Trust me. (Aruani) [Contains manga spoilers]

Chapter 4, Her tears

They'd been listening the screams for only five minutes and it already felt unbearable. Mikasa was the only one who had managed to keep a serious look and seemed insensitive. Even Eren felt bad for Annie now. Revenge had been in his mind too but now he wondered if this was the right choice after all. What would they gain by this? First he thought that he'd get some peace in his mind but things were only going to a worse way. Armin was still unconscious. Maybe he had been right after all. They shouldn't go on their enemy's level.

Hanji had been removing Annie's nails over and over again since they healed quickly. She had also removed some teeth and after Levi had got tired of hearing Annie whining, he had went to squeeze her nose broken. They kept it up but still she wouldn't give any information.

Armin woke up to her screams. They'd been torturing her for thirty minutes now. Right away Armin jumped up and rushed to the door but Mikasa was guarding it and wouldn't let him through. Armin was losing his mind slowly by. He'd need to stay calm but he wasn't even sure anymore on whose side he was. Everyone had started to suspect if he'd turn his back at them and took the enemy side but he didn't want to leave his friends and he knew what they needed to do for mankind. He just didn't like their ways of dealing with these things – torturing and threatening. He didn't like violence. He saw that talking would be the most effective way of getting some information out of Annie.

"Maybe I went too far? We can't afford to kill her and if she's like this.. how the hell we're going to get her to talk?" Hanji wondered and turned around to glance at Levi. She took steps to Levi who was a bit further away and let Annie be alone for a while. Annie had fallen in a shock state. She kept mumbling something about going back to her father.

"Tch.. So you are suggesting that we'd take a break? I need to cut that bitch's arms and legs off first", Levi snapped and sighed. He suddenly felt like this was pointless. They hadn't gained anything. He had just enjoyed seeing her being tortured but that wasn't helping mankind the least bit.

Hanji and Levi kept arguing and didn't notice how Annie's wounds weren't healing anymore. She had a deep wound on her shoulder and she kept bleeding. She was losing too much of blood and after some time she lost her consciousness.

She felt so bad that she felt like there was no meaning in living anymore. Her wounds weren't healing because she didn't want them to. She had done so many things. No one could forgive her. There was no one to understand how she felt like everyday. That's why she had no motivation anymore. It was useless. She'd never see her father again. Most likely this wouldn't work. It never did because deep inside she wanted to survive and not to die.

Armin had finally calmed down and kept a serious look on his face. He was sitting on the floor and leaning his back to a wall. They wondered why all the screams were suddenly gone. Armin felt anxious and kept moving his hands against each other.

"Is it over.. finally? The torture I mean.. or am I just so stupid that.. I don't understand what's going on", Connie mumbled himself. Sasha hadn't said a word. They had given her an apple so she could calm her nerves by eating.

"--Honestly I don't think so. Maybe they are having a break?" Jean wondered and sighed. It seemed strange though. Just a while ago they had still heard her cries for help.

Suddenly Levi kicked the door open. Everyone turned to look at that way. Those who had been sitting stood up quickly. Hanji came right after carrying Annie in her arms. Her pulse was faint.

"Nani---" Jean exhaled and then grit his teeth together and glared at the girl. She had saved him once but still he could never forgive her.

Armin had frozen still and stared at Annie shocked. Her body was covered in blood. She had many bruises and wounds. A bigger wound on her shoulder seemed more serious though.

"Okay brats.. We'll need to take care of her wounds. As much as I hate to admit.. she's important. We can't let her die before we've got all the important information out of her. Then.. feel free to carve her body as much as you like", Levi spoke calmly but they could see how he didn't enjoy this either.

They brought Annie on a table. Her wounds still weren't healing. Armin took slow steps to there and stared at her from further away. Hanji went to get supplies.

"Why her wounds won't heal.." Eren wondered himself. It reminded him of the time when he couldn't turn into a titan to fight her. Maybe Annie had similar kind of feelings right now. Still, he wouldn't forgive her just yet.

After they had taken care of the wounds. They took her in a room to rest. Her pulse was still faint and she seemed to be in a really weak state. They didn't know if she'd survive but the fact that she was a titan shifter was giving them some hope.

"I'm going first", Armin said seriously when they were wondering who should look after her first.

"There's no way we're let--" Mikasa frowned but Hanji stopped her before she could even finish the sentence.

"Armin is a smart kid. He knows what to do. Trust him. Also since we already tried torturing.. we should try talking for now and Armin's good at getting people on his side. You should know that Mikasa. So.. Arlert.. We're counting on you", Hanji spoke and gave a gentle smile to Armin.

"Hai, of course. I'll try my best Commander", Armin nodded and opened the door. He closed it slowly after getting inside the resting room and then turned around to look at Annie. She was still unconscious. He took slow but determined steps towards the bed and when he got enough close to it, he sat on the edge of it. He sighed and kept looking at the girl.

Some tears were on Annie's cheeks. Maybe she was seeing a nightmare in her sleep or it could be that she was actually awake but didn't want to open her eyes to the reality that scared her. Slowly Armin brought his hand closer and it touched her cheek. He rubbed it gently first before he wiped her tears.

He'd be there to wipe away all her tears from now on.