Levi grabbed my hand, confidently leading the way as we raced through the heavily wooded forest.

i can still hear it-

The loud screaming was fainter now but still cut through the sound of our footsteps every few minutes, slowly receding into the periphery as we ran.

we aren't prepared for this at all

"Keep going," Levi urged, his grip tightening, "whatever it is, we haven't lost it."

"How can you tell?" I glanced back, over my shoulder.

nothing- as far as i can tell no one is following us

"Is that really important right now?" He kept his eyes ahead of us, at the ever darkening forest, "we'll run until you can't hear it, and then run even further than that. I don't want to know what the fuck is following us."

alright

I focused on the grip of his hand on mine, straining my ears to pick up the sound of our pursuer.

one, two three-

The bloodcurdling scream was muffled now as it called out from somewhere far behind us.

but i can still hear it-

"It sounds human," I shuddered at the thought, willing myself to continue onward and cast away the thought.

"It isn't," Levi quickly dismissed. "Keep listening."

i'll try

We continued to race blindly into the heart of the wood, the sound of our escape intermittently cut off by the screaming which was happening in longer intervals.

it's more distant now

"Levi-" I called out to him after a prolonged silence, "it's stopped- I haven't heard it for five minutes."

"Thank fuck," he sighed loudly, coming to a stop, "what the fuck was that?"

"I have no clue-" I muttered, catching my breath. "Did you see anything?"

"No- I felt it," Levi shook his head, "like cold breath on my fucking neck."

i didn't feel anything like that-

"So you felt it and I- heard it?"

neither of us saw it-

"Have you heard of anything like what just happened?"

no-

"Not at all," I glanced around nervously, "but I also haven't heard of someone coming back to life before- this place is full of surprises."

"We need to find Hanji."

you're right

"Quickly," I nodded, "I don't want to spend the night out here-"

one problem

"Where the fuck are we?" Levi said exactly what I was thinking.

i was so focused on running away i didn't keep track of our surroundings

"Good question,"

"Is any of this familiar?" He looked around, searching for any kind of landmark.

xoxo NO

"The last time I was here I was dead," I shrugged, "and it's not like I remember any of that."

i don't even remember wandering that far into the forest-

"Let's keep moving," Levi urged, beginning to walk, tugging my hand that was still in his.

ok-

"Hey, I have a question," I muttered, picking up my pace to fall into step next to him.

"Is now the best time?"

"When else am I going to ask it? We might get mauled by a bear or dragged off by ghosts at any moment- besides-" I grinned, "you can't exactly run off right now, you're at my mercy."

"You're fucking scary."

"Thank you," I bowed, "will you listen?"

"I don't have a choice."

"Do you think we'll really be able to find her?"

a beat of silence

"We have to."

"Well-" I hesitated, "if we don't- what then?"

"That isn't worth thinking about, either we do or we die."

"We don't have to die," I muttered, "I'm sure there would be another way for us to switch back."

"Are you sure? We haven't found one."

you're right

"Well- what if? What if we didn't swap back- or die- what happens then?"

"That's ridiculous, we need to," he said it as if hearing it said aloud would convince him of something.

"Don't kill me," I prefaced, searching his face for some kind of understanding, "I know we have to switch back- our futures depend on it- but-"

doesn't it make you sad?

"But what?" Levi stopped walking, frowning slightly as he studied my expression.

"You feel the same way I do- you're sad about it," I shot him a tight smile, "aren't you?"

"It's ridiculous."

i know

"What's going to happen to us after this? Do we just go back to normal- I don't think I can- and if you think about it we could be unstoppable."

"I thought you were sworn to neutrality," Levi rolled his eyes, squeezing my hand.

"I am obligated as the heir to the Marquisate to make decisions in the best interest of my territory," I grinned, "as the Ackerman Duchy borders my lands it would be in my best interest to form a strong and lasting partnership with their young lord."

besides-

"I mean come on Levi- I don't think anything can go back to normal- I've seen your di-"

"Shut the fuck up."

"I like this-" I chose to graciously ignore his comment, "I like being your friend."

"Thanks."

"You're supposed to say it back."

"Haven't you humiliated me enough for the day?"

"I'm the only one here- it's a safe space."

"Fuck off."

"Ok- it was a lie- this is the opposite of a safe space but I would still like to hear you say it back."

"You're-" he fought with himself to spit the next word out, "fine."

"I'll take it- you know I'm very easy going and ki-"

"Shut up or I'm taking it back."

"Whatever."

you're the one who was all sad about the thought of everything going back to normal a few days ago

"Let's go," Levi picked up the pace again.

"It's getting dark," I grimaced, staring up at the receding sunlight through small gaps in the thick canopy.

"Hurry," he urged, dragging me forward.

We walked in silence for 20, no, 30 minutes as the sun continued to get lower in the sky, a faint pinkish glow filling what bits of open air we could see.

pretty

"Look at that-" Levi inhaled sharply, pointing at the bark of one of the trees ahead of us. It glowed a pale, bioluminescent blue- filling the space with light.

Suddenly, the entire forest was alive with light, as if it had been waiting for the sun to set and reveal its true colors. Trees that had looked normal until now suddenly had golden leaves, our footsteps glowed a faint silver in the grass, tiny glowing particles seemed to float around us- held by some invisible force.

"It's beautiful," I gasped, turning to Levi who stood enthralled by our surroundings.

breathtaking

___________________

in the part of the semester where university starts kicking my ass </3 hope yall r doing well

- ami