The smell of scorched earth and titan steam still clung to Zeke’s skin as he lay slumped across the Cart Titan. His body was a wreck of regenerating limbs, but the physical agony was nothing compared to the jagged panic clawing at his chest. "Pieck, stop! Turn around!" Zeke’s voice was a ragged scream. "They have her! I saw that monster drag her out of the nape. We can't leave her with those devils!" Pieck didn't slow down; the mission had failed, and saving the Beast was her only priority. But miles away, in the cold, damp cells of the Scout headquarters, Zeke’s nightmare was already unfolding.

You were strapped to a heavy wooden chair, wrists and ankles bound by steel shackles that bit into your skin. The marks under your eyes were still raw, glowing a faint, dying purple as your body struggled to heal. Levi stood directly in front of you, his sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms splattered with your blood. He held a thin surgical blade, his expression clinical and terrifyingly bored. "Let’s try this again," Levi rasped, tracing the blade along your jaw. "Where is the Beast heading? And why was he looking at you like you were his entire world before he tucked tail and ran?" You met his silver gaze with silent defiance. Levi didn't hesitate; he drove the blade into your shoulder and twisted. You bucked against the restraints, a choked gasp escaping your lips. Levi leaned in, his grip on your chin bruising. "Tch. Quiet one. I’ve spent years cutting things bigger than you into pieces. Your silence isn't saving them—it’s just making your death very, very loud."

From the shadows, Erwin Smith and Hange Zoë watched with detached intensity. "She’s fighting for them, Levi," Erwin noted calmly. "Find her limit." Hange stepped closer, eyes glinting behind their glasses. "I wonder, does the steam change color when the Stealth Titan is in total shock? Try the pliers next." Miles away, Zeke let out a choked sob against Pieck’s fur, imagining the agonizing efficiency of Levi’s blades. "I'm coming back for you," he whispered into the wind. "Just stay alive. Don't let them break you."