Attack on Titan: Bloodline – Chapter 2 (JULY 26, 2018)
"Jeez," Connie remarked, "I thought for sure Shadis was going to kill Potato Girl." Eren sighed, watching Sasha run as the sun sank lower into the sky, "Yeah, I know. What a first day, huh? It's kind of funny. Being told to run until the sun sets didn't seem to bother her quite as much as losing meal privileges for the next five days." Lorraine leaned on the support beam next to Armin and chuckled a little. Connie asked, "Didn't she say she's from Dauper? If I remember right, it's a small hunting village not too far from my own hometown." Lorraine said, her arms folded, "Yeah. Where did you say you're from again, Connie?" Connie explained, "Ragako Village. It's a fairly small place. Doubt you'd have heard of it." Eren interrupted their conversation, gesturing towards a wagon that was riding up a dirt road.
"What's that?"
Mina stepped forward and explained, "They're dropouts. They'd rather work in the fields than train for the military after all." Armin said, "But it's only the first day." Lorraine waved and said in a joking manner, "Tch. Bye, rejects." Connie snickered at her banter. Eren said nonchalantly, earning the stares of the other Cadets, "That's just how it is. If you can't handle the pressure, you've gotta leave. Why would anyone rather pull plants than fight?" Marco turned to Eren and said, "I know about some of us, but you never mentioned where you're from, Eren." Eren smiled. He walked over to Armin and Lorraine and said, throwing his arms around their shoulders, "Shiganshina. Same as Armin and Lorraine. Her sister, Mikasa, is also from there." Connie said in awe, "So, that means...you were there that day. You saw the Colossal Titan, didn't you?"
"The Colossal Titan...I have a feeling he was behind all of this...like some kind of general..."
Eren sighed, letting go of his friends, "Yeah. I did." Connie, despite Marco's objections, asked eagerly, "Can you tell us about it? What was it like?" Eren said calmly, "Sure. I'll tell you all over dinner." The group walked inside, chattering. Lorraine stood on the porch and sighed lightly.
"God, I envy his fearlessness. I was so scared of the Titans...I still am. I have to learn to fight them and get over my fear. Like...like Eren."
She took a deep breath and stepped inside. Upon entering the mess hall, she saw that Eren was surrounded by a crowd and Armin and Mikasa were nowhere to be seen. She sighed and looked around for a calm place to sit down. She found a table nearby that was totally empty, so she sat down and started eating the rather bland vegetable soup. She had just taken a bite of her small loaf of bread when Reiner spoke, standing in front of her with his two friends, Annie and the tall boy from orientation. She finally got a better look at the tall boy. He had short, scruffy-looking brown hair, shy, green eyes, and his skin looked pretty tan, as though he had spent significant time in the sun. His limbs were long and lanky and he looked to be almost six feet tall.
"Hey, Lorraine. Mind if we join you?"
Lorraine moved aside and said, "Sure. Go right ahead." Reiner shimmied into the seat next to her while his two friends sat across from them. Reiner said cheerily, "Oh, by the way, guys, this is the girl I told you about earlier. Lorraine, this is Annie Leonhardt." Lorraine shook her hand. Reiner continued, gesturing to his friend, "And this gentle giant here is Bertholdt." Bertholdt said formally, "Bertholdt Hoover. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lorraine." Lorraine shook his hand and said, "It's nice to officially meet both of you. I'm sure you already heard my name at orientation. Mikasa, over there, is my older sister." The chatter from the small crowd was growing louder as Cadets asked many questions.
"So, exactly how tall was he?"
"I heard he stepped over the wall!"
"Me, too!"
"No, he was big, but he wasn't that big. He only looked over the wall."
"So, what did it look like?"
"What about the Armored Titan? The one who broke through Wall Maria!"
Lorraine sighed. She wondered silently, "Is that what they're calling it? Interesting."
"Then, what do ordinary ones look like?"
With that question, Eren dropped the metal spoon into his bowl of soup with a splash. He clapped his hand to his mouth, his breath shaking as he recalled the horrible memories of ordinary Titans. Lorraine stood up and ran over in his defence.
"Okay," she said, "That's enough questions. There are just certain things he'd rather not-"
"It's not like that, Lorraine."
He shook off his look of fear and picked up his bread, cutting Lorraine off, "Titans really aren't that big of a deal. If we can master the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, the Titans won't stand a chance against us." Lorraine gaped at him. Eren continued, "I've been waiting for years to be trained as a soldier. It's just all of a sudden, the reality is sinking in. I'll be joining the Scout Regiment. Then I'm going to slaughter all of the Titans." Jean's arrogant voice drawled from a table over, "You must be insane. Not that it's really any of my business, but if you ask me, signing up for the Scouts is like suicide." Eren glared at Jean and said, "We'll just have to see. Or, rather, I will. You seem content in hiding out in the interior with the MP's." Mikasa walked in and joined Lorraine in watching the exchange. Jean scoffed.
"Look, I'm just speaking my mind, kid. I think it's better to hide away than to be some sort of loud-mouthed tough guy, bragging on and on, pretending he's not as scared as the rest of us."
Eren stood up, rattling the entire table. The girls looked back at him. He sneered, "Are you trying to pick a fight?" Marco said calmly, "Okay, cut it out, you two." Jean stood up and walked over to Eren. He stood about two inches taller than Eren and looked like he could easily knock Eren's lights out.
Jean chuckled and said, extending his hand, "Hey, man. Sorry for insulting you and dismissing your career choice. What do you say we start fresh?" Eren growled, "Yeah. Whatever." He slapped Jean's hand away, turning to walk out. Mikasa walked past Jean to join Eren. Jean looked at her in stunned silence for a moment, then ran to catch her before she got out the door.
"W-wait!"
She stopped and turned to him. Jean stammered, his face turning redder by the minute, "I-I just...er...sorry. I-it's just...I've never seen anyone like you before. Er," He bowed deeply and apologetically.
"Y-you have very beautiful black hair."
Mikasa said dismissively, "Thank you." She turned and walked out, joining Eren as they walked back to their dorms. Lorraine smiled at Jean and said, "Sorry about that. My sister can be a little...cold...until you get to know her." Jean stammered, "Wh-what? Y-your sister? Oh...right." Lorraine laughed softly and said, walking out past him, "See you around, Kirschtein." He sighed a little bit as she left.
She plodded slowly through the courtyard, taking in the cool night air. The ground was illuminated by the light of the full moon. The young Cadet walked up the steps to the dormitory cabin, hearing the creaking of the old wooden floor with every step she took. She pushed open the door to the girls' dormitory and saw many rows of bunk beds. Many of the girls had already claimed bunks for themselves. She looked around. Mikasa waved at her from the back corner of the dorm. Lorraine smiled, walking towards her sister. Krista Lenz, a small blonde girl, slipped past her gently and out the door. She looked like she was hiding something under her tattered, brown cloak. Lorraine glanced back at her, but was pushed out of the way by a tall brunette. The brunette had freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and her glaring eyes were cold. Lorraine sighed a little.
"Excuse you," she thought, annoyed. She continued to walk towards Mikasa who got up and said, "Lorraine. You can bunk with me." Lorraine looked up and said, "Alright. Dibs on the top." Mikasa sighed and sat on the lower bunk, running her hand through her hair. Climbing up to the top and unhooking her small training bra, Lorraine asked, "M-Mikasa? Do you think...?" Mikasa hummed curiously. Lorraine shook her head and muttered, "N-nevermind..." She fell silent, gazing at her lap, nervousness setting in.
"Hey," Mikasa said, the bed squeaking as she laid back onto the only slightly comfortable pillow, "If you're scared, Lorraine, I just want you to remember something. We're in this together. I promise I won't let you die." Lorraine leaned over and asked timidly, "I know." Mikasa shook her head and sat up, grabbing her little sister's hand.
"You're the only family I have left. I can't lose you, too."
Lorraine smiled. Mikasa mirrored her smile and said, laying back down and tucking herself under the covers, "Good night, Lorraine. I love you." Lorraine smiled and laid her head on the pillow.
"I love you, too, Mika."
She closed her eyes, listening to the chatter of the many girls in the room fade away as she drifted off into sleep.
The next morning, Lorraine sat up, rubbed her eyes, and yawned deeply. She looked around the dimly sunlit room and ran her fingertips through her hair. It was knotted and tangled, so she slid out of bed and down the ladder quietly, grabbing her uniform from her dresser drawer, then tiptoed through the door to the shower room, which was connected to the girls' dorm, dressed only in her shirt and her underwear. Dim light made its way through the small windows as the sun began to rise over the horizon. She looked around the seemingly abandoned room as she stepped inside. She sighed lightly, placed her uniform messily on a bench, and grabbed a towel before a low voice behind her startled her.
"Hey."
Lorraine jumped a little and turned around with a jerk. It was Annie. Lorraine sighed with relief, "Oh, Annie. G-good morning." Annie said calmly, grabbing herself a towel, "Look, Lorraine. I just...I wanted to tell you something." Lorraine smiled and asked, "Uh, sure. What is it?" Annie gazed off into the distance and said, "Yesterday. You standing up to Shadis like that-" Lorraine blushed and interrupted, tugging at the hem of her button-down shirt, "Ah, that. I really didn't mean to. I-I thought he was gonna kill me."
Annie said under her breath, "I see. I just wanted to say that...it was very brave of you." Lorraine sighed. Annie turned and walked to one of the stalls, cutting their conversation short and leaving Lorraine by herself.
"She may be nice after all. She kind of reminds me of Mikasa."
She shrugged it off and walked to one of the open shower stalls. Turning on the water and taking off what little clothing she had left, she stepped into the steady stream of luke-warm water.
"Not exactly a hot shower, but it's not cold, either. Guess I can't complain too much."
She ran her hands through her waterlogged hair and rinsed the dirt and sweat from her scrawny body. She looked down and sighed.
"I'm not cut out to be a soldier. Why the hell did I join the Cadets anyway? I'm weak and tiny. The only one smaller than me is that Krista girl. I don't know if... Damn it all."
She ran her fingertips over her body, feeling the softness of her skin and the delicacy of her muscles. She furrowed her brows and turned off the water, throwing her towel around her chest before opening the stall door and stepping out. As she stepped out, she bumped into someone. It was the brunette from the night before. As the pair collided, the tall girl snapped, "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Lorraine gripped the top of her towel and stammered, "Ah, I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean to-" The girl, surprisingly, started to laugh. Lorraine stopped speaking and asked, "What's so funny?" The tall brunette sneered, "You! How on Earth are you the same girl who talked back to Shadis yesterday?" Lorraine puffed up her chest and said, "None of your business...er...I-I don't believe we've been introduced." The girl sighed, "Ymir." Lorraine smiled a little.
"Ymir. Well, it's nice to meet you."
Ymir waved Lorraine off, walking into her own stall and saying in a bored tone, "Yeah, yeah. Same to you." Lorraine rolled her eyes and walked over to the bench where she put her clothes. She meekly dropped her towel and started pulling on her uniform. As she finished buttoning her shirt, she looked in the mirror. She grabbed a few strands of her shoulder-length, silky black hair and twirled it through her fingertips.
"I wonder...no, I should be able to put it in a ponytail."
She ran a hairbrush through her still-wet hair until it was completely knot-free, then hung her head upside down, tossing her hair with her hands. She flipped her hair back upright and sighed, taking one final look in the mirror before returning to the dorm. She yawned, reaching up to get her Cadet jacket from its hanging spot on the edge of her bunk. Mikasa, who had just gotten out of bed and thrown her clothes on, muttered tiredly, "Good morning. Did you sleep?" Lorraine pulled her arms through the sleeves and said, "Yeah, I guess so. I take it you slept as well?" Mikasa tossed her hair a little bit and said, "Sure." Lorraine sat next to Mikasa and asked, "H-hey...do you think...did we make the right choice? I-I mean, what if I'm not cut out for the life of a soldier?" Mikasa looked down a little at her little sister. Lorraine was looking at her lap shyly, her hands wringing in her lap. Mikasa grabbed Lorraine's hands in her own.
"Listen to me. We'll be fine. You're going to be an amazing soldier one day."
Mikasa said, nudging Lorraine's shoulder and adding half-jokingly, "I expect only the best from my little sister." Lorraine giggled and said, "Yeah, but you've always been the best at everything!" Mikasa said, smiling softly, "That's not true." Lorraine smiled and said, shoving her sister a little, "Yes, it is. Don't try to make me feel better. You're stronger, faster, prettier, more patient, more coordinated. Hell, you were always better when it came to artistic talents, too." Mikasa said softly, "But when we were hurt or sick, you were always there, taking care of us and patching us up when we needed it." Lorraine sighed.
"It's the truth, Lorraine. It's in your nature. You're a lot like Mom in that regard."
Lorraine wrapped her arms around Mikasa. Mikasa held her close for a few seconds before Lorraine stood and asked, "Well, I'm going to meet Eren and Armin before breakfast. You coming?" Mikasa shook her head and said, twirling the ends of her hair in her fingertips, "Not yet. I still need to do something." Lorraine nodded and turned to walk out. Mikasa gazed out the window as the sun rose into the sky.
Outside, Lorraine took in a deep breath of fresh morning air. She looked around as the Cadets began to step out of the dormitories, some more tired-looking than others. As Eren and Armin stepped out, Lorraine waved. Armin smiled and returned her greeting, gesturing towards her. Eren looked positively ragged; almost like Armin had literally dragged him out of bed. The trio met up and Armin said brightly, "Good morning. It's certainly looking like it'll be a beautiful day, huh?" Lorraine nodded and then turned to Eren.
"God, Eren, would it kill you to brush your hair first thing-"
She reached up to fix his hair and he interrupted, pushing her hand away and groaning, "Ugh, Lorraine, cut it out. It's too early for that." Lorraine frowned at him and said, "Fine. At least smooth out that bed-head you've got going on." Eren sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Armin said excitedly, "So, I heard from the guys that today's the day we'll try out the ODM Gear. Are you excited or what?" Lorraine nodded and said, "Oh, yeah. I'm ready." Eren looked around, then yawned, "Hey, where's Mikasa?" Lorraine said calmly, "She said she had to do something. She should be out soon." Eren rubbed his eyes and said, "Well, anyway, once we can learn to use the ODM Gear, I'll be well on my way to wiping out every last Titan." Lorraine yawned and said sarcastically, "Yeah. That is as long as your big head doesn't weigh you down." Eren growled, "Watch it, Lorraine. I might just mistake you for a Titan if you're not careful."
"Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots," Lorraine mocked in a sing-song voice, "Look out, Cadet Corps, Eren's after human blood, now." Armin snapped, stepping between them, "Alright, that's enough. I swear, you two act like petty children sometimes." Eren grumbled, "She started it." Armin said, "And I'm finishing it." The trio we startled by Mikasa, who stood in the doorway of the girls' dorm and said, "I leave you two for five minutes and you already want to kill each other."
"M-Mikasa?"
The group was stunned. Mikasa had chopped her hair to chin-length. She looked much more mature with her new short hairstyle. Lorraine gaped.
"M-Mika? What...why did you...?"
Mikasa said nonchalantly, "Eren thought it might get in the way of ODM training." Lorraine looked at Eren and he said, "What? I wanted to tell you, too, but you were already gone by the time I got back to the mess hall." Lorraine sighed and said, "Well, I'm not gonna cut my hair. I'll keep it tied up as it gets longer." Armin said, trying to avoid another argument, "That's great, Lorraine! Hey, whatever you want to do." Lorraine nodded.
Mikasa said, turning towards the mess hall, "Sounds like breakfast is ready. Come on." The group filed inside the mess hall cabin with the rest of the Cadets. They stood in line, waiting patiently for their daily rations and made their way to a table by the back door. Lorraine stated matter-of-factly, "Well, at least we don't have to worry about the food shortage here." Armin nodded.
"Yeah, it's nice not having to worry about skipping meals."
Lorraine took a bite of her porridge and hummed. She said, her mouth still full, "Well, it's not bad. Not good, though." Mikasa nodded in agreement. The many Cadets finished their meals in silence and took care of their dishes before heading outside to the courtyard where they all gathered around a set of mysterious contraptions. After the last Cadets made their way outside, Shadis stood at the front and cleared his throat.
"Attention, Cadets!"
The Corps gave a strong salute and Keith continued, "It's time for the aptitude test! You will be attached to this device which will test you to see if you have the skills needed to use the Omni-Directional Mobility gear. If you fail here, it's game over. Back to the fields with you. Is that clear!?"
"Sir! Yes, Sir!"
Keith pulled out his clipboard and announced, "Now, I will call each of you by name. If you hear your name called, step forward! Let me see Jean Kirchstein, Lorraine Ackerman, Franz Kefka, and Bertholdt Hoover!" Lorraine's eyes widened and she shakily stepped forward. As she was attached to the device, she took a deep breath.
"Here we go. I...I can't let Mikasa down. I have to succeed."
Mikasa's voice echoed in her head, "I expect only the best from my little sister." She clenched her fist and put on a brave face. Jean, standing in the device next to her, snickered, "Come on, Lorraine. It's not that bad." Lorraine looked over at Jean and shot him a cold glare. He shuddered and looked back to Mikasa, who was watching Lorraine intently with confidence. Lorraine felt herself being lifted up. Her body became weightless and before she knew it, her toes slowly left the ground. She was shaking, but she stayed upright. She beamed and said aloud, throwing her arms up, but quickly bringing them back down as she felt herself become unstable, "Alright! I can stay- Woah!" Keith said, "You need to work on strength, Ackerman. You have the skills, but you're shaking as if you've never worked out a day in your life. It's a close call, but, yes, you can stay." She was lowered to the ground and unhooked. She and the others returned to the group as Keith called the next batch of names.
"Eren! Mikasa! Armin! I did it! I can stay!"
Armin cheered, "Yeah! I knew you could do it!" Eren gave her a high-five. Mikasa hugged her tightly, but she was up next. They all watched as Mikasa was lifted into the air. She remained still. Balanced. Steady. Lorraine looked up at her in awe.
"Mikasa's better than me at everything. I gotta catch up."
Mikasa looked down and smiled a little at Lorraine. Lorraine thought she looked very serene up in the air. Almost like a goddess.
In no time, Keith had gotten through everyone and was on the final group of three.
"Finally, I need to see Milius Zerumski, Sasha Braus, and Eren Jaeger. Step up."
Eren practically charged forward, eager to test his skills, and got hooked into the contraption. He was slowly lifted up. He smirked. Lorraine clenched her fists. Mikasa bit her lip. Armin's breathing shortened. Eren's toes left the ground. Without warning, Eren fell backwards, narrowly missing the ground and hanging upside down. Lorraine and Armin gasped. Eren grunted in frustration, sweating profusely. He thought to himself, "Is this it for me? Am I not cut out to be a soldier? No. No, this can't be happening!" Lorraine called out, "Come on, Eren! You can do this!" Keith stood over the fallen Cadet and shouted, "Jaeger! Straighten yourself up!" Eren just had a blank look of terror on his face.
Lorraine averted her gaze, disheartened by the scene unfolding in front of her.