Awakened

Chapter 1

Mikasa's boots clacked on the floor as she strode down the halls of the Scout Regiment's encampment. To others, to everyone really, her expression remained unreadable and stoic, but on the inside her emotions were all over the place. Only select people were told barely even five minutes ago, yet everything was being kept on the down low.

She passed fellow Scouts who moved out of her way immediately. Hange had specifically told her to come to the room alone, with no one tailing her. The brunette had left in a hurry then to go tell the others, she assumed. Mikasa turned a corner, looked behind her to see if anyone was there, and quickly slid past a door and closed it silently. A set of stairs led down to another door and she pulled out her key to unlock it and go inside.

She walked down a dark corridor now, the only illumination offered were torches equally placed along the walls. There were no windows here as she was now underground. She heard the door open behind and she turned sharply with her body already tense and ready to fight.

"Relax," Levi said coming out of the shadows, the orange light from the torches reflecting off his pale skin. "It's only me."

Tension released form the girl's body, but she scowled at him. "I thought someone followed me. I was ready to fight you off."

Levi touched the walls tentatively, "I believe you." He looked to her now. "Do you know if the others are here already?"

Mikasa opened her mouth to reply but the rattling of chains interrupted her. Levi's expression turned into a glare, and they both walked in a quick pace to the cell. 

"Im not going to enjoy this," He mumbled in a sour tone as they made it to the door.

Mikasa said nothin. She only clamped her hand around the cold handle, turned the knob, and pushed it open, letting Levi and herself inside.

She had to resist sucking in a breath- from anger or relief, she didn't know- all she could do was stare blankly at the scene in front of her.

Eren and Armin were on the left side next to Erwin who were watching with stern eyes. Erwin had his arms crossed, a scowl on his face. Hange however, was crouched down with a dancing light in their eyes as if they just got a new toy to play with.

Only to Mikasa, the person who was on their knees in front of Hange wasn't a toy.

Annie was hunched over, a rag between her teeth that was tied behind her head. She was breathing heavily as if she just ran a mile, and sweat glittered her body making a few strands of her hair stick against her neck and forehead. There were shards around her, crystal-like shards it seemed, and it sprinkled the floor like stars. As soon as Levi closed the door behind her Annie snapped her attention to them.

Her ice blue eyes bore into Mikasa making her stiffen on the inside- making her thoughts jumble. It was true then. Annie was finally free from her crystal.

Mikasa had the horrible feeling that she just walked into a nightmare.

"So glad you made it," Hange said with a smile. They glanced back at Annie, their grin widening. "Now we can start."

Annie glared at the girl, the look so hostile even Mikasa became uneasy, but not Hange. The brunette simply put a hand on her chin in deep thought. "Erwin, I want to hear what you have to say before I give my input."