Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 20 •

Over the next several days, the Scouts were all on edge. Murmurs of the upcoming forfeit of Eren to the Military Police were heard everywhere Lorraine and the others went. Eren naturally grew more and more anxious.

Lorraine was sitting in Reiner's lap early one evening while he played with her hair and humming a tune absentmindedly. He was just letting the hair slip slowly through his fingers, enjoying the feeling of the silky-soft strands gliding through his digits over and over again. He kept draping her hair over her shoulders, occasionally commenting on how beautiful she was. She was relaxing back on his chest, happily listening to Reiner when Armin and Jean jogged over hurriedly. Jean said, interrupting the young couple, "Lo! Commander Erwin needs us. Where's Mikasa?" Lorraine sat up and shrugged.

"I'm not sure."

Armin said, "Well, come as soon as you can, Lorraine. We need to find your sister, too." Lorraine turned around, sitting up on her knees so she was barely taller than her lover, placing her hands on both sides of his face and guiding his lips to hers. They smiled as they kissed. As Lorraine pulled away, she muttered, "Be back soon, Love." He slipped his hand behind her and gently squeezed her buttocks in each hand. She gasped a little and began to protest, her face flushing, but he slammed his lips into hers once again. She pulled away again and said playfully, "I hate it when you do that." He smirked and said, "You love me anyway." She giggled, not denying his comment, and stepped down off the bench, leaving Reiner sitting alone with a loving smile plastered onto his face, the two of them earning an eye roll from Jean.

Armin, Jean, and Lorraine found Mikasa and the four of them walked down to a large room in the basement where Erwin, Levi, and a few other notable members of the Scouting Legion were gathered. The four walked into the room to the sizeable, wooden table in the center. They were surprised to find Eren already there. Eren, equally as surprised to see them, said, "Guys? What are you all doing here?" Before anyone could speak, Erwin explained, "We may have discovered the identity of the Female Titan." Eren furrowed his brows skeptically. Lorraine sighed. Erwin said calmly, "We are not going to let her escape this time. Listen closely. You are not to repeat this information to anyone." The Scouts sat around the table, all looking at Erwin in anticipation. He rolled out a large map with several markings drawn on it, pointing to a few of the markings as he spoke.

"This operation will begin the day after tomorrow in Stohess District. We'll already be passing through on the way to the Royal Court, as I'm sure you're all aware. That will be our chance to strike. As soon as we set foot into the Interior, the government will take custody of Eren, so unless we wish to surrender, we're going to have to take this small window of opportunity to flush out the enemy and stop her in her tracks."

Lorraine's eyes scanned the map while Erwin continued his detailed explanation. He said calmly, "Here's the plan: while we're passing through Stohess, Eren, you will act as bait to lure the target to this underground passage." He tapped the paper, drawing their attention to the small circle he had scribbled in. Lorraine, sitting between Mikasa and, at the end of the table, Levi, leaned forward to get a closer look. Levi glanced up at her out of the corner of his eyes, then back at the map. Erwin continued, "The deeper we take her, the better. Even if she were to transform in there, she'll easily be completely immobilized by the stone enclosure. Of course, if she transforms before reaching the tunnel, then it will be up to you to stop her, Eren." The Commander sat back in his chair and Eren said, "So, we know she'll be in Stohess? What if she bails out of there before we can get to her?" Armin spoke up confidently.

"No. If she really is who we think she is, then she wouldn't want to risk it."

Erwin nodded in agreement and said, "She's in the Military Police Regiment. Armin was the one who figured it out. She's also the one suspected of killing Hanji's test subjects. We have reason to believe she's a Cadet from the 104th." Lorraine looked down at her lap, a look of sadness on her face. Eren stared at Erwin as he continued, "Her name is Annie Leonhardt." Eren clenched his fists and said, "N-no! No way! It can't be her! Wh-what proof do you have?" Armin said calmly, "Well, it's obvious that the Female Titan knew what you looked like from the very start of her mission. On top of that, she reacted when I referred to you by your 'suicidal maniac' nickname. That's something that only our class would have known." Lorraine wrung her hands together, her heart pounding in her chest.