Chapter 2: The Wings of Freedom (Erwin's journal)
"I found a fallen angel. Her name is Scarlett."
When I was a young boy, my father was killed. Scarlett had no family, and neither did I. We only had each other. As I got older, my ambition grew. I wanted to prove my father's theory about titans. When I turned thirteen I wanted to join the military. My sister didn't want to leave my side. Scarlett and I joined the military when I was thirteen, and she was nine. Scarlett received a lot of attention, especially from older soldiers. At the end of our training she surpassed everyone, me, Nile, even Mike. Scarlett still wanted to follow me, all the way to the outside of the walls. I tried to make her stay in the military police, where she would be safe within the walls. I only wanted to take care of her. Then I realized she only wanted the same for me. We promised to take care of each other. She was the youngest recruit to ever make it into the Survey Corps at age twelve. Scarlett served as a medic, and I continued to rise ranks until I was a captain. Soon I led the Special Operations Squad.
Then, on the 30th expedition outside the walls, our squad got separated from the rest of the survey corps. We were slaughtered. Scarlett sacrificed herself to save me.
Our squad was attacked by eight abnormal titans and three aberrants. It was just that bit of bad luck that wiped out most of the Special Operations Squad. I can still remember it. The sky poured down rain, and fog clouded our vision. I had left my squad to scout the area ahead. Scarlett told me to stay. I don't even remember what I was trying to do. It was poor judgement on my part. And it cost me the lives of everyone on my team. By the time I had come back to my squad, everyone was dead, except Scarlett. She was telling me to fight. But all I could do was stand. I froze. I remember looking down into the darkness… right down the titan's throat. I couldn't hear anything over the pounding rain. Then, Scarlett reached down and pulled me out. I watched as my only sister, died right in front of my eyes. And all because of my fear. I had failed to keep my promise.
It was an unofficial expedition outside the walls, three years after Scarlett had died. I decided to lead a team out to save two squads lost outside the walls after the 52nd expedition. Then, we had a run in with many titans. There was one in particular that stood out. It was an abnormal, the same one that had eaten Scarlett.. I led the Survey Corps into battle. I knew from the beginning this was going to be a tough fight. Then, she came. On the wings of freedom, she came. The lost squads followed close behind. Scarlett led them into battle, and we were victorious against the Titans for once in a very long time.
We arrived back at Wall Maria in the night. I told everyone to never speak of that day again. That included Scarlett. Scarlett left to live in an industrial town within Wall Rose. There she lived a quiet life as Doctor Scarlett Ikoma.
