Attack on Titan: Bloodline – Chapter 25 (March 10, 2021)
Dark clouds rolled in. Gentle thunder rumbled through the air, creating a dark atmosphere around the Scouts, who had moved up to the top of the wall, working on recovering their supplies and preparing Ymir for transport back to a proper medical bay. Steam was now escaping her injuries, indicating to everyone around her that she was finally healing up properly. She was strapped into a stretcher, secured with ropes. Krista sat by her side and talked with Hanji and the medical officer for several minutes. Lorraine stood at the outer edge of the wall, staring out into the wide expanse towards the horizon. She reached up with both of her hands and tousled her long, black hair as raindrops started to fall.
"How long is all this going to go on? How long will we be stuck in this loop of fighting and running and fighting and running? It's exhausting. We've lost so many people along the way. Friends. Family. Comrades. I honestly wonder how I can manage to keep going through it all."
Eren sighed and said, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Hey. What's wrong?" Lorraine turned and looked up into his blue-green eyes. She sighed, "I-it's nothing important." Eren furrowed his brow.
"You sure? You look worried."
Lorraine shook her head and turned back to the expanse. She said softly, "Yeah. I'm sure." Eren said, turning and taking his hand off her shoulder, "We're going to make it. I promise." Lorraine glanced back. Eren was already running to help Armin up the wall.
"I guess that's how. I have all of my friends behind me. My friends and my family."
She heard Reiner behind her, grunting and struggling to pull himself up the wall with only one arm. She ran over and helped to pull him up. He sat next to her and said halfheartedly, "Thanks, Love." She ran her fingers through his hair, giving him a small smile. He sighed.
"Damn it."
Eren asked, "You alright, Reiner?" He responded, "A Titan nearly gnawed my arm off. It was pathetic." Lorraine hugged his good arm and leaned on his shoulder, sliding her hand down to his and trying her best to comfort him. He continued, "I thought for sure I was a goner." She said gently, "It's alright. You're okay now." Eren sighed, "I suppose even someone as strong as you gets this way sometimes, huh?" Reiner groaned, "This is the second time for me. Damn. Lorraine, Armin, tell him."
"What...?"
Reiner elaborated, "You remember the time I was nearly crushed to death by Annie? That makes twice I've almost died!" Lorraine squeezed his hand and bit her lip. She remembered that moment all too well. It pained her to even think about it. She had nearly lost the man she loved.
"At this rate, I'll be dead before you know it-"
Eren snapped, "Reiner, quit talking like that! You chose to be a soldier, knowing that it would be rough." Reiner sighed, "Yeah, I know. But I can't help it." Lorraine bit her lip again. The rain fell steadily now, soaking the Scouts' hair and clothing. The smell of the damp air and wet grass was strong. Reiner said, standing up and pulling Lorraine gently to her feet, "Well, I suppose until we've plugged up this wall, there's no time to waste whining about it." Eren nodded and said, "Yeah. Besides, you and Bertholdt have been driven far enough away from your hometown already."
"He's right, Reiner!"
Heads turned to Bertholdt, his sudden outburst taking everyone by surprise. He suggested cheerfully, arms outstretched, "Our hometown! Let's go back! Isn't it about time we returned?" Lorraine let go of Reiner's hand. Bertholdt continued, "Compared to everything we've been through, what's left to do is easy!" Lorraine looked at the pair, her brows knitted together in confusion. Reiner stepped forward, smiling, and said, "You're right, Bertholdt. We've only got a few more steps until the end." Armin asked, "Wh-what are you guys talking about?" Before anyone could say another word, the Scouts were all running to a Garrison soldier, who came to report on the Wall's status. As Eren, Armin, Mikasa, and Lorraine approached, they realized that it was Mr. Hannes. He panted, sitting in front of Hanji, "There's...no hole...! Anywhere...!" Hanji asked frantically, "What do you mean, 'there's no hole'? There's gotta be one somewhere!" Hannes said, folding his arms, "Exactly what I thought, too, but we searched all night, but there is no hole. At least, not between the districts of Trost and Krolva. We bumped into soldiers from Krolva and retraced our steps. We haven't even seen a single Titan the entire way here." Lorraine frowned. Eren mocked him, his hands resting on his hips.
"Are you sure you didn't just have too much to drink?"
Hannes retorted, "I haven't been drinking- Wait a second. What the hell are you kids doing here?" Armin said, "It's a long story, Sir." Hanji interrupted the reunion, "If there's no hole in the wall, then so be it. For now, we will return to Trost District. Whatever you do, don't let your guard down." Hanji took the rest of the Scouts with her, visibly uttering something to Moblit as she walked off. Mikasa and Armin turned to walk behind the Scouts. Lorraine looked over her shoulder and asked, "You coming, Reiner?" He nodded and waved.
"Y-yeah. Just a second."
Lorraine smiled a little and trotted to catch up with Mikasa. Reiner sighed, "Eren. Have a moment? We need to talk." Eren hung back and said, "Sure. What's up, man?" Bertholdt stood behind Reiner, looking nervous. Reiner opened his mouth and said calmly, "Five years ago, in the year 845, we demolished Wall Maria and began our attack on humanity." Mikasa and Lorraine stopped in their tracks. Lorraine felt her heart skip a beat. She turned to look at them. Bertholdt looked as surprised as they were, but he looked as though he was sweating profusely, though the rain would have mixed with his perspiration.
"Surely this must be a sick joke, right?"
Reiner gestured to Bertholdt.
"I'm the Armoured Titan. He's the Colossal Titan."
Bertholdt grabbed his shoulder and protested, "Reiner! Wh-why are you telling him!?" Eren asked in utter disbelief, "What are you talking about? Are you okay, man?" Reiner shook Bertholdt off and explained, "Our main goal was to make absolutely sure that all of humanity was wiped out. Now, I guess there's no need for that." Lorraine stood there, unsure of what to think as the rain dripped steadily down through her thoroughly soaked hair and clothes and over her face.
"He's lost it under the pressure. What he's saying doesn't make any sense."
Reiner stated bluntly, "Eren. If you agree to come with us, we won't have to destroy any more of the walls. Do you understand?" Eren shook his head and said, "No. No, I don't understand at all!" Reiner reiterated, "I'm just asking you to come with us. I know it's sudden, but we can't stay here any longer." Eren furrowed his brows skeptically and asked, "Where...where exactly is it you'll be taking me?" Bertholdt made an attempt to grab Reiner's good arm, but the blonde snatched it away. He said, "I can't say exactly just yet, but I guess you could say it's something like our hometown." Eren pondered the request. Lorraine stepped forward. Mikasa grabbed her wrist.
"Wait," she whispered. Lorraine ignored her sister and yanked her arm out of her grasp and walked closer, her eyes glimmering with worry for Reiner. He'd been acting so strangely lately. She wondered if he really had lost his mind. He said, "It's not a bad deal, right, Eren? You could stop this. It would be that easy." Eren just chuckled a bit and said, grabbing Reiner's shoulder, "You're just tired. Right?" He looked up at Bertholdt, letting go of Reiner's shoulder, "Help me out here, Bertholdt. You two have been through a lot. Y-you don't know what you're saying." Bertholdt stammered, "Y-yeah. Yeah. I-it's the battle fatigue talking." Eren said, "It's okay. You're okay. Besides, if you really were the Armored Titan, why the hell would you be asking me this in the first place? What did you expect me to do? You thought I'd say 'yes' and let myself be kidnapped just because you asked politely?" Reiner thought long and hard about it. He sighed.
"Right... N-not thinking straight, am I...? I-I barely know what I'm saying..."
Lorraine stepped forward and said softly, "Reiner...? I-it's time to go." She slipped her hand into his and turned around. The loud crash of a wooden flag pole breaking in the strong gust of wind, followed by the sounds of it tumbling down the side of the wall filled the long silence between the Scout Regiment soldiers. As she started to walk, he squeezed her hand and muttered, "I-I...I can't..." She turned and stared at him. His hand was trembling. The wind and rain slowed to a stop and the clouds began to dissipate, letting sunlight shine through, casting beams of light on the wall.
"R-Reiner...?"
His voice quivered as he said under his breath, "I see...so, that's it...isn't it...? I've been here too long for my own good." He let go of her hand and muttered, "Three years of this hell...surrounded by idiots..." He pressed his face into his hand, his eyes wide and glassy. Lorraine asked shakily, "R-Reiner, what are you saying...?" Tears began to well up in his eyes.
"W-we were...we were just kids...! W-we didn't know anything...! I-if only I never knew people like this existed...! I-I never would have devolved...into such a half-assed piece of shit!"
Lorraine said sternly, grabbing his arm, "Reiner! Stop! This isn't funny anymore! Now, let's just-" He jerked his arm away, startling her. He growled, "It's too late now! Damned if I know what's right anymore! Th-the only choice I have now is...i-is to face the consequences of my actions." He slowly unwrapped the bandage from his arm, dropping the splint to the ground. Steam began rising from the bite wound. As the wound closed and the skin quickly healed, tiny orange embers rose from his arm.
"No...! No!"
"And, as a Warrior...no road left but the one that leads to the end!"
Lorraine swiftly grabbed his shirt, clutching it in her trembling fists. She shrieked angrily, her voice breaking, "Reiner! That's enough! Drop the act and stop messing around, God damn it-"
"Get off me!"
He forcefully slapped Lorraine across her cheek, sending her reeling back with a high-pitched scream, holding her red, stinging cheek. Eren ran to her side and grabbed her, calling her name as Bertholdt shouted in a panic, "Reiner! W-we're doing this!? Right now!?" Reiner said, "Yeah. Right here, right now! We settle this once and for all!" Lorraine gasped as Mikasa fiercely attacked the duo. Eren wrapped his arms around her as she nearly leaped out of his arms towards Mikasa and the two traitors. The elder Ackerman cut off Reiner's right hand, dislodging one of her blades in his left as he growled in pain. Blood dripped down his arms and pooled on the ground beneath him. Lorraine let out an ear-piercing scream, helpless to do anything. Mikasa moved swiftly, slicing through the side of Bertholdt's neck, sending a small spray of blood into the air. She pinned Bertholdt as he screamed and gurgled in agony, crimson blood running through his fingers and into his white shirt collar. Lorraine shouted, "Mikasa! Stop it!" She felt a knot forming in her throat as she watched everything play out. Mikasa yelled, "Eren! Take Lorraine and get out of here-" Reiner ran and knocked Mikasa roughly off of Bertholdt and sent her falling over the edge of the wall.
"Mikasa!"
Mikasa used her ODM Gear to save herself and pull herself back up to the top. Sparks were flying all around Reiner and Bertholdt. Lorraine's amber eyes locked with Reiner's for a split-second and her heart pounded in her head.
"No. No, no, no! This isn't happening! It can't be!"
"Eren! Mikasa! Lorraine!"
Armin was racing towards them, shouting, "Run away!" Eren's grip on Lorraine tightened. Lorraine couldn't force herself to move a single muscle in her body. She simply gasped as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Two huge lightning bolts struck the wall one after the other. The sky and everything around them was painted in bright, orange light. Dust and chunks of wood and stone were sent flying in the explosion. The shock waves sent many soldiers and crates tumbling over the edge of the wall. Much of the equipment they had brought was broken to pieces. Lorraine and Eren were flung in opposite directions. As Lorraine tumbled over the solid stone, she felt areas where she knew terrible bruises would soon form. She coughed roughly in the dusty air and looked up. There, materializing before her very eyes, were the Titans who destroyed Shiganshina so long ago. The world around her faded. Sounds were muted and her head was pounding. Her body was trembling, but at the same time, she couldn't move a muscle.
"Oh God. No!"
Bertholdt's rib bones materialized and grappled onto the wall, penetrating the stone. His bellowing roar shook the very air around them. She felt the wind whipping around her, carrying her hair in every direction. The air grew warm around them and it wasn't until she heard Armin's voice calling out for Eren that she finally stood up. She watched in horror as Reiner, holding Eren in his massive fist, leaped down over the edge of the wall. She stumbled as fast as she could to the very spot where he had jumped, but right before she was about to leap after them, Armin wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her back from leaping off the wall without gear.
"No!"
She shrieked and cried out, "Armin! Let me go!" Armin held her back with all his might and tried to reason with the distraught girl.
"I can't do that! It's too dangerous! You don't have Maneuver Gear!"
She screamed, surely shredding her vocal cords, "Please, Armin! I can't-" Armin shrieked, his voice cracking, "Lorraine! Calm down! Please! We can't do anything right now!" She tried to pull away from Armin with every ounce of strength she had, but to no avail. She cried, "No! Wait!" Her strength started to give out and Armin yanked her back, holding her protectively to his chest in an effort to shield her from the third sudden lightning flash that lit up the sky.
She gripped Armin's jacket as he held her tightly, watching the scene below unfold. Lorraine could only sob into his chest. She finally heard the ear-piercing roar of Eren's Titan, followed by an impact on the ground. She pulled away and crawled to look over the edge and saw Eren and Reiner clashing. She attempted to wipe away her tears, but it was no use. They just kept coming.
"Reiner. He started all of this. Carla's death was because of them."
"No! Ymir!"
Lorraine looked up. Bertholdt had grabbed Ymir and another soldier and thrown them both into his mouth, eating them.
"It's his fault we're here now."
Krista let out a gasp as a young, red-headed soldier carried her to safety. She was still looking back at Bertholdt in shock.
Lorraine muttered a single, quivering word under her breath.
"Why...?"
As the dust cleared, Mikasa snarled. She gripped her blades, hanging on the side of the wall, her hair tickling her cheeks as it swayed back and forth. She cursed under her breath and muttered, "If only I hadn't hesitated. That was the perfect chance!" She exhaled, hissing through her teeth in frustration. Lorraine's entire body was still shaking as adrenaline ran through her veins. Her breathing was ragged and she felt like the world was spinning. Armin saw her swaying gently and rushed over to her side. She fell into his arms and the world went black.