CONTENT WARNING: rated 'M' for slightly graphic descriptions of the rape of a minor, blood and language. Read at your own risk!
En route to Stohess
"Faster!" Sierra barked at her tired escort, whose shoulders had drooped considerably over the last several miles. "If ya wanna sleep in a warm bed by tomorrow night kid, step on it!" I wouldn't even HAVE this problem to begin with, but no. Erwin just HAD to throw BABYSITTER into my itinerary. If she'd been riding alone...no problem.
But this clown...there was a nagging suspicion growing in her mind.
How many trips has he made outside?
Never mind the fact he made it from Stohess to HQ unaided in record time-it was still a stupid decision on Erwin's part. Unless you had a death wish, the rookies never rode solo.
Kid was greener than the cloak wrapped around his shoulders.
The night wind rushed over the pair, causing their cloaks to flap in the breeze. She kept one eye peeled for Stohess' gigantic outer gate-and the other on Frei. We gotta get within ten miles of the gate before nightfall, or we're goners. And seriously, WHAT THE HELL was Eyebrows thinkin'?!
Frei reeled in his saddle. Thankfully his horse sensed his discomfort, and shifted to accommodate its master's sagging weight.
"No. You're right." Why can't she keep her voice down? Sound carries further at night. Who knows might hear us? All the extra gear-flares, spare cloaks, rations, blades, a few extra gas tanks, and medical supplies-felt like a waste of resources but she was the seasoned veteran. Erwin's voice cut through his rebellious thoughts:
"Don't take Ms. Wolf's insults personally son. It's simply her way of dealing with people. But keep this in mind always: she's used to working alone, so don't slow her down or give her any lip."
And the Major probably had her reasons but that didn't mean he agreed with all of them. So far, they hadn't encountered any titans. Then again, they were within the protection of Wall Rose after all.
"Let's find us a perch. It's gettin' late."
The young Cadet swallowed the rock forming in the back of his throat as he guided his horse toward a small tree cluster with the tallest ones barely clearing 17 meters.
He hadn't graduated in time to ride on the 57th Scouting Expedition, but from the little intel he did manage to scrounge up made his stomach churn. Over 100 soldiers perished on those plains...and the Levi Squad-four of the best soldiers except for their Captain-wound up biting the farm in the Forest of Giant Trees. Their demise was bloody and violent and the two survivors-Levi and Eren-refused to speak of that horrible tragedy.
Soon they were fast approaching the scant fringe-the muffled thud of their horses' hoofs over the sun warmed grass-the only sound interrupting the night's peaceful symphony.
"Frei! See to the horses, then find yourself a tree. I'm goin' up." Sierra commanded eyes zeroing in on one of the tallest trees of the bunch a 16-meter giant. It had thick foliage with substantially wide branches sticking out in random intervals. "Climb as high as you can."
Frei's sharp tenor sliced through the cool night air as he acknowledged the order.
"Yes ma'am! Got it!"
She hopped into a crouch on top of Slate's back and fired her grappling hooks at her chosen perch. Weightlessness and the sensation of flying never failed to send a wild rush through her body. It was one of the perks of being in the military. Soaring high above the stifling pens. Above the lowing fattened cows. Above the hovels those blind, ignorant fools called 'houses', believing the walls-or rather the idea they represented-came crashing down with one well-placed kick to Wall Maria's outer gate courtesy of the Colossal Titan.
Where, in a tiny town called Shiganshina, humanity's false sense of security was shattered overnight.
She scoffed at the sheer stupidity of the masses. Every cell was on high alert as she expertly propelled her slim, well-toned body toward the top of her giant tree, reveling in pure, undiluted freedom. Enjoy it while it lasts. Yer gonna be cooped up in a cage soon enough.
The leaves rustled as she landed on cat feet three quarters of the way up. Crouched at the ready blades in hand. Sniffing the air out of habit, for the familiar foul scent of their hated foe before she remembered where they were. Inside Wall Rose.
Satisfied the air was clean, she unwound a thin, yet highly durable rope from around her waist. Sitting back against the grainy bark Sierra expertly passed the rope around her thighs. Tying a knot that wouldn't slip but she could tug on it a certain way for a quick release. After securely belting herself in she laid her head against the grainy bark.
Ah. Nice and high. This is good.
"Major Sierra? I've secured the horses."
Frei waited, but no response was forthcoming. So he raised her voice, praying there were no hostile ears in the vicinity. This far in, it was people not titans he was worried about.
"Major? Where are y-"
"Shut it kid. I heard ya the first time."
She sounded close. Maybe less than five trees away but it was hard to tell in the pitch blackness with the half-moon the only light source around. The tall teen released a tiny breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his anxiety lessening at her rough tones.
"Uh ma'am? May I ask you something?" Don't screw up, Frei. You don't want to anger her.
Sierra settled back against the trunk, trying to get comfortable. She'd briefly forgotten the kid had been with her for a second. As long as he don't ask about my past, I'm cool.
"Yeah?"
"What made you want to join the Scouts?"
His voice was tentative as if he was trespassing on private grounds. She was silent for a few moments, contemplating the question when-
Perverted moans floated through the Underground's seediest brothel. The unmistakable slap of skin on skin as a man 20 years a frightened Sierra's senior with a fetish for underage girls pounded into her again and again and again. Bile rose in the 9-year old's throat as she fought back hot tears as the rough treatment of her most tender intimate parts was brutally ravaged by a vicious predator.
Where was her daddy? Was he looking for her right now?
Were her three younger brothers crying for their big sister?
Was her mom demanding the Military Police scour every inch of Trost for her missing daughter? Would this nightmare she'd been thrust into ever end?
Oh God.
It hurts.
It hurts it hurts it hurts makeitstop. MAKE IT STOP!
"Ma'am?" Concern laced Frei's tone. "Are you alright?"
She squeezed her eyes shut and let her fingers splay over her plum-colored t-shirt under her jacket, where her ravaged womb was.
No. Nothing will ever be alright again. Men are beasts. All they do is screw ya repeatedly just to get their kicks then dump ya when they've sated their lusts. Just like the titans when they gorge on humans, then puke us out. All for the mindless purpose of filling their bellies again and again with our flesh.
"Titans are a disease, kid. It's stupid to think anything less than extermination for those monsters. They all deserve to die. Every last one."
A cruel, sadistic smirk curled her lip. One, that if Frei could see, he'd piss himself and want to crawl into the deepest hole he could find and not come out for months.
But since he didn't he pressed on.
"That's exactly what Eren keeps saying. But there has to be another reason why-"
"Does there?"
That stopped him cold.
No. There wasn't.
"Get some sleep. We need to be sharp going into Trost."
Awkward shuffling emanated from the tree where she judged Frei to be sitting in.
"Um, yeah. About that."
Oh God. I don't like the sound of this.
"Um, well, I dunno how to put this...but the Colossal Titan reappeared out of nowhere. Just like it did at Shiganshina five years ago. Kicked the outer gate in. Titans flooded the town…and...well...Eren had to go Titan himself and seal the hole with a giant boulder with a lot of casualties. According to Commander Pixis, it's unlikely the gate will ever be used again, so we'll be deploying from Karanese District from now on."
Artic silver eyes widened slightly. Whoa whoa, is this for real? No wonder Eyebrows sicced Frei on her like a tick.
"And yer tellin' me this now?!" she growled, furious Erwin had the balls to keep her out of the loop. "Sounds like I've missed out on quite a bit of action."
"Please ma'am, it was for a good reason!" he pleaded. Suddenly thankful he wasn't sharing the same tree with her. This woman was reported to be scarier than Levi when angered and he didn't feel like tempting fate. "When the public learned of Eren's ability they were curious and afraid. So to keep the peace and prevent uprisings, he was arrested by the MPs and put on trial. They threatened to dissect him and in their fear, started accusing his closest friends of being monsters themselves."
Yep. Sounds jest like 'em. Playin' dirty to meet their own selfish ends. They've got a nasty habit of putting freedom on trial and passing it off as treason against the crown. Dickless pansies.
Sierra leaned forward, suddenly wanting to know everything.
"What happened?"
"Well, to protect him from falling into the MPs hands and certain death, Captain Levi beat him in front of the court."
She raised an eyebrow at that. Huh. Don't tell me he …CARES about people. Kinda goes against his icy nature. Levi held as much charm as a rock. 'Sides, that midget looks the same wielding his weapons as he does runnin' around like a kitchen maid with all them cute scarves he likes to wear.
"Lemme guess. It worked."
He nodded even though she couldn't see it from her perch.
"Yes. The Survey Corps was granted custody and he's been a Scout ever since. But the whole situation's tenuous at best, a chaotic nightmare at worst. We're pinning our survival as a race on a 15-year-old kid who's liable to run out of control at any time. But with the Captain keeping him in check, we've got a winning chance."
She sighed, letting her body relax. Trust Levi to do something that insane and walk away. Then again, he had an uncanny knack of getting what he wanted. No matter the cost.
"Besides when we reach town, I'm sure he'll be excited to meet you-"
"I bet he will," she said in a tone that brooked no further talking. "Now sleep."
"Good night Major."
She remained silent listening to Frei's quiet snores. Wondering what kind of surprises awaited them both when the sun rose and if she'd get to meet Eren in person.
But that meant Levi would be there. Watching over his charge like a deadly shadow. And God knows he was capable of just about anything.
She settled back more snugly against the tree bark and was in the process of falling asleep when she was assaulted by flashes of blood.
Screams for mercy mingled with the wet squelch of a blade being dragged across her belly. The only thing she recalled that horrible day was the excruciating pain she felt when a butcher's merciless scalpel ruthlessly cut out her 5-month-old unborn child and waking up on the freezing floor in the basement of the brothel with a zipper stitched up her abdomen. The result of a corrupted member of the Military Police who felt his sexual appetites were no longer being satisfied by his wife.
Who'd developed a sick, twisted fetish for underage girls.
No, the darkness held no comfort for Sierra. It reminded her of the Underground.
Of that filthy brothel.
Of being completely at the mercy of vicious wolves dressed in human skin.
Of Levi's proud, stoic face looking at her on that uncomfortably hot summer afternoon long ago. Somehow the strange feeling he would never hurt her welled up. Along with the alien sense of feeling safe and protected...but she was so accustomed to men treating her like a piece of trash she quickly dismissed the rogue sensations trying to form a crack in her carefully laid walls.
It was only after the sense of empowerment she felt-when at the tender age of 12 she killed her first man-that she finally drifted off.
TBC...
A/N: Big hugs to all who faved/followed, esp to jazzers444, anon guest, and NattenRaseri who were kind enough to leave reviews!
