U̶n̶dying love ~ Levi x Reader

Chapter 1

The cold air hit my skin as I was carried through the forest at high speed. It was a starless night; the moon being our only light source. Shining brightly in the midnight sky, it guided us forwards. Silence echoed through the woods as we got further and further in – a stark contrast to what had gone down just a moment ago.

Mom had her navy blue coat's hood up – shielding her face from mine as she ran alongside my dad. They both breathed heavily; not slowing down even as the forest grew denser. Basking in the warmth my dad carrying me radiated, I closed my heavy eyelids. The sound of their rhythmic footsteps grew distant as I snuggled against his soft shirt, finally granting my body a moment of relaxation.

A tree suddenly appeared in our way, causing them both to make a sharp turn to avoid crashing into it. I snapped my eyes open – a small yelp slipping past my lips.

Dad looked down to meet my worrying gaze when he noticed me clawing at the washed-out fabric on his upper body. A reassuring smile spread on his face – eyes softening. Reaching his hand under the small backpack I was wearing he hastily rubbed my back, blowing cold air on my face.

"Quiet, darling. We're almost there..." Mom turned her head to look at me as she spoke, also offering a slight curl of her mouth corners, though her eyes lacked the fondness my dad's had.

Burying my face in dad's chest I hid my face from her; knowing there was no point in arguing. Even now, mom was the one in charge – despite everything going wrong under her guidance.

—

After a few minutes, we reached the gate. Guards patrolled at the wall's top – forcing us to stay in hiding until a way to get into the city came by – that being a carriage.

I had been moved to dad's back so he and mom could easily sneak behind the vehicle – clinging to his neck to stay in place. As the brick wall got pulled up we inched forward in the carriage's shadow, eventually reaching the opening.

I stared in awe at the stone houses around us. Not even from dad's back could I see the rooftops. And the windows... there were so many! Some were even decorated with flower boxes.

Despite the lack of light, I could tell that place was much larger than I'd ever seen before. I probably wouldn't even be able to count how many used these roads daily.

Was I going to become one of them now?

—

We stopped – facing an opening in the stone road.

"Alright... we're here." Dad mumbled, reluctantly putting me down to stand on my bare feet.

I tilted my head, observing what was in front of me. With the help of a single lit torch by the entrance, I could see stairs leading down into the abyss of darkness. A gust of wind left the hole – lifting my hair slightly.

I swallowed; feeling a shiver creep up my spine. Where did that stairway lead?

My parents crouched down and I turned around to meet their gazes. Dad bit his lower lip, reaching out one of his hands to gently caress my head. He opened his mouth but hesitated momentarily, clenching his jaw and taking a deep breath.

"Y/n, we don't have much time. Mom and I will go and stop her... while you..." Dad's voice trailed off – his hand making its way back to his side. "While you... fuck, I can't do this." Furrowing my eyebrows I watched him lower his head – soft sobs emitting from his hunched form.

"Dad..." Breathless, I recalled what happened. How she stared at me with those lifeless eyes, stalked towards me with her blood-dripping hand – mom saving me milliseconds before she reached me.

The sky lighting up, the house falling apart as we barely made it out, and the piercing screams of the villagers as they were slaughtered one by one.

They could not return, not until she got what she wanted; who she wanted.

Mom huffed, frustrated with her husband's incompetence. "Your dad is trying to say that you will be living here from now on, regardless of what you think of the place. " Her eyes pierced through mine; sensing the disagreement heavy on my tongue.

Live? Down there? By myself? I... didn't even know the place! With how dark it seemed, I'd be lucky to survive the first days!

And them going after her?! That's a straight-up suicide mission! They'll end up dead, just like everyone else, and leave me hiding in a hole for the rest of my life. How could they... even consider such an option?

Knowing fully well how mom hated anyone disagreeing with her, I tried to bite back the retort forming in my mouth -- though I quickly thought otherwise. If there was a time to stand up, it was then.

"No, I won't." It sounded weak, even in my ears.

Mom snorted, her tone growing more irritated. "No? I don't recall teaching you such a word." Balling my fists, I narrowed my eyes at her. "You always said she was unstable... So why... did you let this happen?!" I pushed through the unfamiliar sensation of raising my voice; the sheer look of fury on her face firing me on.

"Did you not think pushing her would end badly?! Not once?" My fists bawled as I watched my mother rapidly opening and closing her mouth, attempting to come up with what she always told me: excuses.

"Don't tell me you couldn't have prevented–" The slap echoed through the city -- bouncing off every surface it could reach. I cupped my cheek – which was growing redder by the second. Tears blurred my vision, and I let them fall.

It hurt – not because my mother just slapped me -- I was used to physical pain. It hurt because I had lost. Lost the fight I had no real chance of winning.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that! I did everything to keep her stable – even keeping her existence unknown to the rest!" She paused for a moment to take a few irregular breaths – clenching and unclenching her fists.

"I took every. Little. Precaution. There was nothing else I could have done, you hear me?!" My body shook more violently as my sobs increased in volume and made it harder to depict what she was saying.

Was that how it would end?

"Still, we failed, and now we will pay the-" "M/n-" "QUIET!" She silenced dad's pleading tone – and he knew better than to argue against her. Mom closed her eyes, drawing a breath.

"As long as you keep that backpack safe, it'll all be worth it." She smirked, opening her eyes. Heart skipping a beat, I stared into the depths of them. Cold, dull – inhumane... just like hers.

"Everything is going to be worth it."