Don't worry, the action will be picking up again soon! Just bear with me for another chapter or so!

Espyon awoke me once again. "(Ariadne, it's only a dream! It's only a dream!)" she assured me, trying to calm me down. The blankets were twisted around my legs, making me panic even more.

"They were…! They were coming after me…! With a knife!" I cried out between short, gasping breaths. "They were going to put it through my heart!" I started to sob and held on tightly to Espyon, putting my head against her chest.

She held me in an embrace. "(You're alright now. You're safe.)" She repeated these phrases softly and gently while slowly rocking me back and forth. "(You're alright.)"

It was only a nightmare. Something I had been having ever since I got out of that dreaded place. I almost did not want to sleep because of them. I would dream I was in that torture chamber being hurt even more. All of my hope gone. All of my thoughts of survival diminished. Most of the time I could feel the pain as if it were happening all over again. I wanted to die.

Espyon held me at arms length and wiped away my tears. "(Come on,)" she said, standing up and taking both of my hands. "(You need a bath.)" She helped me stand and put one arm around her shoulder. Slowly, we walked towards the bathroom. I had been bedridden for so long that I could not walk without help. Thankfully, Espyon was about my height so it was more comfortable.

While the tub filled with warm water, and with Espyon's help, I managed to take off the long shirt and the old bandages and step into the deep tub. The warm water felt amazing. I remember the last time I had had a real shower was when Hanji let me use her bathroom (that was nearly 5 months ago now). Espyon had taken off her military jacket and the button up shirt she was wearing under it, keeping her white tank top on. She kneeled beside the tub and used a cloth to gently clean my skin.

I can not begin to describe how wonderful it felt. The water dripping down my body. The soap washing away every bit of dirt and grime I possibly had. My hair had come out in small patches, but after being rescued nearly a month ago, it was already beginning to have new hair take its place. Steam rose up around me, fogging up the mirror over and the small window above the tub.

The Military Police did not care if I was clean or not. They only cared if the dried blood on me was cleared off so they could see the effects of their "work." Multiple times, they would stick me in a shower room and then throw a bucket of water on me to wash away the looser things. Here, Espyon could clean me with a rag and a pitcher of soapy water (because of the seriousness of my wounds, I was unable to take a full bath. She was afraid I would get sick from whatever was in the tub water).

When I was completely clean, Espyon drained the water and then helped me back out of the tub. Carefully, she patted the most of me dry with a towel, leaving certain areas for me to dry myself. After putting her shirt and jacket back on, she then took clean bandages and rewrapped my remaining wounds (which thankfully were far fewer now than they had been) and dressed me in a new shirt and loose fitting pants. Once again, we made the slow trek back to the bed.

"(Get some sleep,)" she told me before leaving me to my thoughts.

As soon as she left, I pushed the blankets off of me and pushed myself up to a sitting position. My head spun for a second before clearing. I grabbed the chair that was still beside the bed and leaned on it so I could stand. I managed to scoot the chair across the floor to the window beside the side table. I was able to support myself on the back of the chair and then on the window sill. I had not looked outside of the window since I arrived here.

Once my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight, I could see a courtyard below. There were soldiers walking around, some leading horses by their reigns while others stood by and conversed. I was surprised (although not really) to see Armin and Mikasa down there. They were cleaning two brown horses.

I watched them for several minutes. I nearly fell from my position at the window when I heard the door open, scaring me. "(I thought I told you to go to sleep,)" Espyon said with a chuckle. "(I came to check on you.)"

"I wanted to look outside," I muttered as she led me back to the bed.

"(Get some sleep,)" Espyon said again. "(I'll take you outside tomorrow.)"

Then what? I asked.

She shrugged. "(Dunno.)" I rolled my eyes. "(We'll wait and see. Go to sleep.)"

Again, when she shut the door and I waited for a few minutes before I reached for the chair again and supported myself towards the window. It had not changed much in the last couple of minutes I was not looking out of it. Instead of looking down at the courtyard, I looked around the surrounding area. As I had suspected, I was in a stone castle. The woods beyond the courtyard were thick with empty trees and other browned plants. Since the seasons had changed, there were more bare trees than green. I knew I was at least a few several stories up. From the looks of things, it was beginning to get dark. Evening was coming fast. I knew Espyon would be back soon with food and then she would leave again. I made my way back to the bed and sat down.

I do not ever remember there being a mirror from across the room, but I suddenly noticed someone looking at me. They were dressed in loose-fitting clothing. Their hair was very short and a dusty light brown. Their eyes large and light colored. Their face was shallow but healthier looking than it probably once was. Skinny arms and legs poked out from inside of the clothing. It had never occurred to me that I was not wearing any shoes until now. I had come to terms with it quickly, but that was my own reflection. Did I look anything like the girl from five months ago? Definitely not.

I lifted my shirt to see what the rest of my body looked like. It was just as skinny (only healthier than it had been) and covered in scars, a large light pink scar ran down my middle. I wanted to cry. Sure, nothing that had happened to me was my fault, but it still hurt to see what I had lost physically. Now with night coming, I was to be forced into a dream-world of Hell. Mentally, I had no idea what I was losing, or had already lost.

I pulled my shirt back down and curled up on the mattress below me, hiding my face in the pillow. I heard the door open, but I did not look up to see who it was, but I already knew it was Espyon bringing a tray of food. I recognized her light footsteps coming across the room. I could also hear the clanking of dishes as she set the tray down on the side table. Once I had gained enough strength, she stopped feeding me and allowed me to feed myself. It felt good to do something for myself instead of having her do it for me.

I felt her hand on my back, rubbing it gently. "(Be sure to eat your dinner before you go to bed okay?)" She knew I had not fallen asleep. She knew I would probably leave the dinner untouched for the rest of the night. I nodded into the pillow anyway, not looking up at her as she left. Not wanting to see her sympathetic expression. That was all anyone ever had for me. Sympathy.

I was the girl who had shown up out of thin air and was nearly killed by a Titan. I was the girl who did not know the language. I was the one who did not say anything in the courtroom. I was the reason Espyon had to do every simple task I could not do. It was me who made Erwin and the rest of them risk their lives to come and save me from my own Hell. They are the ones who have grown up in Hell.

I wanted to do something more than just be a burden to everyone.

I did not want people to look at me like I was weak and feeble all the time. No more nightmares. No more having Espyon's help with taking care of myself. I was going to get strong. I was going to adapt to this world if it was the last thing I ever did.

I was running through a large forest. I could hear a rhythmic boom sounding behind me, getting closer no matter how fast I ran. The sound of breaking ground and limbs echoed all around me. First mistake: I looked behind me. Second mistake: I tripped over my own feet. Third mistake: I did not pick myself up right away.

I felt a large hand grab me from behind. I could see the ground getting farther and farther away. Then I was face to face with a door-sized set of razor sharp teeth. I screamed and squirmed as much as I could, hitting the Titan's hand with my own tiny fists. The creature seemed to be smiling at me, mocking me silently. It opened it's huge jaws, bringing me towards its steaming hot and wet mouth. I shut my eyes, not wanting to watch myself be eaten.

When I opened them again, I was back in the cellar of the Military Police. People in white lab coats surrounded me, each of them holding a syringe full of some kind of liquid. I crouched in a dark corner, trying desperately to get away from them all. My fingers clawed at the stone, trying to either climb it or dig a hole through it with bloody fingertips. As I slashed at the brick, the people turned into black dogs, barking and gnashing their teeth at me. I screamed even louder than I had when the Titan had grabbed me.

Once of the dogs had leaped and bit down hard into my shoulder. The others followed suit, each of them grabbing onto some part of me. I screamed and cried as I felt the pain rush through me and the blood burst out.

"(Ariadne, wake up! Wake up!)"

Someone was shaking me awake and out of my nightmare. The hands on my shoulders were too strong to be Espyon's. I then found myself staring once again into the blue eyes of Commander Erwin. It was dark in the room, except for one lantern he had set on the floor beside the bed.

"(Are you alright?)" he asked, lessening his grip on my shoulders. I nodded and wiped my face. It was wet with both sweat and tears. He handed me the phone. "(Want to tell me about it?)"

I shook my head no. What are you doing in here? I asked. How did you know I was having a nightmare?

"(I heard you crying out in your sleep,)" he replied. "(I was walking around checking on the cadets like I usually do on nights I can't sleep. I decided to check on you too.)"

I was flattered, but I did not know whether to accept his kindness or thank him and then politely ask him to leave so I could go back to sleep (or back to hellish dreaming, whichever came first).

Thank you.

We sat in silence for a while. He looked at the tray sitting untouched on the side table. "(Did you not eat?)"

I wasn't hungry.

"(You of all people need to eat.)"

I pointed to the message on the screen again. I wasn't hungry.

Erwin creased his eyebrows. "(Be sure to eat something tomorrow morning then.)" I nodded my head. He stood and grabbed the lantern sitting on the floor. "(Good night,)" he said as he started out the door.

"Erwin, wait." My voice surprised him. He stopped in the doorway and turned to look back at me.

"(Yes?)"

Stay here with me. I moved over to the far side of the bed to make room.

He raised his eyebrows. "(…Why…?)"

You said you couldn't sleep. Well neither can I. I dunno how to explain it without making it seem sexual, but that's not what I want. I just want to sleep without nightmares.

He turned back into the room and shut the door behind him. "(Just for tonight,)" he said as he crossed the room and sat back down on the bed. He set the lantern on the side table and turned the flame down low. He removed his boots and set them neatly beside the side table. He laid down beside me and then allowed me to get comfortable beside him. It was awkward at first since I had never slept next to anyone since I was little. After a few shifts of position, my head was nestled on his shoulder while his arm was around me. My hand was on his chest, absentmindedly playing with a buckle on the straps that wrapped around his body. (Did these people ever take them off? They were probably too annoying to put them on and off all the time.)

Slowly but surely, I ended up falling asleep without having any nightmares for the first time in months.

We will pick back up here next chapter. What's in store for Ariadne now?

I'm so excited because this story has really taken off! Thanks to everyone who has read it so far! Keep doing what you're doing you amazing people you! :)

Don't forget to write a review if you'd like! :D