"Hey! Wake up! Armin!" shouted Conny shaking Armin. "Can you hear me? Come on! Armin. Armin!"
Armin snapped from his daze and looked up at Conny.
"Are you awake?" asked Conny. "Are you injured? Where's your squad?"
"Squad?” Armin questioned.
"All right, get it together," said Conny. "Why are you alone? Why are you so damn slimy? What happened?"
Armin looked at Conny and then snapped from his trance and letting out a blood-curling scream as he grabbed his head and remembering the recent events.
"I'm worthless!" Armin cried. "Why can't I just die?!"
"Hey, calm down," said Conny. "Enough!"
Armin stopped screaming and letting his tears run down his eyes.
"Let it go, Conny," said Ymir. "Aside from him, they're all dead."
"Shut up! Armin didn't say that," stated Conny.
"Take a look around you, isn't it obvious?" she asked. "We can't just waste anymore time here with him. We've got to move on."
"Why would the Titans ignore him?" asked Conny.
"I don't know," she replied. "Maybe they thought he was already dead or something. It's unfortunate they encountered Titans, I can't say much about Eren and his squadron if Armin is the only survivor."
"That's it bitch. You've said too much," said Conny angrily. "I'm going to make you shut your mouth!"
Christa then broke in between them.
"Both of you stop it right now," she yelled. "We're all in a state of shock. We saw our friends getting killed like animals. You can't help it."
Ymir wrapped her arm around Christa smiling.
"That's my Christa, When this battle is over, you must marry me," she laughed.
"It's for certain. She's messing around more than usual," said Conny angrily.
Conny got back to Armin, who was shaking.
"Whatever the case, we have to move," he said offering his hand. "Cam you stand up, Armin?"
Armin stopped shaking and looked at Conny's hand and got up.
"Sorry for being a nuisance," he apologized.
He then started to walk away from Conny and the others.
"I'll rendezvous with the rear guard," he said.
"Hey... Armin!" called Conny.
Armin jumped off the roof and started to swing away. Conny watched Armin as he disappeared around the corner.
"Conny, let's go! We've been given orders to advance!" yelled a male soldier.
Conny then walked away to the group.
Armin continued to glide and saw the amount of carnage on the streets of the fallen soldiers.
"This is hell," he thought. "No. The world hasn't gone to hell. I've just had it wrong the whole time. This world has always been hell."
He then remembers when the bullies would beat Armin up.
"Strength preys on weakness. It's so simple to understand," he thought.
He remembers that when we was getting bullied, Eren and Mikasa would come running and beat up the bullies and help Armin.
"But my friends, they wanted to be strong," he thought. "They've saved me. And I couldn't stand it. As far as they are concerned, I am someone they have to protect. Just like them, I wanted to be strong and live my life beside them."
Then, Armin's grappling hooks didn't latch on to a wall, causing him to crash into it and fall. Armin could only cry as he hit the ground.
"But look at what ended up happening," he thought. "Eren died because of me."
Armin the heard someone crying in the distance and looked to see Hannah desperately performing CPR on Franz, whose entire half of his body had been torn off.
"Hannah, what are doing?" asked Armin.
"Oh, god, Armin! Help me please!" she cried. "Franz stopped breathing! He won't respond to CPR! FRANZ!!!"
"Hannah, please. It's not safe here," warned Armin.
"No! I'm not leaving him like this!" she cried.
"You really don't understand, do you?" he asked. "Franz is..."
Armin could only watch as Hannah performs CPR on Franz. He then covers his left eye.
"Please stop," he begged. "I can't take this anymore."
On the other side, a large crowd of people were gathered around the gate. A giant wagon was blocking their way to get in. A civilian was pushed.
'Hey, don't you know what's going on here?" asked a male civilian.
"I know, that is why things are like how they are," said a man with black hair on his side and a bald top. "If you all want to live, help me!
All of the civilians started to shout at the merchant.
"What is wrong with you?!" asked a male civilian.
"This isn't a joke!" yelled another.
"We're going to get eaten!" yelled a female civilian.
Then a civilian pushes a male Garrison forward.
"Do something, soldier!" yelled a male civilian.
"Make him move that damn wagon!" yelled another.
"I'm not exactly sure..." said a male Garrison.
"Take your best shot, little man," said the merchant. "I'm the president of this town's merchant guild."
Dimo then walked up to the Garrison soldier.
"Who do you think pays all the bills for the food for the soldiers?" he asked. "Or maybe you've got some finances tucked away to fund the racket you call a job? NOW SHUT UP AND PUSH!!! This cargo is worth more than all you people make in your whole damn lives! Here's a reward in if you help!"
A mother hugged her daughter to comfort her.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," said the mother. "Daddy's going to use those big cannons to defeat those Titans."
Then, the little girl noticed something in the distance.
"Mommy," she called pointing. "Look."
The mother turned around and looked. The, giant footsteps were heard alerting all the civilians. A soldier was walking towards them. Then, around a the corner a Titan appeared trampling over the soldier and started running towards the crowd of people. Everyone screamed at the sight of a Titan running towards them.
"PUSH, GODDAMMIT!!!" yelled the merchant. "PUSH IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!!!"
Everyone gathered around the wagon and desperately pushed it to get through and screaming. The Titan got closer and closer to the crowd. Behind the Titan, three Garrison soldiers come up.
"Why is the son of a bitch ignoring us?" asked a male Garrison.
"It's an Abnormal. Stop trying to figure it out!" yelled the second one.
"He's too fast!" yelled a female Garrison. "There's no way we'll catch up to him."
"We won't make it!" he yelled.
Then Mikasa glided past them and latched on to the Titan's nape. She then swung at the Titan and sliced it's nape off, killing it. The Titan fell in front of the crowd as Mikasa stood on top of the fallen Titan. She looked at her blade and looked at the crowd.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Good timing!" yelled merchant. "Make these morons push my wagon! I'll pay you handsomely!"
Mikasa looked at merchant in utter shock.
"Right now, my comrades are dying back there," stated Mikasa. "I can't help your crisis. They're dying from fighting Titans."
"Exactly!" merchant shouted."It's your duty as a soldier to die the for the survival of the citizens! Don't get high up on yourself because of the safety we had for the past hundred years!"
Mikasa, now with an angry glare in her face jumped down from the slain Titan. She started to walk towards Dimo.
"I wonder if they understand the value of one person dying for the sake of someone else?" she asked. "At times, the death of one is necessary to save many."
"Don't you dare!" merchant yelled. "Your commander and I are old friends! One word from me and you'll be court-martialed!
The merchant's men started to charge at Mikasa, who then used the dull edge of her sword, causing them to fall. Mikasa stopped in front of the merchant with an angry glare.
"How will a dead body speak?" she asked.
Mikasa lifted her sword and pointed the tip of her blade at merchant's face.
"Wait!" he yelled.
"Sir..." said one of his men.
"Pull the damn wagon out," ordered the merchant.
The merchant's men pulled the wagon out of the gate and all of the civilians started to enter the gate.
"Thank you, miss," thanked the little girl.
"Thanks to you, we'll live," thanked the mother. "We are forever grateful.
Mikasa smiled putting her sword back into the box and saluted at them. The little girl smiled and Mikasa turned around and walked away.
Later on, rain started to pour down and the sound of thunder rumbled.
"Nice kill, Mikasa," complimented Rainbow Dash.
"Thanks," said Mikasa.
Ian then came towards Mikasa.
"Good, work Ackerman," said Ian. "I'm impressed."
"Thank you," thanked Mikasa. "However, I attacked too hastily so my blades are now dull. I'll do better next time."
She threw her dull blades onto the roof.
"What on earth have you had to live to be so nonchalant?" Ian asked.
Mikasa looked at him. Ian then took his words back.
"I mean... forget it," Ian said.
Mikasa pulled her scarf and covered her mouth with it, looking at back at the mother and daughter, and remembering her real family.
'Why do I have to suddenly think of you now? she questioned.
844
It was raining in the woods. Only a cabin was there in the edge woods. Inside the cabin lived a woman with long black hair and gray eyes knitting, a man with short blond hair and gold eyes peeling a potato, and a young Mikasa.
"I'm finished mama," said Mikasa with a light voice. "What do you think?"
"Oh, Mikasa. It's absolutely fantastic!" complimented her mother. "Excellent work!"
"Thank you," thanked Mikasa.
"We've kept this style of embroidery a family tradition for many generations," Mikasa's mother explained. "When you have children of your own, you must teach it to them.
“How do I get children?" Mikasa asked.
"Well, why don't you asked your father," said her mother.
Her father looked in surprise know that she's too young to know.
"Well, daddy?" Mikasa asked.
“I'm not sure, either," said her father nervously. "But you know, Dr. Jeager's scheduled to pay us a visit so you can ask him."
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Ah! Speak of the devil," said her father.
The person knocked louder on the door.
"Coming!" her father shouted.
Outside was pouring and Grisha Jeager knocked on the door with a young Eren beside him.
"Mikasa?" asked Eren.
"Yes, a girl about your age," his father replied. "Try to get along, okay? There aren't many children around here."
"It depends is she's nice to me," stated Eren.
"Eren. It's because of that attitude that you don't make friends," he explained.
Grisha looked at the door, and notices it has been long since the knocked.
"Are they home?" he questioned.
Grisha knocked on the door louder.
"Mr. Ackerman! It's Dr. Jaeger!" he yelled.
"Is anybody here?" he asked opening the door.
Grisha gasped at the sight.
"What's wrong?" asked Eren.
Grisha didn't say a word at the sight.
"Dad?" Eren called.
They both enter the cabin to find blood splattered across the window, wall, and the table. Grisha observed a dead woman lying on the floor with a pool of blood.
"It's too late," he said. "Eren, did you see Mikasa anywhere?"
"No," Eren answered.
'All right," said his father turning around. "I need to tell the Military Police to investigate this. You stay at the foot of the mountain. Understood?"
Eren didn't say anything.
"Eren!" his father called. "Eren!"
At the other side of the woods, a large cabin was there. Inside the cabin were two bandits and Mikasa, who had her hands held behind her and bound with a rope and was knocked out.
"Hey, are we sure we can sell her?" asked a bandit with short gray hair. "I don't want to have killed her parents for nothing."
"Look at her face and tell me what she's worth," said another with a short beard and wearing a wool cap sitting on a chair.
The bandit with gray hair turned her around with his foot and looked at her.
"Sure, she's cute but she's still a kid," said the bandit. "She's not really my type."
"I didn't asked what you type is," stated the other bandit sitting. "She's an Asian. Back in the day humans used to have "races". So that one, from back when, is a descendant from those who come from Asia. The old perverts in the capital really go for that sort of thing She's the last survivor of her race. So we should get a good price."
"Her father didn't look like an Asian to me," stated the bandit. "She's not a purebred."
The bandit on the chair slammed his foot onto the floor.
"Yes, she is!" he yelled. "The real valuable was the mother but you had to freak out and kill her!"
"What was I supposed to do?" he asked. "She was putting a fight!"
"Is that all you can say? Huh?!" asked the other bandit.
Couple of hours earlier
The knocking continued and Mikasa's father opened up the door.
"Dr. Jeager, we've been waiting..." said her father.
Then, a knife stabbed him in the gut. The knife was pulled out and was covered in blood. Her father limped back and fell next to the table and died. Mikasa and her mother looked at see the two bandits coming in their house.
"Sorry. Hope we're not interrupting," said the bandit with a wool cap.
Mikasa's mother saw the knife and slowly went to grab a pair of scissors.
"Let's take this nice and easy," said the bandit with gray hair. "I don't want to use this thing.
The bandit lifted the axe high in the air. Mikasa's mother then ran towards the bandits with the pair of scissors, scaring Mikasa in the process. She screamed as she started charging at the bandit.
"This bitch is crazy!" he yelled.
"Run, Mikasa!" her mother yelled.
"Mom, you're scaring me," she whispered.
"Hurry!" she shouted.
"But..." she looked at her dead father, who now had a pool of blood dripping. "Dad?"
"Dammit!" yelled the bandit disarming her mother. "You're worthless as crap!"
The bandit swung his axe into her mother's shoulder. She limped back towards Mikasa. Mikasa was beyond terrified at the event. Blood sputtered everywhere at her mother's gash. Then, her body fell and a giant pool of blood started to spill from her.
"You dumbass! The plan was to only kill the father!" yelled the bandit with the cap.
"She was crazy!" shouted the bandit.
"I don't want to hear it!" yelled the bandit with the cap. "Just grab the kid!"
Mikasa could only look at her dead mother. The bandit then stepped over her body and went up to Mikasa.
"Let's not give me any attitude, all right?" asked the bandit grabbing Mikasa. "Or else you'll get it."
The bandit punched Mikasa in the side of her head and she blacked out.
"So... cold," she muttered.
Inside the cabin, the two bandits continued to talk. The door opened up alerting them both. Both of them saw a boy in front of them.
"Pardon me," said Eren.
"You little shit!" yelled bandit walking towards Eren. "How the hell did you find this place?!"
"Well, I was lost in the woods and I saw your cabin," said Eren
The bandit looked back at the other bandit sitting on the chair. The other bandit gave him a hand signal. The bandit looked at Eren and smiled.
"A kid your age shouldn't be out in the woods alone," said the bandit rubbing his head, unaware of the knife Eren had behind.
"There are big bad wolves out there," said the bandit. "Don't worry, you're safe now. If you stay with us..."
Then, Eren stabbed the bandit in the throat.
"I appreciate that, sir," said Eren angrily wiping the hand on his head. "But I'm not stupid. Die, you bastard."
Eren then slit the bandit's throat and his body fell. Eren stood there. The bandit on the chair got up.
"What the hell?!" he yelled.
Eren then closed the door and ran.
"Wait, you punk!" he yelled running.
The bandit grabbed the axe and stood in the doorway. Eren then charged at the bandit with the knife tied to a broom. The bandit was unaware and Eren screamed as he stabbed the bandit.
"DIE, YOU ANIMAL!!!" yelled Eren stabbing him.
Mikasa regained conscious and looked at see Eren repeatedly stabbing the bandit.
"THIS IS WHAT YOU GET SON OF BITCH! THIS IS WHAT GET FOR WHO YOU ARE! DIE! DIE!!!" yelled Eren.
Eren continued to stab the bandit until he was good as dead. After a couple of stabs he stops and pants, wiping the blood on his head.
"You're safe now," assured Eren. "Don't worry."
Eren used the knife to cut the ropes off Mikasa's hands.
"You're Mikasa, right?" asked Eren. "I'm Eren. I'm Dr. Jeager's son. I'm sure you've met my father before. We stopped by your house today for a checkup."
Mikasa then remembers a third bandit with short brown hair at her door.
"There were three of them," she said.
Then both of them heard foot steps behind them. Both of them turned around to see the third bandit. Eren quickly went for the knife, but the bandit kicked him.
"This is all your doing , isn't it?" he asked.
He grabbed Eren's head and lifted him and grabbing this throat, choking him.
"It was you who did this!" he yelled. "I'm going to kill you!"
The bandit squeezed harder.
"Take me out," Eren wheezed.
Mikasa too scared and shocked to move.
"Fight! Kill or be killed fight for your life!" he wheezed.
"What are you saying?!" he asked.
"The only way to live is to fight!" he wheezed.
Mikasa grabbed the knife and pointed at the bandit.
"I can't," she whispered.
Mikasa was shaking in fear as she held the knife. The bandit squeezed harder to the point Eren was gasping for air. Then both of his arms fell.
"That's when I remembered. I've seen it before. I've seen it many times before. I had noticed it. But I choose not to see it. That's right. This world... is cruel."
Mikasa then lowered the knife and stood there.
"All of a sudden, my body wasn't shaking. I've been in total control over myself ever since. I believed I could do anything. Fight! Fight! FIGHT!
With all the adrenaline flowing in Mikasa's body, she tighten her grip on the knife, and lifted her foot up causing the planks beneath her to break in half. She let out a blood-curling scream as she charged at the bandit at full-speed. The bandit was unaware and only saw Mikasa coming.
Later, the MP arrived with a lamps. They saw the dead bandit, having the knife deeply lodged in his back and was surround by puddles of blood.
"Stabbed through the heart from behind," said an MP with a bread.
"Those two kids did this?" asked another MP with short brown hair.
Outside, Mikasa and Eren met up with Grisha. He hugged his son in relief that he was alive.
"Eren, I told you to wait at the foot of the mountain," said his father. "Do you even understand what you've done here today?!"
"I killed unworthy animals," Eren stated. "They just look like humans!"
"Eren!" scolded his father.
"By the time the MP got here, they'd have been long gone," explained Eren. "It would have been late!"
"It doesn't matter what might have happened!" his father scolded. "You were just lucky What I'm concerned about is how thoughtlessly risked your life!"
Eren looked down in shame knowing his father was right.
"But I saved her," he said.
Grisha took his son's words and got up.
"Mikasa, remember me?" he asked. "We met a few times before when you were young."
"Yes, Dr. Jeager," she replied. "Where can I go home? It's cold. There is nowhere for me to go home to."
Eren then walked up to Mikasa and unwrapped his red scarf. He then started to wrap the scarf around Mikasa.
"You can take this," said Eren. "Isn't it warm?"
She looked at the scarf and started to feel it.
"Yes, it is," she replied.
"Mikasa, how would you feel about coming to live with us?" Eren's father asked.
Mikasa looked at Grisha.
"There are a lot of things you suffered," he said. "What you need is rest."
Mikasa then looked at Eren.
"Let's hurry and go," said Eren grabbing Mikasa's sleeve. "Back to our house."
Mikasa realized that she was getting a new home. Tears started to wield in Mikasa's eyes and tears started to stream down Mikasa's face.
"I'll go home," she said crying.
A Titan was running across the street. Mikasa then latched on to the Titan's nape and sliced it, killing it. She landed on a nearby roof and looked at the many Titans she had killed.
"Only the victorious are allowed to live. A cruel world," she thought.
Then, the bell rang signalling that the evacuation was done and all the civilians were cleared. The gate started to close down.
"It's the squadron, Ackerman. Let's scale the wall," said Ian.
"I'll help the vanguard withdraw," said Mikasa.
Mikasa then started to swing away.
"Ackerman, wait!" he yelled. "Applejack, Dash, Sparkle, Zap, Sugarcoat go follow Ackerman!"
"Yes, sir!" they shouted.
All of them went after Mikasa and started swinging.
But in this cruel world, I have a place to go home. she thought. "Eren. If you remain alive, I can do anything."