DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN.

Date Uploaded: May 9, 2017- Tuesday.

Note: Advanced apologies for the OOC's.

And so volume 2 is born! Thank you all for your support in the first volume, now the second volume is here! This is just the prologue but I hope you continue to support and enjoy!

PROLOGUE:
Finally getting back home, everyone was led to safety and their wounds competition ended in a tie. Sort of. It was more of- no one won the competition- because of Grisha's reaction upon seeing Annie. It surprised them too much for them to continue acting like there's nothing wrong.

Especially Eren.

"Eren.."

"I don't know anymore..." Eren muttered. "If it's that guy I don't know or Annie."

"Annie was in Shiganshina before. Maybe they met there." Mikasa tried to explain the incident in her own understanding.

"And he remembered more about her than me? My mom? Our home?" He asked. "How can a father forget his own son?" It was unacceptable.

"Maybe I'm wrong Eren... but what if he's not your father? What if he just looks like him and is pretending to be your father?" She speculated. Eren neither agreed or disagreed. "He didn't speak to us after he talked to Annie. Maybe he realized that he slipped." She added.

Eren was left thinking. What if she was right?

He's been having this feeling anyway... ever since that guy was saved, he's been having this feeling he wasn't Grisha. He just wanted to deny it because deep inside he wished that he was alive.

He was lost in thought when Reiner knocked on the door.

"Eren." Reiner says. "Are you going to attend the trial?"

"Trial?"

"Annie's trial."

"When?"

"Tomorrow." Reiner replied. "Armin and everyone else just went to pay her a visit. You coming?"

"I'll catch up." Eren said, not in the mood or anything. He's still confused at the moment. "Thanks Reiner."

Reiner smiled at him and was about to leave the room when Eren called to him again.

"Reiner."

"Yes?"

"How is she doing?" Eren asked. He didn't say a particular name but Mikasa already knows.

"She's fine for now. She's not suspicious either." Reiner reported and Eren nodded. Mikasa got confused a bit but caught up fast. They were talking about two people.

Reiner left.

Later that morning, Armin finally had his turn in visiting Annie. He wanted privacy.

"Annie-"

"You can't be here to persuade me again, are you?" Annie asked, it sounded like she's teasing but her voice and facial expression said otherwise.

"I want to know how you're doing." Armin replies and sat on the chair facing Annie. A table in between them.

"How would you feel if you're the one sitting here?" Annie returned the question to him.

"Sorry. That was stupid." He said and looks down. It was awkward when he doesn't know what to say.

Annie seemed like she was okay despite the ropes binding her wrists together and the trial coming... she didn't look troubled. She's calm.

He's the one not in her position but he's the one who is nervous. The one who is scared. For her.

"You'll plead guilty right?" He asked. Wanting to assure himself that she'll be alright.

"Yes."

Armin sighed in relief. For once, he felt that Annie didn't lie to him. And to be honest with himself, he felt good hearing the truth from her.

"That's a relief."

"But if they ask more questions beyond what I can answer, I will not answer." Annie added.

Immediately the relief in Armin's face was replaced with anxiety and terror.

"W- What?"

"I may be your prisoner but no matter what, I won't talk. It's a responsibility I will uphold even if you ask it of me, Armin." with that said, Armin realized all along he never had the power to help Annie.

If Annie wants to be saved, she'll save herself. If she chose this path, she'll go with it. Armin... cannot do anything about it.

"..." speechless, Armin couldn't say another word to her.

Annie didn't want to add anything else, seeing how she couldn't describe Armin's face right now...

"Do you still... not trust me?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"I do." She answered. "I trust you."

She stood up and left the room, a guard escorting her back to where she will be locked up until the trial. Armin... Armin stayed in thought. Deep in thought.

There's no need to be afraid... I already told her that.. yet.. she still won't talk.

Why?

Sleeping peacefully inside their room, Ymir was at the bed in the corner in the legt side of the room, one leg falling off the edge. Her arm was over her head while the other holding a 'trophy' she won from Reiner. A blanket partly covering her other leg. She was smiling in her sleep.

When Krysta saw her, she smiled at Ymir. It was the first time she saw Ymir slept earlier than she did. It was a first. And for once Krista was happy that Ymir didn't worry over her.

She walked towards her sleeping friend and fixed the blanket to wrap it around her.

"Goodnight Ymir." she whispered.

But she didn't go to bed. She left the room.

In the underground city, in an underground cell. A man wearing a ragged brown cloak passed by the guards. The guards said nothing when they saw him.

"Is the prisoner well fed?" The man asked the guard standing in front of the cell at the end of the tunnel.

"Yes sir."

"Did the prisoner say anything yet?" he continued to ask.

"Just silence, sir."

"I see. Well then, keep me notified." He said and turned his back on the guard.

"Yes sir!"