The Adventures of Annieocchio: Part 5

Hange sat across from Annie, at a bit of an angle, eyes wide as Annie spoke.

“And the water is actually salty?”

Annie nodded, “Yes Hange, that part hasn’t change since you asked me like ten minutes ago.”

Hange still wrote it down.

“And this is an island…. surrounded by this ocean?”

“It’s called Paradis where I come from.” Annie said. “Can we move past this ocean thing?”

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“Hoover you call this clean?” Oluo barked at him, as he wiped his hand along the window.

“Huh?”

“Look rookie, I’m your superior and- “

“Oluo cut it out, it’s not like you still aren’t a bit of a rookie yourself.” Eld said coming into the room. He looked at the window, “but this window could use another wipe down.”

Bertholdt didn’t even what either one of them had said. He was too busy worrying about Annie. He hadn’t seen her since he saw Hange taking her towards the woods. Bertholdt had strained his ears listening for screams but heard nothing.

“Hoover are you listening?”

Bertholdt was about to answer when Captain Levi walked purposefully into the room. “Vice-captain Eld you need to come with me, Hange’s called a meeting.”

“About what?” Bertholdt blurted out, instantly regretting letting his emotions get to him.

“Why do you care?” Oluo asked sharply.

“I um- “

Levi waved his hand, silencing Bertholdt. “It doesn’t matter; this doesn’t concern you anyways Hoover. Eld, let’s go.”

Bertholdt felt his heart sink and his panic rise as he watched Levi and Eld walk out of the room. He wasn’t even ing that Oluo was getting on to him about the window again.

*****************************************

Annie could feel the eyes of the upper brass of the survey corps burning into her. She was starting to regret letting her guard down with Hange.

“Are you nervous Ms. Leonhart?” Levi asked.

“No”

Her nose grew a bit more.

Sh*t I can’t even lie to myself.

“Good, four-eye’s experiment still works.” Levi said with a hint of satisfaction on his voice.

I’m gonna beat the little sh*t into the ground like a mole when I get the chance and rip off that other guys furry eyebrows hair by hair. Annie thought.

“So, you say you aren’t from this…what was it, Hange? Erwin asked.

“Island.”

“Right, island.” Erwin made a mental note to ask Hange what an island was later. He then stood face-to-face with Annie, “When did you come here then and from where. Who are you working for, why are you betraying humanity?”

Annie stumbled back a bit; surprised at Erwin’s sudden bombardment of questions. She began to sweat and felt her nose grow a bit more.

Annie was surprised when Hange stepped between them.

“Hange…move.”

She stayed right where she was.

“Hange as your commanding officer…” Erwin warned.

“Commander, we all due respect, I understand the importance of the information Annie has. But I can’t let you come at her like a bat out of hell. We are lucky she is talking to us at all.”

Annie’s mouth fell agape. Hange was actually defending her, defying the wishes of the survey corps commander.

There was a tense silence between the two. The rest of the upper brass stunned into silence by Hange’s insubordination.

“Erwin” Levi’s voice cut through the heavy silence. “We need to trust Hange.”

*****************************************

After Nanaba poured tea, she took her seat at the table. The amount of people in the conference room had shrunk considerably.

Annie looked down into her teacup, a small part of her was getting used to the nose. She took a deep breath and looked back at the faces staring at her.

“Well, as I’m sure Hange has told you or you’ve figured out, I’ve been training as a solider long before I came to this island.” Annie said. “Since I was…”

Annie was suddenly back at her childhood home. Angry at the other kids for teasing her and not having the warm arms of a loving father to retreat to.

“You must be faster with your strikes Annie!”

“That’s not going to be good enough Annie!”

“Annie…Annie…Annie!”

“Annie”

Annie’s eyes shot back open. “Um…I’m…I’ve been training since I was a kid, about 7 or 8 years old.”

“What kind of training?”

“Hand-to-hand combat at first, then more formal military training when I was recruited into the military.”

“Whose military?”

Annie paused for a moment, unsure of how much she was willing to share.

“Try not to lie Ms. Leonhart, I don’t want to lose an eye.” Levi said flatly, then jumped a bit as Hange kicked him under the table.

“When did you arrive here?” Mike asked trying to keep the conversation with Annie going.

“Five years ago.” Annie said quietly, giving time for the veterans to let that information sink in.

“That would have been the year…” Nanaba said.

“Year 845, the same year as the Fall of Shiganshina.” Hange said quietly, dreading where this was going.

Erwin leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. “And I know that those two things aren’t a coincidence. But I’m confused, you claim you are working alone. However, the walls were breeched by the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan.”

“Annie, are you responsible for the breech of Wall Maria?” Levi asked.

“No”

Everyone looked at her nose. Erwin crinkled his eyebrows.

Her nose didn’t grow.

“Annie did you come here alone?” Hange asked.

Annie immediately thought about Bertholdt and Reiner. She froze panicking at what to do.

How could Hange put me on the spot like this!?!

Annie felt a bit betrayed by Hange, someone she was starting to trust.

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He was panting and he ran up the stairs.

I must get there in time!

**************************************

“Answer the question Leonhart” Levi pressed.

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So many f*cking stairs!

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Annie wanted to flee. She could feel her nose starting to grow.

So now my nose grows even from lying by omission?!? What the hell crazy lady!

“Annie- “

The door suddenly flew open.

“Annie isn’t the only one responsible for the fall of Wall Maria!”

Annie’s heart froze as she looked to see a panting Bertholdt standing in the doorway. Two out of breath guards appearing behind him.

“I’m…sorry…commander…we tried…”

“Such…long ass legs….” The other guard said wheezing.

Erwin raised an eyebrow. “And who might you be?”

“My name’s Bertholdt Hoover and I’m the Colossal titan.”

Erwin looked at him for a moment and then looked back to Annie.

“Is this true?”

Annie nodded, her nose not growing an inch.