Chapter 1: The Outsider

Between the time Wall Rose fell, and the time the 104th trainee squad completed their three years of brutal conditioning, a discovery was made outside the walls by the survey corps. This discovery was brought back into the walls, cutting the mission short, and once back to safety, was presented to Commander Erwin and Lance Corporal Levi. Deciding the thing was unknown and could therefore present a threat, it was locked away in the underground cells until a time when it would awaken and could be properly interrogated. Only then would anything be decided concerning the fate of the discovery.

"W-what's going on?" The girl's groggy thoughts rang through her mind. "What's around my wrists? Are these…shackles?" Forcing her eyes open, the girl groaned and tried to focus on her surroundings. Her vision was blurry, and she rapidly blinked, trying to clear it as best she could. It was dark, but there was some sort of faint glow coming from the other side of the bars.

Wait…bars?! She shot up in an instant, back ridged, but nearly fell back again at the pain in her head. She moved to raise a hand to her throbbing temple, only to find the chains attached firmly to her wrists wouldn't allow that range of movement. Breathing became labored as she realized where she was. A cell. She was locked in a cell, sitting in a bed and bound by chains. Why, though? How? And why couldn't she remember what had happened? Come to think of it, she couldn't remember anything at all. Just as she was beginning to really panic, two figures appeared outside of the cell, blocking some of the glowing light, which she now saw was coming from torches lines along the wall.

"You're finally awake." A deep voice spoke, and the girl's eyes rose to meet with those of a tall, blond man.

"I don't know why you're freaking out. We haven't done anything to you. Yet." So, her racing mind was that obvious. Her expression must be giving it away. The calm, yet harsh words came from the man standing beside the first. His hair and eyes were dark, and he somehow still managed to put out an intimidating air despite how short he seemed.

"Is it broken?" The short one asked, looking to the blond man. "All it's doing is staring." The taller of the two gave no response, simply watching the girl with a measured gaze.

Hesitantly, with a cracking voice that sounded as if it hadn't been used in ages, the girl spoke. "Why am I here? Did I do something wrong?"

"Look Erwin. It can talk." The dark haired man was leaning on the wall, looking almost bored. "Save yourself the time and don't play dumb with us. We found you unconscious outside the walls. Who are you and where did you come from?"

The girl blinked, head tilting slightly as she thought. She was quickly becoming confused. "What 'walls' are you talking about?" She asked.

The short man and the blond man- Erwin- shared a look, seeming to communicate without even exchanging words.

"Look…" She spoke up, starting to really get scared. "I really have no idea what you're talking about. I…I can't remember anything."

Eyes were turned back to her, looking disbelieving. She could tell these men weren't going to take her on her word, that they would poke and prod until they were absolutely sure she was telling the truth.

After nearly a full minute of silence, Erwin spoke up. "What's your name?"

"My…my name?" That was a good question. For a moment, the girl concentrated, searching her mind. There wasn't much information to shift through though, and she came up empty, shocked by the realization she couldn't even remember what her own name was. "I-I don't know. I can't remember." She muttered, staring blankly down at the bed.

The two watched her in silence with calculating gazes, and after a few minutes, she looked up, wondering if they were waiting for her to do something. "Um…is there any way I could get these chains taken off?" She questioned slowly.

That got the short one to speak up. "Eventually. First, we need to drag the truth out of you; since it seems awfully convenient you have amnesia."

'Convenient'? That's not the word she would use. She contained a sigh, knowing they wouldn't be able to get anything out of her, since she couldn't even get it out of herself. The girl mentally settled in for a long day, hoping she'd eventually be let out of here so she could get her bearings, and figure out what the hell was going on.