Let's Start Again

Chapter Fifteen: The Truth

***You wouldn't believe how long I've been hoping to find another gif to start off the chapter. Seriously, they're fun!

Also, let me personally apologize for making my readers seriously - I mean SERIOUSLY - not like Erwin. I mean, I don't like him, but PinkCashews asked me why Erwin was being an ass (she sent me a frowny face. God, I never realized how depressing those things were until now), and then I realized, "...Dang. Commander Erwin's being an ass." I'ma be honest: I didn't think I could successfully write someone so well that I could make others hate them. Should I be proud or ashamed? O_o***

Levi's POV

The first thing Levi noticed when he woke up was the mass of soldiers running by his cabin. Not much ever happened on the base, so for there to be a buzz, something odd must've occurred.

As quickly as he could, Levi got dressed and left the cabin, following the crowd. As he matched his walking speed to a nearby soldier, Levi tapped the man on the shoulder and asked what was going on.

"You didn't know, Captain?"

"Know what?"

The male soldier sped up, and said, "It's Cadet Zoe. We heard she was attacked by the Titans she was studying."

As the soldier sped walked, Levi stopped walking completely, his outstretched arm now stiff.

Attacked? But when...?

When Levi finally moved again, he was running at full speed, his mind flooded with emotions. He was annoyed that Hanji had stayed out there by herself; when Moblit and he had left, she should have come along. He was angry at himself for leaving Hanji to fend for herself. He knew how much she loved Titans - she was bound to go too far with her tests. Most of all, though, he was distraught. He had let Titans take the lives of his comrades so many times already. He was foolish to leave them alone with the one person he wanted to be with!

Levi reached the railing with sweat on his brow, and the first thing he saw was the blood.

It was everywhere. Sawny and Bean were going crazy, yanking against their restraints with brute force. Four soldiers for each Titan had their swords at the ready, making sure others stayed back (not like anyone was trying to get close). Levi descended the stairs, his eyes now glued to the blood that stained Sawny and Bean's wide fingertips. The captain's eyes were everywhere but where they should've been, but that wasn't an accident. Levi didn't want to look at it. Maybe, if he avoided it, it wouldn't be reality.

The moment he thought that, though, Levi knew he was being foolish, so he forced himself to look at her as he closed in. She didn't look like Hanji at all, sprawled out like a crime novel victim. Hanji's eyes were usually filled with laughter and mischief; this woman's eyes were wide in terror. On closer inspection, Levi noticed the numerous cuts all over her body, surely a result of the splintered wood that had made of a mess of the outside space.

Hanji's hair was splattered with dried blood, and her hands were covered in red, too. Levi didn't want to see his dirty, annoying, but beloved comrade like this. Hanji was much too beautiful to die at the hands of Titans. This wasn't how she should've died - not by a long shot!

"LEVI!"

A voice called out for him, but Levi ignored it as he felt the tears build up behind his eyes. He wanted to cry. Oh, he wanted to cry so badly, but there were soldiers around, and if he didn't act composed...

Why does it matter, anymore? You only tried to act composed for her. It was because of Hanji that you were getting better, but she's dead now. You don't have any reason now...