Chapter fourteen ~ Reunited with an Old Acquaintance
Levi's prov.
I waited in a dark alley, deep within the depths of the Underground. The stench of decay churning my stomach violently, the thick, dank air hung low like a looming miasma. My lungs seized, making it harder to breath. How on earth was I able to stomach the smell and live here before? The whole atmosphere down here had changed, when I lived here before, the streets were relatively safe. Only because Furlan, Isabel and I would clean up the scum gang members, everyone was terrified of us. Now, there were gangs running wild in the streets, crime had escalated and on my way here, there were more bodies piled up against the sides of the buildings than ever before. This place sure as shit, went to hell when we left.
Peering around the corner of the alley, I watched the side door to the tavern. There was only one man who could help me, if I was to infiltrate Gabriel's home and get (F/N) out of there, alive. And he happened to be drinking himself to death in the building next to me. Probably got a bar maid on his lap, taking advantage of her. I shuddered at the memories of the man, the way he would pull a woman onto his knees, dragging his filthy tongue from her collarbone to her ear, his breath reeking of alcohol and smoke. He truly was the epitome of a degenerate pig. A drunk.
He had been in there for well over three hours, and any minute now he would walk out and stumble his way home. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I thought as the door swung open on its hinges, the wooden door creaking as a tall man with shoulder length dark hair fell out. Laughing and spluttering as he tried to keep his balance, raising a bottle to his mouth and taking a long pull.
"See ya bastards later!" He shouted, his voice raspy as he stumbled out of the alleyway. Muttering and singing to himself as he went. He turned to ogle a few women who passed, their eyes narrowed into a frown as he tapped one of the women's backsides. She shrieked, yelling all sorts of curses at the man as he shrugged and continued on his way. My presence behind him going completely unnoticed as I walked slowly, my head bowed, hands stuffed in my pockets. My fingers curling around a small knife. I decided to leave my ODM gear back at my old place, where no one would find it. The place had been locked up before we had been captured, and only I had the key. That way, I could move more freely, without the worry of the canisters creaking and making any loud noises.
The drunk stumbled and fell over as he reached the steps of his hovel. The bricks stained with all manners of shit, rats scampering across sodden ground, wooden boxes laid discarded on the floor, all kinds of rubbish littering the foundations of the place. This place was truly disgusting, if Furlan and Isabel were here, they would be laughing at the thought of me entering such a filthy place. But then again, if they were here, I wouldn't be in this situation. I would be alone somewhere, living on the surface, probably drinking myself to death with sorrow, for the woman I could have loved. In ways I was grateful that reality never came to pass.
The man crawled up the steps to his home. I grew impatient, stepping up behind him, grabbing him by the scruff of his dirty trench coat and threw him into the door. He stumbled and fell to his knees, cackling like a witch, "Well, well. Levi, you could have just said hello and I would have let you in," he grumbled, his hat falling over his face, casting dark shadows. His eyes narrowed as he eyed me from the corner of his eye, his hand reaching into his pocket.
"Tch... that is bullshit and you know it. Given half the chance, you would have shot me," I hissed, throwing the gun I had swiped from his pocket, onto the table. The barrel landing with a loud thump as it slid across the table, "But I can't have that. After all, the only reason I am here is because you are the only piece of shit that can help me."
The man cackled loudly, throwing his head back as he rose to his feet, dusting off his trousers. His laughter cut short by a vicious onslaught of coughing before he turned to me, "Well now, ain't that just precious. My little boy, asking me for help," he scoffed, his pale eyes piercing into my own.
I clenched my teeth, grasping the gun from the table, and pointing it at the man's face, "I'm not your little boy!" I growled, stepping toward the taller man, "You just took me from one shitty home to another! I owe you nothing!"
"Hell, now you and I both know that ain't true. You owe me everything, even your very life. After all, I took you away from your mother's corpse. I took you away from that place, trained you to survive. Had I not done that, out of the kindness of my heart, well you would be dead in the gutter somewhere," He said maliciously, taking a swig from the bottle in his hand, "So in actual fact, you owe me everything. And If I agree to help you, it will cost ya!"
"It won't cost me anything Kenny! The only payment you will get is keeping your miserable life!" I snarled, my lips curling into a sneer at the thought of owing this man anything. Hell if he hadn't come along, well I could guarantee I wouldn't have ended up the way I am. I could have been better, I am sure the Military Police would have had to investigate the smell, they would have found me and put me in an orphanage topside. Either I would have been adopted, or I would have lived out my days in the orphanage before setting out to work. Either way, I would have lived a better life than the one I have had to put up with.
Kenny chortled again, striding over so the gun was pressed against his chest. He towered over me, his rancid breath washing over my face, "You may be a scout! But you don't have the guts to kill me!"
"Keep going the way you are and we will soon find out!" I growled, tilting the gun and offering the handle to him. He wouldn't kill me, the interest in his eyes peaked as soon as I asked for his help. He would at least hear what I had to say before killing me.
His eyebrows quirked in surprise, a sardonic smile stretching across his face as he grasped the gun with his skeletal fingers. Dragging his feet across the splintered wood, he trudged over to a small shelf on the other side of the near enough empty room, placing it on top of a small box before slumping down into a chair. Swinging his leg over the arm, taking his hat off his greasy head and flung it so it landed on the table.
"So what do you need my help for?" he asked, his tone clipped and business-like.
I sighed lightly and leant against the door frame, crossing my ankles over each other, "A friend of mine has been kidnapped by a man named Gabriel, you know him?"
Kenny laughed, throwing his head back as the raspy sound escaped his throat, "Know him! Fuck, I used to play cards with the man, always cheated."
I groaned, of course he would know him. Kenny being part of the Military Police, of course he would be lazing at fucking large with one of the most notorious gangsters in the Underground. Not to long ago, I owned that title. I scratched my undercut and continued as if he hadn't spoken, "Well he took her, so I need you to help me get into his residence so I can get her back."
"Her? So this friend of yours is a woman?" he asked sardonically, stroking his overgrown sideburns.
"Yes. Can you help me or not?" I snapped, furrowing my eyebrows at him, my eyes zeroing in on the corrupt MP.
His eyes glinted dangerously as a twisted smile spread across his face, his fingers tracing the seam of his lips, "When were you going to dish out that piece of vital information? That my boy had a lady friend, I mean come on, we are practically family," He cackled, placing the rim of the bottle to his lips. His eyes rolling back into his skull as he savoured the taste, "Well I have to say, when I left you, I never thought that scrawny little brat would ever find a woman to love. What is she, blind and deaf?"
A growl ripped from my chest, my anger bubbling to the surface, "You are nothing to me! Don't you ever say that you are part of my family! Once you have helped me, I will leave you to drink yourself to death," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest, my hair falling into my eyes from behind my ear, "And I can guarantee, the day you die, the world will be a safer, brighter place."
The man scoffed darkly, "Oh ouch... that hurt Levi, right in the heart!" he smiled maniacally, clutching his chest through the fabric of his ratty old shirt. I sighed and began to tap my foot angrily, awaiting my answer. I really didn't appreciate all the shit spewing out of his mouth, but I couldn't kill him, yet.
"Well, I guess I can help you get your lover back. Hey, you never know, the Military higher ups might just promote me for my services," he mused, resuming stroking his side burns.
Trust the bastard to only think of what he could stand to gain, I grumbled, nodding at the man, "How would you recommend we do this? I am against the clock here."
Kenny leaned back in his chair, shifting until he was comfortable, "What's the rush? Gabriel has kidnapped women before, all he does is let his men have fun with them before he releases them."
My eye twitched in anger, just the thought of any other man defiling (F/N) made my stomach churn dangerously, bile rising up into my throat. I wanted to be sick, but I couldn't, not at such a crucial time. (F/N) needed me. And I needed to be strong in order to save her from that man's clutches. I just hoped it wouldn't be too late before I got there.
"You should know as well as anybody, after all you are in the Military Police. Kidnappers are likely to kill their hostages after seventy two hours," I mumbled, rubbing my temples, a headache forming just above my eyes. I was getting annoyed with the man as he kept dodging my questions and changing the subject to fit him, and to think I need this man's help. Hell if I could go it alone, I would.
"Yeah, and? How long has she been missing?" Kenny asked, quirking his eyebrow in my direction.
I groaned, trying to think of a way to get this lazy arse off his backside, "Sixty five hours," I lied through my teeth, my face unmoving. In actuality it had only been just over twenty four hours, but I wasn't going to risk her being gone for too much longer.
Kenny hopped up from his seat as if he has a spring up his arse and went over to his shelf, pulling down a dusty old book, "Well best get drafting a plan then," he chirped, placing the book on the table and setting out blueprints for the residence for Gabriel's house and started running through all the exits.
"Where the hell did you get that?" I asked, musing over the blue prints. Kenny just gave me a sideways glance as if he were saying 'you expect me to answer that stupid question?'
I didn't question him, I just turned back to the papers. Shit this place was like a fucking fortress, I thought, definitely not going to be a quick job.
After an hour or so of running through the exits of the fortress, I began to formulate different plans in my head. I couldn't say for certain which one would work so I turned to the man next to me, my eyebrows creasing as my eyes narrowed at him, "So how are we getting in?"
Kenny smiled devilishly, his eyes scanning back over the blueprints that were sprawled across the dusty table, "Always in a rush eh? Well we could go buckshot, but that would probably end in all of us getting killed. Most likely way would be stealth. Take 'em by surprise," he explained, stroking his sideburns thoughtfully, "Either way you slice it, there will be casualties on both sides."
I groaned, rubbing my forehead. I needed to do this cloak and dagger style. It needs to be as quiet as possible in order to get (F/N) out alive.
"...Or I could propose a card game to Gabriel. He never turns down a wager. He will let me in, that way you can deal with the guards while I distract him. Then while I have him occupied, you can rescue your lady friend and leave without being noticed," Kenny suggested, glancing sideways at me, his eyes glinting in the light.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "That is the smartest idea you have suggested all day."
Kenny grunted in approval and continued to eye up the papers as I turned and sat myself down on a lone wooden chair next to the table. My lips pursed as I tried to think on what to say, chewing on my bottom lip as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Spit it out!" Kenny spat, his eyebrows narrowing over his eyes. The pale silver hues conveying annoyance as he glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. His hands pressed either side on the sticky, filthy table.
I chewed on my lip, near enough making it bleed before I spoke, "So when will we be doing this?" I asked, hoping it wouldn't be too long due to my lie. In all honesty, I just wanted her away from that place as quick as possible.
Kenny straightened, scratching the nape of his neck as he stretched onto his toes, "Well I could try and set up a game for tonight, will you be ready for that?" He asked genuinely. My eyes narrowed at the man as I tried to figure out whether he was concerned or whether he was just trying to get a reaction out of me.
"Of course I am ready! The sooner we do this, the sooner we can part ways as if this never happened!" I growled, closing my eyes and tilting my head back. Her beautiful face coming into mind as I remembered how her hands fit perfectly in mine, how her eyes would sparkle when she laughed, how her lips curved into a sultry smile when she called me short. A small smile etched onto my mouth as a fresh wave of tears sprung to my eyes. A single tear falling down my cheek as I imagined how much pain she's going through. All I could think was how they would be defiling her, which brought a wave of nausea crashing through me. I would kill that bastard for even crossing me, he wanted my attention, now he has it. And I don't think he will like the outcome when this is all over. Don't worry my little brat! I will find you!
Reader's prov.
I lifted my cheek up from the cold, hard floor as I gingerly sat up. The man had released me from my chains after his henchmen had finished with their abuse. My body seared with pain as I moved, my cheeks from the knife, my hips from where the man had held me down. My eyes pricked with fresh tears as I remembered their disgusting hands all over my body. I wanted to take a bucket of bleach and bathe in it, to wash away the feel of their lips, their fingers... everything from my body. I could only imagine how ashamed Levi would be of me. He would curse to the pits of Hell, shouting at me because I didn't fight hard enough. I'm a soldier for Christ's sake, I should have been able to fight them off. But I couldn't, in the end, I am still just a weak little girl. I guess Levi was right when he called me that.
I sniffed and rubbed my nose, ripping out my hair tie and throwing it across the room. I heard the slide of a deadbolt as the door opened and the three men eclipsed the doorway.
"No...please...not again..." I whispered, inching away from them, my voice barely audible as they stepped into the room, "Please... just let me go."
Tears streamed down my cheeks, causing them to sting even more, as the leader stepped forward. His long hair grazing his shoulders as he walked, his red eyes burrowing into mine.
"Why? We're doing this for Levi, my sweet," He chuckled, cupping my cheek with his hand and brushing away my tears with his thumb.
"Why are you doing this?" I sobbed, my lip quivering as my frame trembled, both from the force of my sobs and the chilling bite to the air.
"Oh my sweetness, don't look at me like that," He pouted, his red eyes gleaming maliciously, "Levi needs to pay for his crimes. You're the only way we could get him here, and it seems he will be here sooner than you think."
My breath caught in my throat, "K...Kill me..." I whimpered, stuttering my words as I turned my lips to his palm.
"Oh I wish I could my sweetness, but I cannot," he said silkily, brushing my hair out of my face with his other hand. I glared at him as I snapped, biting into his hand hard. He screamed as he tried to wrench his hand away from me, but I refused to let him go. A metallic taste coating my tongue as he bled from my canines.
"AHHH! YOU STUPID FUCKING BITCH!" he cried, yanking his bleeding hand away from my mouth. I spat the blood out of my mouth as he punched me square in the face. My head lolling back on my shoulders as I flexed my jaw. I lifted my head and scowled at the man before smiling maniacally, "KILL ME! LEAVE LEVI OUT OF THIS!" I screamed at the man, "OTHERWISE I CAN GUARANTEE THAT WHEN HE GETS HERE! YOU WILL ALL END UP DEAD!"
The man scowled at me, curling his lip as he motioned his men to me, "Give her hell, just remember to leave her breathing!"
My eyes widened as I shuffled, backing away into a corner as they advanced on me. The larger of the two cracking his knuckles, while the other grabbed his blade, trailing his tongue along the edge.
"No.. please...don't... I'm sorry... NO!" I shrieked as the man dragged me out of the corner by my hair, throwing me onto the concrete. The larger man pounced on me, throwing his fists at my face while the other kicked and sliced me with the blade. As they continued their ferocious beating, my heart broke for what Levi would find if he did come here. I choked back on some blood that rose into my throat, tears falling down my cheeks, "Levi...please don't come..." I sobbed as the broader man punched me again in the face, the world turning black once more.