With these last words of encouragement, you dress up to leave. Now it's all about acting inconspicuous. With a look on your phone for the time, the display says 5 pm. Enough time to sort your thoughts and prepare a few things at home for an emergency. After all, Petra is unpredictable. It's better to be safe than sorry. You take the bus back home as if nothing had happened today, driving the 8 stations until you hopped out almost in front of your home. A small path separates the building with your apartment from the bus station. Very comfortable, but since you've your own car, the bus is an exceptional solution for either short ways, or if your car should be broken. You fought the urge inside you to look around, to be sure that no one's around or watching.
It takes all of your self-control not to do so. With unlocking the door, you step inside and up to your apartment. You think back to yesterday when you laid here, behind your door, totally broken and an emotional wreck because of Levis stupid attempt to try to protect you. He has no idea what he's doing to you right now. It still hurts like hell, thinking back to the words he said. Even if you now know why he did all this, this isn't making it easier to understand and endure. It became your habit to be lonely and you're used to be alone with no one to talk to, but with Levi and Erwin, you allowed yourself, after months of fighting your fears and panic, to let these two men into your life, with the intention to never let them go again. Luckily, Erwin is the one in their team who has his brain in the right place. He knows about your past, and how you must feel right now, and he sensed that you needed him. Despite his own feelings for you, he was there when you needed him the most. And you were more than thankful for that. Now it's just Levi who has to be taught the same. And you're definitely going to do that when all of this is over.
After a proper apology from him, of course. Once in your own four walls, you immediately go into your bedroom, digging out a fanny pack. It's been years since you've worn this thing, but tonight, it's going to get a revival! You pack your smartphone, your keys, and a tiny bottle of pepper spray, just in case. Once this was done, you still have 2 hours left before the operation will start. Well...time to eat something and to distract you with video games. Even if all of this shit is your own plan, you can't deny that you're getting nervous, now, that the encounter with your maker comes closer with every tick of the clock. But "Calmness" is the magic word. This isn't the first time you've looked into the lion's maw, but the fact that you're about to force this encounter by your own free will leaves a sick feeling in your stomach.
~Timeskip to the moment of truth~
It's time. It's half to eight in the evening. You tried to eat a little, but the food won't stay inside. You puked everything out again as soon as the plate was empty. Damn...the last time you felt that sick and bad was when Levi made his first move on you after he'd rescued you from your abuser. The passionate kiss after that encounter left you sick inside at least as much as now...but that time...you didn't need to puke. Now it's different. This isn't caused by a panic attack from a man's approach, this is caused by pure nervousness and angst. But it's too late for withdrawal. Jean and Armin are now also involved in this mess and you can't let them down. So let's bite the bullet and face the beast!
After putting on the fanny pack, you dress up for a late night walk, paying extra attention to run around in your apartment very showy and to turn the lights out before you leave. Then, with a last deep breath, you leave, locking the door and walking down the staircase, taking the final leave of your sanctum. The evening air is icy cold, causing your breath to freeze instantly in an evaporating cloud from your mouth. You pull your neck up before you start to walk, always aware to look unsuspicious, not looking around and not slowing down or speeding up in your pace. When the destination of your trap came in sight, you look at your phone. 7:55 pm. Perfect timing. You slowed down a little bit until you would reach the line of street lanterns, to make sure to be perfectly on time. And when you stop in your tracks under the last lantern, staring in front of you into the dark nothingness, trying hard to believe that Jean and Armin are hiding somewhere before you with their smartphone in their hands, you take a very long and deep breath through your nose.
"I know that you're there. You can come out." You spoke loudly, very audible for everyone around to hear. First, nothing happened and you didn't move one single muscle until a rustling noise from behind make your heart skip several beats.
"Well. Who have thought that? The coward knows that I'm after her. What gave me away?" It's just as Erwin told you. She's really after you. A mix of fear and satisfaction about this build up inside you, but there's no time to be reckless now. You turn around to her, taking a step to the side and crossing your arms before your chest.
"You're really asking me this? You're as loud as a bull in a china shop. Even a deaf cat would've known that you're after her. I just don't understand the reason why. Maybe you can enlighten me about this?" This question is the first step to lure out more information from her about her actions. Now you have to hope dearly that Petra will play along.
"Isn't that obvious? I want you to disappear from the scene. I want you to make space for me and Levi coming together again and according to your reaction when you left his apartment crying, it seems I achieved my first goal. Now all I have to do is to gather the fruits of my effort. Isn't that amazing?" she scoffed. So she knew all the time about what happened. This woman is really the craziest person you ever met. Not even Hanji was THAT mad and crazy. Your nervousness vanished soon and anger took over its place about her nasty words. But you mustn't lose your temper right now. You have to stay focused! This is for your own and Levi's future, and maybe all the other women Levi might have. This serves a greater ideal! And this thought gives you the strength you need to get through this.
"Huh. So you know but that means nothing. He's just having a bad day because you annoyed the crap out of him. I guess I don't have to explain to you how short his temper is for other people's bullshit but I came to realize that you didn't answer my question from before. What is your true intention with all of this shit? What are you trying to achieve with this stupid behavior? How old are you? Five? Come on! If you really are trying to get rid of me, you weren't acting very professional, although you're quite experienced in this kind of things, aren't you?" Maybe this was a little too offensive, but you don't have all night to talk like you want to invite her for a cup of tea. Petra walks a little up to you until she stands directly under the cone of light from the lantern above. Perfect! Now, please! Stay there!
"Impressive. Sounds like Erwin finally told you about me. Are you not scared? He also must've also told you what happened to all the other women who dared to stand in my way and here you are: facing me in this scenery, with no one else around to hear us. If I would do something to you right here, no one will notice." Petra grins evilly and dark circles appear under her eyes from the light from above. She looks just like your teacher Mr. Shadis in High School, professor for history and expert in cognitive recalibration or in other words: expert for slapping his studies into his student's heads with a heavy book.
"That may be true but that wouldn't have the same effect, right? You WANT an audience around you, so everyone will know not to mess with you, right? Was this the same intention you had when you went after Levi's last girlfriend? Or all his others? I mean, smearing threats with animal blood on their houses and doors, dead animals in the mail and terror calls? Or what was it that drove you to make that poor woman commit suicide?" You tried to keep your voice loud and understandable, but it became more difficult with each spoken word. The fear and nervousness inside you keep growing and your stomach complained very loudly.
"She was just like you at the beginning. Brave, unimpressed, and unreasonable but I figured pretty fast that this was just a mask. She was weak. She deserved it. Everyone who dares to stand between me and Levi deserves to be extinguished. And the fact that she was such a coward made it only easier for me to affect her. She was so easy to scare. She didn't even last 4 weeks before she spared all of us with her further existence but in the end, she chooses the way that's just made for her. The way of the weak. At least, all other women after her had enough guts to break up with Levi and carry on with their miserable lives. I wonder how long you will endure, hm? How long will it take to drive you insane? How long can you last until your mind will break? How long until you are nothing more but a sobbing and whimpering pile of crap? Tell me. I want to hear your guess."
Petras evil grin went even wider. She lifts her upper lip to reveal her teeth into a freaky psycho smirk. Every time when you think that woman can't get any scarier, she proves you wrong. Cold sweat runs from your forehead down your chin as your limbs start to shake from the rush of adrenaline in your veins. You want to run away from here so bad, hide in the darkness until she will be gone but then, all of the planning would've been in vain and you've come so far. You practically have Petra where you want her. She spoke her nasty confession right into your face, telling you everything you wanted to know and hear. Her words oozing from disgust and devaluation, which made the confession even more valuable when it would be handed to the police. With a deep inhale, you decide to endure this dangerous game a little longer.
"Petra, Petra, Petra. You haven't noticed yet? Hasn't it dawned on you that I can't be compared to all the other women before me? No? Then let me fresh up your mind: I will NOT give in so easily. You can't affect me with your childish behavior, nor with your lame tries to force me to break up with Levi. I'm not from the same material as the ones before me. I came so far, I endured so much during my childhood that all of your doing isn't even worth a shrug of my shoulders. You see? You can't get rid of me. No matter how hard you try, no matter what kind of stupid and crazy plans you'll bring up from the depths of your twisted mind, I will not back up! I will stay where I belong, by Levi's side. Deal with it and get yourself a real hobby!"
The words came right from your heart, making it crystal clear that you won't give in, no matter what asnd now it's your turn to grin. A victorious, a winning grin and simultaneously, her psycho face changes into a weirder form. Her lips and eyebrows suddenly frowned, making her face look like as if she's the devil in person. Looks like you hit the nail on the head. When she's smart enough, Petra will finally take her leave and disappear into the nothingness from where she came, but then, Petra reached inside her jacket to roam for something. You watch how she takes out something shiny, something made from metal. You blink a few times until you recognize the thing she's holding with both hands. Shit! She has a knife!
"I already thought that we won't come to an agreement about this and somehow I knew that you are different from the other imbeciles I dealt with before. That's why I took some....precautions, y' know? First, I wanted to make you recognize your mistakes on your own, to give you a fair chance to leave, but since you're such a stubborn bitch, I guess you leave me no other choice. Don't worry, I'm not a monster. I'll make it quick, almost painless, and I will leave your body where it should be found easily. You can trust me."
Is she insane?! How can she speak so calmly and seriously about killing you? Shit! This isn't right! This is not how it should be! This took a totally different twist! With your eyes wide from shock, your body no longer able to move or to react in any kind of way, Petra slowly walks up to you, the knife in one hand beside her body. The closer the distance between you become, the more it dawns you, that you need to do something. You had a knife in front of you once before, a few years back when you worked as a cashier in a local market. This isn't different. Still busy with your thoughts to figure something out to get out of here, something little, but hard, hit you in your back. That must've been Jean or Armin who threw something to you, trying to wake you up. Right. The conversation took all of your attention that you almost forgot about these two. You can't do this to them and especially not to Levi and Erwin. You can't die here now and you won't! On the last few meters, Petra came to a halt, raising her knife, pointing with the tip in your direction.
"Any last wishes?" She scoffed with a smirk.
"Yes. Shut the fuck up and get over here!" Your voice snarled and you feel your body is flooded with adrenaline, seeing her disgust and anger in her eyes as she suddenly yells while she sprints forward!
"Nina! LOOK OUT!" Armin screamed from behind you, what causes Petra to slow down and look around, blinking in confusion at the sudden voice from behind you. Now's the chance! With one step forward, you raise your leg and kick against her hand, making her let go of the knife sending it flying through the air a few meters away while Petra winced from the pain. You take another step forward, giving her a well-placed punch against her jaw. She flies to the ground on her stomach as you follow her to jump on her back, taking both of wrists to pin them together behind her. Petra squirms and screams from beneath you, yelling that you should let go of her, that she will kill you and that all of this is useless anyway. When you consider the situation right, she's not in the position to threaten you. With all of the strength in your body, you press her down on the ground, putting your knee in the middle of her back and not letting go of her arms, what causes Petra to grunt in fury and pain alike.
"Nina! Holy shit, what the heck did just happen!?" Jean and Armin finally came out of their hideout, running up to you and visibly shocked.
"I have no idea, Jean! Don't stand there and look! Call the police!!" you barked at him while Petra continues her shifting and squirming. You ignored her offending curses and threats. She's afraid of the police, that's for sure. Armin went a few meters off, with his phone on his ear and speaking very hastily before he hung up again after a few minutes.
"I go to show the police where to go!" Armin yelled, already in the act of running as he heads into the direction from where you came. And after that, everything happened faster than you could imagine. The police arrived after 5 minutes, with 3 cars and lots of men, who took the task to take care of Petra. She got handcuffed and was led away in one of the cars before the officers took care of you. The ambulance was also here, and a medical psychologist, but only to find out, that you're in the best condition they've ever seen in their whole career after such an incident. They took their leave after they checked up on you and left the rest to the police, to whom you explained all that happened in detail. You also mentioned that everything, from the very beginning, since you entered the park, was taken on a video. The officers were skeptical about this and asked for Jean's smartphone as evidence. Very unwillingly, he handed it over. And after you made a report for attempted murder against you, the officers offered to take you home.
"That's not necessary! We will bring her home!" A sudden, but familiar voice calls. You turn around, only to discover Levi and Erwin standing a little away from the commotion, observing everything that's going on with unreadable expressions. You gulp a large lump in your throat and nod in agreement to the officer. Armin and Jean gave you a tight and loving hug while Armin confessed that he'd also called Erwin and that he's sorry about that since you probably have to explain yourself towards them. Armin did the right thing, there's no doubt, and you don't blame him for it. You would have to face Levi and Erwin at some point anyway, the sooner, the better. Armin can't get rid of his concern, even if you said that it's alright. After your two sidekicks took advantage of the police's offer, it was clear, that you had to face your maker once more. With a deep breath, you walk up to Levi and Erwin. They said nothing, they just guided you to their car to drive home to their penthouse. The whole route, the car was filled with the sound of silence. An awkward, tense silence. Very uncomfortable. The moment when your eyes met with Levis, you saw no anger or something similar in them. They were completely emotionless, so as Erwin's, even if the intensity of his gaze was softer.
You have no idea how to react right now. Were they furious with you? Or worried? They gave no hints about their current mental state, and that's what frightens you the most and it caused your insides to go completely wild. This time, not from hunger...
At Erwin's and Levis place, you walk through the staircase up to the last floor, also in silence. Erwin unlocks the door and lets you enter first, with Levi following right behind you. His intense stare was all over you, that's for sure. You feel it in your guts. When you hear the door closing, the lock clicking in the frame, the three of you sit down on the dining table, the two men taking their seats directly in front of you. The intensity of their judging gazes was bone-crushing and you look aside in embarrassment. Now that the matter with Petra is solved, for now, you realize in what great danger you were. You almost got stabbed by a psycho. Only thanks to Armin's scream for a warning, you had the chance to avoid that. Looking back at it, it really was dumb and foolish. The only solution you could come up with to take that bitch to jail. You sigh loudly before Erwin finally cleared his throat to gain your attention. You gulp another lump, looking at them, examining their expressions to see that they've softened a little and what makes it possible to see some emotion in them! You saw worry, pity, and affection. At least from Erwin. Levi's eyes remained the same all the time. He's truly a master in hiding his feelings, which causes your sadness to boil up again as tears started to sting in your eyes.
"Nina...." Erwin spoke first, his voice soft, calming. It was like honey to your ears.
"Would you be so kind as to explain to us what just happened? Armin called us with the topic that you almost got killed. We were worried sick!"
Did he say "We"? Does this mean Levi was worried too? Even if Erwin told you that Levi still loves you...It's difficult to believe it according to his emotionless face. You take another deep breath, filling your lungs until there was no space left inside of them, and then, you start to explain yourself.