Pain shot through Imelda's left shoulder, as the bang from the rifle rang through her ears. She automatically stopped struggling, her eyes wide with horror as she stared at the blood pouring from the wound. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came from her throat. Taking their chance the soldiers pinned her to the ground; she tried to struggle but there were just too many for her to fight off. She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, wanted to plead for forgiveness, but she'd gone too far this time, she knew it. The familiar nose of chains came to her ears and she looked up to see Shardis standing over her, a foul smirk on his face.

"Finally," he grinned, "you've stepped over the line."

As all this was going on Armin had snuck out of the mess hall and ran to his dorm. Once there he grabbed a piece of parchment and a pencil.

"I have to warn the Survey corps" he muttered scribbling down the occurrence of that evening and sealing it in a letter.

"NO"

A scream ran through him as he left his dorm. Imelda was kicking and screaming as the soldiers dragged her to her cabin. She managed to kick them off and sprint for the gate but another bang and she was down, blood coming out from her leg.

"PLEASE NO, I HAVE A REASON, IT'S NOT MY FAULT PLEASE" she begged but these were ignored as the soldiers picked her up again, this time lifting her fully off the ground.

Armin began to run again to the messenger office, keeping close to the other buildings as not to be spotted.

"I know the messenger's leave in an hour, so they should get this by early morning."

Armin muttered, silently praying that they'd get there in time, as Imelda had little left.

Sharids flung open the cabin door and the other soldiers threw Imelda inside, her head smacking on the edge of her bed. She was pulled by her hair to the corner of the room, where metal pole now stood and her chains were wrapped and tied around it. Imelda's mind was so full of panic she couldn't put words together anymore to plead for mercy; but she found her voice when a metal grate appeared in front of her face.

"NO," She screamed turning head away from the mouth guard as it came closer, "NO PLEASE NOT THAT, ANYTHING BUT THAT PLEASE NO-HMFF"

The grate partly silenced her as she desperately tried to shake it off her face. But Shardis had had enough of her screams, pointing his gun up to the ceiling he fired it again; this cause Imelda to freeze, her eyes snapping upwards.

"Shut up brat, you've gone too far this time; I plan to fulfil my promise in killing you, but since I am a merciful man," 'Yeah right' Imelda thought' "I'll give you till sunrise, so everyone will see how we dispose of monsters here."

And with that he left her, alone in the darkness. The realisation of her situation smacked Imelda hard in the face; she was going to die, she was going to die and nobody would know it. Her Papa and Daddy would be none the wiser; she'd never see them again. Tears began to fall down her face again as she tried desperately to free herself from her bonds. But it was useless, the chains held fast and her wrists were now raw from rubbing against the metal. She was going to die, and there was nothing she could do.

Levi sat at his desk early the next morning in an utterly foul mood, winter was drawing in and the days were shorter and shorter; this meant less time to clean, and meant most of his squad slacked off. Just as he was about to go talk to Erwin about the problem the door was flung open with Erwin standing in the doorway. Levi could tell something was wrong by the look on his face.

"It's Imelda" he panted, "we have to get to the training corps, NOW"

Levi didn't need telling twice, before the blonde man had even moved Levi was running down the corridor towards the stables. Hange had just finished setting up the carriage as Levi shoved her aside and climbed onto the driver's seat. Turning he saw Erwin right behind him, getting on the passenger seat. Levi whipped the horse and they sped off into the still dark morning.

"So" Levi asked, concern in his tone, "what's happened?"

"According to the letter Imelda attacked two of her comrades; the other soldiers restrained her but then Shardis shot her-"

"WHAT" Levi yelled, practically losing his composure as they skidded round a corner. Erwin ignored his counterpart and continued,

"He shot her in the shoulder and then took her to the cabin, bound in chains; she's going to face a firing squad at sunrise."

There was no denying the look Erwin saw on Levi's face; it wasn't of fear, no, this man didn't have that emotion, but it was anger, pure anger as the black haired man lashed at the horse again, causing them to ride even faster. He was furious, and to be honest so was he, he had had an agreement with Shardis that if something went wrong he would contact the Survey Corps. This wasn't part of the agreement.

"We should get there in time" Levi's voice snarled into Erwin's mind, "We have two hours until sunrise; this journey will take us less than that."

Erwin nodded they rode on in silence.

Imelda was woken by a loud bang and she snapped into a sitting position, fear written all over her face. Shardis and two other guards stood in the door way. With a nod the guards went over and undid the chains, but retightening them once Imelda was to her feet. Both her bullet wounds had healed over night, but she could still feel the bullets deep in her flesh. They then dragged her to a wooden post just off the training ground. Every single soldier at the camp was there, all staring at her. She wanted to make them look away but her metal grate prevent anything. She made eye contact with Eren, Armin and Mikasa; all looked terrified, she saw Mikasa's hand was wrapped around Eren's arm.

"This" Shardis called to the crowd, as Imelda was bound to the post, "is what happens when we try to accept abnormals into our ranks. We are lucky the two who were hurt yesterday by this monster, are alive and now you will all see the punishment for insubordination."

And with that he turned towards Imelda, a triumphant smirk on his face. She glared back, but she couldn't hold it for long as a blindfold was pulled over her eyes. Her ears picked up the clicking of the rifles being prepared and she felt her legs begin to wobble; she didn't want to die, it wasn't her fault, they should be attached to this pole not her. How can she control it? She's had zero practice at coping with the verbal and physical abuse she'd been receiving as Levi and Erwin had protected her from.

"READY" Imelda's body froze, "AIM" her heart stopped, "FI-"

"STOP" a familiar voice bellowed and everyone turned. Erwin Smith and Levi Ackerman stood there, both looking wind swept, but both holding their composure. All the subordinates stared in awe as the two men walked quickly and calmly towards the line of soldiers and Shardis.

"I believe there has been an occurrence, Shardis?"

Erwin asked in a scarily calm tone as the soldiers lowered their weapons,

"I don't think this was the procedure I requested if Imelda lost control. Levi if you would."

Silently the short captain nodded and walked past a now spluttering Shardis, rage covering his face. He wanted to kick the man so hard in the face not even his god forsaken mother would recognise him, but he had to keep his cool and though he hated to admit it; he was disappointed in Imelda. Not even half a year had gone by and this happened? Why couldn't she control her rage, was she so depended on Erwin and himself, that at the drop of a hat she'd burst into a flaming rage? Shaking his head he untied his child and she fell to the floor. He gently slipped off the blind fold and the poor girls eyes blinked her tears away as the sun rose above the trees. Levi wanted nothing more than to hug her on the spot, but this was neither the time nor the place. Removing the grate from her lips her placed an arm around her shoulder and began to limp with her back to the carriage.

"Are you insane?" Shardis hissed at Erwin, "That thing is a monster; she has no right to live-"

"She will be a valuable weapon against the titans, she will cooperate given the right environment and people. You could have killed humanities last chance of survival here today, and I would give every bit of my blame to you."

And with that he turned, green cloak flying as he followed the hobbling duo to the carriage.