Annie ran over her options.
Either run. Run as far away as she could. Maybe into the forest where they would have trouble looking for her.
Or stay. Stay here with Eren and risk getting caught by that Levi kid. Be interrogated and tortured by those nasty soldiers.
Option number one sounded better.
Annie turned around and was about to head towards the forest but Eren's voice stopped her.
"Leaving already?" he said, still in that weird position.
"I don't plan to stay." She said. "I can't stay in this make believe world. I live in reality." She said casually.
Eren said nothing for a while before opening his mouth to say more.
"Reality as in the outside world?"
"Be more specific, Eren." She said again.
"You know what I mean." He sighed.
Annie crossed her arms and stared at the thick forest ahead. The clock was ticking…
She couldn't afford to waste any more time or she'll be a goner.
"If you mean outside of those goddamn walls then yes." She said, her tone still calm and easygoing.
Silence.
"I need to go. That Levi brat will definitely find me if I stay any longer, Eren." She growled. "I don't plan on being cut up."
Eren still said nothing for a few seconds before finally heaving himself up. He sat cross legged on the dirt floor and looked at Annie with a look of exasperation.
"You won't shift?" he asked.
The golden haired girl glanced back at him, the breeze drifting between them, picking up her locks once more before gently setting it back down. Her cold and icy eyes somehow seemed to have grown soft as she stared at the naïve boy.
"I don't have the energy to shift. Even if I did, I wouldn't. It would bring unwanted attention to me." She said quietly. "I'm leaving, Eren." She said for the hundredth time.
The emerald eyed boy clenched his hands into fists as she said this.
"Annie!"
"I'm leaving."
"A-Annie! Wait!"
"I have to go."
"H-Hold on! Annie!"
"Goodbye."
"ANNIE!" his voice was loud enough to scatter the birds from their trees.
"Eren, that brought unwanted attention. I really need to go now." A look of panic and urgency flashed through her eyes.
Eren was breathing heavily as he glared at her.
"Aren't…aren't you supposed to be capturing me?" he said softly.
Annie blinked at his question.
"Do you want me to capture you and take you away from your friends?" she said, amused.
"N-No…" he mumbled.
"I didn't think so." She said. "Why would you ask something like that anyway?" she sighed. "You are a very strange child, Eren Jaeger."
"Was that a compliment?"
"Take it as one." She said, walking towards the forest.
She came to a halt and glanced back at him, her eyes gradually becoming an icy blue once more.
"I'm still going to capture you, Eren." She said dully. "It is my mission, my duty to. Right now, I don't have the energy to even try and there's too many risks."
Eren stared at her as she slowly closed her eyes then opened them.
"I'd be extra careful if I were you." She said quietly, walking into the deep forest.
Eren watched her leave until her back completely vanished into the greenery.