*
With only silence keeping us from fighting, it also made me focus on breaking this rope. Whether my body was giving up, my mind wasn't haven't it. I could give in, and accept all this. My face burning up, sweat glides down as my locks clung to my sticky forehead.
Hearing a quiet snap, my hands loosens behind my back.
Eyeing both the shifters that sat boredly, I was relieved they didn't hear it snap. Adjusting my hands again, the rope slackens realising I was free. However, my feet were still binded together. My wrists were burning from the rope, and it was rather uncomfortable. With my current situation, I had no plan. Surrounded by only shifters, I was in no position escaping.
Unless......
"Hey Reiner! Got any water?" Ymir asks, breaking the silence. "Help a girl out. I'm dying over here."
He grunts, "Sorry, there's not a helluva a lot I can do," he apologises. "Even if it is a matter of life and death."
She sighs deeply, "That's comforting, well at least now we know where we stand, sort of,"
Everyone falls quiet again, while my eyes linger upon Eren, who seems to be keeping his emotions in check. He was impressing me with every second, patience was looking good on him. Sought of. Slumping against the tree, my eyes wearily flutter shut then open, repeatedly.
Dammit, I can't fall asleep now.....too much is at stake now.....!
"Speaking of which," Reiner spoke up, as he sat in front of me with his legs crossed. "We've been working our asses off. No food, no sleep, no nothing. Ever since those titans showed up. That was yesterday, right? Man, we're lucky the wall hasn't been destroyed. Still, you'd think that means they'd give us a break......and don't even get me started on promotion."
Bertholdt stares at him in confusion, "What the hell?" while sat there, reflecting the same reaction.
Reiner hums in response realising he was talking to himself, before lifting his head to face Bertholdt.
"What? Aww, come on, I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?" He asks, "god knows we've done our share of heavy lifting, all things considered. I mean, I get it, we're soldiers. Duty first. It's just nice to be acknowledged."
My breaths shudders in response, realising something unusual.
"You bang your head or something?" Ymir questions, sarcastically. "What're you even talking about. Seriously?"
"Ugh....Don't give me that!" he groans in annoyance. "I'm not sayin' we storm in and demand the rank of Captain or anything."
I click my tongue with a dry scoff, "Like hell you will gain such a honorary rank," my tone grew bitter, as I calmly eye him. "You're a kid, you don't understand what most of the soldiers in the Scouts have to do, to become a Captain, let alone gaining respect."
His jaw clenches, as his amber eyes darken.
"Like hell you would know!" He retorts, stiffly and sternly "You may seem high and mighty, but you're far weaker than the man who requested you. All you have is nothing, your rank is barely anything accomplishable. No wonder your clan died instantly."
Clan? What did he mean by that? Does he know something?
Shaking my eyes, I swallow thickly.
"No, you don't understand what I've been through to get here," my tone grows deeper, with a threatening shift. "You're just a kid, who needs to be taught a lesson."
My journey begun when I was only twelve, as a cadet, to a soldier, squad leader, Captain, and now a Corporal. I've not backed down from a fight, even though I had many opportunities too. I just never chose to, I kept moving forward even though it was painful to keep going.....
"This isn't one our training sessions, so quite giving me a damn lecture," he growls lowly, trying to calmly ignore me.
"She's right you know," Ymir spoke up, earning Reiner's attention onto her.
"Oh, yeah....where'd you find that cannon, by the way?" He questions her, wondering what he was going on about. Was this back at Utgard castle, when I was busy taking the titans down? "I owe you one for saving my bacon........Rally nice of Christa to patch me up afterwards. I'm starting to think me and her might become a thing."
"Hey....." Eren's voice was faint, but at earshot.
"Right? It's not just me? She always treats me like we're--" Reiner kept gushing about his crush on the small blonde, not acknowledging Eren.
"Hey!!!!" Eren shot up onto his feet, his arms were slowly healing to his wrists. The tension soon starts to feel heavier, while Reiner was caught by surprise, "What's wrong with you? You've got to be kidding me."
Reiner stares at him with confusion, "HUh? What're you so pissed about all of a sudden?" raising his hands up in defence. "Take it easy, man. Was it something I said, or?--"
"If you wanna die, then just keep talking!" Eren fiercely snaps, his voice sending chills down my spine. Whether his emotions snapped, he was trying his best to keep himself restrained.
Ymir raises a hand to prevent him from further conflict.
"Hold up, Eren," She cuts him off, before raising her eyes keenly to Reiner's. "I think somebody's gone off the deep end. Is that what this is, Bertholdt? If you know something we don't, now would be a good time to put it on the table!"
Reiner's eyes shift up to see Bertholdt, being rather quiet and hesitant.
"Reiner.........snap out of it," He tries to wake his comrade up, while I'm getting more confused the more I listened. "You're not a soldier, okay? You and I are......we're warriors."
A trigger soon snaps within Reiner, and now before me was a man who was snapped back to reality. His mind was shift, his breathing grew heavy and was quavering beneath realisation. We all stare at him, in shock and questioning glances.
Slowly he calms down, as his emotions were slowly in check.
"Right, I see.....that's how things are," he accepts quietly, before sobbing quietly in the palm of his hand. I wasn't sure whether to sympathise, or remain my anger calmly towards him. The confliction of whether they're the enemy, or not, my duty right now is to retrieve Eren and Ymir.
Yet Eren wasn't entirely convinced, "What the hell's he doing?"
Ymir scoffs, "I think I have a pretty good idea.....at least, I think so," She implies, with a teasing tone like she was finding this amusing. "Didn't add up at first. Why would the man who broke the wall risk his neck to save Connie? It's like the poor bastards personality is compartmentalised. Everything he does is a contradiction in terms........."
"Dissociative identity disorder," I murmur softly, already understanding what she was explaining. I've taught myself all there is to know on trauma's, or any kind of disorder when it comes to war.
As a soldier from the beginning, I've always been observant of others. Cared about those who've lost everyone, or witnessed traumatic events. It scars people, to the point their personality changes. Took time to research, as there was a library full of heavily selected books on medical side of things.
Seeing it right now, I finally understand what was happening.
Except right now for the situation he's in, I can't forgive after what's been done to everyone. He's taken too much from us, and though they may be lost children, I can't go soft. I've been naive for too long, to know that kindness will only drag you down.
"........He can't help it. On one hand, he's a warrior bent on pushing mankind past the brink......on the other he's pretending to be a soldier. I'm thinking maybe he got a little lost in the role......" She assumes, her tone growing bitter. "...see, he can't resolve those facets of himself. Can't bear the weight of what he's done. The only way for him to manage his conscience is to fall for his own act. He thinks he is a soldier. This is what you call a split personality.....he's gone insane. His heart and mind are at war with each other, and judging by Bertholdt's expression, this isn't the first stalemate."
Now Ymir is also concerning me, as she's finding it more amusing than I was.
"Blows me away!" She exclaims, with such a cynical expression. "Wow, someone as brutally honest as you losing their grip--"
"Shutup!!!!" Reiner fiercely snaps, before darkly staring down upon Ymir. "Not another word."
Ymir was stunned for a moment before sneering, "I'm sorry, must've hit a nerve,"
Eren soon was getting rather ansty, and more pent up with anger towards the two traitors before him.
"Is this some kind of joke? Where do you get off pretending to be the victim?" Eren asks them, while his voice was rather contentious. "You're wallowing in self-pity? How dare you. What was going through your head the day I told you my story, huh? Remember that, Bertholdt?! I'm talking to you, lackey! I told you everything. You sat there and looked me straight in the eye. Watched me relive seeing my mother eaten alive."
My heart clenched painfully, seeing Eren was struggling to hold back his tears.
"Don't you remember? Well, it just so happens the chunk of wall you kicked out fell on our house," He continues, trying to guilt trip them more. "It's what kept her from being able to run away. Ring any bells? Take you back? Let me ask you again. W-What was going through your head when I told you that story?"
My eyes shift back to see Bertholdt's eyes turn away, "Want me to be honest?" he asks rhetorically. "In the moment I felt.......sorry for you."
My anger was slowly boiling inside me, recalling one of the giant stones crushing my home as well. Funny and how coincidental it was, but no matter if I told my story, nothing could ever bring them back to me. Nothing.
"Huh? Sorry for me?" Eren scoffs drly. "So, then....you're not.....you're not warriors or soldiers. You're just murderers. Psychotic mass-murderers who snuffed out the lives of countless people that never did you any wrong!--"
"Don't you think I'm aware of that fact?!" Reiner bites back, fiercely. "I don't need you shoving it down my goddamn throat!"
"Then stop acting like you've got any right to feel sorry for yourself!!!!" Eren fights back. "We're living in a hell you two created! Are you proud of yourselves?! You're not one of us! You've never been! You're not even human anymore!!!!!!!"
Reiner's eyes darken, with a dangerous expression.
"You want an apology? Is that what you hope to get out of calling us murderers?!" Reiner raises his voice more, even though yelling wasn't going to comfort Eren's sadness. "Want us to feel bad? Want us to take the blame? Who are you talking to? The people you thought you knew don't exist! They're dead!....But hey, if screaming does it for ya, go ahead and scream your goddamn head off!"
The two pant heavily from their abrupt argument, torturing as hell it was, yet Eren wasn't finished.
"You're right, who am I? What do I know?" Eren's breath shook. "Still. I've got to do something. Anything. I swear to you, one way or another, the two of you will pay.....and it's gonna hurt."
Leaning my head back, I grew uncomfortable, while not doing something. I don't have ODM, my weapons fell from my battles hours ago. My body is on the brink of collapse, even though I should've black out a while ago again.
"Are you for real?" Ymir drly scoffs, earning his attention. "Eren, grow up....keep spouting off childish bullshit like that, and I've got no hope for you....."
The two send harsh glares towards one another, before Ymir turns to Reiner.
"Tell me something, what's with the giant monkey?!"
Reminding me as well, I also wondered if Reiner and Bertholdt knew the beast looking titan. With my mind so focused in taking every titan down, my concern grew more troublesome the more I dwelled on it. Something was off.
Reiner furrows his eyebrows, "Monkey? What're you talking about?"
She hums, "Huh, I thought for sure you'd know," assuming the case. "That's surprising. From the way you guys were ogling it all slack-jawed, I figured we were seeing some kind of living legend. Weird."
"A monkey? Don't be cute," Eren scoffs, not understanding what they were talking about. He wasn't there when we saw him, as it was the beginning of a terrible night.
She hisses, "Shut up and listen.......monkey, beast titan whatever you wanna call him," explaining what she was talking about. "He's behind this latest fiasco. It's why titans are cropping up out of nowhere. I get the feeling he's gauging our strength.....Reiner and Bertholdt are trying to get wherever he is. It's how they're getting back home."
My eyes drift back to see both the boys wide eyed, like she just hit the jackpot. To be honest, connecting both a random abnormal who had a mind of its own, and now Reiner and Bertholdt's transformation? It's not coincidence. The beast titan could throw large boulders, control titans, what else? It's terrifying to know, that there are more dangerous enemies out there.
"Feel free to correct me if I'm way off base," Ymir offers, while Eren was in confusion.
"Wait, how did you know? Who are you?" He asks her, before demanding in rage. "What else haven't you told me?!"
"Eren!"
His mouth gapes open in response, before his eyes drift to meet my stern ones.
"Keep your damn emotions in check, it's not gonna solve anything," I reason vehemently. "Remember, don't let your anger cloud your path......it's not worth it, in our situation."
Ymir brushes her hand in irritation, "Besides, I'm caught up in my circumstances of my own," She clarifies, while I wondered what that was.
"Tch! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Eren continues to demand answers, not listening to my command.
"Eren, if you think killing these morons will put an end to all of this, you are sorely mistaken," She warns him, rather bluntly.
"Huh? But then, who's the enemy?!"
"The enemy?" She repeats, raising a stern brow. "Look, if I told you, things would get too--"
"Ymir! There's no future for this world and you know it!" Reiner cuts her off, with a poorly excuse. This changes her sudden behaviour, as her eyes slowly widen with a gasp. "You have a solid grasp of things. What d'you think comes next? Joining our side wouldn't be out of the question if you were so inclined."
"...and put my faith in you guys? That's rich," She scoffs, with disbelief. "Neither of you trusts me as far as you can throw me."
"Come one, that isn't true," Reiner comments. "We know what you really want. All you care about is protecting Christa. If we can all agree on that, I don't see the conflict. I'm being absolutely serious. Is it so hard to believe we want what's best for her, too? hate to break it to ya, but you're not the only one. Then again....you could always put your trust in Eren, see where that leads you."
Eren grew offended, clenching his teeth with frustration.
"You're probably leaning toward escape, better to take a chance with him than throw in with us, right?" Reiner suggests, knowing Ymir's weakness. "Because if we end up taking you, there's not much hope of being rescued. I'll be straight with you. That much is true. Even if you came willingly, we're not in a position to guarantee your safety....but if it's Christa we're talking about, we might be able to do something......so it's your call. What's it gonna be?"
Ymir was silent, while I drank in what information I could gather.
"Is it Christa's future? Or your own petty existence?" He lays two options, while silence falls between the two again.
I don't understand Ymir's story, but Eren was getting out of hand.
"Come clean! Who's the real enemy?!" He questions again, demanding more than he bargain. "Tell me what you know! Who is it?!"
She was rather quiet for a moment, then sighs glancing up.
"Couldn't say,"
Eren wasn't exactly satisfied with her answer, growling under his breath.
"Alright then, sorry Eren," Reiner apologises, as Bertholdt jumps down in front of me. Just in that moment, distant gunshots echoes down the valley. My heart began to feel more hopeful, as my head perks up. Two green smokes signals were raised in the distance, clear enough to realise I wasn't alone anymore.
Reiner grunts with irritation, "Son of a bitch!"
In pain my body was, my hands slowly undo from the slack rope that I managed to break apart, as the ends went brittle. Rubbing my burned wrists, that discoloured my skin, I subtly untied my ankles while maintaining eye contact with the two distracted traitors. My fingers fumble against the tattered rope, when another echo of smoke signals shot high in the sky.
This time it was red.
However Reiner jumps down towards Eren, but not long after I see Eren begin attacking Reiner. Hearing the chaos, I took that to untie more quickly. My breath quickens, before finally I was released. Pushing myself up, my body suddenly sways as the blood rushes to my head fast.
"Shit, Reiner she's--!" before Bertholdt could finish, I send a sharp fist to his jaw quickly. I swiftly bend down and knocked his feet from underneath him, while trying to at least grab his ODM. If I could get that then--
"Wow, I'm amazed you untied yourself!" Ymir laughs, already enjoy both Reiner and Bertholdt's downfall. However it was only cut short, as Reiner finally knocked Eren out cold and began tying him up again.
Bertholdt on the other hand was flat on his back, hearing the ODM clatter against each other. Racing over I began to adjust his straps, when his large hands easily wraps around my throat with force. Inhaling sharp, I could exhale but with a deep guttural groan.
Having him pinned beneath me, I struggled with his strength.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, feeling his hands sink further all around my neck. Teeth grinding together, my hair messily hung over my eyes, to cover up the painful gasps for air that strained my throat.
"Accept this, or you will be taken with force," he reasons, but I ignored him.
Not being even fazed by this, I sent a sharp jab against a pressure point, finally feeling the air gather back into my lungs. He groans in pain, while I began to unbuckle the ODM gear from him. Knowing the structure and how it's attached, I was finally able to obtain some leverage to get out of here with Eren.
Before I could even take it from him, he suddenly wraps his legs around my waist and rolls me over causing my body to be pinned down, as his hands pinned my hands above me. My eyes narrow in anger, hearing the ODM gear clash against the branch.
"What's going on Bert!!!!!" Reiner calls, when he growls. "Goddammit!"
"I've got her!"
My chest heaves heavily while struggling to fight back, using all the strength I have left. His large body cages my tiny one, as it clearly shows who might win outwardly. However I'm not losing now! With one swift kick to the core of his stomach, his hands loosen around my hands. With another kick, I push him completely off me.
Using my arms to spring myself up, my feet firmly plant against the bark.
About to take the ODM, something hard slams against my shoulder, feeling something shift awkwardly. Colliding into the branch beneath me, my hands brace my fall, only to feel pain shoot up my left arm. Biting back my painful cry, my eyes snap up to see Reiner cautiously.
"Shit,"
"You know......I'm starting to get pissed," He cracks his knuckles, with a threatening glare.
I scoff dryly with a subtle smirk, "Good, because I think it's suits you,"
"Why, you bitch!!!!!!!!!!" he grabs my hair, straining against my scalp. He pulls me up to meet his amber eyes. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I inhale sharply while my left arm painfully throbs. "Want me to dislocate your right arm, just to even the odds?!"
"........."
I wanted to know who was after me, and why I was kidnapped. No matter if I asked, they wouldn't reveal it. Right now, I must buy some time so the Scouts can get here now. Stalling them was easy enough, but Reiner looks like he's about to murder me with such intent.
Seeing this side of him was a sight that I never thought I would see, but it pained me to know he took everything from everyone.
"Reiner, they're coming!" Bertholdt warns him hastily, while placing his ODM back on quickly. "I'll grab Ymir!"
"Yeah, I'll deal with this bitch, here," He grabs my collar, when his eyes slowly widen. His skin grew pale, the moment he realises he pissed off the wrong woman. My steel eyes dangerously meet his alarmed ones, before another smoke signal fires again more closely.
"Reiner!" Bertholdt warns him.
"You don't understand what we've gone through," my tone grew more deeper, feeling my exhaustion change to murder intent. "If you take Eren, you will regret meeting me.........because, I protect my own cadets til my last breath!"
Using my good arm I send a sharp uppercut to his jaw, as spit sprays out his mouth from the sudden attack. He didn't process my next attack, as I send a powerful kick to his torso. He skids across the branch, almost tumbling back only for him to gain his balance.
"You're gonna regret that!" he smears blood, that rested against his lips. Gripping my dislocated left arm, I quickly pop it back in earning a painful cry. The pain was unbearable, but my situation was coming to an end. I've done what I've could in this condition, but I still felt pathetic as a soldier and Corporal.
If only I wasn't weak right now........
Seething through my teeth, I could hear him charging towards me. However he activates his ODM swiftly, and jumps up avoiding me. Turning on my heel I went to jump away, when something wraps around me tugging me back.
"Reiner we have to go now!" Bertholdt urges him, while I try thrashing against him. My body was seriously running on fumes, but I was overdoing it. I knew that, but I can't keep giving up.
"Alright, tie her hands up," Reiner says hastily. I'll carry her for now, you take of Ymir."
"Right!"
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