Captain Levi knew something was wrong before the message arrived.

This uneasy sensation tickled his gut like it was filled with gurgling suds. He kept reminding himself that Karma was safely tucked in the interior. But he had yet to receive so much as an angry telegram or news of a blonde-headed rampage sweeping the town.

Kenny couldn't be that good. It was impossible.

"Captain, the carriage was set to arrive two hours ago. The MPs are wondering if there was a delay?" The soldier stood to attention before Levi's desk. He had dark bangs cut straight across his forehead that merged into his bushy brows.

"No. Hange informed me they departed on schedule," Levi said.

"Did something happen? Should I send a message?"

"Don't bother. I'll take care of this."

Shit.

Levi thought he'd stayed one step ahead, but in reality he'd lost his footing—Kenny had found his weakness.

"What the hell do you want with me? Who are you?"

Karma struggled against the restraints locking her wrists at the small of her back. She was in a cramped room with a dingy floor mattress and a tin bucket in the corner.

"Don't worry, girl, you're not the one I'm after." The outlaw dropped a plate of mush by her crossed legs. It splattered and rattled on the ground, picking up speed until it stopped. "He'll come soon enough."

"How do you expect me to eat this without my hands?"

"Not my problem. Get creative."

The door slammed and she was alone.

"Guy's an even bigger jerk than Levi…"

Karma fumbled to her knees and flopped onto her chin. She inch-wormed with her legs and shoulders until she could scoop a lump of mush with her tongue. It was plain, mashed up potatoes.

"Couldn't be bothered to put some salt on these?" Karma said loud enough to breach the door. She waited a beat, then was rewarded with the door flinging open again.

"You really trying to push my buttons, girl? You're even dumber than you look," the man said.

"Funny, thought you'd be good at seeing stupidity. Or do you not own a mirror?"

The outlaw scoffed, but it was almost a laugh. "You're a feisty one, aren't you? Never pegged him as one to chase fire."

"Who do you keep talking about?"

"My apologies, miss. I thought you knew my nephew."

"I don't. You kidnapped the wrong person."

"Believe me—I kidnapped the perfect person."

"Even I have my flaws, sir."

"Not in that boy's eyes."

"Whose eyes? Who's dumb enough to be related to you?"

"Now that's no way to talk about the Captain of the Scouts, is it?"

"Captain Levi's your nephew?"

"Sure is."

What was this guy talking about? Captain Levi wouldn't care if she was kidnapped—he was the one who sent her away in the first place. Karma scrunched her lips. "Then why not wait until the family reunion? Why kidnap me now?"

"I'm afraid this is a time-sensitive matter."

"You don't like to give straight answers do you?"

The man tipped his hat with a humored smirk.

"I get the feeling this isn't the friendly kind of family reunion." Karma said. His smirk drooped.

"It could be, if that boy wasn't such a prick in my eye."

"What did he do? Why are you trying to get to him?"

"You sure like to ask questions don't you?"

"Well, if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while, I'd at least like to know why."

"Don't worry, doll, it won't be much longer. Now how about I leave you to eat your food."

"If you can even call it that. I can't eat this without salt," Karma said to his back.

He looked over his shoulder to flash that devilish smile. "Then I guess you won't eat."

The door slammed shut.

Where was that bastard?

In a ditch alongside the dirt road was a detached wheel with broken spokes. The tracks swerved back and forth like sound waves, ending at a carriage tipped frontward like the heavy end of a teeter totter.

He knew Karma wasn't inside, but he checked anyway. Her duffle bag had been abandoned and the contents were strewn over the bench and floor like someone had ransacked it. Levi gathered up her belongings, hands hot and trembling.

Her clothes. Her makeup. Her hairbrush.

He'd kill that son of a bitch.

The Ripper had a reputation for a reason—he was good at what he did. He and his gang plotted their ambush at a side road, remote enough where even hours later the driver's body had yet to be discovered, giving them plenty of time to flee the scene, undetected.

The horse was gone, so it was possible they escaped with it. But with ODM gear at their disposal, Levi dismissed the idea.

He studied the landscape for signs of their gas-powered hooks. Some tree bark and rocks were nicked with the unmistakable claw marks, so he used them as his guide.

They led him all the way to The Underground.