Chapter 1: Heaven, Hell, and Those In Between
Six years and Six months after the Battle of Heaven and Earth… Neo London
Gabi Braun and Falco Grice made their way down the cobblestone streets of Neo London while pushing Levi Ackerman's wheelchair. London of the first cities rebuilt after the Rumbling. Somehow it had the least damage, perhaps at the edge of the nightmare caused by Eren Yeager. Upon finishing of the construction, it was renamed Neo London. Gabi made a small chuckle glancing down at their companion.
"What?" the scarred, one eyed former Scout glanced up at his companions.
"Nothing," Gabi shook her head, her long dark hair flowing in the cool spring breeze. She had simply been remembering hearing Levi's rant about how stupid it was not to call it New London instead. Fifteen minutes of how he thought Neo was a foolish attempt to seem edgy.
"I think we're about to his address," Falco said, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket. The trio were preparing to head back to Paradis on the request of Queen Historia. More specifically Levi was being called back to help moderate the peace discussions, as well as to provide an advisory roll to security. Gabi and Falco as usual were along for the ride. Their old ally Onyankopon had agreed to fly them back to the island.
"We're here!" Gabi exclaimed before they noticed steps leading down to the doorway with the house number Onyankopon had given.
Levi glanced down the long flight of steps and to his wheelchair. "Well. Shit."
Several minutes later and a more disgruntled, grumpier Levi and the two former Warrior Candidates were at the base of the steps and the old doorway.
"This looks different than the rest of the town…" Falco noted.
"Looks like it's built underground. The Rumbling probably didn't even touch this…" Levi noted as Gabi went to knock on the door.
Gabi eyes widened when the door slowly slid open with a loud grinding sound after she gave it a single knock. She glanced at Levi who stared back with his one eye. "Well, He said he would be home. Might as well let ourselves in."
"If you're sure…" Gabi said, before she walked in with Levi and Falco behind her. It was very dark lit studio like home, candles light the only light source with a living area in the center, a small kitchenette, and wall to wall bookshelves filled with literature.
"Onyankopon?" Gabi called out with an uncharacteristic timid voice. The home had a very creepy feel to it.
"I'll wait here, Gabi, Falco go find him. He should be here somewhere," Levi said, unconcerned.
Gabi and Falco nodded and left their mentor in the living area before moving to see if they could find him in his massive library-like home. They moved between dark shadowy bookshelf to bookshelf, calling their friend's name.
"Wonder if he is in there?" Falco said pointing to a large wooden door with an open, barred window.
"I doubt it, maybe we should look somewhere else…" Gabi gulped.
"We've already looked everywhere else, he has to be in here," Falco said, opening the old door, revealing a long staircase lit by more candles. The two stood there staring down the steps for several moments. "Maybe I should go check on Levi…" Falco said, before Gabi's trembling hand grabbed his and pulled him down the steps.
At the base of the incredibly long stone steps was an old study with even older books and scrolls, a single desk, four tall candlesticks lit giving an otherworldly flicker of light. The two looked at the shelves realizing that they were all religious texts. It was then that they noticed an old book opened on the desk.
"What… what kind of writing is this?" Gabi asked, looking at the old book, with some frightening looking pictures of red and black humanoid creatures with green eyes.
"It's… old Hebrew, I think…" Falco said, noticing Gabi's curious look, "You know, you might have learned something if you paid attention to more than the classes and lessons on how to kill things."
Beside the ancient book was old notebook and a pen that it seems Onyankopon had been writing, as the two were focused on the writings. neither noticed Onyankopon standing directly behind them, watching over them as they looked over the book and notes.
"Hells Pawn?" Gabi said out loud looking at the notes.
"Fitting description, but it's pronounced Hell Spawn," Onyankopon spoke and both teenagers screamed.
The two turned to see Onyankopon smiling at them. "Onyankopon! We were just looking for you and…"
"My books grabbed your interest?" Onyankopon nodded, "That is perfectly understandable. They grab my interest as well."
"This particular tale draws me back often to be exact," Onyankopon pointed to the Hebrew writing. "The Hell Spawn."
"What… is it?" Gabi asked softly.
Onyankopon sighed before explaining. "A damned soul, who at the end of their life on earth found him or herself in hell. A place of excruciating pain and eternal torment for the souls corrupted by evil thoughts and deeds. But sometimes, one can be sent back. Chosen by hell and heaven both and given a deal by a high demon. It's a twisted second chance. They come as a clean slate. Only a vague idea of their name, former skills of their past life come as instinct. The lucky ones choose the path of rejecting their humanity. They don't have to deal with the pain and suffering of seeing a world that had moved on without them."
"And the unlucky ones?" Falco asked curiously.
Onyankopon looked at a single photo in a frame on the desk. It was a woman who shared his skin tone with a little girl with dark curly hair. "Regardless. Whether or not the world ends rests on them, and their choices."
"I'm glad that's not real…" Gabi stated.
Onyankopon gave a little smile as he closed the tome. "With all the stops it'll take a few days for us to get to Paradis," he said leading them up the stairs, "I'd like to get there soon as well."
"Why is that?" Falco asked.
"I have personal business on the island," Onyankopon replied, "Nothing for you kids to worry about."
Six Days Later… Ground Zero…
The Site of the Battle between Heaven and Earth. The ruins of Fort Salta. It was long since abandoned, stripped of equipment and power. What was left of the fort was a ghost town with no life at all.
But as the sixth year, sixth month, and sixth day came, at the site where the Attack Titan fell and died, something struggled to pull itself from the lifeless soul. He was covered from head to toe in black armor with red and white highlights. Heavy chains were attached to his waist and a long flowing red cloak draped over his body.
Glowing green eyes took in the moonlit desert. "Where… am I…" his hoarse voice spoke. "Who… am I…"
In the dust he could see a figure of a beautiful Asian woman looking back at him. A red scarf around her neck and a single scar across her cheek.
He reached for the familiar face that seemed to remain just on edge of his memory.
"Welcome back!" a fat, filthy looking man with blue face paint said standing next to the confused man. He finished by calling him a name.
"What…" He replied, "Is that… is that my name?" he asked as the Clown got down to his level to look him in the face and patted his head.
"Not anymore, you're just a Hell Spawn," the man smiled with filthy looking teeth, "You don't get a name."
"Listen, this isn't my first rodeo, and honestly I'm getting tired of this dog and pony show. I'm tired of babysitting you lovesick pieces of crap," the Clown said, pulling out a cigar, and taking a drag before blowing smoke in his face. "You're all always pathetic, but decent killing machines. Let's get this end of the world started. And let's get it right this time, like that idea? Yeah? Yeah."
"He's stronger than you think," another feminine voice spoke up, and the clown growled shielding his eyes from the light coming from behind the armored man.
"We'll talk later, Spawn…" Clown growled before moving away and disappearing into the shadows.
"Take it easy, buddy," the young woman said as she entered his sight. She also was very familiar. He knew he knew her, but he didn't her name or who she was… or how even knew her. She was wearing dark form fitting pants, with a small brown skirt over them, a button up white shirt, and a brown jacket that came just below her ribs. With a symbol on her arm and back that seemed so familiar. It was a shield with two wings. Her brown hair was tied back in a pony tail, and her brown eyes shined setting off her friendly face. "I got the job to help! We'll I begged and pleaded. Captain Erwin would have been better but he didn't want it. Hange was biting at the bit but your mind is a bit too fragile for her crazy."
"Who are you?" he asked, looking up at the girl.
"You don't remember me?" She asked, touching her chest, "Well, I expected that. But I figure that'll come to you." She went to sit cross legged before him.
"That doesn't help…" He shook his head, "I don't know anything…"
"You're going to have to answer that, buddy boy," she said, pulling out a baked potato from her jacket and began munching on it. "It's going to be up to you to figure out everything. But I'm here to help."
"Who ARE you?" He asked.
"An old friend," she smiled, burping from scarfing down the potato.
"I don't… I don't know what to do…" He held his head.
"Right now, there's two kids in trouble, all the way back home…" She nodded toward him. "You can help them. You might be the only one who can reach them in time."
"What? I don't know where home is… I don't know what you're even talking about," He shook his head.
"Trust your instincts, trust your heart. You've always had a big good heart, even… with the mistakes…" She smiled sadly, "You do know what to do and where to go. If there's one thing you've always, always known how to do. Keep moving forward."
The words keep moving forward rang in his head. "You can do it. We'll be watching. I'll be here. maybe we can share some food when you're ready…" She said, as he glanced away, and when looked back in her direction he was alone.
He stood up to his full height and something inside him pulled him toward the ocean. His cloak suddenly wrapped around him and he disappeared into the breeze.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: The Dark Side of Paradis
Next chapter we revisit the prologue from another perspective and will give a bit more info on what's been going on the island, with the rest of our AOT survivors, the two kids we met in the prologue, and our mysterious undead anti-hero. Think it should be obvious who he is, but if not more info will gradually become available as the story progresses. And I just HAD to bring back our favorite potato girl, too. Also, might have gave Onyankopon a bit of an interesting history as well… FYI kinda wrote him as if he was Tony Todd.