Hellfire • L.A.

A Threat

Commander Lux,
      I didn't have much time to look for the answer you are wanting, but I did have time to find the complete file on Lydia McClane. I have the file with me and I'll ask Levi to bring to you once you return to the Headquarters outside of Wall Rose. I didn't read any of its contents, but if my assumptions are correct, you believe you have relations to this woman. It would be appreciated if you could enlighten me on what's going on once you read over the file.
     -Erwin Smith

I've almost memorized Erwin's message at this point. He knows something, something about my past and my mother that I don't. It's only a matter of moments until I can discover it for myself, but reading this letter keeps me distracted. I fold up the crinkly paper and tuck the letter back into my pocket.

"That's the fifth time you've looked at that piece paper this hour. What, do you think the writing will change?" Levi sounds annoyed. We've been in this carriage for little over an hour, and upon entering Levi immediately announced that he was tired and sat down with his eyes closed. I assumed he had been asleep for for the past hour,

"No," I reply quietly, "I'm just nervous, that's all."

Levi sits up straight and opens his eyes. "What now? Are you and Erwin planning a secret wedding or something?"

"What is your deal?" I scoff, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I don't have a deal. I'm just curious if you and Erwin--"

"Erwin and I are not seeing each other, Levi. So please stop bringing it up." I lean my head against the window and fix my gaze on the passing scenery. We're closer to wherever we're going, which I assume is the Scouts Headquarters just outside of Wall Rose.

Levi doesn't make another comment for a few moments. All I can hear is the shaking of the wheels on the gravely road and the horse's galloping hooves. I relax my shoulders and allow my eyes to close finally.

"It wouldn't be that big of a deal if you were." He mumbles, and my eyes snap back open.

Angrily, I dig back into my pocket for the letter and rip it out of my coat. "Since you have to know everything about everyone, read the damn letter." I throw it towards him, and Levi simply catches it with grace. I watch his face carefully as he unfolds it and reads it.

"Who's Lydia MacClane?"

I shrug, my head falling into the palms of my hands. "I don't know. I found her file in the basement earlier with Hanje, and there was a picture of my mother in the folder."

I watch his reaction as he reads over the letter. He looks indifferent. Levi looks up at me from the paper and hands it back over. "And?"

"And? I think it's strange to find a picture of my mother in someone's file under a completely different name than the one I've always known."

"Maybe you should focus on the task at hand, rather than digging up some ancient past. Choose your own battles, Lux." Levi gives me a stony glare.

"You said your mother died when you were young."

"I don't see what this has to do with me or my mother-"

"Wouldn't you want to know?" My voice is surprisingly quiet, causing Levi's face falls from his twisted glare. "If someone gave you a picture of your mother that you didn't recognize, wouldn't you want to know?"

He relents and slouches into the seat of the carriage. "I can't say. Maybe if I had known her longer, or maybe if I hadn't constantly seen strange men walk in and out of our shitty home, then yeah. Maybe I would have. But what makes you sure this woman is even your mother, Lux?"