Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 32 •

The next evening, Eren walked downstairs with a yawn. Lorraine, her arm rewrapped in a sling, looked up. Mikasa, who was helping Lorraine with the laundry, turned and scolded, "Eren, what are you doing? You should still be in bed, recovering!"

Eren sighed, "I'm fine. I already slept a whole day. Besides," he continued, walking over to help prepare food for dinner, picking up a potato and a knife, "It's my fault the plan's likely being thrown out, so helping out is the least I can do."

"No," Mikasa said, "You tried, Eren. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"Enough," Eren said sadly.

Connie said, shaking, "All I want is revenge. All I care about now is getting a chance to take down the Beast Titan. That hairy bastard took everything from me. My home. My family. I want it dead." He took a deep breath and set the knife and potato he was holding on the counter. He said, "Mikasa. I-it's about time to switch lookouts. Ready?" Mikasa looked up at Eren for a moment, then nodded. She picked up the washed laundry and she, Lorraine, and Connie walked outside, leaving Eren and Historia standing alone in the kitchen.

"Must be nice," Historia said under her breath. Eren looked back at her. She continued, "You and the others know what you want, even though it won't be easy to get. But without Ymir, I've lost my purpose. I don't even know what I'm fighting for anymore."

"Saving her is something to fight for, isn't it?"

"I guess so. At the time, I didn't really understand what she was doing. I just wanted her to be safe. Since then, I've been thinking. Ymir chose her own path and I have no right to change that. She doesn't need me to."

Eren smiled and said, "It's about time you started talking again." She looked up at him. He said, "Since we've been here, you haven't said a word. You stopped smiling, too."

"Why should I bother?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sorry, but the sweet little Krista you thought you knew doesn't exist anymore."

Eren nodded and said, "Good. I didn't really like her much anyway. There's no one who's actually as nice as you pretended to be. It was unnatural and, to be honest with you, kind of exhausting." Historia's face dropped.

"I see."

"Hey, but now," Eren said, grinning awkwardly, "Now, you're just a normal girl. Stupidly honest, maybe, but still normal." His face turned serious and he said, "Look. You don't have to decide about Ymir just yet." Sasha opened the door hurriedly.

"Hanji and the others are back!" she called out to everyone, "We're meeting in the main room!"

Levi, Moblit, and Hanji sat at the dining room table while the rest of the Scout Regiment gathered and stopped what they were doing. Mikasa and Lorraine made tea and set out cups for everyone as the rest of the group joined their superiors, quietly chattering amongst themselves. Finally, Levi cleared his throat.

"Hanji and Moblit, what was it you wanted to speak to us all about?"

Hanji said, "I'm sorry, but Pastor Nick...." She sighed sadly, "He was murdered." The room fell totally silent and everyone stared at her in shock. She elaborated, "Today, in the Trost Barracks. The MPs were already at the scene. They said there had been a lot of murder cases similar to that of Pastor Nick's lately, but I don't buy it for one second. His nails were ripped out."

"Tortured for information," Levi muttered.

Hanji nodded and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. The Military Police soldier that was there was one Djel Sannes. He's from the First Interior Squad, so it was strange that he would be in Trost investigating the murder of a member of the Order of the Walls. When I shook his hand, I noticed that the skin on his knuckles was split open. I think that Nick was tortured by the Interior Military Police, then murdered." She rested her head in her hands on the table and said, "I figured the Church would want to get their hands on Nick when they learned he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's exactly why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks." Moblit placed his hand on her shoulder and she continued, "I never imagined they would use soldiers to get to him. I'm sorry. This was my fault. I should have been more careful." Levi took a sip of his tea.