Three days have passed since the fall of Shinganshina.
I had found myself imprisoned with others from my village. And, as expected, they had a hard time understanding what had transpired, much like myself.
Our minds swarmed with questions and uncertainty. Whether we'll live to see the freedom of a new day or if we're being dragged off as a snack for the road, we weren't sure.
We were bound to the back, squished together with little space to move. Our wrists, neck, and legs still chained, linked with each other, making it difficult if we tried to escape.
Eren and Armin were dazed with Mikasa unconscious between them. The young Ackerman was slumped against Eren. Both boys holding her hands tightly. And Krista was curled under my arm. Her legs pulled up to her chest, and her head was hidden in my neck. She hadn't moved or spoken a word since our capture.
My back ached. My shoulders and lower back stiff like a wall and tense with stress. Rolling my shoulders to ease some of the knots I looked up, glancing at Jean and Marco.
Jean was still covered in blood. His neck and collarbone coated in red. Eyes nothing more than sunken sockets in his head.
His house was one of the first to be laid siege and was the home that had alerted the rest of the village of the ambush.
And Marco looked no better. A lost look edged into his features with a glimpse of anger.
Neither of them has spoken about what they had witnessed.
Our stomachs grumbled in a chorus, bringing me out my thoughts. We hadn't eaten since the surge. A sigh escaped my lips, "We need to eat something soon. At this rate, we won't last long," I muttered.
"No shit, Davis," Eren mumbled. The boy glaring at the spot between his legs, his arms wrapped around them, and fingers digging into his arms.
I glared daggers at the boy but I kept quiet. Now wasn't the time for arguing. Not when danger was practically breathing down our necks.
"At least we have water," I thought, eyeing the bucket of old water that had been tied down to the left of the wagon. Studying the ripples I listened to the horses trudging along an old dirt path, breathing hard from a long day's travel. Moving non-stop since we left the village.
Sighing again I let my attention wander the landscape trailing behind us. I had never set foot outside the village. None of us had dared or even been brave enough. So everything around us felt new, mysterious and almost unreal.
'I suppose there is one good thing to come out from all of this..." I thought, staring at flowers that bloomed amongst the trees in transfixing colors.
A sudden rustling caught my attention. The branch weighed down much lower than what I considered normal. Creaking as something moved along its trunk. I watched the leafs fall, settling on the ground in gentle thumps before scanning the umbrella of greens.
I felt my heart jump in my throat.
Amber irises peered down at us, glowing in the shadows with golden fury. Our eyes suddenly locked in a heated stare. Blue against gold. Our staring contest lasting for what felt like a lifetime. Than disappeared as swiftly as the wind.
A glimpse sprung from one perch to another, just across the way yet it crept a little closer with each jump.
"Guys...,'' my voice was unsteady and fearful.
Krista squeaked, folding herself into my body, trembling when she looked up at the creature. Her breathing became small gasps and tears welled up in her eyes. She clenched my shirt for dear life, her knuckles white with strain.
"What the hell is that thing!" Screeched Jean, pulling Marco as far away from the back as possible. His arm held out in front of the brunette.
The wagon came to a sudden halt. The creature took one final leap. Landing, without so much as a creak, directly above us.
Armin was stuttering and near hyperventilating. Blue eyes wide with terror, heart racing and pounding. The boy clung to his unconscious friend. Praying that she would wake up and save them like she always had since they were kids.
Eren, much like his blonde friend, tightened his grasp on Mikasa's hand, jaw clenched. Letting go of her hand, he shielded Armin and Mikasa with his body ready to protect them from any attack.
Everything around us fell into a pregnant silence. No birds chirped. No wind rustled the trees. Not a single sound could be heard.
I clasped my hand over my mouth. Thinking that if I muffled my breathing than the beast wouldn't find me. My body froze. Breathing became difficult. I felt the sting of tears, they ran hot down my face.
The sudden crunch of a boot on dirt frightened us. We listened intently, watching as our capture's shadow moved along the tarp of the wagon, and appear in front of us.
He held a murderous grin. Small eyes practically bulging out his head. "What's with all the ruckus?" He questioned. Voice strained and rough.
No one answered, too scared of the looming danger that stalked us.
Growing impatient, Brandon grabbed Krista, wrenching her from my grasp. His rough hand coiled around her neck, holding her close, their noses almost touching and asked, "Tell me doll. Why are you mak'in so much fucking noise!?" he screamed.
Krista's face contorted into one of disgust. The vampire's breathe was putrid. His teeth yellow and rotten, blood seeping from his gums when he spoke in a shrill voice.
''Let her go!" I sprang. Trying to pry his fingers from Krista's neck, I clawed and bit at his arm, pulling at his clammy hand. But my efforts were for not. He felt no pain and grinned sickly when I drew blood.
With one swing of his arm, he flung me into the side of the wagon. Knocking the wind out of me. My vision blurred, black spots flickering at my sight.
''Blonde bitch!'' he glared at me and returned his attention to Krista, ''Why were you scream'in!" he demanded.
The blonde strained to talk. "We -gah!- s..saw," she stuttered. Struggling to breathe she dug her nails into the vampire's hand, hoping to loosen his grip.
"Saw?" Brandon questioned.
A twig snapped. A low growl cut through Brandon's shouts like a knife would slice cheese. The vampire squinted, his hold on Krista tightening for a brief moment before dropping her.
The petite girl yelped. Sobbing and gasping for breath. Once I regained my breath I pulled Krista into me, holding her tightly as she clung to me.
The creature with gold in its eyes looked at Brandon with rage. Her eyes glowing fiercely, growling and snarling.
Brandon staggered back. Flabbergasted and scared, he sputtered, "You -how-." Tripping over his own feet he fell back. His long fingernails dug into the dirt as he crawled away as fast as he could. Yet no matter how fast he tried to run he couldn't escape the predator.
The beast pounced. Attacking the vampire. Fangs and claws clashed. Screams, both human and vampire, filled the forest.
The creature tore into Brandon. Ripping flesh from muscle, and muscle from bone. Blood splattered the trees, grass, and wagon. Painting us in spots of red before steaming and evaporating. Bones crunched and broke. Brandon shrieked. Shouting and screaming louder, and louder.
We watched. A mixture of fear and satisfaction filled my chest.
Hours seemed to pass. The vampire continued to writhe and thrash, even when the creature ripped out a rib he remained conscious. The woman seemed to grow bored. Standing she rolled her shoulders, seemingly trying to loosen them, and turned to face us.
Blood soaked her neck and collar, and even her hair. Shirt drenched, the creature whipped her mouth with the back of her hand, a smirk plastered on her lips.
''What...what are you," stuttered Armin.
The woman nonchalantly combed her fingers through her long black hair. Smirk still glued to her lips. Walking closer, she spoke over the sounds of Brandon's scream, voice strong and booming, ''I''m the bitch that just saved your lives.''