Author's Note: Don't forget to let me know what you think so far. Thank you for the support! Side note, the character introduced in this chapter named Shane is about 16 years old.

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack On Titan nor its characters (Levi,Petra and Hanji). The original series was written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Chapter 2: The Cave

"Wake up.

Hey…

Cmon, wake up!"

The hum of a voice grew louder and louder, like a drum gaining on the girl's consciousness. Waking up felt a lot like lifting her head out of hot water as her lids slowly parted, the darkness replaced by a blurred image of a curious boy's face far too close for comfort.

The boy called out, "She's awake! Hey, what's your name?"

Holding her hand against her forehead, "Petra. I'm...Petra."

"Petra, huh? Oh, so you are her."

A searing bright light beside them came into focus. Fire. The blonde haired boy backed away in time to her sitting up, her eyes hazily scanning the cave-like dwelling around them. In the process, Petra caught sight of a form in the shadows opposite of the fire. He sat with his arm resting atop one knee, glancing in their direction.

"Hey. Don't get up in her face, brat." The form spoke abruptly.

Petra absently stared through the crackling fire separating her and the dark haired male that had spoken, his still silhouette suggesting him to be staring right back at her. That voice...something about it.

Memories crashed into her like a tidal wave.

She lunged for a twig lying on the ground - almost falling over in the hurry - and jabbed it impulsively in the direction of the blonde boy beside her, successfully scraping his arm.

He yelped, throwing fists up in defense, taken by surprise.

Hazel orbs desperately scanning, she turned on her heel towards the direction of the black haired male but found the spot empty.

He was gone.

Before she could think further, a hand grabbed her wrist and pinned it behind her head, a leg clicking underneath hers, making her knees fall to the ground with a hard thud. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Shane. Go to Hange."

The boy she had attacked nodded, complying with what he was told. He held his bleeding arm close as he stood, stealing a confused glance in Petra's direction before scurrying off. The sound of boots clacking on the ground grew farther and farther away.

Now, It was just her and her captor.

"You won't get away with what you did." She managed to croak out finally, breaking the silence.

The steady hold on her wrist loosened and suddenly let free. Petra held in a breath, expecting a knocking blow to her face. But all that came was the shuffling sound of someone walking away. Her eyes flew to the sharp twig on the ground that she had dropped.

"If you had the smallest ounce of the brain of a rat, you'd give up trying to fight me with that blasted stick."

She winced at his foresight more than the words, shakily turning her head in the direction of his voice. The male seated himself atop a lumpy rock situated closer to the fire, face illuminated from the searing light as he placed his elbows on his knees. If he was trying to intimidate her, it was working. If he was placing distance between them to make her feel like she had more freedom than she did, that was working as well.

Who does he work for? Is he going to kill me or is he after the reward money?

"You must have already devised the kind of situation you are in. The best thing you can do is be compliant but that's all up to you. Just know you'll be under my watch from now on." He paused. "If you need alone time to reflect back on your happy rich brat memories growing up, I'll be there, and if you need to take a shit you'd best believe I'll be in the room over...in case you think it a good enough idea to try escaping in such a sorry state."

Under his watch? She swallowed hard, frozen in place. He was planning on using her as an asset. That much was clear. And the malice-free blunt way he stated everything speared on some hidden courage in her.

"What happened to my men?" Petra blurted out, having a feel of the answer but wanting to hear it said aloud.

"Is that what you should be worrying about in your current state?"

She had seen it when he stood over the bodies of the men. The ones that had been in her family's service for years and tasked with delivering her to her safe destination. Finely weeded out as well proponents in combat, the best at what they do. And he had taken their lives all too easily.

"...They're alive."

What?! "But the blood-"

"Shut up and listen to the full story if that's what you asked for." Petra's mouth formed a fine line, eyebrows scrunched. He continued, "I stabbed one in their non vital before knocking them both out. Once they come to their senses, the one without a wound should be able to take the other back before he bleeds to death."

"You left them in the cold?!" Her voice rose. It was beyond her that he had spared their lives to begin with as he was a definite criminal but she couldn't help but wonder aloud.

"For a rich brat like you to be so concerned about some carriage tenders...Did you sleep with one of them?"

Petra's eyes widened. "How could you make such a - They were not just carriage tenders, they-"

"Levi! What happened? Shane told me she's awake?!" A deep female voice grew near, echoing off the cave walls.

"Tch, why is that four eyes so loud…"

Levi? Why did that name sound so familiar...

Petra glanced around cautiously. The muscles in her arm felt slightly sore from the struggle some moments ago but not bad enough that she had to do anything about it. She knew she had to lay low for now until the first opportunity of escape presented itself. She was not only outmatched and outnumbered but unsure about her captors' end motives. Not that she wanted to wait long enough to find out. She assumed the rude black haired one named Levi was their leader or a solo worker of some sort with connections. She couldn't get on his bad side. Her first attempt had proven futile, even moreso a lucky break.

The originator of the voice stepped through into their space then, fixing the goggle like glasses she wore over her eyes.

"Why hello there! I'm Hange." She waved at Petra, a notion almost comical if it weren't for the current climate and predicament she were in. The older woman grinned maniacally at the fellow named Levi. "The horses are ready. We head out into Rostock tonight."