𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 || 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟗 : 𝐒𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲

I slowly opened my eyes, a familiar figure appeared before me, wrapped in a faint, ethereal light. Levi stood tall, his piercing gaze fixed intently on mine, his eyes blazing with a fierce inner restlessness. But it was the tears that streamed down his face, like streams of sorrow, that shattered my heart into a million pieces.

My vision blurred as my own eyes welled up with tears, and I tried to rush towards him, to bridge the gap between us, to comfort him, to hold him. But, like a ghost, he began to fade away, his footsteps echoing through the silence as he slowly, gradually, walked away from me.

I cried out his name, my voice hoarse with desperation, but it was lost in the void, swallowed up by the darkness. The sound of my own voice was the only response, a haunting echo that taunted me with its emptiness. I was left standing alone, surrounded by an oppressive silence, my heart heavy with grief, my soul torn asunder.

And then, without warning, icy water cascaded down my body, shocking me out of my trance-like state. I jolted upright, gasping for air, my heart racing with a mix of fear and disorientation. The sudden sensation was like a slap in the face, a harsh reminder that it was all just a dream - a cruel, heart-wrenching dream that had felt all too real.

Ryan sat calmly in the chair before me, his eyes fixed intently on mine, his expression unreadable. I, on the other hand, was a picture of vulnerability, kneeling on the cold, unforgiving floor, my body soaked to the bone, water dripping from my hair, my clothes clinging to my skin. My hands were bound tightly behind my back, the restraints cutting into my wrists, leaving me feeling helpless and defenseless. The chill of the floor seeped into my bones, making my teeth chatter, but I was too frozen with fear to even try to warm myself.

To Ryan's left and right stood two imposing figures, their faces obscured by the shadows, their presence seeming to fill the entire room. They loomed over me, their silence more menacing than any words could have been. The air was heavy with tension, the only sound the soft dripping of water from my clothes, and the creaking of the old chair beneath Ryan's weight. Time seemed to have slowed down, each tick of the clock stretching out into an eternity, as I waited with bated breath for whatever was to come next.

I gazed up at Ryan, my eyes pleading for answers, as I asked him, "Why are you doing this to me, Ryan? What have I done to deserve this?"

Ryan's expression twisted into a scowl, his eyes blazing with a fierce resentment. "You ruined my life," he spat, his voice venomous. "I had the chance to join the Survey Corps, to make a name for myself, to leave my past behind. But you had to go and betray me, didn't you?"

I shook my head, trying to defend myself. "That's not true, Ryan. I didn't betray you. You're the one who's to blame for your own actions."

Ryan took a step closer, his eyes boring into mine. "You told Levi and Hange the truth about my plan," he accused, his voice rising. "Now I'm a criminal, forced to flee the city to avoid the police. I'll never be able to go back, all because of you."

I stood my ground, despite the fear that was growing inside me. "If you hadn't tried to kill me, none of this would have happened," I pointed out, my voice firm. "You would still be in the city living with me."

Ryan's face twisted into a cold, calculating smile. "You'll pay for what you did to me," he whispered, his voice sending shivers down my spine.

"What are you going to do to me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Ryan's smile grew wider. "Oh, I think you'll find out soon enough," he said, his eyes glinting with malice.

Ryan's gaze narrowed as his eyes landed on the delicate chain hanging around my neck. His frown deepened, and he reached out a hand, his fingers closing around the small pendant that Toji had given me. "What is this?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and suspicion.

As his fingers made contact with the pendant, a spark of memory kindled within me. I recalled the words Toji had spoken when he gave me the pendant - words that had seemed insignificant at the time, but now held immense importance. The pendant, Toji had told me, contained a tracking device, a tiny beacon that could lead help to my location. A wave of hope surged through me, threatening to overwhelm me. I felt a sense of reprieve wash over me, and I knew that I had to keep Ryan from discovering the pendant's true significance.

I forced a nonchalant tone into my voice as I replied, "It's a present from Toji." I watched as Ryan's eyes scrutinized the pendant, his gaze roving over every inch of its surface. His fingers probed the intricate design, searching for any hidden mechanisms or clues. I held my breath, praying that he wouldn't discover the tracking device, praying that help would arrive before Ryan could carry out his sinister plans.

Ryan's eyes scrutinized the pendant, his gaze roving over every inch of its surface. "A present?" he repeated, his voice dripping with skepticism. "What's so special about it?"

I shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "It's just a symbol of our friendship, that's all."

"Hmm, it looks like a simple pendant," Ryan said, his eyes never leaving mine. "But I'm not so sure. I think there's more to it than meets the eye."

The blonde-haired man, stepped forward, his eyes fixed intently on the pendant that Ryan held. "Let me see, boss," he said, his voice low and even. Ryan handed him the pendant, and his eyes slowly began to widen as he examined it. Ryan looked at him, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "What's wrong, Ken?" Ryan asked.

Ken's gaze snapped up to mine, his eyes locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity. "What was Toji's full name?" he asked, his voice dripping with an air of foreboding. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of where this was going, before responding, "Toji Fushiguro."

Ken's eyes widened in shock, his face pale. "Toji Fushiguro?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's the leader of an elite assassination squad." My eyes widened in shock, my mind reeling with the implications. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me.

I yelled out in shock, my voice echoing through the room. "What?!" I exclaimed, my mind racing with questions. "That's impossible! Toji would never..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Ken's words dripped with venom as he spoke of Toji, his voice painting a picture of a ruthless and merciless killer. "He's a man with no conscience, no morals," Ken said, his eyes glinting with a mixture of fear and respect. "He kills without hesitation, without remorse. He's a tool, a weapon, and he'll work for anyone who's willing to pay the price."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Ken's words conjured up images of Toji, the man I thought I knew. Ken's next words only added to the horror. "I've seen him in action," Ken said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He killed my previous boss. Toji didn't even flinch, didn't even blink. He just pulled the trigger and walked away."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Toji, a ruthless killer? It couldn't be. I had seen him at the local construction site, laughing and joking with the other workers. He had seemed so... normal. So ordinary. But Ken's words had painted a different picture, a picture of a man who was capable of unspeakable violence.

I felt like I was living in a nightmare, like I had stumbled into a world that was completely foreign to me. Toji, a killer? It was a concept that I couldn't wrap my head around, a concept that seemed to defy everything I thought I knew about him.