"We live as we dream-alone..."
― Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
(T for gore)
Armin had once been a playful boy who loved to learn and read and explore. He had dreams like every other boy, to be an astronaut or a firefighter, or a pirate. His laughter was vivid. His eyes were clear and bright. He did not worry about things to come nor things that passed. His had the life of an average seven year old.
Armin had once been a bookish pre-teen who had a passion for the adventures recorded in books. He wanted most to be able to visit the places he read about, to escape the bulling that followed him in school. He only had two friends his whole middle school career, and he was sure they resented him for always holding them back. He could still laugh, and his eyes had a glint that only hinted at his immense intelligence. He was an above-average eleven year old who couldn't recognize his own talents.
Armin had once been a traumatized and afraid teen, who found the dead around every corner. He was only plagued by nightmares of torn flesh and dull eyes. Everything before this was pointless. He no longer worried about bullies because they were dead, or they had become the undead. He no longer worried about his two friends because it took the Apocalypse to realize being helpful didn't just mean being physically strong. He found no point to laughing, and his eyes became dark. He was one of the few to survive, a fifteen year old who has seen humans rip each other apart with their bare hands.
As a young adult, he has found what is now life's normal way of running it's course. He has become use to the danger and the gore that one encounters on a daily basis. He is no longer the naive child of seven, nor the weak kid of elven, nor the traumatized boy of fifteen. Yet he is all of these, as no one can ignore who they are even if they can add to who they are becoming.
oooo
(Age Nineteen, Somewhere in Northern America)
Armin cautiously poked at the wound on his head. He was currently washing himself in a small river, trying to get the blood out of his hair. He had been tackled to the ground by a particularly fast zombie, and although he hadn't been seriously injured, he had scraped his forehead pretty badly. Armin was rudely reminded how much head wounds bled even if they weren't deep. His hair hung in his eyes, loose and dripping water. He really needed a haircut.
He dipped down again, and made sure to scrub his body once again in the slow-moving river. He didn't get to bathe much anymore, so he knew to be extremely thorough while he had the chance. Surviving the Apocalypse made staying squeaky clean a lot lower on everyone's list of priorities.
Deciding he removed as much dirt and sweat from his body as he could for the moment, Armin began to pull on his clothes. His poor shirt had holes along the collar and near his left side- from wear and rips caused by jagged zombie nails. His jeans had holes at the knees and were fraying badly. His boots were worn, but well built, with thick soles and sturdy leather- he only wished he could find some socks. Blisters were horrible things.
He sighed and started wandering back to where Eren and Mikasa made camp as he tied his longer strands of hair back with a short string. Suddenly he heard a strangled yelp and loud clattering. Eren! Armin knew immediately. Without needing to consider the danger he was leaping over fallen trees and dodging branches as he sprinted for his friend. If zombies had suck up on Eren… He pushed his negative thoughts away, he just needed to focus on making it to his best friend as quickly as he could.
"Eren!" Armin shouted as he broke into the small clearing, holding the knife he kept in his belt loop at the ready. Mikasa was standing over Eren already, scowling in such a way that Armin knew nothing serious had happened.
"You are a complete idiot." She was in the middle of chiding.
Armin took a moment to really take in the situation: Eren sitting on the ground by the fire, pot flung haphazardly away, Eren covered in hot soup. Armin had to agree, Eren was a complete idiot.
"Jeeze, I thought you were getting killed, not spilling our dinner on yourself." Armin said, still hyped up from adrenalin.
"I said I'm sorry." Eren snapped back, "It was an accident."
Armin was glad it was only that. He had no one except his two friends. He was positive the only reason he had survived so long was because they were great fighters and were able to look after him. Armin wasn't really a fighter, and that was one of the biggest disadvantages one could have nowadays. He liked to think he had gotten over his inferiority issues, but he wasn't going to lie to himself.
"Anyways, we should pack up soon and head out." Armin offered. He knew it was best to always be on the move, not letting the zombies track you down.
"Yeah, okay. This forest gives me the creeps anyways." Eren agreed.
Soon enough, the trio had gathered their meager possessions and started east. Armin carried the two-person tent, everyone's bed rolls, and his knife. Eren carried things like food, his large switchblade, bottles of water, and the one cooking pot the group possessed. Mikasa just carried her long sword. The loads may seem unfair, but Armin knew this distribution was the best chance for them surviving. Mikasa, the best fighter, needed her hands free incase they were suddenly attacked. Eren had the most physical strength so he was able to carry the heaviest load the longest, and Armin just tried to keep up with the two of them.
"What safetown should we stop by?" Eren asked as he stomped around on the soft ground.
"Trost is closest." Mikasa mentioned, but Armin immediately shook his head.
"They aren't receptive of outsiders there. I don't think they'd take kindly to anyone, even Informants, from entering their closed-off community." Armin said, "It would be better if we headed to-"
Armin found himself sprawled on the forest floor, kicking up damp leaves, fighting against hands clamping down on his throat. Faintly he heard the curses of his friends, but he was too focused on the rotting stench and gnashing teeth inches away from his neck to pay much attention of anything else.
A zombie? Where had it come from? How had they not noticed it sneaking up on them? Armin struggled to keep teeth from his throat. Suddenly the weight was lifted off his body as Eren tumbled over them while trying to doge the lunge of a different zombie. This gave Armin enough time to roll away and rise to a crouch.
He took in the situation. Mikasa was furiously slicing through bodies, struggling to hold off the growing numbers. Eren was wrestling with a female zombie, trying to get a hold of her head in order to break her neck. How had this many zombies managed to sneak up on them? The trio was cautious, they were aware. This should have never happened, so why…?
Armin was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw a zombie launch itself at his waist, trying to knock him off balance. He managed to retain his footing but the zombie was still hanging onto him. Swiftly Armin pulled his fist back and drove it forward, straight into the rotting face. He felt the zombie's nose give way into it's skull, causing it to slacken it's grip just enough for Armin to wiggle free.
He ended up backing straight up into another zombie. It's arms bear hugged around his chest, pinning his arms to his body. "Armin!" Mikasa screamed as she watched in horror as the zombie opened its mouth to bite Armin. She lunged towards her friend, but she was too far to make in time, too far to help.
Armin jerked wildly, but he knew he couldn't break free in this position. Just when he felt the gooey warmness emanating from the zombie's mouth around his bare neck another body shoved him around. Suddenly Eren was there, wrestling the zombie's mouth open with his hands, putting himself in danger for Armin's sake.
Armin fell to the ground with a thud, but he didn't feel it. All he noticed was the way the zombie's teeth broke his friend's flesh as Eren fought back with all his might. Eren managed to rip the zombie's jaw from its skull and twist its neck, but the damage was already done.
Mikasa cut down the final two zombies and the air settled. Eren had been bitten. It was undeniable. "Eren-" Armin started, but before he could say anything Eren was sprinting away with no intention of stopping.
Armin knew why. Eren knew neither Armin or Mikasa would be able to kill him, so he was getting as far away as possible so when he turned he wouldn't come after them. It was a smart move, he had to admit. Armin leaned forward and pressed his forehead into the ground.
"Eren Jeager!" Mikasa screamed hysterically. And before Armin could stop her, Mikasa was sprinting off after him.
"Mikasa!" Armin called after her, "Don't!" By the time he was standing, Mikasa had disappeared into to woods. He cursed, couldn't she wait two seconds for him? He started out into the forest, calling out gently to her, not wanting to attract zombies again.
To his horror hours went by and he found nothing. No signs from either of his friends. The sun was only peeking over the horizon now, and Armin was extremely exposed with the coming night. Where had Mikasa ran to? She could be miles and miles from here by now. She could be dead. Bandits could've found her, a lone girl wandering around near dusk-
All of the worst situations swirled through Armin's head. He tried to think logically, he was a survivor. First, he needed to find a shelter of some sort so he could get out of the weather and away from perpetually wandering zombies.
By the time the moon was bright Armin found an abandoned three-story building. He climbed to the roof and mechanically unrolled his bedroll and lay down, staring at the stars.
He had been separated. He might as well be dead. Single travelers never survived. Even three people had been a small group to brave the wild, but they had thought they could do it. Armin was sure they were invincible, but look what happened in a few short moments. His friends had gone, and he couldn't expect to see them alive ever again, if at all.
He listened to the soft wind, the chirping crickets. A small cloud rolled away, and the stars shined down on him more urgently. A zombie moaned lazily in the distance, and a dog barked back sharply. He felt utterly alone amongst all these things, the world going about its business like nothing had even happened. He was a part of this disconnected world, he was separate from the whole.
He was alone with the world.
Next Chapter: The Find and the Found
Welcome, friends! I hope you like gore, zombies, sadness, and self-discovery, because that's what I'm attempting with this story. (not necessarily in that order) I would love feedback of all kinds! If anyone wants to, I need a cover photo, so...
There will be eventual romance, but it wont be the focus, just an element to add to the plot. Hopefully. I'm going to also try to give a of time and respect for minor characters as well, because everybody needs love. Ask me any questions you have!
Anyways, thank you for taking your time to read my story!
~Goldflame