"Hey."

I felt someone softly nudging my shoulders. "Mmm." I groaned in annoyance, pulling the sheets over my face.

"Sleepy head." Someone chuckled. "Come on, or you'll get in trouble again."

I forced my tightly closed eyes open which were greeted by the blinding morning light entering the room. When my eyes adjusted to the sudden change in contrast, I saw Jonah sitting at the edge of my bed. "Missed you at breakfast again, so I thought I'd come and check on you. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. What's so amusing, idiot?" I said, upon seeing him smile from ear to ear. I pulled the sheets away and sat up against the headboard, rubbing my still very heavy eyes. "Never mind, I don't want to know."

"What's this?"

"What is what?" I asked and yawned at the same time, opening my eyes again to see him holding my pillbox in his hands.

"Do you take these? They are really strong, do you realize that?"

I let out a soft laugh, rolling my eyes. "They're just sleeping pills, nerd. Nothing to be worried about."

"Do you need such a strong dose? Why? And w-" I patted him on his head so he would shut the hell up.

"They make me forget about some things for a while, that's all you need to know." I said reassuringly.

"What would you like to forget?" He handed the pillbox over to me.

I let out a faint sigh, at times he could be so persistent. "I've seen some horrible things, these things tend to haunt me till I fall asleep." I said as his face grew more serious. "I can't stand seeing those images flashing before my eyes at night, so it helps me to sleep faster and more importantly, it helps with the nightmares. That's why, did I answered all your questions, want to know it all?"

Jonah had this weird talent of getting me to talk to him, to actually talk about myself. Where Kay had to force an answer out of me, with Jonah the answers unwittingly rolled from my tongue.

"Two more actually, where did you get it, you're only supposed to get it with a description. Also... What's up with the nicknames today?" He slightly smirked at his last question.

"To answer your first question, that's none of your business, second of all, get used to it." I pulled my eyebrow up. "Or do you have a problem with it?" I now smirked back.

"Fair enough and no... not necessarily."

"Good, now go outside already otherwise we'll both have no dinner tonight." He did as I told and stood up walking out, but then again took a step back into the room. "What is it Jonah?" I said in a whining tone while I got up from bed, reaching for my uniform.

He seemed hesitant as he stood there at the threshold with his back to me. "It's just... If there's anything... If you want t-"

"To talk you'll always be listening. Yeah I know, thanks Jonah. But as long as I'm not searching for a listening ear it means I'm alright, so no worries. Now hurry, I don't want you to get in trouble because of me." He didn't turn around but just simply nodded in reply, when he walked away I could see a smile forming onto his lips. "Fucking idiot." I breathed out.

"Heard that!" He yelled from the hallway.

I shook my head as I stupidly smiled as well.

It's been a few weeks since I've entered the trainee camp and I succeeded in avoiding all
one-on-one trainings unnoticed. Everyone was too consumed at the thought of defeating their opponents, so without a problem I pretty much just walked away into the woods where I'd find some shadow and privacy where I could go all out.

I quickly got dressed, brushed my teeth and headed outside to the training fields.

Everybody stood up and saluted, yelling "Yes sir." in unison before parading onto the training fields. I strolled behind the rest, I really didn't feel like training with strangers, I once sparred with Jonah, it was fun but he was no real challenge and I figured none of the trainees would be. The sun was high up in the sky and everybody was already breaking up a sweat. I glanced around, almost everyone was linked to a partner so I decided now would be a good time to leave.

I casually walked away, heading for the forest when I felt someone tapping on my shoulder. "Want to spar?" A brown haired boy asked, looking like someone in his early 20's. He had short chocolate brown hair and his cheeks were slightly pink due the heat. He looked strong, his muscles visible from underneath his shirt.

"Not really." I said while keeping on walking.
"I've seen you sneaking out daily to the woods, what is it, you're scared to fight?"

"As if. I don't want to scare you, so please kindly fuck off." I replied and stopped walking. When I turned around I saw him lifting his fist and putting his feet slightly apart, ready to we caught some attention, they saw me, a 'little girl' fighting this two head taller boy.

"Hey Arlo, don't be too rough with her!" I saw Carson, the boy who's face I smacked into the table the very first day, shouting, followed by people laughing.

"Fine, but only because you insist." I sighed in defeat. With this many eyes on me now I can't just walk away.

"I won't go all out." He said as if I'd be relieved by his little words of encouragements.

"Please do if you don't want your ass kicked." I smiled and lunged forward. He dodged my first fist but didn't see my leg coming right after. My foot hit him in the middle of his face and I heard a crack underneath the force, blood already started spilling. I thought I heard a few curse words as he now looked up to me, his face bright red with embarrassment as his friends watched us. "Okay then, I won't hold back." He now already regained his confident posture.

"Try me." I threatened, looking him dead in the eye, already bored with his big talk.

He moved fast, unexpectedly throwing me off my feet by kicking me onto the ground. His broad frame towered over me, leaving my body completely in the cold shadow. I jumped right back up into fight position, giving him a solid kick in the stomach, one fist in his face before he stumbled backwards.

"We're done here?" I asked but it was rather meant as a statement.

My stomach growled, uncomfortably twisted and turned as I felt this all too familiar empty feeling. Right… I haven't eaten anything since I overslept yet again. Also, all this exertion isn't helping either. I made my way through the little crowd and headed to the forest, I don't care if anyone sees me at this point, besides there's no one that would follow me anyway.

Abruptly I felt a stinging sensation burning at the back of my head. "What the fuc-" I screeched before the boy threw a punch to my cheek. I stumbled backwards taken aback by his sudden move.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, attacking from behind?" I retorted. This guy really just pulled my hair, how weak.

"I'm not done just yet." He eyed me with caution like he was a hunter, looking at me as if I were his prey.

I closed my eyes trying to contain my temper, clenching my fists hard enough to turn my knuckles white. I opened my eyes just in time to avoid his fist which just missed my face. "Coward. Well, I can play dirty too." I kicked the dry sand up into his face so he was blinded, I grabbed his wrist threw him with force on the ground. In a matter of seconds I was on top of him, drawing a blade from my sleeve and holding it against his neck, but only for us to see. I leaned over so our faces were close. "Listen big boy, I know this hurts your pride and all, but I really don't have time for this. So I'm going to stand up and walk away and you're going back to your little friends and continue training with them, ok?" My voice grew more annoyed at the end of the sentence.

The entire time I spoke his eyes were fixed upon the sharp blade. Don't get me wrong, I'd never slice his neck, especially here in this situation, but sometimes a little threat was needed. He nodded in understanding. "Ok."

"Good." I stood up and hid the knife back into my sleeve, I reached my hand out which he tentatively took and pulled him up in one go. I wiped the dust off my clothes as he did the same.

"But how did you get so strong, you always miss training..." He asked confused.

"I just trained myself." Was the most suitable reply I could think of. He just nodded again and walked back to Carson and the other blonde boy. "You couldn't even take her?" Carson laughed loudly. "Shut up, neither could you on the very first day when you face was flat against the table." He and the other blonde boy now laughed at Carson who threw his hands over each other in defense.

I continued walking till I found a suitable place in the shadows and decided this would be my training spot for today. I changed clothes, from the suffocating tight uniform to my shorts and a loose t-shirt. I sat on the ground, banding my feet and hands up to avoid injury. I did sit-ups, boxing movements and at last testing my strength against a tree, kicking it, one foot after the other hitting it like a boxing sack. The bandages stopped the force a bit, but I saw blood stains already started to form on top of my feet. Nevertheless I kept going, getting used to pain was another thing I trained myself on.

I heard faint voices behind me, the rustling of the leaves on the ground. Did someone follow me? I turned around fast to kick whoever stood behind me but my ankle was caught midair.

"Oh, sharp as ever Jaclyn." He grinned.

"Damn it Kay, you're late." He let go of my ankle as I stood here, slightly panting from the workout and swiping the drops of sweat from my forehead.
"This little runt also had to come along and she delayed me." He shrugged.

"Jaclyn!" She screeched and came running to me with her arms spread. She hugged me tightly and buried her head in my chest.

"Ew, April, I'm covered in sweat you know." I pointed out.

"I don't mind." She beamed as she looked up to me. "Missed you."

I rolled my eyes and closed my arms around her. "Missed you too little punk." I confessed as I rested my head onto hers.

"Ahem." Kay coughed, drawing our attention.

"What is it, jealous?" She blurted out, annoyed and turning around to face him. "You get to see her daily." She pointed out.

Kay came up with the idea to meet up in the woods, behind the fence, a good distance away from the camp. Surely no trainees would ever come here so I saw Kay pretty much every day, after breakfast that I almost always missed, or after dinner. Once in a while he would bring April along but according to him, she was being rowdy and sluggish.

"Business first." He opined, ignoring April's commentary.

"Right, what do you got?" I asked sitting down with my legs forward, leaning over to reach the tip of my toes. It felt good stretching my muscles after such a workout. April noticed the blood on my feet and she started unwrapping the bandage to clean the small wound and replace it
with new bandages.

"I confirmed the identification of the client, I only need to find out his name. He is the one that gave the order to kill Levi and I think he personally chose you to do the job." He spoke picking up a few papers from his bag and spreading them out before me. "This is the one." He tapped on a picture with a young male. "He is one of the higher ups from the Military Police."

"But that's not surprising isn't it?"

"It's not. With the little information we had we figured it could be someone from the Military Police. What's unusual is his position; he holds a great deal of power and influence. I don't know his motives yet, I wonder why someone like Levi would be in his way. It's odd since their ranks are so far apart." He fell back to the ground scratching his head. "Such a bother."

I leaned my head onto the palm of my hand. "You think you'll be able to find out, his motives?"

"It will take some time, but yes I'll be able to." He sat up again and stuffed everything back into his bag. "So… you got into a fight again?"

"Huh?" I was a little thrown off by his sudden question. "Pff, no, I don't always get into fights you know." I huffed crossing my arms in defense as I looked away. That was some poor acting Jaclyn I thought to myself.

"Oh come on, we can see right through that act. Besides..." He held his hand against my cheek, soothingly rubbing his thumb over a sore spot. "Your cheek is slightly swollen."

"Fucking know it all." I slapped his hand away.

"Did you win?" April asked excited in a high pitched voice.

"Of course I did." I smiled and winked at her.

"Ha, nobody is able to defeat you! Not even Kay." She said teasingly, looking over to him.

He threw his hands up "Not afraid to admit that." And April smiled to herself in satisfaction.

"Anyway, how's Ethan? And the jobs I left for you guys." I asked on a more serious note.

"He's been absent ever since you left, he comes home late and doesn't talk much." April explained looking into her lap.

"But he did his share of jobs though, all you left us with is done now." Kay said defensive. I and Ethan weren't really friends or anything so it didn't bother me too much, but it was clear April didn't like it and Kay was getting all defensive. Understandable, since they've been friends even before we became companions.

"I see." I said while in deep thought. A loud growl from my stomach disturbed the silence.

"Missed breakfast again?" He said slightly laughing. "April, you brought some right?"

"Yes! Here you go, I made it yesterday especially for you!" She was looking through her bag and then handed me something wrapped in tinfoil.

"You made me cherry pie?" I gasped while looking at the delicious cake and my mouth started watering at the sight.

"Dig in." She beamed at me. So I did what I was told. Kay and April continued to talk about home, their jobs and daily life while I happily at my delicious breakfast.

"I need to pee." April interrupted her own story as she stood up and looked around.

"Can't you wait till we're home?" Kay sighed. "You have the bladder of a squirrel."

"When you need to go you got to go." She said walking off, unbothered by Kay.

Little moments like these, just the three of us talking about unimportant stuff, that's what I missed most these past weeks. I was overcome with intense nostalgia for the days I spent with them like this.

"She's really a hand full." Kay said, cutting through my home-sick thoughts.

"She's strong you know. Although you might forget that when she spouts some nonsensical things, she really is wise and mature. Try to trust her more."

April and Kay really cared for each other, a lot, sometimes I just had to step between them so they wouldn't go after each other's throats. But don't be mistaken, they'd give their lives for one another without second thought. They had their own way of caring for each other I guess.

"Yeah, you're right."

Without warning someone fell between us, face down into the damp soil. "That's what you get for spying." April stood with her hands on her sides eying the person who lay on the ground. She reached behind her back and revealed her knife. She lowered her knees and pressed it to the neck of whoever it was that lay here.

"April, wait." I said, frowning as I realized who lay before me, I slapped my hand to my face. "What in the actual fuck are you doing here?" I grunted angrily.

"I am sorry." He turned his face to me that was covered in earth.

"You're a fucking idiot that's what you are."

I motioned for April to back away and they both looked at me in complete confusion.

"Come on, sit up." I told him which he did. April took place beside me but I noticed she didn't put the knife away, she was still very cautious even though I clearly wasn't. I reached for a towel underneath the pile of clothes and poured some water on it and started cleaning his dirty face.

"I-"

"Shh." I quickly wiped the towel over his lips to hush him.

"So you're going to tell us who the hell he is or...?" April asked impatiently.

I looked at hers and then to Kay's confused expression. "Why don't you introduce yourself?" I said as I finished, putting the towel away.

"Uh... I am Jonah Milner, I'm a trainee and I share a room with Jaclyn back at the camp and-"

"That's enough for now." I interrupted him as I turned to face Kay and April who seemed completely dumbfounded.

"Jaclyn he was spying on us!" April threw him an angry glance before she turned to me again, her face directly softening again. "Why is he still aliv-"

"Shut up." I said so she wouldn't say anything thoughtless like she would do at such times. Based off Jonah's reaction I think he didn't understand or hear what she meant to say. Also I didn't think he heard our conversations about Levi and the higher up from the Military Police. That is unless he stood there for at least half an hour, which was highly unlikely knowing Jonah.

I pulled one leg up and rested my elbow on it, leaning my head against the palm of my hand. "Please, explain yourself." I pulled up an eyebrow at him. He better has a reasonable excuse or these two will slaughter him, and I can't let that happen.

"I heard from the others you walked away after a fight, so I decided to walk up to the direction they said you left, then I got a little lost and suddenly she threw me on the ground." He looked over to April and back to me. "But hey, I found you." He shrugged and shot me a weak smile. A weak smile for Jonah that is, the guy always smiled, his weak smile was probably me beaming.

"I swear I wasn't spying like, I just got here."

"It's fine, I believe you."

"I don't." Kay blurted out.

Jonah opened his mouth but I simply slammed my hand over his face. "Don't explain yourself further. Come on, we need to head back or they'll notice we're gone." I got to my feet and pulled Jonah up. "You already start walking, I'll catch up." I said as he nodded.

"Nice to meet you guys… I guess." He smiled and waved before he hurried away.

When he was out of earshot I started talking again. "I know it looks bad, but he's alright, believe me."

"I want to believe you, but I can't believe a strangers word."
"Well he's not a stranger to me. I know him, if he really heard us discuss that his face would've given him away. He really looked oblivious."

"So you're going to let him walk off like that even though there's a chance he might've overheard it?" April asked confused. "What is it, you like him?" She opened one eye to look at me when I didn't gave a response.

No I didn't. Yes he was a nice guy, to everyone, always smiling. He kept me a bit sane with all the other idiots around. But no I didn't like him. Not in the way she was interpreting it at least.

She gasped and looked at me wide-eyed. "Is that it? You like him? I didn't know that that is you're type. But hey, we can still learn a lot about each other. But isn't he a bit young? I mea-"

I threw the towel in her face. "Idiot, I don't like him." I picked my uniform up and started changing into my uniform. "Now drop the damn subject."

Kay leaned against a tree and was suddenly quiet for his being. He ignored our dialogue as he casually looked around, observing the woods as if we were here sightseeing.

"Your body got even more toned." April looked at me in admiration.

"Well I don't have a lot to do besides train so..."

"Amazing." She whispered and kept staring at me.

"Stop staring, you're creeping me out." Even though they had seen my body countless times I still felt uncomfortable. I was covered in scars, a lot of little ones here and there but I was particularly aware of the large one across my stomach.

"Sorry… I'm also going to train more!" She proclaimed happily.

"You do that." I patted her head and pulled her into a hug when I finished dressing. "April, try to be easier on Kay, he's doing his best for you. I'm not saying you are, but try not to be bothersome, okay?" I whispered while holding her tight. She nodded. "I have to hurry back now. See you in two days?" I looked to Kay who only hummed in response.

I let go of April and walked over to him. "Are you mad or something?" I wondered. He stretched his arms and pulled me in a hug, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "Two days from now after breakfast and make sure you don't miss it this time." He let go of me and walked away, motioning for April to follow him.

"See you!" She waved as she ran over to Kay, walking beside him.

"Whatever." I sighed as I jogged back to the camp, meeting Jonah halfway, now walking beside him.

"Sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to interrupt you like that."

"You heard nothing right?"

"No."

"Don't ask me questions, then there's nothing to be worried about." I looked over to him, he stared at the ground, turning his thumbs. "She really got you huh?" I lifted his head. "You got a wound on your chin."

"She's surprisingly fast... and strong." He said the frown on his face fading. "Her moves reminded me of yours, did you taught her that?"

"I did. When I started training her she was a brittle girl, so I made sure she ate well and she trained hard for a long period of time." I stupidly smiled at myself when recalling those memories. "Now she won't even blink while fighting."

"Seems like a tough one. What about the guy?"

"I never trained him or something, but we used to train together. He's pretty strong too."

"Better than you?"

"He's physically slightly stronger, but I own the techniques better." I explained to Jonah whose face was now wrinkle free.

"Care to learn me?" He excitedly asked.

"I'm not a personal trainer you know." He looked slightly disappointed by my reply as his smile faded. "Fine, maybe someday."

"I have one question though."

"Didn't I tell you no questions?"

"But-"

"Jonah look at me." I stopped in my tracks and waited for him to turn around and face me.

"What if I heard what you guys said back there, what would you do?" He said his face looking doubtful as if he's playing with his life. Actually if he keeps this up, he just might be doing that.

"Don't fucking try me." I took a step closer to him. "I'll ask you again." I leaned my hand against the tree behind him. "And don't lie to me Jonah. Did you hear anything?"

Say no. Please say no. I don't know what to do if he in fact did hear us, talking about Levi and such. No... I know exactly what to do, but I don't want to. Somehow my brain resented every idea of hurting him, but I know I have to, if he really did-

"No, I didn't. Sorry for pushing you like that."

My body relaxed in relieve but tensed up again as anger and annoyance took over. "The girl is still used to the underground rules. Down there, if someone spies on you it means you're in trouble." He opened his mouth again to talk but I grabbed his collar and smacked him against the tree. "Shut up and listen, I'm talking." I held my finger against his lips. "She had a rough past and is still wary of people, consider yourself lucky that she didn't cut your throat the minute she noticed you." I let go of him and took a step back. "Because that's how things go in the underground, that's why I know how to fight, because knowing how to fight means being able to survive."

"But you're blinded by the beautiful world up here you don't even realize a place like that exists, right?" I looked back at him. "I'm finished, you may talk." I said as I saw his lips were still tightly pressed together.

"Y... You're right... I knew it exists, but I was... am so selfish to never even give it a second thought." I walked past him and walked back to the camp as he walked two steps behind me. "I can't even imagine."

"Good. Don't try to, it's useless since you'll never step foot in there."

We continued walking in silence till we reached the camp and Jonah wisely hadn't asked further questions.

Days, weeks and eventually months rolled by as the day of graduation grew closer and closer. Soon I'll leave this stupid place with stupid people and then I'll get to start the real job.

I saw Kay and April almost every week. Kay was able to bring more information; I learned the man behind the pictures he showed me was named Zack Ross, a young but highly influential person within the Military Police. We still didn't learn about his motives to eliminate Levi but Kay realized their paths may have crossed when Levi joined the Survey Corps, back when Zack wasn't that important of a person. But that was roughly six years ago, so why he would act now, we don't know. Furthermore Kay found out he has a younger brother, Dominic Ross that was currently in duty within the Survey Corps and he had joined only three years ago. He also brought photos of him as well, he was 25 years old, only 2 years younger than Zack but somehow they had this huge position difference.

All I needed to know for now is who offered me the job, and now that I do, I can go forward. Nothing will hold me back; I'll do anything to secure the future of Kay and April, even if it meant killing Levi, humanity's strongest soldier.