Awakened

Chapter 28

It had been two days since Eren had talked to Erwin. Three days since Mikasa had escaped and was labeled a traitor.

And there was only one more day until they make their way to the walls.

Eren shot up from his bed. He couldn't take thinking about tomorrow anymore. He was going to drive himself insane.

He quickly put on a worn shirt over his bare torso and some pants. He began to do exercises in his small Scout room within the lodge. He did anything he could think of to take his restless mind off his sister. Any second of thoughts would leave him worried and stressed.

What if Erwin knew his statement was a ruse? What if word has already reached the walls of the "betrayal?" What if Mikasa was already dead by the time they come?

Eren would pour these thoughts into any sit-up, push-up, crunch, or squat he did. Sweat poured down his body as he breathed heavily. He closed his eyes and Erwin flashed before them. He had a cruel expression on his face, ready to kill anyone. Ready to kill Mikasa.

Eren couldn't take it anymore.

He came out of his room and strode down the hall. He went as fast as he could to the entrance of the lodge and burst out. The night air greeted him, with the moon hanging low. He needed to clear his head. In a few hours they would ride to the walls and gods-knows what might happen. Eren stepped off the entrance and began to run.

He ran and ran around the large lodge as much as he could, trying to tire himself and his mind out. He lost count after the seventeenth lap. His heart roared in his ears but he didn't care. Mikasa was all he had left. His last family member. He needed the stress and worry out of him. So he continued to run and run and run.

Eren didn't even notice when his shirt became so sweaty that it clung to him like loose skin. He didn't even notice his hair get matted down. It fell in front of his eyes, but the wind from his running brushed it aside. He kept pushing himself. He needed more laps. He-

"What are you doing?"

Eren stopped abruptly. His momentum almost sent him sprawling on the floor, but he managed to catch himself from a few stumbles. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breathing heavy. He closed his eyes and put his hands on his hips, letting his head fall back as he took deep breaths.

"Running."

"This late at night?" Armin looked at him in disbelief. "Eren..."

Armin stopped what he was going to say as soon as Eren turned towards him. His eyes and expression were bare. No longer guarded or faking another emotion. Armin's lips parted in shock at the state Eren was in. Eren looked away.

"She's gone," Eren said in a low voice. Almost a whisper. "My sister is gone, and I can feel Scouts watching me like a hawk."

The weight of his words settled on both of them, making the air itself heavy. Armin came closer to Eren and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know," Armin sighed. "But we have to be strong. For her. Like her."

Eren's eyes grew shiny. "I don't know how she can do this."

"Neither do I," Armin admitted. "But it's our turn to be strong if we want to be with her. We can't fail at this."

Eren stared at Armin for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodding. 

"We ride tomorrow," Armin informed. "When we get there, that's it. It's all for her. We know she's innocent, and she needs our help. If it comes down to it, we'll have to betray the Regiment."