Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 46: Liberio's Fall

The estate feels like a ghost of itself as you and Eugene hurry through the halls. The bags slung over your backs are light, but the burden of leaving everything behind makes each step feel like a struggle.

Four years of memories flood your mind—laughter, tears, moments of quiet solitude. But there's no time to linger. Eugene grabs your hand, his grip firm but reassuring. "We have to go," he whispers, his voice tinged with urgency.

The streets are eerily silent, the usual bustle replaced by an unsettling stillness. Most Marleyans are either at home or gathered at the grand performance in the city square. The distant hum of the event carries through the air and you can hear a man's voice booming like a sermon, though the words are too muffled to make out. You glance back at the estate one last time, its towering silhouette framed against the night sky. It's strange how something that once felt so imposing now seems so small, so distant. Eugene tugs at your hand, pulling you forward. "Come on," he says, his voice low. "We can't afford to wait. If we don't move now, we'll never make it."

You nod, falling into step behind him as the two of you navigate the labyrinth of streets. The route is etched into your memory, every turn and alleyway meticulously planned from the map you studied. But the city is far from deserted. At every corner, you pause, scanning for soldiers. The faint glow of streetlights casts long shadows, and the occasional flicker of a lantern in a distant window makes your heart skip a beat. More than once, you have to yank Eugene back, your hand clamping over his arm as a guard comes into view just around the bend. He freezes, his breath hitching, and you both wait in tense silence before finding another way around, slipping through shadows like ghosts.

"Are we close?" you whisper, your voice barely audible over the distant hum of the performance. Eugene shakes his head. "Still a long way to go. We need to make it to the docks on the other side of town." Your stomach churns, but there's no turning back now. You press on with footsteps light and deliberate, every sound magnified in the stillness. The cobblestones beneath your feet feel uneven and the cool night air nips at your skin, sending shivers down your spine.

Eventually, you pause to catch your breath as your legs burn from the relentless pace. Eugene pulls out the map, his hands trembling slightly as he studies it. The paper rustles softly and the sound is almost deafening in the quiet night. You lean against a nearby wall, your chest rising and falling as you try to steady your breathing.

Suddenly, you hear a faint whisper, almost imperceptible, accompanied by a strange, metallic sound, like wires being pulled taut. Your instincts scream at you to hide. Without a word, you grab Eugene and drag him into a narrow alley, pressing yourselves against the cold brick wall.

"What's wrong?" he murmurs, his voice tinged with panic. You shake your head, your eyes darting toward the street. "Something doesn't feel right. I heard something."

He quiets down, straining to listen, but the night is silent again. "Are you sure?" he asks, "Maybe it's just your nerves."

You clench your jaw, refusing to second-guess yourself. "I swear I heard something," you insist. Eugene sighs, glancing at the map again. "We're close. Just ten more blocks and we'll reach the boat." He steps toward the street, but you hesitate, your gut screaming at you to wait. Just as he turns to call your name, a blinding flash of light cuts through the darkness, illuminating Eugene's face.

Your heart leaps into your throat as you dive behind a trash bin, your pulse racing. A soldier steps into view and shines his flashlight right at Eugene. "What are you doing out here?" the man demands. Eugene shields his eyes, forcing a casual tone. "Just heading home."

The soldier narrows his eyes. "Most people are either at the play or already home. Why are you out so late?" Eugene shrugs, his voice steady despite the tension. "I went to the play, but it wasn't my thing. Got bored and left early."