Beneath The Flies • 《 Levi × Reader 》

《 Chapter 16 》• I Hear It

"We have to take him to the Captain!"

...

"We have to hurry!"

I knew this voice...

Floch's voice...

"We can't just sit here like idiots!"

...

I looked down at my palms, kneeling in the swaying grass of a field scattered with hundreds of memorialized corpses. My mouth was dry, needles gliding down my throat each time I swallowed.

I knew this place.

"Section Commander, please!"

It's been a long time since I've been called that...

I threw that title out ages ago.

"We have to-"

A hand reached up, nails digging into my shoulder unspairingly, drawing thin crimson lines in my skin as they pierced through the sleeve of my thredded shirt. The masculine hand belonged to the deceased Commander, his sky blue eyes speaking the sour prominence of death.

He did not say anything.

I did not dare try to move.

His hand on my shoulder chained me to the ill-fated truth, cursing me, shaming me...

Blaming me.

My blood ran cold...

I need to wake up.

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《 Chapter 16 》• I Hear It

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My skin felt raw when I awoke, a similar feeling to the time I had scrubbed the blood off my body till I was peeling my skin off. My mind was reminding me over and over again the pain I felt, never letting me escape from it. I would never be granted the redemption I sought, only able to feel the sore hands of retribution on my shoulders till the day I die.

Even if it wouldn't help, I felt the need to wash away the feeling.

The older shower faucet in this house was broken, so I had to resort to something else.

The river.

It was midnight now, the crickets singing the song of dreams as I gently shut the front door, stepping down the porch with a simple robe wrapped around me for warmth. I sunk into it, walking on the trail that cut through the forest, heading in the direction of the river. It was hard to see, so I let the distant sound of rushing water take my hand and guide me toward it.

Soon, I stepped out of the shielding ceiling of trees, the mouth of the sky opening overhead. The moonlight fell into the river and joined the waters dance, sparkling as I neared.

I was barefoot the whole way here, the mud now seeping between my toes when I stepped closer.
I disliked the feeling, but dealt with it as my fingers slipped down the opening of the robe. It was a warm night, but I still felt the nipping winds brush across my bare skin the moment I even slightly pulled it open.

The stars watched me as I slipped it off my shoulders, assisting me by giving me light. I folded the robe and set it on a rock, careful not to place it in the sopping mud.

I wrapped my arms around my unclothed frame, shivering as I pondered the idea of going into the ice cold river.

But I swallowed my hesitation, cautiously dipping my foot into the shallow end, lightning jolts of pain shooting up my leg at the biting temperature. But I withstood it, furthering my steps. Soon, the water was up to my knees, splashing around me.