*

Flying past the trees at a rapid speed, titans below us were chasing us. My wrists were bound so tightly, the recent raw rope burn was throbbing. The skin was becoming more easier to break, but right now they were panicking. At least I bought the Scouts time to reach the forest, placing my faith in my Regiment. Feeling already pathetic in my current situation, Eren was knocked out and tied on Reiner's back.

While I was slung over Reiner's shoulder, as he didn't want to leave his eyes from me.

"For now, we find a place without titans!" Reiner instructs, while my head was facing behind Reiner. "As far away as possible! I haven't recovered enough to outrun these guys! They surround us, there's jack shit my titan form can do right now!"

"Then why the hell didn't we just wait for the sun to go down?!" Ymir questions, as she didn't know about the smoke signals. Seeing her glance back, her eyes widen with a short gasp. "Smoke signals? Did the Scouts come to save us?"

"Dammit! That formation wouldn't work unless they hoisted a bunch of horses over the wall!" Reiner assumes, with frustration. "Who gave that order?! I honestly thought we had more time than this! It's gotta be Commander Erwin! Hard as nails, that one!"

"Don't underestimate the Scouts," I remark, while seeing the hopeful green smoke signals. Smirking, "Seriously, we're far more reliable when one of our own is in trouble."

Not meaning myself, but the two kids that were taken.

Another gunshot echoes down the valley, closer than before, as the sun began setting behind the mountains beyond. The clouds were clustered together, but with a hazy orange glow dusting the sky.

"Damn, they're already that close?!" Reiner questions with disbelief. "It's Eren's fault for losing his cool, and you as well!"

He slams an elbow into my unwounded rib, inhaling sharply with the contact, while squeezing my eyes tightly to ease the pain. Seriously, being this vulnerable wasn't entirely making me look cool. I know that.

"Wait.....is she......?" Ymir whispers in shock, as I flutter my eyes open again. "...Christa's here. Reiner!!!! We have to go back, now! Christa's with them!"

"What?!"

"This is our best chance!" Ymir claims. 

"You're full of it! No way you can see that far!!" he scoffs in disbelief, despite how far we were.

"Ymir, no we can'--" I plead, but she cuts me off by ignoring me.

She grits her teeth, "Look, I just know! Think about it, okay?" She pleads desperately. "She's a big softie, right?! Stupid girl's come to rescue me! She had too!"

Reiner grunts with annoyance.

"Yeah, well so what?" Reiner brushes off her assumption, while hauling my ass up again to adjust my balance on his broad shoulder. "I'm sorry! It'll have to wait! We have this bitch to deal with, or half our mission will be compromised!"

"What?!"

"We just can't grab her the way things are now!" he yells back. "There's no way to bust up that formation! Another time!"

Ymir's eyes were filled with many emotions, confliction wavering behind them.

"How long you want me to wait?" She angrily questions. "Maybe I should just hold off on that until I've been gobbled up by one of your warrior pals? Oh no! I don't think so!"

"Don't be that way!" Reiner snaps back. "Nobody's trying to trick you, I swear it!"

"Prove it then!" She fires back, her voice was straining with desperation to get Christa back. No. Historia. "There's no time like the present, asshole! Damn you! Get down there and bring her with us! I need to see her!.....You don't understand......the way things are going, I never will!"

Bertholdt sighs, "We just can't, just let it go Ymir," he asks politely. "Who knows whether we'll even manage to survive this. Sorry. It's just too risky."

Reiner agrees, "Just listen to me! You have my word," he ensures her, sincerely. "I want her out of this as much as you do! Bear with me. You have to trust us! This is what's best for Christa! Do you understand?!"

Shaking my head I meet her eyes, "Don't listen to them Ymir, they're just trapping you!!!!"

Reiner jabs me sharply into my hip, with a growl.

"Shut it! No one said you can talk!" he snaps angrily, already distressed about their current situation.

Ymir scoffs, "Yes, I understand......real question is, do you?"

"Of course!"

She nods calmly, "All right, then,"

Bertholdt felt somewhat relieved, "Thank you for that,"

Suddenly I notice Ymir not giving in to their pleas, before she begins to shake Bertholdt. He hollers loudly in surprise, "W-What are you doing?!"

"Hey, shut the hell up and use your head for a second," She cuts him off, holding his head down. "In a forest like this, I'm one who can shine. Right?"

They were about to run into a tree, as he yells out in dismay.

The two tumble around in the air while he unhooks his wires, spiralling around before adjusting himself back up into the air again. They almost hit the ground, but luckily the two made it back up again. I couldn't hear what she was saying from where I was, until we came to a clearing.

"--Any other time you two would outclass, but my titan forms more agile," She reasons, wondering what she meant by that. Wait, don't tell me she's gonna transform?! "I could leap through the trees, grab Eren and the Corporal, and rendezvous with the Scouts before you knew what hit you. Wouldn't be that hard!"

"Ymir I...."

Suddenly the two shifts rest up against a large tree, while she continues reasoning with them.

"Either you agree to take Christa with us today, right now......." She begins demanding a deal. ".....or so help me I will throw your whole plan out of whack!"

I couldn't see Either their expressions, but I knew Reiner was getting pissed off by the second and minute.

"Uh! Are you completely insane?! That doesn't help her!!!!" Reiner rages abruptly, causing my skin to crawl. "I thought that you genuinely cared!"

"I do....in my way," she says sternly. "If it robs her of a future, then life's a bitch, but by god I will live to see her again! I've made my peace with what that says about me....you guys have no idea what it's like. She knows what a shitty person I am, but she still smiles at me. I can't--"

"Dammit!" Reiner curses.

"Don't be pissed, I have a fairly decent plan," She assures him. "Besides, if I stay and fight, it'll be easier for you four to get away! Then again, if you don't like it, we can always tear each other apart like animals!"

Reiner was hesitant as I try to stay with him, to keep my eyes on Eren for now. If I dare to escape without him, then what's the point in calling myself a soldier. A Corporal. I must bring him back at all costs, even if my life may end. 

"Tch, fine!" Reiner snaps angrily. "Bertholdt you take care of the Corporal! Let's go!"

Reiner lifts me like I was nothing, as he shoves me onto Bertholdt's back, forcefully with irritation with how much we've been stalling the two. Soon they both jump forward, heading further away from the Scouts to the edge of the forest. Yet, a blinding light surrounds a certain radius within the forest, as I shield my eyes weakly with my tied up forearms.

A piercing roar echoes throughout the forest of giant trees, reminding me she transformed back at Utgard castle.

Suddenly we stopped at the edge of the treelines, before Reiner unravels Erens straps from his chest. Bertholdt knelt on his knees, placing me gently down wondering what they were planning to do. My eyes were growing more hazy, finding it difficult to even focus right now.

Reiner soon switches my place and places Eren on Bertholdt's back, and ties the unconscious boy up.

"Reiner, you are making a grave mistake," I warn him darkly, trying to at least intimidate his actions. 

"No, you need to listen here," he pokes my shoulder sharply, but it was more of a jab instead. My eyes lift up meeting his, glaring into his own. "You're not our Corporal, nor our Commandant or even leader. We only serve our own, so you just shut up!!! And accept this!!!!"

Not even flinching from how aggressive his tone was, he soon shoves me into Bertholdt.

"Hold her, because I need to transform to escape," He advises his comrade, while my jaw clenched. About to kick the boy beneath his knees in protest, he suddenly beats me to it. With full force I felt the wind knock from my lungs, as my back aggressively hits the branch beneath.

My vision fades in and out, while ears were ringing from the hard force.

A shadow casts over his eyes while staring me down, like I was the prey and he was the predator, "You're too exhausted and weak to fight us, so stop trying," he slams his boot into my leg sharply, digging the heel sharply into it, causing me to bite back a groan. "Now listen to every instruction, and accept this. Life's a bitch I know, but everything isn't perfect you know! You wouldn't understand what we had to go through, just to get to where we are!"

My heart was heavily beating against my chest, while inhaling slowly then exhaling.

Reiner soon pulls me up to my feet and shoves me towards Bertholdt, almost stumbling over my feet. The giant caught me tightly, as the two fell silent after awaiting for Ymir to return.

While waiting quietly, I could hear the cries echoing down the valley from my comrades and men. My heart clenched tightly, only wishing to be there to help them in any way. I'm not even sure they know I've been abducted, but no matter, Eren and Ymir must've been on their top priority list.

"Who ordered you to be taken away?" I question Reiner, rather drly. "Why are you doing this? Who sent you?!"

"I'm not telling you, till you meet him," He snaps again, still pissed from before. "So shut the fuck up, and no more questions!"

"Then what clan are you talking about?!" I demand, wanting to know. "What clan doesn't exist anymore? Answer me--?"

Ymir appears from the thick trees, as my eyes widen. Does that mean she's.....she didn't......?

"She's back!" Reiner cuts me off deliberately, before standing up listing his blade in hand. "Good."

Without a moment's hesitation he turns around and suddenly a large beam of light, embraces the afternoon sky. Soon Bertholdt jumps off with me in his arms, and flies towards the Armoured titan. The wind grew fierce to the aftermath of the transformation, as the strands of hair blew away from my face. Bertholdt lands upon the Armoured's shoulder, with Ymir jumping onto his back as well.

"Shit," cursing under my breath, struggling in Bertholdt's tight grip.

"Stop struggling!" He pleads, while trying to hope that the Scouts will follow after us. Eren was at arms length to where I am, but in my condition, Bertholdt won't allow me to escape again.

"No! I will not stop!" I yell angrily, sending an elbow into his chest.

He gasps for air while his grip loosens, but I soon come to realisation if he releases me now, nothing would save me from falling. Need to think more logical, and more wisely. Not long after Bertholdt tightens his grip on me again, while using his other arm to hold on, my eyes soon caught sight of a group of Scouts following on behind us.

"Finally........" a smile laces my bloodied lips, relief washing over me.

The day was growing darker and darker by the second, but desperation was getting to both the shifters, and even the Scouts. Things weren't looking too good, but also having possession of Eren and Ymir, everything was becoming dire by the time runs out.

Someone began to hack up something, before coughing reaches my ears.

Turning my head my eyes slowly widen as Christa was in the hands of Ymir, drenched in.....saliva? Her hair was soaked, and clothes were dripping from god knows how long. Bertholdt turns as well with relief, thinking Ymir didn't manage to bring her back.

"Christa!" I breath out, only for Bertholdt to overlap the same words.

She pants heavily like she ran out of air, when her eyes flutter open to meet Ymir's titan's form. Gasping with realisation, she calls for Ymir with relief. Steam emits from Ymir's titan form, when Ymir appears from the nape fully exposed. Ymir coughs up harshly, still fresh from the nape.  Slowly the two begin to apologise over something, as time was running out.

Historia wasn't sure what's going on, but Ymir has switched sides. With how cornered the shifters were, I could see how desperate Ymir wants a life with Historia. She tried convincing the young blonde, but an argument breaks out between the two.

However Historia was against going with Reiner and Bertholdt, but still wanted Ymir.

The two inseparable, especially with my time as their mentor and Corporal. I've watched the two girls grow, a bond that would never break. However, if Ymir didn't go after Historia, it seemed we would've outrun the Scouts. Quietly I'm thanking Ymir for stalling again, even if it wasn't intentional. 

What would Levi think, if I never returned? Would he never forgive me? Would he think I never cared enough, to fight back and stay? 

I don't understand who wanted me, but something is telling me to seek out who it was. Thing was, my conscious was telling me it's dangerous person. Just thinking about it, leaves the hairs on my neck and arms standing. Not knowing the full situation with both the traitors, or their whole objective, things were gonna turn drastically for them if they kept resisting against us.

Ymir soon admits she stole the power of one of their comrades, to which is why she was being taken by the two boys. She couldn't too much about, even if she tried escaping. Finding another route, she couldn't take back what's already been stolen either way.

Not long after, the Scouts finally caught up to us, hearing them calling for us

Just in that moment Eren stirs awake, before soldiers try latching onto Reiner and flew high up, only for Ymir to swat them away like flies. Mikasa suddenly appears out of nowhere, and blinds Ymir across the eye in a flash. A piercing cry echoes follows after, when my eyes widen seen Mikasa charge head on towards us. 

Bertholdt jumps up quickly head towards the chest of the armoured, out of fear.

"Reiner! Protect us!"

Within moments someone encloses around us, feeling rather claustrophobic as my body slips down forward. Bertholdt latches onto my arm tightly, pulling me up against him, as his hand wraps around my neck. Clenching my teeth, a loud chime rings in my ears. 

Bertholdt breath hitches in his throat, feeling his body freeze up suddenly.

I couldn't make out what was going outside, but Ymir's titan roars and Mikasa yells as if Ymir is preventing her to go any further. I slam my foot on Bertholdt's sharply, earning a grunt while I thrash in his hold. I must do something, or I will never forgive myself if Eren is taken. I don't know where Ymir's loyalty lies, but finding at least little information, my concerns lower down as much. 

I'm not heartless, but we must figure out the truth.

"Mikasa, no!!!!!!" I hear Historia cry out. "You're not going to kill Ymir!"

"That all depends on her! What'll it be?!" Mikasa furiously spat, throwing a few blunt options."She can step aside or she can die. Her choice!"

"That's not fair! She'll die if she doesn't go along with what Reiner and Bertholdt tell her to do. She's screwed either way!" Historia reasons, trying to prevent further bloodshed. Bertholdt's hands shook, when holding me against the palm of Reiner's hand, as the wind was knocked out of me against the stone hard armour. 

Mikasa grunts in frustration "Listen, there's only so many lives I can give a damn about," her voice deepens, with a threatening tone. "Cruel, but that's the world our enemies gave us six years ago. Sorry, I don't have any heartstrings left for you to tug on. If you want compassion, move on. You want fair, tough shit....time's wasting. Pick your side, Christa. Eren or the bitch I'm gonna kill?"

Ymir's titan roars again, while I processed Mikasa's words. 

She's been through too much, but over the years I've observed and talked with her, I've noticed how possessive she can be with Eren's health, and himself in all topics really. She was being too cold-hearted in my opinion, but Eren's life matters right now. No more taking detours, no more making up excuses. 

Without warning Bertholdt was soon pressed up against me, making me wince with discomfort.

Eren was grunting while pushing against Bertholdt, as he must've forgotten I'm here. He screams under the gag he was given, made him muffled, trying to do something. Bertholdt grunts and strains, trying to not squash me against his towering figure.

"Quit struggling, the Corporal is being squashed!" Bertholdt pleads, before feeling the tension loosen for a moment. "It's not going to help anywa--"

"Good luck talking sense into that one, Bertholdt!" I hear a familiar voice, as my eyes peer through the crack that only shed light. "When something lights a fire under him, that's it. Getting Eren to calm down's a lost cause. Take my word for it. I've been on the receiving end more than you have. Whaddya say we teach him patience? C'mon, show yourself."

"Give him back!" Mikasa demands angrily, getting straight to the issue. "Right now!"

"Guys, really? This is some kind of a joke, right?" Connie asks, with a shaky voice in denial. "No way this is you. You've been lying to us this whole time? We're supposed to be comrades!"

"They still are!" Sasha assures him, even though it wasn't sure. "This all just a misunderstanding, right?!"

"Why the hell do you have the Corporal as well?!" Connie questions again, realising I was taken as well. "Please? Let her go, she doesn't deserve this?!"

Dead silence falls, while I try to get a glimpse through the crack of Reiner's hand.

"Where'd you think you're going?" Jean scoffs drly. "You can't keep running forever. We're not gonna let that happen. Rat bastards! Through thick and thin we slept under the same roof as soldiers for three years. Matter of facts, the positions you could sleep in were an art form, Bertholdt."

A soft smile rests upon my lips, recalling their moments during their training. 

Why did that have to be ruined, by them screwing us with lies and such deceit? I know there must be a reason, but the further I think about, I presume it's far more deeper than just betrayal. 

"Seriously, I'm not kidding, we all loved waking up to see your contortions in the morning," Jean chuckles, reminiscing of the times together. "Use to predict the weather with 'em........How'd you do it, Bertholdt?....."

Jeans voice sounded more utterly betrayed, from their deception. 

".....must've not had a care in the world," he assumes. "Lying beside your victims, yet you slept like a log."

"Was it all just an act to you?" Connie questions again. "What about the way we used to talk about surviving together? About growing old, looking back on the worst of it over drinks. Remember? Was that all bullshit? Answer me!!!!"

I could hear Bertholdt holding it in, but with a pained expression.

My heart ached for only a second, "Bertholdt........what are you so afraid of?" 

"........."

"Go on!" Connie calls. "What was the point? What were you trying to do?"

"Just bring back our damn Corporal back!" Jean adds angrily, but rather defensively. "How can you do such a thing, to someone who's has to put up with our shit for so long, huh?! Three years she had too!"

Jean, I didn't know you cared....all of you ....I