Credulous at best- your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head out of your hippie haze and give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive... so it is, so it's always been

-Vicarious by Tool

(One month later)

The safetowns had at one time been quarantine zones in major cities, or cities organized enough to throw up a wall quick enough to keep zombies out. The quarantine was short lived in almost every city. Resources were used up within the cities much quicker than anyone could have predicted and the ability to maintain order with the panicked populace was almost impossible with the old methods from the pre-zombie days. Just throwing someone in jail wasn't going to punish anyone, some even saw it as a blessing- a secure place to sleep and free food. Quickly gangs rose up, seizing control from the shambles of what was once the government.

The violent and harsh methods of the gangs actually brought people under control. If you weren't going to obey their laws you were exiled or had to pay with food rations. It was an incredibly harsh system, and very corrupt, but it also kept people from running rampant.

Soon when resources became even more scarce the gangs became more like small armies, taking over the close towns and slowly building connections with small trade routes opening up, protected by gang members as they traveled from town to town- taxed heftily, of course, but Armin admired the frugality of the leaders.

The safetown Armin found himself in was ruled by the so-called "Royal Guard." Armin wasn't fooled by their nonthreatening name; they were still an organization that was a gang, even if they weren't named as such. He carefully navigated the street, eyes peeled and back tense. It wasn't uncommon to be mugged or pick-pocketed by the residents in safetowns, but Armin hoped he looked intimidating enough with the scars over his body to keep them away. The separation between safetown folk and the people who went into the wilds was wide. The townies were a fairly knit together group, and not welcoming to outsiders. Armin was an outsider and alone, and had to tread carefully.

Armin passed through a populated square full of people trudging across the road, bartering and trading, and some just staring blankly at him as he passed. A member of the Royal Guard was sitting relaxed on a broken fountain in the middle of the square. The glazed eyes of the guard sharpened as he noticed Armin, clearly an outsider obvious by the way he walked and the state of his clothing, stained with blood.

The guard stood and shifted his hand over his hip, where his loose coat probably hid a gun. Armin approached without faltering and addressed the guard, "Where can I trade information to your superiors?" Armin was an Informant after all, and collecting data about the outside world was how he bartered for supplies, apart from scavenging.

"Down there, brick building." The guard stated tersely, waving his hand, clearly dismissing Armin from his presence. Unperturbed, Armin started off to where the guard directed him. He found the brick building easily, and stepped inside.

OOOO

It was dark by the time Armin was finished, and he felt the exhaustion seeping into his bones. That exchange had been more stressful and less productive than usual. The official Armin had talked to seemed to want nothing to do with what information Armin had. Armin only had a few days supply of food- if he rationed it- when he usually could manage double that. After all, it was important for towns to stay informed without risking their own people so they usually paid pretty well.

He rolled his shoulders and leaned against the brick building, taking a deep breath. He had been able to manipulate some information out of the official- apparently the large caravan he had heard of before was real, and operated much like a gang in a city, led by a man named Erwin Smith. All of it rumors, but Armin was getting more interested in this rumor every time he hear more about it. He also requested information about a Japanese woman, probably alone, but there was nothing. Mikasa was still missing and he hadn't even heard whispers of her.

He was still determined not to give up though. Armin began to make his way out of the city. Sleeping under the stars felt safer to him than in this city. Even at night it was active- prostitutes called out and drunks stumbled by. Armin cut through an alley, hoping to avoid a group of people, but discovered it was a dead end. About to turn back around he was startled by a body slamming into his.

Armin pulled his knife as he spun to face the person who peddled back from him just as quickly. Armin took in the small build and blonde hair in the dark. Female. He seemed equally as surprised and wary as she did, and when a loud voice called out from the street the girl flinched and steped closer to Armin.

"I wasn't here." She pleaded before elegantly slipping into a trashcan, hidden from sight.

Just as the trashcan closed two men turned the corner. What first struck Armin was their size. Armin was never incredibly tall compared to others, but those two tower over him easily. Their eyes flick over him and Armin shifted uncomfortably. How can he get out of this? His logic says if he just gives them the girl, they'd leave him alone. But for some reason he can't bring himself to do that- what is he even thinking, they haven't even said a word to him yet. He chided himself for being such a coward while spinning a plan in his head.

The stocky one speaks up first, "Have you seen a girl pass by here?"

"No, I don't think so," Armin answered, keeping his voice nonchalant. He was going to work this in his favor, he decided. To hell with his initial intimidated thoughts.

"What do you mean, you don't 'think so.'" The man responded, folding his impressively thick arms over one another.

"Exactly. My memory is a little fuzzy, you see." A cliché line, but it's worked for Armin before. Huffing with understanding, the lanky man dug into his backpack and tossed a can at Armin, who caught it gently. Still playing his part, Armin read the label, "Chicken soup, my favorite. I seem to think a woman might have continued right past this alleyway just a minute ago."

The muscled one sneers, "Damn leech," before leading his partner back out of the alleyway. Waiting a minute for the coast to be clear, Armin then tapped the trashcan with his finger.

"They're gone." He announced. The lid opened up so swiftly Armin stumbled back, and then watched as the woman easily lifted herself out. "What was that about?"

"Nothing." She dismissed. Her eyes are blue like his, and her prominent nose compliments her heavy glare. When she tried to step around him, Armin moved to block her, making her immediately tense. She eyed him carefully, suspiciously.

"Come on," Armin tried again, raising his hands in a nonthreatening gesture, "I deserve to know, right?" He also hoped the information was important enough someone would pay him for it.

"Don't stick your nose in other people's business, Informant." She spits.

Armin watched her carefully, she was dressed like a townie, but she was confident like someone who kills zombies constantly. An odd one, for sure. He raised the can of soup, "I'll trade, food for information."

"How about I take the soup, and you don't get any information?" Before he can process what happed, he found himself on his back, breath knocked out of him and can gone. He rolled over with a grunt and looked up to see the back of the woman retreating. "Thanks again for the help," she mocked as she sauntered away from him.

He can't help a breathy chuckle to escape his lips. What a rude woman.

Next chapter: The Two Together

Still worldbuilding, action is coming, I swear. Anybody figure out who this mysterious blonde girl is? oooh such a mystery. Did anyone realize who the girl in chapter 3 was? I think it was obvious, if you've read the manga, at least, but maybe not... We will see them both again soon anyways, so keep a lookout, as well as more of your favorite characters. I don't have much else to say except thanks! I really appreciate the faves and follows!

Stiller3: Why, thanks! I'm glad to hear I'm a favorite of yours. You make me blush haha. I hope you like this story as well!

~Goldflame