Chapter One

Abby

~July, Year 849~

"Ugh, Lewis! Can ya come 'ere for a sec!" "Just a minute!" I replied as I tossed one of two bags of grappling hooks onto a shelf. I grabbed for the second black bag, used my knee to give it some momentum to help lift it, and threw it on the shelf with the first bag. With a heavy sigh, I made my way to the front desk. I dusted my dirty hands on my coveralls, leaving dark brown stains of what appeared to be grease on the cloth.

"What did you screw up this time, rookie?" I asked with an exasperated sigh. The new recruit had only just started a few days ago in the warehouse, and he had managed to knock over three shelves of gear (which I was barely putting back together), mixed up eight squads' personalized skin-parring blades, and ruined a whole cart full of new uniform jackets by accidentally dropping a gallon of red paint on them. Jackson was becoming a headache. But I had to give him credit. He was at least trying to be productive (and not cause any more problems).

When I approached the front desk, Jackson was rummaging through some paperwork, sweat accumulating on his brow. He was getting nervous, frantic even. His hand shook as he flipped through the clipboard notes, nearly tearing the parchment. Four other soldiers stood silently in front of him on the other side of the desk. The ringleader of the four tapped his finger impatiently on the wooden surface of the counter, seemingly ready to catch an attitude. Oh goody, it's gonna be one of those days...

"What seems to be the problem?" I asked as I approached Jackson's side, already realizing the quote-unquote "problem". And it had nothing to do with supplies. I looked at Jackson and said as I grabbed the paperwork from his hands, "You're excused, rookie. Go ahead and finish stacking the rest of the uniforms." He gave me a look of thanks and went to the back to finish what I had just started for the morning. "You're out of uniform, soldier." the leader of this gang said, pointing at me with a glare. My uniform jacket was tossed to the side on one of the chairs next to me. My cream-colored short-sleeved blouse was slightly untucked underneath the dirty apron that covered my chest and stomach.

I smiled cheekily, sighing to calm my impending outburst, and explained, "I'm not surprised you're unaware, soldier. In the supply warehouse, we are allowed to remove our uniform jackets if we are loading or unloading supplies and gear. It's to prevent us from getting caught on anything and from overheating and getting heat stroke, especially now during the summer months." He glared at me, his face turning red like a hot poker. "But if you want to talk about being out of uniform, some of your shirt's buttons are undone, part of your collar is lifted up. Oh, and your uniform jacket is off-center. Just to name a few things."

"She got you there, Oruo." chuckled one of the other soldiers who stood next to him as he examined his squad member's outfit. Oruo quickly analyzed his uniform, adjusting according to my observation. "Now before you try to lecture me more on our procedures that you have no information about, or trying to tell me how to do my job, how can I help you?"

Oruo quickly cleared his throat in obvious embarrassment and asked, "We're here to pick up skin-parring blades. We need a total of twenty-five sets." he said. "Alright, who's squad are you with? Just so I can make note of it." I asked, looking down at the neatly handprinted paperwork and flipping through the pages. "Captain Levi." Oh, so these soldiers are from the elite Special Operations Squad... I looked at each person, studying each person's individual likeness. They didn't seem so tough, so special. But what did I know? I wasn't a fighter. I stayed in the rear while they went out to fight. And these four soldiers were some of the deadliest Scouts. After all, they were hand-selected and trained by Captain Levi.

I walked over to the shelving units and began pulling out each individual pack. While I laid out the blades on the desk, the group talked among themselves. "What do we have going on the rest of the day?" the soldier with blonde hair asked causally. "Just cleaning the barracks. You know, the usual. The Captain is busy the rest of the afternoon with the Commander." another replied. "It's strange having Captain Levi gone all the time. I got used to having him around..." the female of the group trailed off, the grimace in her voice quite noticeable. It peaked my interest. A crush now, huh?

"Oh, dear Petra. No need to fret about our dear Captain. Besides, you have me here." Oruo assured her with a smile. She rolled her eyes and replied, "No thanks, I'll pass. And I've told you before, Captain Levi does not sound or act like that, so quit it! You're embarrassing yourself!" "Alright, ladies and gents, here they are, as you requested." I said, bringing the last blade order to the desk. Once confirmed that all blades were accounted for, the paperwork was signed off. The men in the group quickly shuffled and loaded what they could in their arms, all the while thanking me for my time. Oruo was short with his words, but he still thanked me nonetheless.

"Thanks again." Petra said as I helped her load up the blades in her arms. "Don't mention it. Just please ask your Oruo friend not to be such a tight-ass when it comes to my rookies. It's gonna take me forever to get this one comfortable working alone again." I joked. "You got it! Thanks!" Petra promised with a chuckle. The gang departed the supply warehouse, and it was once again deserted. The only thing that was heard was a few voices that were outside of passersby and Jackson in the back cussing up a storm from dropping something on his foot. "Uh, Lewis? Can you come help me?" he called. I sighed. "Sure, I'll be right over." Rookies.

Sitting on my bunk with my nose in a book, I heard the chirping of a cricket and the laughter of drunken soldiers that came from outside. The troops were at it again. I smiled. They deserved a little cheer, especially with what was coming in the next few weeks. During each expedition outside of the walls, more and more soldiers were lost. And for what? It seemed we were no closer to finding a solution to defeating the Titans. I don't think we even knew where they came from. And if we did, the information wasn't shared with me. Of course, we knew a lot more information now than what he did years ago when...When...

Knock, Knock... "Door's open." I called, turning the page of my book. The door creaked open, and Jacob leaned against the doorframe. His arms crossed his muscular chest and a sly smirk stained his lips. "What's so jolly funny?" I asked, my eyes still skimming across the pages of my novel. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering what you said to Captain Levi's squad that caused such a ruckus today." Jacob wondered as he sauntered in and closed the door. He quickly took a seat at my desk, sitting backwards in the wooden chair and resting his arms on the top back end of the frame. "What are you talking about?" I asked, raising my eyebrow as I lowered my book and looked at him.

"Everyone is talking about it. There's rumors going around that you backtalked the members of the Special Operations Squad. And Captain Levi is furious!" Jacob whispered excitingly, the little sass in his voice taking center stage. I swear, he gossips like a teenage girl. I rolled my eyes and picked up my book and began reading again. "I don't know where you get your intel from, but it was nothing of the sort. Besides, if there were problems, Captain Levi knows where I work and who my leadership is. He is more than welcome to come talk to me if there are any issues or discrepancies on how I handle my job." I replied. "Have you ever met Captain Levi?" Jacob asked. "No, not face to face. Why?" I answered. "He's really intimidating. Even though he rarely talks, he gets the brass to shut up when he does have something to say. He's Humanity's Strongest Soldier!" Jacob praised.

"Alright, I get it! Your fangirl side is showing." I nagged with a roll of my eyes as I dropped my book to my lap. "All I did was issue his squad their blades, that's it. I'm not one to go out of my way to properly introduce myself. And I plan to keep it that way. So for now, keep your gossiping to a minimum. I haven't heard anything, nor do I plan to. Besides, when Levi's squad left, they were in a good mood and didn't say anything. So, I'm assuming what you heard was false." "Alright, Abby. If you say so. I'm just repeating what I heard down the grapevine." Jacob shrugged his shoulders. "Well, whoever you're getting your information from is annoying." I said. "And I don't want whoever is spreading this little 'rumor' to make it into something that it isn't. Because that's what it's gonna turn into."

"Whatever. Anyway, you ready for the expedition? You're going with us this time, aren't you?" Jacob asked eagerly, tilting the seat forward and back like a little child on a rocking horse. Jacob loved going outside the walls. He was always one for the thrill of the fight and the fear of losing his head, literally. Him and his four other brothers were all enlisted in the Scout Regiment. And they were ALL adrenaline fanatics. Their father died some years ago during an expedition when Shadis was the commander of the Scouts. Since then, all five sons were bent on doing what they knew best. Killing Titans and furthering the advancement of human territory, just like their father. And much to their poor mother's dismay. But they made sure to see her as often as possible and kept her updated on their wellbeing.

"I'm not going." I quickly answered, grabbing for my book and hoping he would stop his questioning there. Jacob didn't know of my aristocratic heritage. No one did, not even my own squad leader. And it was imperative that it remained that way. There were only so many things, so many excuses, I could come up with that allowed me to stay out of the battlefield to keep from rising suspicion. And of course, people noticed. My own squad whispered amongst me every time orders were given about an operation because they knew I wouldn't be joining amongst their ranks. And they were upset. They had no choice. They thought I did, but in all actuality, I didn't either. I was forced to stay back and wait for word on the determination of the battle. And it was never good.

"And what's your excuse this time? Period cramps?" teased Jacob, but I could hear the malice behind his jest. "Shut up." I replied, tossing the book at his head, which he successfully blocked with his arm. The book fell to the floor, and I cursed myself mentally because I forgot to mark my page and I would have a fun time later on trying to figure out where I had left off of. "So what's the reason?" Jacob asked, a little more serious this time as he picked up my book and handed it to me. "I don't mean to pry, but it's just a lot of people have been talking about that as well." he continued. "Talking about you getting special treatment and whatnot. I'm not trying to be a pain or anything. I'm just trying to help and honestly, not trying to believe in these rumors, you know?"

I'll admit, that hurt. Jacob and I had been friends since the Cadet Corps. He saved my rear end a few times, as I did his. He kept me awake during guard post, shared his rations with me when I was nearly out. You know, what soldiers are supposed to do to take care of their own. I know he meant well. So, when you hear that someone as close as him doesn't believe you (even though the reasons you are giving are bogus), it does sting. "Jacob, you know me. I'm still in recovery from that riding accident. Damn doctor won't release me until my shoulder is fully healed. Since we don't know how far we'll travel during the expedition, he doesn't want to give me the go-ahead in the event we get stuck out there. I'm a liability. Not only to myself, but to others." I explained with a smile.

I could tell by the look on Jacob's face as he hung onto my words that he still felt uneasy. He didn't fully believe my story, but he seemed to buy it for now. After a little more talking, Jacob said his goodnights and went on his merry way. How could simple little rumors turn into something so outrageous? From me not going outside the walls to me setting a soldier straight on my job attire? I'm not making a stink about going or not going into battle against the Titans. I'm not complaining to anyone or bragging that I get to hang back and wait for word about a victory or a loss. And it wasn't like I cussed the man out or kicked him out of my warehouse. I didn't deny him his order or the orders of the squad. And they all left in relatively happy spirits.

I sighed and shook my head. It was probably Jackson who opened his mouth and made the whole situation sound like I was being an asshole to everyone. Probably because I refused to let him go home half-day. Damn rookies think that just because they're new and inexperienced, they can slack off because the days are slow. Not when I'm in charge of the warehouse. Especially when the Scouts are going out in two weeks' time. I have to ensure everyone is ready to go. It's the least I can do since I can't help out on the frontlines.

I put my book on my dresser and got underneath the covers of my bed. I lowered the flame to my lantern on my bedside table and watched the flame intently, slowly finding that I was drifting off to sleep. It was nights like this I wondered what it was like if I had stayed inside Wall Sina. If maybe, just maybe, Andrew would have been an actual husband and not the conniving man he was. If he was in the marriage for more than just a title and my family's nobility and fortune. If we could actually be a happy family one day. With children. Like I had always dreamed for myself. Like my mother had always wanted for my brother and me.

But yet here I am, a noble woman living a double life as a Survey Corps soldier. In a loveless marriage to a complete ass of a man, daughter to a man who I could hardly call a father by any stretch of the imagination. I suppose it can always be worse. I could be stuck in the same house as Andrew, enduring his endless hours of drinking and abuse, wishing I was able to divorce him or be widowed by his 'unfortunate' death. Then I would be left to deal with my wretched father, who would undoubtedly find me another suitor that would match his needs more than my own to reap the benefits that are instilled in my blood and not his since the nobility ran in my mother's genes. Ah, such is the sad life of women who are treated more like cattle than actual human beings, especially when they had a title.

I laid on my back and stared up at the ceiling, the flicker of the flame causing the shadows to dance across the darkened wooden pillars. Is this really going to be the rest of my life? Hiding in the Survey Corps until both my husband and father rot away and eventually die off? Will I then finally be rid of their cruelty, and I can live my life? Or will I forever be trapped in a living hell where I constantly have to hide and keep everyone at a distance, including my own comrades, because I am limited on what I can and cannot do? Even my own duties as a Scout are limited because of my marriage and the restrictions my own father placed on me when he agreed to allow me to join the Scout Regiment.

Only a select few know the real reasons behind my restrictions and why I'm not allowed outside the city's walls. Why I'm the only Scout known to man who'll probably never venture out and fight a Titan head on. It's actually pretty pathetic. But it was the only guaranteed way I knew of that I could get away from the people I hated and who hated me just as much, if not more, for just merely existing and possessing a nobility card. I sighed. Such is the life of a poor little rich girl named Abby.