The hallway was barren, which was strange for the time of day. The floors were made of smooth wooden surface. The walls were a polished cobble with windowsills carved in them, that let much light in. Magnificent crimson carpets with golden tassels were arranged across the floors in a specific manner. Each having the same patterns on them. Lanterns were placed along the walls for the dark hours of the night. None were lit but a fresh layer of wax had melted from the previous night.

At the end of the hallway was a pair of wooden doors decorated beautifully, with a pattern edged into them. The doors were dark brown and were accompanied by silver doorknobs. There was about a two feet distance from the door frame and were the walls meet at the corner. On the right side of the doors was a small plaque that read "Erwin's Office". There were a total of six chairs outside the doors, for those waiting for their turn to enter, positioned on either side of the door directly across from each other.

In the middle chair on the left side of the door a man in his early thirties sat there waiting to be called in. He was hunched over with his elbows on his knees and his hands crossed. His left leg was shaking hazardously with anticipation. He had smooth brown hair that threatened to shoot in every which way. His Face was covered with brown bristly hair that covered his chin and upper lip. His emerald colored eyes were focused solely on the carpet in front of him. His body was thin yet surprisingly muscular. He was dressed in the standard survey corps uniform. The wings of freedom spread over his heart and on his back

"Why the hell was I called here?" The man thought to himself as he sat there. He glanced at the name of the former Survey Corps commander and a new thought came into his head. "Why the hell am I at Erwin's office anyways? Shouldn't I be at Levi's office if I'm in trouble. But wait I was never told I was in trouble. But if I'm not then why the hell am I here then?" He asked himself. His thoughts were soon disturbed as an officer of the Military Police stepped out the door.

"Mr. Yeager they're ready to see you now." The female officer said with a small smile.

"Th-thank you..." Eren replied as he stepped into the office.

Inside was a man in about his twenties with pale blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. He was about five and a half feet tall and was wearing a black suit with the Military Police symbol stitched on his pocket, over his heart. On the desk was some of the things that had been left there after Erwin's passing and unfamiliar a notepad accompanied by an ink pen.

"Hello Mr. Yeager. My name is Donald Weisler. I am an Officer of the MPs." He greeted with a small smile.

Eren responded with a strong salute to the man, which he quickly waved off. "Um sir? May I ask what brings you here?" Eren asked. His voice far deeper than it was years ago.

"Yes you may." Weisler had replied. "I'm here to gather information on what had happened years ago. I've already asked Levi Ackerman, Mikasa Ackerman, and others that had witnessed everything firsthand... But I decided to get the truth from the main source."

"Of course Mr. Weisler. I'd love to." Eren replied. "But what exactly about, sir? Shouldn't The capital have all the information about the elimination of the Titans and what had been done and anything else that may have followed."

"That's not what I'm asking about Eren..." He replied. He gestured for him to take a seat, which he did graciously. "I'm talking about what happened with a Miss Annie Leonhardt.'

At this Eren smiled dryly. "Oh... You want that story... I hope you're prepared to be here a while... It is a long one... With a lot of twists and turns." He replied clearly his throat. "The first thing I should say is that I loved her... Now where to start? I guess I should start at our trainee days.

Eren repeated this line in his head about a hundred times as he drifted off into his memories. A smile plastered on his face as he remembered his past that laid more than a decade in his past but he remembered like it had all happened yesterday.

The sun was setting over the horizon as all of the new trainees entered the mess hall for supper, except one who had been forced to run laps for her stupidity. Eren stood in line to retrieve his supper, which was a measly bowl of broth with potatoes and vegetables and no meat, and a small chunk of stale bread nearly as hard as a rock. After Eren had retrieved his meal he had sat down at an Empty table and was soon accompanied by his sister, Mikasa, and his best friend, Armin. While Eren had been eating a few of his fellow trainees stood around him asking various questions about the Titans, which Eren answered with boredom.

After which, Eren proceeded to get in a verbal sparring match with his fellow trainee, Jean Kirstein. After the bickering between the two boys Eren had left the mess hall, so he could make his way to his sleeping quarters. He was soon accompanied in his walk by his raven haired sister. There walk was short with little conversation. As soon as they made it to Eren's cabin they bid each other goodnight and Mikasa left his side, rather stubbornly I might add.

Eren stepped into the cabin. It was dark and barren inside. There were several sets of bunk beds in it as well as a few desks and bedside tables. There were benches in front of each desk and writing materials on each. The beds were big enough to fit two people in each bunk and had a simple thin blanket on each as well as two pillows. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling that held eight unlit candles.

Eren stripped down to a t-shirt and a pair of black pajama pants then crawled into the bunk he and Armin had chosen to share earlier. He had a big day tomorrow so he wanted to go to bed early. It wasn't long before he had started to drift off to sleep. And soon after he fell fast asleep.

Eren stood in the ruins of his old home, surrounded by the corpses of half eaten citizens. Some, Eren had know, some he had not. He saw the faces of the kids that used to torment Armin and him, and the faces of the Garrison that were supposed to protect them. And others, many others. All half-bodies, bitten of at the waist, guts spilling out messily. Then there were the corpses that were only made up of bottom halves of humans. All of them were once people. Now they're all nothing but casualties in an unwinnable war. The air was stained with the horrid smell of blood. That awful copper smell overpowered everything and nearly made Eren vomit.

Then he saw her. Nearly ten feet in front of him was his mother standing with her head bowed. Eren tried to shout to her but, nothing came out of his mouth. He tried to run to her but, his legs were unable to move. He tried to reach out to her but, his hands were unable to reach. He kept trying with all his effort, until she raised her head to reveal her face. Her eyes were nowhere to be found. Only empty sockets. Her face was stained with remnants of bloody tears.

"Eren..." She called in a weak raspy voice that didn't quite sound like her own. "Why didn't you save me Eren? Why...? You let me die!" She screamed at him.

"You're useless... And you're not fit to be a soldier..." He heard the voice of his sister tell him. He looked to the left and faced her. She was equipped with ODM gear with blades stained with blood. "If it weren't for me you wouldn't even be here right now..."

Armin's voice erupted from behind him. "Just give up Eren. You'll never make it outside the walls. You're not even smart enough to pass any of the written exams they'll give us and you know it. Just give up before you get you and everything else killed." He stated as Eren turned towards him.

And finally to his right his father appeared. "Son, just give up... You're not strong enough... You won't ever be able to kill the Titans or avenge your mother. They've won." He explained as Eren faced him. "The Titans will just kill you, devour you!"

They all disappeared within an instant. All of the corpses that had been there previously had now disappeared. The world around had disappeared in fact. It had all gone completely black. All he could see were those horrible faces. And the hands reaching towards him. Wrapping their hands around different parts of his body and ripping him apart. The pain was unbearable. He felt his skin be ripped apart like paper and felt each part of his body afterwords. The Titans gorged themselves on his body as he watched with horror.

He tried to scream his protest. He tried to scream "No!" but couldn't muster the words.

"No..." He tried to cry out but found his voice silent. "No...!" He tried again. "No!" And again. "NOOOOOO!"

Eren woke up in a cold sweat drenching his clothes. He glanced around the dark room. Everyone else had already went to bed and from the way the moonlight entered through the window he assumed it was around one thirty in the morning. Eren cautiously got out of bed, so to not wake Armin. He slid his shoes on and grabbed a jacket as he crept outside.

Eren walked stealthily around the training grounds, avoiding any instructors out and about to catch roaming trainees like himself. He walked over to the edge of the forest and stepped in the thicket of woods. He didn't roam far until he spotted someone. At first he thought it was an instructor but this was quickly disproved when he saw the way they looked.

It was a short girl with a petite frame and slender legs. She was was wearing a pair of tan pajama bottoms and her white hoodie. She had short ashen blonde hair tied back in a right fringe. She had bright blue eyes and a pronounced nose. Her complexion was rather pale. Her expression was a menacing glare that looked like she would kill anyone who crossed her. Her eyes had a coldness that made his spine shutter.

"Wow she's sorta cute..." Eren thought to himself as he hid behind a tree. Ye decided to turn back and leave her alone. As he took a step back he crushed a twig underfoot and it broke with a loud snap.

"Who's there?" The blond questioned looking in his direction. "Come on out."

Eren had no choice. He stepped out slowly careful not to give her any reason to think he wanted to hurt her. "Don't worry I'm not an instructor... I just, couldn't sleep and decided to take a walk." He informed her with his hands raised in surrender.

"You too, huh?" She asked, looking like she didn't really wanted him to answer. "So what's you're name?"

"The name's Eren Yeager." Eren said proudly than quickly asked. "What about you?"

She hesitated before telling him but said anyways. "I'm Annie. Annie Leonhardt."

"Nice to meet you Miss Annie Leonhardt. It's a pleasure to meet you." He responded reaching his hand out to her.

She didn't shake his hand but nodded her agreement. "Well I'll see you around... Mr. Eren Yeager." She says with a cold expression but what seems to be a hint of kindness in her voice as she walks away, her hips swaying ever so lightly.

Eren felt his heart skip a beat.

That was the day... I met her...