Titans Rule, a Levi Ackerman x Fem OC story.

(2) An unexpected arrival.

~Amelia~

I was startled awake as a droplet of cool rain rolled down my cheek. Too tired to care, I reached out for my duvet, only to find it wasn't there. Its absence made me realise how cold I was. Goosebumps erupted over my skin as a frigid breeze attacked my lightly clothed body. Then, I noticed the ache in my side as my ribcage pressed into something much more rigid and damper than my mattress. Forcing my eyes open, I was utterly mortified to find forests, grass, and mountains had replaced my messy bedroom.

"What the hell is going on?" I exclaimed out loud.

My heart pounded in my ears, and my breath quickened. I tried to reassure myself that I must still be dreaming: 'I am dreaming. This has to be a dream. Even if it is the most vivid one I've ever had.' In a panic, I pinched at the skin on my upper arm. I used every method I could think of—jumping up and down, tripping myself so I would fall over, and pinching harder until I was slapping myself. Yet, every attempt ultimately failed. The blades of grass tickling my feet, the dirt gathering under my fingernails, and the layer of sweat sticking to my pyjamas all confirmed that I was very much awake.

"No, no, no!" I repeated to myself. "Mum, Dad, Matthew! Is this some kind of joke?"

Falling to the ground in defeat, tears welled in my eyes as the realisation struck me. My eyes darted around, desperately searching for some sign of civilisation. However, all I saw were trees and the loose dirt on the ground vibrating. Vibrating?

As the vibrations grew louder, they started to resemble the sound of a charging elephant. Eventually, the rain lessened, and I could make out a creature's silhouette bolting towards me.

The first thing I noticed was how huge it was—something straight out of a nightmare, with bulging eyes and a fleshy, bulbous body. Thankfully, it was far enough away that I couldn't make out any more details of its appearance, and I sure as hell wasn't going to stick around to find out.

Willing my legs to move, I pushed myself off the ground and scurried away as quickly as possible. However, the size difference meant the beast could cover ground much faster than I could. Eventually, it got so close that I could feel the heat radiating from its body. I vehemently rejected the thought that I might die here—in this strange place without saying goodbye to my family, finishing my degree, or experiencing lasting friendships or romances.

Just as I was about to give up, I heard the creature's footsteps halt. Cautiously peeking behind me, I watched as it twisted its substantial body in the opposite direction and scampered away. I had no idea what had caught its attention, but I couldn't let the opportunity to escape slip away.

------ 845 ------

After running as far as my legs could carry me, I finally decided it was safe enough to stop. Glancing behind me, I searched for any sign of the creature. Instead, I was met with a picturesque scene of a low-lying sun on the horizon, bathing the unfamiliar land in hues of amber. Despite its hideous inhabitants, the flora and fauna of this strange place had a certain allure.

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I took in the forest before me. After traversing many miles of vacant land, I was relieved to have discovered some shelter. Although this small forest wouldn't provide much protection if the beast returned, it would allow me to put some distance between us.

My back hit the jagged bark of an old oak tree as I caught my breath, and my legs unwittingly collapsed beneath me. I hissed as I discovered the cause—there was rubble sticking out of my left foot. My right foot was in equally bad shape with a deep wound across its centre. There was no way I could run again until my feet healed. With the moon blinking down at me from the sky, all I could do was pray that I would survive the night. But with the scent of my bleeding feet, I feared I would attract some unwanted visitors.