Stohess District
(A week after the 57th expedition)
"Hah... Hah... Hah..." Annie's ragged breaths filled the air as she relentlessly kicked a tree bark, her legs bleeding from the repeated impacts. Each strike sent shockwaves of pain through her body, but she barely noticed it anymore. Her father's voice echoed in her mind, laced with mockery and expectation.
"Great job, Annie... Keep going. I'll make you a fine soldier so you can teach those island devils a lesson... Hahaha." His laugh grated on her exhausted nerves, a sound she had come to despise. But Annie didn't stop; she couldn't. She had been pushing herself for hours, her legs trembling with fatigue, her body on the brink of collapse.
"What's the matter? I didn't tell you to stop... You're not done yet," he sneered, searching for his lighter. The cigarette dangled from his lips, a lazy reminder of his disdain. Annie summoned the last of her strength, sending one more powerful kick into the tree before her legs gave out beneath her, her body crashing to the ground.
"Oi, Annie... What's the matter... Get up. Get up!" His voice faded into the distance as her vision blurred, swallowed by the darkness of exhaustion.
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"Hey, get up, Annie... Get up. Everyone's waiting downstairs."
Hitch's voice was sharp, breaking through the remnants of Annie's nightmare. She opened her eyes to find sunlight filtering through the window, casting a harsh glow across her sweat-soaked face. Hitch, ever the sadistic and sarcastic roommate, hovered above her, impatient as usual.
"You alright? Looks like you had a nightmare," Hitch remarked, her tone dismissive. "Whatever. Get ready. The higher-ups are waiting. Get moving."
Annie sat up slowly, the weight of her dream still pressing on her chest. Her father's words echoed in her mind, as if his presence still lingered. Shaking off the feeling, she got to her feet, heading toward the shower.
Today was an important day—Eren and Erwin had been summoned to the capital, and she and her fellow Military Police were assigned to oversee their transport. They were expected to maintain order as the convoy passed through the main streets of Stohess.
After the quick shower, she pulled on her MP jacket over her usual white hoodie, her face unreadable as she prepared for the day. She hated wearing the uniform, hated the expectations it came with, but she wore it nonetheless. She had a role to play, and she'd play it perfectly, as always.
"Alright, listen up!" A senior slurred, obviously drunk his frustration evident since he lost in gambling. "Make sure y'all do your work or I'll beat your asses, got it? The ODM gear is allowed, and I expect full discipline. There might be a crowd uprising, so keep your heads on a swivel. Make sure they get to the mansion safely, or else..."
He trailed off, stumbling back towards the massive room where others waited him to rejoin on the card game. Annie barely acknowledged him, her mind already elsewhere. Today, she would be guarding Eren—the key to everything. The tension building within her was almost unbearable, but she kept it hidden, masked behind her usual stoic expression.
The entire brigade of Military Police advanced toward the main street, their uniforms contrasting sharply with the opulence around them. Eyes wandered to the lavishly ornamented garments of the noblewomen, who strolled leisurely, their gowns glistening in the sunlight.
These women were, in some words, the playthings of the fat, corrupt nobility that the MPs were sworn to protect. The air was thick with anticipation and tension, but for many of the rookies, it was a routine patrol. For Marlo, however, it was something different.
Marlo, the idealist who believed he could reform the corrupt MPs from the inside, led his fellow rookies. His conviction to climb to the top and fix the system had faltered recently. Not long ago, he had attempted to stand up against two senior officers deeply involved in the illegal sale of government property—rifles, ODM gear, and other valuable assets. His effort had resulted in a severe beating, leaving him helpless. The realization that the higher-ups had authority over everything crushed his resolve.
Had it not been for Annie and Hitch, the two officers might have gone further, possibly arresting Marlo under false charges. But the incident had cost them time, and now they hurried to catch up with the others, already advancing toward the main street where the convoy would pass.
Annie, as usual, trailed behind, her deliberate slowness a way to avoid unwanted attention. As they neared the street, a faint whisper caught her ear.
"Annie..."
The voice was almost ghostly, calling from a narrow alley between two lavish bakeries. Her gaze flicked in the direction of the voice, and for a moment, a chill ran down her spine.
"What happened? Something wrong?" Hitch asked, noticing Annie's shift in focus.
Annie quickly composed herself, her expression unreadable. "Nothing. Go on without me. I forgot something," she said, her tone calm and collected.
Hitch raised a brow, suspicious but ultimately uncaring. "Fine, just don't take too long. We've got a job to do."
Annie watched as Hitch and the others moved ahead, her attention turning back to the alley. Something about that voice had unnerved her. Keeping her composure, she slowly walked toward the narrow passageway, her heart beating just a little faster than usual.
Annie made her way through the narrow path, her heart beating faster than usual, until she came face to face with the trio. Armin stood with his familiar, calculating eyes," Armin?..." Annie whispered before her gaze met with Mikasa's cold grey eyes which were fixed on her, unwavering. Eren leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his fiery eyes blazing with frustration.
"Sir!" Annie saluted, her face stoic.
Eren's eyes shifted to meet hers, but he didn't respond, merely studying her.
"So, this is the one you were talking about, Armin?" Eren asked, his voice low and calm, a thin veneer masking his impatience.
"Yeah, she's our ticket out of here. Don't worry," Armin replied confidently, extending his hand toward Annie. His gesture felt almost too casual, considering the weight of what was about to be asked of her.
Annie, still confused, asked, "I thought the Vice Commander was called to the capital? Then why...?"
Armin cut her off. "Annie, I'll explain everything. But the only thing you need to know right now is that we need your help so that we can escape from here."
Her confusion deepened, but Armin quickly began explaining their plan. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin intended to run and hide in the far south of the walls, in one of the abandoned cities. It wasn't an act of mutiny, not yet. Their goal was to gain enough evidence and support from the locals and scouts to stop the government's plan to dissect Eren, and they needed Annie's help to make it out of Stohess safely.
"Dissect me?" Eren interjected, his voice rising with frustration. "You think I'll let that happen? I'll kill them if they try something like that." His fists clenched, and his fiery demeanor flickered with anger.
Mikasa's hand touched Eren's arm, calming him with just a glance. Armin chuckled lightly at Eren's outburst, a strange sound amidst the tension.
Annie's sharp mind, despite the confusion, was beginning to catch up. "Then who's in the cart heading to the mansion?"
"Jean," Armin revealed, a smirk playing at his lips. "He's wearing a black wig, disguised as Eren. He's with Erwin and Levi in the cart. We needed a decoy, and Jean.was the perfect bait for that. The reason we need you is to get through the gate. If a Military Police soldier—specifically you—accompanies us, no one will ask about our identities at the checking posts."
Annie raised an eyebrow. "Why me? Vice Commander Eren and Commander Erwin might have more than enough connections. And why even come to Stohess? You could have escaped before reaching here."
Armin nodded, already prepared with his explanation. "Nile Dok was with us up until we arrived at Stohess. After that, he continued on to the capital, Mitras since we were all exhausted from the journey, Erwin convinced Nile to rest at a noble's mansion. That's when Eren and Jean swapped places. As for why we need you specifically—it's a matter of trust. If we asked someone else they might turn Eren in, but I trust you, Annie. Please, help us."
Annie hesitated. The weight of the decision bore down on her like a lead weight. She had lived with her own mission, her own secrets. But suddenly, Zeke's words echoed in her mind.
"We have to retrieve the Founding Titan at all costs. Capture Eren and take him to Marley. From there, we'll decide who will inherit the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan."
A surge of realization hit her. This was the perfect opportunity. The abandoned city in the far south would be an easy target for her and the other Titan shifters. They could capture Eren there, far from the prying eyes of the military or the locals.
"Alright... I'll help you," Annie finally said in her usual calm, measured tone.
Armin's eyes gleamed with relief, but behind that, Annie could see the gears turning in his mind. They were both playing their own game, but for now, their interests aligned.
The group moved through the quiet alley, their steps light and cautious. Eren walked ahead, his face hidden beneath the shadow of the green Scout cloak. His voice broke the tense silence. "Hey... What was your name again?" he asked, his tone casual, though it held a hint of suspicion.
"Annie... Annie Leonhart... sir," Annie replied, keeping her gaze forward.
Eren continued, "You three were good friends back at the academy, right?"
Before he could probe further, Armin quickly cut him off, "Shhh, Eren. The last thing we need is for them to start fighting here." His voice carried a mix of humor and urgency, trying to diffuse what could easily turn into a heated confrontation.
Eren glanced over at Mikasa, sensing something was off. Her grip on his hand had tightened noticeably, and her face was set in stone. Confused, Eren asked, "What do you mean?"
Annie, her expression mirroring Mikasa's icy demeanor, spoke up coldly, "Well, sir, Mikasa Ackerman here thinks very highly of herself. Always moody, never bothering to respond to anyone. All she was ever good for was showing off her skills... and I wasn't the only one frustrated with her attitude. Other cadets couldn't stand her either. I've noticed quite change in her behaviour ever since she found out that you were alive, sir."
As Annie continued, Mikasa's anger simmered beneath the surface. Armin chuckled nervously, trying to steer the conversation back to safety. "Yeah... yeah, let's not get into that now. The last thing we need is a fight breaking out."
Mikasa, unbothered by Armin's attempt to keep the peace, coolly responded, "The only thing I ever asked was for everyone to stay away from me. I hope you learned your lesson after that beatdown."
Annie scoffed. "Tch... beatdown? That was a tie." Eren's ears perked up. "What beatdown?" he asked, suddenly curious. Mikasa answered proudly, "Well, Ereh, during our hand-to-hand combat sessions, we had a sparring match, and I broke her leg during the fight."
Eren almost grinned, pride swelling in him. He had to hold himself back from hugging her right there. But Annie wasn't done.
"Do you forget I broke your arm? And who said you won that match?" Annie shot back, her voice just as cutting as Mikasa's. "What..... Broke Mikasa's arm???" Eren's anger flared as he whispered his eyes widened with shock.
Armin, sensing the brewing storm, intervened again, more firmly this time. "Hey, you two, it's not the time for this. We need to focus on getting out of here. You can argue all you want later, but right now, stay sharp."
Eren's mind spun with frustration and guilt. She broke Mikasa's arm. She was hurt, and I wasn't there. Fuck it... Once this is over, I'll apologize. He knew all too well the agony of a broken limb, and the thought of Mikasa enduring that alone gnawed at him.
As the group reached the entrance of the tunnel, Armin's voice cut through the heavy atmosphere. "Hah... we've arrived, guys," he said, gesturing towards the shadowy staircase that led underground. It was their route to escape—down through the cramped, winding passages beneath the city, emerging at a gate far away from prying eyes.
Eren snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Mikasa, who nodded firmly, her resolve unchanged. "Let's go," he ordered, and the trio began their descent down the worn cobblestone steps. But as they moved further into the tunnel, Eren noticed Annie had stopped at the entrance. She stood frozen, her usually unreadable expression replaced by something unsettling—fear.
"Hey, you alright? Why aren't you coming?" Armin asked, confused. He turned back to look at her, but Annie's breath was shaky, her eyes darting around as if something unseen was closing in on her.
Eren raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with irritation. "Don't tell me you're afraid of dark, cramped spaces. Leonhart?"
Annie's response was unexpected. Her voice trembled as she replied, "And what if I am... sir? You wouldn't know what it's like to be an ordinary girl, crippled with fear..."
Her attitude caught everyone off guard. Annie, who was always so stoic, so composed, suddenly seemed vulnerable. It was jarring. Eren exchanged a glance with Mikasa, who raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by this sudden shift in Annie's demeanor.
"Tch," Eren scoffed, trying to shake off the oddity of the moment. "A girl who can break Mikasa's arm has nothing to fear from the dark. Come on, we don't have time to waste."
But Annie stood firm, her gaze distant as the wind above them swept through the narrow streets, making her blonde hair dance in the cold breeze. "No. I'm too scared... I can't do it. Above ground, I'll help. Otherwise, the deal's off."
Her refusal stunned them. Eren clenched his fists in frustration, but something about Annie's tone—the sheer terror in it—made his suspicion grow futhur. He didn't understand her fear, but he couldn't afford to lose her cooperation either.
Armin stepped forward, trying to soothe the tension. "Annie, we need you. If you help us above ground, it's too risky. We'll get exposed in no time. Down here, no one will see us."
But Annie shook her head, her expression tightening with resolve. "I said no. Take it or leave it. And..... Vice Commander Eren Yeager I couldn't help but notice for some odd reason this place is completely deserted...." The entire street had been evacuated with scouts surrounding it. Their target Annie Leonhart: The Female Titan.
Annie's cold gaze locked onto Armin as she spoke, her voice sharp and cutting realizing that her identity was exposed."It hurts me, Armin... it really does. The trust I had in you... you shattered it all completely."
Armin's sapphire eyes widened, his breath shaky as he struggled to respond. "Annie... Just.... Who.... The.... Hell.... Are.... You?"
A bitter smile curled Annie's lips. "Maybe I shouldn't have let you live that day on the field... I never once imagined you'd end up cornering me like this."
Eren, his patience finally snapping, whispered through clenched teeth, "Well then... is that all the evidence you needed, Armin?" He threw his cloak away, revealing his blades. "I'll carve this bitch out, and no one in hell can save her now not even you."
But before Eren could act, a sudden burst of laughter erupted from Annie. It echoed through the narrow alley, sending a shiver down Armin's spine. Leaves spiraled through the air as the wind picked up, creating an eerie atmosphere. Annie's laughter slowed, her eyes gleaming with a manic intensity. "YOU KNOW WHAT, YEAGER? CARVE ME UP ALL YOU WANT! BUT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO GAMBLE TOO—AND HERE'S MY WAY TO!!!!!"
Without hesitation, Annie's hand moved toward her mouth, ready to trigger her Titan transformation.
"SHOOT!" Eren yelled, his instincts kicking in. Armin fired a flare into the air, signaling the impending disaster. Scouts, hidden nearby, rushed in, grabbing Annie and attempting to subdue her before she could transform. But Eren had already drawn his blades, his rage boiling over.
Eren, sensing the danger, quickly stepped in, placing a hand on Mikasa's shoulder. "Wait... Mikasa, not now."
Suddenly, Eren's sharp eyes had already spotted the ring on Annie's finger. His heart sank as a wave of realization washed over him.
"Ahhh... everyone, watch out!" Eren shouted, but his warning came a moment too late. Annie's finger scratched against the sharp tip of her ring, drawing blood.
In an instant, the ground trembled as a deafening explosion rocked the street. The shockwave sent debris flying in every direction, and the scouts around Annie were obliterated in a flash. Eren acted on instinct, grabbing both Armin and Mikasa before leaping down the staircase, plunging into the depths of the tunnel as the explosion raged above them.
As they tumbled down into the underground, the roar of Annie's transformation filled the air, her Titan form rising above the ruins. Eren clenched his fists, blood rushing through his veins with fury, the deaths of his squad Oluo, Gunthur and Eld still haunted him. "Bitch I'll end you today...."
"YOU'RE NEXT, YEAGER!" Annie's voice thundered, now magnified by the power of the Female Titan, her massive form looming over the city.