Elijah...Present day...A few days later after the Raid of Liberio...

I stare into the distant evening sun, letting the past few days sink in. I've probably been here for a half hour, but the reason I'm here, I really don't know. My friends are back at the military headquarters, probably in the same mood I'm in. I wish I could be with them, but…I can't look at them with their faces of empathy. But seeing her, isn't that just the same?

"Hey..."

Speak of the devil, and she shall arrive, or in this case, the queen of Paradis, Historia Reiss. The young blonde exits her residence and sits with me on the steps. "Hey..."

"...How were the funerals?"

Slowly I turn my head to Historia, the girl dressed in a simple blue dress and white sweater. Her eyes hold comfort, but I can't find my own as I look away. "...It was fine, a funeral's a funeral. But that's not what's weighing on my mind."

She nods. "I guess both of us are burdened with the future of Paradis, huh?" Now standing up, she offers her hand to me. "Can we take a ride?" Seeing no reason to deny her, I take her hand and follow her to my horse. As I help her saddle up, I catch the glares of the Military Police who are assigned to guard her, but while we do not belong to the same division, they know not to piss off Historia.

Once she's comfortable in the modified riding position, I get in front of her and begin our ride. I won't be going too far, just a mile or so out into the plains, but far enough from listening ears, in case I say anything that no one else is supposed to know of yet. In the meantime, I speak of Historia's burden. "They still want you to produce an heir?"

Historia sighs so heavily that the air grows in weight around us. "Yes."

I internally struggle with what are our only three options for the future of our people. Either we grow technologically, we test the Rumbling, or we continue the inheritance of the Founding and add the Beast. Of all people, Historia is the last to be treated like some breeding dog. "Hist-"

"But that's my choice, not theirs. I want a child that I will raise with the love and care that I was denied for most of my life. And I'll be damned if I let them inherit such a burden."

"..."

"You were right to scold me when I agreed to inherit the Beast Titan, Ymir would've done the same. I've been told what to do for most of my life, but not anymore. If anyone is going to interfere with my future, they'll have to go through me first!"

"..." I lightly chuckle. "What Ymir would've given to finally see you like this. I think she would've loved you even more. Not to mention that they would have to deal with the 'Conqueror of the Armor.' God, I hate that name."

I hear the young queen let out a light chuckle of her own but quickly cover it up with a more serious tone. "Do you really think these are the only options we have?"

"...I don't know. And whatever option those Jaeger Brothers have...It can't be good."

"...Do you...trust Eren?"

I drop my head. "I don't know... He's my brother...but I hated that we weren't ready for Marley, I hated that he didn't tell us anything, I hated that he endangered this whole island by acting alone. Part of me...wants to hurt him as much as he hurt us...and me. But no one is even allowed to see him. Even if we could, I don't even know if I, Armin, or Mikasa could get through to him."

"...Zeke and the volunteers, what's their fate as of now?"

"Zeke is on his way, if not already there, to the forest that we ended up at when Annie first attacked. A place where Captain Levi has the greater advantage. Under Commander Pyxis' orders, the volunteers are also under arrest, but it's until we can verify Zeke and Eren's intentions, or that's what I was told. As for the girl who shot Sasha and her friend, I'm told they were imprisoned, too."

Historia nods as I slow the horse's speed. She turns her head to the horizon, her eyes a mix of hope and fear. "...Is there really no other option?"

I lower my head. "I really wish I knew, Historia."

I let down Historia from my horse, escorting her back to her residence. I stop on the steps, Historia looks back to me through the front door. "Something wrong?"

I shake my head. "No. I just...could you do me a favor?" I untie my hair, letting it show off how much it's grown over the years. I remember how Kaya once styled it for me while I was taking my time off with Sasha, giving me my new look. At first, I thought I looked ridiculous, but it kinda grew on me...but now... "I need a hand."

"What do you..." Historia notices the knife I drew from my pocket. "Oh... Are you sure?"

I nod, handing the knife over to the young Queen. I turn my back to her as I take a seat on the steps of the residence. I collect a good portion of my hair and pull it behind my head. I like my long hair, but I think I should lose a good portion of it. I don't really understand why...but I feel like it should be done. Historia takes my hair, and in one swift motion, the excess hair is severed.

I stand, my head feeling a little lighter than before. I look back to Historia, doing my best to show her a genuine smile. "How does it look?"

Unlike mine, her smile is real. "I haven't seen you with hair like this since we were cadets... I must admit..." Historia ruffles my hair, letting her fingers feel each strand. "I always liked it this way. I think she does too."

"..." My smile...even if it was for a moment, turns into a real one. "...Thanks." I turn away, ready to head back. Well, not entirely ready, but I can't hide away forever. But the Queen had one last thing to say.

"Elijah..."

"Yeah?"

"...Stay safe."

I turn around, facing Historia, and then give her a strong salute. "Always."

Hange

"Fight or die. Win...and live. The only way to win is to fight. Fight. Fight!"

Hange raises an eyebrow as she comes to Eren's cell. This is the second time she's caught him talking to himself while imprisoned, and just as it did four years ago, it bothers her now. "What are you doing? Were you just saying, 'Fight. Fight,' to the mirror just now? Hey. You said, 'Fight. Fight,' didn't you? By 'Fight. Fight,' what are you fighting? If you're saying, 'Fight. Fight,' does that mean there are two fights?" Eren says nothing, just looks at her out the side of his eyelids and back to the mirror over the sink. Looks like he's going to be tough today. "Keeping quiet isn't helping. Normally, people don't talk to themselves like that. I know I've never talked to myself in the mirror before." Still more silence from the Founder. "By the way, I think your hair is cool. When it's all disheveled, it's kinda like you're hard-working and carefree."

"What did you come for?!"

"What? To talk, of course. The first time we met, didn't we talk about Titans all night? Though you mostly listened as I blabbered on." Eren still looks away. "I honestly believed that you would never sacrifice Historia. Especially seeing how you looked after Elijah snapped in that meeting. You should know I felt the same sense of urgency. But I still don't get why you went on your own and put the island in danger. Don't you care about Historia?"

"I ate the Warhammer Titan."

Hange cocks her head in confusion. "Huh?"

"It has the power to harden through the ground and make whatever it wants. In other words, there's no prison deep or strong enough to hold me. I can leave whenever I want."

Hange slowly nods as Eren walks to her. "Of course."

"I have the Founding Titan and you can't kill me. You can't kill Zeke either, even if you threaten to. So, Hange... What is it you can actually do?" Before Hange can answer, Eren grabs her shirt and forces her against the bars. "Tell me, Hange! If you've got something up your sleeve, let's hear it!" As she struggles, Eren lets her go.

Embarrassed and angry, she quickly backs away, heading out of the prison. "Eren you perv! Still in a rebellious phase?! You moron! Idiot!" As she exits the prison, she slams the door behind her and leans against it. She sighs and rubs her head in frustration. "Erwin...you only made one mistake in your life. Why did you make me commander?"

Armin

"Back then, it was fun. Certainly, us Eldians were feared and hated by the world, and yet, we don't even know the faces of those across the sea. But, as for those people from across the sea, they weren't only enemies. The world is much more complicated. Implying that there are things we do not yet know. Maybe...if there was a different way, things could have happened… That's all I can think about. Today, there were funerals for the people who had died in the campaign. I intended to understand Eren more than anyone else, even more than Mikasa. But… I don't even know anymore. Eren even intended to do it alone. Even by cooperating with Eren or abandoning him, which would have been the worse option? At any rate, numerous people were killed. Battleships, military soldiers, and civilians were all dragged into this. It was the same as what happened to us on that day. Everything was suddenly snatched away. But...if their naval port is going strong, the Marleyan for es will immediately launch an attack upon this island in retaliation. Our path to reconciliation had been cut off...but we had no other choice. Just like that day that you guys did it. Right, Annie?"

Armin looks from the crystal in his hands to the larger one in front of him containing the Female Titan in stasis. Sighing, Armin closes his eyes. "Please answer me...with something."

Levi

"So it was reported as a victory? Isn't that dreadful? To not know anything?"

The Scout Captain opens his eyes which helped to block out the celebration outside due to the 'good news of victory' of Paradis over Marley. The truth will stay with the military, though Levi doubts it'll stick for long. However, he doesn't need to explain that to Zeke Jaeger. "I'm going to kill you and send back your dead body to Marley. Your conspiracy will become clear. Your grandmother and grandfather are dead, right? And so...if your so-called 'secret plan' is indeed genuine, then I'll wait just a bit longer before I mince you. I don't mind one way or another."

The elder Jaeger chuckles. "I'm grateful for your lenient words. But you'll make me meet up with Eren soon? Eh? Won't you stop glaring at me?"

Elijah...that night...

"To think..." Jean speaks to break the silence, "Commander Pyxis would go so far as to detain the volunteers."

"Since they and the Scouts are so close," Armin continues. "we weren't told in advance."

"Yeah. I'm sure he didn't have much of a choice. Until Zeke's intentions are made clear, it puts us in a real pickle. And Eren's suddenly aboard Zeke's plan. Whatever the two of them talked about is something only they know."

I look up from my lap to the window where Connie stands. "And until we know...we have to sit here and wait."

"...The Braus family was here today, Elijah," I hear Jean say. "I know it's hurting you, but-"

"Not yet," I say more harshly than I meant to. I take a breath to cool down. "I can't look at her family in the eyes. Not until...I have no choice but to accept Sasha's death."

Jean frowns. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"...Nothin'"

"Hey," Connie interrupts. "Did look like Eren to you guys? Not me. That wasn't Eren. If he's made up his mind to side with his half-brother over us..."

"If he has, then what?" Mikasa says defensively.

"We've gotta be prepared to cut him down if necessar-"

"I won't let you!"

"Huh?" Connie turns around, and for the first time in the last seven years, I'm afraid of what Connie might say or do. Only a few people are brave enough to stare Mikasa sown, and fewer succeed, including myself, but to see Connie do so... Sasha's death really broke him, probably even more so than me. If only- "Are you siding with them too, Mikasa?"

Mikasa lowers her head and averts her eyes to the floor. "I don't think it'll come to that. Eren cares about us more than anyone. You guys should know that."

"I don't want any of you to inherit it, anyway."

"Why not?" Jean asks.

"Because you all are important to me. More than anyone else. So, I want you to have long lives."

"Maybe that's why he's so hostile to anyone who isn't one of us," Mikasa continues. "He cares too much."

Jean shakes his head. "That's not it. No matter how strong you were, the old him tried to keep you off the front lines. But he made Armin destroy the port and pulled you into the fight. All of us, too. The ones he called important."

"I think that's because he trusts us. If we hadn't gone, he couldn't have done it."

Connie turns back to the window. "And Sasha wouldn't have died. Mikasa... When Sasha died, before Elijah could tear him apart, what did Eren do? Did he cry? Did he regret his actions?"

"Connie," I order. "Stop."

Connie fully turns around this time, a familiar rage on his face. "He laughed. What part of it was so funny to him? What part of Sasha dying? Explain it to me, Mikasa. Why was Eren laughing? You know everything about him, right?"

"We'll talk to Eren," Armin says, disrupting the tension. "Just me, Mikasa, Elijah, and him. The three of us will find out his goal."

I sigh. I know I can't be successful, and I don't know if Armin can be. If so... What can I even say to him?

"But will it help?" Jean questions. "What if his goals are the same as Zeke's?"

"Now that the military has Titan serum, we've got options."

"You don't mean..." I say with horror.

"The option of making someone we trust into a Titan, who would inherit Eren's Founding Titan."

To hear Armin say it...of all people...it's almost like he doesn't believe in Eren anymore. It's honestly shocking to think that, especially for Mikasa. "No way! Eren still has time left!"

"I know. So let's confirm Eren's true intentions and then explain that Eren is on our side."

Reiner

Awakening suddenly, Reiner takes a few deep breaths before rising up. The last thing he remembers is Eren attacking Liberio, but what wakes him is the sounds of Gabi and Falco. He could hear them calling for him, for help.

"Did you have another bad dream?" Reiner turns around, seeing Galliard and Pieck in the room. Sighing, Galliard hands Reiner a bottle of alcohol. "It would be better if this was all a dream."

"I heard the voices of Gabi and Falco. Where are the two of them?"

Gabi and Falco

"Gabi! Hey! What is it? Hey! Settle down!"

"What's wrong?! What happened?!"

Falco turns to the guard who unlocks the cell, desperate for help. Gabi suddenly started seizing in pain, so he had no idea what to do. "Sh-She suddenly started having pain!"

The guard nods as he approaches carefully. "Look here, young miss. Are you okay?" Before he notices, Gabi grabs her blanket and swings, hitting the guard square in his jaw with the enclosed brick. As blood and teeth fly out the man's mouth, he drops to the ground. Gabi leaps out of her bed and swings again, hitting the man in the head.

"Gabi! That's overkill!" Falco shouts. Gabi drops the blanket and kneels down beside Falco.

"Hurry! Hide him under the bed!" The pair use their combined strength to roll the man underneath, then stand up.

After much time escaping their prison, the pair find themselves running for their lives again. However, they have no plan for once they're outside. "How's running away gonna help?!"

"We'll be killed if we stay!"

"That guy was worried about you!"

Gabi frowns as she turns back to Falco. "Why do you believe those devils?!" With no answer from him, Gabi continues looking and going forward through the tall grass. "I can't even trust Zeke anymore! Or even...anyone else!"

Falco swallows as much air as he can while he and Gabi rest by a stream within the forest. They ran all through the night, getting as far away as they could. He doesn't even know he's managing to stand right now. "We must've gone pretty far. We ran all through the night." He looks to Gabi, the girl kneeling by the creek, gulping down water. He notices she still has her armband on. "Hey, take off your armband. You'll stand out."

"If any normal person sees it, they won't know what it means."

"But soldiers will know what it is. Just take it off."

"There's no soldiers out here in the sticks."

"Someone will see it eventually! Who knows if we'll make it back home?!"

"I don't plan to," Gabi sits back, wrapping her arms around her legs. "I just want to know what that masked devil did with Zofia...and get answers from Zeke before I'm caught and killed. 'Did you really betray us and Marley?' 'Why did you do it?' You can do whatever you want. You don't have to follow me."

"Fine, then. I'll do whatever I want, starting with thrashing this." Falco reaches over and rips the Eldian armband off Gabi.

She suddenly leaps on him, fighting for the armband. "Give it back!"

"Why?! What's the point of even wearing it here?!"

"I'm a good Eldian! Without that, I'm the same as the island devils!"

"What are you saying?! You're acting crazy!"

"Then just leave me alone! Why...did you come with me? You didn't have to die, too!"

"What are you doing?" Gabi and Falco stop fighting as they turn towards the trees, seeing a girl around their age standing by. "It's so early in the morning. Where did you come from?"

"I-I don't wanna say. We hated our home and ran away from it all. So, we can't go back."

The girl nods. "I see. Are you guys hungry? I live nearby, so follow me." As the girl turns away, Falco reaches for the stone Gabi took hold of and sets it down. The girl o offered them food, and for now, it's better than no food at all.

Elijah

I really hope Connie is going to be alright. He cried like a child last night when I told him, if anyone needed to know, it was him. Only he, Historia, and probably Jean know the truth in our group, and for now, I want to keep it that way. Everyone is a little emotional now. It was hard enough to be at the funeral, and I feel terrible that I wasn't there when the Braus family came. Poor Kaya...I bet she misses her big sister...I hope she doesn't blame me for what happened... I should visit again soon, or else this guilt is going to kill me. Maybe when things calm down...or when-

"Sir." My writing interrupted, and I turned to the pair of soldiers entering my room. As I stand, the first one who called me continues to speak. "There's a riot going on in Shiganshina. It seems Jaeger's imprisonment has been leaked."

I groan. I expected this when I heard there was a forced evacuation of my hometown. If the public knows Eren and the volunteers have been imprisoned... "This was only a matter of time. Does Commander Hange know?"

"Yes, sir. Officer Kirstein sent us to bring the news that the leakers have been found." Good to hear that Jean is doing his job well. Gathering my journal and my father's coat, I stretch my arms and join the soldiers.

Reiner

"After investigating the Beast Titan's corpse, we discovered the dismembered parts of his body after it had exploded to pieces. However, it's not enough. In order to receive us, he has faked his death. I believe Zeke escaped hand-in-hand with the higher-ups of the enemies of Paradis Island. If Pieck's suspicions are correct, from at least four years ago, Zeke appears to have started gathering accomplices from within the Marleyan Army. This newly developed ODM gear incorporates Marleyan technology and the air they escaped on could not have been operated without military training. He must have let one of his comrades infiltrate the Paradis surveillance missions. One of his Eldian Restorationists comrades, that is."

"Shit," Galliard exclaims. "We fought beside each other all this time and he turned out to be a traitor."

"Of course," Magath continues, "we can't just leave things be. Those foreign higher-ups a s journalists who were there in the crowd experienced the attack on Marley and have spread the word about the danger of Paradis Island. Marley and the other world powers will join together to form the Great Allied Forces, just as Willy Tybur appealed to everyone that day. We can't wait until the end of Zeke's tenure. With the next six months, the Great Allied Forces will carry out its 'Scorched Earth' strategy on Paradis Island."

Colt suddenly stands up. "Six months?! Will Gabi and Falco's rescue operation take place in six month's time as well?"

"Wait for the Great Allied Forces to assemble. Attacking Paradis Island now would be to bite off your own head like last time.

"Zeke must be thinking that too," Reiner says. "That the Marleyan Army wouldn't carry out a counterattack so soon after receiving such a terrible blow. And he's not the type to sit still and wait for what's to come in six month's time without coming up with his own plan."

"So you're sure Zeke's planning something right now?"

"Yes, he must have something in mind. If we are to collapse that plan, we can't afford to wait until the Allied Forces assemble!" Reiner slams his fist on the table, leaning forward. "We must carry out an ambush attack on Paradis Island!"

Gabi and Falco

"Wait here a minute."

"Okay." Falco joins Gabi who doesn't take her eye off the penned horses.

"Let's take a horse and run."

"What are you talking about?"

"They'll come and search here, too. We've gotta run farther. Besides..." Gabi looks to Faclo with pure disgust in her eyes. "I'm not gonna share a meal with devils."

"Listen here-"

"All right! Come on in!"

"O-Okay! We'll be right there!" Falco takes a step and leads Gabi forward, but whispers before they reach the cabin. "I'll do all the talking, so keep your mouth shut." As ridiculous as Gabi is in this situation, she'd rather eat dirt than a home-cooked meal prepared by the very people who can destroy the world.

Entering the log cabin, the Marleyan-born Eldians are warmly welcomed by the blonde girl and five others. Three other teenagers sit at the table, while a middle-aged woman serves the table. A seasoned man walks around the table to the front of the newly welcomed guests.

"You younguns are the new runaways? Who might ya be?"

Gabi recognizes the accent as southern Marleyan, but keeps her mouth shut as Falco 'does all the talking' to the others. "Nice to meet you! We're siblings, Ben and Mia! We have our reasons, but we ran away from home! We'll do whatever you want! Please, let us stay for just a few days! Please!" Falco bows, and forces Gabi to do the same.

"You younguns don't need to be bowin' like that." The man says, "Welcome to the Braus Stables. Y'all can stay as long as ya like. C'mon, join us for breakfast."

"T-Thank you very much!" The pair are seated on the other side of the long table. However, despite the warm hospitality and the bowl of hot stew placed in front of her, Gabi is mortified by the events around her. Being welcomed by devils...being fed by devils...being touched by devils... Touched?

"Are y'all tired? Go lie down once yer done eatin'." Driven more by instinct than anything else, Gabi swats Mrs. Braus' hand off her head. An uncomfortable silence comes after, and Gabi tries her best to restrain herself in the company of devils.

However, the family takes no offense to it. "Lisa, the lass is..."

"I'm sorry. I'm sure y'all been through a lot."

"Well..."

"Sorry about my little sister! Th-Thanks for breakfast!" Falco continues to do damage control, hoping Gabi will drop her morals for once and just relax. "Delicious! It's so good! It's really so good! C'mon! Eat up, Mia!"

Eventually, she does so, raising the wooden spoon to her mouth.

Elijah

"Don't they ever shut up?" I ask Hange as she enters the building where Jean and the rest of the 104th watch over the leakers. With so many members of the media outside, I have no doubt she was swarmed like flies on shit. I entered through the back of the building with the soldiers who brought me over, so I have no true idea of how determined the crowd is for answers. But based on my superior's sigh, I can bet it was hell.

"Feel free to try and shut them up yourself if you want," She says jokingly as she walks over to Jean, Mikasa, and the others around the suspects. "Haa. You're the ones who leaked the info about Eren? Holger, Wim, Louise... You three recruits, and Floch." She stares at the redhead as she takes a seat in front of him. "Why did you do it?"

"Because Eren should be freed. He hasn't done anything wrong. He challenged an imposing enemy and grasped victory. Victory in the form of the Rumbling, which secures our right to live. Eren saved the lives of everyone in the New Eldian Empire."

"'The Land of Eldia', you mean." I speak up, hearing enough of this 'New Eldian Empire' bullshit. "Because of this 'victory', an all-out attack on this island by all the armies of the world is now inevitable. Unless it's gone over your poorly-cut hair, that now puts not only this island but our people at risk."

"That would be the case even if we didn't have the Rumbling. No matter how you see it, 'Section Commander', the people of this island will not survive if we do not possess power."

"There's no guarantee that the Rumbling works as planned and can save us." Hange continues. "At this point, it's no more than a myth."

"Only because you're keeping Eren locked up. Do we really have the luxury of wasting time? At this rate, our victory will be squandered. Eren Jaeger will lead our country. Please, release him at once."

"Yeah, you might just be right about that. One way or another, I made the decision to carry out Zeke's plan. The full responsibility is mine. Therefore, I won't tolerate disobedience. You will be tried for leaking information about Eren. Have them confined."

"Yes, ma'am." I grab Floch's shoulder escorting him to the cells below."

"If it's for the sake of humanity, so be it."

"Have you ever been in this cell, Mikasa?" I stare down the line of cells to where Mikasa had placed Luise. Floch sits on his bed, quiet and content with his surroundings. It unnerves me that he hasn't resisted, given that all I know of him is to argue.

"No. It was the other one." My friend replies.

"I see. That's a shame. Oh, I don't regret what I did. If victory is our ultimate goal, obeying the laws isn't the end all be all, right?"

"Stop it, Louise," Mikasa says firmly. "You'll only be here longer."

The girl doesn't stop. "I'm still the same person as the one you saved that day."

Footsteps to my right gain my attention. A Titan comes down the road, running quickly towards the crowd. However, it ignores the Garrison troops behind it. Titans are not picky about their humans, but some will ignore those nearby for a greater catch elsewhere. Sometimes they do things that are unpredictable. We class them "Abnormal" due to the abnormal behavior they exhibit. I prepare to jump in and take out the Titan, yet it falls before I can make my move, just a few meters from the civilians.

Its killer is Mikasa. She lands on the corpse's head, checking her weapons before noticing the standing witnesses to her kill. "What are you all doing?"

"Good timing," the merchant asshole says to Mikasa. "Make these morons push my wagon! I'll pay you handsomely."

If I didn't have the right mind, I'd beat this asshole until he can't walk anymore, but lucky for me, looks like Mikasa has something else in mind.

"Right now, my comrades are dying back there. I can't help your crisis. They are dying from fighting Titans."

"Exactly! It is your duty as a soldier to die for the survival of the citizens! Don't get high on yourselves because of the safety we had for the past hundred years!"

If that ticked me off, I know Mikasa is just as triggered. She steps off the Titan and walks through the crowd, blades still drawn. "I wonder if they understand the value of one person dying for the sake of someone else? At times, the death of one is necessary to save many."

The president apparently has friends as they step up to protect him as he threatens Mikasa. "Don't you dare! Your commander and I are old friends! One word from me and you'll be court-martialed!" The grunts come after Mikasa, only to meet my fists.

Mikasa keeps on walking, barely acknowledging me as she steps up to the balding merchant. "How will a dead body speak? As Mikasa raises one of her swords, the merchant realizes that she is serious, and steps back as her blade comes down.

"Wait!" Mikasa's sword hovers just at his throat, the stare she gives daring him to make another threat. As he shakes, the merchant sighs and orders his men to remove the wagon, thus allowing the people to escape through the inner gate.

Mikasa and I stand together in silence, watching the civies pass. I notice the mother-daughter pair stay behind, the little girl waving to me and Mikasa. "Thank you, miss!"

"Thanks to you, we'll live. We are forever grateful." Mikasa gasps but says nothing as she sheathes her swords and salutes with her fist over her heart. I do the same, then we leave the pair behind.

"I realized something when you, a human, took down that Titan: That without power, you can't protect anything. I learned that it's okay to fight against senseless violence. Ever since that day, I wanted to get closer to you, so I... Why did you join the Scout Regiment, Mikasa? If it was for Mr. Jaeger, freeing him-"

"I only have one thing to say: Keep your mouth shut." Mikasa turns my way, only facing Louise again as she salutes Mikasa as she did in my memory. As she walks up, she holds her head, wincing a bit.

"Mikasa? What's wrong?" She looks at me, shaking off whatever is wrong, and storms out of the cell block. Sighing, I follow after her, not wanting to be here anymore either.

"Elijah." I stop. Great, now Floch wants to talk? "I wonder...now that Potato Bitch is gone...just what'll happen to you next? The Queen finally gets pregnant, or you slit another woman's throat? It's funny, every woman you've come to know eventually suffers one way or another. Who will be next? Historia? Or maybe Mikasa is the next one? You do move on quickly once a girl dies...as you did with Lyra and Mina-"

BANG!

I look at the flinched, shaking Floch, surprised that I nearly blew his brains out.

"Don't you fuckin' dare say their names..."

I lower my pistol, holstering it as my eyes move from Floch to the wall by the bed where the bullet had implanted itself, only inches away from Floch. Turning away, I quickly step out before the monster has the chance to escape from its shackles. Mikasa looks back, but doesn't say as we leave, because she knows when I'm holding the carving and jewel firmly in my hand, I do not want to talk.