(Vol 2) CHAPTER - 1 { Before Disaster }

The silence was enough to make any living creature turn crazy from sane.

Dark walls with dirt gathered in the gaps and corners, tens of passages and empty cells.

The orange flames in the lamps fixed on the pillars of the wall flickered even though there was no strong wind.

Tak Tak.

The hard heels of the boots hitting on the stone block floor, resonated throughout the empty passage.

Two silhouettes were visible at the end of the passage. They were fully armed and prepared for any unexpected situation.

As the footsteps neared, the two guards turned towards the source to see a young man.

"I will keep watch."

The young man said in a plain voice. The two guards nodded and then left the young man with his responsibilities.

There was a cell on one side of the wall, someone was imprisoned inside with all sorts of chains and locks.

"Annie, how long do you plan to stay quiet? I know it, they know it and even you know it. Someday, everything will be out."

The prisoner was none other than Humanity's enemy, Annie Leonhart. She held the power to transform into a Female Titan.

And the young man was Vlad Birsha. It has been an entire month since the incident of Annie and Eren fighting in Stohess District.

"..."

The silence returned once again. Vlad closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath.

"Huuh…"

When his eyes opened again, there was a murderous will inside. Vlad gazed in the depth of the cell where he could see a body.

A thick cotton cloth was wrapped on Annie's body, which was then tied up with chains and locks on the wall.

Her mouth was sealed, and inside her mouth was a material to stop her from biting her own tongue.

Her blue eyes had already lost the brightness, but not the signs of life. It took quite a lot of work to keep Annie alive for an entire month.

Vlad lowered his head, adjusted his expression and looked towards Annie again.

This time, he had a disheartened smile on his face. His eyes showed pain and grief.

"Annie, please confess everything. I swear, I won't let anybody lay a hand on you."

Vlad held his chest and spoke with a warm voice. For the first time, Annie moved her eyes and looked towards him.

Vlad was overjoyed inside only to find a disappointed look on Annie's face. Immediately, he had a frown.

"What? Do you think only you are allowed to act? It's true I can't compare to you but I am trying…"

Vlad's hands touched the cold steel bars, he really couldn't tell what he was feeling right now.

"Annie, I don't blame you for what you did. Everyone has their goals in life. You must have yours. And I have mine."

Vlad turned and sat down on a chair before the steel bars. He faced Annie with a totally indifferent face.

"Why didn't you kill Armin? I have read the reports. Armin confessed that you had a chance to kill him but didn't. Is it to create a situation for Armin to shine?"

"No, that's not it. Armin, he, I don't think is one of your partners in crime."

"So who other than Armin could it be? Jean? Reiner?"

Vlad crossed his legs and pondered. While he was in deep thoughts, someone had neared him.

"You are late."

Vlad raised his head and looked at Rose seriously. Rose turned to look at the cell as she sat down on the second chair.

"Why do we still keep her? For a month. An entire month! Not once did she open her mouth."

Rose glared at Annie's figure inside the cold cell. She knew that she was speaking up her own opinion.

"Ask that to the Commander."

Vlad said in an uninterested tone. Rose clenched her fists tightly before loosening them with a sigh.

They were currently in the underground prison of the Survey Corps headquarters.

* * *

Under the blazing sun, Mike pulled the weights as veins surfaced up on his skin like branch extensions.

With his upper body exposed, Mike had trained for hours until his body turned scarlet.

"How can he still continue? Is he exhausted already?"

Jean sat on the ground, tons of sweats rolled down his face as he wiped without stopping.

"Not just him, there are many more like Mike who are trying to break their limits."

Reiner, who was seated behind Jean said in a low voice. Connie, Sasha, Bertholdt, and a few more were also present in the group.

"We are still being kept under watch. I am really curious, why did Vlad and Ross move away earlier than us?"

Jean asked curiously. Reiner and the rest showed interested looks but none knew the correct reason behind it.

The new recruits of the Survey Corps were kept under watch in an outpost in the southern region of Wall Rose due to the latest incidents.

Two of the most dangerous individuals in the history of Humanity, Annie and Eren, were from the same batch as these recruits.

There couldn't be a better explanation other than this fact alone for these recruits to be under surveillance.

"I think it's because Vlad captured Annie alive. Rose was also a huge help. As for Mike, he is emotionally unstable so he was asked to remain."

Krista shared her thoughts. It was a very reasonable assumption by her that the group could accept.

"I just hope that we can get out of this place. I am already bored enough."

Connie was very depressed these days. He was not able to enjoy life even for a second because of all the work they were tasked with.

"Shit! I forgot to wash my clothes!"

"Ah! I had to clean my room!"

"I need to take a bath."

The group, as if reminded due to Connie's words, dispersed to do their own tasked works.

Connie gave a bitter smile, he stood up and headed towards the bathroom to clean himself.

Mike glanced at them before resuming his intense workout to strengthen himself so in future, he didn't have to see his comrades die in front of him.

Only after the sun got close to the horizon did Mike stop and went to refresh himself with a cold bath.

* * *

Inside the dining room of the Survey Corps outpost, all the recruits and senior soldiers were seated down.

"You all did a good job. Only a week is left before you all can go back to the main headquarters."

Miche Zacharius, he was ordered to oversee the recruits and report about their behaviors to the Commander.

"I really can't help but question, why were we the ones made to watch these new recruits? I think there are better soldiers than us, right?"

Nanaba, a member of Miche's squad, said with a slightly annoyed look. Tomas, another member of Miche's squad, looked at her and sighed.

They were sitting far at a corner and talking in low voices so no one had heard them.

"We are ordered by Commander Erwin so we have to do it."

Tomas replied to Nanaba. Over at the dining table, another conversation was going on.

"Mike, What kind of a guy is Vlad?"

Reiner asked as he looked towards the direction of Mike who sat at the end of the table.

Jean, Connie, Krista, almost everyone was curious about Vlad. In most of their minds, Vlad was a fully fledged soldier who would kill when tasked and die when ordered.

"Vlad he, he is a good friend and a trusted comrade to me. He is very serious, all the time but there are a few moments when he behaves stupid as well."

Gasps of shock came out from few, some were surprised and some could believe.

"Vlad acts stupid? Really."

Krista questioned Mike with her eyebrow raised. She still remembered her time with Vlad.

'I still hate him for what he made me do!'

Krista silently cursed in her heart but showed a normal expression on the outside.

"Of course, let me share some of these moments with you all."