You're Mine DARK ROMANCE Levi x Eren

by NovelVilleNV

In a world where Levi Ackerman and Eren Jäger seem destined to never cross paths, yet Levi becomes strangely fixated on Eren, watching him from a distance. On Eren's 19th birthday, a mysterious letter arrives, bearing only a number. Confused and unaware, Eren doesn't realize the numbers are counting down to Levi's claim over him.

6. 06: You're Mine

p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3234168db1a08bf5817d02894a182569"Eren's heart skipped a beat as he read the threatening message. The words dripped with possessiveness and danger, sending a chill down his spine. Glancing around nervously, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being hunted by an unseen predator./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9dda970f11d2b257be6a19311651ad32""Everything okay, Eren?" Armin asked, concern evident in his voice. Eren quickly pocketed his phone, plastering on a forced smile. "Yeah, just some spam message." he lied, though his mind was racing with fear and uncertainty. As he forced himself to focus on the night ahead, Eren couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister lurked just beneath the surface, waiting to strike./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="98a5a9ba67c5a5f6c4ba493e261a6ad3"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 21:01]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Who are you? And I think I have perfect control over my own life, thank you very much./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6546b54b8758fae653add52d70563356"The next message came swiftly, dripping with menace and an unsettling familiarity. It was like the sender was waiting for Eren's reply./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d0ea2f7dcab06acd33528a0ae29dd71"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span21:01]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Oh, Eren, Eren, Eren. You're such a stubborn one, aren't you? But let me remind you, you're playing with fire. And we all know what happens to those who play with fire, don't we, sweetheart?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f2f24d02cec86fa096f9af4106e0895b"Eren's blood ran cold as he read the ominous words. The sender's tone was chillingly possessive, and the mention of "sweetheart" sent shivers down his spine. His mind raced with fear and confusion, grappling with the realization that he was being targeted by someone with a disturbing fixation on him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ada21edeb6a5334009aa71af23ac0ec3"Glancing around the crowded club, Eren couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being hunted by an unseen predator lurking in the shadows. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every stranger a potential danger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9518ebf4886a6b2463663d4d94aba765"His hands trembled slightly as he typed out a response, his fingers feeling heavy with apprehension./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="6caab2b538544178c9f1cd535661453a"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 21:02]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"You don't get to control my life. I don't even know who you are, and I will fuck any man anytime I want to./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="786c385ad3560190c692b10c4a5618a8"He hit send with a sense of satisfaction, feeling like he had asserted his autonomy against this mysterious, threatening figure./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6fa3b34b159da73196657cacba4043eb"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span21:02]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Let's see if any man in that club wants to fuck you./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8ab9e212e9ce5e7568aa6b7b4f5b0e03"Eren winced at the harsh retort, feeling the sting of the insult. His anger flared, and he shot back a barrage of curses at the sender before angrily shoving his phone into his pocket. Determined to shake off the unsettling exchange, he called for alcohol, seeking solace in the temporary oblivion it promised./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f005691944e23e7af539078d87efa3c0"As he knocked back his drink, Eren couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the presence of his unseen stalker looming over him like a dark cloud. Each passing moment only heightened his unease, and he found himself scanning the room nervously, searching for any sign of danger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d308f61b2fcce19715308ec88e8d482f"Despite his attempts to drown out his fears with alcohol and the lively atmosphere of the club, Eren couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted, of being at the mercy of someone with a disturbingly possessive grip on his life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="241ce8d2530fa3e4dc8c9080ff04a5c5"But as the night wore on and the drinks continued to flow, Eren pushed his fears to the back of his mind, determined to enjoy the fleeting sense of freedom the night offered him. However, deep down, he knew that his encounter with his mysterious person was far from over./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aefc1ead037070e8dc783de1b23f3979"After a while, he felt another vibration. Eren hesitated, not wanting to look but feeling compelled to know what the message might say. Could they really threaten to kill anyone Eren touched, even his own friends?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="69c4b495b461e669fd6ff06d3e9fabdf"Eren reluctantly picked up his phone and turned it on. The first message that greeted him was from the unknown sender, and its contents sent a shiver down his spine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="66563a2666742a5516bb299830bbd6f5"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span21:57]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Remember, Eren, I'm always watching. And I won't hesitate to make good on my promise. So be careful who you flirt with. /span ️/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="62f2187ee58ddc003e87429b008b625e"Eren's eyes widened as he stared at the message, particularly at the chess piece emoji. It dawned on him—it was the same person who had been sending him those letters!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="07487aab67f6df14113590e98601d8c4"Fear and uncertainty gnawed at Eren as he struggled to comprehend the full extent of the danger he was in. Whoever this person was, they had made it clear that they were willing to go to extreme lengths to assert control over his life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7f84a0bc24ec1f4ffc41608e1e49d428"With a shaky hand, Eren typed out a response, his fingers trembling with apprehension./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="567edb9c16d6088a804610760f50ccf7"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 21:59]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"What do you want from me?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="948709dafe3d818f58578ec2cb94a540"But deep down, he feared that he already knew the answers to those questions. And the truth was more terrifying than he could have ever imagined./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8738bbfd63e53419acd0ae181970a678""Eren?" The sound of his name snapped Eren out of his thoughts, and he found himself confronted by the stares of both familiar and unfamiliar faces, likely Ymir's extensive circle of friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fb3bd7380f8fbcc2f462426fe2fd55c3"Eren blinked, momentarily disoriented as he shifted his focus from the troubling thoughts swirling in his mind to the lively atmosphere of the club. He plastered on a smile, hoping to mask the unease gnawing at him as he greeted Ymir and her friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ae08c6df1b7d8210c2b44b219d41482""Hey, sorry, got lost in my own head for a moment there," Eren chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Ymir smirked knowingly, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she leaned in closer./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="80f01150c1c3a0ed5011243382203e93""Lost in your head? More like lost in your phone," she teased, gesturing to the device in Eren's hand. Eren felt a flush creep up his cheeks as he quickly pocketed his phone, hoping to avoid any further scrutiny./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0a2837b7f825e1cd80663cf2d2b708c6""Yeah, well, you know me, always multitasking," he replied with a sheepish grin, hoping to deflect attention away from his preoccupation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b75aaef368472598a9bbeb1f5cdcdf74"Ymir raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening into a grin. "Right, because checking your phone every five seconds is the epitome of multitasking." she remarked dryly, earning a chuckle from her friends./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9914fc87630e232626bd3acd34f244ef"Eren couldn't help but join in the laughter, grateful for the distraction provided by Ymir and her lively group of friends. But even as he laughed and joked with them, his mind couldn't shake the lingering unease brought on by the cryptic messages from his mysterious stalker./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8755153b61b54f93c95341343f38900f""So, Eren, anyone caught your eye tonight?" one of Ymir's friends, a bold and flirtatious young woman, inquired with a suggestive smirk. Eren's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing as he searched for a response./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="97154945ba0bc887dbcf8150f6fd96f8""Uh, I-I'm not really looking for anything tonight." Eren stammered, his discomfort evident in his tone. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, hoping to evade any further probing questions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7002741cb698103d4dde49790a98c536"Ymir shot him a curious glance, but her attention was quickly diverted as another friend launched into a lively anecdote. Eren breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the distraction./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4ffa3bbd9f049e8ffdd7d8ec17194e43"As the night progressed, Eren found himself retreating further into his own thoughts, the shadow of his stalker looming large in his mind. Despite the lively atmosphere and the camaraderie of his friends, he couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled over him like a suffocating blanket./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="353926de8c85ff614c24be84a30a31bc"In the end, he made a silent vow to himself: no matter how tempting the offer, he wouldn't succumb to the pressure of a hookup, not when his safety and sanity were at stake. With that resolve firm in his mind, he focused on enjoying the remainder of the night with his friends, determined not to let fear dictate his actions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a844b966270d30ab55d01ac8f6da26d3"Levi leaned forward, his brows furrowed in thought as he listened to his subordinate's report. "So, what's the update on Eren?" he inquired, his tone cool and composed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="06dd4e71bbb2013b1ec6706414b3fed0""Sir, Eren declined the offer for a hookup." one of the men reported, his voice barely above a whisper as he relayed the information./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a3f2119972e16fabb367e2a00774091b"Levi's lips curled into a sly smirk at the news, a glint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Interesting," he remarked, his voice low and tinged with amusement. "Looks like my little warning had the desired effect."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d70002a4c7fd2b693943ca4ad5218ae4"The other men exchanged knowing glances, understanding the implication of Eren's decision. "What do we do now, sir?" one of them asked, awaiting further instructions from their leader./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="212090d6e7d650e50559582e78d3ad68"Levi's smirk widened into a predatory grin as he leaned back in his chair, his gaze narrowing in determination. "Keep an eye on him. Let's see just how obedient he can be," he instructed, his tone dripping with authority. "And make sure he knows that I'm always watching." Levi added a predatory glint in his eyes. After all, a little fear went a long way in keeping his prey in style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e3cba9e045b663f3cfa188d5dd83d3e5"Eren lost himself in the pulsating rhythm of the music, his body moving in synchrony with the beat as he danced with his friends on the crowded dance floor. The colorful lights flashed overhead, casting fleeting shadows across the room as bodies swayed and gyrated around him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0106a3f04955cb14274b67f5a63d3da"Despite the vibrant atmosphere, an unsettling feeling gnawed at the edges of Eren's consciousness. It was as though someone's eyes bore into the back of his skull, their gaze burning a hole through his very being. He couldn't shake the sensation that he was being watched, monitored from afar by an unseen presence./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d6c5f6d3e5f79ce7755f73cf2408a3f"Glancing around the dimly lit club, Eren tried to pinpoint the source of his unease, but the throng of dancers and flashing lights made it impossible to discern anything out of the ordinary. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of being observed, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end as a chill ran down his spine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3afa2f571dce9c030fe9dddb23c7c1a3"Forcing a smile, Eren tried to push aside his paranoia and lose himself in the music once more. Yet, no matter how hard he danced or how loud he laughed with his friends, the sense of being watched lingered, a shadowy presence haunting his every move./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="92de7f13e36ca4447a40dded0d8e1b63"As Eren's body swayed to the music, his phone buzzed in his pocket, momentarily breaking the spell of the dance. Retrieving it, he glanced at the screen, his heart skipping a beat at the message displayed:/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9838a26d74163b432d83ec5919edf249"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:30]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"You look so damn sexy tonight, Eren. It's taking all my self-control not to come over there and claim you as mine./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b1eb67e3aef99825029e5b3acd602f25"Eren's pulse quickened at the possessive tone of the message, a shiver running down his spine as a chill of fear mingled with a flush of arousal. He glanced around the club, his eyes darting from face to face, searching for any sign of his stalker. But the sea of dancing bodies offered no clues, and Eren was left with nothing but the unsettling knowledge that someone was watching him, lurking in the shadows with eyes trained solely on him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b377e1c173a1fe2ef467f8bb0469747"Eren swallowed hard, his throat dry, the music pounding in his ears, a discordant counterpoint to the racing of his heart. He needed to stay calm, needed to think. But how could he, when he felt the weight of those unseen eyes?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e438718be2ecf06157e3894fae160a63"He turned to his friends, trying to appear casual. "Hey, I'm gonna step outside for a bit. Get some air."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ba3f96074b64ac65bbf4d71d9dc04687"Mikasa gave him a curious look, concern flashing in her eyes. "You okay, Eren?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7f9bb37051152fac602ea54141872c43""Yeah," he forced a smile. "Just need a breather. I'll be right back."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7f7df82269c48e58545f946ea7c43b22"As he made his way through the throng of dancers, his mind raced. Who could it be? Someone he knew? A total stranger? The possibilities were endless and terrifying. He pushed open the heavy club door and stepped into the cool night air, the sudden silence almost deafening after the relentless beat inside./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="af51ebe1be500673f3021ecc7f877916"He took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself. The message had come from an unknown number. There was no way to trace it back easily, no way to know who was behind it. He pulled out his phone, staring at the screen, hoping for some sort of clue, but it remained stubbornly blank./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4374b25579845e8672828d2f7830fe57"A shadow moved at the edge of his vision, and he whirled around, heart hammering in his chest. A man was leaning against the wall a few feet away, smoking a cigarette. He looked up, meeting Eren's eyes with a casual glance before turning his attention back to his phone./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="691424fca186a9e62a6b665b0cfb84bf"Eren let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Just a random guy. He needed to get a grip. Paranoia wouldn't help him here. But as he stood there, trying to calm his racing heart, his phone buzzed again. Another message./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f4d3c30d390a24437750806471acbb0a"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:38]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Don't bother looking for me, Eren. Just know that I'm closer than you think./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b4e27c9fd98e571f0674c1542713bd62"A wave of nausea rolled over him. How could they see him? His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the area, but there was no one else around. The man with the cigarette had disappeared into the night, leaving Eren alone with his fear. Shadows seemed to creep closer, amplifying the eerie silence./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a8abf0f8cc3aba052f9782d09c84ea62"His fingers trembled as he typed a reply, each keystroke echoing in the quiet./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="47d1ef5cd1c88c279c63436ba52b1a1d"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:39]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Who are you? What do you want from me?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c6bfca9d17c0282a3bec97d3c87732c1"He hit send and stared at the screen, waiting. The darkness felt suffocating, and every rustle of leaves or distant sound made his nerves jump. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that eyes were following his every move./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bfc4e5a8e1736d7c2769678551697bab"Eren's phone buzzed almost immediately with a new message. His breath caught in his throat as he read the words on the screen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="36bb905c5f9fc687fea8b0240b9775fe"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:40]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"I know everything about you, Eren. Your fears, your secrets. Don't try to run./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="690271586a02378a15ae95ead711e193"A shiver ran down his spine, his skin prickling with goosebumps. He glanced around again, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of movement. The street lights flickered, casting eerie patterns on the pavement. He felt exposed, vulnerable, like a deer caught in the headlights./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="f0c102755602351323ac5b0209883e57"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:40]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b4ea9808b987d592ebdde566d0d32c44"His mind raced, a thousand thoughts colliding at once. Who could this be? How did they know so much about him? Memories of past mistakes and hidden fears surfaced, making his heart race even faster. The seconds felt like hours as he waited for the reply, his body tense with anticipation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8141fc187e0a334ad0c2bf807317247c"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:41]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"It's simple. I want you to understand that you're never truly alone. I am always watching, always waiting./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bc0923e963f1123bcb5aa3cae735fe74"Eren's hands shook so violently he nearly dropped his phone. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears, each beat a reminder of his growing panic. He felt trapped, like a cornered animal with no way style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="be1df986b6c54696d5d44fe10a4d27d4"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:41]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Why me? What do you gain from this?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="622c87a4d079b2efb94b063b1d631c4b"He needed answers, some way to make sense of the nightmare he was living. The cold night air felt stifling, pressing down on him as if the unknown presence was closing in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="90765bb6b61ee32a912a150b78e7fd0e"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:41]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Because you are special, Eren. And because I can./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5705e85c9081a9f50ce20709cf539797"The casual tone of the message sent another wave of fear through him. It was as if his tormentor found amusement in his terror, relished the control they had over him. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, confusion—all mixing into a suffocating fog./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="39dcc336c394e8cadedc9154b306a8ad"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:41]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"This isn't a game. Leave me alone!/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="69d49f9dbfd225788a9063bbea33c9c7"He hit send and clenched his fists. He felt a surge of defiance, a spark of determination not to be cowed by this faceless menace. But it was hard to hold onto that spark when the next message came through./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6e4d4328c94c148b9019eb8cb3680377"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span22:41]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Oh, but it is a game. And it's only /spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"just begun/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="96fde262f03ad7bc5f712d6f42a5dd13"Eren ran back into the club, his heart pounding in his chest. He found his friends near the bar, laughing and enjoying the music. Trying to keep his voice steady, he told them, "Hey, I'm heading home. Not feeling too well."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="69bee03acad6a48227cebf5b40343f27"The others shrugged it off, assuming it was just a passing discomfort. However, Armin and Mikasa exchanged a concerned glance. They knew Eren too well; something was definitely wrong. But Eren was stubborn, and they understood they had to wait for him to open up. Like the good friends they were, they decided to leave too, not wanting to let him go alone./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="01bf409f1ce12fd089e132b7114140c0"As they exited the club, the cool night air hit them. They walked in silence, the distant hum of city life around them. Mikasa offered Eren a ride, and he nodded, grateful for their understanding presence. The drive to his apartment was quiet, the tension palpable. Mikasa glanced at him from time to time, her worry evident./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="20ec48fdc2d7f60e7944dc2782701f22"When they reached his apartment, Mikasa pulled up to the curb. Eren hesitated before getting out, feeling the weight of their concern. "Thanks." he muttered, avoiding eye contact./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="699ed4f7cb55299c300dbc5aa7ba780f"Mikasa placed a hand on his arm. "Eren, if you need to talk, we're here."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ec9c74a6b80ef1270559bdce59a5fbf7"Armin nodded from the back seat. "Yeah, anytime. Don't keep it all inside."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5f6854dc0322dc984cb7bb836a6847ed"Eren gave a faint smile, appreciating their support but not ready to share the dark cloud hovering over him. "I'll be fine. Just need some rest."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fc834c24d23817538a26f987d14255b1"They watched as he walked up to his apartment, shoulders hunched. Mikasa sighed, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "He's hiding something."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c9b47b3a7b733ba56dd94d68e8bf0a0"Armin nodded. "I know. We just have to be patient."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="050f13d413629145a3e173c79be29769"Inside his apartment, Eren locked the door behind him, leaning against it as he exhaled deeply. The silence was overwhelming, amplifying his fear. He pulled out his phone, staring at the screen, half-expecting another message./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6ea451e6d92c17a81ee5f1307508f089"As he walked to his bedroom, his mind replayed the chilling texts. He felt exposed and paranoid, like eyes were watching him even now. The shadows in his room seemed darker, the corners more threatening. He collapsed onto his bed, trying to steady his breathing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b8d79ebae9fcfc2176653782300ed3fb"Eren knew he couldn't keep this to himself for long. The fear was eating at him, and the need for answers gnawed at his mind. But for now, he had to endure, had to find a way to confront the unseen terror lurking in the shadows./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="46e2daaf8668424811a659ba04282657"Eren tossed his phone onto the bed, running a hand through his hair. The apartment felt like a prison now, every shadow a potential threat. He moved to the window, peering through the blinds at the street below. It was quiet, the usual hum of the city now a backdrop to his growing paranoia./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e24e2b51e84a2e4a7f3af5edddcc2ede"He pulled out his laptop, his fingers trembling as he typed into the search bar: "unknown number threats." Hundreds of results popped up—forums, news articles, blog posts. He clicked on a few, skimming through stories that mirrored his own. Each account only intensified his fear. People reported feeling watched, receiving cryptic messages, and some even mentioned the feeling of someone being 'closer than you think.'/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="14237b290f03f801e94ac60dd81d93fb"Eren's phone buzzed, and his heart skipped a beat. He snatched it up, a new message flashing on the screen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8eba078f9124406ad331c8b8725be0d1"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span23:18]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Looking for me online won't help, Eren./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="57acbab32bc93d55617d95e65a8a5505"A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. How did they know? Were they watching his every move? He decided to try a different approach, typing out a new message./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="cb3e4940221babb142b57db68a2cee48"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 23:18]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"What do you want from me? Money? Information?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0221c5f060ec0ef6fc2b36ce3c0a6c4"The reply was almost immediate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c4b87574e53def219645c1627356eef4"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span23:19]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"I want you to understand your place in this world. You're not as untouchable as you think./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ccee7a740dee3edae02846adbdd63d45"Eren's frustration bubbled over. He needed answers, something concrete to hold onto in this surreal nightmare./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="173d937520a447a45735fca0860a8801"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 23:19]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Who are you? How do you know so much about me?/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8bc971dd6a177633b33b4d6c787e7d23"He waited, the seconds stretching into an agonizing eternity. The reply finally came./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="47c21222c5863cb357fccb46149fe40d"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span23:20]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Just someone who knows you better than you know yourself./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d3e56e1d325401bb5af579b0ceabde1"The cryptic nature of the messages was maddening. He threw his phone onto the bed again and began pacing. He thought about calling Mikasa or Armin, but what could they do? They'd be worried, maybe even put themselves in danger. No, he had to handle this himself, at least for now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="acd70bf40305c0061efcfcc768cad546"Eren sat back down at his laptop, diving deeper into forums and articles, looking for any clue that could help him. Hours passed, his eyes growing tired and the screen blurring. But he couldn't stop. Each new piece of information was a potential lifeline, a way to regain control./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="36565234832d64f9bdf4f1b4f745aecf"He paused to make a cup of tea, hoping the mundane task would calm his nerves. The kettle's whistle sounded too loud in the quiet apartment, making him jump. He laughed at himself, a bitter, nervous laugh. His life had turned into a horror movie, and he didn't know how to escape./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="06c8abf0e6336098bb79dbb030677cc8"Back at his laptop, Eren continued his search. He found posts about tracing phone numbers, hacking tips, anything that might give him an edge. His phone buzzed again, another message from the unknown number./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="18937009e9c7e699e01a17c5f081cf3e"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Unknown/span:span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;" /span23:34]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Still searching? You'll never find me./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a68080a5c9505f18e7e13469e49bd4e5"Eren's resolve hardened. He typed out a reply, his fingers steady despite the fear coiling in his stomach./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="20ea92f86d29218045f216845dd32602"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 23:35]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Watch me./em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aec97e12a7b7a4b4a62627b59177dcbd"He hit send and leaned back, staring at the screen. He didn't know who was on the other end of those messages, but he was determined to find out. And when he did, he would make sure they regretted ever targeting style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a54da4f9a29697d2ef012a169e385f7"Levi Ackerman took a long drag from his cigarette, the ember flaring brightly in the dim light of the club's parking lot. He exhaled a plume of smoke, watching as it dissipated into the cool night air. His sharp eyes flickered to the screen of the small tablet in his hand, displaying live footage from inside Eren's apartment./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="efb890b0cf07c36f62e4f56a629ed9e0"Eren was pacing, his anxiety palpable even through the grainy security camera feed. Levi smirked, a cold satisfaction settling in his chest. It was almost too easy, watching Eren unravel from a safe distance./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ac08e94c055610c1161161695bb85a19"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So predictable./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a430f929e6c3ab9e181f74935282770c"He spoke softly, more to himself than to the men surrounding him. His team, a group of equally cold and efficient operatives, moved with silent precision, loading equipment into the back of a sleek black car. Levi's gaze never wavered from the screen, where Eren was now sitting at his laptop, furiously searching for answers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e173b1685995642ae422b0f02f29cf56"One of Levi's men, a burly figure with a scar running down his cheek, approached. "Everything's set, boss. We're ready to move out."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a856e82d166ca63502c5b871d0407929"Levi nodded, taking another drag from his cigarette before flicking it to the ground and crushing it under his boot. "Good. Let's keep this tight. No mistakes."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b1ca3ae7fa2efd98bee67530215d349c"As he walked towards the car, Levi's mind was already racing ahead, planning the next steps. The thrill of the game was intoxicating, but it was the control he savored most. Eren had no idea how deep the web went, how thoroughly he was ensnared./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf1af3fcfe5e0efc77fe9dfeed05a41f"Once inside the car, Levi adjusted the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of himself. His expression was calm, composed—only the glint in his eyes betrayed the excitement simmering beneath the surface. He tapped a few commands into the tablet, switching between different camera angles in Eren's apartment./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b28d74949644215c360c6da922bcd49""Still searching, Eren?" he murmured, watching as Eren scrolled through page after page of online forums. "You'll never find me. But I'll make sure you keep trying."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="af74a80dd8ba9a6d9da24fb2571233df"Levi tapped a message into his phone, sending another cryptic taunt to Eren. The reply came almost instantly, filled with a mix of frustration and determination./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="809aeff81e3b46de74ddb41db1bd10b2"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Eren/span: 23:35]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Watch me./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a599aabc09f6a9d3dce1fb5a9f8fc1c0"Levi chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "Oh, I am. Every step, every breath. You're mine, Eren."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0e2340efd2514f27a1d6742370c235a0"The car started, and they pulled out of the parking lot, the city lights reflecting off the dark windows. Levi's men were silent, focused on their tasks, each movement precise and practiced. They knew better than to break the boss's concentration./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9ed6c8ebaa57294d5cc9e66b0235ce51"As they drove through the city, Levi continued to monitor Eren. He saw the moment Eren made himself a cup of tea, the mundane act almost laughable in its normalcy. Levi could see the tension in Eren's shoulders, the way his hands shook slightly as he poured the hot water./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="214b606780bd808765003f1624079530"Levi's phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at it briefly before returning his attention to the tablet. Another report from one of his operatives, confirming that the next phase was ready. Everything was proceeding according to plan./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aecd28be682fec381dba42572e0fd400"They arrived at a nondescript building on the outskirts of the city. Levi stepped out of the car, his men following closely behind. Inside, the building was a maze of high-tech surveillance equipment and secure rooms. Levi made his way to the control center, where a wall of monitors displayed feeds from various locations, including Eren's apartment./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f7bd4ccc1b79b5421d9476fe3468dfa7"He stood before the monitors, hands clasped behind his back, watching. His presence commanded respect, and the room fell silent as he entered. He scanned the screens, noting every detail, every movement./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c10892cb12908a6967ba0bd5b1ad0c39""Eren Jäger," he said softly, almost reverently. "You have no idea what's coming."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a82b5060f4da3d6f978fb028bb042dd6"Levi turned to his team, his expression hardening. "Increase the surveillance. I want to know everything he does, every person he contacts. We're just getting started."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ff06df77caadc73ca6c55e1073914de2"His men nodded, immediately setting to work. Levi watched for a moment longer, then turned and walked to his private office. He had more messages to send, more threads to weave into his intricate web. The game was far from over, and he intended to savor every moment of it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5f023413bf6b41064d38d8c0b83bba96"Levi's fingers danced across the keyboard of his computer, sending out another message to Eren, each word carefully crafted to elicit the maximum amount of fear./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3fe0e3ba19d77c036823936af310eb39"Eren's response came quickly, filled with defiance and determination. Levi chuckled darkly, admiring the fire in Eren's spirit. But it only fueled his own determination to break him, to show him who held all the power./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c69fc6d766b2873a7d2c75b8f5a5f098"As he typed out his next message, Levi's mind raced with possibilities. There were so many ways he could push Eren further, so many buttons he could press to watch him unravel even more. And he intended to explore every single one of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5d8c551cd5c14ac6f09696f082e93c82"But for now, he leaned back in his chair, savoring the anticipation of what was to come. The game had only just begun, and Levi was already several moves ahead. Eren may think he had a chance, but he was nothing more than a pawn in Levi's masterful game of manipulation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6e258b6723cbf51edeabbbf6c3bcea5e"With a final click of the send button, Levi ended the exchange for the night, knowing that Eren's sleep would be anything but peaceful. And as he shut down his computer and prepared to leave the office, a wicked smile played at the corners of his lips./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3c9ba082dfa4c0ac665040d6340c9125"Eren's fear was intoxicating, his desperation a melody that Levi couldn't wait to conduct. And as he stepped out into the night, surrounded by his loyal operatives, Levi knew that the symphony of terror was only just the beginning./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: right;" data-p-id="5f5e52c8572a5f226860659344de4b75"[span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Levi/span: 23:56]br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"You can search all you want, Eren, but remember, you belong to me now. Every move you make, every breath you take, I'll be watching. And there's nowhere you can hide from me./span/p