Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit, fan based story. Attack on Titans is owned by Hajime Isayama. I do however own Elena and Lance as well as any other OCs that may occur during this story. Thank you!
A/N Thank you, everyone. I am really enjoying writing this out for you guys. Hopefully, everyone is having as much fun as I am. Onwards with Chapter 2. Thank you all!
Chapter 2: Escape
"Elena, look," Lance pointed up to the wall.
I froze. Instantly traumatized. Time seemed to slow down at that exact moment. Maybe I am seeing things. It is getting dark; the sun is playing tricks on me. I have been in the sun all day. The heatwave must have really gotten to me. Trying to calm my internal self-down, I lied. I just could not stop staring at that thing. Can it be called a thing? A monster maybe. What is that? Is that God? Is this Judgement day? Is the world ending? Is this the impending doom that awaits humanity? On a day like this? What have I done wrong? Is it here for me?
As I stared in a state of confusion, I couldn't help but notice the features of the grotesque being. First, it stood over the already 50-meter wall, making it around 60-meters. That is overwhelming in itself. It is completely blocking the sun as if illuminating itself with the rays. It has the face of a human, but minus the skin. Instead, all I could see was red muscle covering the underlayer, white tendons, and ligaments. The worst part is its mouth. Its teeth to be more precise. They were all visible, only making the creature feel like some sort of demon about to rain down on the earth.
You need to run
I hear myself say inside my head. Run? But why? There is no outrunning that monster. Judging from its size, one foot could crush a house with ease. Oh no, there is no escaping this. This is the end times.
You need to run…
I hear it again and once more, I stop myself. I've decided. I couldn't see anything other than the face of that creature. Those hollow eyes. My body wouldn't move even if I wanted it too.
They are getting closer
They? Who are they? The only thing I see is a giant life force standing over Wall Maria and I'm utterly terrified. Smoke was now coming from the creature. It was a captivating sight. I don't know what it is or how it is happening, but I am going to watch. Going to keep my focus on this-
I blinked once. Again. Again.
"Where?" It's GONE. The mysterious creature is gone. Did I miss its movements? Can it teleport? If that thing suddenly reappears inside the wall, we are all dead for sure.
Gasping, I look around. Finally, able to gain some vision of reality outside the literal wall. People were screaming. Others were running. I continue to stand there. What is going on?
Something landed to my left, something big. It was loud enough to push me back from the wind that came with it. I blinked back into reality and immediately regretted it.
The town has completely changed. Instead of the previous bystanders, now there were bodies littering the ground soaked in blood. Falling structures of the wall now laid tossed across the ground. Looking behind me, I gasp, noticing that it was a rock that barely missed me now laying behind me smashed into a house.
"Lance!" There he is. Lance was now crying. Screaming from the side of a building to my right. He was pointing again. Is the creature back? No, it can't be. I would have seen it. Turning my head to Lance's pointing direction, I encounter my first titan. My breath hitched. About 80 feet in front of me, stood many titans. Each ranging in sizes. Their expressions were all different from the next but shared the same intense smiling or pleasurable facial feature. These titans had skin, making them more human-like. Looking the same as us, just nude with no reproductive organs. They were not normal by any means. One's head was enlarged, while another's arms were so small, it didn't seem realistic. Although a lot of them differed, they all shared the same wide mouths.
I had not realized that I was running until I pulled Lance around the corner of the house. Praying that we were not seen. The closest titan to us stood around 9 meters. Not the tallest, definitely not as big as the first creature, but still had the same effect. It had short black hair and the creepiest set of black eyes that could see into your soul. There was blood coated around its mouth.
"Oh God," I whispered, pulling Lance towards me into a house. We couldn't move. I could not risk us dying to one of those things. Not here, not now. I feel ashamed. Not five minutes ago, I stood there accepting death and now I am too big of a coward to follow through with it. I just couldn't let go of myself long enough to accomplish it. I held Lance's mouth close as the ground shook. He was now crying. I fought the tears as hard as I was able. A difficult task, but I cannot let my emotions show right now. I need to be strong and figure out what is going on or at least a way to survive this. First, we get out of here.
Deep breath Elena. You can do this.
"Stay here. I'll be right back." I whispered to Lance. If we are going to get to safety. We need to get to the boats. We cannot outrun those things outside. But maybe we can sneak. I walked to the window. Carefully pulling back the shades to look at our surroundings. In the distant, I saw the previous Titan, but nothing more. No people at all, but I could hear them in the distance. The house is about six blocks away. Mother and Father will be there. They must be. They will protect us.
It's now or never. I spoke a silent prayer and went back to Lance. Looking at his swollen face from tears broke my heart. I must keep my brother alive. For my sanity.
"Lance, we have to make it to the house. Mom and Dad are waiting okay?" I gently stroked his hair and wiped the tears from his face. We can do this. I opened the door slowly as it creaked a bit and we slid outside, back into hell.
Chaos erupted. People were screaming, crying, and trying their hardest to survive. I never imagined anything like this. There is blood, everywhere. Bodies are crushed under rocks that came flying from the sky. Children are screaming for their parents. The adults are running, most did not bother with the younger generation. It's survival of the fittest now. Everyone for themselves. The smoke was covering a lot of the town. Houses were destroyed, and fires were breaking out.
Is it raining?
I quickly looked to the sky, no rain. I touched my cheek. Being so shocked with the scenery, I did not notice that I had begun to cry. I did not want to die here. I cannot let Lance see me like this. I must be strong for him. The military police will be here to save us. Maybe the Scouts will come back, it hasn't been a long time since they left.
Turning a corner, we see another titan, but it is distracted by a man who was trying to hit it with a stick. It wasn't causing any damage and the titan simply grabbed hold of the man around his midsection, hoisting him into the air. I didn't want to see what would happen next. I turned away, still creeping, pressing my body onto the stone on the wall of the house as if trying to merge with it. The man was screaming from behind us. A small jump and shriek escaped my mouth as I heard his words suddenly stop and a loud crunch radiate into the air.
I didn't want to look back. I didn't want to look forward. Afraid of what else I might see. The house is close. It was nothing special, but it wasn't like anyone in Shiganshina had something fancy like they did in the Wall Rose or even Wall Sina. I have never been to either of those places, but I heard tales about them. Anywhere is better than right now.
There is the house. Mother! Father!
A scream surfaced when I was grabbed and yanked into a small space between two houses, knocking Lance off balance, causing him to drag. It wasn't a titan due to the small force it had, but it didn't stop me from punching and kicking at whatever it was. We are not going to be caught at a time like this. I could only imagine what mental state someone was in to risk dying so easily just to catch someone off guard or even what someone would do if they resorted to taking people at a time like this.
"Father," I heard Lance exclaim in a teary voice. Running pass me and into the arms of the figure that I was hitting. He was now covered in dirt. Father? I opened my eyes to see the greatest thing all day. It is him. His hazel eyes glisten.
"Thank the heavens," he grabbed both of us and squeezed. I couldn't control my tears any longer as I happily cried. Finally, we are safe.
"O, my!" Mother ran into our little group. Kissing our foreheads and checking to make sure that we were not hurt. No words would come out my mouth, no matter how hard I was trying to speak. The moment was short lived as another rattle shook the ground.
"Titans are closing in. We have to go now" it was Mother talking. "If we head straight up this section and to the right, we can reach the gate to the boats. We have to hurry. They will be sealing it off soon," then she turned to Lance and me, "Sweeties, I need you to promise me that no matter what happens, you two will not stop running until you are on that boat." The stern look in her eyes was telling me that she was serious. All I could do was nod as Mother picked up Lance and we began to run.
The further we ran into the city, the less damaged, but it didn't last long. Too scared to look back, frighten to see the face of another titan, I couldn't bring myself to see how much progress we made. Everything was happening so fast. Any direction brought nothing but dismay. A man caught my attention as we began to get closer to him. He was nothing special, but the shocking part was that he was carrying a book with both his hands stretched out. Shouting off things as others ran past him screaming. Is he not scared or is he just crazy?
Father made a sharp turn causing me to stumble before regaining my balance. I glanced back to the man with the book to see him now being lifted into the air by a titan that had stood beside the bridge.
"Don't look, Elena," Father gasped, pain in his voice as I turned my head back around. I couldn't feel my legs at this point. My breathing was hitched and I panted every time one of my feet hit the ground.
I can't breathe
We turned another corner that led to a fork in the road. I quickly glance to each of the possible passageways before I froze and grabbed Father's shirt. I stare into the eyes of the monster as it began to move.
I wanted to scream as it began to briskly walk towards me.
"I don't want to die," I mumbled before being yanked again. I was thrown over someone's shoulder as they ran. The titan was still gaining on me but as I turned another corner, it disappeared from my sight. Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a quick mental break. Home is gone. No more playing in the flowers. No more laughing as mom cracks a joke at dad. No more bedtime stories in my room.
A chill ran down my spine as I felt something lift Father into the air. Another scream, this time from Mother echoed into life.
"I love you guys, "His voice cracks as the titan squeezes. "Get to the gate," Father cried out as he tossed me off his shoulder and onto the ground. That's when the slow motion happened again. I could see Father's frighten expression as he tried to pry himself from the beast's hand. The beast, who looked like a woman with long brown hair simply stared, its mouth opening wide, exposing its row of sharp teeth. Was this pleasurable for it? I wanted to help, but I knew there was nothing that I could do, but get ate next. So, I watched. I watch as Father cries out for us, I watch as the titan squeeze Father's body until blood began to run between its hand before the loud crunch surfaced throughout my brain. I watch as the titan swallowed, Father's midsection and lower body, now falling to the ground with a thud, blood hitting my face, forcing myself to blink to shield my eyes.
Mother's cries rained throughout the air as she yanked me with so much force, that my head snapped forward. I faze out. Running off fumes, I didn't know where we were anymore. All I could see in front of me was Father's death. Replaying repeatedly. The blood hitting my face. I can hear my heart pound in my ears. The sound of his body being ripped into two like a piece of meat. Zigzagging I held Mother's hand tighter as she continued a jog. I could hear more people around us now. Coming to a stop, Mother started yelling at people to move.
"Let the children on," her voice is barely auditable, most likely out of breath from running. "Go with your sister. I am right behind you."
There is talking around us, people were all gathering around the boat, trying to get on. The boat was already full. It was now up to squeezing in to find a spot. Lance and I stumbled on the boat, taking a spot by the loading board. I stared at Mother. There were no tears in her eyes. All I saw was determination and her sweet smile. How can she be so calm right now? Father just…. died and she smiles? Why isn't she coming? I didn't have the strength to even ask her. Not that she would really hear me. I gripped Lance's hand tighter and stared at Mother. I couldn't see anyone else.
"Close the gate!" I hear off in the distance. The boat began to move. My eyes widen as a tear escaped my Mother's eyes. She smiled again, wiping the stain away and looked straight at me. "Live," she mouthed. Around us, people were yelling to the boat, begging it to let them on. Some even jumped from the dock and fell into the waters.
How do I live now? My family is gone. How do I take care of Lance? Mother was his rock and now she is slowly fading from my view. Maybe another boat will come back. They are closing the gate. She can make it then. I look towards the gate. Smoke was rising, bangs were hitting every few seconds. The cannons.
Loud vibrations shook the ground, everything seemed to go silent as the focus was turned to the noise, making the booms even louder.
Boom…Boom
It stops. Mother's figure fades even more as she waves. Blowing a kiss from the dock.
I heard the screams before I saw it. The pounding, now becoming more constant, faster than before as if it was running. Reaching out past the boat, I leaned towards Mother, as if trying to grab hold of her. Someway, pulling her to us. It was impossible. An explosion shook everyone on the boat as smoke covered the gate area. Bodies and debris shoot throughout the air. My vision was now cloudy. The tears stung. Burnt as they took over my vision. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't even yell out.
Blinking, the tears slid down my face as the figures grew smaller. The only thing that stood out was the monster in front of the now giant hole in the gate.
Just standing there. The smoke subsiding, revealing the creature. Another titan? It looked different. It shared the same initial features as the 60-meter titan but was a lot smaller. The major difference was the white bone or hard substance that covered its body. The substance that crushed my hometown. The substance that caused my life to be destroyed. The substance that now enabled the titans to reach the people at the docks. Titans that would eat everyone there since they had no way to leave. Titan's that would eat my Mother just as they did my father. My head fell to my chest. The tears flowing freely. There was nothing I could do. I didn't want to see it anymore as the boat continued to move.
Lance was wrapped around my leg, not even looking towards the scene.
Lance?" he hasn't said anything since we began to run with Mother and Father. Not one sound. This isn't my little brother. He didn't call out to Mother once. Did he even notice what had happened? Maybe he is still shocked by all the events that played throughout the past hour. I squatted to his level when he didn't reply to me. Staring into the hazel eyes of the previously happy little boy caused something inside of me to break. There was no emotion in those orbs. Nothing. Not one tear fell. He was staring at me, but not. His gaze seemed to go straight through me as if I wasn't there. This isn't my little brother. Pulling him into my embrace, I mumbled little words of encouragement to him, hopefully breaking him of this spell. Anything to not lose my dear brother
Further and further away from home. From my family. From my life... I wanted peace. I wanted to conceal everything that happened today. To simply wake up from this nightmare back in my bed as Mother made breakfast.
"Everything is gone." I checked out leaning over, placing my head against Lance as I cry. It is all gone. Everything.
