Chapter 1: The Ambush in the Forest
It started with a regular patrol out in the Forest of Giant Trees. Just a regular Titan sweeping on an normal expedition out beyond the walls. It was thought out and planned like the others before. We were given the order to clean out the location from Titans. Just a simple, normal day in the Survey Corp.
Then we got ambushed.
Military Police with Anti-3DM Gear jumped down from above and attacked us when we were vulnerable. A large number of Titans were on the ground and were growing with the unknown amount of food sources in the trees.
I looked up to get my bearings. Instead I found Kenny Ackerman swinging towards me with his shit-eating grin. I lifted my swords just in time to stop him from cutting my head off. I could tell he was pissed off as his grin turned into anger. He jumped back on the branch that held the both of us.
'Boy, I was looking forward to that all day...' he growled at me through his teeth. '...AND YOU HAD TO RUIN IT!'
I walked a few steps forward. 'What are you talking about?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!' I demanded. His grin returned. 'I'm not obliged to give away my evil mater plan.' he sarcastically gave to me, sharpening his swords against one another.
I leaped forward to hit him but he glided to his left and swung away from me, disappearing into the chaos that surrounded me. I looked around and saw my friends and comrades fighting the soldiers that called themselves the "Military Police".
It was solider vs. soldier. This was not meant to be. We're on the same side, aren't we? Why is this happening? This shouldn't be happening! I wanted to believe that these were bandits that stole uniforms and wanted to ambush us. But Kenny was on their side and he said he had been planning this.
There was no time to think. I joined the fight and tried to take out as many of them as possible to protect my fellow comrades. It was fruitless. I would slash them, cut their wires and shove them into the jaws of a Titan. But they still kept coming, jumping down from the trees. Their equipment was vastly more improved than ours. Also the soldiers were much faster and more slick in their attacks. These were the best of the top 10 after all. It was a hopeless fight.
'EREN!' I heard a familiar voice cry out to me. I turn to my right to find my childhood friend, Armin Arlet, in the clutches of Kenny's second-in-command, Craven and a couple of soldiers. They were standing on a higher branch on the tree next to mine.
'Armin...'
Two soldiers walked up behind him and removed his gear and unschethed his swords. His weapons was thrown down to the ground below him as Titans stomped onto it, flattening it beyond repair. My eyes met Armin'. He gave the impression on his face that he was calm about his situation, but his body was trembling as Craven held her sword at his throat.
Kenny soon joined her by her side, giving her a nod of approval. He placed his left hand on Armin' shoulder while still arming himself with his sword in the other. I looked around me to find Kenny's subordinates surround us with so many in higher in the trees wearing the unicorn badges and having swords drawn.
Behind me were my squad; Jean, Sasha, Connie, Reiner and Bertolt. My comrades were all alive and unscathed. Then I turned back to Armin, his face now an expression of worry.
'LET HIM GO!' I commanded to them.
Kenny turned his head from Armin to me, shaking his head. 'I don't think so, Yeager.'
He squeezed Armin' shoulder in an uncomfortable way. I could see Armin' blue eyes wince in discomfort. Armin did had muscle, but he was small and brittle at the same time.
'You see, I'll be kind for once. I'll let you and your friends on a little detail of the plan.'
He turned back to Armin and started stroking his blond hair. Armin closed his eyes and started to breath on Kenny's touch. I wanted to save him so badly from his torturer.
'Our objective today was to capture a certain male of small build and muscle. Alive, of course.'
Silence fell in my ears as I tried to comprehend why someone would want to take Armin away. He was only just a normal soldier from Shiganshina, nothing unusual about him. What would they want with him? Or actually, what did they want to DO to him?
'You came for...Armin?' I heard Connie' voice inquire.
'BINGO!' he pointed to Connie in praise.
Armin looked up at Kenny and then back down me, in confusion and desperation. Seeing that made me more determined to get Armin out their hands, out of this forest.
'Now, it looks like we got what we wanted and we have a schedule to-'
'Your not leaving with him!' I heard Jean protested. He rushed forward, about to pounce, until Kenny raised his palm to stop him.
'Yes we are, Kirstein. Whether you like it or not, Mr. Arlet is coming with us.'
I could hear in the distant gas cannisters sizzling, followed by trees rustling. Kenny looked to see his men leaving and turned to give a nod to Craven who, in one hit, had Armin unconscious. I rushed forward but Kenny pointed his swords at me. There was nothing I could do in that moment to stop them. I tried to get through to him.
'Armin!'
His eyes flickered half open, looking at me half-awake. 'Er..en...'
I felt helpless as I saw Craven put a bag over his head and throw him over her shoulder. She turned around and swinged away leaving her superior, Kenny on the branch alone with us.
'One word of advise kids. Don't try and follow us. It's useless and a waste of your gas. Trust me.' He turned around facing his exit. 'See ya' next time!'
Like that he jumped and swung away from us. Giving a YEEEHAA. Then it was suddenly silent. It was like they were never there. I turned around to find everyone else standing there not doing anything. I was in disbelieve that they hadn't even barged in front of me to go after Kenny. If only Mikasa was here. 'What are you waiting for?! We have to rescue him!'
'Dammit Eren, you heard him!' Jean barked at me as he walked to my side.
'I won't give up on him! He's my best friend!' I unloaded my swords and was about to leave until I felt my shoulder being grabbed by the horse-faced prick.
'Their faster than us! Think it though, Eren! They will be far gone before you know it! WE CAN'T GET TO THEM!'
Connie also tried to stop me by grabbing my arm. 'Eren, wait! There is nothing-' I nudge him out the way and push Jean aside to make my way through the forest tree line.
My head jerked back and forth in a crazed, manic desperation. I could never find anything other than trees and the Titans below. Dark thoughts were running miles ahead of me and I couldn't give up. I had to stop them before it was too late.
I find the end of the forest coming towards me. The flat open land can help me pinpoint their distance better. No one can hide in the open, they will be sitting ducks.
I reached the end of the forest and landed on a branch that stretched outward. I put my bearings together and looked around for Kenny and his crew on horseback.
But there was nothing.
Not a single thing. No horses, no tracks, nothing. Just the long, silent open green field back to Trost. They were gone. I don't know how, but they were gone. Armin was gone. I couldn't save him.
I dropped to my knees with such for I let out a pathetic whimper. I bent forward, resting my head on the wood. I clenched my fists and started pounding into the bark in frustration. I was angry at myself for failing him.
When my hands became numb, I raised my head towards the direction I faced. I was going to make an oath to him. Another promise to Armin.
'ARMIN!'
His name echoed in the empty valley.
'I WILL FIND YOU!'
I kept crying his name until my throat bled. I wanted him to hear me. I wanted him to know that I will not give up. That I will take him to see the ocean once all of this was over.
When I could no longer talk, I turned to thought. My mind went to what Kenny said about him being ordered to take Armin in. My questions from earlier returned. What did they want from him that was worth all this trouble?