The New Guy [Modern LevixReader]

45. Post-Traumatic Nightmares

The room was dark and gloomy. It's been quiet for many hours now.. besides the fights, running, bickering, yelling, and wheeled carts that could be heard rolling around just outside.

A small, malnourished boy pushed himself up from a sitting fetal position. He began to walk weakly over to the body of a woman lying flat in an uncomfortably small bed. The night shirt draped over his body hung slightly off his shoulder. His pale skin and bones were visible through the rips in the dirty cloth. He stopped at the side of the bed and tapped the woman's hand. It was cold. Too cold.

"Mama.." His soft voice shaked nervously. "Mama.. you need to try to sit up a little now."

"Levi.. baby.." The whisper of a sickly woman's voice responded. "Mama is very sick, sweetie.. I'm sorry.." A few dry coughs followed. Her eyes never opened to meet his anxious gaze.

"But you have to try Mama.."

"When I'm all better, I promise.. we will sit and drink some tea together again.." She struggled to lift her hand but managed to sit hers atop of his. "..and I will give you the haircut I promised you, hmm?" Her voice was barely audible now.

"But mama.." The tiny hand grasped hers as tightly as he could. She squeezed back.

"Levi.. my special boy.. I love you.. now let.. Mama rest.."

With those words, the pressure of her grasp weakened, and her hand dropped. Growing up underground, he knew all of the signs. She was cold as ice. Her lips were turning purple.

She was gone.

His mother was gone.

This dirty disgusting place took her life. It was at that moment he promised that if he ever made it out of this room, he would leave this filthy underground cave. He would reach the surface. No matter what it took.

As tears softly began to fall down his gaunt face, he grabbed his mother's motionless arm. He sat it gently underneath the sheet that sat on top of her withering form and tucked her in. He prayed she would wake up and that this would all be a dream.. but he knew it wasn't. Miracles weren't real. Good things didn't happen here.. or to the people trapped here.

A flash of light engulfed the vision, and the surroundings changed. Now it was bright.. so bright that his tear filled eyes could hardly see a thing. The sun was reflecting off of the polished steel of the guns that were circled and aiming around him.

"Mama! Noooo!" The small boy cried out for his mother. His hand tried to reach for her, but all he could squeeze onto was the air.

"Levi darling, leave! Go with your Uncle Kenny. Please hurry while you still can!" The woman yelled nervously but reassuringly. The once beautiful flowered sundress she wore was now practically ripped to shreds from some type of scuffle. The small boy watched as 2 military men grabbed her arms forcefully, causing her to yelp in pain.

"Let my mama go!" The petite child jolted forward. His eyes seemed to gleam white as he screamed daringly. A look of shock appeared on the men's faces who surrounded them, and many of them stepped aside quickly. They knew what this little boy could be capable of. They knew who he was, even if he didn't remember yet himself.

Before the little one could get close enough, he was pulled back by a force even stronger than his own. A large hand gripped the back of his shirt, and he was lifted into the air. He kicked and punched, but it was no use. The tall man who had a hold on him was much stronger.

The man glanced at the woman with tears rolling down her cheeks and then at the child dangling from his grip. He was the spitting image of her. He lifted his head, and both adults nodded at one another in agreement. They didn't have to say a word. They already knew what needed to be done.