I've been getting more reads recently! Thank you all who are reading! Honestly, I feel like I've got no idea what I'm doing atm so I'm happy people take their time to read it. ^^
Just a little reminder that this is my first story written, like ever. So don't expect too much of me lol thanks.

Comments!

The-Supernatural-Zelda-Force: Hey i love your story and I love your OC. You're doing a great job and I really appreciate it. Please update soon! :D - I love writing Jaclyn but feel like people get the idea she's kind of... a bitch. Maybe it's just my imagination. So I'm happy you like her!

ixpizel: Love it. Sometimes I feel Levi is a little OOC, in my opinion around some romantic parts... but I wouldn't know how he'd act in love, lol. Other than that, it's really good! Nice cliffhanger you got there. :3 can't wait for the next chapter! - I have SO much trouble writing those scenes with Levi, I totally agree with you. It's not in character, I guess... but I've got no idea how he would act and what he would say. So i pretty much gave up on trying too hard and just write the way I want the scene to turn out hehe. Hope it Isn't bothering though. And thank you very much!

GoldenLombaxGirl: NOOO! APRIL! :( Also it's a fitting song. If there was a different song to choose it would be Rue's lullaby. - Ah I was torn between her living or dying... and yes! Rue's lullaby would fit perfectly!

"A cut on her cheek, bruises at several places, especially her arms, but other than that she will be fine."

"That's good to hear, thank you."

"I will be back within half an hour to check on them."

I hear faint, distant voices around me but aren't able to place them. I just regained consciousness, from how long I have no idea, and I don't dare to open my eyes just yet. My mind struggles to put the puzzle of events together. I painfully remember April, fighting the Titan and overlooking the forest. I remember the feeling of falling, the light tickling feeling in my stomach, the wind rushing past me. I meant to take all my sins and worries with me to the grave. So why am I lying on a mattress and not dead on the damp forest grounds? My head throbs with every thought, I lift my arm to put my hand on my forehead and it takes me all my strength I have left to do so. "Fuck." I breath out, scrunching my eyes in pain.

"She's awake!"

I recognize Jonah's voice, his tone happy as ever. My hand that rested on my forehead is gently pulled away to be taken in someone else's. The person soothingly draws circles with their thumb. Whoever it is, right now I don't mind. It brings me ease as my body relaxes under the gentle touch. I almost catch myself dozing away again into unconsciousness, but someones voice keeps me wide awake.

"Jaclyn?"

My eyes fly open the moment I hear his familiar voice. "Kay?!" I rise up in bed to a sitting position which I immediately regret as my whole body protests in pain. My hazy sight sharpens as I see Kay sitting on the edge of my bed, holding my hand in his.

I can't help but smile. A hesitant and pained smile as I remember April's death. Does Kay know she's gone? Has someone informed him on what happened? Will I be the one to break the news?

He appears somewhat relieved but isn't smiling despite that fact. "Kay I'm-" Abruptly a sharp, burning sensation spreads across my cheek. I lift my hand immediately to cover it as I look up to him in astonishment and disbelief.

"Why?" He asks, looking me dead in the eye, not even blinking as I'm lost for words. "Why Jaclyn?!" He raises his voice.

"Why what?" I stammer, realizing what he means but not wanting to tell anything unless specifically asked.

"You tried to kill yourself!" He really did shout this time, squeezing my hand he is still holding onto.

"It wasn't like that." I choke out with a lump building up in my throat making it hard for me to speak. It is odd for me to see him like this, unlike April who got jealous, whiny and emotional at times, Kay and I always kept our cool. But where I would lose my temper occasionally, he would remain calm at all times. Like I haven't seen in years, his face is full of emotion and voice thick with anger.

"Then what was it like? The only reason you're alive is because Levi caught you on time from the fall." He slightly turns as I follow his gaze.

Levi sits opposite of me next to the door. He rests his elbows on his knees and when his name is mentioned he glances up. His eyes are surrounded with dark circles, he looks awfully tired and drained as if he hasn'

t been sleeping for days. His eyes briefly meet mine before he turns away and averts his eyes, continuing to stare at the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry, Kay." Is the best I can come up with.

"Why?" He persistently demands an answer.

I swallow hard before I talk. Kay won't be satisfied no matter what answer I'll give, that much I know. So the fact he still wants something- an explanation despite it never being good enough is bugging me. "I had no options. It was either that or become Titan food. I was out of gas and-"

Another blow hits my face. I know I am looking for every suitable excuse, but obviously he isn't buying it. I don't protest, I know he is angry, furious that I dared to give up like that. If not worse, my reaction would be the same if the situation was reversed. We promised each other long ago that we'll fight no matter what, we'll live no matter what. We've been through many hardships together and it only made us stronger, but that also means losing one of our own hits me a thousand times harder.

"Even though April is gone, you can't just give up like that." His voice is now calmer as he loosens his tight grip on my hand.

Once again I am fighting back the tears as soon as he mentioned her name. The overwhelming feeling of guilt washing over me. I take both of his hands in mine, holding them tight. I stare down at our intertwined hands as he offers a squeeze of comfort. "I was too late, I couldn't save her, she already lost so much blood and she didn't want me to carry her and-"

"Hey, calm down. Take a deep breath." His voice is steady, unlike mine. Even though I'm sitting in bed, it feels like I just ran for an hour straight. Unsteady breaths escape my lips and I try to do as he instructs. I inhale deep and let out shaky breaths, I bawl my fists at my own stupid behavior, like I'm wallowing in self pity.

"This is not like you Jaclyn." He lifts my chin so I can look him directly in the eye. "Explain what happened, and take your time."

He is right, this is nothing like me. I've lost people I loved before but somehow April's death is having this much impact on me. Not that I expected any less, not that I expected her to be gone before me to begin with.

I peer over his shoulder to Levi, his gaze is focused on the floor but I know he is listening intently. Why is he even here? Not that I mind. I look to the left, Jonah is also lying in bed, his head wrapped in bandages and I see he has a few cuts and bruises as well but nothing too serious. He also doesn't look our way, as if trying to give us privacy in this small room where they hear every word we exchange, every breath I exhale. Kay grabs my shoulder and when I meet his eyes he nods a single time, as if saying it's okay.

I take a moment to close my eyes and get myself together, so I can then start explaining what happened. "When I reached April she was lying on the ground, wounded. Blood was flowing from her stomach. I wasn't able to stop it." He squeezed my hand, motioning for me to continue. "Of course I wanted to take her with me, but she..." I stop talking again as I cringe at the memories of the sweet girl, I leave the sentence unfinished, not wanting to say what she had done and why.

"She what?"

I'm trying to find the courage within myself to tell Kay what she had done. After all, I do feel responsible for her death, especially after what she had told me. "She stabbed herself in the chest so I could get away safely, she didn't want to be a burden to me any longer, she died shortly after." The last words come out as a whisper. Not being able to look him in the eye, I turn away, I let go of his hands as I bury my face in mine. I hear Jonah and Levi slightly move in their positions. "Her last words were; I accept death."

I sit here in stillness as the seconds silent and uncomfortably tick by. He pulls me into a warm, gentle hug, soothingly rubbing my back. "You're strong, the strongest person I know, both mentally and physically." Kay begins to talk and there's nothing left of the anger in his voice. "Think of the good times we shared and continue making new ones while keeping her in our memories, okay?"

"Yes." I manage to smile at last, if someone would know what to say to me it would be him. I must remember her like the lovely girl she was, always energetic and honest. It won't be fair of me to only think of her in her last moments. The friendship we had should keep me going, giving me strength, not emotionally destroy me.

"Ahem." I pull away from his embrace as I see a man in a white coat standing in the threshold. "You're awake I see. How do you feel?"

"My whole body aches, but other than that I feel fine." I answer as I realize he's a doctor.

"Yes, you're covered in bruises, any idea how you got them?" I frown as I try to remember. "Especially your upper body is bruised." He looks up to me with his brow pulled.

"Oh." I breath out as I remember. "A titan tried to squeeze me to death." I shrug.

He nods a few times while scrabbling the information down on a paper. "You are lucky no internal organs are damaged, within few days you will be back to normal. Try to rest for the time being." He advises and looks over to Jonah.

"You need to come with me, we have to do another checkup." Jonah gets up with help from the doctor as they walk out the door.

My stomach growls loudly, disrupting the silence as I peer up to Kay. "I'll get you something to eat." He offers as he gets up from the bed, making his way out. He stops by Levi's side and mumbles words softly enough so they don't reach my hearing before he walks out. He closes the door behind him, leaving me alone with Levi.

He hasn't said a word since I regained consciousness and now we sit in silence. I stare down at the white bed sheets as I still sit up straight in bed, mind drifting off as I fidget with the fabric. Why is Levi here? He was there to save me? I'm lost thinking of questions I won't know the answer to unless I ask him directly. I didn't notice Levi siting next to me and I shriek as his hand brushes my cheek. Stunned by his touch I slightly pull away and eye him cautiously. He grabs a cloth and pours some clear liquid onto it that lies on the nightstand. "Here, they forgot to clean the cut." My cheek had much to endure as the pain that Kay's hand brought me still lingers there. I feel the liquid seep into the wound, it burns at first but the sensation is quickly gone and actually feels better after a moment.

"Why were you there?" I ask softly and tentatively, I don't want to sound ungrateful. He was the one that let me go search for her and then rescued me from what would certainly be my death. After a few moments pass I thought he didn't hear me. "Levi." I now say louder.

He tears his gaze off my cheek and looks me in the eye. "I knew you didn't die out there. At least not by the hands of a titan." He removes the cloth from my cheek, grabbing a plaster to cover the cut. "So he allowed me to go look for you." He adds at last.

"Sorry." I say as he is taking awfully long with the plaster.

"For what?" He now stops and looks up to me, his gaze is piercing yet so innocent.

Sorry for agreeing to kill you in exchange for money, is what I thought, wanted to say.

I'm sure Kay agrees, killing Levi is not an option anymore, not after what he did for April and me. Money isn't worth it. I'm secretly afraid I actually care for his wellbeing, to an extent I didn't know was possible when I first laid my eyes on him.

"Levi, I need to tell you something." I start hesitant, glancing back up to him.

"Whatever it is, it can wait. You need to rest Jaclyn." He brushes it off and stands up.

"Wait." I say as he turns in the middle of the room. "What did Kay say to you before he went away?"

He seems hesitant to tell me because he stared at me a few moments before answering. "To watch over you since he's unable to do so. Now rest." He instructs before opening the door where Kay stood on the other side with a tray of food.

"What's up with you two?" I ask as Kay puts the tray with food onto my lap, I realize how hungry I am as soon as the aroma of the delicious food reaches me. "Explain, how did you know and how did you come in?" I say, mouth full of food.

Kay laughed. "Very ladylike." I just shrug as I continue to enjoy. "When you - the Survey Corps, weren't back on the planned time I knew something was wrong. I waited at the gate for you and April to return." His voice became softer as the end of the sentence was nearing and he barely spoke April's name. "When everybody, well most soldiers returned, I saw you lying unconscious. I knew who Levi was and he remembered me so he agreed on letting me come along."

"Kay." I speak up again as I finish eating and putting the tray away.

"I know." He smiles. "But we have to find a way so that we won't get killed in the process."

Did he knew what I was going to say? Of course, he always does. "All the money is still there right? None of it used like I said?"

"It's save."

"Good then you make an appoint-"

The door opens as Jonah walks in together with the doctor. "Hey!" He beams at me and Kay. I can't help but smile at his positive attitude.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Have been better." He says, the smile never leaving his lips. He crawled arduously into bed as he lets out a deep sigh. "Just tired."

"Yeah, me too."

"I'm sorry but you'll have to leave, you may visit her again in two days, those are the rules." The doctor tells Kay who seems annoyed but nods anyway.

"I'll take care of things." He states out loud, knowing no one understands what he is talking about.

"Sure, you better be back in two days." I smile at him.

"Of course." He strokes my cheek and rubs it with his thumb, reminding me he hit me two times, but I forget it all with just a glance at his face. "Good luck with your arm Jonah!" He waves him goodbye.

"I'll manage, take care!" he answers.

It seems as if Kay already made friends, he is talking to Jonah as if he knows him well. He also privately talked to Levi while I was right here.

"He's a nice guy. Where did you meet each other?" Jonah asks when Kay left the room.

"He is." I smile to myself recalling the memories of meeting Kay. "I met him in the underground, he got in trouble and I helped him out, then he helped me out. Long story short, that's how we became friends." I explain, not going into the unnecessarily details. "Have you seen your family and friends already?"

"Yes, they were here yesterday." He says as his face lits up immediately.

"Who came to visit?"

"My mother, brother and two good friends." He continues talking but my mind wanders off.

"Wait Jonah, yesterday? How long have we been here?"

"This is the third day, you were unconscious for three days. They moved you from the hospital yesterday." He appears just as confused as I am. "Kay hadn't told you?"

"No." I thought it was only hours ago that we had returned from the expedition.

Now it was Jonah's turn, his stomach grumbling. "Hungry?"

"Yeah." He laughed covering his belly with his hands.

"I will get you something." I say and stand up. I notice my legs and arms are weakened, but I manage.

"I can get it myself." He says looking concerned.

"No, I'll do it." I want to get out of this room and walk around, loosen my muscles a bit and take a breath of fresh air.

"I'll be right back." I tell Jonah as I close the door behind me.

Slowly I shuffle through the eerily quiet corridors, it is already pitch black outside and the stars beam brightly tonight. I take a step into the cold. It causes pleasant goosebumps to my arms, I inhale the clean air with deep breaths and close my eyes. I lie down on the slightly damp grass, my clothing soaking up the drops. I stare at the bright stars and half-moon across the black sky. I remember lying like this with Kay and April, staring at the stars, counting the falling ones. I remember lying with Jonah like this, but then in the heat of the day, it all seems like yesterday. I lay here for a good fifteen minutes when I start to get cold, the goosebumps now not so pleasant anymore. The leaves falling from the trees around me are a reminder that it's autumn, and I shouldn't be lying out in the night dressed like this in only a hoodie and trousers.

I sigh loudly when I remember I was supposed to get Jonah dinner. I push myself off the ground with my elbows to a sitting position. My mind and thoughts are still misty and only realize after moments have passed that I'm staring at a blade, now touching my neck. I recognize it as the blades used by the military, blades used for titans. My heart rate picks up as I glance to the covered face of the person opposite of me, unrecognizable.

"What?" I say annoyed and tired but still surprisingly calm and stern. Can't I have a goddamn break, like ever?

The person moves closer, the blade penetrating my skin as I'm not backing down. Streams of blood start to seep out and down to my collarbone, tickling my skin along the way. As time passes I receive no answer. He suddenly reaches down for my neck but am able to dodge and roll to my side as I jump up, not realizing the man is as close as he is. He swings the sword across my face, close enough to cause another wound at my cheek.

"What do you want?" I ask angry and confused.

Is this again an attempt of Zack to contact me through his bad-mannered men? Or is someone in the Survey Corps actually trying to kill me? The person is no rookie when it comes to fighting, I can tell, there is structure and in his attacks, but neither am I.

My muscles ache under the forced and pained movements, I also become light headed, seeing the figure of the man two, perhaps three times and dancing in the air. Three days of poor eating and being unconscious is taking its toll on me.

"I'm here to transfer a message." I suddenly hear him speak and have trouble making out the words. He comes closer, my body already gave up as he pushes me against the brick wall, unable to fight back at this point. He pushes a blade against my neck and I don't struggle to keep it away.

"Then fucking say it and go." I say through gritted teeth and he laughs loudly at my words.

Suddenly the blade is lifted from my neck, leaving space again for me to breathe freely. The man isn't standing before me anymore, my vision is blurry and dizziness takes over. I fall to the ground, my trembling legs not able to hold my weight. I hear inaudible curses and ragged breaths from the man who a second ago stood before me. I glance up as I lean with my back against the building while sitting on the ground. "You know this man?" I hear Levi ask. The moonlight shining on his face reveals his expression; angry, stunned and confused just like me.

"No." I say while standing up.

Levi holds him by his collar while the man is on his knees, arms hanging lumpy by his side. "Did he hurt you?" He asks in a dangerously low voice while looking down on the man who doesn't dare to make a move, probably knowing very well who's standing before him.

I rub my face as I sigh. There's no need to make a scene out of this. "Levi I'm fine I jus-"

"Did he?" He asks again, now facing me. I am standing weakly, using the wall for support.

"You were here on time." I faintly smile, reassuring him that everything is fine. Levi pulls him up to his feet so he faces him on the same level. He talks to the man, words I'm not able to understand. The man nods at his words and mumbles something. As soon as Levi lets go of him he gets to his feet and takes off into the dark as his figure fades away with distance, the same moment my consciousness also fading.

I curse as I fall forward, darkness closing in on me. The last thing I remember is Levi's tight grip, preventing me from falling to the ground.

The incident of the mysterious man attacking me was two days ago.

Levi has been visiting me a couple of times a day. My wounds and bruises are healing, but still I feel cripple and my body aches with every movement, but I'm healing faster than I'd imagine possible.

It's noon and Levi walks in like I had expected, but the moment he steps foot in the room and I glance over to him, I know something is off, wrong. Wordlessly he walks over to me in a couple of strides and throws an envelope on the sheets. I frown, thinking of what it could be. When I look up to Levi again he stands next to me, arms crossed and his face on a new level of stressed and pissed with an emotion I haven't seen before. "Open." He demands.

Thrown off by his serious tone I decide to not make any comments. I do as he says and open the envelope, grabbing the letter inside as I unfold it, revealing its content. My eyes scan over the sentences as I rapidly read the letter within seconds. Then two and three more times to make sure that what I read is actually written here. The thing I feared most is stated on this letter that Levi had read, Erwin had received. So many words written but only a few matter.

Jaclyn Rosenthal has been hired to kill Levi.

Written in the simplest way possible, true and accurate, no beating around the bush.

Levi sits down on the chair next to the bed as I slowly fold the letter again and stare down, avoiding his gaze.

He sits back, eyes on me as an uncomfortable silence closes in on us. "Tell me again, your reason to join?"

Review? (⌒-⌒; )

Oops another cliffhanger.