❝I don't care how it may look to others - I've never given a damn about opinions. This is how I am, and I'm not scared that the world will see. This is my way to survive, to feel no regrets. If you let emotions like that consume you, you may as well consider yourself dead.❞ ㅡGalene Magnolia

CHAPTER TEN:

BLOOD AND TEARS

Galene scrunched her nose as the smell of rotten food and sweat reached her. Her brown eyes scanned her surroundings closely, taking in the dirty streets and cracked buildings. Glancing around, she caught sight of an old woman curled up against the wall of a shop whose sign was feebly swaying on a single chain. Remains of food and cigarettes were scattered all around, crunching under the weight of slim children as they slipped away between bins and fallen barrels. With their small hands full of bread and fruit, they ran as fast as their weak legs allowed them to and tried to escape those they had stolen from.

The Underground City had always been a dangerous, depressing place. Dark, cold and moistened due to the absence of sunlight ㅡ that was the first thing Galene had noticed. To live in such nasty area, one had to be strong-willed and able to stare death in its eyes.

Galene knew it too well. However...

"You can feel it too, can't you?"

Narrowing her eyes upon the quiet suburb, Galene nodded ㅡ something was definitely different, off. They were standing on top of a building, observing the situation and taking a moment to absorb everything. From there, she could reach to glimpse at the most dangerous part of the city; that suburb which no one would ever dare to approach ㅡ not even guards.

A bad feeling gripped her heart upon noticing the absence of thugs walking its streets, the dark cloud that seemed to emanate from the high buildings.

"Where are their minions?" she asked out-loud. "The place is usually plagued by them; they even had gorillas in front of every damn building."

Levi crossed his arms over his chest. "It's quiet. Looks abandoned, if you ask me."

Galene pursed her lips in thought before muttering, "And somehow, it's never felt so dangerous."

After grunting in displeasure, Levi turned away. "Let's go."

For some seconds, the woman stood there; observing, planning ahead. Then, she clicked her tongue and followed him through the crack on the ceiling. Her body felt lighter as she jumped inside, colder too. She was wearing normal clothes, just like Levi. Erwin had thought it appropriate to leave the uniform behind, so they would blend in and not catch many curious eyes. To be honest, Galene didn't mind it; however, she did feel oddly anxious without her gear and blades.

As her feet landed behind Levi and she jogged to catch up with him, a familiar feeling took shape within her heart. Her instincts awoke from their slumber, her muscles tensed, and her eyes sharpened to remain alert as she slid out of the building.

Using the shade provided by her surroundings to conceal her form, something in her mind switched on and she jumped into action. Seemingly forgotten, Levi could only let his eyes wander and watch her as she took the lead and skilfully moved. Like a predator, she was quick on her feet and silent.

A glint in her gaze caught his interest when she tilted her head to glance at him; a cunning, unfamiliar expression that caused a pleasant chill to roll down his body. His face remained emotionless, nevertheless, as she arched an eyebrow before shaking her head in exasperation.

"Stop staring and get over here, damn it."

Levi walked up to her and gave her an expectant stare. Rolling her eyes, Galene motioned for him to look at some point in front of them.

The house was still in one piece; its walls cracked but solid enough to support the ceiling, the door firmly closed. It reminded Galene of other times, almost forgotten albeit fresh in her mind. It was the place where they had met, where she had kneed him in the groin and he had plummeted towards the ground like a lifeless puppet. A smirk formed on her lips at the remembrance ㅡ the look on his face had been priceless.

"Bastards," Levi growled.

Galene sent him a look and shrugged. "I expected this. No place remains empty for too long around here."

Dim light reflected through the only window in the house, flickering every so frequently as people moved and shadowed its source. Galene frowned; even if she had said that, the fact someone had taken over the place irked her.

"Something isn't right," Levi spoke in a low voice, but before she could roll her eyes, he was swearing aloud.

Confused, Galene was about to speak when what had sent him into a trail of curses caught her eye. There, an inch above the door, something had been carved in the stone.

A broken wing.

Her hands clenched into fists upon seeing it, so tight her knuckles turned white. She was strolling towards the house before Levi could blink. Galene forced herself to remain focused, yet her blood was boiling and her eyes blazing. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. Once, twice. Voices spoke, someone grunted. Then, a man in his late forties was opening the door and giving her a nasty look.

"We didn't order any sluts today. Get lost," he snarled. But she didn't move, not an inch. His eyes narrowed, before a disgusting smirk formed on his face. "Of course, you can spend the night if you're that desperate. I ain't payin' shit thouㅡ"

The words died in his throat as her fist met his stomach, causing him to bend over his own body in surprise. That gave her enough time to punch him on the back of his neck, throw him to crash on the floor and stomp on his head. A crack was heard, and the man went completely still.

"What the hell?!"

"Bruno!"

Galene looked up from Bruno to find three pair of eyes staring at her in shock, and then she witnessed how their expressions changed into fury and disdain.

"Get that bitch. Make her pay," one of them, who had a scar above his right eye, ordered.

The first man came at her with a long knife, but she was ready. Dodging his attack, Galene hit the back of his wrist with hers skilfully and the sharp item fell out of his grasp. She was quick to dodge a punch by crouching, and she took advantage of her position underneath him to pick up the knife and plunge it into his exposed knee. Letting out a scream, the man was too blind by agony and rage to see her next attack coming.

Her elbow slammed against his chin, before she used the bloodied knife to slit his throat open.

His friend was on her a second later, catching her off balance. "You bitch!"

Pain exploded in her head as his knee met her temple, sending her down. But she pushed through it and kicked him in his stomach before he could get a hold of her, and as the man stumbled over, she threw something at him.

The knife sank into his face.

As the last body hit the floor, Galene turned her eyes towards the leader. An unexpected, grim grin was stretched on his lips, and then he laughed obnoxiously.

"I can't believe I was right," he exclaimed. "I knew you'd turn into a vicious woman."

At that, Galene halted her approach. She frowned, bemused, which only made the man laugh even harder. Then, his features turned dark and serious, and he smirked. "Ready for another round, doll?"

Recognition flashed in her eyes, and something within her growled and screamed. She lunged at him with a war cry, landed on him before he could react and sent both to stumble over a table; which broke under their weight. And then, she was punching him senseless. Hit after hit ㅡ she didn't stop.

Her fists were stained with his blood, pulsating as she kept attacking him. Straddling him, she had taken him by surprise and was beating him to death with no hesitation. At some point, he bit her hand, hard. Yet it didn't stop her ㅡ she merely punched him harder, until his mouth detached from her.

Galene failed to notice the hot tears forming on the corner of her eyes, the arms wrapping around her torso. Only when she was being pulled away did she snap out of it, but her back was being slammed against a wall before she could properly react.

His silver eyes stared at her with an intense, steady look, as his hands held her in place.

"Stop." His voice was firm, calm. As if he hadn't witnessed anything, as if he wasn't disturbed by her rampage.

Taken aback, Galene blinked. She was breathing heavily due to the adrenaline rushing down her veins, and her body was trembling. Blood, along with dirt and sweat, was smeared all over her clothes and skin. Her hair was messy, sticking to her face and in every direction.

She had never looked so over the place, so vulnerable. However, as Levi looked into her eyes ㅡ as he caught glimpse of that wild, dangerous glint in her gaze ㅡ, an unexpected thought crossed his mind.

Galene was undeniably attractive; he would be blind not to appreciate it. But something about her at that precise moment was awakening his most primary instincts, and his throat became dry as they hit in.

Fuck.

He would have her right there and then.

A hoarse cough snapped him out of his thoughts, and he glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye. Levi was surprised to see him conscious after the beat up, yet he showed no sign of emotion. His hands were still holding Galene against the wall, so he could feel how her muscles tensed before she spoke.

"Get off, Levi." There was fire in her gaze, venom in her voice. "I'm not done yet."

Before he could reply, the man wheezed and coughed again.

"They knew... you would... come." His bloodied eye looked at her, and a wicked grin formed on his split lips. "You can't... run forever... doll."

Her teeth gritted, and she pushed Levi off without a second thought.

"You talk too much." And then she did something that elicited a cry of terror from the man: she wrapped her hand around his tongue and pulled. Her expression didn't change as she watched his eyes widen in agony and fright. "How does it feel ㅡ to have a taste of your own medicine?"

The man didn't get the chance to reply, for the muscle was suddenly torn from his body. A slurping noise was heard as Galene stood up, tongue on her hand. And she didn't look at Levi as she let it drop on the ground and turned away.

"I know you have questions," she said, and her voice gave away her exhaustion. "But I need some time alone now."

Levi only grunted in response, and so the woman stepped into the bathroom and locked the door behind.