When she came to, all that Carmen could see was the moonlight shining through a small barred window. She could only focus on the light, her body too drowsy to turn her head or eyes elsewhere. Feeling like this wasn't unusual, when she was beginning her training, she was taught ways to combat the effects of drugs, which was why she allowed her body to recuperate, slowly wriggling her limbs one by one as she gained minimal control.

While she did so, the assassin took in her surroundings, silently assessing the situation she was in. Her hands were tied above her head in chains and handcuffs, while her body dangled down the the floor, her feet also loosely chained to the ground. The government clearly weren't taking any risks with her. Her wrists appeared to be red against the cuffs, that couldn't have been good for her.

"You're awake?" A man muttered from the ground, his voice barely above a whisper. Recognising the distinct formal tone, Carmen turned her head and looked at her companion.

"Erwin." She croaked, her voice dry and quiet.

"They're outside the cell, we can talk, but quietly." He warned as Carmen took in his appearance. It wasn't a pretty sight, his eye was bruised, and his nail beds missing a few nails. She could also make out a swollen jaw, it was possible some of his teeth had been removed.

"You look like shit." The assassin stated bluntly, there was no reason to tiptoe around the subject, it was an obvious attempt at torture upon him. "I take it they didn't get anything from you."

"You'd be right." Erwin nodded. The commander looked at her with confusion, under the impression she would be the last person he'd see in a government dungeon. "What brings you here?" He wondered. Carmen assumed that if his eyes weren't bruised and swollen, then he'd be quirking one of his eyebrows at her.

"We were surrounded, someone had to stay behind. I decided I had the greatest odds of surviving until I met that bitch." She spat, hating to imagine the woman who captured her.

"Let me guess." Erwin added. "Tall, muscular, dark curly hair and crazy eyes."

Carmen nodded, the description matching her opponent to a tee. She gathered that the woman must have given Erwin those nasty black eyes and bruises. Dolls weren't taught that way of torturing, which only confirmed Carmen's suspicions. "You know anything?" She pressed the topic, hoping to gain an upper hand.

"She did this earlier." He pointed at his state. "She wanted to know about you specifically for one detrimental reason."

"And what's that?" Carmen wondered.

"She mentioned she was designed to kill you." Carmen was shocked, but let him continue. "Years ago, when you first showed signs of strength, your handlers realised you posed a threat to their regime. So, in order to diminish that threat, they made Helga. She was raised completely different to you, to make sure that you wouldn't ever side with on another. You worked hard, and trained vigorously, where as the government pumped chemicals into her. Everything she has is artificial brute strength. She may be physically advanced, but I'd say you stand a greater chance."

Carmen found it all hard to believe. The government had to know that their work was wrong, thats the whole reason Helga was created, which made her even more disgusted by them. However, the abnormality of the situation made sense. Her technique was sloppy and focused on her own strength and speed, to compensate for her lack of experience, she wore armour.

"So, her strength is inhuman?" Carmen questioned, trying to justify losing the fight.

Erwin nodded. "It may sound extreme, but I genuinely believe that her strength is on par with some of the low class titans."

"I underestimated her when I saw her, the armour caught me off guard." The woman admitted. "But now, I know her weaknesses, yet I'm weaponless. Fucking perfect." She rattled her chained feet, wanting to kick something out of annoyance.

Erwin had expected as much from her, she had been defeated by someone who had life come easily to her. No work, no struggle, and none of the extensive training she had to go through. Carmen at least hoped her enemy was worthy of being the victor, but instead, she was just pissed off at the outcome.

Despite his sympathy, Erwin needed to know the scouts' situation. It was vital for his plan. "Do Levi and Hange have a plan?" He asked, fully aware that Carmen knew the answer.

The woman sighed, remembering her promise to Levi. Time was ticking, she didn't want him to think she was dead. Instead of wallowing any further, the woman dislocated her thumb, freeing on her her hands from the cuffs.

"Best not say." Carmen decided. "The dolls usually do this. We kidnap someone close to an individual - maybe an ally - to make them feel safe. We bribe said ally, and then listen to the conversation. It normally works." She described what she assumed was happening.

"You mean..."

Two figures entered their cell, faces unwavering and still. The looked in control of the situation, but Carmen could tell they were nervous to meet the woman that they were destined to become. They stopped in front of Carmen, staring up at her dangling, vulnerable figure as she pretended to be fully captured - when in reality, one of her hands were freed from captivity.

"Sorry, did I spoil your plans?" The blonde scoffed and the girls stared at her, faces numb yet endless questions running through their heads. Carmen could tell they were thinking, they all shared a face that Petra used to refer to as the 'thinking face'. "Just ask, I know you're dying to." She demanded, and the girls caved.

"You can not be her." One stated. "She would never have betrayed her duty. And she certainly would not feign humanity, dolls are supposed to transcend emotions." She assumed, it reminded Carmen of her younger days, when she thought emotion was a hindrance. Where as now, she knew it helped her in certain situations.

"Tell me, would you ever consider abandoning the cause?" Carmen asked both the girls, she needed to know if it was possible for others to be like her. She yearned for a chance that she could save one of her own. But the stoic gazes that the girls shared was enough confirmation.

"You are a traitor." The other girl spat. "It is no wonder they want to execute you so soon. Clearly, you are a disgrace to the regime." Carmen glared at the girl, eyes fixed on hers as her face contorted into a crooked smile. It wasn't genuine, merely an act to scare her enemy. She needed them to know that she wasn't a complaint little girl anymore.

"Don't you get it?" Carmen tilted her head. "You're designed to be me. As soon as I go, the rest of the dolls will follow." It made perfect sense for the rest of the dolls to be collateral damage, Carmen assumed that the government would realise their screw up and instead create more women like Helga. Which wouldn't be good for anyone.

"If it means that order will be maintained within the walls, then each and every one of us is willing to pay the price." One of them spoke up, confirming where their loyalties laid.

Carmen took a deep breath, she knew what she had to do. Everything was so circular, kill or be killed, the cycle never changed. Which was why, why she took her free hand and used it to snap the closest dolls neck, she didn't feel remorse. The other doll had instantly began to panic, but before she could yell, Carmen used her hand shackles to hoist her body upwards. Then, she wrapped her legs around the dolls neck, cutting off her air supply.

Within minutes, both girls were dead. They vanished silently, and ignorantly. However, Carmen was certain that whatever happened, she was going to ensure that peace and order would be founded in humanity. Those dolls weren't going to die in vain.

"Erwin." She turned to the man, who was staring at the bodies in awe. He was certainly amazed by the work of one of his scouts, in a way, he was proud. "Reiss is the true royal family. Which means Historia is the real heir to the throne." She told him quietly, now that no one was listening in on their conversation.

"Our king is a fraud." Erwin nodded his head, comprehending what Carmen had said. "And the situation with Levi and Hange?"

"Eren and Historia have been kidnapped by Rod Reiss, Hange suspects that he is going to take Eren's ability by having a pure titan eat him." It sounded weird saying something so odd, but Carmen shrugged it off and continued. "Right now, I'm guessing Hange is convincing the public of the MPs corruption, while Levi is supposed to be headed towards Reiss' estate."

Erwin smiled slightly, the assassin could tell that whatever he had gambled had worked in his favour. She never understood Erwin, but knew well enough to never make an enemy of the man.

"In that case, you should get out of here and regroup with Levi." Erwin recommended. "He'll be needing it if there's a possibility of facing titans like Eren."

Nodding her head, Carmen dislocated her other thumb and freed her hands from their restraints. Although her feet were loosely shackled to the ground, the woman had a few weapons that weren't taken from her. On the inside of her cheek, she stored a few needles, just in case of emergencies. So, she located one of them and slid it out of her mouth before using it to pick the locks on her feet.

Finally, she was out of her confines. However, the road to freedom was going to be a lot more difficult than she hoped.

"I'm sorry if this gets you into trouble." Carmen apologised as she looked onwards, towards her fate. "I'm also sorry about what you're about to hear."

With that, she approached the door and steadily unlocked it.