Chapter 29: The Past

Levi's POV

It has been two days eversince we have received the threat. Eventhough it made Hanji scared for a couple of hours, she finally calmed down as she bought the idea that it might actually just be a prank. But I know deep inside that it isn't, and it scares me that I am well aware of it.

I opened my cabinet as I took the cylindrical can out it, taking the lid off to get the knife inside. I told Hanji that I already threw the can and knife away but in reality, I didn't. I just kept it in my room because this knife probably has my fingerprints when I was a kid especially since this is the same blade I used when I am still working with Kenny.

Ackermans are known in the underground as the most paid assassins even way back during the mid 19th century. That is primarily the reason why our clan can't have a normal life because we have already been noted as killers and hitman. And among all of the member in our family, it is Kenny who has been the most notorious of them all. During the late 1900's, his name became a really famous one because of his serial killings that were done too cleanly that police officers could not even find an evidence to convict him. Because of that, a rage happened over the people and the few of my relatives who ran out of the underground and tried to live off normally were slaughtered in suspicion of being the killer.

On that kind of environment, I was born. My mother was not married and she just accidentally had me. Despite that, she tried her best to raise me under her care but I was just 5 that time when a disease took her life. No one was there to even claim her body nor take us out so for the next couple of days, my mom's body rotted in the morgue with the 5 year old me sitting at the foot of her bed. Kenny found me in that situation and eversince that day, he took me under his wing. He raised me, trained me, and taught me almost everything that he knows as an assassin. And being one of the last male Ackerman in the family, Kenny instilled in my mind that I should be the one to inherit his legacy. At first I was determined to do us, especially because I was feeling indebted on him for saving me, but as I grew older, I suddenly realized that I don't want to have that kind of life. Always in constant run and just living off by taking another person's life. I was in phase of doubting my clan when I first bumped into Hanji.

Meeting her was probably the turning point of my life. I have always seen myself as a monster and a criminal for assisting Kenny in his jobs but that small shitty glasses told me that I was a kind person. It was probably a very trifling thing especially since almost everyone can regard you that way but hearing it from a teenaged girl who has only met you for a few minutes really did an impact on me. I wanted to be the good person that she think of me so after our encounter, I really tried to avoid any errand from Kenny. He noticed it thus he forcefully took me in one of his jobs involving the kidnapping of kid. It was Erwin who they took since he was a Smith and that family during those years were the most prominent and powerful ones. They took their only heir and son so the Smiths really did every condition that Kenny asked them to, just to get their son back. But of course, being the same old shitty man, Kenny didn't complied with the deal. He decided to finish off the kid when all of his terms were given but I went against him. Before he did the execution, I freed Erwin and helped him out of the place, in demand of being given the chance to live normally under the Smith's care. The plan was successful and the gang was arrested because of my help but apparently, Kenny got away.

After saving Erwin's life, the Smith's became very grateful for me that they used their power to remove my ties with Kenny in almost every record of mine. They even suggested to have my last name replaced with their's but I rejected it since I wanted to live normally as an Ackerman. For the next couple of years, they paid for my education and supported me on my living in exchange of guarding Erwin's life. But when I was old enough, I went out of their household and tried to lived on my own. I worked in numerous places to support my college and once I have finished my degree, the rest was history. I worked in a university, met Petra, got involved in a nasty issue before finally meeting Hanji once again.

But it seems like my past is slowly coming back into picture. This threat and this knife was probably sent by Kenny and he is most likely trying to stir something up. He wants to take his revenge on me for putting the gang in jail but that is not the fact that really scares me. It is the possibility that Hanji will get involved in this especially since they probably know about my relationship with her, judging on how they sent the threat.

I gripped the knife tightly as I felt my heart beat in anxiousness. I can't let anything bad happen to her. Even if I have to face my old life back, I would do it. As long as Hanji will be away from danger and out of Kenny's plan, I won't mind embracing my old self just to fight for her.

Hanji's POV

Lately, I have been noticing that Levi seems really occupied and bothered. He constantly gets himself burned whenever he prepares our meal and one time, I even found him just blankly staring out of the apartment from the veranda. Aside from that, he also grew more protective and attach of me to the point that he almost don't go to his job just so he can ensure that I am well and safe in my work. It is starting to scare me to be honest and realizing that this all started after we received that threat, just made me realize that it is probably not a prank. Levi seems too affected by that and I can only guess that it has something to do with a past which he cannot tell me. I actually want Levi to be open with me regarding those kinds of stuffs cause I feel useless whenever I see him try to lift the loads on him alone. I am his girlfriend and definitely, I want to help him in almost every way that I can. But on the other hand, I also don't want to force him on spilling his past especially if it is too delicate.

As I lay on my bed in the middle of the night, a slight movement on the mattress immediately stirred me awake. Aside from being too occupied lately, Levi also has some trouble sleeping, which I noticed eversince the night after my birthday where Levi and I have decided to finally sleep on the same bed. I occasionally wake up, feeling Levi's body absent on my side and when I look around the apartment, I would either find him crashed over the kitchen counter or silently sitting at the couch in the living room. This time tho, Levi didn't leave the bed and instead of going out the room, he just sat on the surface of the mattress.

I got up slightly and scooted close to him. I then wrapped both of my arms around his waist as I placed my chin on his shoulders. Levi tensed up from the contact and it was just when I planted a kiss at the side of his head that he relaxed. He placed his hand over mine which is currently on top of his abdomen.

"Sorry for waking you up" He whispered, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hands. I shook my head before I rested it over his shoulder blades.

"Nope. Its alright" I whispered back. "But you really need to get some sleep you know. It is making me feel uneasy knowing that you have been lacking some rest lately" I told him, wrapping my arms tighter around him. Levi turned his body around so he is slightly facing me and from that position, he leaned forward to give me a kiss. It lasted for a couple of seconds before Levi pushed the two of us onto the bed. He then extended his arm which I used as my pillow when I laid closer on him. Levi wrapped the blanket over us while I embraced him, feeling his breathing relax little by little. I waited until he has finally doze off before I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep.

~*~

I pushed my glasses up a bit with my left hand as I ran my right index finger over the scroll wheel of the mouse. Numerous articles involving gangs and killings welcomed me when I searched for "Ackerman" and it slightly surprised me to see that Levi has a family whose past were really bloody and fearful. I knw that I said that I don't want to force Levi on spilling his past on me. But it doesn't bend my statement if I do my own research right? It is making me feel really uneasy whenever I see my boyfriend act that way. It would make me feel more assured whenever he glares at me and satirically roast me than when he is too quiet and distant. I want to know even atleast a little of him so that I can give him an aid whenever it already feels too heavy for him.

I scrolled past the other articles which even dated back on late 1960's and 70's and when I was about to close the window of the archives in my computer, one news report caught my attention. It was dated a couple of years ago and the Smith family was on exhibited on the photo attached to the report. I clicked the link and after a second, it directed me to another window.

'Kenny The Ripper's Gang Finally arrested after 21 years'

The news report started and underneath the headline, a photo of numerous men handcuffed on the ground was seen. I continued reading the article as I grew more and more shock with what I am slowly discovering. Apparently, the victim of the gang was a child of the Smith's which I can only guess as Erwin. It stated that he was kidnapped by this Kenny but a kid working under their gang got him out of the place and even helped on arresting them. No information was disclosed about the kid but as I read through it, I can feel each idea in my mind connect with one another.

Erwin said that he already knows Levi before and my boyfriend on the other hand once shared before that he met Erwin when the two of them got in trouble. I can only think that this trouble that he is talking about may be this kidnapping. And the kid who sent the gang in jail is probably Levi. So are we receiving this threats because of this? But how can the gang members send that parcel since up until now, they are still in jail?

I read more of the article and once I have reach the latter part of it, my body immediately froze. Kenny, who was the leader of the gang, was not arrested so up until now he is probably still roaming around the place. But that is not the only thing that shocked me. It is the fact that his last name was Ackerman and that he has a direct relation with Levi. Sk could he be the one who sent those threats?

My blood gone cold as my shaking hands let go of my computer mouse. This is probably the reason why Levi has become that way. He is aware that this man is capable of doing as much as take a person's life. And realizing that he has sent the two of us a threat just puts both of our life in danger.

"Hanji"

My whole body flinched as I immediately clicked my computer off. I turned my chair around and what welcomed me was a surprised Nifa who was probably shock at my action. I flashed her a smile.

"What is it?" I asked. Nifa arched her eyebrows for a second before she slightly smiled back.

"You have a mail. It was just sent a few minutes ago" She said, handing me an envelooe. My head slightly tilted but I thanked her afterwards and turned my chair back in front of my desk. Nifa dismissed herself after and once I have assured that no one is around me, I tore the envelope open. A small folded paper and a photo fell down from it. I first took the picture and when I stared at its back, it has something written on it.

'He is not who you think he is'

The text stated. I frowned a bit in confusion but once I have turned the photo around, my eyes immediately widened as my heart started beating fast.

A young Levi was in the photo and on his hand, was the same knife that we received days ago. He appear to be beating up a man in the picture and eventhough it was taken years ago, the sight suddenly made me afraid of my boyfriend.

I turned the photo around so the image will be hidden as I immediately took the  folded paper. I read thru the words written on it and as soon as I did, I immediately tucked the photo and paper back to the envelope before pushing it in my pocket. I then grabbed my bag and coat as I immediately went out of my office.

'Meet me near the Hub if you want to know more'

The text stated which got me going.