Chapter 14:
Survive or Die
The sun woke the island of Paradis. Outside Shiganshina district, at the cottage where Carla trained the trio who were trapped in time and be able to defend themselves against man eating titans. Aimi, Milo and Eleanor were saddling up their horses and gearing themselves up for the expedition. The plan was for the three to wait until the liberty church struck midday, signalling them to follow behind the survey corps as they ride out through the walls, with Carla herself leading the troops to the exposed world. The three felt confident, ready to take on the world after the training. The sun was beating warm, shining its radiance on the three as they looked to face the wall, wearing the full Survey Corps uniform.
The Survey Corps uniform consists of a white button up collared shirt, a dark brown waist skirt, fitted white pants, knee-high boots of the same colour as the waist skirt, and a light brown coloured high waist jacket with the white and blue wings in a grey and white shield logo. They looked like true soldiers, standing together, covering their uniform in a deep green cloak and place their heads. Aimi stared at Wall Maria, recalling the titans outside the kingdom of Paradis. They were scary, chasing her through the forest. If it wasn't for Emet transforming into a titan, she would be long dead. Today, Aimi may be able to redeem herself. She thinks of her mother, Mikasa Ackerman. A strong and talented soldier, second behind Levi Ackerman who was one of the most the more reliable for has led to her being mentioned as a military genius many times and "as valuable as a hundred average soldiers Aimi knew partly of her mother's past, but never really asked as she felt it was something Mikasa maybe wasn't comfortable about. Maybe, Aimi can be just like her.
"Today is the day." Milo spoke, looking at his blade boxes that may soon be used to expose one of them in order to kill the titan.
"Yeah, better get going." Aimi suggested, turning her head back and makes way to a black mare along with two other stallions of brown fur waiting to be ridden.
Milo and Eleanor followed, getting on their horses.
"Let's fucking go!" Eleanor wooed, lightly kicking her horse in determination and rides off ahead of her friends.
Milo and Aimi nod, kicking their horses to chase Eleanor. They ride in great speed, their horses galloping through the lands getting closer to Shiganshina within 30 minutes and when they arrived at the liberty church it was timed at 5 to 12. There ahead of them were the members of the Survey Corps of around 80 members. They waited in rows along with a few carts loaded with supplies and weapons to carry afoot. The crowd watched, waiting to see the Survey Corps advance. Carla was in front of the group, waiting by the entrance of the gates quietly. Her face was still and cold, a soldier from the top of the walls was being lowered by a wooden lift and informed Carla shouting;
"THE COAST IS CLEAR FROM TITANS, THE GATES WILL OPEN IN 1 MINUTE!"
"Carla." Bernadine, beside Carla on her horse flatly said; "After this. I want to talk to you."
Carla looked back at Bernadine, knowing the girl had seen plenty and knew what her comrade and good friend wanted to talk about, "Very well."
From behind the crowd, Aimi, Eleanor and Milo arrived to the scene. They subtly lined themselves up and joined a leader who was in charge of Squad 10, being the last three soldiers in the row with Aimi in the middle of her two friends. She was gawked at how many soldiers were in line, ready to charge outside the walls. This was noted as the 44th expedition outside the walls. Apparently in some countries the meaning behind the number 44 is seen as a unlucky. But, some say it can symbolise individuals are driven to achieve their goals, that they need reassurance to keep going and that if you see the number 44 everywhere, accept that the angels are trying to tell you to keep going on your path.
Aimi wasn't sure how this day was going to go. Underneath her hooded cloak her grey eyes glanced over to Milo, seeing his face didn't appear as confident as before. It was understandable, they were going to face something that happened just over a month ago. Perhaps it was hitting him hard again. Then Aimi checked Eleanor, she appeared confident, determined in her eye which was quite a surprise. From the girl who was feared for her life when Eleanor somehow managed to be lost in time, to excitedly now wanting to kill the titans- it was considered as a glow up.
"SOILDERS! THE GATES WILL RISE AND WE YET WILL FACE ANOTHER DAY OUTSIDE THE WALLS. PREPARE YOURSELVES!" A leader a couple rows behind Carla shouted, informing the soldiers to get ready to move.
The signal for the gates were loud and clear Liberty church's tintinnabulation began. The soldiers lifted their blades, shouting for determination to venture out the walls. Aimi, Milo and Eleanor remained silent, trying not to draw attention to themselves. It was quite a sight, seeing the soldiers with such pride, it was then the question on how many will come back or will even them three make it back alive. Up at the front, Carla raised her hood above her head, her soft eyes sharpened to complete coldness, waiting for the gates to stop rising as a sign to move. When it does, she turned her head back, hoping the three arrived in time she returned to face the scenery ahead. In trust that Aimi and the other two were here, it was now time for the Survey Corps to advance.
"FORWARD!" Carla roared, kicking her horses stomach that it rose on its back legs and neighed as it started gallop as fast as the wind blew. "THE 44TH EXPEDITION HAS BEGUN! LET'S MOVE!"
The Survey charged out row by row, Milo gulped, knowing their time was now.
"This it is." Eleanor tightened her reigns, expressing resolution in her eyes.
As the last row of soldiers began to charge, the three accelerated their horses.
The hoofs against the pavements clattered, leaving traces of dust behind. Before Aimi knew it, she was outside the walls as the sun blurred her vision until she can finally see the open land ahead of her.
"GO IN LONG FORMATION! WE WILL CONTINUE ONWARDS SOUTH, THE TITANS APPEAR FROM THIS OASIS. STAY ALERT! SIGNAL WHEN A TITAN IS ON SIGHT!" Carla ordered, hearing the soldiers obeyed as they began to spread out.
"Oh shit." Milo gulped, "I-I don't wanna."
"It's ok, Milo." Aimi encouraged, "We got this, this is what we're trained for."
Milo faced Aimi, seeing her smile at him and makes him feel a little more calmer than before. The three now expanded from each other as Eleanor laughed, "LET'S KICK ASS GUYS! DAMN RIGHT THIS IS WHAT WE TRAINED FOR!"
"Give me some of your energy.." Milo sighed, shaking his head as he couldn't understand how Eleanor was all breezy about the whole thing.
Even though a lot of the soldiers were separated, they stayed as a 3;3 group. It wasn't long before a red star was shot into the air from the east side. It made the tree stare as the gas, watching it fade away. It was quite far from them, still feeling safe and unreached from the titans. Eventually a lot of green stars shot up into the blue plains, informing Carla ahead to indicate to head more in the west side whilst still riding straight ahead. The Survey Corps continue their quest, reaching a good hour into the journey. This was a positive sign for Carla, meaning there might not be as much titans around in this expedition and will hope to travel well far into their quest. The aim was to map out more of the island, in hopes to discover something of the unknown. But sadly Carla was hopeful too soon.
About 1 mile ahead, a cluster of floor clouds formed ahead, making Carla raise her eyebrow at the scene.
"Carla, what is that?" Bernadine then gasped immediately realising, "You don't think?!"
"Shit." Carla cursed under breath, seeing the smoke growing strong and more fierce.
When the smoke cleared, it was like seeming an army of titans, around over 30 of them stampeding for them. It was completely bizarre seeing so many as a group take charge, Carla had a to make a order. So many of the soldiers were separated and it made Carla think to herself that the exposed land was no longer a safe zone to continue the expedition. The question was what should Captain Carla do? The obvious answer was for Carla to order the Survey Corps to turn back round, however that means the titans will follow them back to the walls. The titans had to die.
"How... Are there so many at once.. Especially coming from the same direction." Carla asked herself, getting frustrated as she roared, "SIGNAL GREEN TOWARDS THE FOREST AND FIRE A RED STAR STRAIGHT AFTER!"
Bernadine was the first to signal, followed by the rest of the soldiers firing gun smoke into the sky, eventually swaying closer to the titans were closing in, making the earth quake. Carla remained calm, thinking that the Survey Corps must get on higher ground.
"BERNANADE, FORMATE A SUBSITITUTE GROUP FROM SQUAD 1-5 WITH THE SUPPLIES AND WHEN THE TITANS MANAGE TO GET INTO THE FOREST TO MY RIGHT, WAIT TILL WE MAKE AN EXIT! I AIM TO KILL AS MUCH AS THESE TITANS BEFORE WE TRY TO RETURN TO THE WALLS!"
"Captain!" Bernadine heeded, "LEADERS OF SQUAD 1-5, FOLLOW ME! GATHER YOUR SOLDIERS AND RETREAT!"
Bernadine turned her horse and charged onwards North. The leaders does the same as they left Squad 6-10 behind including Aimi, Milo and Eleanor as they were in squad 10. All the experienced soldiers were calm, whereas the newer ones seemed feared,
"Oh no. The titans are close!" One gasped, the bead of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"We're the lucky ones! the second half of squads has to fight them of apparently!" Another answered, beside the girl in relief.
The unfortunate members from squad 6-10 were soldiers previously mentioned in the story. In squad 6, riding fast behind their leader to catch ground with the Captain Carla was Niamh Top and Bryan Helenkin. Niamh's soft eyes widened, seeing the gunpowder; "Bryan, how many of them are there?"
Niamh was a true meditator. She was poetic, caring, and was determined to help others when it came to a good cause. During the two weeks when Aimi was training, she helped the poor Ackerman as much as she could. The two girls naturally grew close, and was a saddened for the girl who got kicked out of the Cadets. Niamh wished she was there to help Aimi, but sadly not and didn't even get to say goodbye to a potential good friend.
"By the looks of it too many. Common, we gotta catch up with the Captain." The 18 year old glared at the sky, kicking into the stomach of the horse harder in order for it to increase its pace.
Bryan was bold and brave. But he could be insensitive and was too much of a risk-taker at the wrong times. However, he too desired to be in the Survey Corps, only because he believed there was nothing really for him inside the walls.
In squad 7 was Uwe Fischer, a stubby 17 year old. A soldier you would look at and go, 'Garrison.' But no, he desired to be a member of the Survey Corps. He was gingered hair, blue eyed and freckled on his face in little clusters. He was petrified, wanting to spin his horse a different course. But Uwe had to remember this is what he wanted.
No one was familiar in Squad 8, pushing onwards was Squad 9. Dragomir Azar, or Drago for short he preferred to be named. A cocky, fire head with faux hawk dirty blonde hair incredibly short at the sides to resemble the fire like appearance. Drago was fearless, yet rather clueless at many things. His eyes were a deep blue colour hues telling a story of their own. He sees the gun powder, smirking, liking the idea of action that was about to take place; "About time."
A respond not many would often say when about to face blood thirsting beasts.
Due to be so far back from the commotion; Aimi, Eleanor and Milo didn't understand what was going on. They felt their senses heightened as the many squads were going now in the opposite direction to theirs. Eventually the multiple tones of green from the smoke in the sky brings Eleanor's attention, arching her brow and said;
"Hey look! we're being directed into the forest."
"Why?!" Milo asked, eyeing the gunpower disperse into the air.
Aimi kept quite, thinking to herself what it could mean. Her ears began to year the silent yet unsettling sound of a rumbling noises shaking the earth. No longer confident, Aimi could feel the sudden heaviness in her body, sitting closer to the horse.
"SOILDERS! HEAD INTO THE WOODS! The leader of squad 10 informed Aimi, Eleanor and Milo, "We're being breached by titans."
"OH SHIT!" Milo squeaked, beginning to shake against his horse.
"SNAP OUT OF IT! JUST FOCUS ON STAYING ALIVE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT KILLING THEM!" Eleanor ordered, shocking Milo as he replied; "D-did you just get all serious with me!?"
"Heh! Don't shit a brick Milo, yes I did!" Eleanor, chuckled, following her friends as they horseback their way to the forest.
Carla fired a green smoke, making all the soldiers copy her as the fire towards the trees. Even though they were reaching closer to the woods, the titans were catching up with them. Carla and many of the soldiers from squad 6-9 were now in the forest, leaving squad 10 just to catch up. Aimi peered to be behind her, widening as she finally caught sight of one of the larger titan crawling in a distorted stance, roaring for them. It's eyes were tiny dotted, shaking Aimi to the core.
Doubt started to rise inside Aimi's head, feeling scared as she was the first time she was in the forest when she end up back in time. She thinks of her mother, wondering how she mother felt when she saw a titan for the first time. Suddenly a piercing yelp comes from the forest than was only a 1 minute away from entering in. a titan runs out from within the tree, bearing its teeth with a member of the survey corps. it was a trainee, Aimi recognised him from cadet training, but couldn't remember who as the distraction of the man's cries threw her over the edge. The titan slammed it's jaws tighter, causing the torso of the man to die instantly, the bloody splashing. Aimi gasped, watching what's left of the soldier to fall to the ground. The titan stopped, realising it's leftover fell to the ground and scooped it up and gobbled it whole. Aimi's stomach began to turn, almost wanting to throw up, she checked for Milo's reaction. To her surprise he seemed focus, pulling out blades as Milo shouted;
"GUYS, YOU BETTER SURVIVE THIS!"
"YOU TOO!" Eleanor shouted back, firing her hooks for the trees and chances to jump off her horse and flies in the air.
Milo does the same, but ends up regretting it as a titan pounced out from the forest for him, "AGHH! FUCK OFF!"
Despite his scream, almost mistaken for a girl, Milo dodged the titan and swings behind it and somehow managed to slice it's neck. The beast falls, tumbling down to the ground. Aimi cursed, steering her horse quickly to dodge the bombshell.
"AIMI!" Milo screamed, landing against the trunk of the tree he aimed for but sighed in relief to see her ok as she was about to enter the forest, "OH THANK GOD! AIMI, GET UP ONTO THE TREES. WE'RE GETTING AMBUSHED!"
More titans, and more screams from soldiers who were getting attacked by these humanoids were becoming unbearable. The wall of titans that were chasing after the survey corps were starting to close in, even a few entering the forest already. About squad 10 makes it to the forest, flying between the trees and tries to tackle off the monsters. As for Aimi, she was glued to her horse as she continued to ride deeper into the woods,
"AIMI! GET UP HERE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Milo screamed, about to chase after her but gasped to see a 14 metre titan just below Milo tried to pounce up on him. Milo dodged and zipped into the trees, hoping to chase after Aimi.
"AIMI, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Milo begged, zig zagging from tree to tree to reach Aimi. Only to have Aimi with a crazed look of her painted on her face, still frozen on her horse as it galloped through the woods.
Eleanor was deep in the forest, acerbating through the trees to kill each titan in her way. Not a single drop of her, it wasn't easy as trying to multi task with the gear and slashing blades was difficult. Not noticing a titan was behind her, she heard someone scream.
"WATCH OUT!" Drago's voice from behind went, slashing the titans neck and jumped off it's head to get back to the trees.
"THANKS!" Eleanor thanked, phewing in relief as she caught up with Drago as they stood on one of the branches, "Hey, I remember you!"
"Dragomir, how you doing? You're the girl who pulled out of the cadets course after two weeks."
"Heh... Yeah, well I'm back now! It's Eleanor by the way." Eleanor sweat dropped chuckling, receiving a grin for Dragomir;
"Cool, call me Drago and I'll call you El."
"Oh, ok. LOOK OUT!" Eleanor screamed, grabbing Drago and fired her hook as far as it could go across as a random titan nearly grabbed them both with it's bare hand.
Eleanor let's go of Drago as they land on another tree. The guy cocks up his eyebrow, glaring at the girl riding across the forest wondering, "What the hell is she doing?"
Eleanor looked down, gasping as it's Aimi eye shock from it all and continued to ride defenceless across the ground. Thankfully no titans had noticed her, but the question was how long was until then the titans did catch sight of the Ackerman.
The scene was becoming a blood bath around Aimi, there were too many soldiers getting eaten, too many screaming for their lives, fuelling Aimi into almost complete unconsciousness in what was happening she didn't know what to think, feel or do. Her body wanted to flight from the situation. She glanced around, not focusing on anything or how to come to terms with it. Unlike before, Aimi had her brother and Kai by her side. They always knew what to do in dangerous situations, telling her what to do. Aimi would just react to their orders. Now, she rides alone in the forest, surrounded by scenes of death by gut wrenching titans. She bares to not notice Eleanor shouting for her name,
"AIMI! HOLD ON-"
"STAY BACK!" Carla commanded, backflipping as she slashed a titan from the distance and fires herself over to Eleanor and Drago, "Stay and focus on the titans, I'll get her."
Eleanor was hesitant, nodding as she takes order. Drago encouraged Eleanor join him to kill over the few titans to the right of them as they charge for Aimi. The pair fly down, fighting as many as they can. Milo on the other hand had sight of Aimi, more further back in the forest, he's hovering in the air, and but lost her due to titans blocking his way. At first, it almost threw him off growing in deep panic for his best friend, but his heart told him to have faith. 'Common, Aimi. You got this. I'll tru and find you, just hold on.'
"You're right Armin."
Is she really able to kill one?
Or what Eren really thought to himself, 'I hope you are...'
"AIMI! HOLD ON-"
"AIMI?!" Mikasa gaped, "That was Eleanor! What's going on?!"
The aura flickered, showing the forest, the trees, to then titans murdering the soldiers around them. It showed Eleanor about to chase something, beside her was a guy around her age before it flickered again now showing Aimi's face . She was riding a horse, hunching her shoulders tightly, trembling with fear and it looked like she was about to break through her teeth on how tight she clenched her jaw. Aimi was petrified.
"BUT THAT THING JUST SHOWED US AT THEIR CEREMONY! WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Mikasa panicked, wide eyed at how one minute Aimi was standing on the roof near the Church liberty to now she's riding through a forest surrounded with titans.
Let explain the aura. It's a projection of life, it has the ability to show events that had, has or yet to happen. It's power only works to show what you want it to see, however it does this in its own terms base on the importance and specifically, what it wants you to know. The creation of the aura is unknown, but it is it's own force that is telling a story to Eren, Armin and Mikasa.
By what is being gathered, Aimi was riding through a forest outside the walls. Where a large mass large mass of titans was killing soldiers left, right, and centre. But for Aimi, instead of fighting or trying to avoid she was stuck to the horse, clinging onto it's body for dear life. It was clear she was entranced with fear, unconscious onto what was happening around her.
"It looks like the aura only shows us what they want us to see, Mikasa..." Armin guessed, "It could also mean that we don't actually know how far Aimi and the others are trapped in time! They technically could be somewhere in the near future in the Year 830! Despite it being in the past in our time. That light is showing events that could've already happened-"
"AIMI! GET OFF THE HORSE!" Mikasa screamed for Aimi, walking up to the aura, but stopped instantly after hearing the sand rupture beneath her, it could sense her desires to chase after her daughter, "GOD DAMMIT I WISH SHE COULD HEAR ME! "
Armin didn't take offense by Mikasa's outburst. He too was feared for Aimi, he watched as the girl's eyes darted from one spot to the next. One view was a soldier managing to kill one titan, but got crushed like a bug in the grasp of another. He related to this greatly, just like in Trost in the year 850. When he witnessed for the first time the horror of the titans eating the defenceless, his comrades and some his friends was something he couldn't shake off lightly.
'I...I can't move.' Aimi's thoughts echoed outside to the paths, her mouth unhinged, 'I...I thought.. I could do this.'
"Aimi?" in confusion Mikasa whispered, listening to her daughter's voice whispered.
'Everyone.. Is dying..'
Eren arched his brow thinking, figuring out this conception of the aura, 'So the light seems to read into their thoughts... But why is it only doing it now?'
In the aura, Aimi turned her head to a scene of a titan ripping a girl's head off, the fresh corpse flopping down onto it's hand, and the soldiers above in the trees who knew the girl were crying her name. Another soldier, with broken ODM gear, lying on the ground and spots spots Aimi begging;
"PLEASE! OH GOD! PLEASE HELP ME!"
'He... He wants me... To help..' Aimi's eyes shrunk, her inner voice breaking as a tear rolled down her face, 'But I can't...'
"PLEASE! A TITAN! HELP, HELP ME PLEASE I A BEGGING YOU! NOOOO!"
'I want to... I...'
An abnormal titan jumped from behind the trees, snatching the man doing so. It held the soldier, crying for it to let go of him, only to treat him like a battered fish as a smashed the man hard against the ground before it devoured it. Aimi face whitened, it was clear the girl was traumatised at this point.
'Mum...I... wish you were here.'
Mikasa's eyes watered, all she had to hear was Aimi mentioning her presence. She falls onto her knees, numb to the bone at the horror she faced. The soldier's death wasn't enough to make Aimi want to push and fight, it made her worse. Armin could feel his legs shake, almost like he was being taken back in the year 850, when he was a trainee in Trost and titans were inside the district. His friends, being eaten alive by those rogues whilst Eren was lying on the roof top across from him. The blood that was covered Eren's head and his bitten off leg due to him tumbling across the roof tops. Armin was feared back then, seeing the devastation of it all. It was obvious Aimi was going through the same thing, just watching helplessly as everyone in the forest was getting killed.
'Why... why can't I move...I was able to run away like last time...Is it... because I am alone...Kai...Emet... Where are you..?'
Armin's eyes went to see Eren, his face was too in shock. The man looked like he wanted to lose his shit but had to keep his composure for the sake of the chains trying to attack him. Armin knew Eren felt so powerless and it made him so damn angry. Eren wanted to save Aimi, but there was a part of something in Eren's expression that didn't look that surprised by Aimi. Armin realised Eren told a white lie earlier, fearing what Mikasa too was worried about if Aimi would get in trouble. Armin gulped, the tenseness in his chest, he had to believe in her. His blue eyes darted back to the aura, gasping when he sees a titan appear form the trees, spotting Aimi head on.
'Kai... Emet... Milo.. Eleanor.. Anyone, someone... No.. There's a titan in front of me...'
The titan began to charge for Aimi, it's mouth drooling for her as the horse neighed in panic.
"AIMI! MOVE!" Mikasa cried, grasping her hands on her face, "PLEASE!"
'I'm about to die... Aren't I?'
"AIMI!" Eren roared, startling Armin as he didn't expect him to shout for her, desperation for the girl to snap out of it.
That's right, when Armin got swallowed by a titan, screaming for his life. Eren, injured, still managed to pull with all his strength to get Armin out of the titan's mouth. But here, Eren watched Aimi head straight for the titan in front of her, opening it's jaws wide and ready to snatch her.
'This is... I... failed.. once again.. this time..'
Mikasa screamed, watching her daughter just a seconds away to her grave. Armin, gasping as Eren roared for Aimi's name once more, hating the words the girl's thoughts gave in,
'This time it will be the death of me.'
"AIMI!"
A voice roared, swopping in and swung their blades so face the titan roared as it's airs were cut through. The figure moved so fast and snatched Aimi off the horse, dodging the titan from chowing down on them both.
Mikasa fell to her bottom, unable to sit on her knees as they caved in with a mixture of fear and relief.
Eren froze, his head trying to comprehend what just happened. He sees the figure shoot for the trees, however it wasn't high enough. It was a lower branch compared to the rest, it made Eren wonder was this on purpose. The blinded titan scurried over to the tree, trying to reach up for them. The titan was only 7 metres, if it was a 15 metre that would be a different story. Aimi shook her face, looking like she was trying to bring herself to reality only to scream in shock as the figure pushed her off the edge and could barely stand on the edge of the branch. The figure still had Aimi by the cloak and her shirt, using their other hand to reveal themselves under their cloak. Only to reveal it was Carla death staring at the Aimi in pure rage.
"ACKERMAN, THE HELL YOU PLAYING AT?"
"Aimi-" Mikasa gasped, forcing herself to stop as she wondered why Carla had Aimi just about hanging over the titans, close to falling into the mouth of the titan who wanted them so badly. Then two more titans appeared, creating the atmosphere more intense.
"I-I am sorry- I"
"SHUT IT!" Carla snapped, "I AM GOING TO ASK YOU ONE SIMPLE QUESTION!"
Armin, Mikasa and Eren stood in shock, seeing Carla so furious.
"DO YOU WANT TO SURVIVE, OR DO YOU WANT TO DIE?"
"I... I want to survive." Aimi muttered, confused by Carla's question.
"THEN WHY THE HELL YOU CHARGING FOR THE TITAN'S MOUTH THEN! DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVE COLD FEET NOW!? AFTER ALL THESE WEEKS OF TRAINING!"
Another second was wasted as Aimi doesn't answer and get's shaken by the one arm Carla had demanding, "ANSWER ME!"
"I GOT SCARED!"
"SCARED! YOU WERE OUT HERE BEFORE?! DON'T YOU REMEMBER I SAVED YOU THAT DAY! WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT?!"
"I CAN'T FIGHT THEM!" Aimi screamed, the tears in her eyes, the titans stretching their hands as high as they could go.
Carla growled, closing her eyes before she lost her shit at the girl. Aimi was petrified, feeling the heaviness of gravity making it harder for her to stand against the edge of the tree with Carla only holding her by the chest. it felt like Carla wanted to drop her into the mouths of the titans there and then.
A sigh escaped Carla, her vice low and no longer piercing loud; "Aimi, look around you. Does these soldiers look like they want to die too?"
Armin furrowed his eyes, still shocked into what was happening. The three watch the young Ackerman look around her within the aura, seeing various men and women fight for their lives, helping each other out. Some were facing their final moments, screaming or shouting. Aimi sees Eleanor, killing off a titan followed with Niamh doing the exact same thing. In Aimi's eyes, they were so brave. Whereas she felt like such a coward.
"No.."
"No. No one wants to die. They all want to survive and live. So, they fight, or they at least run for their lives. Not charge at death like they willingly want to and accept it. They want to survive this treacherous world we live in called our fucking home."
Aimi returned her eyes to Carla, feeling guilty but mixed with fear as she felt she was about to face death as punishment for being so cowardly. Eren could remember the day back in shisnshina, where Carla told him to run with Mikasa to survive from the titans. To live. But, he wanted her to live to, trying to get out of the house, but she accepted her death. it wasn't irony, for she was trapped. But still, Eren furrowed his eyes, trying to bring his focus to the present.
"What's the real reason why you froze like that?"
"W-what?"
"Aimi. Just bloody answer me, or I swear I will let go."
"Just... just do it."
Mikasa gasped, wishing she was there to smack her daughter some sense. Why would her daughter say something like that. Mikasa watched Aimi close her eyes, the tears now tripping down her face, loosening her stance as if she truly looked as if she gave , confused, gawked;
"Excuse me? Why-"
"BECAUSE I AM NOTHING SPECIAL! I AM NO ONE!"
Silence took over the land of the paths and the world within the aura. It was something that Mikasa especially was devastated to hear, hearing her daughter speak so worthlessly about herself. Armin was confused, wondering why the girl placed such harsh and untrue statement about herself, to the point of wanting Carla to drop her to the titans. Eren, above all, lost between the too, feel a part of himself ache for Aimi. Eren, in a point of his life felt that way too. That he was nothing special, not worthy to continue breathing.
A flashback takes Eren back to the year 850, sitting across from Chief Shadis, a man who recalled a story about how he knew his father Grisha and reference a few times his mother. it was clear the man had feelings for Eren's mother. Shadis kept saying the word; 'special' unintentionally making Eren feel small and worthless to his own being. The world speical; better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual, something Eren didn't believe he was at all anymore.
"The Instructor was right... I was nothing special at all. It's just...That I was the son of a special man. In the end, that was the only reason I was given the power of the titans. I'm glad I can be sure of that now."
Keith Shadis answered back to Eren before the current Eren returned to the present moment, "Your mother... Carla said this."
"Because... You're not... Special?"
Aimi's eyes opened, pure hopelessness in her eyes as she sobbed.
"Aimi... Why do you have to special?"
"Huh?"
"Aimi, you don't need to be. What truly defines being special? The term special brings unnecessary baggage a person does not need. I don't believe special is a word people should pay much attention to. Unique.. maybe, because we're all so different in our own way.. But we think we have to stand out, or achieve great things.. Be better than anyone... because humans believe that is what makes us special. A reason to be alive. if we don't we don't deserve to live."
Aimi remained quite, no longer crying, absorbing the words Carla voiced, forgetting the world was chaos around them.
"Yet, we are all the same. We don't have to do any of these things, or need a justifiable reason to live and be here. We have a right to be here Do you want to know why?"
Aimi doesn't nod, her eyes softening as a way to accept Carla's question. Carla sighed, softening her expression as she was no longer angry,
"You... and everyone else have a right to live because... "Aimi... you are born into this world."
Eren's heart
"So Aimi, remember this. Do you think, when I joined the survey corps, I just wanted to kill titans and go outside the walls? no. It's because I believed humanity deserved to live, I deserve to live and you have a right to live. If you want to go home, you must keep going. You have to fight for it! Fight your life, your friends life! Don't let anything or anyone take that away from you! You survive this cruel world, because your life is important as anyone else's."
Aimi lowered her head, clenching her fists and glared her eyes back up to Carla, "Let me go."
"Let me ask you this want last time then.." Carla extends her arm, just about managing to hold Aimi's body weight off the air as the titans below were being incredibly tempted for the girl to fall for their stomachs.
"Do you want to survive... or do you want to die."
"I want to survive."
"Why...?"
Before Aimi answered, she knowingly knew Carla would let go of her and began to fall down towards the titans. Mikasa thought she was going to scream for her daughter, but but felt something had clicked something in Aimi. She watched the girl grab hold of her handles, connecting them to blades as she growled;
"because..."
Armin grinned, watching the girl spin round and swung out two blades. The fire in the Ackerman's eyes as she roared vengefully at the titans beneath, arching her blades behind her back;
"I WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD!"
To hear Carla spoke first hand those words, 'born into this world.'
As Eren stated himself, his freedom originates from him being born into this world. His desire to go to see the outside world, his desire for freedom, started from this simple, yet undeniable and beautiful answer: we're all free, because we're all born into this world. This has always been Eren Yeager's core values of fighting for freedom and moving forward.
Back before the Rumbling; Eren did not care that he and his people of the Island make up such a small part of the Marleyan-dominant world, nor did he care that it would be more convenient for everyone if the people of the Island were wiped out for the sake of world peace. In the end, Eren truly believes that by being born into this world, everybody has the freedom to dream, explore the world and just exist in peace, regardless of one's birth circumstances.
For Eren to see Aimi, resonating, connecting to those words and now has a reason to fight. For why she said she isn't important, he doesn't know. For whatever reason why Carla's words touched Aimi may one day as Eren watches over her within the paths he may someday understand. But she is fighting, fighting to live and fighting to get back home is all he wants from her right now as he stands with Armin and Mikasa inside the dimension where life and death does not exist.
"GRRRAHHH!" Aimi roared, landing behind a Titans tian and swing her blades and cuts forcefully through it's nape.
Aimi doesn't stop, she swings for the other Titan, killing it and fired her hook onto the third and final titan in the eye, swinging full force and slashed its fingers as it tried to grab releases the hooks from it's eye socket. Aimi retracts her hooks and fires them below the titan's torso and dives under it, swinging in the air and twirled with her blades for another successful kill.
The three dead Titans remained still as Aimi lands on the highest on on the pile. She lifted her head up, seeing Carla staring down at her. The two stare into each other eyes, Carla gave a face of praise despite it being serious. Aimi looked away, seeing a Titan charging for her,
"Bring it on."
Fired for the trees above, she swings horizontally across and when she lands against the thrums of the tree she pushes her legs rig off and places mid-air to attack the monster.
Carla watched Aimi slay the Titan, shaking her head and sighed, "Some just need that push, I guess."
She pulled out a gun, aims high and fires green gun smoke into the threes.
"SOILDERS! RETREAT!" The announcement was made, "That should be us sorted for the Survey Corps to make it back to the walls.. where the hell are they coming from."
"CAPTAIN WE GOT A PROBLEM!" A leader from squad 10 appeared, "Some ODMs gears have been tampered with! A lot of soldiers have reported this. Clearly they are faulty and that's why there's been so many casualties."
Carla takes in the information in great annoyance, frustrated to hear and snapped back; "The hell?! They should've been examined before we left!"
One after the next, Aimi killed various Titans. She was flying through the trees, becoming excellent with ODM after weeks of smacking her head against the ground. Thankfully things is working out for Aimi, however, as if the tables have turned... some aren't so lucky.
Milo was not far from Aimi, but his ODM was failing him. Every time he tried to transition from place to place, the gas kept cutting out. He realised there was a fault with the gear, even though he checked before he left the cottage, why was this happening now?. He tried to dodge the titans, only just about to kill two of them. He used his hooks to shoot for a tree, but was smacked like a fly by a titan's hand that cause him to slam into a tree with force. A thud was all he could feel, his head spinning as it was smacked hard.
There dangling over the branch, he panicked and lost grip, only managing to hold onto a trunk where the rest of him hung, the hooks of the ODM gear lost grip and they too fell off. A 15 metre was only 4 metres below him, ready to jump in the air. Milo regained his vision, looking down and screamed when he spots the titan.
"SHIT!" Milo cursed, using his upper body strength to hoist himself up. It failed, he wasn't strong enough, he was exhausted, "Common you bastard, lift yourself."
As the titan leaped, Milo tried one more timing, pushing himself with all of his might to get above the trunk, he's about halfway there as his hand caught hold of another branch. But, due to his lower leg being exposed, the titan clamped it's mouth onto Milo's leg and due to being mid-air and having to fall back down again. Milo could feel a surge of shock rupture his body. Milo lets out a yelp of pain, losing strength in his arms due to the shock. The pain was indescribable, the pain of losing a limb.
"MILO!" Aimi screamed, spotting the titan trying to attack her friend again, Milo barely hanging on. "GET AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!"
Aimi growled, piercing a hook onto the titans hit and flies straight for the titan, the beast turning it's attention to her but was stopped midway as the damage was already done when Aimi's swords cuts it's nape. Aimi shoots her head up to hear Milo's scream as he pulled himself over the branch. Her eyes widen as a drip of blood fell on her cheeks, 'M-milo... Is hurt.' Her thoughts concluded in disbelief.
Milo is lying on the trunk, catching dizzy spells when Aimi is towering over him. He's unable to hear her speak, seeing her wrap herself around him, making him wrap his arms around him. He remained quite, letting himself do what she wanted to do. You only feel a shock, and feeling cold and hot and like passing out and only later does it start to hurt in a nagging burning way.
"It's ok, Milo. We're retreating now! I'll get us medics!" Aimi reassured, trying to stay calm for him.
"Milo!" A male voice shouted from behind, making Aimi lost on who this could be, It was Byran.
"Is he ok?!"
"He's in shock!"
"Common, I'll take him" Byran offered, seeing Aimi seemed off at first, "Don't worry. We shared bunks, if you keep my coast clear. We'll make it! You seem better than the kills than me."
"ok." Aimi nodded, allowing Byran to piggy back Milo who just clung to him. She heard him mumble a few words, asking what was going on. He was in true shock.
The three begin to fled the forest through the use of the ODM gear, dodging as many titans as they could. All seem well until Aimi heard a familiar cry for help, her eyes glance over, only to turn back twice as she sees Niamh gets her ribs crushed by a hands grasp.
"AIMI!" Niamh cried, desperation in her eyes for Aimi to come save her.
Aimi swooped down, panicking in fear; "NIAMH! I'M COMING!"
The titan opened his mouth slightly, bringing the poor girl closer as she cried. Aimi, determined this time to not let another soldier die, especially when they cry for her help. Aimi slashed the titans nape and quickly changed position to try save Niamh, falling into her arms that both of them nearly fell to the ground if Aimi hadn't fired a hook for a tree above her and reeled them both up to the sky. Niamh is unable to speak, winching in pain as she clung to Aimi. The girl was only 15, but was light as a feather as she cried in agony. Aimi tried to comfort the girl, only to gasp that somehow- blood was appearing across Niamh's stomach, the titan clearly had crushed her ribs, almost close that a rib snapped out exposed.
"It's ok, Niamh- just hold on! We're almost out of her-woah!"
Four titans were chasing the two girls, but Aimi was unable to fight them off now holding Niamh. To Aimi's relief, Carla was not long behind Aimi, fighting off the titans to gibe the Ackerman a chance to get away. Eventually Aimi gets out of the forest by standing still on the last tree exposed to the scenery of land. Whatever plan Carla had it worked, majority of the titans were inside the forest, allowing the remaining squads from1-5 to reappear with carts to carry any injured soldiers back home. Aimi spots Milo lying on the cart with Eleanor driving it, waving her down as it was the last cart to get ready to leave the forest. For anyone who didn't make it gets left behind. Before Aimi makes her way, Niamh grabbed tighter onto her, forcing herself to not allow anymore tears to appear.
"We're nearly there. I got you."
"T-thank..You..For s-saving me."
"Don't, it's not over yet."
Aimi jumped, using her hook to help land her safely as possible to avoid putting anymore strain on Niamh. Eleanor jumped off the seat of the cart and helps Aimi place Niamh just as the bottom,
"Don't move her too much. Oh god, the blood is getting everywhere. I think I'm going to be sick." Eleanor covered her mouth as she returned back to the seat of the wagon bot use to smelling so much blood and gore.
Aimi jumps beside Niamh, holding the girls hand for support as Niamh laid there quietly, muffling in agony beside Milo. Aimi looked over to Milo, who appeared to be more conscious as he sat there, staring solemnly at his half leg. He looked truly devastated, not believing it to be real as he laid there. Things got real as the boy from the future, in a world without titans, loses his leg because of them. Then Aimi noticed a few several bodies covered in fabric to conceal their identity, making the pit of Aimi's stomach sink. Eleanor smacked the reigns hard for the horses to rid off, hoping to leave the forest just in time. It wasn't long before 10 titans are rampaging out from within the trees, chasing the many soldiers. What was alarming was that there were catching up and fast, the problem was only Aimi's cart was the one potentially at most risk of attack.
"TITANS INCOMING!" A squad leader shouted from behind, trying to catch up with the rest of the Survey Corps with a fellow horse attached to his hand.
Carla, like a rocket soaring in the sky catches hook of a small titan, killing it, and using the second slowest titan beside it and roared, "KEEP GOING! WHATEVER IS LEFT OF THE BODIES, LET THEM GO!"
Carla managed to beat off 6 of the titans, able to get ahead of them as she landed on the ground exposed due to the exposed ground being too flat for her now to keep going. The squad leader charged back with the spare horse, allowing the Captain to jump on so she can ride off. The titans that were left behind were
The only cart that held the bodies of 4 altogether was in Aimi's. Milo looked at Aimi, seeing her face drop when she realised she had to throw them off the cart to stall the titans. Eleanor too was looking behind her, watching Aimi stand up and looked back to face the titans, and dropping the back shaft of the cart to help roll the bodies out.
No one was able to help Aimi carry the deceased one by one. They were still, heavy and felt like more like lumps of coal rather than a person. Aimi closed her eyes doing it, avoiding to make eye contact in case the dead would be staring back at her. Milo takes off his hat, covering his face to hide more trauma of the bodies being unloaded, tumbling away on the grass. It worked, Carla and the squad leader was able to return into just beside Aimi's cart. Carla turned her head back, disappointed in seeing the last titan still determined to catch them. It's as if it wanted someone alive.
"Shit.. What we going to do Captain?" The squad leader asked.
Carla sits and thinks of something to do, only to come to shock when she hears a weak voice volunteered;
"Throw me... towards the titan." Niamh hissed, forcing herself up to sit but cried in agony due to her ribs.
"NO WAY!" Aimi barked, running over to Niamh and tried to put her back to the ground, kneeling down as Niamh rest against her arm and leg. "DON'T BE STUPID! I'M NOT LETTING YOU!"
Carla was taken back, but judging Niamh's condition; it was bad news anyway as the girl had started to lose too much blood and by the time she reached the walls. Niamh was good as gone. The captain turned away, lowering her eyes as listened to Aimi argue with Niamh's idea, knowing the Ackerman knew finally herself Niamh wasn't going to make it . Milo, turned his head to the two girls arguing between themselves, didn't know how to handle the situation remained quite. He couldn't think straight because he was experiencing pain in his mission leg, known as phantom limb pain. It was strange, he could feel his toes, ankle and the pulse as if something was there when there clearly wasn't.
"SHUT UP! YOU GOT TO LIVE DAMMIT!" Aimi begged, her eyes welling up to the young.
"Aimi, my ribs are destroyed... I can barely see you right now." Niamh whimpered, "You saved me... let me.. save you."
Eleanor was crying at the front, familiar with Niamh and their times in the cadet training. It was only for two weeks, but when you gelled so well with someone, it was painful to hear the girl volunteering herself to the depths of hell.
"NO! WE CAN MAKE IT! I'LL KILL THAT TITAN! LET ME KILL IT! CAPTAIN?!"
Mikasa's eyes watered to Aimi's desperation towards Carla, hoping the captain would agree with her reasoning. Armin was sitting beside Mikasa, hand on her shoulder as he sees Carla turned her head to Aimi and Niamh's answer. He sighed, knowing it wasn't going to be the answer Aimi wanted to hear. Eren was standing behind the two faced away from the aura, feeling as though hearing the conversation was enough to bear without losing his frustration. This is exactly why Eren wanted to eliminate the titans from this world, seeing innocent lives get eaten alive. But then again, it was contradicting and hypocritical of Eren to feel this way; after all. He trampled millions through the Rumbling. He stands there, numbing his hearing so he didn't have to remind himself of the days he helplessly watched his friends and everyone he knew die.
"Niamh, I thank you for your service within the Survey Corp." Carla looked into the eyes of the innocence, smiling back at her.
"CARLA!? NO! PLEASE!" Aimi begged.
"Aimi. It's not your place to-" Carla is about to argue.
"Aimi.. listen to me... My death, will let yous live. You got to get home remember? I am willing to do this, if it is for the good of humanity." Niamh smiled at Aimi, the blood dripping from the corner of her mouth it makes Aimi shake visibly from within the aura.
"Niamh.. I-I want you to live." Aimi choked.
"It's ok. I'm ready... Please. Do what's best.. One sacrifice. Can save many lives."
Armin shook his head, seeing the girl lift Niamh in bridal style, her right side drenched in Niamh's blood. It was intense, seeing the titan gaining great speed as Aimi slowly made her way to the edge of the cart. Looking at the titan with so much emptiness, yet so much emotion as tears were falling. Eren turned around, watching Aimi hold the almost there life in her arms, shaking like mad. This moment, would change Aimi and Eren could see it's impact right through her. Mikasa closed her eyes, wanting to save her daughter from this hell.
"You know... I am scared, but...I want to be brave." Niamh struggled to giggle, making Aimi cry sorely
"Niamh.. Please.. I-"
"But... that night.. when you told me about Paradis's future.. I often wondered after you left.."
The Titan chasing after them is now 10 seconds from snatching one of them from, Carla pull out her swords and was close to shouting at Aimi to hurry up but stopped herself when she heard the dying girl softly asked the Ackerman;
"What our home would look like... without those horrible walls.. Aimi... I hope you get to see Paradis like that again... Free from those walls."
Armin covered his face in his hand from holding Mikasa's shoulders, feeling close to crying himself but tried to keep his composure. Mikasa was still, hearing the poor girls final words and watched quietly Aimi's defeated expression as she extended her arms. Niamh was now closing her eyes, the blood from her mouth making it difficult to breathe. Aimi closed her eyes, pushing f Niamh from her arms and heard the sweet girl finished;
"And...Free from.. The titans."
The three within the paths watched along with Aimi within the aura Niamh tumbled across the ground. The titan stopped it's tracks, hearing the girl cry in agony due to the ribs being attacked again. It squats down, picking the sweet girl up and crushes Niamh's waist and caused the girl to squeal. Aimi, dumbfounded, watched Niamh cry until she couldn't hear her anyone as the titan bits her head off.
"Oh sweetheart." Mikasa breaks down for Aimi, covering her face, knowing her daughter had been tainted by trauma. The trauma of Mikasa's world back when she fought the titans. A world she dearly wanted her children or future generations to ever experience. But no, life had different plans and makes Aimi throw someone to a titan to save her own skin. It was so hard to watch her child go through something as this.
Armin looked up to Eren, seeing his face filled with hatred. The same face Eren made the day he lost his mother, wanting to kill every single damn titan on sight. Eren's eyes darted to Armin, startling him slightly but relaxed quickly when Eren softened his expression and then kneeling down to Mikasa. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, letting her pull her head into his chest. Armin decides to no longer watch Eren, knowing the man wanted to focus his attention to Mikasa and decides to return his attention to the aura. Aimi, closes the back of the cart and lifelessly collapses to the wall of it across from Milo. The two of them, scarred. One, lost a physical limb. the other, lost their senses. Aimi sits up, struggling to turn around to see if the titan was going to chase them. but, it doesn't as it munches down on the corpse as the Survey corps were now too far from reach. Aimi eyes were bloodshot, burning sore by all the tears as a memory is displayed from the aura suddenly;
Aimi, back when she was in her intense test to try get into the cadets course was sitting on a top bunk with Niamh. A time where everyone was ordered to go to bed as all the girls were chatting amongst themselves. Some were even asleep such as Eleanor who snored like a pig in the bottom bunk.
"No way!" Niamh wowed whispering, "A world without titans! how is that possible?!"
"Well, long story shot. Remember the attack i told you about?"
"Uh.. Eren..Yeager?"
"Yeah! Well... he basically.. I can't say 'exactly' what he did... because you know.. future stuff?"
"No, no that's ok! I won't tell a soul, after all, gotta make sure it happens right? This is amazing!"
The three watched this memory, seeing Niamh when she was fit and listened to Aimi's story. It was like two girls gossiping. Mikasa was surprised to see Aimi tell so much to someone what lies aged. But the aura then displays different memories to Eren, Armin and Mikasa of Aimi's relationship with the girl. Niamh appeared to be Aimi's big supporter, helping her multiple occasions with the theory training, trying to help with ODM, give hints and tips. but most of all, she thanked Aimi for spending time with her. The girl came a poor background, where her family was from a district in Wall Rose and owned a business. Only to go bankrupt and homeless. Niamh sadly didn't have the best relationship with her family either, deciding to runaway and join the Survey Corps for a fresh start and to hopefully one day to be a good soldier, get a good job and make a living of her own. The girl was endearing, building a bond with both Eleanor and Aimi. Milo did get along with the girl, but clicked more with the boy Byran as they done their own thing during the two weeks.
"So yeah... My mum and the alliance went to fight Eren. My god father was the one who killed the attack titan. As a form of sacrifice to break the titan curse."
"oh.." Niamh blinked a few times, "That's so...sad.. I mean good the titans disappeared. I heard they're terrifying. But... Eren and to sacrifice himself?
"Well, it's a lot more complicated than that... too complicated."
Aimi had only briefly told the history, missing out big chunks purposefully to not expose the future. Such as humanity outside the walls and their hatred against Paradis, and Eren's infliction to the world through the Rumbling. But, it was interesting to see a girl who listened to Aimi with such admiration.
"Niamh."
"Yeah?"
"How come.. You believe what I am telling you? I mean...you haven't seem to doubt me once. Why is that?"
Niamh looked away, tapping her chin to come up with an answer.
The girl smiled, "I trust my gut. I know that isn't the most definite answer, but I trust you and I want to help you whatever way I can to get you home!"
"You do? Oh Niamh, how you going to do that?" Aimi chuckled to the girl.
"Oh I don't know, I'm sure my moment will come." Niamh shrugged giggling, truly a girlie girl.
The memory ended, returning back to present moment of Aimi staring at the titan who killed the sweet girl.
"I just realised... That was Aimi's memory they shared together." Mikasa sniffed, seeing Aimi fall back facing away sitting down into the cart.
Mikasa was right. The aura displayed a memory of importance, a memory of Aimi's moment with Niamh. For that moment of Niamh's help finally came to serve the Ackerman to live; and that was her death. Eren doesn't know how to respond, holding onto Mikasa and squeezed her shoulder lightly. It was the only thing he could do right now. Armin sat there, feeling just as lost as Eren.
Aimi's memory ends with Niamh giggling; "Oh I don't know, I'm sure my moment will come."
It turned her stomach, feeling completely horrible to the point Aimi actually throws up; falling to her knees over the cart and spewed her insides. She actually felt like a murderer, responsible for the teenager who was short lived. Even though Niamh would've died shortly, the fact Aimi was valuable of tossing her body to a titan, was enough for Aimi to feel nothing but guilt and shame. Carla turned away, feeling terrible for the Ackerman girl who watched Aimi do the deed, she kicks her horse to go faster, unsure how to handle the situation. As a leader, it's not often good to display your emotions. At the end of the day, Carla had to remind herself that this was another day of the Survey Corps. Milo twisted his side to Eleanor, placing his hand on Eleanor's back as she cried to herself whilst holding the reigns to the horses charging along, patting her to remind her he's here. Then his leg began to burn again, making him left go and clasp tight to his knee, now the edge of his half leg.
"I killed her." Aimi blurted out, finishing her boking and turned herself round facing Milo.
"You didn't Aimi. You had no choice." Milo groaned in pain, trying to sound soft but couldn't due to his pain.
"I did have a choice though." Aimi quietly answered back, hanging over as her head was trapped between her head, looking like her head was about to explode; "I wanted her to live... but chose to let her go as I tossed her aside."
Aimi words breaks her heart, making her break down on the spot, in pure deep sorrow. The wish for Niamh to be here alive and well fills Aimi with such grief that I think I will explode. e. Milo wanted to crawl to her, but the dizziness was unbearable as he had to lie back against the wall of the cart, seeing his friend poor her heart out. It was then he realised this was not his home. It was a cruel place. He barely catches sight of his remaining leg, it was strange, knowing he'll never be able to walk properly again. Damn... Those titans, are truly monsters. Milo closed his eyes, too exhausted and in pain to cry as he closed his eyes, thinking it'd be better to dream of home rather than being here in this shithole.
Aimi, still crying to herself, cant help but relieves that moment of Niamh's head getting ripped off, watching her body tumble to the ground and crying in immense pain. Tears welled from deep inside and coursed down her cheeks. Tears spilt over and flowed down my face like a river escaping a dam. A solemn tear fell down my cheek; my body looked calm compared to how tangled my mind was. Moans escaped her lips through the suppressed sound of hiccups. It was visually difficult to see the world around her, the wooden flor of the cart. but was clear as day when Aimi envisioned a memory of the sweet Niamh Top. Even though they met fir such a short period of time, Aimi will truly cherish the girl's innocence for a lifetime.
' If i wasn't so damn pathetic earlier.. Maybe. You could still be here' Aimi quivered for the girl who was long gone.
RIP, to my first character I created. Niamh Top.
Author's Note:
Now sorry that I have been away. I received sad news recently and I had to focus on myself and family. But here is a fully action pack chapter for you's to enjoy. Life has been challenging, so I hope to see you soon ASAP.
Disclaimer:
I do not own the characters of Shingeki no Kyokin, they belong to the rightful owner. Other characters later mentioned in the story will be referenced also as the fanfic progresses. The only characters I have ownership are ones created from scratch. Also, IF YOU ARE ANIME ONLY OR HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE MANGA, PEASE DON'T CONTINUE TO READ THIS STORY. Unless, you love spoilers then that's fine by me!
And also, *salutes*
Shinzou o Sasageyo!
