Pose For Me, Levi

Chapter 9

Two weeks later

Levi POV:

Eren was frantic. He hadn't stopped yelling on the phone all morning.

Erwin had found something.

Last week, Eren kept me home after yet another attempt to spike a drink or a snack given to me by the staff. Every single time we asked where it came from, they said a girl who covered her face brought it.

Funny how no one had seemed to catch on to that yet.

Now, Erwin had finally gotten a hit on what kind of sedatives were being slipped in. That gave us options. Specific medications weren't sold in the same places and there were only so many pharmacies they could be in that this person had access to.

He said today he was going to get a warrant and get the records of any presciption and drugstore sedative sales in the city.

Eren wanted to go with him. He wanted to see if he could find anything the police would overlook. He was trained to pick out little details as a photographer. However, Erwin wasn't having it.

"One, I can't let a civilian in on a police investigation. Two, we don't even know where we might end up going. And three, if you leave, Levi will be completely alone and vulnerable to another attack like before. You remember the window incident?"

Eren clenched his jaw at that last bit. I know he blames himself for that one.

"...Fine. But you call me if anything, ANYTHING, happens. Got it?!"

"Got it." Eren hung up the phone and turned to look at me.

"What do you say we order some food? Anything you want." I know he's just trying to cheer me up, but I'm sick of this.

"I don't want anything! I'm tired of being stuck in this apartment! I'm tired of fearing for my life every time I even look out a window! I'm tired of watching you talk to Erwin and see this case get nowhere! I'm done, Eren! I'm so done!" I turned and stomped away, leaving him open mouthed and bewildered in the kitchen.

I slammed the door to the bedroom. I wanted nothing to do with any of this right now. All I wanted was some peace and quiet. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes.

Somehow, I managed to fall asleep.

But... a sudden crash rang out from the living room and startled me awake. I thought it was just Eren trying to make me something to eat like he always does at this time of day. Maybe he'd dropped a glass or something. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Eren? You okay?" Mad or not, I still care about him.

I waited a few seconds, but he didn't respond.

"Eren? Hey, if this is a prank, it's not funny!" But even as I said it, I felt a terrible nausea begin to build in my gut. I stood up and walked to the opening of the door and slowly unlocked it.

I walked out into the hallway and called again.

"Eren? Eren, are you here? You okay?"

Still no answer.

Something was wrong. I could feel it. But if Eren was hurt, I needed to get him help. I kept walking.

I got to the living room and what I saw was something I wished I never had.

The windows were completely shattered and Eren lie on the ground unconscious. He looked like he was okay, but he'd gotten something blunt to the head. I moved to run to his side when all of the sudden, something spun me around and pressed me to the wall with a cloth over my mouth.

I screamed, but even as I struggled to move, the chloroform made my head spin. My world quickly faded to black.