16:57 PM

'Armin, Mikasa?

Where is everyone?

Trost, what happened?

We've trained so hard, put in countless hours to reach this point. And when it was time to prove to the world that we weren't some pushovers everything seemed to crumble underneath our feet, all that effort, all those sacrifices... Why is it that we have to suffer so much? What have we done that makes them take away our loved ones, destroy our lands, and strip us of our dreams? After all those years, it looks like nothing has changed at all.

No, it has.

This feeling, this... This power. I can feel it coursing through me, something feels different. It's urging me to fight, and keep moving forward. I... cannot afford to back down. Not until every last one of them is wiped from this earth. It is my sole purpose in this world, that is my promise to you.

Until every last one of them is wiped from this earth.'

"...Wiped from this earth..."

Floch peered at the the sleeping boy blankly, inwardly captivated by his murmurs. Eren's voice reverberated throughout the dark and gloomy dungeon, Floch's lips thinned as he withdrew a gleaming pocket watch and scrutinized the time, then raised his head and cleared his throat.

"What manner of dream could have you rambling like that, I wonder, Eren."

Eren's eyes snapped open, his senses abruptly sharpening as he took in his surroundings with bewilderment. He was trapped behind bars, while Floch sat calmly on the other side, leaning back in his chair with his arms and legs crossed. Floch stared deeply into Eren's striking emerald eyes.

"Floch... What's happening? I swear I was tied somewhere else...with that girl, what's her name? Wait, where the hell are we? Did we manage to fend off the attack? And the others...where are Armin and Mikasa? Why am I imprisoned?" Eren leaped to his feet, gripped by a frantic and bewildered state as elusive memories began to flood back.

"So many questions... We're below HQ. We've succeeded in eliminating the titans in our vicinity, but many more still lurk around us. As for the city, well, Trost's fate hangs in the balance, but your unique abilities will undoubtedly provide us with the advantage we need," Floch explained.

'I recall now...The look on her face...she was terrified of me. Yet, I don't see it in Floch's eyes. What did he mean by abilities? That girl, Ruth, mentioned that I heal like the titans. Could I be one of them? Have I been running around as one of those monsters all this time? That can't be possible...can it? Damn it...Think, Eren, THINK!' Eren thought, his expression contorted in discomfort.

"As for Mikasa and Armin, they aren't allowed in here without my permission." Floch stated calmly.

"Why would they need permission? Why am I being locked up? Dammit, I'm getting sick and tired of this! Answer me!" Eren glowered.

Floch challenged him with an unflinching gaze. "Let's try to remain calm, otherwise I'll redirect my time and attention elsewhere." Floch warned, Eren glared at him some more before reluctantly complying. "What I'm doing is purely in your best interest as well as ours, It's damn near boiling up there. My advice is that you get used to it because it's only getting worse from this point forward once we're back behind the walls."

Eren frowned, feeling betrayed.

"The situation is complicated, no hard feelings Eren but I'm simply doing what's best right now, all of command is gone, I'm the only one left in charge of everyone here. As it currently stands I have to ask for your patience and understanding, I'm merely keeping some semblance of order."

Eren narrows his eyes, his face flushed with anger. "So what? I just sit here and cool down until they no longer want me dead? Just how long would that take?"

"Until we're back on our feet and ready to move, our transport for the wounded was broken thanks to your... unconventional fighting style. Could take minutes, could take hours, so sit tight will you?"

His anger momentarily slipped and was replaced by that of guilt. "I'm sorry about that, I wasn't exactly aware of... well, anything." Eren puzzled.

"Don't worry about it, and nobody will lay a hand on you if they know what's best for them. Now then." He clapped twice, changing the direction of the conversation. "Let's talk, man to man. I must warn you that the contents of this discussion are on a need to know basis." Floch began much to Eren's intrigue. "That said, let's not beat around the bush, I think we both know by now. You're a Titan."

"I figured as much... I... Still find it hard to believe." Eren breathed out dejectedly.

"Why the long face? That's not such a bad thing, Eren!" Floch smiled, unnerving the green-eyed boy as his face morphed into a serious expression. "Now listen carefully, this isn't bootcamp gossip, this is a matter of life and death on a wider scale than you could possibly imagine, the kind of stuff a government puts people to sleep for. Don't disappoint me." Floch spoke, remembering full well what kind of person Eren used to be back then.

"A-Alright, you can count one me." Eren stuttered anxiously.

Floch scanned his features then sighed for the umpteenth time that day, he glanced off to the far end of the dungeon corridor towards the staircase to make sure no one was sneaking around. He uncrossed his arms and legs and leaned forward on his chair, gazing down at the stone floor. "This has been such a long day, I almost can't believe I'm finally going to tell you. I knew that sooner or later I would have had to but..." He trailed, gazing back up at him with a tired grin. "I really wished it wasn't under such shitty circumstances."

"Where was I? Right, your uhhhh.. situation isn't some random coincidence or curse placed on you- well I guess technically it is.. that's besides the point. Your abilities were passed down to you Eren, they call your kind titan shifters."

"Passed down... Wait, Titan shifters?" Eren puzzled out loud. Another thought immediately clicked in his mind, Plural, Other shifters too?!

"Somebody who turns into a titan at will, you'll get the gist of it soon, If you ask me It's more of a blessing than a curse. Has it never crossed your mind how you never get sick or injured? Not even scars or calluses at that."

Eren took a good amount of time to ponder Floch's question, he stretched his palms in front of his face to confirm only to find that he was right. Another memory surfaced, of the day he hit his head on accident after celebrating his successful attempt at performing the balance test. How did he never question the overnight disappearance of the injury from the back of his head?

His eyes widened as he made a sudden realization, Floch's always been there for him from the start.

"...I just felt bad for you that's all,"

"I'll be there with you, you'll do great things someday Eren."

"Just count your blessings, us mortals can't heal like you tita(ns)?"

Eren gasped, anger bubbling in his chest. "You bastard... You knew? All these years?!"

Floch began to chuckle uncontrollably, unsettling the cadet as he took a couple of steps back. Eren furrowed his brows, glaring at him with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Sure, let's go with that, Eren. I am confident your next question is how, but that's need to know."

"Need to kn-?"

"Let's talk something bigger, something more pressing." Floch asserted, gazing up at him sternly. "Are you ready for that?" Floch paused for a few moments waiting for the boy to collect his thoughts. "You'll be shocked to know that if certain conditions are met, pretty much anyone can turn into a titan, there's nine of them total, yourself included. The only difference being that you can turn back human while others can't."

Eren didn't quite understand what he meant at first, but the more he mulled over it the more that his words began to make sense and when they did, he felt reality shatter around him as his face morphed into that of dread and horror.

"A-are the colossal and armored titans like me t-too?"

"Yes."

"And you're saying all of them are humans as well?"

"Yes."

"So... that means that throughout our entire history we've been getting devoured by other people? T-the soldiers, the civilians, our friends... my mother... All who killed them were like us?! This... This has got to be some kind of sick twisted joke, It can't be true!" He cried out in disbelief as his knuckles turned white from his grip on the bars.

Floch stood up and inched closer to him until they were face to face with each other, slightly towering over him.

"Do you have any other explanation? Face it kid, you know it in your heart to be true. No point denying what's right in your face." Floch spat, annoyed by the boy's stubborn nature. "You think you heard it all? That's still nothing, you were only given a taste, Eren. Once we're out of here you'll learn more, you'll find that the world isn't as black and white as you originally thought it was."

Again with the cryptic messages and the mystery, Eren wanted to rip his hair out, he wanted nothing more than to just punch him in frustration. It was killing him on the inside, why couldn't he just say it?!

"You have a special role to fill in this world, and for that reason you keep moving forward no matter the cost, do you understand?" Floch spoke assertively, his deranged bloodshot eyes drilling a hole into his skull.

Eren froze, his previous thoughts now gone. "I- I do!" Eren replied with a shaky breath, disturbed by his crazed appearance.

Floch's face suddenly shifted into a more cheery look as he clapped his hands together. "Great!"

Eren visibly relaxed as the tension lifted, he still needed to know more. "So... About the other shifters..." Eren trailed.

"Ahh!"

Floch turned around on his heel in the other direction and placed his hands behind his back. "I'm afraid we'll have to continue this at a later time, I wouldn't want to overload you with so much information all at once. Besides, I've spent too much time down here, I need to check on the others upstairs."

Eren's face fell as disappointment washed over him, he knew better than to pester Floch about it, he grit his teeth in anger as his late mother's last moments flashed in his mind. "Will we speak again?"

"Yes, you wanna learn about the culprits behind your mother's death right? You're not subtle about it." Eren's eyes went wide with surprise as he watched the boy leave, Floch spoke to him a final time as he walked away. "You will, trust me. You'll do well to remember that I'm the only person you can trust with this, no Armin or Mikasa. So do keep it our little secret would you? Oh and if I die before we get the chance to speak again just seek out Krista."

"Krista?! What does she have to do with any of this?!" Eren called out.

"More than you might imagine, see you around Eren."

Eren was left stunned in his cell as he sat back down on the bed to digest everything, it wasn't before long that he heard a couple of feet hurrying down the steps of the dungeon. When he looked back up at the bars he saw both Armin and Mikasa gazing back at him with cheerful expressions, he smiled back at them though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Eren are you okay?!" Armin was the first to ask.

Floch Forster and Krista Lenz.

He needed to uncover the full truth from them.


"The one to lead this nation is Eren Yeager, you need to release him immediately." - Floch Forster 854 AD, to Hange Zoe during an interrogation about leaked military information.


17:06 PM

The situation was dire, and yet they had not anticipated the depth of despair that had befallen the soldiers who feared setting foot back into Trost. Mutinies were brewing, and some were unable to stand due to their crippling terror. The scouts trudged warily into town and were met with a range of reactions from those they encountered. While some remained skeptical, the majority were elated to see them. Levi scowled and averted his gaze, focusing instead on the path ahead.

"They must be going through hell," Nifa muttered, her eyes flickering around as she scanned the surroundings.

Hange, noticing her unease, laid a reassuring hand on her arm. "Don't worry, We're here now. They seem happy to see us at least," She smiled.

Rashad, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "They're happy because we'll be doing all the heavy lifting, section commander."

Erwin swiveled around on his horse and addressed the assembled scouts. "Attention! I will be joining Commanders Pixis and Dok at headquarters to assess the situation. Meanwhile, Squad Klaus and Lima will scale the walls and provide me with a report on the town's condition. All other units are to hold defensive positions along the wall and await further instructions. Squad Levi, Hange, and Mike will accompany me. Move!"

"Yes sir!"

Petra couldn't help but grow worried for a certain someone, her fear for them getting the best of her as she scanned for their face among the hundreds of gathered soldiers.

She turned around to Levi. "Captain Levi, Permission to perform a wellness check?"

Levi looked back at her from the corner of his eye with indifference. "Granted, make it quick."

"Yes, sir!" She replied before turning her horse around to head near the gate.

Petra looked around left and right as she crossed the streets, asking the soldiers about the whereabouts of the trainees. She'd eventually come across a group of them after some guidance, she made her way to two girls sitting by themselves at a table before calmly announcing her presence.

"Hello there, my name's Petra Ral. Both of you are from the one hundred and fourth southern division right?" She greeted.

Ymir and Krista looked up at the woman with intrigue, Ymir's ears perked up in interest as she studied the redheaded woman's face. "Yeah, how can we help?" The Blonde asked.

"I'm looking around for somebody, he's a cadet in your class by the name of Floch Forster. You wouldn't happen to know his whereabouts would you?"

Both of the girl's faces lit up with surprise which she initially took as a good sign, however that quickly changed when the blonde girl's mood suddenly soured. Her stomach sank as she anticipated the worst. "I'm sorry, but he hasn't made it here yet. All of the cadets you're seeing are the only ones who returned, we tried to go back but they refused all of our requests to resupply them." She spoke in a somber tone.

"I wouldn't worry about that slippery bastard much, he survived far worse trust me. Though it is strange nobody's coming back yet." Ymir averted her eyes with a bothered expression.

"A-actually, just a bit ago we heard rumors that they've spotted green smoke out in the distance, they could still be out there!" Krista informed.

Petra smiled weakly. "I see, thank you both for your time."

Krista nodded at her before Petra left, she frowned as she made her way to rejoin her squad. Inwardly wishing that the boy did indeed pull through all the chaos and survived, though wishful thinking often yielded disappointing results in this world.


17:14 PM

A gloomy atmosphere hung over the castle as Floch made his way around checking from person to person, those who came back from the rescue mission were currently getting as much rest as possible while the others continued to look out for any trouble. Floch could see it in their eyes as clear as day as he went around checking on them, everyone wanted to go home, there was only so much most of them could handle before they reached their limit, some more than others.

Floch noticed Daz and Samuel sitting against the wall from far away, the former looked to be curled up and in a state of shock as Samuel attempted his best to try and comfort the boy. Floch closed his eyes and sighed, rubbing his temple as he did so to soothe that persistent headache. These were just kids at the end of the day, it was at that moment that Marco made his way toward him.

"Floch! good news!" Marco told him.

"I'm listening," Floch replied, opening his eyes.

"We found spare parts for the carriages in the storage area, we'll be able to fix it and leave very soon!" Marco beamed.

"Good, did you do a headcount as I asked you to?"

Marco's face fell, furrowing his brows as he did. "Well... We lost five people on that rescue mission, six more were injured and are no longer able to fight so we have ten injured in total who need to be transported to safety."

"So we're down to just twenty-seven ourselves included... How does everyone feel about Eren at the moment?"

Marco's face lit up in surprise. "Eren? Well, It's still so recent so everyone is hung on up on him being a titan. As far as I can tell they're scared of him, how is he by the way?"

"Fine, I'm keeping him locked down in the dungeons for now to avoid any altercations. Part of me knows we'll need his help if we wish to leave this place safely." Floch replied.

"I see... I agree too, who would have thought huh? It's incredibly ironic to think that him of all people would become a titan." Marco chuckled weakly.

Floch nodded. "Good work out there Marco. Update me about the carriage, We'll be sending a team to deliver the word behind the walls soon, let everybody know."

Marco nodded before he took his leave, he turned around to the two boys from before and made his way towards them. Daz didn't notice when Floch had arrived exactly but that didn't prevent him from flinching upon noticing his presence, the terrified boy looked up at him tearfully.

"Hey there, Samuel, Daz."

"F-Floch!" Daz spoke in horror before he cowered away and dug his face into his knees.

"How are you two holding up?" Floch asked.

Samuel rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at him nervously. "W-well, we could have had it way worse! We're just glad we're still alive and kicking, Daz is a little shaken up though."

Before He could reply Daz exploded at him tearfully gaining the attention of some of the bystanders.

"Please tell me we're not going on any more retarded suicide missions! Please!" Daz howled as he lunged at him and gripped his pants by the thighs.

Floch was taken aback by his reaction, his brows knitted into a frown as he looked down at him. "No, Daz, We won't be going on anymore... suicide missions. Don't worry." He told him in a calming manner before gently removing the boy's hands from his thighs.

He knelt at eye level and placed his hand firmly on the frantic boy's shoulder. "You did good, both of you did. We'll be leaving here soon. Rest and don't think too much about it." He squeezed the boy's shoulder. "Alright?"

"Y-Yeah, sure!" Daz replied with a shaky breath.

"Good." He grinned.

Floch left the two alone as he went around checking on the others, morale was hanging on by a thin thread as he feared. He wondered how Erwin had done it, how did he casually inspire everyone around him to maintain that same level of confidence and dedication. Now that he's been in countless positions of leadership, he knew damn well that it wasn't anywhere near as easy as that man made it seem.

It wasn't long before he stumbled on Sandra once again, relief washed over him at seeing the girl in better condition. He walked over towards her and watched how her face lit upon noticing him.

"Floch!"

Sandra rushed in his direction, She quickly enveloped him in a hug which he returned. The two separated and the brunette looked up at him with a frown, Floch's lips thinned as he could sense something was wrong. "Gordon told me what happened to you guys, I'm so sorry... I can't believe Franz is gone... I-I tried to give Hannah some comfort but she's inconsolable, his death hit her hard." She informed somberly.

Floch sighed and looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Yeah, It did. We just have to keep moving forward, lest we end up dead too."

Sandra looked crestfallen as she thought about the deceased civilians, her eyes traced their path towards Sasha and the small blonde girl sitting by her side at a table. "It must have been horrible back there, If only we were faster..." she trailed, he momentarily winced, turning his head away before looking back at her.

"No point thinking back on that now, we can't change the past. How are your injuries, Sandra?"

"My body's hating me for moving this much, and I can still hear some ringing in my ear." She replied, before giving him a concerned look. "I should be asking you that! Does your leg still hurt? Are you thirsty, or hungry? The others took some food from the officers' provisions, here." Sandra added before handing him an apple she pulled out of her jacket, she smiled at him warmly.

Floch gave a weak smile in return, gratefully accepting her gift before he caught a glimpse of Louise in the corner of his eyes. "Thank you, I think someone else needs this more than I do though." He replied before making his way towards her with Sandra in tow.

"Hello again, Louise."

Louise looked up at him with a weak smile without uttering a word, relieved to see her savior well. He knelt next to her at the table and handed her the apple, Louise looked at it for a few seconds before she took it from his hands and eagerly ate it. Floch ruffled her hair a little bit before turning to Sasha and giving her a brief nod, A question now surfaced to the front of his mind as he recalled someone missing from all the cadets he spoke to.

"Has anyone seen Hannah around?"

Sasha held her chin in thought before shrugging. "Not sure, haven't seen her since I came back here."

He turned around to Sandra. "No clue either." She shook her head.

"D-Does she... Does she have red hair and freckles on her face?" Louise questioned as all three turned towards her making her feel nervous.

"Have you seen her?" Floch asked once again with growing concern.

She nodded. "S-She was there a bit ago," Louise answered as she pointed.

Floch followed her finger towards the direction of the castle's courtyard, he shared a look with the other two girls before he quickly bolted in that direction. Floch ran past a few confused cadets before he skid to a halt in the middle of the courtyard, his head snapped from one spot to the other in search of any trace of the redhead. His eyes suddenly paused on the opened door of the armory which had been previously closed. He walked towards it at a brisk pace before he suddenly heard a disturbance coming from below.

Floch rushed down the stairs as he stepped over a dried puddle of blood and made his way around the corner of the entrance before stopping dead in his tracks, his blood freezing in his veins at the horrific sight.

With a rope tied around her neck, Hannah hung from the ceiling, seconds away from departing from this world.


"I Dream Of The Old Man Who Hanged Himself In That Settlement. I Always Wonder Why He Told Us That Story Before He Put The Noose Around His Neck." - Bertholdt Hoover 845 AD, To Eren Yeager during training days.


17:08 PM

"Bertholdt, Bring me that crate next to you."

Finished with refueling his canisters, Bertholdt looked over his shoulders then handed over the crate to Reiner. The blond nodded in appreciation before he climbed it to reach the valve of the main fuel tank of the armory. Annie kept her distance from them and leaned by the door to look out for any intruders as the others prepped the room, in a matter of minutes this place will be rendered to ashes and fire.

"Are you sure this won't kill him?" Annie asked from across the room.

Reiner replied with his back turned. "The dungeons are reinforced, and he's on the opposite side of the castle."

"It withstood all of those titans slamming against it hasn't it?" Bertholdt added.

Annie clicked her tongue. "This is different."

"The fuel tanks are less than half full, It should only affect this section of the castle and above. What we're counting on are the swarms of titans, once they let him out we'll grab him amidst the confusion and book it to the walls. We can't risk staying here any longer playing soldier with the rest of them, at best they all die and we keep Eren safe until we push our way to the capital." Reiner spoke.

Annie sighed and turned her head towards the wooden door, her eyes lingering on the dried pool of blood in front of the doorway, an unsettling feeling crept over her as she tore her eyes away from it. Her face lit up in alertness as her ears picked up on an incoming sound.

"Someone's coming, hide!" She hissed quietly before the three hid behind a few massive crates of spare canisters.

The warriors huddled together behind cover as the broken rhythm of footsteps came to a halt, the door creaked open and Bertholdt peeked through the gaps to find no other than Hannah Diamant. His eyes softened as he remembered her anguished cries over the boy who sacrificed himself for Forster, she didn't look any better now. His confusion grew as he tracked her through the gap, she moved the crate Reiner used to the center of the room below a wooden beam.

Annie's curiosity got the best of her as she tapped his elbow, the boy answered without removing his gaze.

"Hannah, she's up to something, No idea what tho-.." His whispers died in his throat as he watched her grab a thick rope.

Bertholdt swallowed as he watched her with growing intensity, sweat dripping from his forehead. Annie and Reiner were confused by his shift in demeanor as both snuck their heads out of cover, both mirroring Bertholdt's reaction. Annie quickly tore her eyes away from the girl though Reiner was glued to her in morbid curiosity, Bertholdt looked troubled as she continued to prepare the noose without an ounce of fear or hesitation, her face devoid of any emotion besides the dried streaks on both cheeks.

"Should we..." Bertholdt trailed.

"No." Came Reiner's simple answer.

Annie frowned, disturbed by her grunts as she flung the rope around the beam and dragged the crate over. She closed her eyes and tucked her knees to her chest as she covered her ears, no longer content in listening. Bertholdt backed away too, out of respect for the redhead though for one reason or another, Reiner couldn't bring himself to avert his gaze.

Hannah's choked sobs suddenly reach them as she took a step on the crate and wrapped the rope around her neck firmly, she sniffled and wiped the tears using her sleeve before steeling her emotions. Without wasting another second the girl kicked the crate beneath her feet and fell, her eyes flash with worry after finding that there wasn't enough force to snap her neck immediately, she began to panic as her cries of suffering were silenced by the pressure of the rope against her windpipe, only managing to release choked gasps.

Within seconds, the trio heard another set of hurried footsteps rushing down the stairs. Reiner swiftly ducked, concealing the top of his head, while Forster entered the armory and froze momentarily in shock. Without wasting a moment, he crossed the room, positioning his head between Hannah's legs, and lifted her up.

As the grip around her neck loosened, he drew his sword and swiftly cut the rope, unintentionally taking a few strands of her hair with it.

Gently setting her down, Hannah began to convulse with violent coughs, her tears mixing with shame as her gaze remained fixated on the ground. Floch stared at her in disbelief, his blade sheathed as he struggled to catch his breath. He had never anticipated she would go to such extreme lengths. Awe soon turned to anger and disgust.

Hannah, defeated, looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, ready to unleash her fury for saving her. But before she could utter a word, Floch silenced her with a resounding slap across the cheek.

"What were you thinking?!" Floch commanded, his glare filled with a fiery mix of anger and concern, the girl frozen from the sheer force. "Hannah, fucking look at me!"

Sobbing silently, Hannah pressed her hand against her stinging cheek, reluctantly complying with his demand, accompanied by hiccups. Floch knelt down, locking his fierce gaze onto hers. "Hanging yourself? Seriously? Are you out of your damn mind? Have you even considered how your actions might have affected the rest of us?!"

The redheaded girl continued to sob, her eyes swollen and red. "I-I just can't! I hate it so much! It hurts, I can't go on like this..."

"Of course, you can! We're by your side, ready to help you through this! The last thing Franz would want is to see you like this!"

Growing irritated, Hannah snapped at him, "What the hell would you know?!" her voice abruptly cut off by another fit of coughing. She struggled to regain her composure.

Floch took a deep breath, calming his nerves before settling into a mask of indifference. "You're right, of course."

Her head tilted upward in confusion as Floch stood up, his newfound apathy unsettling her to the core. "Do I have to lose someone dear to me first? Is that how it works? Do you think you're the first person to experience loss? Upstairs, there's a little girl who lost her mother and witnessed countless deaths today. How embarrassing is it that an eleven-year-old displays more emotional control than a supposed soldier like you? It's pathetic."

"W-What are you saying?... Stop it..." She frowned, her voice trembling with emotion.

His gaze is now cold and unforgiving, Hannah wished nothing more than for the ground to swallow her whole.

"Am I bothering you? Are you scared? Should I just leave you alone so you could go back to killing yourself? Do you honestly think you're the only one? I ran around this entire day soothing one child after the other, seeing you like this makes me sick to my stomach. I don't blame you though, this is all my fault. I thought things could be different, but I've been proved wrong for once." Floch spoke in disdain as the girl grew increasingly fearful.

Floch towered over her, his amber eyes drilling into her skull, causing her to shrink under his gaze. Hannah's lower lip quivered in fear, her chest overwhelmed by a tidal wave of anxiety. Silent tears streamed down her face as she met his unwavering stare, the weight of his harsh words pressing heavily on her soul. "You're only human, Hannah. Emotions are volatile, and sometimes we become their victims. Maybe you're right, perhaps this is the path you truly desire. Who am I to interfere with the decision you're making? Who cares how it affects the rest of us if it's the only thing you believe you have left? Maybe you're onto something. Carry on, then,"

He casually retrieved a flintlock pistol from his jacket and knelt, placing it between her trembling hands. Hannah stared back at him in disbelief, her heart pounding frantically in her chest. She managed to choke out a few words, her panic mounting. "P-Please, Floch! Y-You're scaring me..." Her voice trailed off as her desperation grew.

As her gaze lowered, Hannah began to hyperventilate, feeling the weight of the situation closing in on her. Floch leaned closer to her ear, his words whispered in an eerily soothing tone. "Scared? Did you feel the same when you hung yourself? Believe me, this is far quicker and easier, less painful too. Go ahead, you wanted this, didn't you? What are you so afraid of?" He replied in an eerily soothing voice.

His hot breath caused her skin to crawl as she choked out a few words again, her heart nearly ripping out of her chest. "I-I'm begging you..." She whispered desperately, her eyes brimming with tears. "S-stop it..."

"Hannah, I insist you do this."

"Please..."

She trembled furiously as he helped her get a firm grip, he placed her thumb on the trigger and then guided her hands until the cold steel barrel pressed against her lips. She couldn't fathom what possessed her at that moment, maybe it was true? Maybe she did want this? She couldn't help but comply with his demands as she inserted the barrel inside and jammed it against the roof of her mouth. The shaking of her body caused her teeth to scrape the metal, saliva built up inside as her tongue sat at an awkward angle, the position of the barrel nearly triggering her gag reflex. Her thumb grew heavier on the trigger as it pushed more and more towards sweet oblivion, it was nothing short of a miracle that her heart hasn't exploded by now.

"Close your eyes and pull the trigger, you're doing good so far." He whispered gently.

She couldn't.

"Hannah, now's the time."

She didn't listen to him, she didn't have to do this.

"Pull the trigger." He began to growl.

Why would she?!

"What are you waiting for?!"

Franz wouldn't her to do this!

"PULL THE DAMN TRIGGER HANNAH!" His voice boomed across the armory as he painfully squeezed her shoulder.

The gun muffled the girl's final cry as she gathered all of her strength into that trigger, thus ending her life.

*Click*

Confusion washed over her, her blinking eyes revealing her bewilderment. The weight of dread settled in her chest, causing her face to contort into a deep frown. Her breaths came heavy and ragged as she tried to process the gravity of the situation. Floch snatched the empty gun from her trembling hands, tossing it aside with a disappointed sigh. Hannah's wide eyes remained fixed on the empty space in front of her, shock still coursing through her veins.

Slowly, she turned her gaze towards Floch, finding him visibly deflated by the turn of events. His voice dripped with disappointment as he addressed her, punctuating each word with an undercurrent of frustration. "So, how did it feel? Was it as liberating as you had hoped?"

Hannah found herself unable to form a coherent response, opting to stare at him wordlessly, lost in a daze of conflicting emotions.

"I gave you a choice, and you chose wrong. You willingly forfeited your life not once but twice, to me it seems like you've lost all rights to decide for yourself. Hannah, from this day forward, you no longer have a choice. You will only die if I permit you to. Do you understand, or do I need to emphasize my point once again?" Floch's voice carried a cold edge, demanding her compliance.

In a state of mental exhaustion, Hannah numbly nodded, her head moving up and down. The tears had ceased to flow, her capacity for emotions drained.

"Good, I'm glad we agree,"

Reaching into his pockets, Floch's movement triggered a flicker of fear within Hannah. Her breath caught in her throat as he pulled out a necklace, its pendant adorned with two wooden rings. Confusion clouded Hannah's expression as he took hold of her trembling hand, placing the necklace within her palm before gently closing her fist.

"He gave these to me, but they rightfully belong to you now." Floch spoke, his voice cold and calculating. "He's never coming back, the quicker you make peace with that fact the better. All you can do now is find the strength to move forward and honor his memory by doing so. That's really all there is to it. Life's unfair, filled with nothing but pain, and the only way to live is to endure, that's the bitter truth."

"I trust you won't do something that stupid again, so unless you want to keep wallowing in your misery to nobody's benefit, stand up and continue." Hannah frowned, though she looked dazed she was still listening intently. He stood back up and turned to leave, his parting words resonated in the empty armory. "This will remain between us. When you feel ready, come upstairs and reunite with the others. We're leaving soon," he said before making his exit.

Hannah opened her palm, inspecting the wooden rings, her gaze lingering on them for who knows how long. Eventually, she regained her composure, her senses slowly returning amidst the echoes of her anguished cries that filled the cold and desolate armory for a couple of minutes. With considerable effort, the redhead rose to her feet, pale and fatigued as she made her way up the stairs,

The warriors didn't move until they made sure the room was vacant, Reiner peeked his head once again to scan their surroundings before motioning for the other two to come out. Reiner quickly went back to tampering with the fuel tank as Bertholdt and Annie stayed behind to observe the cut noose and pistol, Annie frowned as she recalled Forster's words and actions.

"You heard him, they're calling in backup soon." Reiner called out from behind.

"What a sick fuck." She muttered under her breath loud enough for Bertholdt to hear.

"Are we any better?" Bertholdt asked.

"Some more than others." She replied as she looked back at Reiner, though she knew he was right.

"Come on, Annie, we need to wrap this up," Bertholdt spoke.

Annie's troubled gaze lingered on the rope for a few more seconds before she followed after him, leaving Reiner to take care of the rest.