This cruel world [Levi Ackerman x Neko reader]

15.

Yesterday's event really got the best of me and broke me surprisingly fast. I was scared to go out, I couldn't stop shivering and anxiously looking out the windows. It got so bad even Nick and Jason became concerned.

"Hey, you, where did you get that bruise?" Nick's voice reached my ears and made me flinch. Once again I had been lost in the spiral of fear.

"..it's none of your concern." I muttered and handed them their portions I had brought with me to the dungeon. "I'll be upstairs. In case you need anything, scream or bang the wall. I'll hear you."

Not letting the conversation go on, I walked upstairs and looked out the window. My trembling hands and indescribable anxiety didn't let me do anything- neither train, nor study, nor work.

When the realization hit that I needed to pay little Paul a visit today as well, I froze in place. My only wish was to never go out. Not at least I could feel safe again.

But the image of panting little child's face ridden by pain jumped in front of my eyes. 

I had to go.

Soon, hesitantly, I mounted beauty and patted her neck, as if trying to calm her down, but really it was me who needed reassurance, the horse was completely fine.

I decided to make the visit as short as possible.

All the way until there I couldn't stop looking around, anxiously anticipating any possible attack, but luckily, nothing happened. When I finally made it to the stool, madam Era was gone and it almost made me relieved that she couldn't see me in this state. Not even mentioning the bright multi-colored bruise on the cheek. That guy's punch even cracked my lip. Just remembering that sent a shiver down my spine.

I took out a package of herbs from my bag and put it on the inner side of the stool so that it wouldn't catch eyes of passengers. But it just had to be my luck - as I was about walk away, I turned and right in front of here she stood with her arms on her waist.

"Not even a greeting? Where are your manners, young-" she was about to playfully scold me, when she finally saw the bruise on my face, I desperately tried to hide by looking to the side. "Lil lady, what happened?"

Her sudden touch on my face made me flinch as she turned my head towards her. I couldn't stop shivering so I hugged myself under the cape thinking that would hide it better, but nothing can be hidden from madam Era.

"Just what did such a nice lady like you do to be beaten like this?.." a sad sigh escaped her lips. I felt embarrassed. At this moment I felt weak. I couldn't answer and she quickly caught on that this was the case. "Is there any way we can help?"

I quickly shook my head.

"You'll be in danger, if you do." I could feel panic rise up in my chest. I could not let myself put them in danger. So I quickly took the package from the stool, put it in her hands, bowed and ran to my horse. "I'm sorry, madam Era."

With a wide swing of the reign I hurried my horse to move out, and so it did. Grey beauty as if feeling my anxiety, quickly pulled me out of the city. Only after a good 10 minute run I realized that she was the one leading, not me. She brought me to the open land area. Here I had no shadows to be scared off as there only stood one lonely tree on a hill.

Feeling as if my head was being ripped apart, I jumped off, suddenly feeling a wave of nausea and quickly my humble breakfast met the bright green grass. Leaning on for support on the tree, I almost felt like praying. I felt warm tears start running down my cheeks again, but I didn't have any energy left to properly cry.

A silent neigh reached my ears as beauty sniffed my clothing, trying to understand what was happening.

"I feel so helpless, beauty." I admitted, putting a hand on her head an leaning my own on hers. "I don't know what to do."