Brooke's Priority
Chapter 24's

“I saw something moving in the bushes,” Lucas pointed west and Alex swiftly changed the direction of his horse.

“I'll check. Wait here,” Alex said in a firm voice.

Lucas nodded in agreement and Alex left us.

“Rusa?” my many.

“Most likely,” replied Lucas.

I was hoping to see the deer from a closer distance but Lucas forbade me. Then we heard a scream from the opposite direction. That's not Alex's voice. I watched Lucas standby take out his sword and told me not to make a sound. And we heard the screams again.

Lucas looked anxiously at me and looked forward to Alex so he could leave me to find the origin of the sound. In a short time, we heard another scream. I felt goosebumps as the voice sounded like a frightened voice as a ghost suddenly appeared before you.

“Oppa, we have to check it.” I was getting uncomfortable with the voice I heard. Lucas then made a sign on the tree and asked me to go up on it.

“According to my words,” Lucas said in an indisputable cold voice. I have no choice but to obey him.

I climbed the tree easily and Lucas left after making sure I was properly hiding up there. He pulled Light's harness and carried it away with his own horse in the direction the sound first appeared.

I waited for twenty minutes.

Suddenly I felt the tree shake. There's someone behind me. Before I could shout or take my sword, he had already covered my mouth with his hand.

“Sstt, shut up,” she whispered in my ear and I knew immediately who was smothering me. “I'm your favorite hit man.”

Levin let go of his hand slowly and somehow I breathed a sigh of relief. I turned my head to look at his face. He was wearing a black hooded robe and I saw bloodstains on his face. I started to feel scared and alert.

Levin noticed it and grabbed my wrist.

“You can't escape.”

Levin pulled my body into his arms and I felt a short but quick movement that finally made him carry me on his shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“Shut up or I'll kill Lucas.”

Hearing the threat, I closed my mouth shut.

Levin jumped over some trees as if it was very easy to do while carrying me like lifting a sack of rice. It was an uncomfortable position and made me dizzy.

“It has arrived,” Levin dumped me roughly to the ground.

My body immediately felt pain.

“Argh.”

“Don't be spoiled,” Levin crouched to see me lying on the ground. “I'm not too used to being nice to women.”

“You're talking nonsense,” I'm annoyed at half yelling at him. I got up and sat down on the ground. “What do you want?”

“I want to kill you,” Levin looks at me with a serious face. “But seeing your face I so rethink it.”

I looked back and said, “You want to kill me because I know your identity? You shouldn't have said it in the first place. And where are we now?”

I spread my eyes. We are still in the Tasi Forest but we seem to have gone very deep into this forest.

Seeing me watching the surroundings made Levin point to the left. “Disana is a ravine. I meant to push you there.”

Levin's statement left me dumbfounded.

“You're serious?” eyes widen. “There's someone who ordered you?”

Levin stared cynically. “You'll be dead soon so you don't need to know.”

“I have to hear the name of that jerk before I die,” I feel my emotions are going to explode and I almost swore at Levin too. “Shaeviro who gave you the order?”

Levin didn't answer me but he seemed to laugh amusedly and repeat the word jerk I said. “I wasn't expecting this. Why are you getting so funny? You're so good at negotiating.”

I didn't know Levin thought every word that came out of my mouth right now was a negotiation.

“As it has been three months since I left you.”

“You sound like my brash ex-boyfriend,”. “How are you hurt? You okay?”

I admit that I'm worried about the wound on Levin's back. Anyway, I'm the one who knows to thank.

Levin looked at me questioningly. “Former girlfriend? Who?”

Well, I was wrong to talk. I can remember my ex-boyfriend who came to introduce his future wife.

Levin nodded in understanding.

I feel like he thinks it's important.

“How are you hurt?”

“I'm fine. Healthy enough to come and kill you.”

“You don't want to think about it one more time? I must mean a lot to you,” I said with full confidence. “That's why you saved me, isn't it? Although I don't like the way you just let me in front of the house and get me into a lot of trouble.”

“Means to me?” Levin smiled as he touched his lips with his index finger. I think it's his habit. “I think you're right. The one who knows my identity is the one who means so much to me.”

“So you're gonna let me go?” ask me with hope.

“No,” replied Levin coldly. “I still have to kill you.”

I was silent for some time and stared into Levin's dark blue eyeballs. I did not find any doubt. I thought about how I could save myself. What am I supposed to say?

“You scared?”

I bow my head. “You know I want to live,” I replied softly. “I don't know why I bought that poison from you. But now I want to live.”

“I don't like your face.”

I saw the look in Levin's eyes that changed as if he was mad at me.

“I used to beg you too but you ignored me,” Levin continued.

He begged Brooke for something?

“I used to want you alive. But now I want to kill you.”

Levin grabbed the collar of my clothes and pulled out a dagger from inside his robe.

“I don't like being ignored.”

Levin put a dagger in my face. I could feel the cold and sharpness of the dagger.

“You..,” I'm nervous. “Can't we talk first. I really can't remember anything. Please.”

My body trembles.

Levin knows I'm not lying. A few minutes after we were just silent and staring at each other, she let go of her grip and I jolted down backwards.

“I've guessed I can't hurt your face with this dagger.” Levin looked at the dagger and I took turns. “Pushing you to the abyss is much easier.”

Levin kept the dagger and he pulled my arm so I could sit properly. He sat in front of me with a more friendly face.

Over time I felt Levin's behavior was similar to Fanita's. Their emotions are changing rapidly. The difference is, the look of Fanita's face both in ordinary and annoying circumstances still looks flat and rather haughty. Levin has more expression.

I took a deep breath. “You can't explain what used to happen?”

“You want poison. I gave you poison. I forbid you to drink it. You drank. Finish.”

So Brooke poisoned himself?

“Did I say the reason?” I tried to understand that brief explanation quickly.

Levin doesn't seem to want to tell me.

“I'll give you money. Oh, no,” my correction. “I'll do your wish.”

Levin raised next to his eyebrows. He was interested and I continued my words. “I'll... kiss you. How?”

I tried to hold back the shame I felt by still maintaining the look on my face. Today, the opportunity to live is more important than self-esteem.

“What? Where did that thought come from?” Levin looked surprised and enthusiastic. “Jeez,” Levin touches his lips again. “You're not thinking dirty right?”

My face must be flushed with the embarrassment. I acted as a calm pretender to Levin who had crossed his hands in front of his chest.

I almost forgot that he had a sharp dagger to my face.

“We never kissed. I just remember it.”

I gave up and covered my face with both hands. I regret the silly idea that came to my mind.

I heard Levin stare. “It must have been very effective. I became moved. Alright, Brooke. I'll tell you.”

*****