Chapter 25 - You

                                    

                                          
Sorry for the wait, I had to fix up some previous chapters.
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My father's explanation is very brief.
"We recieved a message from Erwin. Military police are after us, can't be caught." Is all he gives us, yet we all nod and follow after him as we walk away from the cabin.
We spend the entirety of the day hiking up the side of a mountain, getting as far away from the cabin as possible. We take little breaks for food and water, stopping only when necessary. 
About halfway is when most of Hange's squad rejoined with us on foot, leading two horses behind them. There was a couple soldiers that joined up with us further up the trail head after making sure we weren't spotted or followed. 
By the time the sun has dipped behind the horizon we're a good few miles out of the cabin's range, though we are still able to see the military police now raiding through the building. The fire of their torches illuminates in the dark down below the cliffside in which we watch from, even their loud, frustrated yells are faintly audible. 
"That was close," Connie says, his voice shaky. "If they had caught us, would they have ripped our nails off?" 
Without a doubt, but saying so probably wouldn't ease his mind, so I keep myself silent. 
Armin looks over at my father, his brows furrowed in confusion. "How did Commander Erwin even know they were headed there?" 
"The government has passed down some new orders," my dad replies, "there's been a freeze on all Scout activity outside the walls. We're to hand over Eren and Historia." 
There's immediate protests from the others, and even I can't help but narrow my eyes at his words. Hand them over? Just like that? 
I glance at Eren to see he's already looking at me. I try to offer a reassuring look, but I know that he can tell I'm tense about the situation.
"Captain," a girl with auburn hair from Hange's squad pipes up. "I didn't have time to tell you, but some MP's came for the Commander after I left him." 
"What, like he's some kind of criminal?" Hange asks in irritated surprise, arching her brows. The girl nods in response as my father speaks up. "They're bringing this fight out into the open," he states evenly, though I notice the tightening of his grip on his shotgun. "No more working from the shadows." 
"We must protect the walls secrets at any cost," Hange says firmly, glancing at each one of us. "But why? We still aren't clear on what exactly they want Eren and Historia for. They don't want them dead, so what are they planning?" 
I scoff. The fact we don't know their intentions yet says volumes about our chances. 
"Who knows," my dad replies. "But they want these two and they aren't being subtle about it, which makes lingering here dangerous. We'll take them both into Trost." 
"Are you serious?" Moblit asks from his place behind Hange. "You want to take them to the same district where Pastor Nick was just murdered?" 
My thoughts exactly. As much as I trust my father, I'm not sure what to think of that idea. I want Eren in the least amount of danger is possible. Historia as well, for that matter. 
"Heading towards the interior would be worse," my dad continues, "with Trost in a panic it should be easy to slip in. And if things do go to hell, we can use these in the city." He pulls his coat open to showcase the ODM gear he carries. 
Armin nods in agreement. "That's true," he murmurs in a low tone. He's got that expression on his face like he's deep in thought. 
"We don't know the identities of our enemies, I have an idea on how to change that." My dad says as he puts his shotgun over his shoulder and crosses his arms over his chest. There's an air of curiosity and tension as the group listens to his words.