Saph's PoV
"Why isn't she dead yet?" Kenny asked Suzu and Ethell, a sneer on his ugly face.
All three stood outside my jail cell, peering in as if I were a caged animal. As if I weren't a human being whose hopes were shattered against the filthy floor of the cell I shared with my brother… who I thought was my brother. Shoulders hunched inwards, I sighed dejectedly. Maybe my time to die had arrived. I survived the Underground and fought Titans for years. But this would be the end of me. Without the energy to muster up a glare, I stared glassy eyed at the intruders of my 'fruitless misery' session.
Ethell pointed towards my brother. "He said that we could use her."
"For what? She's just a waste of space now. Practically dead too. The state she's in now means she wouldn't be any fun to play around with anymore," Kenny drawled, making it sound like they had forgotten to take the trash out instead of dispose a human being.
Suzu stepped forward. "Well remember that body you found two days ago? I figured we could use her to test out if it's the real thing or not."
Kenny's unexpected bark of laughter startled the two teens. "For being her blood relative, that's a pretty fucked-up thing to say. If that boy isn't from the village then she'll turn into a mindless monster. If he is, then she'll be eaten. Doesn't matter since she'd be dead either way." Kenny spoke casually.
"It's better than one of us trying it out," Suzu shrugged his shoulders. "Did you have someone else in mind for that task?"
Staring at my brother suspiciously, Kenny wrinkled his nose in thought. "Quite a despairing, depressing way to die I'd say. I like it! We will start right away. I want to get this over with, and that dead body is starting to stink up the hallway."
"What if she controls it though?" Ethell asked, a worried edge to her voice.
"The chances of that happening are slim. She doesn't know what's happening to her much less be capable of escaping with the ability with all of us in the area," Suzu sharply silenced her fears.
Not comprehending what they referred too, I paid only sort of attention to the conversation going on. My very own little brother calmly discussing my death didn't interest me because I had nothing else to live for. For what reason did I endure hardships if it only led to this miserable ending? Never again would I hear Hanji drone on about Titans. Never have Auruo call me ugly. Never have Petra give me a comforting smile. Never have Eld sneak me an extra roll to take on my morning run. Never see Levi again. Never ever see Levi again. Touch. Smell. Hear. Talk to. Never again. Maybe he'd be happier that way. Live a fulfilling and joyful life with Petra. They'd retire from the Survey Corps in a few years. Buy a house in town where they would raise two kids and a cat. Maybe I'll get the cat named after me. That'll be nice. Has a nice ring to it. Saph the cat. Named after their comrade who never came home after her walk. My lips twisted into a smile.
The cell door swinging open broke me out of my half-baked delusions. Ethell approached me with a rope in hand. Just because I knew death awaited me no matter what didn't mean I would make it easy for the bitch. Striking my leg out, I hit her the kneecap full force. The blow made her crumble to the ground where I took hold of her black hair and slammed her face onto the stone to try and knock her unconscious or dead, either would work for me. Blood spurted everywhere indicating that I had broken her nose in my brutal endeavor. Swiftly getting up, I dodged Suzu's outstretched hand to grab the pail full of shit in the corner. Intending to hit Suzu or Kenny with it, I stopped short when a grip on my ankle made me stumble. Ethell didn't let go even when the contents of my bucket began to slosh, spilling over the sides and splattering on her back.
Finally getting ahold of my wrist, Suzu attempted to twist my arm behind me, the struggle led to me dropping my makeshift weapon. A pained grunt below us could be heard as the item hit Ethell, tipping over and sloshing the disgusting contents everywhere. My cuts stretched open, weeping red, when Suzu forced me up against the wall. Gritting my teeth, my sore muscles screamed in agony while I struggled against the hold my brother had on me. The strength I had felt during our playful wrestling, now made itself known full force as he subdued me with almost relative ease. Part of the problem rested in my instinct to not injure my brother, precious seconds wasted away with me trying to get loose without putting my little brother through any pain. Of course even when driven into a corner because of him, I couldn't shake loose the years of familial bond and love.
My adrenaline boost seemed to be waning as my feet couldn't find enough purchase to advance forward. Straw poked at my skin when I dug my heels into the ground, dirt piling up underneath as I scrambled for an advantage. Panicking when my nails scraped against the marks made by the others before me, I accidentally kneed him in the crotch.
"Shit," Suzu muttered underneath his breath while wincing.
Unprepared, the blow caused him to loosen his constraint enough to let me easily shake him off. My freedom was cut short, however, when an arm pressed against my neck, cutting my air supply off. Dragging his limb upwards, Kenny lifted me until my feet dangled uselessly above the grimy floor.
"Now, now. Can't help but try to prevent the inevitable, eh?" Kenny smirked, inches away from my face.
Clinging to the unforgiving arm blocking me from breathing, I snarled. My lungs begged for air, but the encroaching death didn't feel real. Only in the back of my mind did I know this could kill me, but I didn't care. Hell awaited for me and my one goal was to make it the hardest possible task to send me there. Breaking eye contact with the serial killer, I glanced towards my brother who cautiously approached the man.
"Don't kill her yet."
"And here I thought you two would be able to handle the simple task of restraining her. God dammit, Ethell, you smell worse than a horse's asshole. Go upstairs and clean yourself up." Kenny set me down. "Suzu, you tie her." Keeping me in place, Kenny scrutinized me for any signs of rebellion.
Complacent, I felt the scratchiness of the rope they were using to bind me encircle my wrists. Finally, Kenny turned away from me. The way he left his back defenseless enraged me. His casual way of showing that he didn't find me a threat made me want to spit on his retreating form. Before I could attempt to do anything, Suzu pushed me forward.
In a straight line we trekked through the winding hallways, heading deeper and deeper from where the dungeon had been. The smell of wet earth invaded my nose as we began to go down a long flight stairs. Nobody passed the three of us while we walked to our destination. Careful not to slip on any of the cracked, crumbling steps, I bumped into Kenny in front of me.
Startled, I reeled backwards to smack into Suzu's chest, his chin knocking into the back of my head. "Ow," he complained, trying to steady me.
"Whoops! Sorry, Suzu," I laughed. The silent tension now bursting into a fanatical hysteria. "How are you feeling where I kneed you? Must still be a little sore."
Suzu remained quiet in the face of my inquiries. Not letting me turn around to face him, he tugged on my wrist to steer me. Only the light offered from the lamps helped guide us on our way.
"It's not unusual for me to be concerned for your health, obviously, because I am your big sister. When you have the time, put ice on it or something. You don't want an ugly bruise forming. That could make it difficult to piss I'm guessing."
Kenny whirled around, his face twisted in anger. Though I saw the attack coming; I could do nothing to protect my face when his knuckles crashed against my jaw, my neck snapping back painfully due to the force. Teeth clacking together, a sharp brutal pain shooting through my entire skull. Stumbling, I crash into the chilled ground.
"You only have to be half-alive for this to work, so if I were you, I'd shut the hell up," Kenny seethed.
Disoriented, I couldn't focus enough to try and stand up. Fed up with me sitting there, Suzu wrenched me up, somewhat carrying, somewhat dragging me onwards. Thankfully, we didn't have to go far before we reached wherever the two of them wanted to go.
What had been a small passageway before suddenly opened up into a huge cavern. The ceiling must have been at least 20 meters high with no hint of sunlight shining above. Pure rock kept me away from my freedom. Occupied with my surroundings, I'd been lead up to the single chair in the center before realizing it. Leather straps dangled from the arms and legs of the sturdy wood, bloodstains could be seen splattered across the material, soaked in until nothing could scrub them away.
"Here we go!" Kenny jeered, untying the rope before shoving me down until I sat on the only piece of furniture in the entire area. The freedom didn't last long; without pausing in his movements, Kenny wrapped the straps snug against my skin. So tight that it pinched, it hurt! The sudden realization that pain hadn't registered in my mind since Suzu left flitted inside my brain like a fluttering bird trapped in a cage. Bashing my hands against the wall in desperation for him to come back, the fight inside the cell, the punishment while walking towards my death, pain happened but by my own choice I chose to not avoid it even when my body screamed for it to stop. This experience differed in the torture since I fought against that agony, but now, I seemed to be numb to it until the clenching dug in. That sensation awoke me to a new feeling all together: fear. I didn't want to die. I knew it had been coming, but now I didn't want it to happen.
Suzu stood in front of me, alive and well. Didn't I endure to make sure his life could be a pleasant one? Just because the situation didn't turn out the way I expected, meant that all hope disintegrated into the abyss? But now, my chances of altering my fate had slimmed down since I allowed myself to be tied up to this chair. However, I could bide my time, be patient. I searched for my brother for almost seven years with no sure sign he still lived, I could wait to escape with him in tow.
"It was your idea, so you inject her with it," Kenny ordered, handing Suzu a syringe with a strange yellow liquid inside it. "Make sure there aren't any air bubbles while I go get the body."
Once Kenny disappeared in the only apparent exit/entrance, I concentrated on Suzu. "It's going to be alright," I assured him. Since he left me behind with Ethell, I hadn't properly viewed him. Dark circles encased his brown eyes, giving him a haggard, aged disposition that didn't exist before. Unruly tufts of hair stuck out in various directions, untamed in their desperation to stay in place.
"For me, yes. For you, I'm not so sure," he monotonously remarked, never giving me a bit of emotion.
"No matter what happens, I love you."
My statement didn't get answered since Kenny came in while pushing a wheelbarrow. A corpse that seemed to be of a woman in her thirties could be seen from my position. The limbs stuck out in an awkward, stiff manner, betraying the fact that she didn't die recently, but not long enough to start decomposing into a revolting mess.
Dumping the body a few feet away from me, Kenny gave a satisfied grin. "You ready for our little experiment?"
"Let's get on with this," Suzu sighed, approaching me.
What I didn't expect was Kenny cautiously backing away into the small doorway. Now a bit more terrified of the strange liquid, I couldn't contain my trembling when Suzu lifted the needle up. Shots were few and far between in the world, but I had experienced enough to know what to expect. Unsure of how I might be affected when I get injected, caused previously unknown terror at the sight of the thin metal tube piercing my skin.
"Remember, Suzu, I'll always love you," I reminded him, right before he pushed the plunger down. The reaction took place instantly. It felt like molten iron replaced the blood in my body. Arching my spine, the cuffs barely held as I let out a wail. Too consumed with what was happening inside me, I didn't see Suzu sprint out of the cavern. The chair, eventually, toppled over while I was consumed by my anguish, making me bash my skull and send me into sweet, unconsciousness. My last introspection revolved around a pair of cloudless grey eyes consumed in grief.
"Saph! Wake up!" My little seven year old brother urged.
I didn't want to wake up, a man named Kenny had hurt me until I could only crawl back to our safe place in the Underground. I'd get going when I healed and rested for some time. Just a little bit longer of a rest before I head back out again to try and get some food. At least enough to feed Suzu for a night. My belly always seemed to be empty since our parents died. Mom and Dad tried so hard to make sure we lived a happy childhood before having to either become a farmer or join the military like them.
"Saph! Saph!" Oh how incessant he could be. No one would think he was the same meek four year old who would cower in corners when we first came down here. He's so brave. I bet if I died, Suzu could survive on his own and find a way out of this hole.
A splash of cold water awakened me from my self-absorbed apparition. Sitting up, I found myself back in a cell. Not ten, but almost seventeen. Suzu crouched in front of me, his eyes creased in worry. Not seven, but fourteen. The stench that reminded me too much of the Underground brought back everything that had transpired. Being captured by Kenny and tortured for information, Suzu getting thrown in with me, then telling him all the details I knew, then Suzu betraying me for that fucker Kenny, then the two of them taking me down to a large cavern and Suzu injecting me with some strange yellow liquid, then… then nothing? I couldn't remember? There had been a dead female body, but I don't know how I got back here.
"What happened?" I asked. The two of us were all alone, no Ethell or Kenny in sight.
Suzu dropped his head low until it rested in my lap as if we had gone back to the way we were seven years ago. "I'm so sorry!" he cried out, slightly muffled by my thighs. "There didn't seem to be another way! Kenny didn't trust me around you, even when I gave him all the information you told me. I couldn't think of anything else but this to make him believe I didn't care for you! You have to understand, Saph, I didn't want to do this to you."
"It's okay," I murmured numbly, rubbing gentle circles on his back, "I forgive you."
He sat up so fast that my nose grazed his hair. "You don't know what I've done to you."
Confused, I inspected myself for any signs of changes, each cut, each pore seemed exactly the same. No more wounds had appeared since I fainted, so no clues to what he despaired about. "I'm not sure what you're going on about, Suzu, but it's okay." I embraced him in an attempt to remove his misery and to cement the fact in that my fantasies ran their course and now reality awaited me. Suzu still loved and cared for me, he didn't betray me, but did what appeared to be necessary for us to escape.
"I'll explain it to you later," Suzu whispered, removing himself from my arms by standing up. "First, we have to get out of here before Kenny finds us." Panic bloomed in his eyes while his features tightened in terror at the mere idea his insubordination would be found out by that man. "If he finds us, I'm going to have to pretend to be on his side if we have any hope of getting out alive."
"I'm sure we would be able to take him if the two of us were together."
Suzu opened my cell door, my words stilling him completely when they reached his ears. "He's more dangerous than Titans, Saph. Levi might be the strongest soilder, but Kenny is the strongest human being. I've seen him take down fifty highly trained soldiers armed with guns like they were babies. I… I'm so terrified of him that I never once tried to run away. It's like he controls people with his bloodlust."
Miffed that he thought Kenny could beat Levi in a fight, I attempted to not appear skeptical. "Okay. We'll just have to be careful." Right when I placed my foot outside into the corridor, a large crash sounded from upstairs. Shouts and screams could be heard paired with the smell of gunpowder invading the area. I froze up.
"Get back in there! I'll see what's going on," Suzu ordered me as he locked the jail door, hastily.
Incapable of relaxing with the sounds of war happening all around us, I braced myself for the worst when Suzu sprinted towards the noise. Antsy without him in my sight and no clue what was happening, I shook the iron bars while trying to peer into the distance of where my little brother disappeared to. He came back a few seconds later but they felt like an eternity with my concern growing insurmountably.
"What is it?" I couldn't help but ask as he struggled to take a breath.
Suzu jerked up, his exclamation, raspy, but clear, "It's the Survey Corps!"
The story has finally reached over 100,000 words! Wohoo! This is a bit of a shorter chapter, but I do have a fondness for cliffhangers. For those of you who have read the manga, I'm sure you can figure out what has transpired. For those of you who just watched the anime, it'll be a surprise. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review on your way out!