C h a p t e r  1 6 :  P r e t e n d i n g

"Annie." Her father said. "It's time. They're coming. The Scout Regiment."

"What's my mission?" Annie stated, bored. "Kill them all?"

"No. You're escorting Eren out of here. Get him to safety."

"Got it. Where am I supposed to go?"

Her father hesitated. "Anywhere that's not here."

"That's not very specific."

"Go. Just go." Her father snapped, rushing her out the door. Annie growled, taking Eren by his joined wrists and and walking out the door.

"...annie." Eren said cautiously. Annie ignored him- she was busy trying to keep her cover.

"Annie, I know you're listening. Why would you betray us!" Eren got more enraged as he spoke. His anger grew as Annie continued to ignore him. "Why!!! You had everything there! Why do you need to destroy all of humanity!?"

"...Eren." Annie responded. Eren perked up a bit, waiting to hear what she had to say. "...shut up."

Eren growled in frustration. "They're coming, you know. When they do, they'll see you for the nasty traitor you are."

Annie wouldn't let Eren know how much that hurt. Armin, looking at her even though she wasn't actually..

Annie shook her head. Must remain focused. Must get Eren to safety. What happens to me doesn't matter. Must get Eren to Scout Regiment...

Annie ignored her surroundings. She was too focused on what was in her mind. This, of course, was a mistake. If not for Eren's gasp of surprise, she would've missed it.

The sound of 3D maneuver gear.

With one single movement, Annie cut open Eren's bonds. "Get a move on." Annie hissed. "Go. Transform into a titan. Pretend you defeated me."

"...what!?" Eren was confused. "Why would I listen to you-"

"Haven't you ever heard of spying?" Annie huffed. "Go. Hurry up. They're coming."

Eren hesitated, and then nodded. He bit his finger, transforming into a Titan. He glanced down at Annie, before grabbing her body and running off.

"Eren, what are you doing." Annie gritted out. "I'm not going to be able to know what they're doing-"

Don't care. This is the only way we know you'll be safe. If you're with us. Eren thought.

"That's an insane way of thinking!" Annie shouted, frustrated. "Listen, I'm going to spy for you! Isn't that better than having me on your side!?"

No. Because we're not going to risk it. Eren growled. Annie glared back.

"Eren!" Scarlet exclaimed. "Levi! Found him!"

"...is that the.. The guy who saved humanity!?" Cora's mouth dropped open. "Oh- Titan!" Before she could even make a move, Olympia cut open both arms, causing them both to fall.

"Too slow." Olympia smirked, Cora staring at her with hate.

"Cut it out." Theodore interrupted, as he then cut the knee of the titan. It dropped to the ground. "It'll get you killed."

"Focus. Get Eren and Annie to safety." Liana said quietly, her eyes flashing as she cut off the last limb of the titan, and then chopping its nape off in one slash.

"You're right. Sorry." Cora bowed her head. The four had to move as fast as possible to keep up with Eren, and eventually just landed on his shoulders. Annie squirmed in discomfort, obviously uncomfortable with everyone staring at her.

"Heads up!" Olympia shouted, as she jumped off of Eren. She went to Attack the nape of a Titan- and missed. "Crud-"

"..." Cora was silent, gloating as she sliced the nape cleanly off the Titan. She ignored Olympia as she raced to catch up to Eren.

"You okay, Olympia!?" Scarlet yelled.

"Yeah... Where'd you come from?" Olympia asked.

"Oh, you know. Just raced towards Eren as fast as I could." Scarlet shrugged. "Come on, let's get a move on. Levi's waiting-"

A flash was heard.

"Shoot. Its the Colossal Titan..." Scarlet cursed. "Come on!"

The group skidded to a halt as they paused right in front of where the Colossal Titan stood.

"...wha.. Why is it here!?" Olympia questioned. Scarlet seethed with rage as she saw it.

"You're dying today." Scarlet raged. "Feel what you did to everyone I cared about. My mother when you destroyed the wall. Marlene died because of you. Owen. You're... Dying!"

"Calm down. Anger won't get you anywhere." Cora said, but was ignored as Scarlet went straight for the neck.

However, Scarlet was distracted at the sight of Titan Eren tearing through the woods, finally stopping. She spotted Annie in his grasp, not even bothering to move.

The colossal titan was angered as soon as it saw the trapped Annie. He knocked down a tree, nearly squashing Theodore in the process. The Colossal Titan was then struck by Eren, causing him to stumble back.

Annie couldn't turn into a Titan if she tried. She was still held tightly by Eren, her arms secured by her sides. Eren,was still trying to fight with her in his hand.

"...tch." Levi narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of them. Idiot, trying to fight with her in his hand.

"Captain!" Cora yelled. Scarlet was dancing around the two titans- constantly distracting the Colossal Titan. In fact, Scarlet was distracting everyone- and no one noticed the Armored Titan running at full speed towards them. Reiner slammed into Eren, causing Eren to fall to the ground. Without realizing it, Eren let go of Annie, causing her to fall to the ground.

Scarlet yelled angrily as her swords wouldn't cut the Armored Titan's skin. "Just- die!!"

"Scarlet!" Levi warned. "Don't let your anger take hold of you!"

With a flash, Liana rushed by, cutting the nape of a titan that was running towards them.

"Liana, Theodore, Olympia!" Cora yelled. "Let's take care of the Titans around us! Let the others focus on the Armored and the Colossal!"

"Got it!" Olympia nodded.

"...nothing's working." Scarlet stated as she tried to hit the armored titan again. "I think we're just getting in Eren's way."

They moved, proceeding to let the Armored and Eren fight. They focused on the Titans around the Armored, many showing up due to the amount of people located in the area.

Mike, Nanaba, and Gelgor showed up, the Colossal Titan behind them. Suddenly, fog shadowed the area and everyone squinted to see. Screams, footprints, and grunts were heard, making everyone worry.

When the fog disappeared, so had the Armored Titan, and the Colossal Titan. Annie was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Eren. But worst of all..

"...not..not again." Levi cursed. The golden haired warrior who was never struck down~

"Olympia," Cora gasped. Although the two definitely hadn't been on the best of terms, they were still teammates.

The Titans had gotten to a blind Olympia, ripping her legs off. It was a miracle she wasn't in a Titan's stomach, but that didn't change the fact that Olympia was going to die.

"...Cora... So sorry.. I failed..." Olympia coughed weakly. "Don't.. Don't waste more time on me, go! Go.. Fight.. Take my.. take my gas and blades."

Cora nodded numbly. She took them, and looked at Olympia one last time before continuing to fight. She slouched as another scream was heard from the sobbing Olympia.

However, Olympia wasn't the only one struck down. Liana, so consumed in her anger and bloodlust for Titans, and the loss of a teammate, distracted her. Her eyes narrowed as a titan grabbed her leg, and bit down on her foot. She screamed in pain, and Scarlet came to her rescue by killing the titan.

"....I won't let.. Anyone else.. Die." Scarlet's eyes were full of pain, and she grabbed Liana, taking her to safety where Liana sat, injured and bleeding.

Theodore, although uninjured, was out of gas. He cursed- Miche, Nanaba, and Gelgor covering for him and killing the Titans around him.

"...it's our fault..." Scarlet muttered as the last of the Titans were stuck down. "They got away again.."

Although Levi had not known Liana for too long, it didn't take a genius to find out that Liana couldn't fight any longer. Her foot was cleanly bitten off.

"Gelgor, Nanaba, Miche. Stay here with Liana. The others and I will chase Eren." Levi instructed, his remaining team following him.

Annie still hadn't transformed.

She couldn't decide.

Technically, she had made this choice a long time ago. Was she on the Humans side, or the Titans?

Could she leave Reiner, Bertolt, her father?

Could she leave Armin, Eren?

She wanted both of them.

I did this mission for my father. I just wanted to see him again, but when I did.. He wasn't proud of me. Annie thought. He wasn't proud, like I thought he would be. He just wanted me to continue being his perfect solider..

I quit the mission for Armin, but it seems he doesn't hold as much faith in me as I thought he wouldn't..

She tried to decide, but couldnt. An unconscious Eren-titan was clenched in the Armored Titan's fist. Ugh, useless. She scowled. Could Eren manage to do anything other than get captured?

Then again, who was she to talk? Annie couldn't even decide what side she was loyal to. At least Eren had that figured out.

As he kept running, the Scouts were close behind them. Annie was grateful-

But a tiny part of her wished that they'd leave them alone.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I posted a new book titled "Fight" which will feature Scarlet and Owen as well as new character Kaira Reiko during the fall of Shiganshina. Anyway, thanks for reading!