The Devil is Watching You

•32•

(NOT EDITED)

It's been two weeks now and today is the day that you finally get to open your eyes. The back of your head is more or less healed, as is the cuts around your eyes.

You haven't been doing much. Mostly resting and listening to Armin read. You've finished the book about the girl who turned into a rabbit. It ended with her having to make a choice; Stay a rabbit forever or go back to being human. She chose to stay a rabbit. The ending was satisfying and definitely perfect for the story line.

Now you feel like you have to make a choice... Stay here in Paradis, or go back home to Marley....

You still need to find the kids and find a way to get them home. Maybe Niccolo can help you with that...? However, you're not sure if you want to go with them or not. You feel like you belong here. Although you're still technically the enemy and under their supervision, you feel more free than you ever have. Maybe it doesn't have to do so much with the place, but the people here... no... it's the person...

Armin... He's the reason you feel so free.

You're really hoping that you can officially see again, because the Scouts are going to a restaurant that Niccolo is working at and you've been wanting to see him. You're not sure it's the same boy you met as a kid, but it's highly likely that's it's him. You're hoping it is, because he's probably the best person to get those kids home.

"You ready?" Hange questions as she sits in front of you in the infirmary.

"Yeah," you nod as Hanges cold fingers grab onto the sides of your cheeks. She starts to unravel the bandages and the light begins to flood in.

As you keep your eyes shut while she finishes taking off the wrapping, you feel a hand slip into yours. It's not surprising that you've become familiar with the shape of Armins hand. His is the only hand you've held so many times that you've memorized the shape... the softness of his skin, and the size of it as it rests in your grasp.

"Alright," Hange mutters. "Jean, shut the curtains so it's not too bright for her."

"Of course," you hear Jean pull the cloth over the window and suddenly the light is much dimmer.

"Go ahead," Hange orders. "Just open them slowly."

You squeeze your fingers around Armins as you lift your eyelids. At first it was hard due to them being closed for so long, but eventually your muscles react and you're able to allow your eyes to open.

"Can you see?" Hange places her face directly in front of yours, but all you see is a blurry outline.

"Um," you frown slightly. "Not-"

"Let me see," Armin uses his free hand to place his index finger on the side of your chin and then turn your face towards him. "They look a little dry. Can we use a dropper and put water into her eye?"

"Good idea!" Hange jumps up and goes to grab it.

Armins finger stays on your chin as Hange gets back. He then proceeds to tip your head back and places the side of his hand against your head as he starts to drop little splashes of water into your eye.

It stings for a moment, but then it begins to flood the dryness out of your eyes. Armin removes his hand and you let your head fall forward.

"How's that?" his soothing voice sounds even softer.

You blink away the excess water and the blurriness begins to subside as well. Sure enough, your vision clears up and the shadowy figure before you dissipates, revealing Armins blonde hair and stunning blue eyes b