The End (AOT Eren x reader version)

Chapter 15

The next day, us new soldiers stand watch outside the forest per Erwin's command. We don't ask any questions.

Also, per Erwin's command, and my satisfaction, Eren and I are stationed at the same post. We stand on either side of one of the larger trees at the edge of the forest, simply waiting for something to happen.

We've been out here for hours, it seems. The sun is high, and so is the temperature. I put my hand on my back and can feel the sweat through my shirt.

"What are we watching for, anyway?" Eren manages to grab my attention with his question.

I think for a moment before replying, "If I had to guess, we're here as bait to keep wandering titans out of the forest."

My answer is met with silence.

I watch the sun out of the corner of my eye, it seems to lower quicker the longer I focus on it.

"(y/n), come here."

Quickly inching my way around the large tree, I see what Eren is pointing at.

"What is that?"

There's something moving across the ground, my initial thought would've been a titan, but it's so small. Almost human size...

"Is that a person?"

Eren looks at me, confused, then returns his attention to the figure slowly making its way through the thick brush.

I study the figure, it could just be a survey corps soldier, but it's not wearing any uniform I've ever seen.

"Do you think someone could've snuck out on one of the carriages?"

That's definitely the most logical answer, but I can't help feeling that Erens guess is wrong.

Before I can realize what it is I'm doing, I find myself swinging through the trees and following the person weaving through the bushes below. Eren shouts after me, and I can tell he's following, but I don't reply and focus on maintaining a safe distance from who, or what, is on the ground.

I start to slow my pace as the figure retreats into a rickety mountain shack. I stop at the edge of the forest and look around; how long had I been chasing that thing? Is Eren still behind me? Where am I?

One of my questions is answered when Eren stops on the branch beside me.

"(y/n), what are you doing? We need to go back!"

I don't respond, I don't know how. What do I do? I've made it this far, I can't just go back without knowing who or what that thing is.

"(y/n), are you hearing me?"

I shake my head, "We need to follow it inside. It's just a feeling."

"A feeling?" Eren exclaims, "We're going to follow that thing into a shack in the center of titan territory on a feeling?"

"You don't have to come with." I snap, turning to look at him. "But I'm going."

I begin to make my way down the tree. Once I reach the ground, I turn my Survey Corps cape and jacket inside out before entering the breaking building.

The inside is illuminated by oil lamps, they aren't used very often, but they're very common in the Underground. A deep staircase is the only other thing there. I hold a lamp at the top, but I still can't see where the stairs end.

I cautiously begin cascading down the steps, still holding the oil lamp to make sure I don't end up falling.

As they go deeper, I start to get an eerie feeling. My surroundings start to become strangely familiar, but I know I've never been in a place like this.