runaway • h.z.

chapter twenty-two: which side?

I took a deep sigh, waiting for the signal to go ahead and meet up with Armin and Annie. I didn't have my ODM gear, as squad four were holding it, so there was no reason for me to wear the rain gear, only the cape necessary. Eren and Mikasa beside me, however, wore their full ODM rig.

Armin was currently tasked with acquiring Annie, while Eren, Mikasa, and I were waiting to meet up with them. We probably have no more than five minutes of waiting, but I was still on edge. I couldn't help but fiddle with my ring, the one I had worn when I came to Paradis. I remember Annie having a similar one, and I had studied it all morning on the way here, before finding out that it can release a small blade, most likely for a quick transformation.

The plan was to lure Annie underground, and if that didn't work, or if something went wrong, we would engage. Though once going over everything I had thought about, and everything I had found in the royal palace, I devised a plan of my own.

If Annie figures us out, she'll transform and cause chaos in the whole town. But if I reveal to her that I know about Marley, she might be shocked enough to stop what she was doing and give the others a chance to grab and restrain her.

I heard footsteps making their way over, and the hair on my neck stood up. I pulled my hood up from the cape I was wearing, before hopping down from the wall I was sitting on.

"Hey." Eren greeted Annie, as she nodded a bit, before continuing to walk, with Armin leading.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Y/N," Annie spoke, as I looked up, trying not to let it show that I was nervous.

"I didn't either. I thought I'd be with Hanji." I spoke truthfully, as Annie turned her head to glance over her shoulder,

"What, are you two a thing or something?"

"What's it matter?" I replied quickly, before clearing my throat, and apologizing.

"No worries," Annie replied before Armin began speaking about the plan, explaining the fake plan we had about going over the wall, scaling it.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin had already begun walking down the stairs before I saw Annie stop. I stopped beside Annie before Eren spoke up,

"What, you're not afraid of the dark, or cramped spaces are you?"

Annie didn't budge, simply standing her own ground, as I glanced over,

"You can hold my hand if it'll make you feel better." I offered, hoping Annie would agree, although, she still didn't budge.

"Let's go already." Eren tried again, as I held out my hand,

"No. I refuse. We do this aboveground, or the deal's off."

"Just get the hell down here already! We're running out of time, alright!"

"Shut up, someone will hear you!" Mikasa scolded Eren, slapping him upside the head, as a breeze went by.

"I'm sure it's fine, Mikasa. For some reason, this place has been completely deserted." Annie started, as I reached for the pocket knife in my pocket, "That hurts me, it really does."

Before I had even reached inside my pocket, Annie had grabbed my arms, twisting so that she grabbed the knife from my own pocket, and held it to my throat, as I was being held against Annie's body.

"The way you're looking at me now. If I hadn't known better, I'd say you didn't trust me, eh old friend?" When I didn't reply, Annie continued, "What about you, Armin?"

It was silent, with no response from anyone.

I felt the grip around my waist tighten, before Annie tossed the knife down, as it clattered down the stairs. They all turned their heads, looking at the knife clatter down before I felt Annie push me against the wall beside us, my feet were off the ground, and her forearm was against my throat. I could still breathe, but barely. If Annie pushed any harder, I'd lose all of my oxygen.