Was She... A Traitor? | Levi X OC

Chapter 27: Chains of Deceit

Kat stirred, her body aching with the memory of battle. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the dimly lit infirmary. She tried to move, but every inch of her body protested, especially her side, where she had been stabbed. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and blood, a mix that turned her stomach. She wasn't alone. The faint murmur of voices carried from outside the door.

Panic gripped her. She needed to tell Levi, to show him the evidence she'd found, the proof that could clear her name. But as she tried to push herself upright, a sharp pain sliced through her abdomen, and she gasped, falling back against the thin mattress.

The door creaked open, and a familiar face stepped inside. Hange san.

"You're awake," Hange said softly, her usually cheerful demeanor dampened by the grim circumstances. "You're lucky to be alive, Kat."

Kat swallowed, her throat dry. "How long have I been out?"

"Two days," Hange replied, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "We found you just in time. You were losing a lot of blood."

Two days? Kat's mind raced. What had happened in her absence? Had anyone found the letter? She had to know. She had to speak with Levi.

As if reading her thoughts, Hange's expression darkened. "Kat... the elders are demanding answers. They're saying you leaked information, that you're the reason for the ambush."

Her heart sank. It was worse than she'd feared. "That's not true! I found—"

"I know," Hange interrupted, raising a hand to stop her. "But they don't care about the truth right now. The situation's delicate, and with Kenny pushing them, they're more inclined to believe the worst."

"Kenny," Kat spat the name, her hands balling into fists. "He's behind all of this. I found proof—there was a letter. Has anyone—"

"Shh," Hange said softly, her eyes darting to the door. "We'll talk about that later. For now, you need to focus on staying calm. The elders want you exiled, Kat."

Kat froze. Exiled. The word rang in her ears, heavy with finality. "No... they can't. I didn't do anything!"

"I know," Hange repeated, her tone more urgent. "But the council's under immense pressure. And Levi..." She paused, her eyes softening. "Levi's been... distant. He hasn't come to see you."

The words stung more than Kat expected. She knew Levi could be cold, but after the way they had fought together, after everything they'd been through, she thought—she hoped—he would believe in her, that he'd stand by her.

"Why?" Kat's voice cracked, a mixture of pain and disbelief. "Why hasn't he come?"

Hange sighed, looking torn. "I don't know. He's been acting strange ever since the ambush. It's like he's distancing himself on purpose."

Kat's heart sank even further. Was Levi Heichou truly abandoning her when she needed him most?

A few hours later, Kat found herself sitting in front of the council of elders, her wrists shackled, her body still weak from her injuries. The grand chamber felt colder than usual, the eyes of the elders boring into her with a mix of disdain and suspicion.

"We are here to determine the fate of Katniss Burnedead," one of the elders announced, his voice echoing throughout the room. "There are accusations that she leaked critical information, leading to the recent attack on Scout headquarters."

Kat clenched her jaw, biting back the frustration rising within her. "I didn't leak anything. I've been set up."

The elder who had spoken raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a slight sneer. "Set up? By whom?"