I swung the axe down on the piece of wood standing on the stump. I pulled the axe out of the stump and rested it on my shoulder. I looked at my pile of firewood then at Mikasa's.
"I think this should be enough guys." I announced. Historia began to bend down and pick up the pieces. It still weird calling her by a new name or rather her actual name.
"Mikasa, I'll carry the axes back." Mikasa nodded and tossed me the axe in her hands. I caught it easily in one hand and began making my way back to the cabin.
I raised a brow seeing that Armin, Jean, and Sasha were back from the local village. Hopefully this time Sasha didn't eat any of the food they brought back. Although, I think Captain Levi put some fear into her the last time she did it. Last person to do that was Commandant Shadis.
I stopped at the front door and opened the door. I let Mikasa and Historia walk in front of me.
"What are you? My mom now?!" I heard Jean yell. I let out a sigh. Not again.
"We're back." Mikasa announced as the three of us walked in.
"Wait, were you two chopping firewood?" Armin asked while looking at both Mikasa and I.
"Gotta stay in shape somehow." Mikasa answered. I nodded my head in agreement.
"Mikasa, you got grabbed at by a Titan and Vivien, you suffered a severe head injury. You both should be in bed recovering." Armin argued. Mikasa and I ignored Armin and walked further into the cabin.
"I think you're wasting your time there. I caught Mikasa doing sit ups earlier this morning too. And Vivien was running laps to boot." Eren admitted.
"Ergh, so now your a nag and a spy!" I heard Jean accuse.
"Mikasa, Vivien you know you two are only human right?" Armin called after the both of us. We continued to ignore them and walk further into the building.
"Please tell me I'm not the only one sick and tired of their coddling?" I muttered to Mikasa. Mikasa's eyes glanced over to me.
"They have good intentions." She answered.
I let out a sigh, "Yeah I know. Doesn't make it any less annoying." I muttered the last sentence under my breath. I rested both axes against the fireplace as Armin, Jean, Connie, and Sasha began to bicker. Something about Sasha once again stuffing bread into her bag and refusing to put it back. I swear that girl will never learn.
"What's all the commotion?" I looked up to see Captain Levi walking in. I watched him as she stopped in front of the table and wiped his hand under it. Everyone stopped talking when Levi pulled his hand up and dust could be seen.
"I'm quite certain I gave you enough time." The others sweated nervously while I kept a straight face. I wasn't on cleaning duty this morning, so I don't feel bad at all.
"Never mind. We can discuss your utter failure at a later date." He wiped the dust off with his handkerchief, "Eren, Hange is eager to get the experiment under way." Levi informed him.
"Right. Yes sir."
Eren roared in his Titan form but it looked much smaller and deformed. I stayed seated on Wisteria as I watched Eren collapse. His body wasn't even fully covered by his Titan form. His lower extremities were completely exposed.
"Eren!" My eyes followed Mikasa as she ran for Eren.
"Mikasa, wait!" Jean called after her but to no avail.
"Forget it, Jean. You know she won't listen." I stated in a monotone voice.
Jean shot me an annoyed glare, "Your new attitude is really starting to piss me off, Viv." I gave him a blank stare in response. I said nothing and watched Hange try to pull Eren from his Titan body.
"Hey," My eyes turned back to Jean. He had a look of guilt on his face, "Look I'm sorry, Viv. I shouldn't have said that." He apologized.
"It's fine. You did nothing wrong." I assured him and moved Wisteria away from him. I didn't miss the look of concern Jean gave me. I'm doing what Captain Levi is expecting of me. I'm pushing my feelings down and performing my duties as a soldier. Simple as that. He is gone and the next time we meet will be as enemies. There's nothing I can do that will change that.
"Experiment is over. Troops withdraw at once!" Hange ordered.
"Withdrawing! Make sure we weren't seen!" An officer ordered. I dug my heel into Wisteria's side and she took off in the northern direction. Each one of us had to check all directions to make sure nobody was spying on us. We only had permission to perform these experiments in a remote area of Wall Rose. Eren and Historia have targets on their backs. We needed a secluded area to keep both of them protected.
I stood in one of the three guard towers with a rifle hanging from my shoulder. Jean and Sasha were in the other two. We were taking rotations for guard duty. The others should be preparing dinner by now.
"Hey brats!" All three of us looked down to see Captain Levi and Section Commander Hange with him.
"Hurry up and get inside. We need to talk. All of us." Levi ordered us. Wonder what that's all about.
I slid down the wooden ladder and landed on the ground. I followed behind Levi and Hange through the door. Sasha and Jean are just behind me. We filed into the small main living area of the cabin.
"Now, what's this about?" Levi questioned Hange.
"I'm sorry but Pastor Nick…he was murdered." The Wall Priest? "Today in the Trost barracks." She announced.
Levi let out a sigh and turned his head to us, "One of you start making some tea. We're going to be here a while. Might as well." He ordered.
"Sir."
We all sat around the table now with tea cups in front of us all. Hange sat on the armchair while her squad members were on the loveseat. Our attention on Hange as she recalled her theories of Pastor Nick's death. The theory being that the interior military police are the ones that killed him.
"I figured the church would want to get their hands on him when they figured out he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks. I never imagined they'd use soldiers to kill him. This was my fault. I should have been more careful." Hange stated sorrowfully.
"They tortured him. Presumably for information. Did they just want to know what exactly he passed onto us?" Armin questioned.
"Most likely, but these are the interior MP's we're dealing with. So you can bet there's something deeper at work here." He turned to Hange, "Now how many nails was the good pastor missing?" Hange looked at him surprised.
"How many? You saw right?" Levi questioned again.
"I only caught a glimpse of him, but all the nail beds I saw were empty." Hange stated. All of his nails were gone? I doubt they got any information then.
"Sounds like he wasn't willing to share any information. Even while being tortured to death." I spoke up. Levi glanced at me and nodded his head.
"People who talk, talk after one. If they don't, ripping off more won't make a difference. I'm impressed. I didn't think highly of Pastor Nick, but whatever his faults. He stuck to his belief till the end." Levi praised the deceased pastor.
Levi glanced at Historia, "Which means, they have no idea we know about the Reiss family. But the government is up to something, and we got a target on our backs." Levi stated.
I heard the sudden click of the door opening, "Captain Levi, sir." My eyes followed Nifa. She held a letter in her hand. "I have a message from Commander Erwin. I went to tell him about Pastor Nick, but he gave me this and sent me off." Levi opened the letter and we sat in silence as he read it.
His eyes narrowed on the paper, "Get your gear now. We're leaving. Make it look like we were never here." Commander Erwin found out something important.
I stared at the cabin we were just in an hour before. MP's were swarming the perimeter below. Commander Erwin had found out about the MP's making their way to our location. It's a good thing the MP's are as slow as they are. We had already packed everything up and left it deserted. I had a beige cloak around me while I held the rifle in both hands.
"That was close. What if they had caught us? Would they rip our nails off?" Connie commented.
"How did Commander Erwin know they were headed here?" Armin questioned the Captain.
"The government has passed down some new orders. There's been a freeze of all Scout activity outside the wall. We're to hand over Eren and Historia." Levi announced. My eyes glanced at Eren and Historia. If they want Historia but didn't get anything out of Pastor Nick. How did they know then?
"Captain, I didn't have time to tell you but some MP's came after Erwin right after I left him." Nifa debriefed. I narrowed my eyes at that information. The government is trying to do something and they don't want the Scouts in the way. So they go after our Commander and hunt down the Levi Squad. This doesn't look good.
"What, like he's some sort of criminal?" Hange questioned.
"They're bringing this fight out into the open. No more working in the shadows." Levi stated.
"They're going to protect the secret of the walls at any cost. But why? What exactly are they after Eren and Historia for it? They don't want them dead." Hange placed her fingers on her chin as she thought, "So what are they planning?" She questioned.
"Who knows? But they want these two and they're not being subtle about it. Which makes lingering here dangerous. We'll move Eren and Historia to Trost.
"We're taking them to the same district where Pastor Nick was just murdered?" Moblit criticized Levi's order.
"Heading to the interior would be worse. With Trost in a panic, it should be easy to slip in." Levi stated his reasoning.
"And if things do go all to hell," He lifted his cloak to show his ODM Gear, "We can use these in the city." He stated.
"That's true." Armin agreed.
"Us Scouts are better at using the ODM Gear than the MP's. We could out maneuver them easily." I stated confidently.
"We don't know the identity of our enemy yet. I have an idea how we can change that." Levi turned to Hange, "Hange, I need you to lend me some of your squad." He requested.
"No problem." Hange furrowed her brows as she though, "Alright I'm going after Commander Erwin. Moblit is with me, the rest of you go with Levi.
"Roger!" Her squad chanted.
"Hange!" I turned my head as Eren walked forward. He held a piece of paper between his thumb and index finger.
"Here, I remember a conversation between Ymir and Bertholdt. I wrote it down for you. It's all there." I raised a brow at that. What could have those two possibly talked about that was imperative that Hange see it?
"Thank you." Hange took the paper and pocketed it in her uniform. She and Moblit both got on their mounts.
"I'll take a look at it later." She stated and kicked the side of her horse. Moblit followed quickly behind her.
"Let's get going." Levi instructed. We all individually got onto our horses and followed Levi's lead back to Trost.
After traveling all night, we have finally made it. We walked through the market square of the district. People were going about their shopping and day to day lives around us.
"Try not to walk clustered together. We'll stand out. Eren and Historia, just act normal." Levi ordered.
"What's with all the royal flags everywhere?" Connie asked quietly.
"It must be the celebration of the anniversary of King Fritz coronation. It's when once a year, the royal family gives out some of their food rations to the people." I rolled my eyes at the sound. As if timed, the MP's on stage basically stated the same thing Sasha just explained.
"Why am I not surprised that the government is using food as a means of control?" I muttered under my breath. This is the first time I've heard of this. Then again, when your family is marked at outcasts. You don't exactly get that luxury.
"Fed people are easier to control than starving ones." Levi stated. He continued walking and we followed right behind.
We continued walking through the market square until Levi stopped. He turned around.
"Behind us! Look out!" He called out. I narrowly dodged the wagon that sped past. My eyes caught as two men took "Eren" and "Historia". A small smirk grew on my face. Captain Levi's plan worked. Feel bad for Jean and Armin though. I was too tall to play the part of Historia but Armin was short enough to pass off as her.
"Ar-ah I mean Krista and Eren! Those bastards are running off with them!" I learned something new today. Sasha can't act. Mikasa ran ahead to follow behind the wagon.
"Let's go." Levi instructed and took off.
"Yes, sir." I responded and followed right behind him.
I stood crouched on the rooftop next to Captain Levi. I kept a lookout opposite of him. I heard the wires of ODM Gear and looked to see Mikasa.
"How's everything going inside?" Levi questioned her.
"If we wait any much longer, they'll see through Armin's disguise. He's getting pawed at." She stated.
"I see." Levi acknowledged.
My eyebrow twitched hearing that, "It really is a good thing I was too tall to swap in for Historia. I don't think I'd be able to hold myself back from killing that pig." I stated truthfully.
"How's your leg? Any better? Mikasa asked. I looked over my shoulder to stare at Levi. I've been wondering the same thing recently. He used the ODM Gear to get here and didn't seem to favor his other leg too much.
"I can move well enough. Now then, did you notice? These kidnappers are obviously amateurs. Why wouldn't they use professionals for a job like this?" Levi stood up and I followed suit.
"Mikasa, you can handle the rest on your own. Vivien, you're with me en route back to Eren." He turned to Mikasa, "Catch back up with us once you're done here." He instructed.
"Yes, sir." Mikasa and I both responded. I followed behind Levi as he walked across the roof.
He took a brief pause, "There's one more thing you should know just in case. Tell Armin and the others too." I raised my brows in interest in the Captain's next words.
Levi and I latched from roof to roof as we traveled back to the actual wagon. I was still processing what the Captain had just revealed. A fight with other humans felt foreign a bit.
"Vivien," I was snapped from my thoughts by Levi, "Keep your distance from the wagon. I can't shake this bad feeling in my gut. Stay close enough to keep your eyes on things but far away enough so you won't be targeted." Levi ordered.
"Sir." I split off from him and landed on a roof two klicks away from where Levi landed. I could see Levi land on the roof Nafi was positioned on. I narrowed my eyes on Levi's back. I've never seen him so on edge before. He's not even like this on expeditions while facing down Titans.
Click!
My eyes widened hearing what sounded like a revolver being cocked behind me. My hand was quick to grip my handle. I ducked just as the guy behind me fired his weapon. I heard more gunshots fired at the same time. It was an ambush! I could feel the bullet whiz just above my head. In one swift movement, I unsheathed my blade and swiped the man across his abdomen.
The man appeared to have some sort of bizarre ODM Gear on but had guns instead of blades. His eyes widened as he looked down. His guts were now on the outside of his body. His eyes went dim as he fell backwards off the roof.
"Captain!" I yelled out and turned back to the roof where Levi was at. Nafi was dead on the roof and Levi took cover by the chimney. I glared at seeing a tall older man wearing the same gear. He had short dark brown hair with a beard and steel blue eyes. So this is the guy Levi warned us about. This is Kenny the Ripper, the infamous serial killer.
Kenny stared at me with a wide smirk, "Well lookie here, you brought a fierce one with ya didn't ya boy? She gutted my guy without hesitation." His smirk dropped as he continued looking at me. His brows furrowed for a moment before his confident smirk came back.
"What's your name girl?" He questioned.
"Vivien Ackerman." I responded coldly. I had both parry blades out now. I could hear ODM gear in the distance. There's going to be a fight on our hands soon.
Kenny let out a deep chuckle, "Thought I recognized that face. It's been years but there's no doubt in my mind. You're practically a carbon copy of the man." The hell is he talking about?
"Kenny!" Kenny turned and blocked the parry blade Levi had sent his direction. Levi took his chance and left the roof Kenny was on.
"Vivien move! Defend the wagon!" Levi ordered. He activated his ODM Gear and raced through the buildings. I followed swiftly behind as I turned and weaved through the cramped alleyways and buildings. I heard more gunshots in the distance.
Levi and I made it to the open pathway. My eyes narrowed at the wagon now uncovered. Eren and Historia appeared to be passed out and another person with the gear driving the wagon.
We turned a corner and my eyes widened seeing three men with guns pointed at us.
"Split up!" Levi ordered me. I took off in one direction while Levi went in the other. I dodged and weaved through the street as I dodged bullets intended for me. The three men had followed me and if I had to guess, Kenny wanted Levi.
My eyes spotted a net holding crates above one of the streets. I refired my hooks and skidded against the ground as I quickly turned. Bullets lodged into the brick below behind me. I shot off to the next street and sliced through the top of the rope. The crates began to fall to the ground. I flipped mid air and fired the hooks back in the direction of the three men. The crates obscured my figure enough where their next shots all missed.
I sliced one man with my right blade across his body and stabbed another one through his throat with my left. I disconnected my left blade from the man and continued to fly above the streets. My eyes glanced at the last man standing. I noticed he always had to have one hand preoccupied in using the gear to swing from. He aimed his free hand at me. I shot my hooks across to a different building and dodged at an angle. He followed but his movement was much more linear than mine.
1..2..3
Bang!
I dodged another bullet that was intended for me. And it takes three seconds for him to reload for another round. That's a three second window to go in for the kill. I angled my body in the air and fired my left hook towards the man. The man screamed in pain as the hook latched itself into his free arm. I then spun my right handle where the blade was now facing backwards. I pressed the gas with my left hand and sped up towards the man.
I released my left hook as I spun the right side of my body. I felt my blade slice through the man. I felt something wet speckle the right side of my face. I turned my right handle back in normal position to send my hooks to the next building. I landed on a shady roof and stopped. I heard a high pitched scream come from behind. I looked over my shoulder to the body of the man hanging just by his arm. His gear is still attached to a building above. I watched emotionless as a woman was screaming on the ground. She was looking at the decapitated head for the man I just beheaded. I turned back around and jumped off the roof. My ODM Gear going off as I flew through the sky.