Attack on Titan: Bloodline – Prologue 1 (May 27, 2019)
"And just like that, everything changed. At that terrible moment, in our hearts, we knew home was a pen; humanity, cattle."
~ Armin Arlert - Season One, Episode One (English dub)
845.
Shiganshina District.
Two children, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, are in a field filled with beautiful and fragrant bellflowers. Eren lay next to the tree in the middle of the field, his wooden corral, filled with firewood, leaning on the tree next to him. Mikasa looked on as Eren began to grumble and toss in his sleep.
Before his eyes, Eren's nightmare unfolded. The Titans had won. The stench of blood and death filled the air. Screams of terror echoed through the expanse. The bloodied and mangled corpses of soldiers and citizens alike lay strewn about in the grass. Mikasa. Lorraine. Armin. They were all dead. He looked up at the horrifying, blurred image before him. Tears stung his eyes. A Titan with a huge, toothy grin had his mother in its gigantic hand.
"Mom!"
He sat up with a jerk and called out. His vision blurred into focus on Mikasa, who sat in front of him with a worried expression on her face. "Eren," she said quietly, "It's okay, Eren. It was only a dream." Eren sighed, "Wh...where am I...?" Mikasa stood up and adjusted the firewood corral on her back.
"Ask me again when you're awake."
Eren mumbled, "The dream I had...felt like it went on forever...what...what was it about...?" Mikasa turned and asked, concerned, "Eren? Why are you crying?" He gently brushed his fingers along his wet cheek and looked up at her.
Back at home, Mikasa's little sister, Lorraine, pulled up the remainder of her lightly tattered blanket as she finished making her bed, which sat on the other side of the room from Mikasa's, as she heard the voice of the Priest of the Walls through her open window.
"Hearken, these walls are a bulwark gifted by God! Riven rock? Stone? Mortar? No, my bretheren! They are bastions of faith! The will of heaven manifest!"
"Lorraine," Carla Jaeger called upstairs, "Are you finished tidying up, yet?" Lorraine turned and said cheerfully, "Yes, ma'am!" Carla simply chuckled and said, "Alright. Just checking. You've been up there for awhile." Lorraine looked back at her sloppily tossed together bed and shrugged."That'll work," she thought before running downstairs.
As she sped downstairs, she passed by the stairwell to the cellar, where she saw Grisha, Eren's father, locking up. She stood at the top of the stairwell and said inquisitively, "Dr. Jaeger?" He jumped a little at the sound of her small voice and said, "Oh! Lorraine, I didn't know you were there. What is it?" Lorraine asked, "I-I was just wondering, why can't we go down there, too? What's in the cellar?" Grisha sighed, "Ah. In due time, I will tell you. For now, though, it is a secret." Lorraine's face dropped.
"Now, now," Grisha said, putting his hand comfortingly on her shoulder, "I said 'in due time'. You'll get to see my work eventually." The two were interrupted by Carla.
"Lorraine? Lorraine, come and help me with the laundry, please! I have to start lunch!"
Lorraine smiled at Grisha and said, "That's okay, Dr. Jaeger. I'm just curious." Grisha chuckled and said, adjusting his round, wire-frame glasses, "I know, Lorraine. I know." Lorraine turned and walked to the kitchen, where Carla was rinsing off clothing in the washbin.
"There you are," Carla said cheerily, "Can you finish rinsing these and hang them outside for me?" Lorraine happily obliged and Carla began cooking. The smell of vegetable soup grew stronger as time went on and before long, Carla was stirring a delicious pot of it on the stove. Lorraine tossed the last article of clothing into the basket and picked up all of the laundry with a small grunt. She walked outside where the city bells were ringing loudly, signalling the return of the Scout Regiment. She walked up the stone steps to their rooftop clothesline, setting the basket next to the line and gazing up at the high string.
"Man," she thought, annoyed, "It sure will be nice when I'm taller." Despite her annoyance, she grabbed the step stool and started to hang the clothes on the line. She listened to the hustle and bustle of the Scouts' return as she grabbed shirts, pants, and skirts from the basket, clipping them one by one onto the line, the cool breeze gently blowing through her shoulder-length black hair and her little light blue dress. She pinned up the final piece, then jumped off the step stool and picked up the empty wicker basket. She cautiously walked down the stone steps with the basket on her head to keep it from obstructing her view, remembering the time she tripped on her dress and fell face-first into the ground.
"Don't want to do that again," she thought.
"I'm finished, Mrs. Jaeger," Lorraine announced, walking into the house and setting the basket next to the door. Carla smiled and said, "Wonderful! Thank you, Lorraine! Now, go wash up before Eren and Mikasa-"
The door swung open. Eren, carrying two corrals of firewood, followed by an empty-handed Mikasa. Lorraine beamed upon seeing her sister and threw herself upon her. "Mika! You're back!" Mikasa smiled and said, "Yeah. You could have gone with us." Lorraine looked at Eren and smirked. "Well, well, well," she jeered, "you actually worked hard, Eren." Eren nodded and said, "Yeah, yeah, whatever." She chuckled mischievously. Carla shook her head and walked over. She pinched Eren's earlobe. "Ouch! Mom! What was that for?" Mikasa and Lorraine went to wash up. Carla snickered, "Your ear's red. That tells me that you're lying. You had Mikasa help you again, didn't you?" Eren frowned and dumped the firewood into the storage chest, brushing off his mother's accusations. She chuckled and returned to the stove.
"Just make sure you follow the girls' example and wash up before lunch," she stated with a wink. Eren sighed and walked over to the sink to wash up. Lorraine and Mikasa set the table and sat down with Eren and Grisha while Carla finished and served lunch. As she sat down and everyone started to eat, Eren asked his father, seeing his packed suitcase, "Where are you going, dad? A patient?" Grisha nodded.
"Yes," he elaborated, "Some folks in the Interior. I'll only be gone for a week or so." Mikasa sighed and said with a worried expression, "Uh...so, Eren wants to join the Scout Regiment." Silence filled the room, then Eren and Lorraine spoke at once. Lorraine exclaimed, "No way! Really?!" Eren snapped, "Great! Way to keep a secret, Mikasa-" Carla rushed over and gripped Eren's shoulders tightly.
"Don't you dare even think about it, young man!" she scolded, "Get that idea out of your head! Do you have any idea how many people have died outside the wall!? No son of mine is going to become fodder! Do I make myself absolutely clear!?" Eren retorted, "Yeah, but-" Carla snapped, "No buts, Eren-" Eren shouted, "Stop yelling at me!" Carla angrily retaliated, "Don't you dare-" Grisha calmly cut in, "Eren." Carla and Eren stopped arguing and looked at Grisha.
"It's a nightmare out there, Eren. You really have no idea what you're in for."
Eren responded, "Yeah, but it's gotta be better than being trapped inside these walls forever like livestock. I know there's death around every corner, but we can't just give up. If we give up, this nightmare will never end!" Lorraine stared at Eren, speechless. Grisha smirked and said, standing, "I see. Right. Excuse me. If I don't leave now, I'll be late for the ferry." Carla pleaded, "Wait, Grisha! Scold him, for heaven's sake!" Grisha turned, placing his hat on his head. "Scold him? Carla, mere words won't hold back the boy's curiosity," he said. He reached into his jacket and pulled out an ornate brass key.
"Eren. You listen, too, Lorraine. If you two behave while I'm gone, then I'll show you both what I've been doing in the basement all this time. Understood?"
Eren and Lorraine looked at each other, then responded cheerfully with light in their eyes, "Yes, Sir!" Grisha smiled and turned to Carla. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before walking out the door. The kids and Carla gathered outside, waving and bidding him farewell.
"Have a safe trip!" Eren shouted. Lorraine called, "Come back soon, Dr. Jaeger!" Carla furrowed her thick brows and sternly said, "I meant what I said, Eren. The whole idea is just irresponsible." Eren snapped loudly, causing Lorraine, standing next to him, to jump, "Irresponsible?! Mom! I don't want to live my whole life in fear behind some stupid wall my whole life!" He pushed past Lorraine and ran down an alleyway. Lorraine took off after him.
"Eren!" she called, "Wait up!"
Carla turned to Mikasa, grabbed her shoulders, and said, "Listen, Mikasa. He's going to get himself into trouble and if he's not careful, he'll drag your sister into it, too. Promise me that whatever happens, you'll be there for them!" Mikasa nodded in acknowledgment.
Eren finally stopped running, panting. Lorraine yelled, "Eren, wait up!" He turned to her and asked coldly, "Yeah, what do you want, Lorraine?" Lorraine said with a cheeky tone, "To go with you. Why else would I follow you?" Eren scoffed, "Whatever." Lorraine's face fell and she said, "Eren. I think it's very brave of you." He looked up at her. She tilted her head cutely and said, "Joining the Scout Regiment. I-I could never do anything like that." Eren smirked and said, "You're right. I'll bet you couldn't with how short you are." Lorraine's face turned red with fury, but the two were interrupted by voices in the next alley.
"Where's the sacrilege now?"
"Yeah! Bust him up!"
"Or does your philosophy say it's wrong to fight back, too?"
"Actually, it does. I'd rather get a little beaten and bruised than fight like a couple of heathens!"
Eren and Lorraine looked at each other and she said, "Sounds like Armin's in trouble again!" Eren turned and started running.
"Come on, Lorraine," he said, "Let's go get 'em!" Eren started off towards Armin. Just as Eren turned the corner and Lorraine took off, Mikasa caught up and grabbed her little sister by the arm. Lorraine began, "Mikasa, what the-" Mikasa cut her off, "Lorraine, where's Eren?" Lorraine said, "This way! Armin's in trouble again!" Mikasa huffed and took off with Lorraine still in her grip. Lorraine shrieked a little out of surprise as they started running.
The neighbourhood bullies had Armin pinned to the wall of a building, ready to pummel him. Armin glared at the bullies, but as per usual, hadn't thrown a single punch. The boy holding him up had just raised his fist to punch Armin when Eren shouted, "Hey! You! Back off!" The trio of ruffians turned to see Eren running at them.
"Look at who we have here," one mocked, "It's Eren again!" Another jeered, "Does he want his ass kicked?" The third smirked and said, "You'd think he'd have learned his lesson last time!" Their faces suddenly went pale upon seeing Mikasa running behind him with Lorraine in tow. "Crap," one said, "Mikasa's with him!" The first bully ran and said, "Let's get the hell out of here, guys!" The trio scrambled off frantically. Eren laughed confidently, "Yeah! One look at me and they're off! Alright! I'm just that scary!" Mikasa and Lorraine caught up, the younger panting behind Mikasa. Eren turned with a start and saw them both. Armin choked out before collapsing to his knees, "Well, one of you is."
"Armin!"
Armin stood on his own, despite Eren's offer to help him up. Lorraine asked, a bit concerned about her friend, "Armin, what on earth did you do to make them beat you up?" Armin sighed, "I-it's a bit of a long story." Eren said, "We have time." Armin looked up at them, his face swollen and red where the boy had punched him before. He let out a second sigh and said, "Alright." The four children walked through the alleyway, listening to Armin's story.
"You see," Armin explained as they turned a corner, "They heard me rattling on to the old baker woman about how mankind's future lay beyond the walls. Little did I know, they followed me into that alleyway and cornered me." The four walked out into the busy street. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, creating an orange glow on the world and the wind picked up lightly, causing the fallen leaves to dance. Armin and Lorraine sat on the nearby stairwell on the second step while Mikasa walked right past them and sat on the bottom, hugging her legs. Eren lounged on the ledge above Mikasa as Armin continued, "I highly doubt they understood half of what I was saying, but still..." Eren muttered under his breath, "Damn idiots..." He threw a rock into the canal and said, "Why does everyone look down on those of us who want to go outside the walls?"
"Well," Lorraine said, "we have had a hundred years of peace by staying inside the walls. Everyone's just scared. Scared that going outside carelessly will invite the Titans inside." Armin nodded. He added, "Yeah. She's right. I may not agree, but I see where they're coming from. It's just human nature, Eren. At the end of the day, the government's policies are a reflection of our fear." Eren grumbled, "Yeah. The rest of humanity, maybe. I say to Hell with them!" Mikasa said sternly, "Quiet. Someone will hear you." Eren snapped, "Why should I care? You'll just tell on me like you always do." Mikasa said, "I never agreed to help you." Armin inquired, "Your parents know about the Scouts?" Eren nodded and said, "Yeah. They're not thrilled about it, either." Lorraine smirked and said, "Basically, they're pissed." Armin said, "I'm not surprised. It's sad, really. What most people in here are willing to endure just for some fleeting sense of security. These walls can't hold forever. It's only a matter of time before this peace is over."
The wind came to a halt. Lorraine, noticing the sudden stillness, stood up and looked around.
"Hey...wh-what happened to the w-"
A huge, orange lightning bolt struck the ground just outside the gate, sending shockwaves through the city. Lorraine fell to the ground. Eren was thrown off the ledge. Children stopped playing. The baker woman dropped her tray of bread in surprise. The citizens, one-by-one, stopped what they were doing and looked towards the source of the discord. Armin ran straight for the center of town. Eren followed. Mikasa helped Lorraine to her feet and they ran together to catch up. Armin stood motionless, staring in horror at the top of the wall. Eren shouted, "Armin! What's wrong!?" Lorraine held Mikasa's arm tightly, both girls' eyes wide with fear, staring up at the source of the calamity. Eren finally looked up and saw it.
A Titan.
A Titan that was over fifty meters tall.
A Titan that was tall enough to look over the top of the wall.
"N-no! Th-th-that's impossible!" Armin's voice trembled as he stammered, "Th-that wall is fifty meters high!" Eren muttered, "O-oh, God." The Titan peered over the wall. It had no skin. Its teeth were exposed and its green eyes were angry. Steam was being emitted from its mouth and face. Lorraine felt herself on the verge of tears as she whimpered, gripping Mikasa's sweater, "I-is that...a-a...a Titan!?" The entire town was frozen in fear as the Titan prepared to do something unseen. Eren nodded. Lorraine's legs turned to jelly underneath her and she collapsed to the ground, letting go of Mikasa. Her head started to spin.
"This is it...!" she thought, "It's over...! It's all over for us...! The Titans...they're going to devour every single one of us and there's not a single thing we can do about it!"
With another loud sound, the Titan had kicked in the gate of Wall Maria, sending shockwaves and rubble flying through the city. Citizens screamed and cried out. Houses were smashed. Blood painted the streets and severed limbs littered the ground. Lorraine let out a loud shriek and tears streamed down her face. Just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished behind the wall. Armin stammered in disbelief, falling to his knees as well, "I-it kicked down the gate as though it were kicking a rock!" The four looked on in terror, frozen as smaller, yet still horrifyingly huge Titans invaded the city through the newly created opening in the wall. Wails began to make their way through the city. Men and women grabbed their families and pets and ran. Several people cried over the dead bodies of loved ones. Lorraine's entire body was shaking. Her breathing was erratic and she felt herself panicking. Armin stood up and grabbed Lorraine's arm.
"W-we have to get out of here- Wait! Eren!"
Eren started to run towards his house against the crowd of people pushing against him. He said, starting to panic himself, "Our house is over there! Mom's all alone!" Mikasa followed Eren quickly. Lorraine shouted out, "Mika!" Armin started to go, tears threatening to fall from his eyes, but Lorraine grabbed him in a grasp that almost broke his hand.
"Armin!" she cried, her face soaked with tears "Armin! Don't leave me by myself! Armin! Please!" He looked down into her pleading, amber eyes. Lorraine's grip tightened on his hand, but he didn't show that she was hurting him. Instead, he furrowed his brows in determination and said, picking her up to her feet, "I won't. I promise. Come on, Lorraine! We have to get help!" Lorraine nodded, still terrified. He gripped her hand back, though he couldn't hide that he was shaking, too, and they ran through the streets, ducking and dodging the many people until they finally reached the Garrison post.
"Armin! Lorraine!"
Hannes grabbed the two kids' shoulders and Armin explained, "Mr. Hannes, you have to help Eren and Mikasa! Th-they went back to save Mrs. Jaeger!" Lorraine held Armin's arm in her death grip and cried. Hannes instantly stood up and said, "You got it. You two need to evacuate the city now! There's a boat that's taking people to Trost that way!" Armin nodded and turned, grabbing Lorraine's hand again, but just before they started to run, they were stopped by an elderly man wearing a tan jacket, green scarf, and a straw hat. Armin tearfully shouted, still holding Lorraine's hand, "Grandfather! You're safe!" Mr. Arlert ran over and hugged both of the children. Lorraine sobbed loudly into his shoulder. Armin's grandfather sighed and said tenderly, "Armin. I heard what happened. I'm very sorry, Lorraine. I know this has been quite the ordeal for you. We have to get you two to safety and hope that they're okay." Armin nodded and said, "He's right, Lorraine. Come on." Lorraine gripped Armin's hand and sobbed into his shoulder as they walked with the crowd.
As Shiganshina crumbled to little more than ruins, she knew then and there that it was over.
Her home was lost once again.