Venus and Rose

Chapter Eighteen: Betrayal

Barely two hours hours passed until you were awoken by a bang on the door and someone shouting for the scouts to gear up. Jean stretched his neck where he had remained sitting on the floor beside you and Sasha groaned loudly from the bunk above you. Jean was already helping strap you into your gear by the time Sasha tumbled gracelessly from the top bunk.

It didn't take long for you to finally regroup with the rest of the scouts and soon you were riding upon Sichern between Jean and Sasha. Hange had received word that the remaining scouts were trapped by titans at the abandoned Utgard Castle, west of the Ehrmich District.

Their large group split apart, scouts along with the accompanying Interior Police rode with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi to Trost. Jean met your gaze as he was ordered to accompany the Trost group while you and Sasha were to continue with Hange to Utgard. Sending him a nod in farewell, you followed your group to ride back west.

Stars dimmed as the horizon turned lighter, yet the sun still hid for the time being. The sunrise had always been something you loved watching, yet now the unnatural coldness throughout your body made the sight uncomfortable. You and Reiner had always watched sunrises together. As you two had grown closer, you had also sat closer to one another; eventually to a point where he would wrap you in his arms so you could share the same blanket.

Your expression seemed to have alerted Sasha to what was going through your head. "We could be wrong, Vee. Don't give up, there's still a chance..." she trailed off dismally. You glanced at your sister, but couldn't stand her pitying gaze.

"I know. But... If we are right, I won't let him hurt anyone again," you said darkly and reached to your chest to touch the new blade resting in the sheath. You had gotten it from the military armory. It felt unfamiliar to you; the handle shorter and the blade heavier. Yet, you had managed to throw it perfectly, so even if it was a subpar replacement for the one you've had since your childhood, it would have to do for now. Your father's ankle sheath and blade was wrapped around your calf so the handle peeked out from the top of your boot. Knowing that you had the blades on you was oddly comforting, and so you took in a couple deep breaths to steady your pounding heart.

Daylight broke just as you heard the sounds of titans in the distance. Exchanging a meaningful look with Sasha, you split apart to follow Hange's orders to surround the titans. Breaking past the trees that had blocked your view you gasped at the rubble that remained of the castle. In your research in the scout library, you had seen drawings of the castle in its original state, and to see it absolutely destroyed made you fearful for those who had been inside. Connie...Ymir...Christa...Bertholdt...and Reiner.

Once you got closer to the castle remains, you spotted a frenzied crowd of titans. Standing atop the saddle, you sent yourself flying upwards with your ODM gear. At the higher vantage point, you turned and shot towards a ten-meter titan and cleanly sliced through its nape. Letting the momentum of its falling body carry you downwards, where you almost completely cut through a passing 4-meter's neck.

"Venus!" Sasha's warning sent you speeding away just before a six-meter titan's body had nearly collapsed upon you.

Landing on a high point of rubble, you watched the carnage laid out before you. The scouts swiftly slashed through the titans, sending them all to the ground. As an eight-meter fell, your gaze landed on a small group of people clustered together on the ground. Immediately, you recognized Reiner's blonde hair and Bertholdt's tall stature. As you sped towards them, you saw Eren awkwardly land and fall in the rubble nearby. It wasn't until you landed nimbly beside Eren did you also spot Connie.

"Vee! You're safe!" Connie launched himself into your arms.

You couldn't help but smile at him. "Yes, I'm alright. Sasha and Jean are ok too," you said and patted him on the back.