The hospital room was dim, curtains half-drawn, the air heavy with the scent of antiseptic and silence. Machines beeped softly, monitoring the fragile life of Zack who lay pale and weak on the bed. His eyelids fluttered before he finally opened them, confusion flickering in his dull eyes. Sweat rolled down his temples as though his very dreams had been battles.
His cracked lips trembled with the first words that left his mouth, words that carried both fear and truth.
"…Mona… Eren is back, isn't he? This isn't coincidence. This is the Master's doing… all of it. Even our company's downfall… it was never about business. It was all to bring Eren back. But why, Mona? Why does he want Eren?"
Mona, who had been standing stiffly near the window, froze at the mention of the name. Her hands clutched the edge of her shawl, twisting it nervously as her eyes shifted away from him. She bit her lip, her silence answering more than words ever could. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, broken, almost unwilling.
"Yes, Zack… you're right. Last night… Master called me. His voice… it felt like chains tightening around my throat. He said we must follow the plan exactly. No mistakes. If we fail… if we even hesitate… he will end everything."
Zack's heartbeat stumbled. His hands gripped the bed sheet so tightly his knuckles whitened. His voice was hoarse, trembling under the weight of guilt.
"So… you did what he wanted?"
Mona hesitated, then nodded slowly, shame flickering across her face. "Yes. I told Eren my decision. He will not leave again. He will stay here. He will finish his studies with Levi, just as Master commanded."
Zack shut his eyes, anguish rippling through his chest. "Mona… is this right? Aren't we betraying him? That boy… I always thought of him as my own son. And now… we are deceiving him, locking him into a life he never chose. Doesn't this feel like a sin?"
Mona's control shattered. Her voice rose, echoing off the hospital walls.
"We have no choice, Zack! You think I don't feel guilt? You think I don't bleed inside every time I look at him? But if we don't obey, the Master will destroy everything! Not just you, not just me, but Levi… and even Eren himself. None of us will survive his wrath!"
Zack's chest heaved, pain and despair carving lines across his face. He turned his head away, staring at the ceiling as if searching for strength. His whisper was barely audible.
"How long, Mona… how long will we live like puppets in his hands?"
Her shoulders shook. Her pale face was a canvas of fear. "Until we learn the truth… until we discover what the Master truly wants. Why Eren? Why him of all people? What tie binds them that he would destroy kingdoms just to pull Eren back into his shadow?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered, like a curse.
The Morning Clash
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Levi's voice boomed outside Eren's room. "Eren! Wake up already! Don't make me break this door down!"
From inside came a groggy reply, laced with irritation. "What's your problem, Levi? Do you have to yell this early?"
Levi scoffed. "Problem? The problem is that you're still snoring when today is your first day at university. Look at the time!"
Eren turned his head lazily toward the clock. "It's only five forty… the sun isn't even up. What's the big deal?"
Levi's patience snapped. "The big deal is that our university opens at six sharp. Those who come late… get chewed alive. Do you want to start your first day like that? Getting bullied in front of everyone?"
That jolted Eren. He stumbled out of bed, rushing to dress. Within ten minutes he was ready, but Levi only smirked.
"Ten minutes? Slowpoke. You'll never survive with that pace."
Eren scowled and slammed the door in Levi's face. Levi muttered through clenched teeth, "What's his problem…" but a strange smile tugged at his lips nonetheless.
At the University
The campus buzzed with life. New students crowded the courtyard, the air filled with chatter and nervous laughter. Levi walked beside Eren, his sharp eyes scanning everything like a predator measuring the jungle.
He leaned in and pointed discreetly. "See that man with the thick glasses? That's Sir Ji-An. Strict as hell. If anyone walks in late to his class, he crushes them without mercy. And today, rumor has it he fought with his wife. So don't even think about testing his patience."
Eren frowned. "Why are you even telling me this?"
Levi's expression darkened, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Because… I don't want you to suffer. You're with me now. Whether you like it or not."
Eren blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"
Levi's jaw tightened. "You'll never understand."
Then suddenly, his entire body went rigid. "Wait. Oh no…"
Eren's heart skipped. "What happened?"
Levi grabbed his shoulders. "Eren… tell me honestly. Did you take your medicine today?"
Eren's eyes darted, his voice hesitant. "I… I don't remember. Maybe I did… maybe I didn't."
Levi's face twisted with fury. "Idiot! How can you forget something this important?" His voice was sharp enough to cut steel.
He barked, "Stay here. Don't move an inch. I'll go home and get it. You wait for me. Do you understand?"
Eren nodded weakly.
Without wasting another second, Levi dashed out, sprinting back home like a storm. He grabbed the medicine, raced back to the university, his chest tight with dread. But when he returned—
Eren was gone.
Panic
Levi's breath caught in his throat. His hands shook as he dialed Mona's number.
"Mom! Eren is missing!"
On the other side, Mona's scream pierced the line. "What do you mean missing? Where is he?!"
Levi's voice cracked with desperation. "I told him to wait, but he's gone! His phone's dead, I can't reach him!"
Mona's legs weakened, her face draining of color. She whispered in terror, "Levi… find him. If he hasn't taken his medicine… his condition could spiral out of control!"
Zack, overhearing, demanded, "What happened?"
Mona's lips trembled. "Eren… he's gone."
Zack wasted no time. He seized his phone and barked orders at his assistant. "Lock down the city! Spread his photo everywhere. Find him at any cost!"
Meanwhile, Levi tore through the city like a man possessed. His fists clenched, jaw locked, eyes wild with fear and rage. He called his men, his voice like thunder.
"Search every corner! I want Eren found in the next two hours. If you fail… you'll answer to me with your lives."
The Kidnapping
Hours bled into eternity before the call came.
"Sir… we found him. He's been taken. Kidnapped… by a small-time mafia. They're dangerous. Rescuing him won't be easy."
Levi's blood boiled. "Send me the location. Now."
An abandoned factory loomed on the city's edge. Inside, Eren sat tied to a chair, ropes biting into his wrists. His breathing was ragged, his eyes wide with terror.
Four men circled him like vultures—Xu, Nin, Sun, and Moon. Their grins were wicked, their presence suffocating.
Xu leaned close, his voice dripping malice. "You're mine now, kid. Pretty face like that… what's your name?"
Eren trembled. "W-what do you want from me? Who are you people? I was just at university…"
Sun chuckled darkly. "We saw you collapse there. Without us, you'd be a corpse. We saved your life."
Eren's voice cracked. "Then why bring me here? Why tie me up?"
Moon sneered. "Because without your medicine, you'd already be dead. We kept you alive. Now… you owe us."
Eren panicked. "Take money! Take everything in my bag—just let me go!"
Nin slammed his fist against the chair, making Eren flinch. "We don't want your money! You were brought here for a reason. You're not just some random kid. You're special."
Eren's lips quivered. "Special…? What do you mean? Who sent you?!"
Before an answer could fall, the factory walls shook with a deafening crack—
BANG!
Gunfire split the air. Police stormed in, shouting, weapons raised. "Hands up! Drop your guns now!"
Chaos erupted. Mafia members scattered, firing blindly. Amid the storm of bullets and screams, Levi broke through, his eyes locking on Eren.
He ran, heart in his throat, and tore the ropes apart, pulling Eren into his arms. His voice broke, raw and desperate.
"Eren! My God… are you okay? What did they do to you?! If I had lost you—if anything had happened—I would've died with you!"
Mona, Zack, even the officers froze at the raw desperation in his voice, at the way his arms clung to Eren like life itself.
The chaos faded, but something darker lingered.
The Master's shadow had drawn closer.