Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 37 •

Jean and Connie piled up the two Military Police soldiers' gear and uniforms while Armin and Mikasa tied their hands in front of them, making sure the bonds were tied tightly and securely.

"We could disguise ourselves as MPs and get past the checkpoint, then snoop around until we figure out where Eren is. Best case scenario, we find Lorraine, too, but we can't count on that," Levi thought, sitting on a nearby stone with his arms folded across his chest, "It's a shit plan, but it's the best I've got. There's no time." He sighed.

"If we don't act now, we're finished."

"Captain," Jean said, handing him a set of folded-up documents, "I found these in their pockets."

Levi took them, unfolding them and reading them quickly. He said, "So, you're Stohess District Military Police. Private Marlowe Freudenberg and Private Hitch Dreyse." He raised up his blade and rested it on his shoulder.

"We'll need to dispose of you."

Hitch and Marlowe both gasped, then Hitch said, her eyes wide with fear, "Because of what you did, Stohess was a graveyard. Over a hundred people were killed!" Marlowe tried to stop her, but she continued, "You bastards. I bet you all think you're some kind of heroes of justice, but you're not! Far from it! You dropped dozens of innocent families into hell on that mission of yours!" Levi looked down at the two over his nose.

"Yeah," he said, "we did."

Hitch turned to Mikasa and Armin.

"You. You were a part of the Southern Cadet Corps, right? You must have trained with Annie Leonhardt, then. Were you friends of hers?"

Hitch sighed and said, "Of course not. She only ever spoke of one friend from there. Other than that, she wouldn't have made friends there, either. Way too gloomy and unapproachable for that. She was just afraid of people like a scared little kid." She glared up at Levi and said, "Now, I will never get the chance to learn anything about her. She's officially listed as missing. You know why?" She gritted her teeth.

"It's because one of your Titans turned her into an ugly red stain on the street!!"

Levi said sharply, "Actually, it's because the Titan we captured was Annie Leonhardt herself." Both of the captors gasped. Levi cursed, "Damn it. It makes me sick. Nobody knows a thing about this world. Not us or anyone else. Except, of course, the bastards at the center of it all." He thought for a moment, then said, "Alright. We'll let you go, but we need to give ourselves a head start on you."

"Captain Levi," Marlowe said, "Please let me join your cause!" Levi raised an eyebrow and Marlowe continued, "I believe that the Military Police are in the wrong, here. If there's any way I can fight this world's injustice, then that's what I want to do!"

"Easy," Levi said, "Calm down."

Marlowe said, "I swear, I won't let you down, sir!"

"No."

Marlowe shut his mouth quickly. Levi said, walking to the edge of the babbling stream and sheathing his blade, "I have no way of telling if you have enough resolve to make an enemy of the state." He turned to Armin and the others.

"Let's go. Take them deeper into the woods and tie them up, Sasha."

As Levi walked, followed by Connie, Armin, and Mikasa, Jean cut in front of him and said, "Hey, Captain. Would you let me do it instead?" Levi turned to him. Jean gave him a gentle nod. Levi's cold, blue eyes narrowed.

"Knock yourself out."

Lorraine stumbled out of the wagon for the third time that day, her good arm held tightly by Kenny, and she squinted her eyes in the orange light of the setting sun. She screamed through the cloth gag, her voice muffled and the cloth making her want to cough, and she tried to kick him, but couldn't get any power, thanks to the angle she was being held at.