chapter 5

I walked into a horde of military personnel who were all questioning why there had been two titans that were killing other titans. Everyone knew that one of them had been Eren Jeager but no one could find the second one. Eren had been immediately taken into custody. I was somewhat glad that I hadn't been caught. What I did was reckless and almost got me killed. I thought about my sister, she would be 16 this year. The same age I was when I left. I am turning 21 this year, I am one of the oldest cadets in the 104th trainee squad. Annie is going to be 19 in a couple of days, Bertholt will be 20, and Reiner is the same as me. More than anything I want to go home right now. I went and watched the pathetic excuse for a captain try to kill Eren just because he was a shifter. It reminded me of my hatred for the human race. I swallowed the bile that rose to fight my thoughts of my friends dying. Marco was just a sad casualty but there will be more before any of this is over.

Eren went through a trial and was handed over to the survey corps. Eventually they had Eren pick up a boulder and plug wall Sina. I scoffed at the humans, they think that a boulder will stop us…will stop me. The others are becoming increasingly worried about my regression into my past self. Reiner tried to corner me to talk about it but I shoved him away. That did not stop him though.

"Kat what the fuck is going on with you?" he grabbed me to keep me from getting away.

I stared blankly at him "I have no idea what you are talking about Reiner, I am the same as I always was."

He let go of me and I walked off leaving him behind. Tonight was our chance to choose where we wanted to go. I was going to choose the military police along with Annie. Tonight was also the night where we burned the bodies of our fallen comrades.

The fire had begun, I only stayed to watch Marco's half eaten body burn. Everyone around me was weeping for their friends and loved ones. I stared coldly at the burning flesh concealing any and all emotion. The smell of scorched flesh filled my nose, I just stood there taking it while others were gagging and unable to hold their stomachs. Jean was kneeling next to me picking up a piece of chipped off bone. He looked at me with tear filled eyes and I stared back unable to physically show emotion at this point.

After the fires started to smolder all of us made our way to where we were going to be lectured about joining the survey corps so they had more bodies to throw to the titans. Commander Erwin took the stage and looked at all of us. He was searching the faces for someone in particular when his eyes rested on me. Erwin smiled and I got a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Then he went on to ramble about why we should join and then scared off everyone with his more than 30% of you will die schpeel. He then told everyone who wanted to leave to leave. I turned to go and was amidst the horde of cadets when a hand caught my shoulder.

"Not you Ward, you are joining the survey corps" Erwin squeezed my shoulder.

I wrenched his hand off of me and turned to salute him then I went to leave again. He caught my arm this time "Ward this is not a request, this is an order."

"If I may be so bold commander, I was told that I would be able to make my own choice about where I would be placed. I choose the military police sir now please release my arm." I said ice cold.

"I am afraid I cannot let you do that cadet. The corps needs you and plus your leader had already promised you to me" He stated.

"I'm sorry but could you repeat sir?" I said in disbelief.

"I had a long talk with Shadis that first day after we sparred. I requested that you be saved for the survey corps and he agreed that this is where your talents would provide the most help" Erwin explained.

"Commander I can not accept that and seeing that I have not signed an agreement with you or anyone else from the corps I will be taking my leave now. Goodbye commander Erwin" I pulled away from him for the last time and took off to find Annie.

Erwin chased me down but I had disappeared. He smiled if I didn't willingly go then he will just have to use force to get me. I finally caught Annie who had watched the entire debacle.

"He really tried you know. Can't dock him for lack of trying" She joked.

"I said no and that means no. I refuse the survey corps" I said my face carved in stone.

The next day as I was packing to head to the military police's HQ, someone from the capital came to fetch me.

"May I ask what exactly is going on?" I looked at the soldier.

"Commander Erwin has called for court over who gets you" the soldier explained.

'Oh god…Someone please tell this man I have seen enough of the stupid wings of freedom' I thought. Once we made it to the capital I was escorted into a large courtroom. I was placed in a chair in front of a large group of people from both the police and the corps. I gnashed my teeth together and shot a death filled glare at Erwin who just smiled back. At the time I had not noticed a shorter man with black hair standing next to the haughty commander, but he had noticed me though he showed no signs of interest. His eyes never left my sitting form.

"Commander why are you putting up so much of a fuss over this woman?" Corporal Levi stared at Erwin.

"You will see…after all she will be the new addition to your squad that we talked about lance corporal" Erwin said smirking.

Levi was shocked but it did not show on his face. He was curious about this cadet but for now all he could do is stare at you from afar.

An elderly looking man walked into the court room and took a seat in the judges chair. He eyed my curiously and raised an eyebrow. I stood and saluted the man and he gave a small smirk. He then looked to the two heads of the military police and of the survey corps.

"Let us begin" He bellowed.

The head of the military police stated that I signed up to join the military police and since I was the first of my squad that decision should be completely and utterly mine but that the commander wants to take that choice away from me. The old man looked at me "Is what he says true? Do you wish to join the police instead of the corps?"

"Yes sir" I said quickly and efficiently.

He looked to Erwin "Commander you better have a good reason for trying to conscript this cadet."

"I do. In fact since this cadet was first of her squad she should of course be able to choose what brach she would like to join but in her case I might be too bold to say this but I believe that this woman is humanities second best" Erwin stated and the whole court room gasped and whispered while staring at me.

"Do you have proof that this cadet is as good as you claim her to be?" The head asked.

"Of course. Levi if you would" Erwin motioned to the center of the room.

Levi gave the commander an incredulous look before nodding and jumping over the edge.

"Sir I would like it if you allowed Levi Ackerman to spar with the cadet" Erwin said.

My eyes got wide when I laid them upon Levi. His expression was the same as my own. Recognition flashed through my brain and I snarled at him. His expression changed to that of surprise. Still he walked forward, never taking his eyes off of me.

The head saw and heard my anger towards the shorter man. He looked back to Erwin "I don't know commander she seems to not want to. I will leave this up to her as I can see her scores from training right here" he spoke and looked upon me.

Erwin cursed and watched me hoping I would fight Levi. I got out of my seat my blank expression back on my face and I walked away from the corps and to the police. I stayed there and crossed my arms unmoving.

The head looked from me to Erwin and back to me. "Seems to me the girl has made her choice commander, since you can give me no reason to hand her over to you she will be joining the military police" He gave his final answer.

"Lance corporal" Erwin said with a stiff voice. He was pissed off about me winning.

I turned around to talk to Annie and when I did my feet were kicked out from underneath me. I got back up in a second and spun on the man. Levi was standing there in a battle stance ready to fight me. He came at me again faster than anyone else I had ever fought. "Tch" I glared at him and dodged his attack. When he was turning I grabbed the back of his head and slammed my knee into his face. Then I threw him to the other side of the court room by his hair alone. Everyone even the head of the military paused to watch the show. Levi got back up and wiped a spot of blood from his nose. He looked at his hand and then back to me.

Levi charged at me this time and I was unable to dodge. He grabbed my arm and twisted it behind me. I was unable to move unless I broke my arm. So I did just that, the resounding crack from my arm breaking caused many to cringe. I drew a quick breath and tugged my arm from Levi's strong grip. My arm hung to my side and I grabbed at it hissing. Levi stared surprised that I had been willing to break my arm, he was impressed. So impressed in fact that he did not expect me to run at him and tackle him to the ground. I straddled him and locked him in place with my legs. My broken arm grabbed his hands and held them above his head. I punched him left and right with my good arm, when I got tired of punching him I let his hands go and in an instant grabbed his head and slammed it against the concrete floor before he could get his hands on me. His head his so hard that it caused him to pass out. I picked him up, walked over to where Erwin was standing and tossed his unconscious body to Erwin. His face said it all, he was in utter awe at my raw power. Everyone in the courtroom was. Nobody had been able to take down Levi in a very long time.

The head sat back down and called me to face him."Cadet first off can you tell me why you do not want to be with the corps?" He asked me with sincerity.

"Sir all I want is to live long enough to see my sister again. Being with the corps will undoubtedly send me to my death and then I would not be able to see her now would I. I am her only family left sir, if I die she would have" I spoke truthfully but still with a calm demeanor.

He nodded "That is a worthy goal, I must say. The corps would benefit the most from your presence though."

My heart sank, I was going to lose. I was going to die and be separated from my best friend. I looked to Annie who had a calm face on but I could see the hint of worry behind her eyes.

"I have thought about it and I must agree with Erwin. Miss you will be transferred to the survey corps as of tomorrow. You will be of great assistance to humanity cadet" He spoke finally and I mentally screamed.

Erwin grinned relieved and stared at me feeling only a tinge of guilt.

"There however are a few things I must insist of you commander" The head spoke up again.

"Yes sir anything" Erwin said so obediently.

"Since the right to choose has been taken away from this cadet she WILL have the choice of what squad she joins, no forcing her am I clear?"

"Yes sir" Erwin said through gritted teeth.

"One more thing commander"

"Yes sir"

"This is indeed a young lady and you will not I repeat will not try to do anything to her, also you are not allowed to order your underlings to do anything to her. Do you hear me commander Erwin? She get however long she wants to choose a squad as well."

Erwin cringed and nodded. The military head then stood up and left the courtroom. I was escorted out and back to my dorm to get my things. When I arrived my stuff was no longer there. I heard a knock on the door behind me and I turned to see who it was.

"I had your things transported with the other cadets awhile ago" Erwin said with a small smile.

"Tch…fine" I mumbled.

I saluted and tried to push passed him. He did not move though "Ward I am sorry about this but we need soldiers like you."

You looked up at him and his breath caught. Instead of a cruel looking blank face, there was a sorrow filled expression plastered to my face I tried to fight it but a tear pushed past my defenses and fell. Erwin went unwittingly to caress my face but I jerked away and this time I was able to push passed him. He was struck, unable to move at the raw emotion that one single minute expressed. Erwin understood that he had just written this wounded woman's death certificate. He steeled himself, you cannot lead if you are unwilling to make sacrifices.

I walked outside able to put my mask back on within seconds. There were a couple horses waiting there. I assumed that I was going to have to ride to the corps HQ. Standing next to the horses was Levi, he was watching your every movement. As were you, you hated this man more than anyone else in the world. Levi's head was wrapped in bandages and you smirked at him which made him glare. I grabbed one of the horses and hopped on. Erwin came out behind me and took a horse as well. Levi was the last to mount a horse. Erwin took the lead and you followed behind. The entire trip with Levi staring at you. It made you uncomfortable but you would never allow him to see.