Dangerous Territory

Prison Break

Levi remained calm. "Are they gone yet?"

Sasha shook her head. "No, they're having an assembly. Even before the sun was up, there was increased activity around the castle, no way we could have sneaked ourselves in, let alone get any of you out. We were forced to wait until now before we could enter."

In the cell next to Levi, Abel had his studious glasses on, and he sneered in anger mixed with fear. "How could you not know when they were leaving?"

Sasha pouted in self-reproach before answering. "We were going off the intelligence the Germans had received. That information was incorrect, so now we're both left scrambling."

Ymir scoffed as she tried various keys on Levi's door. "Yeah, filthy Krauts ruined our plan."

Sasha went on, "We have only until Captain Woermann finishes his speech. Let us hope he's as long-winded as usual."

"Then what about us?" asked Abel.

Krista explained more. "We came up with another plan last night."

From the doorway, Anka protested, "For the record, I was guilt-tripped into this."

Krista tried to smile reassuringly, although it was obviously strained with guilt. "We'll get out as many of you as we can."

"As many as you can?" Abel sneered, smart enough to keep his voice low, which was better than others who began to shout, only to have Sasha harshly shush them. "Then how will you decide who gets released and who gets left behind?"

Ymir shook the keys at all of them. "How about, whoever can tell me which key goes to which cell, you get out first, yeah?"

Levi insisted, "Get the women first."

"No offense, Captain Ackerman," said Sasha, "but we need to get you out first so you can help us get the rest of these people to the safehouse and to deal with any problems as quietly as possible. After all, with your expertise in infiltration and assassination, you're the best suited person for the job."

"Captain Ackerman? Assassination?" Abel looked over at the man in the cell next to him as if he was suddenly a stranger. "Levi, what is she talking about? Just who are you?"

Ymir barked out a laugh. "You guys really don't know, do you? Not sayin' I blame Captain Tiny for hiding all that from you. A desperate enough person might honestly believe Nazis would let them go if they sold out a member of the Deuxième Bureau."

"Deuxième Bureau?" all the Jews in the dungeon cried out together.

Levi flinched. "Fuck! Seriously, keep it down, you idiots." He glared at Ymir. "And you! If you call me Captain Tiny again, I will slit your throat."

Abel looked perplexed. "Is that why you used to go by the name Rivaille, and why you know how to fight so well, and does that have anything to do with why you left in the middle of the night? Have you been spying on the Germans this whole time?"

"Obviously not," Levi snapped. "I got trapped in this shitty village the same as the rest of you."

"But you're with the Deuxième Bureau! Surely, you could have gotten out at any time."

"And left all of you to get yourselves killed?" Levi scoffed and shook his head. "Like hell I'd do that."

In her cell, Ruth smiled kindly. "You stayed for us?"

Levi mumbled, "Don't overthink it."

Ymir growled at the ring of thick metal prison keys. "Fuck! I've gone through the whole thing. Why can't these be marked?"