Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 33 •

Lorraine walked next to Mikasa as the fugitives made their way through the crowded streets of Trost District. She held her sister's hand for comfort, though everyone was understandably on edge, including Mikasa. The group wore dull, brown, green, or grey jackets over the top of their uniforms, though Lorraine was strictly delegated to medical duties and running information between them and Eren and Historia's cart, dressed as civilian as possible, as her injuries were still too severe to do any combative damage.

Levi said bluntly as they walked through a darkened alley, "Try not to walk all clustered together. We'll stand out." He turned around to Armin and Jean, who were dressed in disguises of Historia and Eren respectively, and said, "Eren and Historia, just act natural." Lorraine looked back and Armin nodded reassuringly at her. She turned back around to keep walking.

As the group walked, they looked around at the newly-decorated streets. There were brightly-coloured flags and pennants hung all over Trost, many bearing the crest of the Royal Fritz Family, and many store owners were dressed in their best clothes. There were people crowded around a rather large stage in the center of town where several Military Police soldiers stood, making announcements and barking orders to organize the people.

"What's going on," Connie asked, his brows furrowed.

Sasha said under her breath to the group, "Oh, wait, I remember! Today is the anniversary of the King's Coronation. Once a year, they hand out extra rations to celebrate the occasion. It's supposed to help raise morale within the community."

Connie wondered aloud, "Man, all that food and he's just giving it away, huh?" Levi stopped and turned to watch the crowd.

"It's not as if he needs it all. Besides, it's easier to control the people if they're not starving."

He turned to keep walking and said, "Let's keep moving. We're almost there." The group continued to make their way through the excited crowd. They continued to walk for a few minutes, when Levi stopped abruptly. He turned sharply and shouted, "Behind us! Look out!"

From a dark alley, a horse-drawn carriage came careening around the corner and towards the group. Two figures reached out and, brushing by them hurriedly, grabbed the disguised Armin and Jean. Mikasa yanked Lorraine out of the way and Sasha gasped.

"Armi-- I-I mean, Krista and Eren," she unconvincingly shouted, "Those bastards are getting away with them!" Levi looked at Mikasa and Lorraine.

"Okay," he said, "Let's go." Mikasa and Levi jumped into action while Lorraine ran down a crowded street, hoisting her backpack over her good shoulder, her goal being to relay the mission's status to Eren and Historia's carriage.

Levi and Mikasa, using their concealed ODM gear, made their way to the rooftops where they could follow the kidnappers to their final destination. The two watched as five men roughly tied them up in a cramped warehouse. Mikasa used her ODM gear to lower herself to one of the windows, where she saw one of the men beginning to tease Armin. The perverted man ran his hands up and down Armin's body, causing him to whimper and plead silently with Jean, who simply had to turn his head away.

Lorraine ran through the crowd, pushing and ducking through the people. Finally, she spotted the cart where Eren and Historia were actually hiding. She watched as the cart drove past the stage, but just as she cursed under her breath, noting how thick the crowd was, she looked beside her.

"Perfect," she thought, "This should take me directly into the path of the carriage."

She then ducked under the crowd, crawling underneath the mass of people, then turned into the alley, looking behind her, only to bump into someone. It was a tall man, dressed in a long trenchcoat with a large-brimmed hat. His facial hair was dark and unkempt and his skin was weathered and lightly wrinkled. She apologized, but the man just laughed hoarsely.