The stairwell down to whatever cell I'm being held in for the time being is dimly lit. I have to squint to be able to make out the form of the guard in front of me, and on the occasion that I miss a step with unsure footing the guard behind me jabs the barrel of his shotgun into my shoulder.
My heart rate picks up the deeper and farther down we get. It's reminiscent of the time when I was seventeen and given the choice between death or death. I chose the second option, but it looks like I'm back where I started.
Finally we get to the bottom of the steps and it's a bit lighter. My stomach twists as I recognize exactly where I am, and exactly which cell I'm going to be placed in. The universe has a cruel way with irony and humor, but I don't find it funny at all.
"Lux?"
The deep timber of the voice stops me in my tracks, and the guard behind me jabs his shotgun into my back once more. I look over to the cell on my left, the only other cell in this dark pit, and almost choke.
"E-Erwin?"
He gapes at me for a moment before regaining his composure. I notice his lip is busted and he has a bruise on his cheek.
"Erwin what's going on?"
The guard hits my spine a bit harder than he has been and I stumble forward. "Hey, keep it moving!"
I throw him a glare over my shoulder, and look back at Erwin. Why is he here? How could this have happened? When Erwin doesn't respond, I shuffle forward again, allowing the guards to lead me to the cell next to Erwin's. They shove me into the small concrete prison, and lock the gate behind them. I notice, as I'm watching them leave, a small window in between mine and Erwin's cells with bars stretching vertically in between the concrete to keep us separated.
For a while it's quiet, and all I can hear are the echoing footsteps of the soldiers. But once it's completely and utterly silent, I hear Erwin let out a breath.
"How did you get in here Lux?" His voice is somber, deflated.
I scoff bluntly, "I asked you a similar question first."
"It's not safe to speak when the guards are around. They report what they hear."
I look around the grimy cell. It hasn't changed in almost ten years, still disgusting and filthy. With a sigh, I lean against the wall by the small window and sit down. "Well, they aren't around anymore."
"I've been framed for murder." He spits. "They believe I killed an important merchant and left his body in plain sight for everyone to see. Do they really think so lowly of me that I would be foolish enough to leave the body behind?"
I chuckle through my nose at his dark humor. "Looks like we're in the same boat. Bran escaped, and I had to chase him down."
"So I assume he's dead then?" Erwin's voice has a hint of disappointment in it.
"It was self-defense. He would have choked me to death. It wasn't even my intent, either. I was just trying to get him off of me and-" I exhale a shaky breath remembering the events of only a couple of days earlier. I hadn't voiced it out loud to anyone yet. Had I even told Levi that I killed Bran, or was he able to just assume?
"We all do terrible things to survive, Lux. I'm sure you know that by now, though, don't you?"
I swallow harshly. "They're going to take away my freedom. They say they have witnesses."
"They say they have witnesses for me, too. But that's impossible." Erwin grumbles.
I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. My thoughts begin to wander around, and I think of Levi. His shirt feels heavy on my body and it still smells like him despite the fact that I've been wearing it for a few hours. We didn't even get the chance to talk about everything.
"You won't die a prisoner, Lux, I'll make sure of it," Erwin promises, his voice echoing off the wall of the cell.
I let that thought hang in the air around us before exhaling heavily. My eyelids grow heavier and heavier the longer I sit in this damp, dark cave. I'm not sure what time it is, as all of my belongings were confiscated. Erwin probably doesn't know what time it is either, let alone what day it is.
I make my way over to thin mattress lying in the other corner of the cell. As I lay down I pull the collar of Levi's shirt up to my nose and give it a big whiff. If he were here right now, he'd probably tell me to get some rest, or at least try to nap.
So, with that thought, I try to relax my body on the thin little mattress. Sleep invades my mind and body quicker than I figured it would, and before I know it I'm dead to world.
It's sunny. Tall, willowy grass comes up to my waist in the middle of a field. There's a light rustling in the grass as the wind ripples throughout the field. I can feel my hair heavy on the back of my neck, and the tips of it tickle my shoulders. How did it get so long so quickly?
I move forward by taking a baby step, and realize that I'm not in my uniform. Instead I'm in a long, thin dress with a cream color. The material is lace and tulle, and the sleeves are rather long and bell shaped.
Looking up from my unrecognizable dress, I see someone in front of me. Their back is to me, but I can tell by their short stature and undercut that it's Levi. he's not in uniform either, or his usual suit. Instead he's in a billowy cream colored shirt.
"Levi!" I call out to him, but for some reason he doesn't turn around. It's as if I'm in a fishbowl and he can't hear me. I begin to move forward again, taking bigger steps this time to get to him quicker. I reach my hand out to touch his shoulder as I get closer, and my fingertips have barely grazed the material of his white shirt, when a terrible cracking sound rings through the air. The sound makes Levi turn around finally, but instead of smiling or greeting me he looks horrified. I try to speak to him but my lungs seem to collapse on themselves.
I can feel the blood before I see it. Looking down at my abdomen, I watch as the red spot grows and grows and grows. It takes over the beautiful material of the dress and turns it into a bloody mess. Shocked, I touch my hands to the wound and begin to fall to my knees. Levi reaches out to help me, but another shot rings into the open field. He falls to the ground instantly.
Rolling onto my side, I crawl a couple of feet to where he's lying on his back.
"Lux." He reaches his hand out to touch my face. "Don't cry."
I glance down at his torso to see a matching growing red spot. "Don't die. You can't die." I sob, completely ignoring his request.
"I'm going to be okay," he coughs out, blood trickling down his chin. "Lux,"
"Yes I'm here!"
"Lux."
I furrow my brows at him. "Levi, I'm right here."
"Lux!"
My body jolts awake, my head spinning a little from the quick movement. I press my hand to my abdomen as my eyes adjust to the darkness of the cell again. I exhale with relief when I realize there's no bullet wound or bleeding.
"Lux are you alright? You were screaming." Erwin's concerned voice echoes off the brick walls.
"Yeah," I swallow harshly. My throat is dry from the nightmare. "Just a bad dream."
"I heard you screaming Levi's name."
My cheeks heat up at the realization that yes, I had been screaming Levi's name aloud for the entire room to hear. The sound of returning footsteps has me forgetting what I was going to say in return. As they get closer I hear hushed whispers and the more distinct clanking of chains.
"Erwin," a voice I consider to be hardly recognizable announced his presence.
"Ah, Nial." Erwin coughs out.
I feel guilty listening in on their hushed conversation, but what else am I supposed to do here? The two of them continue to speak in whispered sentences and I press my ear closer to the small window trying to decipher them.
"You're going to have an audience with the king to decide your fate, Erwin."
The clanking of chains makes more sense now as I hear Erwin's cell open. They're taking him away, probably to his death.
"I entrusted something with Pyxis. When the time comes it's up to you, and them."
I furrow my brows. The name Pyxis is somewhat familiar to me. Maybe Perry mentioned whoever it is in passing once or twice, but I can't exactly pin point where I've heard of them.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts when my own cell opens. Two military guards are standing with a pair of chains and handcuffs for me, I assume. I roll my eyes at their overkill on the security, but nevertheless, stand and let them guide me out of my cell. Erwin glances at me when I'm in the thin corridor, and I finally see his appearance clearly. How long has he been in here for?
"Take her to Zackley. She answers to him." The voice of the man speaks again. I see his face finally, and my eyes widen.
"It's nice to see you again, Commander Dok." I grin.
He scoffs and turns around to lead us all up the stairs. Erwin insists that I go ahead of him so that he's behind me, so I assume he must need to pass on some sort of information or update me on what the hell is happening.
"Don't think of this as your trial. Trust me on this." He whispers as we walk up the cold stairwell. It starts to get warmer the further up we go, and the lighting gets better as well.
I frown. "The last time I spoke with Zackley in this building it was my trial, Erwin. I would appreciate it if you told me what exactly the plan is here, considering neither of us have a lot of time left before we meet whatever fate they've laid out for us."
"I can't tell you. It has to play itself out naturally. Besides, it would ruin everything if I told you now. Just trust me."
Nial Dok looks over his shoulder at the two of us with his brow raise and eyes squinted in suspicion. When I look away and back to the front over his shoulder he turns back around obviously annoyed.
We walk along a nice carpeted hallway that I recognize as the hall to Zackley's office. The closer we get to the large chestnut doors the harder my heart pounds and beats inside my chest. The reality of my position has started to settle in my mind and my bones and I feel the pressure wracking through every nerve in my body. It's reminiscent of my first time in this building.
"If you agree to be sentenced to the Phoenix Squadron unit, you agree to the terms. No illegal activity, this includes gang affiliation, insubordination, petty theft, and murder. If you break any of these laws your sentence will depend on the severity of the crime." Chief Zackley glared down at me from his large podium in the courtroom. "If you agree, announce this to the jury by swearing."
I glared right back up at him. Through gritted teeth I muttered a not so convincing "I swear", and he banged his gavel on the table.
"Then so be it. Lux Elton you are hereby sentenced to ten years or life to the Phoenix squadron, whichever comes first."
"Miss Elton, Chief Zackley is waiting for you inside his office." Nial Dok's voice pulls me away from my memories. I blink several times to try and regain my composure.
"Right." I nod, and the two guards with me walk me to the open doors of the office.
"Lux," Erwin's voice halts me, so I turn around to face him. He gives me a stern look, and nods. "Trust me."
I nod back, and turn back around to walk into Zackley's office. When we walk in, Zackley is standing by his window looking out into the courtyard behind his office.
"Sir, we've brought Lux Elton as you've requested." The soldier on my right salutes the Chief, and Zackley turns around. He has a pipe in mouth and he smiles warmly at me. It feels odd.
"Don't forget she's a commander. She may be a criminal but she's survived longer than you have out in that hell." He sends me a wink.
It makes me smile a little bit. The two guards next to me let go of the chain connected to my handcuffs and sit me down in front of Zackley's desk.
"You two are dismissed," he waves off the soldiers. They hesitantly leave, and I watch as the doors close behind them. Zackley chuckles under his breath and mutters something about the two of them having a stick up their ass. I watch him carefully while he digs through an open drawer, and pulls out a big key.
"This is the master key for all restraints in the military. Would you like those removed, Lux?"
I nod eagerly, but stop. "Sir, why am I not at the gallows. My sentence should be death."
"Is that what you really deserve?" He walks to the front of his desk and stands in front of me. "I thought it was odd, when they told me they had arrested you for murder of a noble. I thought to myself, 'She's almost out. Why on earth would she kill someone so close to her release date?' And then I thought about that fellow you brought along with you when you came to see me not so long ago. He was one of those Hounds, was he not?"
My mouth falls open slightly at how quickly he pieces it all together. "How did you know that?"
"Lucky assumption. Listen Lux," he sighs and rubs his beard, "I'm letting you go. Things are about to get messy around here. Specifically, here, in this building. I believe you're innocent. You don't have to prove it to me."
"But-"
"I don't want to hear the story. Whatever happened I'm sure was necessary. I know you better than you think I do." He leans down and unlocks the handcuffs.
I rub my wrists at the relief of the restraints. "Sir, what does Erwin have planned. I assume you're involved or else you wouldn't have me in here and you wouldn't be letting me go so easily."
Zackley grunts and walks back around to a closet in his office. He opens the door and rummages through the hangers before he pulls out a dark green cloak. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that. All you need to worry about is finding the others. But first, you need to make a choice."
I stare at him as he holds up the cloak. The Wings of Freedom are displayed across the back, and it looks like it would fit me almost perfectly if it wasn't so long.
"You have thirty more days in Phoenix. Thirty more days before you can choose to be free." He fixed me with a hard stare. "But right now, we need someone like you in the scouts. The new commander for Phoenix has already been decided, so you needn't worry about staying."
"Sir, are you asking me to join the scouts?"
"You technically already are one," he laughs. "You just need to make it official. Obviously your rank in Phoenix and years of experience would be honored and you would start off as a squad leader. Erwin might even decide he wants you as a captain. I'm absolving you of your crimes Lux. You're already free. The choice is up to you."
He hands me the green cloak, and I grab onto it like it'll slip away. Zackley is sitting here, offering me my freedom but asking me to join the scouts. I've fought for my life the last nine years just to get to this moment. Just to sit here and be absolved of all my sins and crimes against the human race. He's offering me my ticket.
But if I choose my freedom, who will come for me? Just because Bran is dead doesn't mean that I'm safe. The Hounds won't forget that I've killed one of their own, and the nobles behind the gang certainly won't let me rest with ease, No, I'm much safer with Erwin and the Scouts out on the battlefield than I am in these walls. I'm safer with Levi.
I look up to Zackley and stand from my chair. "Can you get me a horse? I know where they might be."
He gives me a mischievous smile, "There's one already waiting for you. Serena will bring you to it once she comes to give me the signal."
Zackley walks behind his desk and pulls a drawer out. "I believe," he mutters while digging around, "this belongs to you, yes?" His arm reaches across the desk and he passes over my dagger.
I eagerly grab it from him, turning the blade over and inspecting it's condition. "Yes sir, thank you."
"It should be any minute now. Serena will lead you out of here, just trust her."
Nodding at his words, I strap the dagger around my right thigh where it belongs. As I begin to put the dark green cloak on a familiar shiver runs through my body.
The door bursts open suddenly, and a young girl with auburn hair is panting like she ran all the way here. "Chief, they took the bait." She huffs as she salutes.
"Of course they did." Zackley grumbles and rolls his eyes. "Lux, this is Serena. Serena, Lux Elton. She's made her decision, take her out of here."
"Yes sir!"
"Lux," Zackley looks at me with a hard stare. "I have faith that you will find your way."
I salute him and nod. "Thank you, sir."
Sneaking me out of the Capital Building was the easier part. Sneaking me out of the capital itself, that was the tricky part. I ended up taking my cloak off and stuffing it into the knapsack on the saddle of my horse. I got many strange looks, which is expected after having spent a night or two in a prison cell.
My guide led me through the city well. She took the back alleyways and avoided the heavily guarded areas. Once we reached the front gate she distracted the guards so I could run out without having to show any kind of citizenship papers. Overall it was a successful breakout attempt, and I guess I have to thank Chief Zackley. I had no plan for escape.
As I ride through Wall Rose and make my way to the woods of Trost I can only think of what would have happened to me had Zackley and Erwin not joined forces. I probably would have rotted in a cell for the rest of my miserable life.
The sun sets lower in the sky and I hopefully get closer to the scouts. I don't know how much of the original plan has changed, but I do know they're still searching for Eren and Historia. Knowing Levi he's probably hitting up all of the military police posts searching for any information he can.
The closer to the capital, the more luck they'll have with finding them, which means they must be closer to the wall than people would believe.