So I know I said to wait for an update next month, but I hated leaving you guys with a torture scene so here's something to make up for it. Enjoy!

Tonight.

Tonight?! Did he really mean that? I started to hyperventilate. I was unaware of the tears flowing down my cheeks. I'm saved, I thought. Finally I was getting out of this hell. But…what if it was going to get worse after this? What if here was better than anywhere else? I shook my head. No. Erwin said he was going to rescue me. He did not seem like someone to go back on their word.

I looked to Espyon. "What now? Do I just sit here and wait for him?" She stared quietly back, obviously not understanding me. I shrugged my shoulders. Espyon was already used to me talking to myself. "I mean, it's not like I can do much else," I reasoned. I was now free to roam around the cell so I liberally paced back and forth. I had been here long enough that they realized I was not able to escape on my own so they took away my chains.

I tried to remember the route they took to bring me down here after the trial. Darn my past-self! Why had I been thrashing so much? Oh, right. I did not want to be held captive that's why. I messed with the end of the long shirt they had given me to wear. It only came about halfway down my thighs. I rubbed my head, trying to picture the hallways and doors. No matter how hard I tried, I could not picture anything clearly. How was the Survey Corps suppose to get me out of here?

I scratched my head. Something startled me, making me jump. It was only Espyon opening the door to my cell. She looked back at me then walked towards me. She held me at arms length and gently checked the wrappings around my body, making sure they were clean and tight. "(We'll see each other again soon.)" She kissed my cheek softly and then exited the cell, locking it behind her.

When she exited, another soldier greeted her. I had not noticed him standing at the end of the hallway. I leaned against the metal bars, to eavesdrop. I could hear a few of their words, but it was hard to make it all out. "(…Titan Shifter… Today… No, here… Poison… 24…)" Espyon glanced back in my direction and I fell away from the bars.

I sighed and then laid down on the bed. It was never comfortable, but it was better than nothing. I positioned my body in such a way that it would not hurt, although that was hard to do. I took off the shirt and tossed it aside. There was so much wrapping on my body I practically did not need anything to cover me. Looking down at my body, a long, straight red scar continued to heal. They had done other experiments, and even some tried-and-failed interrogations. Of course I could tell them nothing.

My arms were almost fully wrapped, but they were loose enough I could easily move my arms without much restriction. My legs were wrapped here and there, but not as much as my arms were. My chest was bound in gauze and a small patch was placed just to the right of my bellybutton. I was so grateful to Espyon. I had no idea how I could possibly thank or make it up to her.

I heard the doorway down the hall open then close. I was alone now. I could only think of different things to do when I was free, but sleep over took my body and thrust me into darkness.

I do not remember what I dreamt, but I was awoken by someone grabbing my left arm and removing the bandages. Groggily, I looked to see one of the men in the lab coats. He was holding a syringe with a white liquid in his hand. I laid motionless, pretending to still be asleep, as he pressed the long needle into my skin and shot the liquid into my body. When he was finished rewrapping the bandages, he stood up. "(That should take care of you in 24 hours. It'll all look like natural causes.)" He sounded relieved.

I did not move until he had shut the door and was out of sight. I swiftly unwrapped the bandages and examined my arm. My skin was turning pale ever so slowly. What the heck did he just inject into me? A few seconds later, I felt extremely hot. Sweat seemed to burst out of my pores, quickly dripping down my neck and my face. It was getting harder to breathe. I laid myself down on my back and focused on breathing. Everything hurt so much. I wanted to rip the bandages off of me so I could cool down, but that would not help me in any way.

As I lay getting feverishly hot, I did not noticed how much time had passed, nor when sounds of attack came from outside the hallway door, nor when the paleness of my skin had spread throughout my whole arm. It was up to my shoulder now and creeping towards my neck and down my chest.

Several loud bangs resounded through the stone underground, echoing off the walls and piercing my ears. I could hear someone rushing towards my cell. By this time, my breathing was somewhat controlled, but my fever was getting worse it seemed. I felt like my whole body was on fire, especially where my skin had paled. Someone had opened my cell door and was walking towards me, their silhouette blocking out the light source in the hall.

I felt an arm behind my back and the other around my front in an embrace. I did not recognize the scent nor the touch, but I knew it was not Espyon's. I laid my head on the broad chest, which could not have been helped because the person was gently holding me against them.

I was so hot.

I could feel the person's hand tenderly stroking what was left of my scraggly, short hair. Their face felt like it was pressed against my forehead, kissing me lovingly. Their whispers made no sense to me. I had not heard it for a long time. It sounded so sweet. My name.

I was so hot.

I was finally able to look up at the person who held me in the embrace. My feverish brain could not comprehend that I was staring up into the blue eyes of the Commander himself. I could not wrap my brain around the fact that it was me in his arms. It was me he was kissing on the forehead. It was me he was rescuing. My hero had come in my last hours.

I was so hot. I had to have been hallucinating.

The arm around my front was removed and went beneath my knees. With little effort, I was lifted off the mattress and covered with the thin blanket. He turned around and carried me out of the cell. I was not sure, but I believe I saw Espyon standing near the door, as if she was waiting for him to take me to safety.

I passed out in his arms before we even left the hallway.

I was so hot.

I awoke to someone pressing a cold cloth to my forehead. I was not hot anymore. In fact, I felt better than I had in a long time. That was the first thing that did not make sense to me. The second thing that did not make sense was that my bed was comfortable. (Since when did I start thinking that?) Thirdly, I had remembered being carried out of my cell, but nothing after that. Where could I have gone? No way would the Military Police give me better treatment.

I opened my eyes to look at the person holding the wet cloth. I was not surprised to see Espyon by my side, caring for me. She had on a different uniform jacket now, one with a Survey Corps insignia. Quietly, she continued to press the cloth to my face and every once in a while refresh it with clean water.

Water.

My thirst was needing desperately to be quenched. I opened my dry and cracked lips and croaked out, "Water…"

Espyon quickly grabbed a pitcher and cup and filled it. After slowly sitting me up some, I managed to drink a few gulps from the cup without choking. Once I had had enough, she stood and left the room.

I took this opportunity to glance around my surroundings. I was in a bedroom instead of a cell. The sheets were crisp and clean and cream colored. A nightstand was to my left and the wall to my right. A lone chair sat in front of the nightstand where Espyon had been sitting. Sunshine peeked through the curtains over the window to my left. A dresser was across the room in the other corner from the bed. From my corner of the room, I could see the door straight across from me.

As I looked at the door, it opened and four people walked into the room. I recognized them all. First was Erwin, then Hanji, then Levi, and lastly Espyon.

Hanji smiled brightly at me. "(You're alive! We were so worried about you!)"

"(Sorry we could not come any sooner,)" Erwin apologized. "(Things did not go as planned.)"

Levi cleared his throat. "(Erwin, Hanji, aren't you forgetting she doesn't understand us?)" He handed the cell phone to the blond.

"(I hadn't forgotten,)" he replied, taking the device. "(Some things are better said verbally.)"

While they talked, Espyon had helped prop me up with the pillow. My head spun, but I wanted to stay upright. Especially in front of high ranking officers. "It's so good you see you all," I said with a weak smile and voice. "I see you still have my phone."

They all turned to me. Erwin sat down in the chair beside the bed. We've been waiting for you to wake up. We thought we had lost you.

-Lost me? How?

-They had injected a poison that would kill you in 24 hours. Thankfully, we arrived when we did otherwise you probably would have died. It's been almost a week so we believe you're doing alright.

I creased my eyebrows. I was asleep for a week? Dang.

Erwin continued. We had Espyon take care of you as our spy. She did her job well, wouldn't you say?

I nodded. Extremely. I am in her debt. When I had sat up, I did not realize I was not wearing a shirt. The bandages around my chest hung loosely around my bony figure. I took the blanket and covered my chest, feeling self conscious.

Levi narrowed his eyes and took the phone. They really did terrible things to you I see.

"(Levi, there's no reason to mention that,)" scolded Hanji. "(I'm sure she already knows about her body.)"

He shrugged and then crossed his arms while leaning against the wall. Erwin took the phone again. He asked me to tell him what happened to me. After getting a few more drinks of water, I managed to tell him through the phone the story. Even though I understood them when they talked, I still did not know how to speak like them. I had to use my phone still. I told them about this.

"(Then we don't have to use this device to speak to you?)" Hanji asked.

I shook my head. No, but I still need it to reply. Know of anybody who could teach me to speak?

They all looked at each other. "(None of us are very good teachers,)" said Erwin sheepishly. "(Especially in linguistics.)"

I frowned. Espyon, could you possibly teach me?

My companion looked at me quietly and shrugged her shoulders. "(I suppose I can,)" she replied softly.

"(Excellent,)" said Erwin. "(Espyon, I'm sure you could teach her well. You both already seem to understand each other anyway.)"

Espyon nodded and saluted. "(I'll be back soon with a meal, Ariadne.)" She turned on her heels and left the room.

Erwin turned to Hanji and Levi. "(Do you mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?)" he asked.

Hanji and Levi looked at each other. "(Sure, I guess,)" replied Levi, pushing himself off the wall and following after Hanji out of the room.

The blond turned back to me. "(I'm sorry we couldn't come get you sooner.)"

How long was I there? It had been at least August when I arrived at the University before coming here.

"(About four months,)" he replied after a moment. "(We were unsure if you were still alive for a while. Espyon had to keep under cover without being caught with the messages from me. Some people came suspicious of her so we had to come get you both soon.)"

I turned and looked at the wall. Four months? That means I turned twenty a month ago. October 14. Thank you. I turned back to look at him.

"(For what?)"

Saving me.

"(We waited too long.)"

I'm alive.

He looked at the bandages on my arms and body. He took in my short, disheveled hair. He took my hand in his and held it gently, as if not wanting to break me anymore than I already was. He looked as if he was restraining himself. His eyebrows creased in frustration. We sat in silence, taking in each other.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the door opened and Espyon walked in, carrying a tray of food. Erwin let go of my hand before she saw. She asked the Commander to stand so she could sit and feed me. He obliged. "(I'll be by as much as I can,)" he said. I was unsure whether he was talking to me or Espyon.

Espyon nodded and watched him leave, I read an expression on her face I could not understand. She turned back to me and began to slowly feed me the food on the tray. I could not help but wonder what Erwin was about to say before Espyon walked into the room. I was confused.

I hope that makes up for any angst I may have caused you last chapter! (forgive me!)

Anyway, I had more fun writing this chapter than the previous one because of the cuteness of it. Hope you enjoyed and please leave a review! Thanks for reading!