|Published November 14, 2016|
Pacific Time

CHAPTER V | SAM'S PANIC ATTACK

What does he cavet?
- Divergent

"Fifteen minutes before the gate opens. Begin formation!" Squad leader Ferno Delasty shouts to the Survey Corps.

I watch the forty-year-old Ferno Delasty sitting on his seal brown horse a couple meters behind me. He has gray, deep set eyes, black clipper cut hairstyle with a faint tan complexion. A faint scar starting from his left cheekbone travels down his jaw. I wonder why he isn't back home protecting his wife and son. Perhaps fighting titans will be essential for his family's safety.

I face forward and ride my horse in back of Squad Leader Hange whose placed right next to Erwin's left meanwhile Mike Zacharius is placed on Erwin's right. The sun is heating the back of my scalp with great potential. At least no rain will accompany this expedition.

I take notice Erwin Smith has added more soldiers for this expedition. The number increased to one-hundred-sixty, a small yet substantial difference from the one-hundred-fifty soldiers who attended last expedition three months ago. It's already been three months since Zack's death. Three months I left the Special Operation Squad. It's been three months I haven't seen Levi.

"Short freak." I murmur under my breath. I puff a strand of my brunette hair away from my forehead. The Commander ordered me two months ago to dye my hair into my original color and remain my hair shoulder length.

Having fifteen minutes of nothing to do but wait for my five senses to kick in, I scan our formation to notice two unusual soldiers situated in the middle section. I've never seen those two before. Next transfer of rookies is until the end of February and we're just hitting the end of September. Vexed by the unfamiliar faces, I ride my horse in between Hange and Erwin.

"Commander Erwin." I whisper, catching the attention of Erwin, Hange and Mike.

"What's the matter?" Erwin sends me his undivided attention.

"I hope my assumptions are incorrect." I remain a suitable volume.

"Permission to speak." Erwin says. I lean closer to him, afraid my assumptions may be true. Noticing my action, Erwin leans closer to me until leaving a small space to look at one another.

"The transfer of trainees takes place the end of February, does it?" I ask.

"Yes." He leans away. "Why the question?"

"I don't want to sound ignorant." I hold onto my horse reins. "I have the habit to note all faces in the Survey Corps. Who's new?" I bite my inner lips. "Who's not new." I glimpse around. "Including those that don't belong in the Survey Corps."

"Specify?" Erwin furrows his bushy eyebrows.

"There's two cadets I've never seen before down the middle section." Erwin's pupils dilate and sends Mike a vigilant look.

"Report profile." He orders me.

"One has brown, spiky hair with rectangular glasses and the other man has blond hair with a tan complexion. Both look to be about six-foot tall." I inform the Commander. I then hear the sound of horse hooves come near us. Levi comes into view with his stallion horse. A wave of goosebumps spread throughout my body at the mere sight of him. I shift uncomfortably on the horse saddle.

"What is it Levi?" Erwin says.

"One-hundred-sixty soldiers will attend this expedition. That was the plan. Why is there one-hundred-sixty-two?" He questions. Erwin and I glimpse one another.

"I am afraid your assumptions may be right Athena."

"You mean..."Hange gasps.

"They're no Survey Corps members." I finish her sentence.

"There's two possibilities." Levi interrupts. "Those pig-holes are here to experience the hell out this walls or rather assassinate someone important in the Survey Corps." We all look at Erwin. "There's a ninety-nine percent chance they're here for Erwin." He bluntly assumes.

"That percentage is accurate. Many do seem to be infuriated with the Commander." I notice Erwin glaring at me. "However there can be other reasons." I add quickly.

"What's your order, Erwin?" I hear Mike ask him.

"We can arrest them right now." Erwin proposes.

"But the civilians?" I interrupt. "They may misinterpret if the situation gets out of hand."

"Alright. Narcissist." Levi calls out to me. "So what's your suggestion?" I lean back in confusion.

"Narcissist?" I shake my head. "Whatever." I murmur. "We can arrest those two outside the walls." I suggest to Levi. "The entire group hasn't taken notice of these two men. So while we head outside the walls-" I point to Erwin. "The Commander leads his soldiers to continue onward while Hange, Mike and both of us head back to the middle section." I suggest.

Levi ignores my suggestion. "We can just head outside the walls and halt the entire group. We can arrest them there."

"I guess your plan is better." I point respectfully, trying my best to erase or attempt to block these feelings of annoyance and tingling sensations in my stomach.

"Then it's set." Erwin confirms. We all nod in understanding.

"Five more minutes before opening the gates. Get ready!" Ferno Delasty rounds the entire regiment of one-hundred-sixty soldiers.

I catch Erwin Smith reach his hand onto my upper chest. He takes a hold of my golden necklace which edges have the shape of leaves. "Where you get this?" He questions.

"From Zack Henderson."

"Alright." He let's go.

"Is there a problem?" I hide my necklace inside my collar up shirt.

"Zack Henderson made it specifically to the person he believed was special to him." He glimpses my collarbone. "I see he found it in you."

"I'll get back in formation." I dismiss myself. I position myself back to my designated place to catch Levi watching me from afar. What's Levi's problem?

______

Indeed the unfamiliar men weren't part of the Scouting Regiment. They were here to murder the Commander of the Survey Corps, reasons they haven't clarified yet. The entire Scouting Regiment sit on their horses while inspecting for any titan activity. Mike and Levi tie the criminals and shove them into the wooden wagon where corpses will accompany the two in a couple of minutes or hours.

"Athena." I hear a familiar ginger hair call from afar.

"Petra?" I watch Petra halt her horse beside me.

"How's it been?" She smiles.

"Well..." I gesture around us. "Fighting titans." Petra giggles at my response.

"Petra!" Eld calls to her. "Back to formation!"

"Be right there!" She yells back. "I'll see you soon." She pulls the horse reins. "You look prettier by the way." She waves me goodbye.

"Thanks." I mumble and stare nonchalantly to the two criminals in the wagon. Those two wouldn't risk jumping out of the wagon and making a run for it. They'll be titan food in less than five minutes.

"Prepare to go!" Erwin commands.

I pull the reins for Sam to gallop towards our mission, but Sam begins to act unusual. "Hey. Sam, relax." I soothe. My horse unexpectedly lifts both his front hooves in the air with a loud neigh. My hands lose a tight hold on the black reins. "Sam!" I scream.

I feel gravity take its role, sending me to the grass. To prevent my spine from suffering major injuries, I twirl to my side and receive a blow in my temple, arm and shoulder. The impact forces a gasp from me. My vision blacks out for a second.

"Four titans approaching a mile away." I hear a soldier yell out.

"Right flank take care of the titans. Everyone else, get back to position. We're leaving." I hear Erwin command. My vision becomes fuzzy and shaky but I manage to stand up.

"You alright?" I feel Levi hold my arm that received the impact. I groan.

"Let go." I remove his hand from my tense arm. "It hurts." I stumble my way to Sam with my right side feeling numb. I reach for Sam's reins to no avail.

"Damn it, Divergent." Levi takes hold of Sam's reins pulling him to us. I place my right foot on the leather stirrup and proceed to mount on the saddle but the wave of dizziness sends me backward. "Careful." Strong arms envelope me from the back and hold my waist. His breath caresses my earlobe sending shivers down my spine. His cheek then touches my temple.

I swallow. "Is there any titans nearby?" I shift my gaze to him, our noses touching.

"Not yet." We lock eye contact, so near yet so far. "But we must hurry." He helps me slowly mount my horse.

"Hold on." I place my forehead onto the saddle. I feel like gravity is pulling me to all places.

"Are you alright or what?" He whispers.

"No." I place a palm to my forehead and shake my head. "Everything looks out of place." I hear the Captain click his tongue. I don't know when Levi placed me on his stallion horse with him behind me but I'm certain Sam's going to follow Levi.

_____

The Survey Corps, also known as the Scouting Legion, Recon Corps, Scouting Regiment and many other things, have found a place to camp for a while. Few abandoned houses in the area serve as a resting zone. I tie my horse onto a tree.

"What happened to you, Sam?" I scold my horse. "I could have gone paralyzed if I didn't shift to the side when you threw me off." I gesture with my hand. "Because of you I had to ride with Levi for five straight hours until I felt better." I murmur. I sit on a rock and take out my blade.

I gaze towards one of the few tents in the area. Petra appears out of the tent with Levi behind her. Both take a seat on the grass. I can't hear their conversation but when Petra's hand rests on Levi's, I take my eyes away from those two. Why do I feel an uncomfortable and sad sensation in my heart? Do I really feel something for the Captain? Stupid emotions. I'm not meant to be loved.

I had to endure the men's ridicules. Even James, the man who confessed his love for me laughed with the rest of the group. I did my best to forgive but I can't. An earthquake of sadness washes over me like a virus. Levi never was and never will be interested in me.

"Don't let that scene deceive you, Divergent." I hear an all familiar wise voice behind me. Am I hallucinating? Or going insane?

An unexpected warmth is felt on my chin, taking my eyes away from the scene a few yards away from me. My eyes are forced to shift to the figure sitting next to me.

"Zack?" My voice barely a whisper.

"How are you feeling Divergent?" I watch his light, brown eyes stare in concern. I eye his appearance. Not a drop of blood disturbs his survey corps uniform.

"I saw you die." I lean back.

"Not in your heart darling." He gently holds my hand. He smiles. "I see you got accepted in Erwin's squad."

"I did." I don't lay my turquoise eyes off Zack, afraid he may disappear from my grasp. He strokes my brunette hair. "It's been a while I haven't seen you with this color."

"Erwin ordered me to."

"I know, Divergent." He pats my back and folds his arms. "So Captain Levi has taken your eye, I see." He smirks.

"You've got it wrong." I deny.

"Don't lie to me Divergent. Not to me." He shakes his index finger.

"Why will I have feelings for the Captain?" I send Levi a disgusted face. "He's too harsh."

"You never know." He shrugs. "He may be different from the men you frequently know and encounter."

"Doesn't seem like he will fit the role of the good man." I roll my eyes.

"You promised you'll be visible to those that mattered to you and to those that care for you." He hugs my shoulder.

"Well, look how it turned out father." I whisper angrily.

"Take the risk."

"What risk?" I lift my palms in the air emphasizing my annoyance in the topic. "To admit my possible feelings for that clean freak?"

He sighs. "I'll remain by your side until you have discovered the answer." He pecks my cheek. In a blink of an eye he's gone as if he never appeared in the first place. I turn my attention back to Levi and Petra to see Levi swiftly remove his hand away from hers.

Take the risk? The risk of Levi rejecting me because of my flaw? I feel a warm wet substance gradually sliding from my forehead and onto the tip of my nose. I touch the substance to find my fingers stained.  

'Crimson Blood?'