Chapter Thirteen

We've reached chapter thirteen, which is fitting because there's some dark content here. Trigger warnings for torture and sexual assault.

"Mayor Minsk, there's a Sergeant Major who insists on seeing you." Della, a recent secretary hire, trembled before the council.

Dieter promised himself to reassure her later. "We're about to start our meeting."

"I've informed him, but he says it's about – I mean – there – there's a prisoner with him whom he says is a traitor." Della had briefly dated Malcolm Gross, son of that horrid man. Even if the prisoner were an Eldian, she must be suffering horribly. She had to convince the mayor to see them.

"This is all very unusual," said a plump, elderly councilman. "Why not bring the prisoner to prison?" He chuckled at his own joke.

"I'd imagine there's a reason he's not." Dieter paused. "Well, Della, I suppose we'll have to see him. Thank you."

Della nodded and scampered out of the room.

He came in, dragging a pathetic prisoner peppered with bruises and bloody bites. "My dogs caught this bitch by Liberio early this morning. Not the first time she's been spotted."

Goodness, she looked like Ilona, shoved down to her knees, her black curls flying every which way. Dieter's heart softened. "I'd say she's paid for whatever petty crimes she's committed."

All this, just for breaking curfew? He'd need to have a talk about proper treatment of prisoners with these officers, again.

"Petty isn't the word I'd use." Gross ripped back the young woman's hair, forcing her swollen face into the light.

A councilwoman gasped, but then the room grew deathly quiet.

The mayor's hands began to shake. "Ilona?"

She wanted to speak, but she couldn't quite – quite form the words. He'd – he'd done something – maybe – help – the needle –

"This has to be a mistake!"

"It's no mistake. Your daughter's long been a suspect in the break out of Liberio District, and she's been spotted there many a time after dark. Not to mention that a female Marleyan's blood was discovered the same night as the break-out. I'm willing to bet it's hers."

"Being attacked hardly makes her a traitor. Maybe she was investigating her own attack," snapped Councilwoman Japes. The lengths to which these officers would go for recognition!

Dieter's face was purple. "She helps people there –"

"Not at night. At night, she helps herself." With one yank, the Sergeant ripped his daughter's tattered blouse, exposing not only her left breast, but an array of bruises no one could mistake.

"Don't touch my daughter like that." The mayor rose, eyes flashing. "I don't care what she's done."

"I had an illicit lover myself when I was young," joked Councilman Adler uneasily, not that anyone would have expected otherwise with his reputation.

"An Eldian lover?"

The room crystalized. Every molecule of air bit into him. Dieter raised his voice. "I trained her better than that. You have no evidence." Grasping scum.

But he'd also trained her better than – than this…

"Ilona." He rushed over to her, and even Gross knew better than to get in his way. "I don't care what you've done. Deny this, and let's be on our way."

Ilona stared at him without blinking. Her pupils were disturbingly dilated, and Dieter felt the strange urge to rip Gross's throat out with his own fingers.

"Do you understand me?" Dieter shrugged off his jacket and slipped it around her shoulders. "Please. I – I can't bear to see you like this."

"She can't deny what's true," Gross murmured.

"Who's your lover, girl?" Adler interrupted.

Everything came back into focus now. Ilona's face flushed, and she fought the urge to vomit. She had to answer, but her muscles felt all limp. "I…"

"Are you…engaging in relations with an Eldian?" Dieter felt sick for even asking such a thing.

She closed her eyes. She just wanted this over. Nothing felt right anymore. "No."

"Unfortunately, lies. I'm sure an examination in your body would confirm it." Gross snapped his fingers. "Shall we?"

"Here?" Councilwoman Rosen gaped at him.

Ilona's heart pounded. To be stripped and violated in front of her father and the council and Father –

Fear found her voice. "Please!"

Ilona never begged. Dieter's voice trembled. "Daughter."

Her face crumpled, but she forced herself to look Father in his eyes, as he deserved. "It's true."

"No." Minsk stepped back.

Tears filled her eyes.

"Who is he?!"

A sob rose in her throat. I wanted to tell you. "The man I love. I can't say more and I won't say more and I shouldn't have to say more."

Ilona hiccupped. "They're people; how can you sit up here in your plated council room and ignore them?!"

The mayor's hand struck her so swiftly she never saw him move.

"I…I can't," said Dieter. He wanted to faint himself. In front of the Council. "I can't protect you, Ilona."

"What would you have us do?" Councilwoman Japes hesitated. His daughter was clearly sick in the head. Surely no one would mind if he –

"Carry out the proper penalty." The mayor's voice broke, and he couldn't look as a pleased Gross hoisted his daughter to her feet and pulled her away.

"Well, someone ought to look into that man, too," said Adler.

"We'll put people on all her acquaintances," snapped Dieter.

Adler choked. "No, I meant that Sergaen Major Gross. Did you not see your own daughter's condition?"

Of course I did! Dieter wanted to scream, but he was too nice a man.

"We've a blood traitor coming today," said Lenin, scanning the documents in his hand.

"Traitor?" Kruger raised an eyebrow.

"Some slut caught last night. Apparently a Marleyan who decided to take an Eldian lover," he said with a shiver. "I just don't understand how someone could be attracted to those monsters. Much less act on it."

"They look like exactly like us," Kruger said dryly. If he had to torture this woman, could he ever look Ilona in the eyes again?

"Knowledge can spoil sight."

"I suppose."

"Gross is already calling dibs on her." Lenin rolled his eyes. "Can't imagine why you'd want to be with someone who was fucking Eldians, but I suppose he thinks some Marleyan men can 'correct' her."

Now Kruger really wanted to vomit. Even if he couldn't stop some of the horrors awaiting this woman, he could certainly stop Gross from forcing himself upon her. Yes.

"She'll have to go to the breeding program, of course. I don't think we have records of a Marleyan woman before. Usually it's our men we pay to fuck their quality women prisoners. It'll be curious to see what kind of children this bitch produces, won't it?" Lenin tapped his pad of paper.

"You've long known my thoughts on that program."

"Don't hinder science. They're not like us, and she's clearly beyond all hope, or they would give her another chance." Lenin shrugged. "Maybe she's a hag who couldn't get any Marleyan lovers?"

He snickered as the door swung open and Kruger fantasized about shoving him off the Paradi wall alongside Gross.

And then his breath stopped.

Ilona's dark curls were matted around her head, and there were bruises and bites – dog bites – all over her body, but her silhouette was unmistakable.

Gross dragged her forward. "Well, well, well, look here, Kruger: Ilona Minsk, the Mayor's daughter. I think you'll recall her."

She didn't meet his gaze. She couldn't. The drugs were wearing off, and she was only will now. From her stiff shoulders and clenched jaw, resistance oozed from her. But that would all break if she saw him.

No – no – this could not be happening. Not Ilona. Kruger hadn't even fainted when his father had burned before him, but now he very well feared he would.

"You're our toy now, you little slut," said Gross, pinching her breast. "Do you know how long I've waited for a Marleyan? No one will speak for you here – will you, men?"

Ilona jerked away. She didn't belong to him, whatever he did or said.

"Don't think I want to speak," said Yates, and many guards laughed, though Lenin, finally faced with a face, found himself terrified.

Anger finally propelled Kruger into action. "I speak for her."

She bit her lips to keep from crying. Not him.

"What?" Gross's mouth dropped. Of all people, she'd insulted Kruger most. He should be grateful they had her.

"She's for Eldians, not you. We'll put her in a jail cell as necessary and let her be whilst we decide the best interrogation technique. Now, Gross." Kruger grabbed her by the elbow and yanked her to his side.

"That's right," Lenin said shakily, grateful for his superior's intervention. "We can't risk her having our children instead of theirs – it'd ruin the science."

"Fine enough." Gross rolled his eyes. "I already had some fun in the prison wagon. Don't worry, Lenin, not the kind to ruin your science." He winked.

Ilona stared at the floor, somewhere else, but not here.

Kruger froze. For a moment, he imagined transforming right then and there, squishing Gross of all his guts and throwing him a hundred feet in the air.

Instead he clenched his jaw and guided Ilona into a cell, shutting the door behind them.

Her blank expression didn't change. She was somewhere else, somewhere safer. Hell, perhaps.

"Listen to me." Kruger gripped her shoulders. "Your sentence will not happen. I promise, even if it costs me my mission."

"Is there nothing we can do?" Dina's voice dropped.

Grisha shook his head. "We hope it doesn't spill over onto us. That's all we can do."

"But she was so kind. I don't care if she was Marleyan," Dina said, hugging herself. "She…she must be strong enough to resist whatever they do to her. If she could resist their prejudice enough to help us, she can withstand their interrogations. Alma can't be hurt again."

"I hope so," Grisha said, wrapping an arm around his wife. "That's why we're in this, I guess. To help people like her who suffer as as we do."

Dina nodded. "I had no idea she was Minsk's daughter, though. We ought to have talked more about our pasts, if it weren't dangerous." She chuckled darkly. "I yearn for that day. When we can be who we are without fear."

"We'll make it so," Grisha promised, kissing her cheek. Likely he would not live to see that day, but maybe Dina, and certainly Zeke.

"Mom? What are you doing in Father's shop now?" Zeke frowned as he entered the store.

Dina wiped her eyes. "Just talking, sweetie."

"What's wrong?" Zeke's heart beat faster. Was Father still angry from yesterday? He'd not mentioned it this morning, and Zeke hated not knowing.

"Nothing much," Father said.

"I see," Zeke said, resigned to more anxiety.

The door burst open. "Zeke!"

"Sally?" Dina gasped.

Zeke eyed her silently.

"Mom's in a panic. She said Ilona got arrested." Tiberius gripped his sister's shoulder.

"Ilona?" Zeke's mouth dropped.

"She fell in love with an Eldian," said Tiberius, his eyes misty at the romance of it all.

"So they arrested her, but not him," Sally said crossly.

"They can't find him," Dina said.

"That – that's not fair!" cried Zeke.

"It sucks," snapped Sally.

"Language," Grisha said automatically.

"Grisha." Dina threw him a sour glance.

"We don't know how to help her. Can – can you?" Tiberius looked to Grisha and Dina, the only parent figures he had ever really known.

"Not without casting suspicion on us all," said Grisha miserably. He felt callous, but he did care. He wanted to help her. He wished he could.

Zeke felt lightning through his heart. He could. He could.

"Do you need me to come speak to Alma?" Dina asked.

"No," Tiberius said softly. "We just wanted to talk to your family."

Dina crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him and Sally. "You're always welcome here."

When she pulled away, Zeke threw his arms around Sally.

"I'll help," he whispered in her ear.

Sally's eyes were as large as moons as he pulled away. Zeke had hugged her before Tiberius. "I – I'm sorry I yelled at you last night."

"It's okay," Zeke said awkwardly.

"It's not." Tiberius gasped as Zeke hugged him tight. What had Zeke said to Sally to change her mind?

When his friends had left, Zeke said, "I think you should go anyway."

"Go?" Grisha blinked.

"Alma seems to be better," Dina said. "But she's been through so much. You know, I think you're right Zeke."

"No," Grisha said.

"Pardon?" Dina turned to face him, hands on her hips.

"Alma was with Ilona last night. You don't want ot throw yourself into suspicion, too," Grisha pressed.

Zeke's mouth dropped.

Dina drew a deep breath. "Grisha, if we don't support our wounded, who will?"

"I'm worried about you and Zeke. Think of them," Grisha said.

"It's a risk I'm happy to take," Dina replied. "Like I did when I joined your little group, eh?"

Grisha's shoulders slumped. "I suppose."

She pressed her lips to his forehead. "Don't worry. I'll be discreet, sweetheart."

He's not sweet. He's mean, and hypocritical, Zeke thought. "Can I come, Mom?"

"No," Mom and Father said at once.

Mom reached for her shawl. "You keep Father company now, okay, Zeke?"

No! It's not okay! We have to help Ilona and Alma! Both of them! We can't choose if we're the good ones! Zeke clenched his fists. He'd meant what he told Sally. If they don't, I will.

Because Ilona was one of those people who truly cared for him. She was one of the good ones, Marleyan or not. He would not abandon her.

"Help her. But I can't." Alma clenched her fists. Ymir, what do I do?

"Your faith is strong," Dina observed.

"That's comforting," Alma admitted. "I'm less concerned about me than I am about my kids."

"Of course. I understand." Dina closed her eyes. What would happen to Zeke if she and Grisha were gone? Grisha's parents were completely dominated by Marley.

"They can't go to an orphanage. They'd turn out just like – like me, before Ymir. They're too young." Alma's eyes were bright with tears.

"I'd take care of them," Dina promised.

Ah, Dina was her first choice. Alma smiled tightly. As her second choice had been taken from her today, she had no other option but to hope that Dina would not be associated with her. "You should go, for your sake."

"You are worth a risk, sister of Ymir," said Dina, embracing Alma.

"As are you. So go." Alma returned the embrace.

Ymir couldn't be so cruel to take all her kids' hope, could she?

"Well? Zeke, what is it you wish to talk about?" Fischer sat across from him the next morning. No other pupils were here this early. Concern tugged at his mind. "Are you avoiding home?"

"No, no," Zeke stammered. "I just – I think I heard something about Miss Minsk being arrested, and I know her, and I like her, so I wanted to know what happened."

"Ah." Fischer sighed. "She's a sweet girl. It's a shame. Probably more naiveté than malice towards her race, but she'll be treated as a traitor regardless."

"What about the man?"

"We haven't found him. Can't examine all Eldian men, can we?" Fischer shrugged.

"Is there anything that can free her?" Zeke pressed.

Fischer cocked an eyebrow. "She committed a grave crime, Zeke."

"Y-Yes, I know, but I like her."

"People we like can do terrible things, Zeke."

Yes, like Father. Never understanding him. Zeke shivered for a moment, then fought for composure. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. He felt as though he were watching himself from the corner across the room.

"What if I told you … I know … I mean, I overheard where the Eldian fighters are going to strike next … in exchange for Ilona being freed?" Zeke stared at his hands.

Fischer regarded him seriously. "Zeke, not sharing such information is also tantamount to treason. Though you're a child, you'd receive the same treatment she would."

"I know, and I would tell you anyways," Zeke burst out. "I just don't know the person who said it, and I'm worried you won't believe me on that."

"You don't know the person?"

"No. He was tall and wore a hat. And glasses, thick glasses." Zeke's face was bright red. "The other guy was short and – and redheaded. He had all these freckles. I overheard them outside my dad's shop. They said 'the granary last night, next week the bakery.'"

"Which bakery?"

"Werner's is the biggest, but that's all I heard. They saw me and moved away."

Fischer tried to keep the skepticism from his face. Let the boy evolve. This was a good first, incomplete step towards his freedom. "I see."

So the Eldians would steal from their own. They were like untrained sewer rats. Only the kids before them had hope. "A week is the only timeframe you have?"

"Yes," Zeke said hopelessly.

"Could you sketch their faces?"

Zeke gulped. "I – I could try."

"Good. We'll need you to."

"Isn't there anyway this could help Ilona?" Zeke pled. "I – Fischer, you don't understand. She shows me kindness when no one else did. Before I knew you or Tiberius and Sally. I need her."

"Kind people can commit the gravest sins." Fischer paused. "Zeke, are you really willing to betray all your comrades, the hope of Eldia and Marley, to be imprisoned and interrogated yourself to save her?"

"I – someone has to," he said miserably, lowering his eyes. "But I don't want to. I love Marley. You've given me so much. But you also taught me to be willing to give my life to defend Marley, and I want to do that here. She is Marleyan, after all – I mean, if she were Eldian, I couldn't."

His eyes pooled. "I learned my lessons, Fischer. I believed you. Let me do this."

What a treasure this child was. Fischer placed his hands on Zeke's shoulders. "No."

"Why?" Zeke's tears spilled over.

"Don't cry. Because I won't let you be lost to prison. But as a reward for your faith, I am going to work with a few others to get Miss Minsk out." Sergeant Major Kruger, for instance, had long opposed the breeding program.

"We could say you overheard her lover too, perhaps." Fischer nodded. Zeke needed to trust him. For the good of Marley. "That might work. Of course all our soldiers would rather blame an Eldian than a Marleyan. And the Mayor is a powerful ally."

"I'll work with a sketch artist," Zeke said eagerly, even as panic set in. If he made up a face, no one would find her lover, and she'd remain in prison.

"Yes, I imagine this is a difficult time for you," said Kruger, in the mayor's office at the same time Zeke was confessing to his teacher. "And that is precisely why I am here. Sergeant Major Eren Kruger, sir."

From Mayor Minsk's face, he evidently recognized the name. "Yes, you're the partner of Sergeant Major Gross, am I right?"

Kruger paused, taking in the indignation and suffering before him. For all the evil permitted by the Mayor, he loved his daughter. "I am."

"You'll have to – have to forgive me for my personal feelings of animosity. Of course I pity no Eldians; I assure you, I stand against their threat."

"Stop." Kruger held up his hand. "You don't need to explain yourself to me."

The mayor hesitated. "Did you know her?"

"We met once or twice. I remember her as a kind, proper woman. Her faults aren't faults of treason or murder; they're faults of sympathy gone too far." Kruger met the Mayor's eyes. "We ought to help her."

"Have you a plan?"

"Her reputation's gone, sir, and possibly yours. But she need not be." Kruger pressed his fingertips together. "A Marleyan in good standing ought to marry her, and quick."

"But you yourself said everyone knows she was off whoring with an Eldian."

"She was not whoring. Your daughter seems a person who'd never do anything without passion. Misguided is her sin, sir." Kruger cleared his throat. "And that is why someone ought to display forgiveness to her. She is not our enemy."

The mayor was catching on. "And that man would be you?"

"I am willing to set such an example, yes." Kruger turned his body to stone, lest all be revealed. "Severity towards Eldians stirs people like your daughter's sympathies. We must show that those who can be redeemed ought to be, or more will fall."

The mayor didn't like it. Briefly he wondered if this Kruger had organized this so he could marry a pretty rich lady.

But then he thought of Ilona and all the manners in which the guards could deign to correct her. Nausea rose within him. "Let's move quickly, then."

Look, I'll be honest. I don't intend to treat assault as sensation or plot device, and I hope I have not alienated anyone. It's just, given what we know about how Marley treats prisoners (and a few lines about Dina), I don't think it was realistic to avoid the subject.