The Underground. A city much forgotten by the surface where all sorts of criminals and bums breed and flourish. A place where people can die and be easily forgotten. Sketchy business deals and crimes occur on a daily basis, so much so that it is all considered normal. A person walking down the streets is bound is see a beating or a suspicious exchange happening. Poverty and famine flood this hidden city and sickness from the lack of exposure to sunlight is extremely common. Families residing in the underground have it worst of all. Some have had the taste of having a normal life on the surface, and after moving to the underground for a variety of reasons can say that it is the epitome of a living hell.
I, for one can not vouch for that since both my parents and I have lived here for our entire lives. We, along with my younger brother Killian, lived in a small, clay building near the edge of the city. It was connected to two other dark buildings that were abandoned but were used as temporary bases by various gangs and criminals. I would constantly look out the single window of our home to find strange looking men with knives and other weapons enter the buildings next to us. I always wondered why they didn't bother us, but whenever I asked either of my parents, I received no answer. Across the road from our house was another row of buildings that used to house people and businesses. Most of them were now worn out and not in condition for use, otherwise a person would risk having stones or wooden boards crashing on their head. Despite this, my brother and I would occasionally explore the buildings since there weren't many opportunities for fun in the underground. We found various items such as cups or silverware and brought them back home for use. My parents were queasy at first by the thought of us wandering the obsolete structures, but upon receiving useful products from our trips and facing our stubbornness, they learned to accept it.
My mother worked as a maid for one of the higher-ups of the underground, among many other women. I'd complain to her, asking why she worked for thugs who got rich through unethical means, but she'd retort by saying that she is lucky to have a job at all in the underground. My father worked as a bartender in one of the taverns near our house, working most of the day since it was a popular spot. He, like my mother, would return home tired and without much stamina to do anything. This left my brother and I to take care of the house ourselves, forcing us to learn responsibility at a young age.
One day, while I was washing the pile of dirty dishes collected from breakfast and lunch, Killian whispered my name.
"Karlyn." He paused from wiping the wet dishes dry. I continued with my work, glancing at him. Whenever he spoke, it was filled with energy and jubilation, despite our current state. This time I could hear a hint of unusual sorrow in his voice.
"Killian?" He looked up at me, revealing his slightly distressed face.
"Is it always going to be like this?"
His vague question rang in my mind, but I immediately had a clear understanding as to what he was referring to.
"I've read some of the books from Father's collection about the surface. Apparently it's filled with green plants and it's not always dark up there. And when you look up you it's blue as far as the eye can see." He picked up another bowl and carefully wiped it with the cloth.
"Yes, I've read Father's books too when I was your age." I continued finishing up the last of the dishes.
"Do you think we're ever going to live on the surface?"
I didn't want to answer, fully knowing the expenses needed to be granted passage to the surface. Even if that was plausible, a person would still need to be granted citizenship, otherwise they would be thrown right back into the Underground. Still, I didn't want to disappoint my hopeful younger brother.
"I think so," I replied with a smile. "Mother and Father both have good jobs and if we save up, we can pay for a life on the surface."
Killian's face immediately lit up and a giant grin grew on his face.
"Really?"
I nodded and dried my hand on a towel before patting his head.
"People on the surface are much cleaner than us, so you better start training or else they'll send you right back here!"
A hint of fear showered his eyes but was soon replaced with a nod full of determination as he fiercely dried the rest of the plates.
While we dealt with the rest of our household chores, Killian continued talking about the surface, babbling on about the three walls and the ferocious titans on the outside.
"When we go up to the surface, I'm going to join the military and fight titans!"
I hid a slight giggle that escaped from my mouth as I watched him fumble with the broom in his hands.
"How are you going to wield swords if you can't even handle a broom?"
"I-I can! Watch!" He tried to show off, quickly sweeping dust from the floor when he immediately dropped the broom again. Chuckling, I walked over to him, picking up the stick from the ground and placing it in his hands. He blushed, feeling embarrassed and defeated.
"I just want to show them that I can be useful. That I can be useful on the surface."
I smiled and kissed him head. "I know. And you will."
The days went on like this without much variation. Whenever Killian and I were home alone, we tried to avoid any thugs who roamed the area. If we heard any noises from outside, we would quickly lock our door and cover the window with a tapestry. Eventually, this system did not work when I was sweeping the pavement just outside of our house on an afternoon and saw a gang approaching. Just as I was about to quickly head for our door, one of the members spotted me called out. I froze, not wanting to lead the thugs into our house where Killian was.
"Hey, you!" I looked up to see a better look of the group that was closing in on me. The men held knives and had mischievous smiles on their faces. One of them grabbed me and pushed me into the rest of the gang.
"Look what we found, boss." He chuckled maliciously. "Think she would be a good amount on the market?"
"L-let go of me!" I tried to escape from his hold but his grip only tightened, paining my wrist.
The man who seemed in charge grabbed me by the chin and examined me, moving my head around. My heart pounded, not knowing what was going to happen to me. I felt completely powerless against the men before me.
"Maybe she can earn us a quick buck."
The gang chuckled as I stared at all of them, horrified. I turned my head, noticing one member who wasn't smiling like the rest. Instead, he observed them from a small distance with a look of disgust. Thinking he could help me, I was about to call out to him when I heard a door open behind me. Shocked, I turned my head enough to see Killian come running out of the door.
"You thugs let her go!" He was holding a broom as a makeshift weapon, threatening the men with it.
"Killian! No!" I screamed.
The gang switched their attention from me to Killian, and a couple of them set after him. He angrily swung the end of the broomstick at their faces, only for it to be caught by one of the thugs. I watched in agony as they they kicked him in the stomach and shoved him into the ground.
"Someone needs to teach you a lesson about hitting strangers." the man barked, kicking his sides.
"No! Please! He's just a child!" I cried out, tears rolling down my face. I tried to kick the man holding me but was only met with a punch to the stomach. I cringed in pain as I watched the thugs pick up Killian's limp body through my tears. I turned to the thug who seemed to have some amount of mercy, only to find him leaning on the houses across from ours, arms crossed and eyes to the ground. He seemed to not care about my brother's or my predicament. Losing hope, I stopped resisting their hold and watched my tears drip onto the ground.
"Someone, please…" I whispered.
Suddenly I heard yelling in the distance. I could feel the man holding me turn to see what all the ruckus was about, and shockingly felt his hold on me loosen. The yelling got louder, and at last the thug had completely let go of my arm. I fell to the ground with a thump, feeling the pain across my entire body. Looking up, I watched as the man who beat Killian placed him down as well, and I quickly crawled over to him.
"Killian! Oh, Killian." I bawled, resting his head on my hand and grabbing his face with the other. I was relieved to feel him breathing but he was still unconscious. He had bruises on his arms and legs but he looked like he was going to be alright. I studied the direction where our savior seemed to be coming from and was surprised to see my father running in our direction.
"What did I say about messing with my family?" I heard Father yell, my eyes widening.
"W-We're sorry sir! We didn't know they were you children!" one of the thugs nervously spat out, backing away.
"You didn't know they were my children? They're right in front of my house!" He reached my brother and I, kneeling down then wrapping his arms around us.
"We're sorr-"
"Get out of my sight." Father hissed at the gang.
"Y-yes sir!" the leader choked, signaling the rest of the thugs to walk away. I looked up at them and to my dad, seeing how furious he was. My eyes then wandered to the unusual thug who was leaning against the wall earlier. I observed as he stood up for a moment, staring at us with what I could feel was a tinge of remorse before concealing it with a hard expression and walking off with the rest of the group. My heart hadn't stopped beating violently in my chest until the gang was completely out of sight. Father watched them depart as well with squinted eyes before helping me and carrying my brother inside our home.