Forgive & Don't Forget

[Annie]

I slowly shutter my eyes open.

I'm back in the prison cell.

~

I sit up and stretch. There is no guard on duty, which is strange.

"What happened...?" I mumble to myself.

I rub my eyes.

I'm back. Your back Annie. You can still go home.

But why?

~

"Annie Leonhardt." A firm voice calls from outside of the cell.

I turn around. I had been doing small stretches. Which occurred to me, wbu wasn't I chained?

"That's me." I walk to the door of the cell.

"I'm your escort to the dining hall. You'll have to be chained during the walk but you will be taken under other duty when you arrive." The escort explains.

I nod. He opens the gate and I put my hands in front of me. He cuffs them together. I walk next to him.

~
*The escort and Annie enter a carriage and soon arrive at a mansion*
~

We arrive at the dining hall. The escort pushes open the massive doors. There lay a long table. Steel plates and other dishes are covered with trays.

The escort unlocks my chains and shows me to my seat.

When he leaves another person comes in.

It's Captain Levi.

I look at him then quickly look away.

He takes a seat at the larger end chair.

He sighs. "Why'd you do it? Kill all of those people?"

My eyes widen as I bow my head. "-I..." I could barely speak. "I didn't want to, and I know it was wrong..." I manage to explain.

"I still don't get it. Why."

"It was my duty." I say with a strong voice. "I had to capture Eren Jäger to get back home. If I didn't I would be killed if I came back empty- handed. I don't care how long it would take me. If I need to get my hands drenched in blood, I would." I calm down. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. Or kill them. I, I just wanted to get back home to the only person that actually meant something to me."

Levi doesn't say anything.

Suddenly the doors open again. There is a whole bunch of people this time. Some I don't recognize and some I wish I hadn't.

In comes: Sasha, Hanji, Jean, Connie, Mikasa, Armin, Floch, and Eren.

They all take seats. Hanji sits across from me which is next to Levi, who is also next to me. On my other side is Sasha. Next to her is Connie, Jean, then Floch.

Next to Hanji is Eren, then Armin, then Mikasa.

They all look at me. I bow my head not wanting to see any of them.

"Dig in everyone. Then we talk." Hanji says as she uncovers some platters.

As everyone eats, I leave my plate empty.

Armin looks at me. "Annie, it's okay. You can't take whatever. You deserve to eat."

I look at him. I manage to take some food. Bread, a small and meager bowl of soup, strings of pulled pork, food I never thought I'd taste again.

What makes me warm is seeing Sasha gulp down everything. It brings back memories... painful memories.

~

"Okay. Today, Levi, Eren, and I did a test with our subject, as you know, Annie." Hanji adjusts her throat.

Everyone focuses.

"We did blood tests, DNA tests, stamina, Titan testing. All were accurate except the Titan test. Annie was not able to control her Titan ability. Therefore being that it had been several months, of not transforming. Eren too had encountered the difficult situation." She pauses. "We have two days before Annie's trial. And we will continue theses tests before so. I will require all of your help, please."

Floch speaks up, "What will some of the tests be?"

Hanji answers, "More Titan transformations, of course. Combat training, techniques, other important info."

"Doesn't sound too extreme." Jean boasts.

Hanji then pays her attention towards me. "So, Annie. Let me ask you."

She stops then begins.

"What are you fighting for?"