Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter! Thanks for reading and enjoy the story! Let me know what you think in the comments!
Ms. Zoë's titans got murdered within a week of the experiments beginning. I felt bad because she was really torn up over it, but I was definitely expecting that. I knew there was no way whoever the Armored Titan was had left yet, and it showed in the fact that Ms. Zoë's pet titans were murdered and she was effectively stopped from researching more into the beings, or so the murderer or maybe murderers thought.
The Commander was there at the scene with Ms. Zoë, Moblit, and I when she was having a break down about her precious babies being killed. He grabbed me by the arm whispered in my ear, "Who do you think did it?"
Before I could reply, he was gone, so I went to visit him in his office.
I knocked on the door.
"It's open!" he looked up from a map, "Ah, hello Erin!"
"Hello, Commander." I waved as I closed the door, "About that question you asked me earlier. I think I might be able to help figure it out."
"How so?" he asked.
"Well, we have our suspects, the other two cadets who are supposedly from the same village as Mr. Hoover, and my two friends, Mikasa and Armin, are in barracks with them. I found out when they were visiting that all the male cadets in the 104th share one building and all the female cadets share another. I asked them to keep an eye out for someone acting suspicious. If either of the suspects left the dorm on the night in question, they would have noticed." I explained.
"So you do believe that one or both of them are titan shifters?"
"I practically guarantee it. I sent a letter to the training camp with a messenger and I should have the reply very soon. Based on the answer, I have some ideas about the next possible steps to take going forward."
"What are your ideas?"
"Well, I know you have probably already thought through some of this on your own, but I think that if Mikasa replies that there has been suspicious behavior with the two of them, that we should bring them here. Using a ruse like, 'it is now required that you learn some techniques from the scouts before you graduate because of the higher likelihood that the walls will be attack by titans' to bring them all here, we can go on a practice mission and observe the behavior of the cadets more closely. I can also try to drop some hints to Ms. Leonhart and Mr. Braun, ones that they would only understand if they are titan shifters. From what I hear from Mikasa though, Ms. Leonhart is practically unshakeable, so catching her off guard won't be easy." I started to ramble about what we should do.
"And if there are no suspicious behaviors from the two suspects? What would you suggest?" the Commander asked.
"Well, I checked the law and technically if Commander Pyxis signs off, you can draft whomever you want into the Scouts." I said.
"Yes, that was how we acquired Levi and why you have been allowed to join our ranks."
"If the suspects weren't being suspicious I suggest drafting them straight into the scouts and letting me try to get in with them. I think using me as a double agent with them if they truly have something to hide could be incredibly useful. If they are shifters, they have definitely known and been controlling it longer than I have, so they may have more information on shifters than I do." I explained, "And I know bringing two possible wolves in sheep's clothing here could make things difficult but I think this is our best chance."
"I will take this into consideration as I create the plan. Thank you for answering my question."
"Not a problem, sir." I smiled and headed for the door.
The next day we got word from Mikasa and the Commander decided my ruse idea was a good one. That night, the castle was over run with cadets.
I weaved my way through the corridors, running into lost cadets and pointing them in the right direction as I made my way to Levi's office.
I was just about to knock on the door when I heard a voice behind me, "Who are you and what do you think you're doing out of the dining hall, cadet?"
It was definitely a question, but it was also a very loud yell. It was a man, blond hair and huge muscled arms. I could hardly believe that someone who looked so young spoke with such authority at me. I was kind of taken aback.
"My name is Erin Jaegar, sir, and I'm not a cadet." I tried to explain.
"Nice try, get in the chow hall now or you'll be running laps until you throw up!"
"I'm not a cadet!" I yelled back.
"What is all this noise about?" I heard Levi behind me.
"Excuse us, Captain Levi, this one needs to be getting back with the group." the man explained as he grabbed my wrist and started to drag me off.
"Levi!" I called for help. I did not know this man and he was scaring me. I didn't want to be anywhere with him, I especially did not want to be alone with him.
"Stop!" Levi ordered, "I heard some of what's going on through the door and I think there's been a misunderstanding. Erin is not a cadet and she'll be coming with me."
"I'm sorry I can't allow that, Captain Levi," the tone of his voice sent shivers running down my spine. Something was very wrong here.
I felt the man yank my arm and hold something sharp and cold to my neck. A knife.
"Levi..." I felt my voice shake as I looked at him with wide eyes. I didn't even put my arms up to try and struggle out of this man's hold or shy away from the blade I just felt a bit of panic start to take over when I thought about the situation. Who was this man? What did he want? What was he even doing here?
"Let her go right now!" Levi looked angry as he ordered my captor to back off.
"I can't do that. We'll be going now," he looked quickly to his left and then back to Levi, just a split second, not long enough for him to attack and try to get me out of this in such a small space. I'd be decapitated before Levi could even reach me, "Annie, let's go!"
Annie... I thought about that name. Where had I heard it?
"Annie Leonhart?" I wondered aloud and Levi immediately understood who he was fighting right now. If the girl this man was calling to was Annie Leonhart, this was probably Reiner Braun.