Humanity's Strongest' Weakness

Chapter 40

I was falling.

Darkness was clawing at me.

Hands gripping my arms, pulling me further down into the abyss.

Then darkness was all I knew.

It was all I could see, breathe, and hear.

Until...

Until I heard some soft whispering around me.

I could feel something touch my hand, almost as if caressing it, as I looked down at my hand but found nothing there.

Yet, I could still feel it, softly caressing my hand as it came and went.

I would sit in the darkness, wait for that feeling to return.

It felt so familiar and comforting.

However, darkness was my only other company.

It would swirl around me, obscuring my vision.

But then... slowly, almost as if there was a curtain being pulled open, light filled the empty void.

I raised a hand to shield my eyes from the blinding light when I felt like I was abruptly tossed. 

My body was suddenly unresponsive and all my limbs felt like a dead weight.

I couldn't move them even if I tried.

I frowned, twitching my finger slowly until feeling finally creeped into it.

I still couldn't see what was in front of me, but I could see light from behind my closed eyelids.

I don't know how long I stayed there for, slowly making process as I could start moving my arms, then my legs and then my eyes opened.

They were heavy and sore but I fought against the urge to keep them closed.

Light made my vision turn white.

"Oh my god." A familiar voice rang as I winced a little, turning my head as my eyes adjusted to the sudden light.

A sense of déjà vu nagged at me from the back of my brain as I waited until the fuzzy picture of Hange's turned to one.

Thankfully, I don't think I could handle more Hange's.

Hange was looking at me with a shocked look displayed on her face until she broke from her daze, rushing towards me.

She didn't even say anything as she wrapped her arms around me tightly, but not tight enough to cause any pain in my aching body.

"Wha-" I started but my throat felt like someone had shoved gravel and needles down it as I coughed, only making it hurt more.

Hange pulled back suddenly before wordlessly handing me a cup of water as she stared at me with wide eyes.

I was a little concerned on her behaviour but I had to focus on not dying first as I was forced to drink the water slowly, throat burning with ever drop of water.

"What happened?" I asked this time again, throat still raspy and sore but bearable.

But Hange abruptly pulled me into another hug as I blinked in surprise.

"Hange?" I asked when I felt her sniffle into my shoulder, making my eyes widen in shock.

"H-Hange?" I asked again, worry brimming inside me as Hange held onto me tightly.

"I thought you were dead." Hange sniffed out as I blinked.

"Well, I'm okay now. I'm not dead-" I started but Hange interrupted me, pulling me closer into her embrace.

"But we thought you really were. Truly, this time. We were almost too late. When we came, Levi was being a maniac, tearing at the titans, we barely saved you in time. Cut you out of a titan." Hange said as my breathing hitched a little.

"L-Levi. Where's Levi?!" I asked, swinging my legs off the side of the bed and standing up but my body ached in protest.

I hissed in pain as Hange sat me down.

"Careful. You've been in coma for two and a half months." Hange softly added the last part as I whipped my head around to stare at her in absolute shock.

"T-Two and a half months?!" I asked in shock as Hange nodded.

"I told you... We really thought... We really thought you wouldn't make it." Hange said as I could see her eyes glistening with tears as I grabbed her hand.

"Hey, it's alright. I'm fine now. That's all that matters." I said as Hange sighed.

"Where's Levi?" I hesitantly asked as Hange stiffened a little.

She didn't reply and it didn't calm my worry at all.

"Hange? Can you please tell me? What happened?" I asked as Hange clenched her fists tightly.

"I've never seen Shorty like this. He's locked himself in his room for the whole time. He only comes out when it's necessary and any other time he's just in his room. He's even barricaded the door." Hange said as I sucked in a breath.

"I have to see him." I said until Hange laid a hand on my shoulder, making me pause.

"What's wrong?" I asked as Hange pursed her lips together.

"Well... The first thing is... I told him... I told him how you feel. Like how you really felt about him." Hange said as I coughed, choking on absolutely nothing as I stared at Hange with shock.

"What?!" I have screamed out until Hange held up a hand, making me pause again when I saw the seriousness on her face.

"But that's not what's the problem." Hange said as I inhaled sharply.

"What is it? Hange? Where is he?" I asked, fear gripping at my chest as I waited for her to answer.

The answer made my blood turn to ice.

"He went missing."

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Sorry about taking so long to update and the short chapter <3