Chapter Fifteen ~ Betrayal
Levi's prov.
Kenny left an hour or so after we ran through the plan in order to set up the 'game' between himself and Gabriel. I hung back at the pitiful place he called home until I was sure he was gone before I also left. I needed to get this information to someone I could trust before heading into the dark abyss. That way at least there would be someone else who could help me, whom I trust, if the bastard was to rat me out. I crept down the alley and found a tall cloaked figure standing alone, his electrifying blue eyes assessing me as I walked up to him. He nodded at me as I explained the plan to him, asking him to only come in if he deemed the plan had gone awry. He didn't speak or answer me, he just squeezed my shoulder tightly, taking the letter from me before he flew up onto the rooftops and out of sight on a single gust of gas. His cloak fluttering around his shoulders, his wings concealed under the dusty material.
I smiled, shaking my head, my dishevelled hair flopping in my face. Who would have thought that one day we would be seeing eye to eye with each other? Who would have thought that in my time of need, it would be him to come to my aid? Even if he had refused to help me in the first place. I slowly walked back, knowing it would take Kenny a while to set up the meet. I kicked the odd cobble, my heart crashing in my chest. This was my chance to get her back, if I fuck up, then he will find us both dead in that place. In no time I found myself back at Kenny's hovel, the stench hitting me in waves as I opened the door and sat back in the single wooden chair.
It took a while but soon the drunken bastard returned, his eyes sparkling as he grinned, telling me the game was on. I nodded once and stood from my seat, stretching my tired muscles. Kenny grabbed his things, stuffing them into a satchel along with a small bag of money before he held the door open for me. I pushed past the man and walked out into the putrid darkness.
I hated being back here, and I was pleased that I had actually forgotten what it was like to live down here. I didn't miss this place one bit. My lungs burned from the stench and lingering ammonia. My eyes watered, the air scolding my eyes. I just couldn't wait for the moment when I could get out of here again. When I could go back up to the surface and take a gulp of that clean air. To wash myself of this place forever. But in order to do that, I needed to get out of Gabriel's residence in one piece, with (F/N) by my side.
Kenny lead me through the streets, people clawed their way from the darkness, begging for money, food, anything that would make their lives any easier. My mouth pulled down at the corners when I saw a man and woman both lying dead, wrapped in each others arms. Her caramel brown hair flowing over her face, and his black hair mingling with her long tresses. They looked like myself and (F/N), maybe not completely, but enough that it sent a shiver down my spine.
Kenny lead me through the streets, it took a good half an hour before we came near to the large underground fortress, well sort of. It was a massive squared off building with only three windows, the roof flat like most of the other buildings in the underground. A sizable staircase lead up to the wooden double doors. Off to the left there was a small side door which from what I could see from the hole in the wood, lead to another staircase that went down into the basement of the residence.
"Alright, there's your entrance," Kenny gestured down to the doorway, a sly smile spreading across his face.
I nodded once and narrowed my eyes at the man, "You just keep your mouth shut, otherwise we're both dead," I growled as I ran over to the side entrance. I could hear Kenny's heavy footfalls as he ran up the stairs, his booming drunken voice shouting the street down.
Tch... idiot, if we fail it will be because he is hollering his fucking head off, I thought as I slipped through the hole in the door. The air was just as heavy and dank as the outside. I quietly navigated the dark stairwell, my footsteps near enough silent as I ran my hand down the wall. The brick walls felt damp and slimy, my stomach heaving with the sensation, but I couldn't worry about something so trivial as getting dirty at a time like this. There was a faint metallic sent to the air, but I couldn't identify it, but whatever it was sent a chill up my spine. I drew my knife out and held it in the air, ready to take out anyone who dared cross my path.
I could hear faint voices coming from further down the stairs, two men, cackling.
"...you see the look on her face?"
"...you think you might have sliced her face too many times?
"...she deserved everything she got!"
"I hope this Levi turns up soon, I wanna gut something!"
The voices grew louder as the faint glow of a torch began to flicker towards me. I pressed myself up against the bricks as two men passed, one cleaning a bloody knife, the other rubbing his bruised knuckles. I felt a growl rumble through my throat. I had a pretty good idea how he got those bruises and who's blood that was. I crept up behind the two of them, tapping one on the shoulder. As he turned around I stabbed him in the throat. His eyes wide as he choked on his own blood. A fountain flowing out of his mouth as I wrenched the blade out of his neck as I kicked the other in the chest. A loud thud rang through the air as he crashed into the bricks, a grunt escaping his lips as I walked over to the man.
"Where is she?" I barked, placing the knife at his throat, the blade scraping across his skin.
He raised his arm, pointing down the stairs, his eyes growing wide as I slowly speared him through the heart. I could feel their blood coating my hand as I grabbed the torch and ran down the stairs. The stairs were steep and got thicker as I descended. My breathing coming in short gasps as I came face to face with a huge black iron door. The metallic smell stronger, whatever it is was coming from that room.
I glanced around the small corridor, my eyes narrowing, where are all the guards? I know Kenny said there would be a few, but they can't have all gone up to play a game of cards. Surely some would have stayed behind to guard the hostage, or he clearly doesn't know how to kidnap people, I thought, shaking my head, my hair fluttering in my face. This whole thing just felt far too easy, not that I was complaining.
I slid open the huge dead bolt and pushed the heavy door open. My eyes widened as I stepped over the threshold of the room.
Blood caked the cobbled floor, chains hung from the ceiling. A rotten wooden table to the far right of the room held an array of torture devices, all of them rusty and covered with dried blood. I froze as I heard a soft sobbing coming from the corner of the room. I turned so the torch bathed the whole room in a soft glow, seeing her crumpled body sprawled on the floor.
"Please...no more... just kill me..." she breathed as I crashed into the room, the knife falling from my hand with a clatter, falling onto my knees beside her so hard that the sharp cobbles tore through my trousers, cutting into my skin.
My hands trembled, tears springing to my eyes as I stared at her near enough lifeless form. The only indication that she was alive was her shuddering breathing, her chest slowly rising and falling. She looked... there were no words to how terrible she looked...
Both of her beautiful eyes swollen shut and black with bruises. Thick blood oozed from the slices on her cheeks, across her neck and down her arms. Her nose trickling with blood and her lip split open and swollen. At the base of her neck, tight finger-like shadows bloomed over her skin as if someone had choked her. Her arms and legs clad in bruises and slices which she could have only have gotten from her attackers. She wore a black bra, one of the straps sliding down her shoulder and a small blood coated white short skirt. The jagged edges barely covering the tops of her shadowed thighs.
I could feel my lower lip begin to quiver violently as I blinked back the tears, brushing her icy face with my warm hand. Her whole body flinched as she jumped away from me, cowering away from me. My heart split in two at the fear that plastered over her face, her body quaking.
"Please...leave me alone..." she cried, tears falling down her swollen face as she tried to open her eyes to see.
I couldn't even find my voice as I crawled over to her, placing my hands on either side of her face, placing my lips gently to her forehead. Tears spilling down my cheeks as I peppered her poor face in my feather-light kisses.
"L...Levi...?" she questioned, placing her frigid, trembling fingers over my face. I allowed her to trace my features as her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her hand skimming over my cheekbones, across my lips, my eyes, through my undercut, even burying her bloody nose into my neck as she confirmed it was actually me.
"Levi...Oh...Levi!" she cried, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt. Her forehead resting against my collar bones as I encircled my arms around her waist.
"My poor, poor brat," my voice cracking as I breathed in her sent. She still smelt of apples and lilies, her favourite body wash, the one I had bought for her from the market. There was a slight musk to her but given her current confinements I wasn't all that surprised.
"Come on, we need to leave," I ordered into her hair, but made no effort to get up, "We have to get out of here before anyone comes back."
She shook her head and pushed my hands off her, holding them in her trembling fingers, rubbing soothing circles into my knuckles, "No Levi. You need to go, they were luring you here. You have to leave! They will kill you if you stay..." she whimpered, her voice cracking as she spoke, "Just leave me here and go back to the surface. Live your life."
"No! I will not leave you behind, come on!" I cried, helping her stand up, her legs shaking as she held onto my shoulder. She was so weak that as soon as I let go of her, she fell to the floor so I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up, cradling her to my chest.
"I promised you I would never leave you," I explained, my hands squeezing her gently, "Please don't make me break another promise to you."
Her lip quivered as she tried to gaze up at me, her eyes opening a fraction so I could see her terrified, bloodshot, (E/C) eyes, "But Levi, I don't want you to get hurt because of me," she whimpered, wrapping her cool hands around the column of my neck.
My eyes softened as I glanced down at her feeble form, a small smile forming on my lips as I ran the tip of my nose down hers, "(F/N), I would rather get ripped apart by titans than leave you here to die," I declared, stepping over to the iron door.
Her face, despite being swollen, lit up with adoration, her eyes swimming in tears again, "That wasn't funny or clever, Levi," she chided, her voice soft as her chin quivered.
"It wasn't supposed to be. I am telling the truth. I love you and if anything were to happen to you, I would throw myself to the titans," I grumbled, turning my head away from her as I opened the door quietly.
I popped my head around the door, my eyes scanning the darkness before I deemed it safe. I tentatively stepped out, my feet quiet as I moved through the threshold and started to climb the steep steps. I had to hunch over a little so I wouldn't over balance and come crashing back down to the bottom. My eyes flitted around as we ascended the stairs, my heart clattering violently in my chest, threatening to burst out of my ribcage. The hairs on my nape standing on end as my ears picked up on every little sound. Every echo causing me to freeze on the spot, just praying that we weren't to be discovered, before I would shake off the dreadful feeling and carry on. The sound of her quiet breathing against my chest, her warm breath tickling my cool hypersensitive skin. Blood roared in my ears as I heard a faint tap behind me. I daren't look behind as I continued, the tapping getting louder until I realised they weren't taps, they were footsteps... before I could think, my legs broke into a sprint up the stairs.
Fuck!
I could hear whoever was behind me sprinting along with me, their breathing becoming laboured as I pelted up the stairs. The rancid odour of alcohol filled my nostrils, making me want to gag as the person came up close behind us. Even though, in my arms, (F/N) weighed next to nothing, running up the steep stairs posed quite a challenge, my calf muscles screaming at me to stop. I could just see the light of the hole in the side door. Once through we would be home free, I thought, as I pushed myself even harder, my breathing steady, We would be safe! Just as I was about to reach for the door something hard collided with the back of my skull.
I grunted, stumbling forward, my eyes unfocused as I tried to concentrate on the door. My legs slowed enough for whatever it was to hit me again. Searing pain rang through my skull, my teeth chattering together with the force of the weapon colliding with my head. My eyes fluttered closed as I fell to the floor, (F/N) falling out of my arms with a sharp thud on the brick ground, rolling and crashing into the wall next to her. She let out a pained scream as I tried to lift my head from the floor, my hands blindly trying to find her, slapping the cobbles with no success.
"(F...N)..." I stuttered, a wave of nausea crashing over me, forcing me to lay my head back onto the ground. The back of my head felt warm and sticky, liquid trickling down my neck and soaking into my shirt. The blood matting into my hair as it flowed freely from the wound. My eyes shut as I lost consciousness, her screams ringing in my deaf ears. My mind slowing with the last remaining thoughts... How could I have fucked up? We were...so...damn...c...lo...se...
My eyes twitched as I tried to open them, my vision blurred as they flickered open slowly. My head feeling like it weighed a ton as I tried to move. The back of my skull throbbed, my hair matted against the back of my head. I groaned as I tried to test me arms, but I couldn't move... cool iron wrapped around my wrists, binding them together behind my back, yet they felt loose. As if they were not attached to anything. My eyes slowly cleared enough that I could make out that the room had changed into a grander looking hall. The high ceilings and marble work intricate and rather beautiful. All the furniture had been pushed to one side and a large sheet of clear material had been placed over the floor, as if to prevent it from getting dirty. The air smelt a lot cleaner, no matter where you were in the underground, nothing could make the stench go away so I knew we were above ground. My eyes scanned the room, finding her instantly. (F/N) sat a little way in front of me, tears pooling in her swollen (E/C) eyes as she stared at my face. Her features pinched with fear as men circled her, touching her hair, her arms, trailing their dirty fingers all over my beautiful brat.
I tried to move towards her, my breathing laboured as I tried to get up onto my forearms, but my body refused to cooperate. My limbs felt like lead, cold and heavy. That bang to the head sure has done a number on me, I thought as I placed my cheek back against the cool cobbles, grunting as my eyes never leaving hers.
"Well lookie here. Sleeping beauty is finally awake," A familiar cold voice called. I could smell his breath before I saw him, his muddy boots inches away from my face as he stepped around me. His dusty trench coat trailing down by his ankles as he walked over to her. His eyes cold and assessing as he cupped her cheek in his hands.
My eyes snapped open wide as I glared up at his face, his silver eyes gleaming maliciously. A stab of betrayal lanced through my chest as I tried my hardest to sit up.
"Kenny... You fucking bastard!" I yelled, flailing my arms in an attempt to rock back on my heels. I managed to slump over onto my side, my elbows holding me up as I stared up at the man who betrayed me. Everything I invested in him, the trust I had that he would help me pull this off and he just slapped me in the face with it.
Kenny cackled as he trailed his fingers along her neck, down to her cleavage. Her whole body shuddering as she glanced at me with wide eyes, tears falling down her cheeks, "LEAVE HER ALONE KENNY!" I growled as I tried to crawl over to the man.
"Too bad they messed her up eh? Bet she was quite the looker, don't worry sweetheart. I am sure if you had longer to live, Levi would have left you because now, well you are not something to be desired!" The drunk cackled maniacally, his head lolling back around his shoulders as his eyes glowed.
I lunged at the man, not getting far as I was pulled back into my sitting position by two strong hands, "YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!" I roared, my hair flicking in my face as I eyed Kenny up, One of these days, when you are dying, I will turn my back on you when you need help! You fucking bastard!
"Or what Levi? What are you going to do?" Kenny chortled, bending down to her level, his tongue flickering out of his mouth as he ran it along the base of her jaw down her neck. I struggled against the arms that held me back. My head pounding as I tried to get to her.
"Now, now, Levi. Do behave yourself. The boss will be here any minute now," A tall man with reddish brown eyes and shoulder length hair chided, tutting as he waved his finger in my face as he stalked around us. Gabriel, I seethed as the man brought up a chair, flicking his legs over the arm, his shirt riding up to expose his stomach as he did. I cast my eyes back to (F/N), her cowering stance as Gabriel glanced her way, rubbing absentmindedly at his hand. I gazed at his hand and saw teeth marks digging into his tight porcelain flesh. I smiled inwardly, that's my girl.
"How could you do this Kenny?" I growled through my gnashed teeth, my jaw and eyebrow ticking furiously. I was about ready to rip this man apart for his treachery.
Kenny shrugged, straightening up as he pushed away from her, his face falling slightly, "Money, why else?"
"YOU SOLD ME OUT SO YOU COULD LINE YOUR FUCKING POCKETS!" I roared, my face heating up as fury blistered and bubbled through my veins. My heart catapulting against my ribs, yet my breathing remained steady and deadly calm, "WHY?" It's not like I trusted the man implicitly, but I didn't think he would betray me for something so trivial.
"Because Levi, I don't get paid enough in the Military Police, so I do the odd job on the side. Besides, my employer pays really well, and what he wanted this time was you. It was no mistake that you found me the other night. I planted myself at that tavern where I knew you would notice so that I could get you within my grasp. And now, I get a big fat payday while you get to take your beloved to go off and meet your makers," He cackled, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve.
"You son of a bitch..." (F/N) whispered, her eyes falling to the floor.
"That's right sweetheart. It was no accident that Levi managed to get as far as he did. I told Gabriel everything and he orchestrated this whole plan of attack. I just needed to get Levi to go down to the basement via the side door and we were done. The training I gave you meant nothing, did it boy?" He sneered as he came to stand in front of me, his wide mouth stretching into a cruel smile.
"How could you betray the man you helped raise?" she whimpered, her lip quivering as tears fell down her face. I knew she was angry but she couldn't show it. Oh (F/N), what have they done to you?
"For one thing I didn't raise him, I just gave him the tools to survive. And secondly, did he not tell you that as soon as I was sure he could survive on his own, I left him, left him to fend for himself, hell I would have rather he died," The man explained, tipping his hat to her.
A loud crash came from behind, the sound of a pair of large doors opening and slamming. Heavy footsteps clicked closer as a booming raspy voice filled the air, "Well done for your outstanding performance, Kenny. Your money is in the carriage out front."
My eyes widened, bulging out of my sockets as I realised who had orchestrated the whole thing. Who had wanted me dead, all because I didn't finish the job I set out to do with Furlan and Isabel. The same man who kidnapped the woman I love and beat her to a pulp. I glared up at the overstuffed man, who stood over me, his rounded face twisted in a sneer, his beady eyes leering down at me.
"Hello Levi, glad you could make it to your own funeral!"