I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin
Spirans Tenebris
The darkness, it waits for all, and if Krista listens hard enough, she could hear the darkness breathe all around. It was maddening at first but after a while, she grew accustomed to it, and to more that came after the breathing.
AN: The timeline for this story will be based in the late 1800s, location is the Pacific Northwest, Washington, though these are only for references. Heavily inspired by Alan Wake, basically fantasy/supernatural all up in here, so enjoy this!
"...50mL, should be enough to get over the pain," she said briskly, the tapping of her shoes clicked against the wood as she strode to a cabinet and undid the little latch. Her accent, it sounded English...British English of sorts.
A clank of bottles, a dash of light shone over her eyes, piercing the darkness.
"Alright, don't be off and running again, just stay at home, rest. I mean it, Jean. Else I'll start charging you more- I have a business to run, not a charity."
"Sure, Doc," Jean answered, shifting about in bed, then getting up to replace his boots to his feet- he sounded like a young person. "How much is it this time?"
"Three, cash, bring it up to Moblit on the front desk," she told him. "Now as for...you."
The person stopped at her side, Krista opened her eyes and saw a blur of a white coat, she drew her eyes up to see the messy brown locks loosened from the ponytail. Behind a pair of smart glasses, the doctor looked over the files, then placed it near her.
"Finally waking up," she told her, beaming brightly,"thought this was your quarters? Well, you're quite wrong, these are for the patients, though you must have been dead tired from traveling. Can't blame you, I used to travel a lot myself, slept in all sorts of places, name it, I may have been there. Didn't Moblit show you your room?"
Krista shook her head as she sat up, confused though she knew exactly where she was, for the most part. She must have been so tired to have even forgotten where she was supposed to be at the moment. She blinked once or twice, then found her trunk sitting in another bed to the right, opposite of the doctor. "I...no, I don't think so."
"No matter, you're here, and it's best to put you to work within the week, not much happens anyway," she said,"I'm Doctor Hanji Zoe, you may call me Doc, Doctor, Hanji, but professionally, stick to the first two, alright? Up you get, come on, you got to carry your trunk, I'm not as strong like before."
She got her legs over the edge of the bed and got up, finding herself still dressed as she was from last night- casual but clean. She grabbed her and rolled it out as she followed Hanji closely. "Sorry for not, um, waking up or anything, I arrived her late at night, ferry had some troubles with the steam and it took a while to get here from the other side. Some woman in black mourning habit pointed me to go here."
Hanji waved it away. "Oh, accidents happen, not much can be done if they're out of your control."
She noticed that she walked with a slower gait with her cane.
They traversed through the clean hallways of the clinic, the floors were of wood, along with some of the walls halfway to Hanji's hip. They looked old yet they were kept well and clean over time, it wasn't until there was a break in the wall and a corner. From there, Hanji stopped at a door and opened it for Krista, she gave her the key and stopped her.
Krista paused for a moment as the woman propped her cane to the side and went to hold Krista's face, examining each side of her, fingers at her throat and resting there.
She got a closer look at her dark, chocolate eyes hidden by a smart pair of spectacles.
"My, you do have lovely eyes...you're as healthy as a horse as well, you'll do well here," Hanji murmured, she then ushered her inside. "Now, I suppose Moblit had given you the tour?"
Krista nearly tripped on her skirt as she rushed right in, settling her trunk on the floor. Krista stared at her, then shook her head.
"Goodness...may as well give you one, though I don't mind. Young blood, always the most fun to deal with. Come, come, come," Hanji beckoned her.
Unlike Krista, the good Doctor wore slacks and a vest over a yellow dress shirt. A chain hung across her torso, indicating she took time of anything, then there was a stethoscope around her neck. Hair tied up in a bushy ponytail, she looked like she hadn't washed up in days though her lively personality brought disregard.
"Your father has left you under my care, Lod Reiss," Hanji recalled,"funny name, Lod, Lod, Lod, Lod..."
"It is, now that I think about it."
It was just one day, she was sleeping, comfortable in her home in Seattle, then suddenly, her father had her rushing out on the train and shoving her out into the wilderness. She didn't remember anything other than the trees whirling out of sight from the carriage windows. Krista felt blessed that she could see the outside through the windows- it felt like an endless ride, time was lost among the dirt paths.
"My driver, his name was Kenny Ackerman I think, did he stay?"
Hanji shook her head. "No, he had to go back to Seattle for the time being. Important matters, you know your father."
"Not exactly," Krista murmured.
"Oh? He never told you why you got here," Hanji mused,"you can use this time to recover form your ailment."
Krista gave a slow nod. She was, indeed quite happy to have left her home rather quickly- there was nothing to do there, no one to talk to, always locked up. Not even her mother's face would be seen at any point of time in years though she caught glimpses of her. She remained quiet as she followed her closely.
"Regardless, I am glad you're here, you'll fit right in I believe," Hanji said reassuringly, lighting Krista's small spirit. "Here we have the front lobby- you will work at the front desk, answering the phone, so on and so on. If anyone comes here, you call for me or Moblit on the small string on the wall, rings a bell system."
"Like one of those for the servants back home," Krista recalled.
"Exactly...then back there, in that hall, is for rehabilitation, rest and so on. On the west part is for operations, research, upstairs is the lounge and library for anyone to relax, comfy place."
They went throughout the building, encountering a blond man she grew to learn was Moblit. The clinic was furnished spartan, only keeping what was needed.
"Do you understand this?" Hanji asked.
"Yes, I understand."
"Right, then, why don't you walk with me into town. Lovely place, people are there, nice and very well," Hanji offered, and to this, Krista held her arm around hers when she gave it to her, allowing her to be escorted. "This town was established fairly recently, around a decade ago. Only an inn, saloon, and my own clinic were here. Grown little by little over time, though the Natives tend to throw a good fight once in a while, says were trespassing on their grounds."
Krista's eyes perked up. "Natives? Like those savages? They live here, don't they?"
"Used to, miners drove them out but some that lived elsewhere do pop into this town here once in a while. They wish to be alone though some conduct trade, everyone out here is trying to survive so it's in our best interest to help one another out. Besides, there are other things the Natives concern themselves with...much more than us, but now that I think about it, they've been acting up lately. Perhaps a comeback, no matter, we're safe here."
They walked near the port where the market was surprisingly active. People were here came here often to gather supplies for their trip further north for the Yokun and for the gold.
Going on and on, she learned that there was a bookstore, a market, church, municipal buildings, it was a hubbub of activity from all sorts of life. Walking by, she saw a man dressed oddly in what looked like a dress though she realized it was a tunic, he wore a straw hat with a wide brim and then had a thick lock of hair braided- she saw more of them in one tavern.
"Chinese, hardworking people," Hanji commented.
"I think I remember those sort of people."
Hanji pressed on, Krista helping her along.
The sound of hooves came clonking from a distance, nearing them and slowing to a stop behind them. Hanji hummed in her throat and then turned around, looking up to find a short man with a partially shaved undercut. Krista raised a brow as he handed Hanji a piece of parchment and she thanked him. She looked over it briefly and murmured,"Another one?"
"It's been happening a lot lately," he told her,"what do you say now?"
"Not yet."
He looked down at Krista as though she would explain the situation tied to his message, she remained quiet. He gave a curt nod and told the Doctor.
And with that, he turned his horse around and cantered away and out down the open street.
Krista stared but she was gently tugged.
"Don't mind him, he's nicer than that," Hanji assured her,"sorry if I cut this short, but I have to attend to Levi and his thing...hm, ah. Just my luck. Stay here."
Hanji limped away to the wharf where someone stood alone, watching the river and gazing at the other side of the shore. She tapped the person on the shoulder and Hanji spoke to her, then gestured towards Krista.
A woman adorning freckles upon tan skin and eyes colder than snow yet playful as a child's. She was tall, wearing a trench coat over a blazer, then underneath that was some sort of vest- an ascot was wrapped under her collar and tucked behind the vest itself. She looked rather rugged as though she lived as one with the people. She followed Hanji and stared down at Krista as though she were trying to read her.
"This is Ymir, Krista. She is one of the locals here," Hanji said, chipper,"she will take you back to the clinic. I've showed her the place, just bring her back."
"Course, Doc," Ymir told her, then offered Krista an arm. "Take it you're the young blood she's been told to care for. You'll either love this place or hate it."
"No in between?" Krista asked as they watched Hanji hobble away. "Well, this place is quaint, not exactly like my home but...there's people here, very lively with all the fresh air, the trees...much better than the stench the port brings in. I may even decide to stay here rather than Seattle."
Ymir scoffed and looked over at the river once more, giving a final passing glance before looking ahead of her. "Trost has that sort of effect on one. Very much nature all around you, good for the soul."
Their gait was slow as though they were taking their time.
Soon enough, Krista inquired,"I have to ask...why aren't you in a dress?"
"Gets in the way of work, hate wearing corsets, absolutely suffocating," she said briefly,"no one really minds...at least some of the miners that pass by are women dressed as men once in a while."
"...are you from the South?"
"What sort of question is that?"
"I mean...your skin, it's rather...tan," Krista said, trying not to offend her.
"I'm not African if that is what you're wondering."
Krista gave a slow nod, this woman may have been one of the Natives that used to live in the area, she heard they were sore over what happened but curiosity of the new world got her tied up. "So you're from here."
"I'm from before here, here as Trost," Ymir said, she was too vague. "Sounds strange but it's only sense to ones who're the same."
Must be a local thing.
Soon enough, they arrived at the clinic, Ymir releasing Krista from her hold. "Here we are, Doc's clinic."
Krista thanked her gratefully from the porch and watched Ymir walk away, whistling to herself down the street and then disappearing beyond the people. Once out of sight, Krista gave a slight smile and went inside the office.
-...-
"Looks like someone did a number on her," Hanji murmured as she examined a leg that was disconnected form the body a few feet away. She pinched the skin, watched it recede, and got up. "No one saw this happening?"
Levi shook his head, leaning against the tree and watching her. "Isolated, far from the town...near those savages' territory, one more inch and the head would have been in their land."
"Don't call them savages, they're more than that...and I don't think this would be one of the locals," she told him,"they'd have left some sort of sign it was their doing. No marks, no arrows, nothing. Who spotted this?"
"Eren, he and Mikasa were doing patrols around here as per order from Erwin."
"Those two then...hm, this thing looks like it was killed at least a few days ago...already rotting out here," Hanji surmised. "...I'd like this back in the lab, I'll study it some more."
"Every corpse you bring, they all are the same, there wouldn't be a difference, I'll have the boys pick her up, bring her in as you need. Already been a year of this yet everyone doesn't know."
Hanji shrugged. "This is a boom town, everyone comes and goes, no one permanent, none would care. She would hardly be missed. Have Erwin double up patrols around the place but keep out of the boundary."
She hobbled back out into the forest as Levi spoke out,"What of the girl?"
"She just settled in, it won't help if you crash everything down on her!"
Hanji merely shrugged as she went on, ignoring his words as he yelled at her. She stamped on, going by the trees, then she stopped, staring at the thicket.
"You there again?" Hanji asked. "Levi?"
A twig snapped behind her, she turned around, only to find something. She sniffled, wiped her nose with her sleeve, and then adjusted her collar. Must have been a little animal, something. She turned again, only to find a woman cloaked from head to do in black, like a mourning gown. A veil covered her face, as if she were still mourning.
"Who're you?" Hanji asked, her cane now in both hands, her firm hand on the grip. "Who are you? I'll call for help, and I have to say, my friend's a dead shot."
"It is coming."
"Who are you!?"
"It is coming."
The woman made to walk backwards, as if blending into the darkness.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Hanji snapped, she looked over her shoulder for a moment. "Levi!"
Once more, she looked ahead, it was gone. Whatever it was.
She looked around frantically, trying to find the woman. She went to the trees ahead of her and banged her cane on the strong trunks, infuriated and confused.
She grunted as then took out her revolver, firing it at the canopy above, trying to get the woman to appear again. As she readied to pull the trigger again, a hand grabbed her and she cried out, startled.
"You really are a madwoman!" Levi barked.
"B...but," she began, she pointed the barrel up. "T...the thing, this woman in mourning, she was right here! I saw her, I did!"
"If you can barely keep your head together, I doubt you could teach that girl anything!"
Hanji paused, her eyes grew wide, hands wrenching themselves out of his grip as she went to shake his shoulders. "The girl, the girl! Oh God, the girl!"
"Speak sense, you freak!" He demanded, she would always spurt words out whenever she realized something. "Hanji! What about the girl!?"
"Got to go! Keep an eye out! I need to tell her! Tell her now!" She then rushed out and headed onwards herself, to where their horses were tied up. "You're bloody right, she needs to start!"