Chapter One ~ The fall of Shiganshina
Shiganshina District, Year 845
It was a normal day, just like any other in the small district of Shiganshina. The birds were playing in the sky. The warm sun beating down on the parched earth. The sounds of children's screams and laughter as they played. Merchants and sales-men shouting, trying to get the attention of others to sell their goods. The preaching of holy men, and the occasional thump against the alabaster walls that outlined the district. Yep, just a normal day.
That is until that one moment. The moment all of humanity have been dreading since the day the walls were erected. The realisation that the walls are a pen, humanity, livestock ready for slaughter...
I glanced up at the fading blue sky, my best friends standing beside me as we blanch in horror at the walls. The two boys, one with jaw length blonde hair and blue eyes, the other, brunette with teal green eyes both mindlessly speaking, trying to understand what was unfolding before us. The girl who stood beside me, won't say a word but I know that she is scared. She might act all tough and make out she has no emotion, but when faced with the one thing that could eradicate us all, I know she is completely petrified.
We stared up at the Wall of Shiganshina district, our eyes widening in fear. My mind racing through all the possible outcomes that we could possibly survive this. But how can you survive something that you thought was impossible to begin with.
"That's not possible..."The blonde spoke in his breathy voice, "That wall is fifty metres high..."
My (E/C) eyes widened as a face began to appear, shrouded by a cloud of steam. The face, crimson, no skin covering its flesh, only muscle. No lips, just a wide menacing set of teeth set in a large smile and small eyes. The image searing itself into my mind. I couldn't take my eyes off it as a hole blasted through the wall. Chunks of flying rock explode into the air, raining down of the houses and the poor people below. My eyes shifted from the towering being to people running, cowering. Some crushed from the falling debris, some trapped, others killed instantly on impact. Family members, friends, strangers now plaster the walls, now thick in blood on the outlining buildings. Those are the lucky ones. They feel no pain anymore. They won't have to fear what is to come.
The large head retreated behind the wall, it's work done as the first horrifying faces begin to appear through the large hole.
"RUN!"
"THEY'VE BREACHED THE WALL!"
"HELP US!"
Panicking, screaming citizens ran away from the wall, but I know their attempts at escape will be in vain. My eyes still frozen on the space where that monster had been. I can still see it's face, clear as day.
"My house is in that direction... Mum's all by herself..." The brunette said absentmindedly, ignoring the fact that he was now running in the direction of imminent death.
I called out to him and the girl as they fled, heading for their house. I live next door to them but right now I want to focus on those who I know are alive. My brain kicking into overdrive as I snapped around and faced the blonde. His sky blue eyes brimming with tears as he stared through me.
"We're... We're all going to be devoured!" He panicked, his tears falling down his cheeks.
I frowned at him, my mouth set in a hard line as I took his shoulders and shook him, "No we're not. Snap out of it!" I shouted, watching as his eyes widen and lower to look at me.
"B...But..."
"No buts. Go and get Mr Hannes! Tell him where I am going so he can help us!" My voice carrying my command easily as I glared at the taller boy.
The blonde looked down at me, worry creasing his brow as he made the connections, "You're going after them... that's suicide... you'll die..."
"Look, the more time I spend trying to reassure you that I will be fine, the less time I have to actually save them. Trust me, I will bring them back."
He shook his head as if to shake out all the negative thoughts, a determined look spreading across his face, "Alright, just promise me one thing?"
"And what is that?" I groaned, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I could already hear the steady thumps coming this way.
The blonde glanced back up, his eyes meeting mine as he placed his hand over mine, "Promise me you will come back?"
I sighed. I needed to go but he would never leave unless I gave him something to fight for. Unfortunately years of being beaten for your beliefs surely has done its number on him. "I promise. I will meet you at the boats," I reassured, hugging him briefly, "Now go! Get Mr Hannes."
He smiled and nodded, taking off in the opposite direction to me. His blue dress coat fluttering as he ran.
I sprinted as fast as my feet would carry me, occasionally slipping on the now blood-saturated ground. The thuds were louder, and a few heads were visible. The loud sounds of crunching, biting, and groaning surrounded me. Tears escaped my eyes as I ran not sure of what I would find.
"Please be alive," I whispered, my breathing coming in uneven gasps as I took the steps two at a time and rounded the corner.
My eyes widened as I spotted a titan approaching my two friends, skidding to a halt. They were crouched, both trying to heave a collapsed part of the roof of his house off his mother. Small tears threatened to spill again as I watched them. The titan continued to get closer and closer, it's eyes trained on the three that sat before it. It's smile widening, possibly at the thought of a meal.
"Will you shut up for one second and listen to me for once in your life!" His mother screamed as the boy heaved the wood again, "One thing I am asking you, one thing!" The titan stepped closer. I needed to help them, but I couldn't. Frozen in fear as I stared in the eyes of the titan.
I blocked out the conversation over the sound of Mr Hannes' equipment flying over me. He landed softly next to the boy, saying something to his mother. He stood, brushing off his uniform and ran at the titan, "My job is killing titans and saving lives!" he cried, pulling out two long, sharp-looking blades as he charged at the titan.
Mr Hannes will take the titan down, then we can all get to safety, I thought as I smiled in relief. My feet slowly making their way towards the boy.
Suddenly, Mr Hannes just stopped. The titan smiled down at him, it's dead eyes glinted hungrily at him. My eyes widened as Mr Hannes turned, grabbing both the boy and girl in his arms and sprinting off away from the smiling giant. His amber eyes dull with defeat.
"NO! STOP IT! MUM...!" The boy cried, struggling in Mr Hannes' grip, thrusting his hand out to his mothers.
She copied, tears flooding down her cheeks, "I love you! Stay alive!" She screamed, her voice thick with pain and anguish.
The titan stepped behind the house, crouching down and sifting it's giant fingers through the rubble before pulling out his mother. She pounded her tiny fists against its own. The titan violently placed its other hand around her torso and pulled upwards, snapping her spine in two. I backed away, tears spilling over as I watched, not blinking, unable to look away. It leered at her now limp body, lifting it to its face. The titan opened its massive smiling mouth and placed her upper body inside, its tongue wrapping round her body. The large white boulder sized teeth flew down meeting her flesh as it bit down. Blood flew into the air and rained down upon the parched earth.
"NOOOO!" Both the boy and I screamed as the titan swallowed her whole. Blood roared in my ears as I watched it throw the rest of the boy's mother inside it's mouth and chew. The sound of crunching as her bones met the teeth rattled through my brain. I whirled around to look at the boy, his eyes dead as he stared up at the giant. His mouth held agape in horror. A maniacal grin spreading across the titan's face as it licked its blood stained teeth. While it was busy, just casually licking its hands of the blood, I scrambled to my own house which was next door to the boy's.
My face void of all emotion as my eyes brushed over my childhood home. The roof was collapsed in by a large boulder. The front door splintered off it's hinges and hanging limply from the frame. I stepped inside gingerly and my eyes scanned the bloodstained wood. My three siblings lying dead on the floor, their faces expressionless however their eyes opened wide in fear and shock. I prayed their demise was quick and painless however I couldn't be sure. I walked through the house, hearing muffled cries coming from my room. Grabbing a knife, I walked into the room and shut the door behind me. My father laid trapped under the boulder. Unlike the boy and his sister, I knew there was nothing I could do for him and there was no point in attempting to pull him out.
"(F/N), get out of here now! I can hear them coming!" He roared, his black hair matted to the side of his face in blood, his dark eyes filled with sadness. I gripped the knife tighter and stalked toward him, "I love you Dad," was the last thing he heard. His small smile spreading across his face as I closed the distance between us.
I closed the door behind me a few moments later, glancing at my blood stained hands. The same titan that killed my best friend's mother began to rummage through my house, picking up my already dead siblings. The sickening crunch echoed off the walls and more blood splashed onto the floor. I dropped the bloody blade, my eyes fixed on the titan as it finished swallowing and picked up my now dead father. I spared him from pain but that didn't stop the titan's blood lust. How could it just keep going? It must know that they are dead. Why must it keep eating them? What more could it possibly want to take away from me? My district, my home, my family, my friends... what more could it want?
The sound of metal clanking beside me broke me out of my thoughts as I was thrown over someone's shoulder. My gaze never once left that damned smiling titan. After a few moments the sound of gas puffing and metal flying through the air as I soared up over the titan's head. Its dead eyes met with mine and a smile spread across its face. I stared back, a frown marring my features, "One day, I don't know when or how, but one day I will slaughter all of you," I whispered, my face set into a hard grimace. My skin hot, my hands shaking with pure rage as the titan's expression changed into one of fear.
"Not a single titan will be spared..."
Present day, Year 850
I sat blot up right in bed, sweat pouring off my brow as I recalled the nightmare of my past. Five years had passed since that dreadful day. Five years since the titans took over Shiganshina and Wall Maria. Seems like it was only yesterday that my life was turned upside down. Hot tears flooded my cheeks as I growled in protest, swiping my scorching flesh with my hand. I shook all over in fury. Pinching the bridge of my nose and breathing deeply I began to replay my mantra in my head. I will slay all the titans, I will slay all the titans.
A knock on the door brought me to attention as I stood up, my body still hot and shaking. A light steam rolled off my body as I attempted to calm myself. It was only a dream, nothing like that will ever happen again.
"Oi! Lieutenant, are you up yet?" A stern, monotone voice called through the wooden door.
"I will be out in a moment Captain," I replied, my voice void of any emotion as I stalked to my water basin. Throwing the cool water over my sticky body as I repeated my mantra through my head. The cool water cascaded down my face as I stared in the mirror at myself. Long wavy (H/C) hair framed my face, spilling over my shoulders, sharp (E/C) eyes narrowed and glaring back at me, a straight petite nose and full lips that were pressed into a hard thin line. My features marred with a glare. I pushed off my basin and headed to my dresser, throwing on my light beige shirt and white trousers before the tedious task of the ODM belts.
Once I had fixed my canisters, compressor and blades to my belts, I opened the door to find the Captain, leaning against the wall. Arms crossed against his chest, his eyes staring blankly into space.
"You ready for the mission Lieutenant?" He asked, his cold steel blue eyes meeting mine. His onyx black hair, styled in an undercut, shined in the early morning light. He was short however just an inch or so taller than myself. Damn, for a short guy he held the power, and it was a privilege to serve under him as his Lieutenant.
I smiled and cracked my knuckles and neck before meeting his gaze once more. My promise will now be for filled even if it's only a few at a time, "Of course Captain. Lets go kill some titans!"