Chapter Text
It’s the same each and every time. No fingerprints, no footprints, no hair or other DNA. No force of entry. Nothing. No sign of the murderer.
A murder is committed and there is no sign of the perpetrator. Today’s victim is nothing different than the previous. Gunther Schultz.
Description; Tall, dark hair, dark eyes. White, German, no spouse. Lived on his own in an apartment building in central Trost District. Last seen by his coworkers leaving his work. Found in his apartment by a friend Petra Ral, who came over to visit and found him dead on the floor.
Cause of death, choked to death by a metal wire around his neck. Eyes blot-shot, skin pale and throat slightly cut from the string. The door was unlocked, when the friend came over, so the murder happened most likely shortly after the victim arrived home.
Eren looked over all the details of the case, committing every detail to memory. As he stands by the murder scene he looks down at the poor fella on the floor, then around the apartment. It was messy, but even more so since the struggle was evident. Gunther had put up a fight. It is evident from the red bloody lines on his fingers, he tried to pull the metal wire off his neck, but sadly didn’t succeed. Eren watches Hanji do their work. Taking samples of DNA, tracing the skin, seeing of there’s any sign of the intruder. “Any evidence yet Hanji?” Eren asks. A long sigh leaves Hanji as they answer, “Nope, nothing. This is the second murder like this. I wonder if we’re dealing with a serial killer.” They say and look over to Eren who nods in thought in return. “Maybe, this isn’t just any killer. They know what they’re doing. They know when to attack and how., not to get traced back to.” Eren sighs. Hanji gives him a sympathetic smile before springing up in energy. “Don’t worry boss, we’ll find this sucker!” Eren gives them a smile back. “Yeah…” A determined looks in his eyes appear. “Yes, we will.”
*
The workday is over and Eren drives home. He arrives at his own city apartment in the city of Stohess. Today was a rough day, with not many leads to go on. Eren slumps down on his couch, a deep groan leaving him as he leans his head backwards, looking behind it. He sees the clock on the wall tik away as time goes by while he just sits there. He should cook something to eat, he thinks but his body still doesn’t move. Another sigh leaves him and then a huff as he hoists himself up from the couch to walk the short way to the kitchen. He sets the kettle over for a cup of tea, not having the mental energy to actually cook something.
As the tea boils, he feels a light breeze go through him. He shivers and lets out a breath which is visible. Odd, he thinks. It’s not freezing temperatures outside and it definitely shouldn’t be inside his apartment. He turns to the kettle, which is now done boiling the water, but as soon as he turns around, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He whips around ready to fight who ever broke into his apartment, but as he does just that, no one is there. Not a single soul. He stares out into the openness of his kitchen and wonders if he’s hallucinating or something. He’s not gotten the best nights of sleep lately after all. He turns back to the kettle and pours the boiling water in the cup, which he didn’t remember he took out, with the teabag.
He lets it cool for a moment before turning back around. This time however, there does stand someone there. He throws the boiling hot tea at the person in surprise and hurridly punces out after them, eyes closes as he does. A moment goes by, were Eren expected to hear the person groan or something, but instead a simple, “Rude” is heard.
Eren opens his eyes again and his fist has gone straight through the intruder. Literally right through their head. No really, Eren could see it on the other side of their head. He shrieks and pulls back his hand, while the intruder in question just folds their arms into a cross. “Is that how you greet everyone?” They say with a deadpan tone. Eren breathing has gone erratic. What the fuck is going on? Am I hallucinating again?? I must be, because there’s no fucking way that a literal ghost is standing right in front of me!!
Eren still freaking out that there indeed is a ghost standing right in front of him. The ghost rolls their eyes and says, “Hi, I’m Levi and I’ve lived in your apartment since you moved in.” This didn’t help Eren’s breathing or mental panic at all. Since I moved in?! What the fuck does he mean by that??! Another roll of the eyes comes from Levi as he says, “Relax, I’m not here to kill you or anything. I’m here to help.” Eren takes a deep breath to gather himself and his thoughts. He then straightens his back and walk right past the ghost.
Levi stands in bewilderment and turns after Eren to follow him. “Ignoring me really?” He says with annoyance in his voice. “Eren whips around and nearly yells. “Well, what do you want me to do?! Talk with a fucking ghost??!” Levi stops and smirks at him. “Well, you just did.” Eren curses under his breath and point a finger at Levi. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” Levi looks at him with a deadpan look. “I literally just told you not even a minute ago.”
Eren throws his hands up into the air and exclaims. “I don’t know what to think or believe right now! Talking with a ghost really?! How can I even know if you’re real and not just a part of my imagination?!” Levi stares at Eren with a blank look. He bends down, picks up the previous dropped teacup and hands it to Eren.
Eren stared dumb founded at the teacup and then up at Levi. He raised his hand up towards Levi and reached out to poke him, when his finer connected with his shoulder Eren jumped back in surprise. “I thought you were a ghost!” “I am.” Levi replied. The confusion on Eren’s face was clear as day, so Levi decided to elaborate. “I can choose when someone can see or touch me. Privilege of being a poltergeist.” Eren straightened up at that. “Wait, wait, wait. Poltergeist?? Isn’t that the same as a ghost?” Levi stared at him dump founded. “No… Then they wouldn’t have different names.” Eren was about to say something, but decided to rather not to, so Levi continued. “A ghost is a lost soul, either because they don’t know how they died or don’t remember.” “So, how’s a poltergeist different?” Eren asks. Levi hesitates for a moment before speaking up again. “Ghost can’t interact with objects or people, but poltergeists can.” Eren stares at Levi for e moment before asking his next question, “You said you’ve lived here since I moved in. Why?” Levi crosses his arms, saying. “I don’t know.” Eren stares at him, waiting for him to continue, but when he doesn’t Eren asks again, “What do you mean you don’t know?” Levi unfolds his arms and walks past Eren to sit on the couch. “All I know is one day I died and was gone and then poof, here I am. Watching you move into this snotty apartment complex.” “Hey, it’s now snotty!” Eren says, walking over to him now standing right in front of Levi. “Sorry, should I say snoppy instead then?” Eren was about to give him a piece of his mind, when it suddenly hit him. Levi have died to be here. Solemnly he says, “I’m so sorry Levi. You died… “ Silence took over then. Eren is hesitant to ask but want to break the silence. “How did you die?” Levi is quiet and doesn’t say a word for a long while, contemplating if he should tell Eren or not. But then he decided to speak.
“I was murdered.” He stated simply. Eren is shocked by the revelation. Silence now taking over them again. Eren doesn’t know what to say to make the atmosphere lighter, but he tries with saying, “I hope you get peace.” Eren takes in the silence for a moment before walking into the kitchen to make another cup of tea, while Levi stays on the couch whispering to himself. “I will.”