(snk) Ways to Say Goodbye

Chapter 8: Vow

A/N: Hello! Sorry for the hiatus, life got in the way. Nevermind, here's chapter 8! Some feminine pronouns are used- I tried to put them in brackets. Please change accordingly. In this chapter, you will become skilled at maneuvering. However, how long can you keep this secret before Levi and the others find out? Will your ambition expose you? Keep reading to find out!

Age: 11

Year: 847

The weeks to follow resulted in the same. Farlan and Levi gone, you had plenty of time to work on maneuvering. It was torturous, and grueling. Every time your small body hit the concrete wall a surge of doubt swept through your body. You constantly wondered, "Why am I doing this? What am I doing to myself?" But you continued. Every day you trained, and every night, your eyes foggy with sleeplessness and your body trembling, you worked to improve your gear in any way. One night it was cutting and refitting the gear's leather straps to fit your unique size, another it was stealing pig grease in order to oil the machinery. This work brought you back to the days where you had no one to count on, the days when you were all alone in the Underground with only a small pocketknife as a weapon. You remembered back to stealing apples from food stands, to doing any work that could be found in order to survive.

But you didn't mind the anguish.

Pain was your friend. Pain was there, every day of your life. But most of all, pain reminded you that you weren't dead yet

*

In the morning, you ambled to Isabel's room, gently shaking her awake. 

"Morning, Isabel," you murmured to her, helping her into a sitting position. The girl was average size, about five or six years older than you, yet you felt almost as if you were  caring for a young child.

"Morning, kid." A sort of aura was emanating from her- you could tell she was healing, at least on the inside. As if drifting in syrup, you lifted the water glass on the chipped nightstand to her parched lips, giving her a drink. Cracking the window open, you allowed for a slight breeze to waft in. The air smelled of damp wood and compost, yet fresh. While you were doing this, the girl followed you with her glazed eyes. As you were about to leave, she spoke, startling you.

"Hey, kiddo," she paused. "Thanks, for everything you do. The guys, well, they can be kinda tough sometimes. You though, you're always here for me. I know your life here's been pretty rough, but after all this time, you're still you. So thanks."

Your face was stoic. No one spoke of the times before we had all come together. No one had ever acknowledged strife beyond our typical complaining. After all, we had it pretty good, thanks to Levi. We had a roof over our heads, beds to sleep in, what could almost be called a family. And that was a hell of a lot more than most kids down here had.

With a halfhearted smile, you met eyes with the pale girl.

"Get better, Isabel. I have something I want to show you once you're well enough to go outside." And with that, you softly closed the wooden door behind you.

-

At the table, we ate in silence. The girl's auburn hair was tangled in its usual way, and loose clothing covered her sickly skin. Although the medication had helped enormously, Isabel still seemed sluggish, her yellowed eyes drooping shut every once in a while. The girl slouched at the table, a wooden spoon in her hand, peering into her oats as if they were a glass ball. Levi stood at the stove, stirring a pot while another simmered. He already wore work clothes; black pipeleg pants and his signature chestnut-colored vest over a yellowing, collared shirt. You ambled into the room, body screaming of soreness from yesterday. Levi looking up at your hunched form.