To prevent any confusion from happening, I'll just tell you right now that it has been about a week since Kenny kidnapped Saph.

Saph's PoV

Hearing my brother's words echo within the dungeon, my mouth went dry and I felt the urge to cry in pure relief. Things were going to get better; they were gonna improve. Instead of letting my weak tired bones disintegrate into a heap, I quickly motioned for my brother to unlock the cell door. "We should try to escape and find them. It'll be easier to fight back if there are more people."

"They are probably getting slaughtered by Kenny right now," Suzu whispered, seemingly unsure of the change in plans. "I think we should consider this a distraction and just try to go by ourselves."

Images of my comrades bodies butchered by Kenny the Ripper made me grip the bars of my cage as I staggered underneath the weight of loss. Levi, defeated and dead, blood matting his black hair matching the weeping wounds of bullet holes in him. Petra's warm gaze dulled by her murder. Hanji and Eld with bits and pieces of their organs scattered across the room, frames slumped in unforgiving pools of red. Auruo mouth hanging open in a shattered scream. As much as I fought it, I cared for some of them. Not as nearly as much as Suzu, no, but their deaths would haunt me.

Shivering, I grieved the idea of what could happen to them in their attempt to save me. The man I loved and my best friend fought to get me back. I couldn't leave them. Even Eld's and Hanji's death would sadden me (yeah, yeah, maybe Aurou's would too a little bit). Shaking my head, I responded to my brother's questioning gaze at my silence, "We have to check. I'm not going to abandon them."

"It's dangerous, Saph! If you go up there you could get killed!"

"And when has that ever stopped me? You don't have to come with. Actually, I would prefer if you got out now. Meet up with me at the Survey Corps where we would be safe."

Suzu contemplated his options. Weighing the key in his hand as he listened closely to the commotion happening above us. "No. We aren't going to separate after looking for each other all these years. Just promise me you won't get killed."

"I can't-"

"Promise me that you won't die or I'm not going to let you leave. I don't care what happens to them, and I won't let you sacrifice yourself for them even if that means you'll hate me forever."

"I could never hate you, Suzu," I murmured, reaching my fingers between the metal bars separating me from him.

He took the offered comfort, gripping them reflexively. "Just promise me, Saph. I know it's impossible, but I just want to hear you say it."

"I promise, Suzu."

My meek reassurance soothed his worry enough that he began to unlock the door, his movements jerking with every gun shot going off above. Shifting in unadulterated anxiousness, I eagerly awaited my release from the imprisonment. Any weariness still residing in my veins disappeared the second I stepped out of my confines. Instead, bloodlust came to replace it, making me curl my fingers until they resembled something like claws. I'd gouge eyes out and rip limbs off if it became necessary for me to leave this awful place.

Lifting up my head, I strained for the sounds of what seemed to be footsteps coming closer and closer. Suzu noticed my peaked interest and located the reason for my new onset wariness.

"It doesn't sound like Kenny," he murmured as if in an attempt to reassure himself that the bastard couldn't hurt him. Like I'd let Kenny touch him much less injure him.

"Do you have any weapons that I could arm myself with?"

Suzu pulled out a knife before lifting it towards me, handle pointed out. "This is all I have."

"Then you keep it." I waved the weapon away.

"You sure?"

"Torture and weird experiments take a lot out of a girl. I'm sure you have a lot more energy to fight them off if it comes to that."

Stepping ahead of me, Suzu tucked the blade into the waistband of his pants, yet never removed his hand from its spot. "Let's see who it is first before we attempt anything rash."

Without any sort of caution or delicacy, the door crashed open to reveal a frantic Ethell. It was only the gun she had in front of her that made me resist from jumping towards her to break her neck.

"Suzu? What are you doing?" Her finger itched towards the trigger. "Why is she out of the cell?"

Leaning towards the right a little, I kept Suzu's body in line of her sight so she couldn't notice that my hands were free. I hoped that she'd think I was restrained like a prisoner should be. It would have been good to drop my gaze from a blood thirsty glare, but I held no restraint towards placing the weapon within my vision at all times. Instead of looking like a defeated subject of depression, I hungrily took in the gun, smelling the heavy scent of gunpowder in the air.

Gesturing towards the ceiling, Suzu maintained a calm composure. "Before all the ruckus upstairs started, Kenny told me to retrieve her so we could transfer her power to someone else. Did someone start a fight about who's going to get it? Is that why I hear shots ringing off every ten seconds?"

Ethell scrunched her eyebrows in a way that ruined the effects of the dangerous air surrounding her. "Of course not. The Survey Corps came to rescue your sweet big sis."

Tilting my head up, I attempted to act surprised at the news, an unexpected gift that decided to plop in my lap.

"I would think that you'd be able to manage them without having them get so close to the dungeons," Suzu growled out.

"They're in combat more often than any of us. If you want to try your hand at subduing any of them, you're welcome to go up there and fight while I stay here with her." Her smug taunt resulted in Ethell loosening her hold on the revolver.

Figuring this might be the only chance I'd receive, I took it. Shifting to the right side of Suzu, I struck out my leg to kick her in the stomach. Before she could realign her weapon to put a bullet in my body, I gripped her wrist to yank it away from me and Suzu. Using my other hand to crush her windpipe, I backed her into the wall.

With the use on one free arm, she tightened her fingers into a fist and punched me in the face. Since she didn't have much momentum (with solid brick in her way) the hit didn't have enough juice to make me stumble, only daze me a little. Wrenching her gun arm free from my grip, she wrestled it closer to me before letting out a single shot. Pain rippled across the ribs on my left side as the bullet grazed my skin.

Suzu finally jumped into action. Without giving her the time to aim at either of us, he pinned the weapon to the brick, wincing when the blasted thing went off a few times more until it just began to emptily click away.

"Shit," I growled out, backing up a little so Suzu could help me restrain her. Pressing a hand to the wound, I hissed at the sensation. "I thought I could get it away from here before she used up all of the ammunition. Wanted to save some to use it on you fuckers, but of course you couldn't make it easy for me." Clutching her face, I repeatedly slammed her skull back into the dirt encrusted enclosure.

"Are we going to kill her?" Suzu hesitantly asked me, not stopping me when I beat her senseless.

Reaching my palm out, I gestured for the knife. "Of course. Can't have her following us or alerting anyone of our escape."

Wordlessly, Suzu handed me the blade.

"Please Suzu. Please," Ethell begged.

"Now I wish there was some way for me to give you the pure experience of what I've dealt with while down here, but you're lucky since I don't have the time for that. However, that's not going to stop me from making it a painful death though."

Blood squirted everywhere when I stabbed into her abdomen. Then her chest. After that it was just metal sinking into muscle and flesh because the mess made didn't let me discern what exactly my weapon sunk into. Her screams waned in time with my attacks and soon they stopped all together. My arms began to ache as I swung down over and over again letting her inner intestines spill out onto the floor.

Finally, the haze of hatred subsided enough that pure satisfaction took over. Spitting out the chunks of the dead girl lying in front of me, I tipped my head back, breathing heavy from all the exertion and excitement. Running my red soaked fingers through my sweaty hair, I grinned. Before I could speak however, Suzu grabbed the knife from me and moved towards the entrance.

"There are more people coming," he whispered.

We leaned forward, straining to hear how many enemies might be approaching.

"She has to be down here. We've practically looked everywhere else."

"Wait," I tugged on Suzu's shirt to get his attention, "it sounds like Petra." And just like I said, Petra walked right on in. However, she wasn't the only one, not to far behind her was Levi. Seeing the two of them alive and unharmed, I broke into a genuine smile. "I'm glad that you guys aren't injured. It sure does sound like a war is going on above us."

The two of them froze, wearing matched shocked expressions as they took in the sight of me and a teen boy behind me. "Saph? What… what happened to you?"

Not knowing if she referred to the blood bathing my body or the parallel wounds lining my limbs, I pointed at Ethell's lifeless body, "well I killed that girl because she would have prevented us from escaping if given the opportunity." I lifted my arms to give them a clearer view of the raw scars, "physical torture also sort of happened."

"That's not your blood?" Levi asked, approaching me cautiously.

"I kind of got shot, but it's not deep, so no, most of it isn't mine."

"Are you okay?" Petra whispered in a strained tone.

"Definitely not, but it's going to get better because," I grabbed Suzu's arm to pull him forward, "I found my little brother!" Vision suddenly swam up and down in front of my face, I stumbled underneath the dizzying effect.

Noticing my dilema, Levi steadied me by cradling my elbow. "We still need to get you to a doctor as soon as possible."

"Careful! I'm covered in filth, and I know you hate getting dirty."

Giving me the once over, he just sighed in defeat.

Suzu glowered at Levi. "Who are you?"

"That's Levi! And that's Petra!" I gestured towards the two individuals in turn. "I thought you guys might die while trying to save me," I confessed in a somber tone.

Petra wrapped her cloak around my shivering shoulders. "We are fine, Saph, and we are going to get you and your brother out of here."

Weak with blood loss and malnutrition, I leaned heavily on Levi's body. "I thought I got abandoned," I murmured just loud enough for only him to hear.

"You're an idiot," he mumbled right back at me, my delirium meant I believed I could hear a hint of affection in his voice.

"How are we going to get out of here with Saph so weak?"

"I can answer that for you, you're not."

We all jumped in surprise, unaware of the intruder that had entered our surroundings. Suzu pulled out his knife, but his hands could barely keep ahold of it with all the shaking his body was doing. Ignoring him, Kenny gave a sharp smile at Levi.

"It's been awhile Levi! I'd say that you've grown up, but that would require you to actually grow a few inches!" Nobody responded while he barked out some dry laughter at his own joke.

"Old man, you better get the fuck out of our way," Levi growled out, handing me to Petra in the process.

"Now, now. That's no way to speak to the guy who raised you! Is it?"

Petra softly gasped next to me, but I didn't have the time to deal with her astonishment at the new knowledge.

"I really didn't think the Survey Corps had the balls to attack our little fortress here, but I guess I was partially right since it's only the Special Operations Squad that's laying siege. Now following commands like a dog, hmmm, boy?"

Gritting his teeth, Levi glared at the man in front of him. "I don't have to answer to you."

"Guess I'll just have to get it out of you like I got it out of your second in command over there."

Kenny drew his knife while Levi pulled out his swords used for killing Titans. The longer reach might have usually given him the advantage in normal situations, but the tight quarters made them more of a hassle than an asset. It seemed the battle leaned towards Kenny's favor.

"Stab him, Suzu! Help Levi!" I yelled out in a panic hearing Levi grunt with the exertion needed to keep Kenny away from him. Petra stepped out of the way, stunned and not knowing what to do. Hand to hand combat was not her forte.

Taking a tentative step towards the fighting pair, Suzu raised his knife.

"Now, Suzu, you've been such a good boy all these years. You're going to give it up for your worthless big sister over there? What about getting the power to protect yourself? Making it so you can't be abandoned ever again?"

"Suzu, I didn't abandon you! I never left you on purpose," I cried out.

Tears spilled over his dusty cheeks. "You might not have, but mom and dad did. They were supposed to care for us, and you were to weak to protect the both of us."

I didn't know. I didn't know that our parent's death still lingered in Suzu's nightmares and reality. Yes, I caused him to get kidnapped. But our parent's downfall led to it. They tried their best, and so did I, but that didn't mean we didn't fail Suzu. Who knew what Kenny did to him for all these years. All the suffering he endured.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I begged, "please don't make Levi pay for my mistakes. It's not his fault. If you want to hurt someone, hurt me."

Kenny shoved Levi away from him, quickly the man turned to grab Suzu's collar. "This is your chance to redeem yourself. If you think you can leave here and live a happy life with your sister, I'll tell you right now that you're wrong. There's nothing I hate more than someone who thinks they're above listening to me. I always hunt them down to make them pay. Is that what you want?"

"Forgive me, Kenny," Suzu pleaded, snot dribbling out of his nose.

"No," I screeched, finding the energy to grab onto Suzu before he could strike to kill the man I loved.

With my frail state, however, it took no inconvenience at all for Suzu to thrust me off of him. Stumbling backwards, I tripped over the shovel in front of my cell. Without thinking, I heaved it up into the air. Desperate for a solution where none seemed to lay.

"Kill him," Kenny ordered, shiting their positions until it left Levi's back wide open.

Raising the shovel above my head, I smacked Suzu with it, hoping that it'd daze him enough that I could get the knife away from him. Instead, he crumpled to the floor, limbs splaying out awkwardly. Petra screamed and both Levi and Kenny paused in the midst of their battle.

"Suzu?" I kneeled down next to him, tapping his unmoving shoulders lightly. "Suzu? You need to get to up. We need to get out of here." Lowering my ear to his mouth, I searched for the sweet sounds of breathing. None. "I'm sorry, Suzu, I didn't mean…" Blood trickled out of his mouth. Hyperventilating, I looked up to see both Levi's and Petra's horrified expressions. "I just meant to stop you," I moaned, dragging Suzu's body into my lap. The dent in his head rested against my thigh. Nothing could stop the flow of red liquid seeping into the cracks of the floor.

"Kenny!" Rod Reiss shouted down the corridor. "Get me out of here!"

"What about the girl?" Kenny questioned, glancing at me.

"Leave her!"

Following the orders, Kenny left without a care in the world.

Sobbing, I clutched onto my little brother's body. "This isn't what I wanted to happen." Pressing kiss after kiss onto his forehead, I pleaded for him to move, to wake up. "I love you so much, Suzu. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was supposed to protect you!"

Levi bent down, his grip strong on my shoulder. "Thank you for saving me."

"Kill me."

Taken back by my request, Levi shook his head. "I'm not going to do that, Saph," he gruffly rejected me.

"I murdered my little brother! Why have I endured all these years if I was just going to end up alone, anyways? What have I been searching for so long?"

Neither of them could answer my scattered questions. Petra stepped forward to comfort me, "It was an accident! You were only meaning to stop him from killing Levi."

I didn't say anything in response, only brushing my fingers in Suzu's brown hair, ignoring the clear mark the shovel had made in his head. Nothing justified smashing his skull in. I could only hope he didn't feel any pain.

Wrestling me away from Suzu's body, Levi dragged me along with him. "This isn't the time to grieve or for regrets. We need to get you out of here, Hanji, Eld, and Auruo can only hold them off for so long."

"Go without me! Let them kill me!" I screamed uselessly into the air thick with death as we left my little brother's body behind. "I want to die!"

Sorry about the delay. I can't promise it won't happen again since school has started, but I am going to still update frequently. I couldn't get ahold of my beta, so I apologize for any mistakes made. I'd love to hear your guy's thoughts on this chapter since it's a pretty big development. Some of you guys guess the plot twist about Suzu actually being on Saph's side the whole time, but I believe this one was a little bit more unexpected. Hopefully. Anyways, I love you guys and I hope everyone enjoyed the upate!