Nowhere To go

The trip in the truck, as Ben called it, was mostly spent in silence. Eren didn't mind the lack of conversation. Having been hyper alert all day, his body was feeling the fatigue catching up. With the sun having set, the city lights came to life, engulfing the it in a beautiful display of lights. Eren stared out the window with wide eyes like a child. There were an endless amount of lights in every direction, he didn't know where to look first, the stores, signs, posts, streets. Those moving machines called cars also had lights from the front and back. He never knew it could be so bright in the darkness of night.

"Never been in a city?" Ben asked.

"Not in one like this." Eren looked around in wonder.

"Where you from?"

Eren opened his mouth ready to respond, but a thought came to him. Would Ben know where his home was? By now Eren knew with certainty wherever this city was, it was not inside the walls or anywhere near them. There where so many questions that ran through his head. How was he going to get home? He needed to find out how he ended up in this place. How were Mikasa, Armin, and the others doing? He would do anything to see a familiar face.

"Yo, Eren?

Eren snapped back to reality and looked at Ben.

"You spaced out on me. Where you from?"

"I'm from-" The truck came to an abrupt halt as Ben stomped the break. Eren's neck nearly flew off his body, but was thankful he wore the security belt attached to the truck. Looking out the window they saw the cars had all stop and were honking their horns. Traffic jam.

"Are you kidding me? This is the exact reason why I didn't take the highway in the first place!" Ben stuck his head out the window. "Come on move it! What's the hold up!?" He honked his horn.

"Don't you have eyes you fucking retard?! It's a checkpoint!" A random driver yelled.

"Veeeeeeery nice! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth!" Ben retorted.

"Aren't you original! Dumb-ass!"

"Screw you!" Ben brought his head back in and looked at Eren. "Got to love the city."

Eren stared back at him. Apparently, it was common to have this type of hostility around these parts.

As they slowly advanced a checkpoint came into view.

"So, you didn't answer. Where you come from? Ben repeated.

Eren had to think. He was nowhere near the walls he called home. This place full strange machinery and people were foreign to him. His first clue of that was the moment he awoke in the hospital. Not to mention the strange attire everyone wore. Nothing familiar surrounded him. This city, these people, these machines, everything about this was wrong. It was like he was an a different world. The looks people gave him from the moment he awoke told him everything he needed to know. He was an outsider. It was best to keep personal information to himself.

"I'm from a small town far away. I came to this city to see how it was. Never been to one." He answered.

Ben eyes lit up. "Never been to a city, huh. Well, let me tell you the first place you should go. Sweet Cove. The best strip club in town." He exclaimed.

"Strip club?" Eren looked at him, confused.

"Yeah, you know." Eren's gaze told him a different story. "You don't know what a strip club is?" He looked shocked. "What kind of small town are you from?" Ben raised one eyebrow.

"You're not from one of those weird community cults are you?" He continued.

"What's a cult?"

Ben ignored that and continued. "Either way you should go there."

"What is that place?" Eren asked. If that place was so important, maybe he should go.

"You seem very wined up. Trust me, it's a good place to relax. It'll help clear your head" He concluded.

That would be nice, but he didn't have time for that. Eren looked on ahead and saw they were coming up to some kind of barricade. It was largely made of strangely identical cars with flashing lights on top of them. They seemed to be checking every car that wanted to pass. All the people up there wore the same clothing, like a uniform. Where they some kind of law enforcement? The weapons they carried seem to say so. He felt uneasy about this.

"What are they looking for?" Eren asked.

"Who knows. Probably checking for drunk drivers." Ben responded.

As one of the uniformed people signaled them to approach, Eren brought his senses into high alert. The uniformed man walked over to Ben's side, holding a tube-like object with a bright light.

"Hello, officer." Ben smiled.

"We are conducting a search of a suspect, who might be consider dangerous." The officer exclaimed.

"Well, I haven't met anyone like that. I'm just driving my inventory with my friend here, which I'm running late." Ben said. The cop's gaze switches over to Eren.

Eren didn't like how the man was studying him. The man told them to wait and went over to talk to one of his colleagues. Eren had a bad feeling about this. He should've left earlier. The only thing that stopped him was not knowing where to go. Where could he go? He was on unfamiliar territory with no familiar face in sight. Who knew how big this place was? If only Armin or Mikasa were here, he would've at least feel a bit better. Armin would definitely would know what to do. He would have a plan. Eren was just making it up as he went along.

The officer came back. "Park on the side here and step out." Ben wasn't pleased.

"Officer, I'm on a real hurry here I-"

"Now, son." He interrupted, sternly

Ben complied. "I'm so fired."

The sheer amount of flashing red and blue lights adding to the already bright city were becoming a real bother. It amazed Eren how these people could just ignored them. He never knew it could be this bright during night. He and Ben were instructed to stand on the side as one of the officers stood guard. From what he could figure these uniformed individuals were some kind of law enforcement. It was easy to understand by the way the civilians acted towards them. Finally, one of the officers approached them, holding something.

"I'm officer Cert." He said.

"Can you tell us already why you pulled us over?" Ben asserted.

"That's very simple Mr. Zacton." Cert handed him his license back.

"An unidentified suspect escaped from the hospital earlier today and your friend here matches the description." He stated. "It also doesn't help that he doesn't have any sort of identification." Cert looked at Eren.

"I…lost it." Eren lied. He knew that wasn't the best of lies, but he didn't know what else to say.

"Do you know who you have been driving with?" The questioned Ben.

"A helpful person? He's been a ton of help." Ben retorted. He looked over at Eren. Ben's not an idiot. He knew he has been driving around with a total stranger, but Eren seemed like a decent person. It's not often someone was willing to help someone they never met just like that.

"You're too trusting." The cop said. Ben shrugged.

Eren agreed with the cop, but he appreciated what Ben did for him.

"We'll be taking you both into custody and I will ask a few questions." Cert exclaimed.

Eren did not like where this was heading. He had no time to get arrested. He needed find a way back home. Not to mention he already knew he wouldn't be able to answer any of their questions because he was sure he wouldn't know the answer to them.

"What am I a suspect of?" Eren asked.

"Well-" Before he could answer, a voice interrupted.

"Officer Cert I presume?"

The three of them turned their heads and saw two men approach them. Right away Eren noticed they were military by their presence and rigid posture. They wore plain clothes alongside a stern look on their face.

"We will be taken the suspect from your custody." The same man that interrupted the cop continued.

"Who are you?" Cert asked. A small scowl appeared on his face.

"We are with a special sector of the government. We were the ones that asked your department to help apprehend the suspect that escaped the hospital." The man said.

The man's partner grabbed Eren by the arm and started walking. Eren didn't struggle. He didn't want to create a scene by trying to escape. Even though he couldn't see any Eren knew they were armed. They definitely looked like the type.

Cert didn't looked pleased. "You can call your captain. He will verify." The man stated.

Eren looked back and saw Ben looked a little worried. Eren gave him a small smile. Ben saw him and smiled back. He hoped Eren will be okay. Eren turned back and his smile disappeared as they walked over to a black car with two more men standing by. If he wasn't in high alert before, he was now.

As they approached one of them opened the back door. The man escorting Eren guided him inside and the rest followed suit. Two men on both his sides in the backseat and one in front. Looking around Eren felt like a prisoner all over again. Despite wanting to get some answers he knew it would be pointless to ask what they wanted with him. The driver door opened and the leader, he presumed, came in. Without a word started the engine and drove.

As they drove Eren thought back. They kept saying he was a suspect that escaped the hospital, but what did he do? For that matter what was he doing in the hospital? Try is he could it was hard to recall anything. Everything was a blur, but a few pieces. He remembered anger, running, pain, darkness. Eren closed his eyes, trying to focus. He tried to remember the night before. It was dark, but there trees. There was a road and bright lights.

"Lights?" He thought.

Eren snapped his eyes open. There were two people in one of those car things. They almost ran him over and then they brought him inside. His head was killing him. He remembered a lot pain and then…

He looked over at the driver. Ever since waking up at the hospital and realizing this bizarre city was not inside the walls. A thought came to him. It was very possible these people didn't know Titan Shifters existed. Even that knowledge was still relatively new back home. Did they know what he was? What did they want with him? Out of all this the question he really wanted an answer to was, if he shifted and wasn't in control, was anyone killed? He truly hoped not. He needed answers.

"What do you guys want with me?" Eren asked.

Silence was all he got. He should've known. The guys with him were like statues, the other two were no better. They all just kept facing forward.

"Have I've done something?" He continued.

More silence. Eren started to narrow his eyebrows. This was beginning to annoy him. "Hey, are you guy-" The man on his right elbowed him in the stomach. Eren gasped for air and grabbed his stomach. He knocked the wind out of him.

"Another word and he'll take more drastic measures. No questions." The man in the driver seat said.

Eren still clutching his stomach glared at him.

"Drastic measures?" He thought. That gave Eren a real stupid idea, but an idea nonetheless. It was reckless, but after that little treatment, who knew if he was still going be alive wherever they took him.

Eren scowled.

"I just wanted know what you guys-" Just on cue the same man aimed a weird gun at him, and in a swift motion Eren caught his wrist directing the gun at the man on his left shooting him. Instead of a bullet, some kind of dart struck him, knocking him out. As Eren struggled with the man holding the tranquilizer gun, the man in the passenger seat tried to attack him, but Eren quickly punched him on the face sending him back. Eren head-butted the man with tranquilizer and aimed the gun at the driver.

"Don't-" The driver tried to say, but was shot with a dart.

In mere seconds the car began to swerve. The people that peacefully wandered on the sidewalk, screamed as they ran away from the swerving car. Cars blared their horns evading it. It wasn't long before a loud crash was heard through the street as the car slammed into a telephone post. Steam rose from the wrecked car. A few moments passed until the back door opened. Eren stumbled out into the sidewalk. He leaned on the wall and looked at the smoking car. Considering he didn't break anything, that went better than he thought. He heard faint sirens over the panicking crowd. He followed the sound and saw familiar flashing lights in the distance. A buzzing noise started emanating from inside the car.

"Cole…come in." Eren looked inside. "Can yo..hea…me?" A voice came from the car. Eren's bewilderment was short lived by what the voice said next.

"Th…backup team…in boun.." The voice stated.

In less than a few seconds, just like the voice said, two black cars came around the corner. Eren immediately took off. He didn't have to guess who they were. As Eren ran down the sidewalk, his persuers quickly began to gain on him. What he wouldn't give for his 3D gear maneuver right now. He had to do something fast or they were going to catch him at this rate, but as he looked around it seemed hopeless. He didn't know this city, he didn't know where to go, he didn't even know where he was. He had no options…

…except one.

As he ran by the crowd of people filling the streets that option wasn't possible. He could already imagine all the casualties that would occur, if not the panic that would unfold. No. It was definitely not an option. He desperately searched the area around him intul he spotted something. Just as the black vehicles caught up to him, he turned right into a narrow alley. He looked back and saw the cars came to a screeching stop, unable to follow.

Eren continued to run and ended up on another street. He scanned the area, but it might as well been the same street as the other one. Everything was so foreign. Everywhere he looked there were strange bright buildings. No matter what he was still lost with nowhere to go. It was only a matter of time before they caught up to him again. There was no way he could out run them. If he only had a horse or his maneuver gear or…

Eren looked at the parked cars on the side of the street. Even he could get into one of those, he had no clue how to maneuver one of those machines. He began to run again. Police sirens grew louder beginning to overpower the city noise. He looked behind him, but there were no flashing lights. As he rushed across an intersection he got a full view of where the sirens where coming from. Three police cars were quickly coming up the street on the right. Eren ran passed it and made a left turn on the next street into a empty lot. Eren came into an immediate stop. The sight that greeted him was far from good. In front of him was a blockade made of three black cars. He quickly made a dash behind a few dumpsters. The car doors opened and heavily armed men stepped out, ready to fire. Crouching down, Eren breathed heavily. By the sound of it the police would be there any minute as well.

It was hopeless.

"Step out and make this easy. There's no where to go." The man in the middle of the group said. These were defiantly way more armed than the other four from earlier.

Thinking as hard as he could nothing came to mind. Eren hated to admit it, but he was right. He hit a dead end. At the back of his mind he knew he still had one option, but he was not willing to put innocent people a harms way just to save himself. All he could do was hope they didn't kill him once he turn himself in. Eren could already hear the police speeding their way. Ready to surrender, he suddenly heard a strange noise. Taking a look he saw a strange, small vehicle on two wheels with a person on it, gaining on the cops from behind.

Catching up to the squad cars the person on two-wheeled vehicle took out a handgun and shot the tires of the middle car. At that speed the car swerved, making the other two hit the breaks to avoid it. The swerving car quickly lost control and flipped on its side. The car headed their way continuously flipping out of control. The men that surrounded Eren scattered, barely managing to escape as it crashed into one of their cars. Eren looked in awe, but then took cover as the car exploded.

When Eren looked again he saw the person on the strange vehicle stop nearby. He couldn't see their face. The person was wearing some kind of helmet that covered it. The stranger motioned with their fingers for him to come over and then pointed at the back seat. Eren knew better than to trust a complete stranger, but much like it was with Ben he didn't have much of a choice. He saw the group of men beginning to gather themselves. He made a snap decision. He got on the back seat and barely had time to grab on as the person took off. In a matter of seconds they were gone.

Eren kept looking behind them to see if they were followed, but it seemed they got a good head start. As they rode he noticed this vehicle felt similar to horseback riding, except it was a lot smoother. His attention shifted to his rescuer. Judging by the person's physic she was a woman. That's all he could tell, besides knowing she was good with a firearm.

They kept driving in silence for a while, but Eren was becoming eager to break it. The city noise died down as they rode into a more secluded part of the city. The woman slowed down as they near a small building. She went around to the back and stopped. Assuming this was their destination he got off, and she followed. She parked the vehicle near the wall and made her way to the back entrance of the building. She tried turning the handle on the door, but it was locked. Eren watched as she took a step back and kicked the door open.

She had a strong kick.

He followed her into the building and closed the door. Eren watch as she scanned the area.

"Thank you." Eren said. He was a bit suspicious of her, but he had to be grateful.

The woman continued scanning the place, not showing any sigh she heard him. Eren followed her hoping for her to say something, but she kept looking around the building.

"Who are you?" He finally asked.

It was like she wanted to be completely sure they were alone by how thorough she was being. Eren's patience was running out. He was about to demand her to answer, when she turned around and looked at him. A few moments passed before she grabbed her helmet. As she raised it, shock enveloped his face. His words were lost to him as he stared at a face he knew very well. The face who brought great pain and anger to his very core.

"A…nnie."