earned a slap to its face.

Alex knew this place was where it was weak. Getting slapped wasn't helping. It had to stay in control. It wouldn't let these people hurt Carmen.

"I know how to torture someone," Lisa said from behind her.  Alex let out a laugh.

"I know, Lisa Snart," was its reply. "I know you all," it said at their shocked looks. "I know Barry is thinking about how long it'll take to get back to his room with 'Lenny.'" It chuckled at that. "Mick's thinking about beers. Dear Lenny wants Carmen back. JJ is thinking about changing... a few things. Lily is wondering when she'll get laid next. And you, dear Lisa, are thinking about the fact that you couldn't torture a child if you wanted."

They were all staring at Alex in either shock or embarrassment.

"Mind reader," Barry and Alex said at the same time.

"Bring her back," Len said. Alex was surprised to hear pleading in his head.

"You don't deserve her," Alex spat. It glared at them all. "You didn't protect her for years. You can't know what people are thinking to protect her. I know what you are thinking about, and I don't like it."

"Am I the only one wondering what is going on?" JJ asked.

Barry let Alex go. It glanced around in surprise before schooling its expression. It wasn't going to run out, though. Besides, it already knew about the bug he had planted on it. Alex knew it would get them to leave it alone for now, so Alex left it on.

"Bye," it growled.

It turned on its heel and walked into the shadows for Carmen to come back. Hopefully, they would be gone by then.

...

"What are you doing?" Len asked Barry.

"I'm calling reinforcements," Barry smirked.

He pushed call.

"Cisco? Yeah, we have a metahuman. Yeah, it's a kid. Could you? We could definitely use her."