{LeviHan} Within Darkness...

Chapter 2: Something's Not Right

Levi's POV

"Levi! Please, let's stop!" Isabel's high-pitched squeals filled the air as I was driving. I knew exactly why she wanted to stop: cheeseburgers. She's been asking for them non-stop. Farlan said he can make burgers at home, but Isabel has tried every excuse in the book. I don't think she's a college student. I think she's a toddler.

"What now?" I rolled my eyes, glancing in the backseat. I rejected the idea of her being in the passenger seat, so Farlan always took it. 

Isabel was pouting with her lips puckered like a toddler. Her green eyes darted to the side as her arms crossed her chest. "I need to use the bathroom..."

"Can't you hold it for another half hour?"

"No..."

Farlan chuckles, pointing to the glowing sign outside. "Well... we are about to hit Krystall's. I am craving some bacon burgers."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, feeling the ends of my lips twitching as he changed the plan. It's one thing when Isabel starts complaining and begging for something nice. It's another thing when Farlan supports her half the time. I want to follow a schedule, but he likes to change things on the spot.

I roll my eyes, pulling into the parking lot for the burger restaurant. Isabel screamed and quickly unbuckled her seatbelt. She kissed my cheek, and I could feel her energy pouring into my soul. "Thank you, Big Bro! I love you! I'll make it up!"

"Like cleaning your room or messes at home?"

"Hah!" Isabel jumped out of the car once I parked the car. She turns to me with her eyes glistening and her sly smile. "Of course not!"

She quickly ran into the restaurant like a wild toddler. Farlan chuckles as he hops out of the car, turning to me. "I guess we're eating in. Sorry, Levi. How long are you going to stay?"

"Give me a few minutes. I need to heal from being betrayed."

"We love you too, Levi." Farlan shuts his door, "See you in a few, Levi. We'll keep a seat warm for you."

I watched them enter the restaurant, and I stayed in the car for a few minutes. As I was about to open the door, a black van pulled up a few parking stalls away. Two people exited the car, chuckling to themselves. I didn't want to leave my car until they walked in, as I had this... bad feeling about them. It wasn't the way they walked, dressed, or talked. Something told me that something was wrong.

"Think we'll get a high paycheck off of her?"

"We better." I heard them say as they walked into the restaurant. "Let's hurry up because the drugs will wear off soon. Don't want her waking up."

"Dude, shut the fuck up." The man pushed the other one angrily. "We're in public, you idiot."

I watched them enter the place before exiting my car. Just hearing what they said confirmed that there was something suspicious about them. Carefully keeping an eye out, I approached their van with caution. I didn't hear them lock their doors, which is interesting for these guys. Why wouldn't they lock it up if they truly did something illegal?

I put my ear up against the van's metal walls, hoping to hear something before taking action. I heard a soft thump, which shouldn't happen. That gave me cause to open the van doors. Once it slid open, my arms fell to my sides as it turned to stone. I felt my breath halt as I gazed into the dark abyss. 

This woman was bound by rope. Around her wrists and ankles, even around her mouth to keep her from screaming. The brightness of the parking lot light did nothing to wake her. She twitched involuntarily as she lay there on the bottom of the van. What the hell happened to her? Am I seeing a woman here?

Shaking the shock, I quickly called the police. 

"My name is Levi Ackerman, and I'm right outside of Krystall's on Winders Road. I found a woman in a white van. I think she has been kidnapped." I say once I heard the voice on the other side. "Hurry. The people are inside the restaurant. Keep quiet too. They might leave if they hear the police coming."

*   *   *

"They evaded us," the police officers told me, "however, thanks to your actions, you saved a woman from her terrible fate."

"Where is she now? Going home?"

"Unfortunately, she's still unconscious. We're taking her to the hospital."

"Can the nurses contact me when she's awake?"

"You're not family. However, you did save her. I suggest you stay at the hospital. When she wakes up, she can permit you to talk to her." The officer sighs, shaking his head. "I'm just glad you saved her. Knowing the majority of people will not go as far as you did, Levi. You're a true, good samaritan. Keep that in mind, will you? No matter how hard life gets, you saved a life. It's not an everyday thing for an average person to do, you know?"

He walks away as the radio goes off about something. I ignored it. Isabel and Farlan approached me with some gift cards and bags of burgers. They had a smile on their faces as they walked toward me.

"Hey, Levi!" Isabel shouts. "The manager gave us free gift cards to this place! They also wanted to give one to the woman you found, so they entrusted us to give it to them. They also gave us free burgers and another ticket to waive off your entire meal! Well, Farlan and I have the gift cards. You and the woman have the tickets as well."

"That's too generous for them to do."

Farlan shrugs his shoulders. "Well, no one has been kidnapped on their property before, and they want to promote the idea of how good samaritans can be rewarded if they pay attention to red flags around them. Then again, I can see that idea biting them in their a-."

"Let's go home," Isabel says with the light in her eyes slowly extinguishing. "I don't like the fact that we almost were a witness to something bad. Makes my stomach turn upside down knowing monsters like them are continuing to wander around."

"You guys can go home, I'm going to the hospital."

Farlan raised his eyebrow as he tilted his head. "You? Go to the hospital? Why do you want to go, Levi? There's no need for you to go there."

"I... I just have a feeling. You trust it, don't you?"  

Farlan and Isabel have grown accustomed to listening to my gut. Most of the time, it winds up with us getting some good rewards. If I didn't rely on my gut about the van... I don't think that woman would be in a good place. I have to talk to her. Maybe apologize for the trauma she just went through. Or maybe I should tell her that I understand how she feels and maybe just be there as a shoulder for her to cry on. Or just explain to her what had happened. Instead of relying on witness reports, she can hear my side of the story.

Of course, Farlan didn't question my feelings and we drove to the hospital together. I didn't think I would wait for hours until she woke up.