The insistent knocking refused to stop. Lucia groaned and sat up. Whoever that was at the door refused to let up, and Lucia mentally shook herself awake. It wouldn't be the first time she was awakened in the middle of the night for one medical issue or the other.

She got up quickly, her eyes already adjusted to the dark room. Hurrying out of her bedroom and into the living room, Lucia stopped only to pick up her loaded rifle hiding out of sight in a dark corner of the connecting hallway. Living in the Underground for years had taught her that one could never be too careful.

She unlocked the front door.

Two people stumbled inside. One was a taller woman dressed in a soiled white shirt, dark trousers and boots. Lucia had never seen her before, which was strange, as she knew everyone in her neighbourhood. The woman wore glasses over an eye patch, and had her dark hair into a ponytail. She was holding on to the unconscious body of a crudely bandaged man. He was bandaged so much that even part of his face was obscured. Lucia noticed the woman's hands were trembling.

Lucia shut the door and kept the rifle behind the door.

"Bring him in here." Lucia instructed, hurrying into the little storeattached to the living room to wheel out a gurney. Hanging from the bed's headboard was her medical kit filled with everything she knew she would need- and many things she hoped she would never have to use- during an emergency.

Lucia helped the woman set the man on the gurney and fumbled around the room for her lantern, lighting it as soon as she found the light source.

When she hurried back to the injured man, the woman was seated in a chair, her face in her hands. Lucia glanced at her, then turned back to her patient.

"Was he in an accident?" Lucia asked as she began inspecting the man's torso, noticing the burn wounds on his skin.

"Something like that." The woman replied, her tone bitter, yet wry.

"I see you kept the wounds clean." Lucia remarked, carefully undoing the bandages.

"Do you have medical experience?" She asked.

The woman sighed.

"I do, though not exactly human medicine. I'm not a nurse like you, Lucia but there are moments I wish I was. This is one of those times. "

Lucia glanced sharply at the woman.

" How did you know my name?" She asked. The woman opened her mouth to reply but turned her face away as though she had said too much.

"It's...complicated." she hedged.

Lucia was about to question her more extensively when the man groaned. Lucia turned back to her patient, and for the first timeshe saw his face properly by lamp light.

She froze.

Her heart clenched.

No.

It couldn't be him.

He who abandoned her during one of the hardest points in her life.

He who she had tried to forget.

He who she once loved.

He who she probably still loved.

Despite the bandages, there was no mistaking who this man was.

Levi.


Phew! This chapter took a lot of my time. More Underground scenes coming up!

xoxo