The Contract

Chapter 2

Lisanna sat at the base of a tree trunk, when Levy found her. She couldn't remember last seeing a human so innocent as her. She looked to be about 17 years old, physically anyway. Lisanna was in the fetal position, her body right against the back of the tree trunk like a baby trying to hide. Her white hair, was un evenly cut, hiding half of her face. Her clothes looked tattered like a homeless person, but so did Levy's clothes. She just knew, they both needed to keep running, especially since she was already being chased by bandits. Levy quickly grabs her, pulling her as she tried to run. Lisanna resisted by trying to pull her arm away or thrash it around, but she didn't dare make a sound.

Levy looks at her, for a moment and it was like they had the same thought(connection); Safe. Lisanna then ran with her, the sounds of people yelling, were in the distant. Once, they passed the creek, Levy hid them in the forest by pulling them up into the trees. Luckily, she still had more strength than anticipated, so it helped the both of them. They hid in the trees, making themselves a nest. Levy hadn't expected Lisanna to be so open after what had happened.

"My name is Lisanna. Yours?" She held out her hand, and Levy shook it.

"I am a person with many names. Levy in english."

Lisanna blinks her blue eyes, then adds, "I'm guessing you are not human then?"

Levy puts a finger to her mouth, hushing her. Suddenly, they heard soft whispers, and movement, making Lisanna freeze.

Levy could feel her emotion of terror, and just lightly pats her head trying to reassure her. Lisanna didn't know what to make of it, but for some reason it helped. She thanked Levy and asked, "What was that?"

"Dark User Hounds. The magic takes form of dogs, but the movement is swift, like an ocean wave covering the sand as a blanket."

"So it's hunting for-?"

"Anything alive. It locates us like an echo."

Lisanna didn't understand too much, but she knew what Levy meant by Echo.

"Will we be able to go soon?"

"Not now."

Levy then moves, leaning her back against the branches around her.

"We will have to stay here for the night."

"Here?"

"Yes."

"I won't be able to sleep."

They look at each other for a moment, before Levy sighs.

"Then just rest. We can't go down there right now."Levy then gasps as everything black.

The sudden scream woke her up, and she realized it was Lisanna. Levy was upside down, her body groggy from the blood rushing to her head. Juan had sliced her across the chest repeatedly, torturing her. Levy's starts to panic, swinging her body, trying to move in anyway.

"Why didn't you help me?" Lisanna asked bluntly.

Lisanna's decapitated head would be close hers now. Blood splattered on her face while her white hair was stained with blood.

"You didn't help me." "You didn't help me!" "YOU DIDN'T HELP ME!"

Levy sat up abruptly, gasping for air, her body soaked of sweat. Dream, she thought, it was just a dream. Levy wanted to believe that it was one, because she didn't want to remember Lisanna that way. Calming herself down, she looks around at her surroundings; the first thing she noticed was the woman sleeping in a chair. The woman looked to be her age; 17. Carefully getting up, Levy sees the woman move her head, causing her blonde hair to cover her face completely. She needed information on where she was, and then leave. Leave everything behind her and live alone again...But did she really want that? Pausing at the opening of the tent, she looks to see the woman still sleeping. Her sharp eyes then notices a small knife in the clutch of her hands. Hmm, she thought, peeking her head out before leaving the tent.

Even from where she was, Levy heard the laughter and chattering of dozens of people. She couldn't tell if she should be relieved or frightened, as she carefully walked up to them. As she walked around each of the tents, getting closer, the smell of a fire grew more intense. Trying to stay hidden, she watched dozens of people as they gathered around the fire.

"What should we do Gajeel?"

"I don't know, Gray. They were supposed to be back 4 days ago."

"We should send more people out."

"Too risky. I don't want to leave this cave without protection."

"Then send me and Laxus. You know we can stay hidden."

"You know Laxus is waiting for his baby to be born."

"I will do it, if it comes to that. Mira will understand." Laxus sat down with his arms crossed, looking at them.

Levy watched, the one they called, Gajeel. He looked better than her first glimpse of him, which made her bewildered. She was having such weird thoughts when it came to this man; a stranger. Gajeel ran his hand through his long black hair, saying, "No, I don't want land surveillance."

"So you are going to send Exceed?" Laxus gave him a weird look.

"Send me? Where?"

Exceed flies out of no where, landing on the ground near Gajeel. Is-Is that a cat? A flying cat? She stood there in disbelief, before seeing the cat turn human.

"We might need to send you out to look for signs of life."

Exceed sighs in response, remarking, "What's the point of sending just me out? It could take me days, and without-"

"Stop being lazy and help out. Plus, we will send Happy and Frog out there too with you. Each of you will be a checkpoint."

As they talked, Levy had used the opportunity to get closer to Gajeel. He seemed to be the leader, since they were all listening to him and his aura felt strong. She didn't really have a plan either, once she got by him, but she wanted answers, no matter how she got them. As she got closer to him, a woman's voice yelled, "She's awake! She's awake!"

Acting fast, Levy pulls out a knife, putting it to Gajeel's neck.

"Please don't move." Levy said, hearing them gasp, as her eyes darted everywhere.

Gajeel froze for a moment, actually surprised that no one had noticed her, including him.

"What do you want?" Gajeel simply asks, his sharp ears picking up her loud heart beat.

"Where am I?"

"South."

Gajeel could tell she was stunned by that, from the beat of her heart.

"...What?"

"You are in No mans land."