You're Not Alone

•74•

"I beg for your forgiveness, child."

I wake up again as the man begins talking. Eren shifts uncomfortably behind me, probably trying to get out of the rope that's tying our hands together behind our backs.

"Please know that everything I've done I did to protect you," he holds Historia by her shoulders.

"F-father," she whispers.

Father?! What?! He's the one that had us kidnapped? I have no idea what's happening, where I'm at, or why we're here in the first place.

"Not a day has passed that I haven't thought of you. Long have I dreamed of a day when I could hold you like this. You are special, the blood of the king flows through your veins," he states.

"Is that true?"

I watch a tear slip down her face. He's lying to her, I know it. I've heard her story... they sent her away to the cadet corps hoping she'd die so the truth wouldn't come out.

"Yes, Historia." He smiles. "The true royal bloodline is carried by the Reiss family. And as it's heir, the power to save all of humanity now rests in your hands."

My eyes widen at the information. How is this possible? She's been the heir to this entire nation the whole time?

"Please Historia, come with me, and I'll show you where it all began..."

~3rd POV~

"Based on this, we can speculate. Ymir used to be a mindless Titan just like the others, until she consumed someone- Someone from Bertholdt and Reiners group," Hange explains the note Eren gave her. "We've never seen a Titan turn back into a human by eating one before. That said, Reiner's comrades aren't normal humans. And there's a different set of rules for humans that can turn into Titans. My thought is this: if a titan it someone with that power, then it'll transform back into a human. What's more, they'll obtain whatever powers that human had. In the battle a week or so ago, Reiner was throwing Titans at Eren and Sophie as he tried to run away. He knew that the one or both the twins had the power to command feral Titans with their screams. If their death would've meant that power was lost, he wouldn't have risked it. I think he hoped one of those titans would eat the twins and take their power. My point is, if the government has a Titan of their own, they'll use it to eat the twins."

Upon hearing this, Mikasa heads for the door. Before she can get out, Levi takes her by the shoulder and turns her around.

"Calm down. I know you wanna get them back, but going on a rampage won't help with that. Anyway, we're heading for Rod Reiss' estate. Prepare to leave at once."

~time skip~

"Captain, we bought the supplies," Jean approaches the group with Armin and Mikasa.

"The MP's were handing out these flyers," Armin hands Levi a paper. "If this is true, the Scouts will be disbanded. They say they'll be hunting for us in the mountains tonight. They're also posting guards on all the vital roads. No one can get through them without a pass. So, Captain? What now?"

"We need to hurry and find Eren and Sophie," Mikasa urges.

"They'll be fine," Levi says in annoyance. "They're taking them on a wagon. That gives us one day before they reach Reiss estate. And we need every second we can get to come up with a plan."

"Captain. I hear footsteps." Sasha whispers. "Sounds like they're approaching."

"Listen up..." Levi starts. "Here's what we'll do..."

They all listen to the plan closely, taking in what the captain is telling them. After he's done explaining, they take off to their positions.

Armin faces the stream in front of him, hearing the people approach from behind. He tenses up, not sure who he's going to see.