Anamnesis (Rivamika)

Chapter 7 - Tunnel Vision

Although Levi and Mikasa could stand up in the dim tunnel, it was not wide enough for them to stretch out their arms. Still, they proceeded on the only way they could, slowly.

"Yeah, we are really going to have to find a torch at some point." Mikasa said.

"It'll be our priority, right after we find a key for these." Levi said, pulling his arm on the handcuffs.

"I've got to agree with you there."

They walked for a short time in silence, neither of them knowing what to say to each other.

After all, we practically know nothing about each other.

Levi had mulled over this thought to himself, as he scanned the metal walls that made up the tunnel in front of them. It appeared that the tunnel was made of metal sheeting, with pillars of rivets connecting them together. The rest of the tunnel was spartan save these small details that Levi had noticed.

Suddenly, Mikasa stopped in her tracks. Levi, not noticing that Mikasa had stopped, bumped into her.

"What the hell?"

But just as the words escaped his mouth, Levi had caught a flash of light from the corner of his eye. The direction of which, Mikasa was now looking at – there was no doubt in Levi's mind that she too had seen the flash of light. Mikasa was already standing on the tips of her toes and reached up with her hand. With her hand grasped firmly on the object she stood back onto the flats of her feet.

"What is it?" Levi said, the lack of light preventing him from seeing the object.

Mikasa was silent as she traced her fingers over the object. She knew exactly what it was when she first touched the leather grip.

"It's a knife." Mikasa said, Levi struggling to hear, as her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Levi got the impression that something in those few seconds had changed in Mikasa. Yet, he dared not say anything, he waited to see what Mikasa would say or do next. Levi couldn't be sure because of the darkness, but he was sure that Mikasa was just skimming her fingers over the blade of the knife, over and over again. To Levi, Mikasa seemed totally and utterly entranced by the knife. Slowly, Mikasa's hand moved to her abdomen.

"Are you going to be sick again? Because if you are, can you make sure do to it away from my direction?" Levi said with some haste.

Mikasa finally raised her head to look at Levi, seemingly out of whatever trance she was in.

"Erm...let's see if this thing can get our cuffs off, shall we?" Mikasa suggested, but her bright tone did not deceive Levi.

And just like that, things are back to normal? I don't think so.

"What was that?" Levi asked.

"What was what?"

"You. With the knife?"

"Nothing." Mikasa said, her tone defensive.

"Tch. Whatever. But soon, you'll have no choice but to trust me."

Mikasa said nothing, but lifted up her cuffed hand and tried to pry open the lock of the cuffs, to no avail. Even when Levi tried, the cuffs did not budge, but the metal was left with scuffed marks to show their efforts in vain. The pair decided to move on, and Levi suggested keeping the knife on their persons. Mikasa did not even give Levi the option of carrying it, when she immediately stashed it away in a pocket of her jumpsuit.