It happened so fast... A terrifying nightmare she could not leave. The voices never stopped tormenting her. Begging, screaming. It was all the same. Nothing more than a quiet mumble. How long would it go on?
And then it stopped.
Her crystal torn apart and piercing her skin, cutting her open. Blood running down her skin. It didn't matter. Her wounds would end up healing one day. Cold.
Why?
Two arms pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I've waited... I've waited all these years."
Head pressed against a hard chest, she cried, her tears soaking through his shirt.
"I missed you so much, Annie. Please.. Don't leave again." The embrace tightened around her and his head came to rest on top of hers. His long hair brushed against her neck with his tears following he same path.
Why?
Another voice echoed trough the space: "Sir. We don't have any more time. We need to leave now if we don't want to raise suspicion." His head rose and he put one of his cold hands onto her neck as if to shield her.
"Go on, Floch. Prepare everyone to leave for Shiganshina..."
Then he addressed her again. He used a tone of voice she could not identify. It sounded kind, almost like a whisper compared to the harshness he used to address the other man. "Come on."
He stood up and she fell down as she lost her support with him. The ground was hard and she struggled to get up onto her knees. She was too weak to move her limbs. She wouldn't be able to use her ring or even bite her tongue. She was at his mercy.
He took her hands into his cold ones and pulled her up. Now standing in front of him, she finally dared to use her strength open her eyes.
"Eren-"
Their eyes met and he slowly let go of her right hand, now steadily holding the other within his left. He looked so much older. How much time had passed?
"Let's go home."
Why did he look at her with eyes so kind?