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I'm back again with two chapters in one go! I hope you'll enjoy these new chapters and that you'll leave a review to share your thoughts!
Calaneth is a miserable little place. The walls are a patchwork of bricks, sandbags and fencing that gives the entire thing an air of dramatic survival. Not that dramatic survival isn't a thing, I just find the gloominess of the place unpleasant. The worse is that it extends to the people.
When Levi and I show up at the gates, we're greeted by two sullen-looking Doves from the Garrison who look at us with mean eyes and sneer at Levi's identification papers. We have a hard job convincing them that I'm safe to accept inside the walls. In fact, they nearly don't let me in despite Erwin's letter of recommendation and it's only the promise of dark retribution from Levi that finally convinces them.
"Death by machete, really?" I snort, as we finally start making our way inside Calaneth.
Levi mumbles something that sounds like 'shitheads' but comments no further so I decide to leave him alone so he can stew. I take the opportunity to observe my surroundings.
All eyes are on us as we make our way along the main street towards the Garrison headquarters. I unintentionally shiver under their gaze. They're not so different from zombies really, I note as I try to shrug of the uncomfortable feeling of a hundred eyes fixed on me. Every last one of them is skin on bones, their clothes ripped and dirtied beyond all recognition and their gazes hungry like they've been starving for the past ten years.
Levi and I exchange a glance. Somehow I don't think we'll be staying here for very long.
"There's been rumours of cannibalism in Calaneth." Levi tells me as we enter the Garrison headquarters.
I look at him, my shock probably evident on my face, but I don't have time to voice my surprise because we're immediately intercepted a Dove with the mangiest beard I've ever seen.
I remain stunned as the man enquires about our business in a gruff voice.
I know starvation, and I know the fear of death but to think some have resorted to cannibalism to stay alive…It's at once unthinkable and completely creepy. A cannibal is really no better than a zombie. If they're going to fall this low they might as well just go and get infected. At least then, one might excuse their diet.
I shake my head, falling into steps behind Levi who's following the man who intercepted us at the entrance. I can only guess that we're being taken to Armin because I haven't paid attention to a single word that was said. Armin. I can't imagine the innocent angel of my memories living in a place like Calaneth, feeding on human flesh. Now that would be unthinkable.
"Stop looking so panicked." Levi hisses at me as the guy abandons us in empty office.
"You bring me to a stronghold of cannibals and you want me to stop panicking?" I hiss back, completely incredulous. "I guess it makes sense now that Erwin wasn't keen on letting you go on your own."
Levi rolls his eyes.
"They're only rumours." he mutters.
"They were looking at us like we were a tasty piece of chicken!"
Levi gives me a look I can't quite interpret before saying.
"We won't be staying long."
"I hope not." I tell him fervently. "This place gives me the creeps."
"I'm sorry you feel that way." a gruff voice says from the doorway.
I jump and swing around to look at our guide who has just come in, small blond in tow.
"I take it you won't be staying then?" the Dove continues.
"No." Levi answers smoothly. "We'll take Armin and leave immediately."
That's when Armin side-steps to extract himself from the man's shadow and take a look at us with the radiant blue eyes I remember. He gazes at Levi first before his eyes glide over to me and widen in surprise.
"Eren!" he exclaims, with a hint of excitement.
"Hi." I answer tonelessly.
I notice Levi's questioning sidelong glance but ignore it, preferring to fix my gaze on an abstract point above the door.
"Armin?" Levi asks.
"Yes." the blonde answers, quickly regaining his countenance. "It's nice to meet you sir."
I can feel silver eyes boring into me as Levi gives a low hum.
"Are you ready to leave?" Levi asks, thankfully deciding not to question our relationship at this time.
Armin nods quickly, his eyes shifting to me every couple of seconds.
"Ready when you are!" he answers enthusiastically. "But are you sure you don't want to stop for a bit? Get some provisions maybe?"
I give Levi a petulant look, which he tries to ignore. If it wouldn't be so rude to say, I'd kindly refuse their offer to give us rations of human flesh.
"We've got all we need." Levi says diplomatically. "I expect you to provide your own food though."
"Yes." Armin says, blissfully unaware. "I know."
Levi nods curtly and turns to the dove silently standing by the door, probably expecting him to kindly guide us back to the gates. The dove stares back placidly.
"Well." says Levi after the silence has stretched to an uncomfortable degree. "We'll be on our way then."
"I must insist that you take a break in the safety of our walls." the man says at last, tone smooth and face blank.
Levi frowns. I frown. Armin, finally alerted to the oddness of the room's atmosphere frowns.
"Well we insist we leave immediately." I speak up.
The dove's still gaze shifts to me and I grit my teeth.
"Very well then."
I relax my jaws at his agreement but exchange a puzzled gaze with Levi. This place just keeps getting stranger. Although at this point, I'm just glad we won't get mixed in their problems any further.
"He seemed very intent on keeping us there." Levi notes once we're a safe distance away from Calaneth.
I look over my shoulder at the city we're leaving behind us, with a frown. I remember the disappointed look on our guide's face when he bid us goodbye at the gates. Disappointment mixed with despair. I don't know what's going on in Calaneth but it seems clear the poor sod is expecting something to happen. And that something is clearly not of the enjoyable variety.
"Were we meant to escort Arin or to extract him?" I ask.
I'm not sulking but I am a little put off that information has been kept from me.
"Who knows?" Levi answers, turning to look at Armin as to say he expects the blonde knows.
Put on the spot, my childhood friend clears his throat.
"Erm…well…I guess the situation in Calaneth isn't very good at the moment and they wanted me in Karanese as soon as possible."
"Are they really cannibals in there?" I ask, deciding not to beat around the bush.
Armin clears his throat again, clearly embarrassed by the line of questioning.
"Well…"
He doesn't say yes, but it hangs in the air with all the heaviness of a grown elephant. We fall silent after that. I think we would all agree we'd prefer not to think of what is going to happen to Calaneth, or in Calaneth, in days to come. Clearly the doves stationed there feel the future is bleak for them and if there really is cannibalism going on in the city I would tend to agree. And I'm rather glad it's none of my business.
As the day draws on, it becomes clear that I won't be able to keep information from Levi much longer – which I find to be terribly hypocritical after the Calaneth affair but well – as he's been sending me pointed looks very frequently. I consider myself fortunate that he arms himself with patience until evening. By that point though, he makes it evident that he expects answers, and he expects them now.
"I knew Armin before the Outbreak." I say bluntly over dinner.
Levi stops in the middle of bringing a spoonful of soup to his lips to stare at me. I ignore him, preferring to stare with interest at Armin's ration. I was honestly relieved to see that it was perfectly normal food. Only, it appears to be one of those city-made rations that Doves have been carrying around lately. I've never tried them and I'm not sure I want to. They really don't look like any food I know.
"We were best friends." I add for Levi's benefit before deciding the subject is now closed and returning to my food.
Levi takes the cue – I do love that he understands me so well – but Armin seems to take that for a sign that I'm open to discussing things of the past and proceeds to interrogate me excitedly.
"I'm so glad to see you Eren! I always wondered what happened to you and Mikasa! Where is Mikasa?" he asks, looking around as if he expects her to jump out from behind a bush.
I roll my eyes at the silly reaction.
"She's dead." I tell him unfeelingly.
I see shock spread on his face, followed by sadness. His excitement has evaporated in an instant.
"Oh." he says. "Aren't you sad?"
He says this with a hint of desperation, like he's trying to make sure I'm still the person he knew, deep down.
I snort derisively.
"Not really. People die every day out there. You get used to it."
"But she was your sister!" he says, sounding almost offended by my casual attitude.
"Well, she was a zombie really." I tell reasonably. "I don't get attached to those."
I think I hear Levi snort at that but when I glance at him his face is as inexpressive as always. I ignore Armin's sputtering across the campfire and finish my food quickly before proceeding to organize sleeping arrangements. I one-sidedly decide Armin will be across from the fire while I'll be on the other side. I make to place Levi's bedding some distance away from mine but as expected his voice stops me.
"You're not going to keep me warm?" he asks, the very picture of innocence.
I glare at him in mock anger.
"No. You kick too much and I'm tired of sleeping with you."
Which is an absolute lie of course. Sleeping next to Levi is my favourite thing in life. Although I really could do without the kicking I don't want to miss my chances of planting sneaky kisses on his neck while he's half-asleep. He always groans and tries to swat me away although he secretly loves it, its prime entertainment!
"I don't kick." he protests, although he doesn't seem to believe in his own words.
I certainly don't.
"You do." I tell him firmly. "Now where you to keep your feet to yourself, I might be talked into sleeping with you."
Although Levi's expression hasn't changed, his eyes are shining with mirth and I find myself grinning covertly. Sometimes, I wonder how I even managed to live without this.
"Fine." he says after a long pause during which we stare at each other challengingly. "I promise not to kick you."
I harrumph for the sake of it and place his bedding with mine. I happen to glance at Armin when I straighten to ask Levi about keeping watch, he's watching us with his hanging open and his eye wide. I end up staring at him with a similar expression. What on Earth is wrong with him? Has he never seen people interact before?
He finally seems to become aware of me staring at him and promptly blushes a fiery red and drops his eyes to his unfinished ration. I shake my head as if to say 'what a strange child' and turn to Levi, catching his knowing look with a frown.
"What?" I ask him quietly.
He shrugs dismissively and with a shrug of my own I let the matter evaporate into the evening air. Then I remember the watches and turn to Levi to harass him about it.