Attack of the Titans
By: Zahra
It is said that two centuries ago, humanoid creatures appeared on the earth, feasting on every human they could see. Our people bravely fought with all they had, but were quickly defeated, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction.
My family and I live in an underground city called Leza with the rest of the surviving humans. This city has brought our people peace for over one hundred years. Unfortunately those peaceful days will soon come to an end…
Chapter 1: Wall Leza
Wall Leza: an underground safe haven for the believed-to-be remaining two thousand survivors of the world's greatest catastrophe. Just about everything before the monsters, called Titans, walked the earth have been lost. It is also known that many people came with different dialects; it has now been reduced to one.
Despite having been forced to live underground, everything from food to clothing is stable. It is all thanks to the hunters, who have been trained ever since they took their first steps from birth, to go to the surface to scout and hunt for food under such harsh environment conditions. Most of the time many come back, but there are always those few who don't. They leave twice a week to gather food in a group of sixty from a total of one hundred twenty and switch with the other sixty every other hunt.
Today Saran, a young girl of thirteen gets ready to leave with her father Idris, her elder brother Obi who is older by two years, and eldest sister Adina (17) to hunt for food. This is not Saran's first time, but one of many from the past year and a half.
She changes from her normal colorful long skirt and blouse into her hunting uniform. Her mother, Delila sits her down to pull her long dark brown hair of tight coils into a high ponytail.
"Saran, you ready?" Obi calls from downstairs.
"Almost." Delila answers, while helping Saran with her belt and straps. She continues, helping cross them around her chest, back, and the sides of her hips. After making sure she is strapped perfectly, Saran puts on her chestnut colored combat boots.
"Alright, you're all set."
"Thanks mom."
Delila kisses her on the forehead, "Stay with your father." she whispers.
"At all times, I know."
Saran knew her mother was trying to be as calm as she could, even if this was one of many times, she understood her concern. To Saran, she had every right to be… some people would not be back today.
As they both head downstairs, Saran sees her younger brother Ali (7) and sister Maya (10) waiting for her. As she reaches the last step, they both run up and squeeze her in a tight overdone hug.
"Can't…breathe." she says, gasping for air.
They release her, letting out a burst of laughter.
"Will you see a titan today?" Ali asks excitedly as Saran makes her way to the front door.
"I don't know."
"If you do, will you kill it?"
"Enough Ali, leave her alone." Delila says, playfully covering his mouth.
Maya then jumps in "Don't forget to bring-."
"Flowers, I know, I'll bring some."
Saran then hears her brother calling from outside. She spots him, and quickly runs over.
"Let's go, Dad and Adina are waiting at the entrance", he says.
Saran nods, and takes one more look behind her. All three are still waving goodbye at the door, she thought they looked like a portrait of a mother and her two kids waving goodbye as their soldier leaves home.
She smiles and waves back.
"I said, let's go." Obi says, grabbing the back of her shirt, dragging her along.
They reach the entrance of the city, and like usual, there is a group of people to see them off. The hunters start to split off into their respective groups preparing to head up.
Saran could now feel the excitement washing over her. She would get to see the sun again today, and feel its heat soak into her body. She would be able to see the trees, and the dry soil beneath her feet.
Even though she was excited, she refused let it show, she wanted to look serious like everyone else.
"Saran," a familiar voice calls from behind her.
She turns around to see Yoel, a childhood friend of hers. He and Saran became best friends during training, practically growing up together, but in the end they were placed in separate groups. He hunted on her opposite days. Not only is he an only child, he is the only hunter in his family, after volunteering on his own to train when extra hunters were needed.
Yoel was a very sweet and a good-natured person, but not someone you'd want to pick a fight with, and that's what Saran liked about him the most. She witnessed a physically weak kind-hearted boy become one of the best fighters she'd ever seen. Plus she gave credit to herself for helping and encouraging him during those tough training periods she'd like so much to forget.
"Yoel," she replied, greeting him with a smile.
"Best of luck today. And be careful, last time there were more titans roaming than usual." he said in a concerned tone.
"Really?" a shot of fear hit Saran.
"It's okay, maybe today will be different. Just… be careful" he reassured, noticing the nervousness she was trying to hide.
"Hopefully…" she murmured, before spotting her sister Adina waving at them with urgency.
"Saran, Obi, over here" she called from her group.
Adina was beautiful, tall, and slender, but what shined the most besides her dark skin in the sunlight was her strength and fearlessness. Out of all the hunters young and old, she was one of the strongest fighters of them all. A prodigy, she was everything Saran wanted to be. She wore her long black braids in a low ponytail of two knots. Out of all the kids in Saran's family, Adina was the only one who resembled their mother the most, even sporting her golden brown eyes.
"Where is dad?" Obi asked, looking around.
"He's talking to the captain right now. Here, take these" she said, handing them their weapons.
She gave them each two bags that consisted of five small round bombs in each that hooked on the straps of their hips. The bombs were small, but if thrown properly they proved to be very useful against titans. After pressing the trigger on a bomb, the next thing it touches will explode with a force strong enough to take off an arm or even a head of a titan.
Adina then gave them both a bow and arrow, which the bombs could also be attached to when needed. The arrow was also made sharp and sturdy enough to be used to cut if necessary.
The strongest hunters, including Adina carried both the bombs and bow and arrow, but also a black traditional half moon shaped sword that sat on their right hip. Only the most skilled were allowed to use all three if they desired.
All of these weapons were possible thanks to Yoel's father, who designed and enhanced most of the weapons. His father comes from a long line of inventors and doctors, making Yoel a big disappointment since he decided not take on the family career.
Now done talking with Saran's father, Captain Akachi makes his way to the front of the crowd of hunters and towns people. Captain Akachi is very tall, and built from head to toe. There's a permanent scar, one of many, that stretches from the corner of his mouth almost reaching his right ear. He has the most scars out of everyone, because he has lived through more battles with the titans than anyone. Rightfully so, he has been deemed the Captain.
His full lips part, and out comes the deep strong commanding voice he is known to have. "Hunters. Today there will be no restrictions. The usual protocol will proceed today, so remember you are only prohibited from passing the "Yellow Wall" if you are in the groups heading east. Are we clear?"
"YES SIR!" everyone responds in unison.
"Horses will be provided when you reach the top."
Adina pats Saran and Obi on the head. "See you guys later. Stay with dad, and don't do anything stupid," she says with a smirk on her face.
She then walks off following behind her group to Captain Akachi who is the commander of their group, where as Saran's father is the commander of Saran and Obi's group of ten.
Saran notices her father; now standing behind her and Obi has an expression that's making her nervous. He looks concerned about something.
What could he and the Captain have been talking about? She thought.
He puts his hands on both her and Obi's shoulders "Let's not wander too much today, alright?" he cracks a warning smile.
Obi and Saran look at each other and share a nod of agreement and disappointment.
As Adina's group reaches Captain Akachi, he turns around to face everyone with his right hand raised. His loud stern voice is once again released from its cage with a volume that could've been heard from miles away.
"HUNTERS. MOVE OUT."
And thus begins the beginning of the end.