Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 36

As you began to stir, the first thing you felt was chains digging into your wrists. You slowly peeled open your eyes and took a deep breath, immediately falling victim to a coughing fit.

When it subsided, you were able to focus on everything around you. You were sitting on a stone floor, chained to a wall directly across from a heavy-looking barred door. You noticed several other places along the other walls where chains hung down, but it was odd. They were lower to the floor than your typical dungeon. You'd tortured enough people that you would know.

You tried to lean forward some to see a window high above where dull light filtered in, stretching the stiffness from your shoulders as you did so. As you moved around and your senses sharpened, you heard the sound of a chair creaking and footsteps approaching. Joan appeared at the door, gazing through the long vertical bars as she held up a candle. She came in and stood a few feet away from you, leaning over some so you could receive her harsh glare.

"I would give you a piece of my mind if I had more time, but the other guard already went to fetch Mr. (L/n). So I'll save it for later," Joan growled coldly, radiating anger.

Just then, your father appeared at the door and let himself in. You hadn't even heard him approach. Joan moved far out of his way to lean against a wall with her arms crossed. He got down on one knee right in front of you so that his impassive eyes were level with your glare.

He reached out a hand and lifted your chin with it. "How many chances must I give you, child?" he murmured while shaking his head. "You are my pride, the finest work I've ever produced. None of the others have measured up. The life I gave you wasn't all that bad, was it?"

You huffed wryly. "It wasn't a life at all."

His eyes narrowed and he pulled away, straightening up. "I'm getting old, (Y/n). I'd always intended to have you take over the company. But now, you'll fulfill a different purpose." You gazed at him quizzically, so he continued. "For now, for the children here, you'll serve as a prime example of what happens to those who disobey. As well as another subject for them to practice interrogation techniques on."

"Seriously? You think having children try to torture me is going to be effective in any way?" You smirked.

"We have some up and comers, surprisingly," he replied with a simple shrug, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "The only reason I extended my visit here was to monitor their progress." He turned his head to address Joan. "Go get the girl."

Joan was gone no more than ten minutes. She returned with an all too familiar person close at her heels. Your father walked over and placed a hand on Anya's shoulder, giving a wide smile.

Your heart thundered in your chest. He doesn't know about the training, right? There's no way.

"(Y/n), meet Anya, my new up and comer," your father announced. "She's shown unusual prowess lately, so I'm giving her the privilege of learning the art of interrogation." He pulled a small knife from his pocket and grabbed Anya's hand, placing the weapon on her palm and closing her fingers around it. She only stared at you with wide, shocked eyes.

Your father nudged her closer until she was right in front of you. "Go ahead, get a feel for what real human flesh feels like under a knife. It's easier than you think," he murmured encouragingly, stepping away again.

Anya's eyes were alight with panic. You met them with a calm look, giving her a tiny nod. Under no circumstances should she compromise her own security right now.

Anya closed her eyes for a moment, turned her face away, and swung the knife. Just as you had shown her how. It left a slice on your chin, but the wound was intentionally shallow. She glanced back over her shoulder as your father crossed his arms.

"What, are you afraid she'll hurt you? She's not going anywhere," your father said with obvious dissatisfaction. "Do it again."

And Anya obeyed, over and over. Your father didn't let up until your skin was riddled with slashes and dripping blood. Even through a stinging pain that enveloped your whole body like a cloud, you glared at him over Anya's shoulder. He finally dismissed her, before he and Joan left without another word.

_______________

"You complete dumbass!" You were startled awake as Joan entered the cell alone, the door slamming shut behind her with an echoing clang. "I told you not to fight it! Now you're going to wish you'd actually died on that expedition."

"You must have been so pleased when you heard that I had," you hissed.

"Excuse me?" Joan stopped dead and looked down at you with wide eyes.

"Without me around, you're my father's right hand. You hate that he's still so attached to me," you sneered.

Joan's boot shot out and struck you across the face. Your brain reeled from the impact of the blow, your head whipped sideways as you spat blood.

"Way to kick a girl while she's down," you mocked.

Clenching her fists tightly to her sides, Joan abruptly turned and marched toward the door, but stopped just before reaching it. "Did you really think," she growled lowly, "that you could've stayed hidden forever? That you could've escaped this fate?"

"Maybe. I had to try, right? I'm not some dog to take orders and be kicked around," you replied tiredly.

Joan looked back at you from over her shoulder. "There is honor in giving yourself to something so completely."

"Don't pretend there's any honor in the work my father has us do, or in any of his business."

_______________

You didn't know how much time passed, but some part of you was dimly aware that it was nighttime, when small steps approached the cell, and you recognized Anya peering nervously through the door.

"I'm alone," she called softly, her small hands gripping at the bars on either side of her face.

"You have questions," you sighed.

Anya nodded in the gloom. "Your name isn't really Ilse, is it?" Her eyes were dark with hurt as she stared at you.

"Ilse is an alias I used, to protect you," you answered quietly. "I was being hunted, so I faked my death and went into hiding. And god only knows what they would've done to you if you'd let slip that you knew me."

Anya took a moment to consider the information. "I'm so sorry for what I had to do the other day. You saved my life. You taught me how to fend for myself, and treated me with more kindness than I've ever known." Her grip tightened on the bars. "I don't know how, but I'm going to help you get out of here. I owe you that much."

"You shouldn't do anything to compromise your own safety, Anya," you warned.

She smiled suddenly. "I'll be okay. I have you, your training, and the stranger from the woods."

You frowned, at a loss for words as you expectantly waited for her to explain.

Anya neatly sat down on the floor outside of your cell. "After the fire died down, I found my way back to the ravine, and I met a man. He said he was looking for you."