CHAPTER 18: CH 18: HIS NAME.

’Humans or those things?’

Jace’s words echoed in Levi’s head as he remained between them.

Each second weighing heavy between them.

’This guy’s supposed to be the leader and watch our backs but look at him... He didn’t even hesitate to pull the gun.’

Jace tightened his grip on the gun.

"Levi, I don’t have all day and the mission is not yet completed... Let’s deal with this quickly."

Levi glanced slightly at the recon behind him, he muttered, "Uhmm... Do you mind helping me out over here?"

But he just froze in place, hands trembling, skin even paler than before and head pointed down.

’Fuck, don’t tell me I’m gonna have to do this on my own’

Levi thought before Jace walked closer to them.

He shoved Levi to the side—

Raising his gun again—

~BANG.~

The gunshot echoed throughout the corridor.

Just as Levi shoved Jace to the side, making him miss widely.

And dropping the gun in the process.

The soldier shuddered in the corner.

Jace stumbled, before regaining composure.

He was turned away from them, placed his hands on his hips.

He let out a sigh before speaking, "You are really one of the most difficult people I’ve ever had to deal with, you know that?"

Levi said nothing but raised his fists.

Right hand next to his jaw for instant defence, left farther away for wild attacks.

Knees slightly bent for immediate responses, feet pointed to the side and front.

He knew this wouldn’t be any regular fight, Jace was trained and well... Fucking crazy.

Jace turned around slowly, "Is there any possibility where you reconsider this?"

Levi smirked, "Nope."

Jace took his stance—

Before kicking up sand to Levi’s eyes.

Levi instinctively brought his hands to his eyes.

Just before Jace’s fist connected with his nose.

Levi stumbled back, tripping over his own feet before steadying himself.

Jace’s arm stretched out once more—

This time Levi caught him by the wrist, turning him over his back and into the floor.

Scattering dust into the air— Jace switches it.

Drags Levi by the arm and locks him into a submission hold.

Levi grunts, feeling the pressure imposed on him.

He struggled back onto his knees but Jace never lets go.

To one knee— to his feet.

Using his left hand to support Jace’s weight, like tugging chains on his arm, lifts him into the air.

~BAM.~

Levi drove him back onto the concrete.

Jace finally let go.

And exhaustion slowly caught on them both.

They both took a minute, trying to get back up even as their bodies screamed otherwise.

Jace got back up first— saw Levi on all fours.

He sprinted towards him—

~CRACK.~

He delivered a knee to the temple that rattled Levi’s skull.

’Who the hell trained this guy?’

He thought as he brought his fingers to his throbbing head.

Blood.

The soldier in the corner who’d been silent throughout the fight— took two deep sniffs, like an addict first shot of coke.

He whipped his head instantly—

They both stopped fighting— they noticed.

Those eyes, hungry beyond human reason as it followed Levi’s blood stained hands.

Although he said nothing, like a man lost in a trance.

Levi slowly took a step back, feigning surrender as he placed his arms close by his side.

"Dude, calm down. Whatever it is, fight it."

’That never fucking works,’ he thought inwardly but still said nothing else.

They saw it —

The canines gradually extend.

The cheeks sink in and the veins around the eyes blackened.

The claws stretch out in an otherworldly manner.

It lunged for levi—

’Shit,’ he sidestepped it.

It stumbled forward before whipping back in an instant.

Jace slowly reached for his gun, "Levi, you still wanna let him live?"

"Give me a minute to calm him down," Levi said.

But it lunged again, Levi held onto its collar and slammed it into the wall.

"Try to fight it. Don’t make me do this... Man"

He said, ’Fuck, really should’ve asked for his name previously.’

It jumped for him again.

The creature snarled, saliva dripping from its fangs as it clawed at Levi’s arms.

Levi gritted his teeth, slammed it harder into the wall, cracking stone. "Come on," he growled. "You’re still in there. I know you are."

Its eyes flickered—just for a second. Something more just feral hunger for a microsecond.

Then nothing.

It screamed, twisted free, and slashed Levi’s chest—three deep gashes across his vest. Levi stumbled back, breath caught, blood soaking through the fabric.

Jace didn’t move.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes barely open, watching. "You done yet?"

Levi ignored him. He stepped forward again, fists clenched, voice low. "You’re not one of them. You’re not. You’re scared. I get it. But you need to fight it."

It was hopeless.

The creature paused, trembling. Its claws twitched. Its mouth opened—but no words came. Just a guttural hiss.

Levi reached out slowly. "Let me help you... Uhmm, bro?"

It lunged—

Levi caught it mid-air, slammed it to the ground, straddled it, and held its arms down. "Stop!" he shouted. "Just fucking stop!"

It bucked beneath him, shrieking, eyes wild, veins pulsing black.

Levi’s grip faltered.

It bit his forearm.

~CRUNCH.~

Levi screamed, yanked his arm free, blood pouring. He saw the creature’s face— no longer human. Just hunger. Just animal.

Something snapped.

’Alright, I think I’ve tried enough.’

Levi grabbed his knife, raised it high, and drove it into the creature’s chest.

~SHHK.~

It shrieked, flailed, but Levi didn’t stop.

He stabbed again.

And again.

And again.

Raising and lowering the knife with bone cracking force.

Blood splattered across his face, his arms, the floor. The animal twitched once more—

then went still.

Levi sat there, panting, knife still buried in its chest.

Drenched in blood and sweat.

Jace finally pushed off the wall, walked over slowly, crouched beside the body.

He looked at Levi. "You done?"

’Fuck off’

Levi didn’t answer.

Jace stood, wiped his hands on his pants. "You tried. I’ll give you that... As dumb as it was, you tried."

Levi looked down at the corpse—eyes still open, mouth frozen mid-snarl.

He muttered, "I really should’ve asked his goddamn name."