Over the next three years Imelda grew…well in mind that is; thanks to her years captive she only grew to be a head shorter than Levi. She was taught by members of the survey corps, this included Hanji, Levi and Erwin. It was clear that she was a fast learner and only had to be shown how to do things once before she got the hang of it. Imelda became very keen on building and engineering; tinkering with anything from a door lock to a rifle. She also learned to live with her strength it came in very useful when large amounts of equipment and supplies needed to be transported. Of course though it wasn't all plain sailing; Imelda was completely oblivious to the death toll the corps suffered after every mission outside the wall. And when she saw how few there were and how over half were injured, it took Levi and Erwin a long night to calm her down. As well as this harsh realisation she also kept having nightmares and rapid mood swings; though for her age it wouldn't be seen as uncommon.
Imelda's relationship with Levi and Erwin was very close though only when the three were completely alone did the adults show any sign of fatherly affection. She had also grown to trust Hanji and had accepted, despite Levi's firm disagreement, to have a small experiment session….it could only end badly.
Hanji took blood samples to start with, but she couldn't examine them as they disappearated after a few seconds; that wasn't too bad, but Imelda trembled threw the whole process. Levi, who was on guard, warned Hanji; but of course she didn't listen.

"Oh stop worrying Levi it's perfectly fine, now Imelda, could you please drink this, it shouldn't harm you if my calculations are correct."

Hanji beamed handing the 9 year old a small test tube filled with a green liquid. Imelda had could smell it before Hanji had produced it; it smelt like rotten vegetables. She grimaced and took the tube before chugging it back in one. The foul taste was enough to make her gag as she stumbled backwards to the floor, her hand knocking over a glass jar that had been placed there and smashing around her, cutting a long slash down her arm….and that's when it happened.
Suddenly Imelda's pupils dilated to the size of pin pricks, her whole body shook as she let out a strangled growl, her teeth bared.

"Hanji"

Levi warned stepping closer, but Hanji didn't move, her eyes full of excitement as Imelda took the shard of glass and got onto her feet, her knees bent like a cat about to pounce.

"HANJI MOVE"

Levi bellowed shoving her to the ground as Imelda dived passed, letting out a strangled screech. She crashed into the table opposite, but that didn't faze her in the slightest as she got up and charged at them again, her voice coming out in a strangled yell. Levi was in front of Hanji and he automatically swung his leg at the child, catching her face and sent her skidding across the floor. His stomach gave a pang as to who he had just hit, but this wasn't the Imelda they knew, no, this was a monster who had been hiding away inside her this whole time. Just like the first fall this one didn't faze her either, her hands gripping the glass shard so tightly it cut into her skin. Her jaw was bruised and blood was leaking from her mouth, but it evaporated once it hit the ground. It seemed Imelda had realised charging would do nothing for her, so instead she grabbed the chair beside her and lobbed at them her voice finally shaping understandable words,

"I'LL KILL THEM, I'LL KILL THE ONE WHO CHANGED ME"

Realisation hit Levi hard as he ducked under the flying chair; of course, she can smell all the chemicals and Hanji is wearing glasses; she must think we're her enemy, he thought. Well for now they were and before they could calm her down, she had to be restrained. The noise of the chair landing had brought people to check out the scene and Levi took this in her stride.

"She's lost control, help me restrain her now; don't let her push you off."

And he, four other men dived on the nine year old; restraining her arms and legs and she flailed about trying to push them off. She was strong for her age no denying it; but luckly her strength didn't match the five men pinning her down.

"LET GO, I WON'T GO BACK THERE I WON'T"

Imelda screamed desperately, her pupils widening and fear overtaking the rage that once possessed those hazel orbs. Levi stared at her now desperate face, but knew if they let her go she could still cause damage to herself and others; so he produced the metal shackles and snapped them over the child's wrists. As if this was a trigger Imelda began to scream as if they burned her skin and she moved even more causing the men to grip her body even tighter. Hanji was also yelling, telling them to let go, but Levi didn't listen; with a nod to the others they picked her up and taking her out of the lab, Hanji following with a note book, still screaming about letting her go. Levi knew the only place which could restrain her was the cellar; but he knew she hated it and it could easily make things worse; but he had to protect the rest of the squad. He looked at Imelda and saw her pupils had gone dilated again to pin pricks and she was trying to bite and scratch their arms. Reaching the cellar they got Petra to open the door; Levi ignored the look of fear on her face. Keeping the door open the quickly went down the stairs and put/threw her in before running out and slamming the door; it was lucky they did as about a second after they shut the door Imelda crashed into it. Levi thanked the others for helping and dismissed them; Hanji he had to force away as she was still waving her note book in his face.

"Piss off shitty glasses, I told you this was a bad idea"

Levi snarled as he kicked Hanji away down the corridor then came back to the door. He could hear Imelda trying to get out and taking out her frustration on the things around her. It'll probably be a long time before she calmed down, Levi thought as he wiped the floor with his handkerchief before making himself comfortable on the stone floor.
After an hour of growling, scratching and snarling, it finally stopped. Levi stood up; his behind had gone numb from sitting down for so long and he considered opening the door. But before he had even started he heard whimpering and then crying…and then a terrified voice

"P-p-papa? D-d-d-addy? Wh-where are you? PLEASE DON'T BE MAD, I DIDN'T MEAN IT PAPA, DADDY!"

She wailed and Levi opened the door and slowly walked down the stairs. The shackles where no longer connected and the boxes and even parts of the wall where either badly damaged or broken. Imelda was sat in the middle of room looking utterly terrified.

"P-p-p-papa"

She stammered crawling backwards slightly; her eyes never leaving his face, which was full of shock. How had this never happened before? Levi thought as he stared at the child; she had fallen over and cut herself before, but all by accident. No the glass was an accident as well and how come it hadn't healed instantly like the other cuts.

"Levi"

He spun round to the sound of Erwin's voice, to the see the said man who had just appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked serious and his expression didn't change even when he looked at Imelda,

"Hanji just told me everything….did she do all this?"

He asked gesturing around and Levi shrugged,

"Yeah it seems; she's back to normal now but Erwin, the cut…it hasn't-"

"Healed I know; Hanji also told me that as well"

All through this conversation Imelda had been staring at them tears falling down her face; what were they going to do to her? Would they kill her? Would they chain her up and leave her to die? She begged to whatever God there was up there that it wouldn't happen. Suddenly a hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her thought and she smacked away as an automatic reaction. She let out a cry of surprise as she realised it was Erwin.

"Imelda"

He said firmly

"Did you know you could do what you did an hour ago?"

He asked and the child shook her head, curling up into a small ball, as if trying to disappear

"No, I never knew, please don't kill me, please I didn't mean it"

Erwin and Levi looked at each other, just as they thought they'd cleared one problem, they now had a whole new one to figure out.

"We would never kill you Imelda"

Levi sighed

"But we're going to have to be more careful so stuff like this doesn't happen again."

Levi prayed to god that it would never happen again, but sadly that wouldn't be the case; he knew it wouldn't be the case.