Epilogue >> Chapter 04

¤ u n e d i t e d ¤

“It reeks down here,” Connie complains.

“It's a sewer dumb ass.” Sasha flicks the back of Connie’s head. Connie rubs his shaved head, sending Sasha a glower.

“Stop messing around you two,” Jean orders.

Sasha rolls her eyes while Connie faces forward, his eyebrows furrowed. Jean walks past him and parallels himself with Eren. Mikasa was at his side, along with Armin.

The sewer water reached their ankles, each step was muddy and unpleasant. The aroma hinted moss and feces. The stone walls were damp and the humidity was thick making breathing difficult. How was this considered safe?

Eren narrows his teal eyes at the raven haired male. He felt relieved that his timing was perfect, but also irritated at the attitude he was giving. Mikasa notices Eren's uneasiness and places a gentle hand on his shoulder. She squeezes lightly and Eren glances at her. His expression lightens slightly.

Two men in front were speaking in low tones with the raven haired male. One male had striking blonde hair and a tall, muscular outline. He stood taller than most of them, most likely around 6 feet. The other male was similar, however, he stood taller than the others.

Eren recognizes him as the man that enjoyed sniffing others. Shortly after being rescued, the man known as Mike greeted the teams with a sniff. Eren found it be a bit peculiar, but he had seen stranger.

“We can't trust them, Levi. Have you seen the bald one? What if baldness is a symptom?” Mike whispers to Levi.

Levi row his eyes. “I don't believe that's true,” he replies.

“I agree with Mike,” the blonde male spoke, “what if they are dangerous?”

Levi pinches the bridge of his nose, his head shaking slightly. “You guys are irritating. There is no possible way that these people are infected. You saw them fending for their lives, they were mortified. If they ever become a threat, I'll kill them.”  Levi assures them.

They all appear before a large metal door that resembled a dial. The men in front of Levi knocked an unfamiliar pattern which opens the door instantly. Light bursts through the crack of the opening door, illuminating the sewer.

Levi turns to face the teens while the others enter calmly. Levi’s gray eyes flicker as they narrow on Eren. Eren swallows hard as the man's glare shifts to the next person.

“This is our safe house. Here, underneath the earth's surface, is where we can relax. There is food-” he glances at Sasha whose eyes bulge at the sound of a meal “-and water.”

Levi reaches for his weapon, his menacing eyes fixed upon Jean. “If anyone is seen as a threat, I will not hesitate to kill you.” Levi loads the gun-like weapon and aims it from one head to another.

“If anyone plays funny, you will die. Don't piss me off,” he warns.

Perspiration drips from their foreheads as Levi returns his weapon. They understand his message, now terrified of entering the safe house. Levi brushes off the invisible dust from his clothing and straightens his posture. Turning on his heals, he gestures the others to follow.

Jean pushes Eren, urging him forward. Eren swallows and his eyes narrow almost instantly. Eren creeps forward while Mikasa follows closely behind. Armin and Jean walk side by side behind the siblings, the others follow cautiously.

“Hey blondy, why the satchel?” Jean asks finally noticing the leather satchel wrapped tightly around the blue-eyed male.

“It has memories,” Armin lies nonchalantly. Jean nods, attempting to believe his lie, but he is curious. Quickly, he swallows his curiosity by focusing on the freckled male as he brushes past them and toward Levi.

“Um Mr. Levi, if I may ask, how many people are in this ‘organization’?” Marco questions.

Levi raises a brow before answering his question truthfully. “Not many survivors live under our protection. Fifty or so are completely defenseless, but a good handful can fight alongside us. Many have sacrificed their lives to protect others.”

Marco nods understandingly. “I see.”

Being led past the entrance and into the heart of the shelter, the young teens stare in awe at the sight of the technology that filled the area. Rows of computers, rooms, weapons, and labs surrounded them. Eren never imagined such a place could exist.

“Damn.” Eren breathes.

Levi is soon trampled but what Eren believes to be a scientist of some sort. Her chocolate brown hair was swept into a messy ponytail, her dark orbs glisten as she beams with joy.

“Levi! It's about time you return! Did you get me anymore test subjects?” The woman questions as she gazes over at Eren. Eren swallows hard at her choice of words.

“Yes Hanji, The remainder of Erwin's team is caging them in as we speak. They should arrive shortly.” Levi brushes off the swooning female as she squeals with delight.

“You never said you were bringing friends... ” She beams, referring to Eren and his peers.

Levi grits his teeth. “They are here because they need help, they are not my friends.” He hisses.

“No matter, we need to check them just in case.” Hanji says seriously as she strides past Levi. Standing in front of Eren, the chocolate haired woman places on hand on her hip, eyeing the young teen. “I'm going to need you and your companions to strip all clothing and enter those tubes,” she explains, pointing to several tubes just feet away.

“Wha-?”

“You heard me. Strip.”

~

Staring down at his bare body, Eren could can feel himself fluster. His cheeks burn a bright red as he watches the metallic door enclose him inside of a technological womb. His teak eyes scan the unknown area, his breaths hitching due to the tightly closed space.

Bright blue lasers scan his body, strange noises escaping the cracks of the machine. Eren shivers from the uneasy feeling that someone is potentially watching him.

Outside, Levi and Hanji examined him on a third-dimensional screen. Hanji carefully watches every scan for any detection of a possible infection spread.

“Levi, you don't have to watch this. The boy is naked.” Hanji turns to face the raven haired male, her glasses slipping off the bridge of her nose.

Levi huffs, “of course I do. I have to know immediately if he poses a threat to us.”

“You didn't examine the others this closely.” Hanji raised a brow.

Levi scowls, “yeah, well something about him is suspicious.” Levi points out.

Hanji smirks as she pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her pointed nose. “Whatever you say short stuff,” she says jokingly.

After a printed report us freshly copied into Hanji’s hands, she takes another close examination. Frowning slightly she calls Levi over to the printer.

“Levi, this wasn't here earlier…” she says slowly.

Levi takes the printed paper and closely eyes it. Indeed it wasn't. A thin dark vein was barely visible on the three dimensional scanner, but here on plain paper, it was clearly seen. It stretched from the back of Eren's neck to the root of his toes.

“Do you think it's hazardous?” Hanji asks.

Levi furrows his thin eyebrows. “If it is, he dies tonight.”

Sorry for the rushed, short, slow plotting, and terrible chapter. I've been trampled by the hells of school and I cannot escape ;-;

Thank you for reading :)

-Freek

09.05.16