Prologue:

"Dear Diary,

Today, Mana picked me flowers. They were pretty a yellow. But then Mummy called us in because she heard loud noises. I think they're getting louder. Mummy says to go underground, but Lena says that's a bad idea. Cordy says so too. I'm scared. Daddy's got his gun too. The noises are getting louder. Mummy thinks they're definitely footstepts. I hope they're not those big monsters, they're scary. Mummy says that I should-"

The diary entry ended there. Newly appointed Lance Corporal Levi tucked the dirty, blood-stained diary in his jacket pocket. Following the others, he wondered what became of the little girl who scrawled the diary. Dead, probably, he thought to himself.

How wrong he was.

Chapter 1: A Trial for Monsters

Jean once again found himself visiting Marco's 'grave'. It wasn't a proper grave, it was just a large hole in which his charred bones and the charred bones of about 100 others resided in. Marco and Jean had become very close friends before his untimely demise. Jean wanted nothing more than closure for Marco's death; just to find out how he'd died and Jean would be…not happy, just less sad he knew how his friend died. Since finding his rotting body, Jean had felt nothing more than guilt in the pit of stomach. Not only did he not know how Marco died, but Marco was alone when he died…and there was also her. Watching her reaction to his death was the worst. It tore his heart to pieces, and he almost cried with her.

If you think I'm talking about his mother's reaction, you're wrong. His mother was sent a formal letter, like the other mothers, wives, sisters, daughters of every other man who had died. Vice versa for the women.

No, the person who was devastated at the news of his death – and wouldn't have found out if Jean hadn't come to visit her in prison – was his girlfriend, Hellena Bennett.

Hellena Bennett was about on par with Mikasa and Annie. But unlike the other two, she was boisterous, loud and rude. She made crude jokes at the worst of times and beat up any guys that came within kicking or punching range – so how did someone like Marco become her boyfriend? Well, luckily for Marco, Hellena wasn't as tough as she looked. Hellena had seen too much death in her lifetime, and when the sunset or rose she could be found, alone, crying into her left hand.

Marco had been the only one to see this.

Jean reckoned he ought to pay her a visit – it had been a long time since he had seen her, and he was wondering how she was.

"See ya, buddy." Jean smiled sadly at the pile of charred bones, and left for the direction of the prison where Hellena currently lived.

Sometimes she would see him in dreams. Sometimes she'd see him by her side whilst she stared at the walls of her prison.

But as soon as she went to touch him, he faded into nothing with his cheerful smile. So she gave up trying. She'd given up on almost everything. She hadn't seen the light of day for six months now. She hadn't watched a sun rise or a sun set for six months. Marco was dead. Annie, Bertholdt and Reiner were traitors.

Everything was fucking changing.

If there was anything she hated more than death and the titans, it was change. Change was always inevitably bad. Change kills.

Hellena Bennett had not eaten without it being forced down her throat by prison guards since the news of Marco's death; since she gave up living. Hellena hoped she'd be with Marco soon, but she knew it was highly unlikely; Marco would've been sent to the blissful heavens, to be amongst laughter and happiness – and she glad. She just wanted to be with him, but she knew that was impossible.

He's dead and she's not. When she is dead, she'll go to hell – no doubt about that.

"Bennett! You've got a visitor." A prison guard rattled the bars outside her cell. She didn't flinch.

"Hey, Hellena. It's me, Jean." Jean's voice called to her.

She didn't hear him; she was too busy remembering lazy evenings with Marco.

"She's been depressed ever since that kid died. She hasn't eaten in months." A guard grunted.

The change in Hellena was hugely notable, even with little light in her cell. Jean looked at the girl he once knew in utter shock.

Hellena was gone, replaced with an empty shell. Her pale skin was even paler, and with a waxy complex. Her cheeks were sunken, her eyes bloodshot and huge bags under her empty, blue eyes. Her flaming red hair had grown past her shoulders, but it was so clumped together it would have to be cut off anyway. The scars on her face were illuminated against the flames.

"Shit…Hellena…" Jean whispered, holding the bars. The action went unnoticed by her.

"Anyone seen Jean?" Connie asked, as he entered the room.

"Don't care." Ymir replied immediately, and bluntly, as she and Christa peeled potatoes.

"Think he went to Marco's grave." Eren replied.

"He's been gone a while, though…" Armin frowned, looking at the clock.

"I'm sure he's fine. A big boy like him can take care of himself." Ymir teased.

"Shut up!" Connie yelled back.

"Don't fight." Mikasa glared, chopping up onions. She wasn't crying.

"Why are you looking for him anyway?" Sasha asked.

"He keeps using all the toilet paper." Connie sighed.

"Gross, man!" Eren recoiled.

"Too much info, dude." Ymir pretended to hurl.

"Too much info about what?" Jean asked from the doorway.

"You're using all the toilet paper!" Connie yelled.

"Whatever." Jean brushed it off.

"You ok, Jean? You look a little pale." Armin asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.

"I went to see Hellena today."

The mention of her name silenced the room, and all eyes were drawn to him.

"How is she?" Armin asked.

"She's…she's gone, Armin. The Hellena we know…knew, is dead. She's just…totally done." Jean shook his head, placing it in his hand.

"Hellena?! But Hellena's so…" Eren began.

"Spunky." Ymir finished for him.

"Yeah. I never could've imagined Hellena breaking like that!"

Jean sighed. "She was already broken. She's just given up trying to hold herself together now."

"Did you see Reiner or the other two?" Mikasa asked.

"In passing. They seem fine. They're next to Hellena, actually."

"We should pay them a visit tomorrow." Mikasa suggested.

"Why? You hate all four of them." Eren said.

"Well, maybe if we talk to Hellena-" Armin began.

"There's no talking to her, Armin, I already tried. She didn't even notice I was there today. She hasn't eaten by herself since I told her…maybe…"

"Maybe what?" Lance Corporal Ravaille asked.

"Heichou!" the group startled.

"Relax. Maybe what, Jean? Maybe you shouldn't have told her about Marco dying? Wrap her in cotton wool, is that it? She'd just start wondering why he stopped visiting her in prison. She'd know, Jean. Someone else would've told her, and they would've been blunt and cruel. They wouldn't have done what you did. She needed to hear it from you, Jean."

"Y-yes.."

"I came here to tell you guys that there's a trial for Hellena, Annie, Bertholdt and Reiner next month, it's going to decide their fate." He announced.

/So, the first chapter of my Shingeki no Kyojin fanfic is done! What did you guys think? You like? Please review!

AmberKurosaki