"I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place.

I hope that the world turns and that things get better"

(Alan Moore)

She shifted on her bed, kicking away the thin sheets from her body. She was burning. Sweat slid down her forehead and wrinkles formed around her eyes as she struggled to awaken. She murmured softly, reaching her hands out in front of her. She was young. And in her slumber, she appeared to be a small child. A whimper escaped her lips. She tilted her head so that it pushed against her pillow. Then she spoke audibly for the first time. "Are you lying to me, Sota?"

"No! Why would I lie? I really saw him go down there!" He was a boy of about ten years. He was standing near a wooden doorway. He was pointing at something, she was sure. She tried to take a look at herself but she couldn't control her body. It seemed as if she was far off from the scene, watching.

"Well, I don't see him. He probably ran out by now." And then she saw herself. It was her, she was certain. Just different. She was wearing a skirt and a buttoned long-sleeved shirt. She looked ready to leave somewhere, her backpack slung on her shoulder.

The boy insisted. Who was he? Why did he seem so familiar? "No way, Kagome!" Kagome, that was her name. How did this child know her? She tried to focus on him, willing herself to conjure up any memory she may have had of him. Nothing came.

"We have to head to school, Sota. Gramps will find Buyo later." She rubbed her shoulders as if she was cold. "Plus, this place creeps me out."

Sota. Whoever the boy was, she knew him. They had some sort of relationship.

"Fine. But if nobody finds him, I'm blaming you." He said, crossing his arms against his chest. He looked relieved to leave the shed though.

"Oh, shut up." She started to walk toward him, her stride quick and deliberate. That's when the boy screamed. He was pointing at something behind her.

She didn't have time to turn around. White mist filled the air and a creature leapt out of the once sealed well. Sota's eyes were frozen. The creature was snake-like, with a long body that resembled that of a centipede. Her skin was green and shells spotted her naked flesh. In an instant, the girl, or better yet, Kagome, was swallowed into the dark depths of the hole. Sota fell to his knees.

She gasped, her body shivering. She couldn't breathe. What had just happened? What had she just dreamt of? She grabbed at the blankets that were now lying on the ground and wrapped them tightly around her shoulders. Her lips quivered. She had to remind herself that she was safe. The monster was fake. That creature didn't exist. She was here. On the lower end of the bunk bed. The snores of Sasha above her caused her heart beats to slow. The sounds told her that she was still alive and well. She tried to make sense of everything, but it seemed pointless. It was just another of her nightmares.

x

Kagome found Jean in the mess hall. Unlike the loud, playful shouts and jokes of others, dark bags hung underneath her eyes. She made her way to him through the throng of people that tried to speak and interact with him. In his own, unexplainable way, Jean was quite popular. When the two made eye contact, he grinned. Something in her face must have told him something was wrong for he abandoned Marco and tugged her arm so that they could walk out of the chaotic room. She was silent as they trudged outside. The air was moist and she gazed downwards from the sting of the sun.

"What's up?" He asked, leaning against the door frame, his voice gruff and concerned.

She shook her head. "I had another dream."

Jean sighed and leaned forward, his tall stature clouding over her short one. "What was this one about?"

She couldn't even explain it. "I don't-I mean." She faltered. It was absurd to even explain.

Jean understood. "You don't have to." There was something in his green eyes that made it seem as if he was actually listening to her. Kagome shut her eyes, letting the sun's light envelope her skin.

She felt Jean's fingers tug at a strand of her hair. "Hm?" She asked him. She could've slept right there and then if she willed herself to.

"You know we'll be making our decisions soon, right?" He sounded nervous. His orbs flicked to a group of soldiers laughing and playing cards.

"Yes. I know, Jean."

She knew there was an underlying question beneath his thoughts. She just couldn't bring herself to answer it. Their lives would be decided based on the positions they chose. The pressure was mounting.

Instead, she answered in the only way she could. Kagome took his hand, calloused and young, and placed it against her cheek. She heard Jean release a breath. Sometimes, words aren't enough.

x

Grueling hours turned into long, unrelenting days. And as time slipped by, more talks rose among the teenagers. They were frightened, excited, nervous, afraid, and glad at the opportunity to pick their squads. During dinner, boys fought about which was the easier squad and which would leave them alive the longest. Before hitting the sacks, she listened to girls who wished to plan their routes together so they wouldn't be separated. It seemed as if every second was dedicated to picking a squad and Kagome wasn't ready for any of it. Her nights were spent with stressful dreams and her days were used catching up on the sleep she had lost.

She ignored anyone who asked her where she was heading. She changed the subject when confronted with her companions. Everything flew past her like a blur. It was Jean who finally managed to get to her. She was outside, arranging her clothing on a string that hung between several homes. Around her, merchants bragged about their products and customers rubbed their chins in thought, wondering if what they desired was worth what they had in their pockets. "Kags!"

She turned her attention away from the elderly couple she had been observing to a sprinting Jean. He looked exasperated and out of breath, his cheeks red and puffed smiled softly. "Hey Jean."

"You've been avoiding me." It wasn't a question. It was an accusation.

She had the decency to look slightly ashamed. "I've been trying to get away from everybody, actually."

Kagome squeezed the water out of a shirt and watched as the liquid fell into a steel bucket. "Why?"

"You know why." She took the shirt and let it lie over the string, the breeze lightly blowing the cloth.

"Because you're afraid." The truth in his words made her flinch, but he didn't take them back.

She finally whirled to face him, her lips pursed. Her face was pale compared to the mass of dark hair that was piled on her head. "So what if I'm afraid?"

He stepped closer to her. "No one said anything about that. I'm talking about us. Titans are appearing out of nowhere and I just want to fucking know if you'll be near me!" His chest rose and fell rapidly. Kagome blinked and sucked in a breath.

She was quiet for a few moments. Her blue eyes met his. He was pleading with her. "I'm sorry."

His shoulders sagged. "For what, Kagome?"

She shrugged. "I've been a mess lately. I just-I'm scared of what'll happen to us. We're ants compared to those creatures."

Jean nodded, his mouth curling upwards. "Yea. But we'll always be ants. That's not gonna change. We've just got to figure out a way for the underdogs to win. That's all."

She laughed, covering her face with her hands. "That sounds easy."

Jean was still smiling. There was something contagious about it. "I'm guessing you've decided already."

He nodded sheepishly.

She rose her eyebrow and watched as he peered everywhere but in her direction. "The Survey Corps."

Kagome wasn't surprised, not in the least. He waited for her reaction.

"Okay."

His jaw dropped. "Okay what?"

She wondered if he noticed her trembling fingers. Or the way she tried to contain herself. The knuckles that were white from her hard grip on the clothes. The distant expression. "I'll be with you."

He pumped his fist into the air, an excited shout filling the atmosphere around them.

Of course, he didn't notice.

x

[a/n]: I'm redoing the story, as you might have guessed. The story will still contain the same pairing (Levi/Kagome). The plot has just been altered. I'm sorry I haven't come back

in awhile. Hopefully, there are still some of you to read and review this. All the love. Will update sooooon.