{LeviHan} Beyond

Chapter 3: Lingering Mark

"Once he had reach ashore in attempt to escape, the young woman remembered her encounter with him. Was she to be afraid of this man? After all, the mark he gifted her will remain for awhile. She wondered who it was that was this man- or was he a man at all?"

*   *   *

Hanji's POV

Sprawled on the ground was nothing but a form of weakness. Like I should've given up right then and there. Gasping heavily, I couldn't move or couldn't speak. Like venom running through my veins. 

For what felt forever, the venom disappeared from my system. I was able to get back to my feet- with my hands and legs shaking from the panic. I laid there, unable to move. Only looking around with my eyes and struggling to breathe. But I still stood to my feet.

Creeping to that bite, I felt those little dips in my neck. That... thing bit me... he could've killed me... but he didn't...

I wanted to know the truth from that... I truly did want to know.

"Hanji!" Nanaba came down to me with Moblit by her side. "Are you alright?!" She cried, grabbing my arms and looking at me with a panicked tone. "We heard you yelp or something like that-"

I waved my hand, trying to play it off. Maybe my mind was playing tricks. After all, I thought I saw a man who was half fish pouncing onto me like a cat. "I-It's nothing... I must've fell."

"That's one hell of a fall," Moblit sighed, taking my hand. "Come on, Erwin's waiting for you."

"Me?" I tilted my head, trying to do everything I can to hide that bite mark on my neck. "Why me? Ugh... let's go there..." Reluctantly, I went back towards the beach- where Erwin was hosting his party. Work party, to say the least.

*   *   *

Before everyone could question me about the mark on my neck, I quickly put my jacket on, pulling the hood up to cover my neck. I even let my hair down just to hide it much more. Sure, it was suspicious. Middle of spring on the beach... here I am putting a jacket on and my hair running free.

"Hanji," Erwin calls my name with a gentle smile, "come here, please."

I nodded, following his lead in front of my co-workers. "Erwin," I began to hiss, "what is going on? You never told me about this- whatever's happening."

Instead of an answer, Erwin gave a smile as he continued on his own way. "Ladies and gentlemen, I know that this year has been wonderful, but there's a reason why we're here. Not to celebrate this new quarter, but to also announce the next CEO. I'm stepping down for another dream of mine." He then turns to me, lifting my hand in the warm air. "Hanji Zoe, you'll be the next CEO."

"What?!" I should've kept it in, but I couldn't. Knowing what I've done, I wished I could slink away. 

Erwin continued on with his speech. More things about how I'll forge a new path of success. So much more... what have I gotten myself into? I just wanted to live a normal life and not this. CEO is an honor, but... was it truly right for me?

My attention then turned back to the sea- that creature that leapt at me... it wasn't for some random reason...

The splashing noise I heard before I got jumped... I couldn't see what made that noise, but if that creature didn't kill me, it must've been just to scare me. Warn me, perhaps? I wonder... if it was self-defense. Maybe I was going to see something and I got stopped...

Maybe when there's more light, I'll investigate even more. I rather be out on the field than to be rotting away in an office as a CEO. My fingers traced the bite mark on my neck once more... it's small... rounded... if I had any guess, it was human's. But it didn't have legs...

Could myths and legends be true...? 

No, I must be crazy... I have to be crazy to even think about this. How stupid could I even be? Mermaids aren't real. They're just not.