Seven Years Ago

"Again!"

Even over the loud, heavy rain, Annie could hear her father's command. Swiping quickly at her face, she pushed her soggy hair out of her eyes and let out a small, frustrated grunt as she lashed out at the punching bag once more, lifting up on one leg and driving her foot directly into it. Her muscles were burning from the exertion, but she knew from experience that refusing to continue would only lead to her father extending her exercises. Better to do them quickly and quietly, without complaint or hesitation. The only problem was that the rainstorm was making things much harder than usual. Soaked to the bone, she was already covered in mud from repeatedly slipping and falling, with each mistake earning her a stinging rebuke from her father, who was watching from nearby under an umbrella. His short, stocky figure was obscured through the sheets of rain, but Annie could still make out his scowl as it twitched in disapproval.

"You think you'll be accepted as one of the Titan Warriors with efforts like this?! Faster!"

Without hesitating, Annie spun and slammed her fist into the bag, following it up with a swift roundhouse kick. She didn't stop, repeatedly hammering the bag with a wide assortment of combat moves, all of which she was performing for her father for the thousandth time. She didn't dare say it out loud, but she was hoping that her father would take pity on her and allow her to take a break. Even if only for a couple of minutes.

No. Keep going. Harder, and faster. Everything depends on excelling enough to be accepted as one of the next Warriors. If I let up, even for a moment, the opportunity could slip away from us.

BOOM!

At the sudden sound of a clap of thunder directly overhead, Annie couldn't stop herself from jolting in surprise. With one leg already in the air, her sudden movement led to her foot slipping out from under her, and she landed on the muddy ground in a heap. Immediately, she hurriedly tried to get back to her feet, but only ended up slipping again, this time landing face first in the mud. With her vision obscured, she began to panic, thrashing helplessly as the rain worsened.

The sounds of her father's footsteps drew near, and despite herself, Annie felt relief flood through her. Finally, he was going to help her, and-

"Useless!" Her father yelled hoarsely as he grabbed the back of Annie's head and shoved her face back into the mud, ignoring her muffled cries. "It's no wonder your family abandoned you if you can't even do this!"

Though Annie couldn't see her father's face, she had no trouble picturing his angry expression. The wild, desperate look in his eyes as his chances of a better life seemingly slipped farther away every time she failed to meet his expectations. Even as tears began to leak from behind her shut eyelids, he continued to shout at her as he shoved her deeper and deeper into the mud.

"You know how much I sacrificed for you?! I could've walked right by and let you die on the side of that road!"

Annie didn't even notice that she was running out of breath. She had heard this story before. Whenever her father lashed out at her, he seemed to always return to how she owed him everything, including her life. Especially her life.

"If I hadn't stopped to take a piss, nobody would have found you. Your cheeks were turning blue, but even as a baby you were silent! It's like you wanted to be left behind to die!"

Her father roughly lifted her head out of the mud, gripping her hair tightly as he peered at her face, covered in mud and tears as she gasped for breath. His expression twisted in disgust at the sight, sending a pang of hurt through her heart.

"Well? You have anything to say?"

"Yes…." Annie managed to say after several deep breaths. "I'm sorry, Father."

He released his hold on her immediately and straightened back up, staring down at his daughter with disappointment in his eyes as she lay helplessly on the ground. He shook his head at the sight as Annie curled her arms around herself, wishing she were anywhere but there.

"Pathetic. You're not a survivor. How can you ever hope to become a Warrior if you can't even speak up for yourself?"

Annie began to cough as she slowly got to her feet, not meeting her father's eyes.

What else do you want from me? I'm trying my best, but if that's not good enough for you….

"How unfortunate," her father said tonelessly. "You've been quiet your whole life. Accepting everything with no fight at all. You train when I tell you to, but you aren't really trying. You lack any sense of conviction or drive. I've tried to get you to act more like the other candidates, but you refuse to embrace the responsibility that has been laid before you."

Annie looked up just in time to see her father turn away. She felt more alone than ever at the sight of him standing perfectly dry, while she stood soaked and shivering as rain continued to pour out the sky.

"Father," Annie said softly. "I promise to train harder. I'll fight for this with everything I have. I will earn the honor of becoming a Titan Warrior."

Her father stared back at her for several long seconds, while she waited anxiously for his response. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh.

"I've invested too much time into your upbringing to abandon you now. The selection for the next batch of Warriors is only another month away. If you succeed, and you inherit one of the Titans, then my efforts won't have been in vain."

Her father didn't say it out loud, but the unspoken threat echoed in her mind nonetheless.

If I fail….then my life will be over.

Annie narrowed her eyes, and subconsciously straightened her posture. She glared directly at her father, a burning intensity growing within her.

I have no choice. I'm going to become a Warrior. Then….you'll finally be proud of me.

Present Day

Eren stared down at the stumps on his wrists where his hands were supposed to be, not comprehending their absence. He had only just woken up several moments before, and he was already incredibly confused.

What happened to me? Where's Mikasa? Where's Armin? I was being tortured, but they came to save me. Then….

"Ah, good," a voice said coldly. "You're finally awake."

Eren turned to find Annie staring at him with a bored expression from a few feet away. They were sitting together on a wide branch connected to a monstrous tree that stretched far into the sky above. Peering over the edge of the branch, Eren's stomach turned at the sight of Titans far below, mindlessly staring up at him with vacant, hungry expressions.

"Don't worry," Annie said, her voice not very reassuring. "We're fifty meters off the ground. They can't reach us."

"Where are we?" Eren asked slowly. He held up one of his arm stumps, wincing as a phantom pain shot up into his shoulder. "Did you do this?"

"Yes," Annie responded matter-of-factly. Eren stared at her in shock as she shrugged her shoulders, like dismembering people was something she normally did. It was only then when he noticed just how exhausted she looked. Her hair was messy and matted, and her posture was slumped over, giving the impression that at any moment she might collapse.

"Annie," Eren said slowly. "What did you do?"

Annie stared at Eren, her gaze piercing right through him. "I captured you," she said heavily. "I transformed into Scylla, and took you over Wall Rose. I'm taking you back to my homeland, beyond Wall Maria."

"WHAT?!" Eren shouted as anger took hold immediately. "What the hell are you talking about?! You come from outside the Walls? That's impossible!"

Annie rolled her eyes as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, worn piece of paper, holding it up for Eren to see. He was about to scoff, until he got a closer look at it, the black and white image grabbing his attention immediately.

"What is that?" Eren said suspiciously. He wasn't certain, but it looked like a painting of Annie as a child, standing next to a stocky man with a scowl that he had seen on her face many times.

"It's a photograph," Annie said as she tucked it back into her pocket. "Where I come from, we have machines that use light to burn exact visual copies of whatever we want onto them. Just one of many technologies you people don't have here on Paradis Island."

Eren's heart stopped as Annie's words hit him in the face, nearly sending him sprawling. "Island," he mumbled under his breath. "You mean, we're surrounded by the sea? It's real?"

Annie froze momentarily, looking like an animal that had been caught in a hunter's trap, before settling back into her usual bored expression. "Yeah," she said bitterly. "Don't get too excited. The outside world isn't anything special."

Eren found himself at a loss for words as he held up one of his arms, staring at his stump that was beginning to emit steam as everything hit him at once.

Armin was right. The sea exists. Shiganshina, Trost, the Walls, our entire world. Surrounded by an endless expanse of salty water. He was right. He was right all along.

"Why?" Eren suddenly asked.

"What?" Annie snapped. "Why what?"

"You say you come from outside the Walls, from beyond an ocean," Eren said slowly as he pieced together what she had said. "You also said that you transformed into Scylla, and that you intend to take me back with you. Does that mean that you attacked six years ago, broke through Wall Maria, destroyed the lives of thousands….all to find me?"

"It's more complicated than that," Annie snapped. "I didn't want to break through your stupid Wall, none of us did! But we didn't have a choice in the matter."

"But why?" Eren cried out. "Why would you do this? Why are you kidnapping me? What makes me so special?"

"Idiot," Annie hissed under her breath. "Have you already forgotten that you transformed into an Alpha Titan yesterday?"

"No, of course not, but-" Eren's eyes widened as he realized what she meant. "You're taking me because of this power."

"Finally," Annie groaned as she rubbed her forehead. "You're getting it."

"But, I didn't know about it until yesterday!" Eren protested weakly. "I still don't even know how I transformed!"

"Ha!" Annie let out a derisive cackle at the panicked look on Eren's face, sending a sudden surge of fear through his mind at the thought that at any moment, she could crush him, and he would be helpless to defend himself.

"What are you going to do with me?" Eren asked numbly. "You gonna brainwash me, and have me come back here and help you kill everyone left within the Walls? You hate all of us that much?"

"Don't be so dramatic," Annie retorted. "This isn't personal. If anything, you're saving everyone if you come with me quietly. But I doubt you will. That's why I cut off your hands. Your body's too busy regenerating to transform now."

Eren shook his head in disbelief. "I just don't understand why you would do all this. Or why you'd break through Wall Maria six years ago! Why do you want us all dead? What did we ever do to you?!"

Annie stared at Eren silently for several moments before responding with a low tone, and an almost regretful look.

"I don't want any of you dead. Not after living among you for six years. I can't say the same for everyone else that lives beyond the Walls."

"So, that's it? They're gone?"

Armin looked up to find Jean standing over him with his arms folded, and a scowl across his face. Behind him stood Marco, Conny, and Sasha, who were all staring at Armin with concern. He clenched his fists, and forced a deep breath.

"Yeah. They're gone."

Armin didn't register Jean's next words. The sun was at its zenith in the sky, and a soft breeze was blowing across the plain, coming from the south. From the direction that Annie, clad in the body of an Alpha Titan, had disappeared with Eren in her clutches. Armin turned to face Wall Rose in the distance, and not for the first time, he kicked himself mentally for not seeing the signs of Annie's betrayal.

Looking back now, it was so obvious. That day she told me I was too caring for my own good, and that if I wasn't careful, I'd regret it…. I was foolish to brush it off. I trusted her, and now look at what's happened.

"Armin," Mikasa said softly beside him, where she was lying with an arm over her eyes. He turned to her, reaching out and grasping her hand, ignoring the sounds of the others arguing nearby.

"How are you doing?" Armin asked worriedly.

"I'm lucky to be alive," Mikasa said quietly. "She used a hidden blade on her ring to cut herself while we were grappling. Right after that, there was a massive explosion. Then when I woke up, she was gone, and now it hurts to move, and…." Mikasa's voice trailed off, and silence overtook the two of them.

I don't know what to do now. Eren's gone, and there's no way to get him back.

"I'm sorry," Armin said softly. "This is all my fault. If I'd-"

"No," Mikasa said as she tried to sit up, grunting from the pain. Her expression was dark as she spoke. "It's mine. I didn't protect Eren like I was supposed to. Now, she has him."

Armin winced at the level of hatred in Mikasa's voice. A part of him was uncomfortable with it, yet he couldn't blame Mikasa for how she felt.

"When you found me," Mikasa said quietly. "Had she already disappeared over Wall Rose?"

Armin squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to relive that painful conversation. His heart began to pound as Annie's words replayed in his head, taunting him for his failure.

'Do yourself a favor, Armin. Hate me. Loathe me. Curse the day you met me, and pray for my painful death. I'm not a good person. I've killed many people, and I'll surely kill many more.'

Armin swallowed hesitantly, before opening his mouth to speak. "I-"

"Hey guys!"

Armin looked up, and despite himself, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of Reiner, Bertholdt, Ymir, and Christa. They looked tired, but alright.

"What happened?" Reiner immediately asked as soon as they came to a stop. "Where's Annie and Eren?"

"Annie escaped over Wall Rose with Eren," Conny responded. "Mikasa tried to stop her, but, well…." Conny trailed off as everyone looked at Mikasa, who had clearly taken a beating.

"Well, what are we supposed to do now?" Bertholdt asked quietly. "Are we just going to let her get away with him?"

"No, of course not!" Reiner said with a half-hearted smile. "Anyone have any ideas?"

Armin glanced around at everyone, but they all seemed to have no suggestions. Ymir stepped forward hesitantly, before stepping back after Christa grabbed her wrist and shook her head. Sasha shrugged her shoulders helplessly, while Marco opened his mouth to speak, only to think better of it and deciding not to speak.

"Well, what about you, Armin?" Jean tried desperately. "We need a way out of this."

"I'm sorry, Jean," Armin said softly. He was trying to think, but Annie's betrayal was proving to be too much for him. "I have no ideas. No plans. I'm useless right now."

"Well, that's it then," Jean said as he threw his arms in the air. "We're through. Once word gets out about how we freed Eren from the Garrison, and that we immediately lost him to the enemy, we'll all be thrown in prison, and probably executed as well!"

"Well, that's one way to look at it," Marco said after a moment of silence. "Keep going, Jean."

"Huh?" Jean said as he looked at Marco in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you're a cynic," Marco remarked. "If there's ever a time we need someone like you, it's now. So tell us, what do you think we could do to get out of this situation?"

"Me?" Jean said incredulously. "You're asking me to come up with something? Why? I've tried to be a leader, but we're in a load of shit right now! How am I supposed to come up with something if even Armin can't?"

"Because you're not a leader," Marco said patiently. Jean gaped at him in surprise, but Marco kept talking, not giving Jean time to respond. "You come from the perspective of someone always expecting the worst to happen. Well, the worst has happened. So think back on all your doubts, and how you've been proven right."

Everyone stared at Marco, shocked by his bluntness, while Armin's mind began to slowly turn again.

Marco's right. We need to think back on everything that went wrong, and how we can use that information.

Jean let out a frustrated breath, and then he began to speak.

"Well, for one thing, going to rescue Eren was clearly a bad idea."

"With the benefit of hindsight, yes," Marco said with a nod. "Keep going."

"And we were dumb to hand Eren over to begin with," Jean continued as he began to pace.

"Also true," Marco said in agreement. "Anything else?"

Jean thought for another moment, before his eyes lit up with an idea. "We made a mistake in trusting Captain Woermann, but maybe there's someone else in the Garrison who can help us instead!"

Armin's eyes widened, and he couldn't stop himself from speaking up.

"I think I have another plan," he said hesitantly.

"Finally!" Jean said as he rolled his eyes. "What have you got?"

"Well," Armin began slowly, quickly picking up speed as the life returned to his eyes. "The longer we delay, the less chance we have of rescuing Eren. When he came out of Godzilla, he was exhausted, so it stands to reason that the process of controlling an Alpha Titan is a tiring ordeal. With that logic, Scylla can't have gotten far. Most likely, they stopped in one of those Giant Tree forests south of Trost to rest."

"Well, yeah," Jean agreed hesitantly. "But in order to travel far and fast enough to catch up to them, we'd need horses, and with Godzilla's corpse blocking the entrance to Trost, we'd need access to the Garrison in order to use their lifts to get horses over the Wall."

"But like you said, we're probably wanted by the Garrison now," Ymir reminded him. "How do we expect them to cooperate with us?"

"What about Rico?" Sasha said excitedly. "We found her in the rubble unconscious, but alive, and she sent Ian to free us from prison, so maybe she'd help us again!"

"Not a good option," Jean responded as he shook his head. "We're already in enough trouble as it is. Sneaking back into Trost anyway would be nearly impossible, with the entire Garrison probably looking for us now."

"Well, what options do we have?" Armin said as he began to look ahead to fighting Scylla, his mind turning through the possibilities like a gear on a clock. "We'll need horses and fresh ODM gear, that's for certain."

"Well," Jean said as he glanced at Marco, who gave him an encouraging nod. "We could appeal directly to the highest levels of the military."

"How about Commander Pyxis?" Christa suddenly said. "He's the highest ranking officer in the south, and by now he's probably heard about the Trost attack. More than likely, he's already on his way here!"

"Yeah!" Jean said with a gasp. "You're right! I hear he's crazy and eccentric. Maybe, if we play our cards right, we can convince him to allow us access to resources to try to go after Eren!"

Armin's eyes widened as Jean's suggestion slid perfectly into place, completing his plan to rescue Eren. "That might work," he mumbled under his breath. He turned to Mikasa with a growing grin on his face, and he held out his hand to help her up, which she gratefully accepted. "It's a long shot, but it could work."

"Yeah," Jean said as Marco gave him a warm smile, which for once, he returned. "We've been entirely reactive against the Titans for years. Maybe it's time we go on the offensive. Eren might be a suicidal maniac, but he's one of us. I still have my doubts about him, but I've seen how much he means to you guys. If he can control his power, then he could be the hope that humanity has been waiting for."

Reiner gave a firm nod to Jean, clearly impressed, before turning to the rest of the group. "So. We're all in favor of trying this?"

"There's something you all should know," Mikasa said, her expression turning deadly while she rolled her shoulders, grimacing in pain, reminding Armin immediately of what Annie was capable of. "If we're going to be facing her, then all of us need to be ready for anything. When I fought Scylla, she almost killed me several times."

She glanced over at him, and he knew that what she said next was directed at him. "She's not our friend. She betrayed us. If we don't treat her as our enemy, then our chances of rescuing Eren will slip away. I'm not about to let that happen. If I need to, I'll kill her, and I won't hesitate to fight whoever gets in my way."

"No, wait," Armin said as he furrowed his brows, desperately trying to reconcile two different sides of himself. On one hand, he recognized that Annie was dangerous, and that she probably wouldn't give Eren up without a fight. On the other hand though, he still cared for her, and despite her betrayal, he couldn't stomach the thought of watching her die.

"We might not have to kill her," he continued carefully. "In fact, it would probably be better to capture her alive, since she undoubtedly has useful information about the outside world."

Mikasa gave Armin a suspicious look, but after deliberating for several long moments, she gave him a curt nod, filling him with an unexpected sense of relief.

"Alright then," Jean said with a sense of finality. "Let's go get that suicidal maniac back. No matter what it takes."

Author's Note

Sorry for the longer wait on this chapter, I ended up being very busy these past couple of months, and I wasn't able to find time to sit down and concentrate properly on writing until recently. Hopefully, the remaining three chapters of Alpha Predator will come much faster.

Until next time!

-AlphaBeta17 (12/17/20)