The lift descended into darkness. The only light Eren had to see by were the lanterns he and the group around him had in hand. They illuminated the surroundings just enough for him to make out grim expressions draped in thick cloaks to ward off the chill. Everything else, including a semblance of heat, was swallowed up by the earth the deeper they traveled. He could only imagine the length of the rope strung within the pulley system. He wouldn't be surprised to learn it could span the height of Wall Sina, then some.

It feels like we're descending into Hell.

Even if Hell really were their destination, Eren would prefer it over the burning, suffocating sensation of being eaten alive. The time he'd spent trapped inside the Armored Titan had felt like a nightmare. There'd been pain, but above all else, there'd been frustration. Eren couldn't have cared less about how Reiner's extraction had left him with broken bones and a missing leg. The thing that'd caused him to scream until he'd gone hoarse was the feeling of complete helplessness of nearly being captured by the enemy a second time. If it hadn't been for the gate closing ... for Captain Levi arriving when he had ...

I was asked to be here because someone thought I may be of use, Eren thought. He bit the inside of his cheek. Should anyone ... really be betting on me?

Eren nearly tripped when the lift unexpectedly touched ground. He gripped the wooden railing and righted himself before following the steady gait of the Military Police captain at his side. The woman swung back a portion of the railing lining the lift and stepped from the wood, her boot touching down on a dirt path. Three tunnels loomed in the darkness, their mouths flickering from the torches placed along the walls within. The captain turned to follow the tunnel on the right.

"Hey, Armin," Eren whispered to the figure on his left. "Is this place what they call the Underground?"

Armin shook his head, blond hair peeking from his hood. "Captain Levi said these specific tunnels are strictly under control of the Military Police. They're deep enough I can't imagine them not connecting to the Underground at some point, though."

"What do they normally use them for?"

"Emergency rations," came the answer from ahead. The captain regarded Eren over her shoulder. "These tunnels have been here longer than anyone has documented. It's been rumored since long before my time that the monarchy keeps their prized riches and greatest secrets stored here. Every few months we'll come across a thief looking to fill their bags with gold, or a fanatic thinking we have the mythical Maria's Knight locked away. We know this from the few we discover alive. Most of the would-be thieves we come across long after they'd lost their way in the tunnels, trails of pebbles or string in their wake from a vain attempt to navigate to an exit."

Armin shuddered. "How awful."

"It truly is," the captain said, her attention returning forward as the door to their destination loomed ahead. "This sort of place … isn't meant to foster anything living."

The tall, metal door at the end of the hall swung inward. The captain stepped aside, holding her lantern aloft as her visitors crossed the threshold. She pointedly stared at a spot somewhere down the hall. There was no move to follow the group making a slow descent down a short set of stairs leading into the large room's interior.

The room was plain, its only adornment the dozen or so soldiers stationed along the curved walls every few feet. They stood at the ready between large torches, the most disciplined (or perhaps frightened) of the bunch keeping their eyes locked ahead with no interest in Eren or his group as they pulled back their hoods. The ample torchlight made this room considerably warmer than the rest of the tunnels, but the sight before Eren still sent a shiver down his spine.

"Annie …"

Eren reached out toward the large crystal. His hand stilled when he made eye contact with the guard standing at the object's side. The man slowly shook his head, prompting Eren to withdraw his hand. He looked up, staring at the figure frozen within. Their expression was serene, almost as if in a deep slumber.

"I never imagined …" Eren said. "... you were able to do something like this."

"Neither did I."

. . .

Annie stepped up to Eren's side. Her gaze tracked over the slack features of Bertholdt's face, his tranquil expression partially hidden behind images of flickering torchlight. She soon grew tired of the sight and closed her eyes with a sigh. "I can't say for sure, but I believe this substance will hold for as long as I will it to."

"I want to hear from you what happened," Eren said. Even without looking up, Annie could tell his eyes were boring into her.

"After you were captured by Reiner …" Annie said, keeping her head lowered. "... Bertholdt no longer had a reason to hold back with his steam. He kept us at bay; undoubtedly trying to come up with a plan to escape. Between the two of us, I came to a conclusion faster."

Annie slowly opened her eyes to regard the base of the crystal. "I created a barrier around my entire body. I could hardly breathe, and my eyes were melting from their sockets, but it held against the steam so I could make it to the nape."

"And you tore him out?"

Annie lifted her head. She regarded Bertholdt for a moment before turning away. "I did."

The Colossal Titan had disappeared in a cloud of smoke when Annie had made to slash at its nape. She had fallen, catching sight of a small object hurtling toward the ground. The object had been scooped up, Annie looking down to meet Bertholdt's stare from where he'd been clutched between her fingers.

There had been terror behind Bertholdt's eyes. His options had run out. There was nowhere he could think to run. He didn't want to die. There had seemed to be only one prevailing emotion over this fear. He had shouted the words as the steam parted and the ground had grown near.

'Don't hate me, Annie!'

After what you tried to do, Annie thought. How could I not?

Despite herself, that pang of pity in Annie's heart had manifested. It overcame her innate urge to devour Bertholdt whole, consuming him to gain the power he possessed. A power which disgusted her beyond all else.

When the dust had settled, the gathered Scout soldiers had come across the Female Titan kneeling in the dirt. Within its palm had been a crystal, the object reflecting the glowing fires and the looks of shock upon its observers.

He may actually be dead in there, for all I know, Annie thought. I don't have the motivation to release him and find out.

"Everything looks as it should," Annie said, pulling up her hood. "We can leave."

"Hold on."

Eren's request went ignored. Annie continued up the stairs, a shift in the air causing her cloak to sway as a figure appeared at her side.

"Can you teach me?" Eren said. He brought his face closer to hers, attempting to catch her gaze. "Annie - I said, can you teach me how to do that with the crystal? Look at me, dammit!"

"You're too close, it's making me uncomfortable," Annie said, keeping her attention ahead. They exited the room, a low boom heralding the door at their backs slamming shut. The sound was followed by the shuffling of feet as the four veteran Scout soldiers who'd been selected as Annie's guard detail moved into their positions in her wake. The guard detail was annoying, but it meant a semblance of freedom, even if it was still determined for her to return to restraints and a prison cell once she reached the surface.

"What the hell is your problem?" Eren said, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"The reason I won't teach you is because I can't," Annie said. Her gaze slid to the side. She met Eren's surprise with a neutral expression. Their stare held for a few paces as Eren seemed to struggle with something. There was a glint in his eyes - a spark of the fire that used to rise up and consume him whole. It was threatening to do so now, but a sudden slump to his shoulders caused the fire to snuff out. Seeing Eren exercise this level of restraint was something entirely new. It threatened to make Annie think of him as more than just a reckless zealot.

Eren broke their stare. "How often do you have to come down here?"

"Every day."

The captain who'd been their previous guide had returned, the pair keeping a brisk pace in her wake as they returned the way they'd come. Eren kept his attention on his boots as he seemed to contemplate something about Annie's answer.

"I'm surprised you asked to join me," Annie said after a moment. She turned her head when Eren looked up. "I was under the impression you wanted me dead."

Eren's eyes hardened. Even if it was full of animosity, it was a look Annie was more familiar with. She found comfort in it.

"That part of me still exists," Eren said. "Honestly, nothing would make me happier than bashing your skull in. I watched first-hand as you ruthlessly murdered people I care about. I dealt with the aftermath of their loss, and the pain you put on everyone you stabbed in the back. No matter what I've been told, I don't believe there's any way I can forgive you for what you've done."

A frustrated sound escaped Eren as he turned to look ahead. "But I'm not an idiot. I know rejecting the help of someone as strong as you would be a poor decision. If I'd had to fight Reiner and Bertholdt alone … I wouldn't have stood a chance. And you know about what's coming for us and how to defend against it. But don't think I won't go back to the idea of making you suffer slowly for everything you've done once the threat has passed."

"I admire your righteous code of honor," Annie said, the sarcasm coming through loud and clear.

"If it wasn't for Marco," Eren said. "I wouldn't even have the patience to look at you. You saving him from the explosion is the only thing I can respect you for. If you ever do anything to break his trust … I'll know you've sided with the enemy and I'll kill you whether there's still a threat from your home or not."

"Fair."

Eren glanced at Annie in surprise. He studied her for a moment before looking away.

"Where is Marco, by the way?" Annie asked. She stepped through the mouth of the tunnel, following the others as they filed into the lift. "I haven't seen him since the day of the attack."

"We don't know, either," Eren said. He exchanged a worried glance with Armin. "All we were told was he was granted leave, and no one could say when he'd be back."

"Did you ask around?"

"Of course we did," Eren said, his tone growing irritated. "You shouldn't be surprised most people we asked had a lot of other shit going on."

It was simple for Annie to assume what some of that was.

"Have they found Reiner?" she asked.

"They will," Eren said. The intensity behind his gaze indicated him daring Annie to say otherwise. She didn't rise to the challenge, only offering a slow blink.

"I've heard rumors of a couple of leads," Armin said. He frowned at the planks underfoot. "Although, no one knows for sure. Between the gate, Eren's recovery, and the commotion about the Commander … everyone's focus was elsewhere that night. Reiner took the opportunity to simply vanish."

"Reiner doesn't have the capacity to be on his own for long," Annie said. She looked away as the lift lurched into motion. "Someone will come across him sooner than later."

"Right," Eren said. He lifted his head toward the slowly growing pinprick of light above.

"And we'll be waiting to face that bastard when they do."