Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 36 •

"Captain!"

Levi looked up from his conversation with Sasha and Connie, concerned by the tone of Armin's voice.

"What is it, Armin?" he asked, sitting up. Sasha, who was putting away the pot and utensils from earlier that morning, and Connie, fiddling around with the brim of his straw hat, both drew their attention to the small group. Levi looked around and asked, "Where is Lorr--"

"She's gone," Armin said, his voice shaking as he tried to maintain his composure, "She's been taken by someone, but we don't know who could have done it! I-I'm sorry, sir!" Levi growled.

"Where was the last place you saw her," Levi asked, his voice lowering in tone.

Armin shook his head, holding up the armour shard, and said, "The entrance we took into Stohess. But I found this laying on the ground in a street, near an alley." Levi stood up. Mikasa frowned. Jean sighed.

"I-I'm sorry, Captain," Jean said cautiously, his mind and heart regretful, "We...we should have gone in pairs."

Levi said, his eyes now cold and filled with anger, though he remained strong and serious, "We can think all day about what we should have done, but that doesn't change what's already happened. What we need is a plan of action."

"Yeah, but how are we gonna do much of anything while we're on the run," Jean asked, "We don't even know who took her."

Levi said through gritted teeth, "I have an idea who the culprit may be, but I hope for her sake that I'm wrong."

"Captain," Armin said, handing him the paper from their trip into town while trying to regain his composure, "The MPs were handing these out." Levi took the paper and looked it over. He grimaced.

"If this is true, then the Scouts will be disbanded."

Armin nodded and said, "They also said they'll be hunting for us in the mountains tonight and that they're posting guards on all the vital roads. No one can get through without a pass. So, Captain...what now?" Levi crumpled the paper in his hands and shoved it into his pocket, standing up.

Mikasa said, "We need to hurry and find Lorraine and Eren--"

"Eren will be fine," Levi cut her off, "They're taking him to the Reiss Estate on a wagon, so that gives us one day to catch up to them. As for Lorraine, we're going to have to just hope for the best and do what we can to save her." He balled up his fist and added, "Unfortunately...Eren is our number one priority due to the nature of his kidnapping. I'm sorry. I really am." Mikasa sighed.

"I know Lorraine isn't the priority," she thought,"and that we need to get Eren back, but why do we have to put her safety aside in the process? Can't we split up and find her at the same time? There's got to be something we're not thinking of."

"Captain," Sasha whispered, turning her head to look into the forest, "I hear footsteps. They're coming this way."

Levi said in a hushed voice, "How many?"

"I think two."

"Right," he said, "Listen up. We're going to take them into custody. I'm going to need you all to do exactly as I say. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

In the now-desolate streets of Trost's outskirts, Flegel Reeves stumbled around a corner. Three Military Police soldiers weren't too far behind him. He panted and wheezed, attempting to climb up a stack of boxes. His heart was racing and sweat soaked his white shirt under his jacket.

"Shit," he said, his hands fumbling to grasp at anything he could, "This is it! This is how I die!" As he felt his foot slip out from under him, he heard the sounds of ODM gear from above him. He slammed his eyes shut, preparing for his death, but felt arms around him, pulling him up into the air. He tried to scream, but his voice was muffled by a hand over his mouth. As he hit solid ground, he shrieked and tucked his knees to his chest.