Chapter 3: Unfold

After a fifteen-minute walk, the group finally arrived in Adam's neighborhood. As they strolled down the sidewalk, the trio observed some of the massive houses around them.

"You can stick with me for now, I'll just have to make something up for Sarah," Adam said to the group.

"Who's Sarah?" asked Armin.

"She's my guardian," replied Adam.

Sarah had become Adam's legal guardian after his mother's mental breakdown, as she had been his father's best friend throughout high school and college, resulting in her becoming the teen's legal guardian to repay her old friend. Though she was his legal guardian and a full adult, she treated him almost like a roommate, being very laid back and understanding.

Finally, the teens arrived at Adam's house, and they gazed in amazement. In front of them stood a large, upper-middle-class, lavish house containing three levels, including the attic. Multiple cottage windows surround the entire house, along with tan-colored stone walls. Surrounded by large trees, evergreens, and a lawn followed by a long driveway.

"Woah, I've never seen houses like these before," exclaimed Armin. "So, does everyone here live in houses like this?"

"Well, everyone in this neighborhood does, but in terms of the general public, no," replied Adam.

While it was true that in terms of money, he lived a more luxurious life than most teens. However, after losing both parents, he wasn't exactly living in paradise.

As they walked up to the wooden door, Adam took out his key and began to open the door. After fidgeting with the lock for a moment, the teen pushed the door open, letting the trio inside first.

"Welcome to my home," said Adam.

As he let them enter his home, the teen noticed Eren had started leaning against Mikasa for support, putting aside his pride in favor of relief from the pain. After gesturing for them to go inside, Adam then led the three into the forward living room so they could sit. The teen then made his way into the kitchen. He then opened a cabinet and grabbed a first aid kit. Usually, on a Friday afternoon, Adam would grab his first aid kit after his scheduled beat down, but that afternoon was the first time he would have to treat someone else for injuries. Let only someone that only exists in a fantasy world.

After checking Eren's swollen leg for about two minutes, he concluded that Eren's leg wasn't broken, but he would need to let it rest to recover, giving Mikasa and Armin much relief. Adam then brought an ice pack, a glass of water, painkillers, and gauze.

"Here, take these," instructed Adam.

"What are they?" asked Eren as he looked at the white tablets in confusion.

"They'll help reduce the pain in your ankle," replied Adam.

Eren looked at him as if he were a madman, which was understandable considering they had no such medication in their world or, rather, in the walls.

"Trust me."

Eren then took the pills, swallowing them hesitantly, then chugging down the glass of water he was given. After getting his ankle wrapped, he then put the ice pack on his ankle and shifted into a more comfortable position. Meanwhile, Adam sat down on the single couch across from them with sweating palms and ragged breathing, all the while trying to prepare his thoughts to tell them everything. "So, I know you guys are probably wondering about things you've seen."

"Wondering?!" shouted Eren. "Since we got here, we've been attacked by psychopaths, then we see these fast-moving cart-things, and now we're in some fancy house surrounded by stuff that looks almost ready to explode! Of course, we're wondering!"

"Eren, you need to try and calm down," advised Armin. "There's gotta be a logical explanation for all this, right Adam?"

"Uh, well..." hesitated Adam.

He knew wouldn't look good in front of them. It was hard enough trying to be convincing without sounding like he lacked confidence.

"What do you mean by "well?" you can explain all of this, right?" asked Eren.

"Yeah, I can," replied Adam. "It's just...a bit hard to explain, that's all."

"Why's that?" asked Mikasa. She'd been quiet enough the previous few minutes for Adam to forget she was there.

"Mainly because it's just so much to take in," replied Adam.

His head was still spinning, trying to work out the best way to break it to them. He looked towards the teens as they wore confused expressions before he began.

"Where do you guys think you are right now?"

"Well, if I had to guess, judging by the houses, are we somewhere behind Wall Sina?" guessed Armin.

Adam then took a deep breath, playing out several versions of his sentence to try and avoid any unnecessary confusion. "We're actually outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. In the year 2021."

"2021!" They all said, displaying pure shock and awe. Even stoic Mikasa had a face of pure surprise that Adam had never seen before, not even in the manga.

"Okay, I get that all of this sounds a little confusing, but-"

"A LITTLE!" shouted Eren. "You're telling us we're over 1000 years in the future, and it's only "a little confusing?!"

"Eren, stop shouting and let him finish," said Mikasa, with a much more demanding tone.

"He has a point, Mikasa," added Armin. "I mean, there's no way that should be possible!"

"Believe me, I'm telling you the truth," said Adam. "I mean, how would you explain all the crazy things you've seen?"

The trio then thought about it and realized that he had a point. No matter how you looked at it, everything they had seen couldn't be explained.

"Man, we really are in the future," gasped Eren.

"How is this even possible?" questioned Armin.

"Okay, now that you know where you are, we should focus more on how you got here," Adam said, leaning back in his chair.

"Why's that?" asked Armin.

"Just so I can understand the situation better," explained Adam. "What's the last thing you guys remember before you got here?"

"Well, I don't know how I got here," answered Eren. "The last thing I remember was being on top of Wall Rose servicing the canons with my squad. Then, all I could see was a bright yellow flash, then a bright white flash. Next thing I know, Armin and Mikasa were standing around in that alley."

"Hang on. On top of Wall Rose? Servicing the canons, and A yellow flash?" thought Adam. "That means they've come straight from the end of episode four of season one, right before the Colossal Titan showed up. That means he doesn't know about his Titan powers yet, or Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie's true identity, or even about the secret of the walls!"

"Before we could even begin to question what was going on, you came out of nowhere and ran into me. Everything after that you already know about."

"Okay, well, at least I know your situation, but I'm still in the dark on this whole thing," said Adam.

"You and me both," replied Eren.

"Well, what do you remember, Adam?" asked Armin.

"Well, I was walking home from school, and I took the alley like I usually do," explained Adam. "Next thing I remember is being engulfed in bright light, then everything went dark. When I woke up, I saw smoke all around, and when I tried to get out of it, I ran right into Eren."

"I guess our stories are just as confusing," said Eren.

"You don't remember exactly what happened when you went into the alley?" asked Armin.

"No," replied Adam. "Everything's a little fuzzy. Hopefully, it comes back to me. Sorry."

"It's alright," replied Eren. "So, the year 2021 huh? So where exactly in the walls are we again?"

"Walls? The walls don't exist," explained Adam. "Neither do the Titans."

"The Titans are gone!?" They all said rapidly as their jaws hit the floor.

"Yeah, they've never existed."

"That's insane! So humanity is finally free, right?" Eren said enthusiastically with a large grin on his face.

"Wait," interrupted Armin. "What do you mean "never existed?"

"Oh shit, I shouldn't have said that yet," thought Adam.

"Well, I mean, they're sorta...made up."

Confused faces arose on the trio's faces

"What do you mean by 'made up?'" asked Mikasa.

"I mean...they're fictional."

"Fictional?!" shouted Eren. "What the hell do you mean the Titans are fictional?"

"Hold on, Adam," said Armin. "What you're saying is impossible. For the Titans to be "made up," that would mean the three are just the same. And yet, we're here."

Adam sat still as he averted his eyes guilty.

"Don't try and tell us we're fictional too!" begged Eren.

Adam sighed internally. Between constant revelations and Eren's shouting, they were getting nowhere. He had no choice but to break it down for the teens. "Look, I can't explain how or why, but for God knows what reason, you guys have crossed over from your world into mine. And in this world, you guys are just characters in an anime."

"What's an anime?" asked Armin.

"It's like a book with paintings. It's shown on a screen, and the paintings are moving with sounds and music," replied Adam.

"I still don't understand," said Mikasa.

"Could you maybe show it to us?" asked Armin.

"Uh, sorta," replied Adam.

He then brought out his phone and pulled up a screenshot of the trio.

"Here's a picture of you guys from the show," said Adam,

The picture was some concept art of the trio using ODM Gear in a forest, along with their fellow cadets.

"I don't remember this happening," said Eren.

"Chances are that it never did," replied Adam.

"How would some even be able to paint that good, especially while we were moving?" asked Mikasa.

"I don't get it," said Armin. "How is any of this possible?"

"I know this is hard to process, but in this world, you guys are just fictional characters in a story," explained Adam.

There was a moment of silence between the teens.

"This... Is a lot to take in," sighed Armin.

"I know. I mean, how do you think I feel?" said Adam. "None of this should even be possible."

"Do you think you could show us the actual anime?" asked Eren.

"Uh, maybe, but after we've worked some stuff out. I'm guessing you guys have a lot more questions." deflected Adam in an attempt to get them back on track.

Things were difficult for him as the situation stood without factoring in the things they could learn from watching the anime.

"So this might take a while," advised Adam.

"It's ok, we don't mind," replied Armin.

After about another twenty minutes of talking, and sometimes with the trio shouting in amazement, Adam had explained everything to them. How they were from anime and manga, how they'd gained fans all over the world, and how this world was different from theirs. No Titans, no walls, and no Survey Corps.

"So if we made it to the real world, what are the chances anyone else came as well?" implied Armin.

"Uh, that's actually a good question. I hadn't thought about that," replied Adam. "Honestly, I don't know, but until I figure things out, you guys can stay with me."

"Really? Thanks! We'll try not to be an inconvenience," said Armin.

"Thanks, Adam, we owe you," smiled Eren.

"Don't worry about it," replied Adam. "After you guys helped me back in the alley, I'd say we're even."

"By the way, who were those guys that attacked you?" asked Mikasa.

"Just some bullies at school," replied Adam. "No one special."

"So, if the Titans are made up, does that mean everything else in our world is made up, too?" asked Armin, attempting to create a clearer picture of his situation.

"Well, all TV shows or animes are based on some aspects of the real world. So, things like ODM Gear and Titans are made up, but some basic aspects of your world exist," replied Adam. "Things like trees, horses, mountains, and so on."

"Does the sea exist?" asked Armin.

Armin's response caused a smirk to land on Adam's face. He figured Armin would eventually ask about it.

"Yeah, it exists," replied Adam.

"Wait, seriously?" exclaimed Eren.

"Yup, though the proper name for it is the "ocean," replied Adam.

Hearing this, Eren and Armin's faces started to shine like the sun. Even Mikasa's eyes widened slightly upon hearing the news.

"You see, Eren," beamed Armin. "I told you it was real."

"Guess I should've believed you all these years," smiled Eren. "Hey, do you think we could go right now-ouch!" Eren started to stand in excitement before putting pressure on his swollen foot and sitting back down again in pain.

"Eren, you need to be more careful. You could hurt yourself again," warned Mikasa.

"Relax Mikasa, it just stings! Stop getting so worried! I'm not gonna die over some stupid foot!" snapped Eren.

"I don't blame you guys for being curious. I'd probably do the same," said Adam. "We can't go see the ocean just yet, considering your leg's gonna be out of commission for a few days. Until then, we should take it easy. Besides, we still have to figure out how you guys got here."

"Guess your right," admitted Eren.

"Alright. If you're going to be staying here, we should probably start by getting you guys some new clothes," said Adam.

"What's wrong with our clothes?" asked Mikasa.

"Nothing! It's just that people might recognize you, and it's best if we avoid confrontation," explained Adam. "Besides, teenagers wearing weird military attire might draw some eyes."

"Why? Don't other people our age join the military?" asked Armin.

"Nah, here you have to be at least seventeen to even enlist in the military," explained Adam. "And you won't even see combat until you're eighteen." "I guess that makes sense, considering there aren't any Titans here," said Armin.

"Well, we don't have any money on us to pay for new clothes," said Mikasa.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it," said Adam.

"Are you sure?" asked Armin. "We don't want to burn a hole in your pocket."

"Don't worry about it," replied Adam. "Money isn't an issue for me, so it's no big deal."

"If you say so."

Suddenly, a loud knocking banged against the door. Hard and fast, pounding on the wood. Eren and Armin jumped at the sudden sounds while Mikasa's entire body tensed. Adam jumped in surprise, too. He wasn't expecting a visitor that day. Sarah didn't arrive till two in the morning on Fridays, so who could it be?

The teen cautiously walked up to the front door while the trio lurked behind him at the door cautiously. He crept toward the door and began to look through the peephole. Half of his body tensed for another fight with the bullies, while the other half felt it couldn't be them. They'd never come to his house before. Why would that have changed? However, that was before the trio sent them running in embarrassment. Perhaps revenge was desperately needed.

A man in a hoodie, who appeared to be injured, walked down a busy road. In his hand was a tracking device of some sort. After making a few turns, he entered an alleyway where he came face to face with the strange cube.

"Thank god," sighed the man.

He then knelt in front of it and began to examine it.

"Looks like it's completely busted," thought the strange man. "Hard to believe it's still in one piece after the fall."

He slowly picked up the cube and was about to put it in his bag when he noticed some reading on the device's heads-up display.

Repeat Concept?

"Huh?"

He then opened the cube, revealing a small keyboard and a slightly larger cracked screen. After typing in a few codes, a log date appeared.

LAST USE: 05/21/2021 4:06 PM

LAST USE: 05/21/2021 4:20 PM

Suddenly, a look of terror arose on the man's face.

"Oh my god, somebody's used it."