U̶n̶dying love ~ Levi x Reader

Chapter 12

Tall stone houses towered over us as we slowly rode through the village. Blocking us from the titan shifter's view. The enclosure pretending to protect.

I will not let it distract me.

An eerie wind blew in between the dark alleyways. I shuddered, pulling my green cape tighter around me. Now that we were here, what were we supposed to do? I should know, I led them here.

Yet I couldn't seem to recall what.

I looked around me. The road, overgrown and cracked, hadn't been used in god knows how many years. Lanterns hung down over our heads, all of them blown out. We passed through what remained of an old marketplace. My horse sniffed the empty crates filled with vines, hoping to find something edible. It neighed in frustration when it realized no fruit was left.

"If titans didn't bring the fall to this place, what did?" I thought while sneaking a peek of Jean on my right side. He looked the same as before, though his eyebrows were furrowed. What was he looking at?

I followed his gaze further up the road, past the marketplace, herb shop, and an empty cart - filled with nothing but the essence of what once had been a lively village. All houses were intact, and aside from the vegetation, looked just like when they had been left.

All but one.

With only a few walls still standing, roof collapsed, and more than half of the remains scattered on the road before us it was hard to miss.

"What...happened here?" Marco asked, even though none of us had the answer. He stepped down from his horse, Jean and I following.

Jean kneeled down, picking up a half wood plank to inspect further. I was going to do the same, but was stopped by an uneasy feeling rising in my body.

Legs slowly weakening I grabbed my horse's side for support. My head spun and I swore I was about to throw up.

That's when I lost my footing.

—

"Stop with your childish antics, your sister is trying to sleep!" He whispered-yelled, scolding the girl. The man glared down at her, and she glared back. Her small hands bawled at her sides, tears threatening to fall.

"No." The girl sharply stated, her lip quivering.

He was taken aback. "You have no right to disobey me!"

Jaw clenching, she tried her hardest to stand still . "I have every right not to listen." Her fiery eyes did not leave his for a single moment. She wasn't going to surrender this time. It was going to pay.

He heaved a sigh. "Fine. I'm feeling generous today. You've got one last chance. Go down to the basement before she wakes up, or I'll need to make that slash a bit bigger. " He threatened the girl, referring to her bandaged arm.

Her breath hitched. And she stepped back, grabbing her arm in a protective manner. Old memories haunting her. Yet she refused to give up.

"You... you never cared about me..." She looked down at her bruised feet, voice breaking "It was always ...about her." She choked out between sobs. "You and mother... you two see me as a monster. And I...was stupid enough...to believe you did all of this... because I was the last hope for this place!" Her nails bore into her injured arm, not caring that it drew blood.

He was at a loss of words.

"A-and y-you are! Iris, l-let's go down-" He nervously stutterd out, suddenly afraid of the upset girl.