Titanic Steps

Eren's curiosity got the better of her as she followed Lara Tybur around the church. "So, what's Marley like?" she asked, her tone casual yet edged with genuine curiosity.

Lara didn't respond. She moved about the space with the same detached grace, tending to candles and dusting the pews as if Eren weren't even there.

Eren tried again, louder this time. "I mean, this is my first time here, and I don't know anything about it. Can you tell me something? Anything?"

No answer. Lara's silence was unnerving.

Frustrated, Eren crossed her arms. "Fine, don't answer me. What's next? Am I supposed to mop the floor or something?"

Without a word, Lara handed her a bucket and a rag. Eren blinked, baffled. "You're kidding," she said, but Lara's unflinching expression told her otherwise.

So, Eren found herself scrubbing the stone floors of the church, grumbling under her breath. "Is this supposed to be some kind of test? Do all newcomers have to do this? What's the point of making me do chores?"

Still, Lara said nothing, merely gesturing toward the next section of the floor.

Eren sighed and went back to scrubbing. "You know," she muttered, "I thought people here were supposed to be more advanced. Guess that doesn't extend to having conversations."

Despite her grumbling, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lara was testing her in some way, though for what purpose, she had no idea.

Û~Û

Eren mopped the stone floors, the ragged cloth dragging across the surface with a monotonous rhythm. She wiped the wooden benches until they gleamed, her hands aching from the endless labor. Dust clung to her arms and face, and the faint smell of wax and mildew filled her nostrils. She swept the corners of the room, scrubbed the altar, and rearranged candles until everything was spotless.

As she bent to wipe a particularly stubborn stain, a little girl entered. Eren paused. It was the same girl from the holding chamber—the one with the fiery red hair and wary eyes.

The girl froze when she saw Eren. Her face twisted in horror as if she'd seen a monster. She took a hesitant step back, then quickly turned to leave.

"Hey, wait!" Eren called, standing up and brushing her hands against her clothes.

The girl didn't stop. She quickened her pace, her small frame almost darting toward the exit.

"Wait a second!" Eren's voice rose. She lunged forward and caught the girl by the arm, her grip firm. "What's your problem? Why are you acting like this?"

The girl squirmed violently, thrashing against Eren's hold. Her voice rose in a sharp, panicked wail. "Let me go! Let me go! Don't kill me!"

Eren's eyes widened in shock, her grip loosening slightly. "What? I'm not gonna—what's wrong with you? Stop yelling!"

The girl's screams only grew louder, her tiny fists beating against Eren's arm. The chaos was interrupted by Lara's arrival. The tall woman strode in with calm authority, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Enough," Lara said, her voice cold. She pried Eren's hand off the girl's arm with surprising ease. "You're scaring her."

The girl, still trembling, muttered under her breath, "I just wanted to see her... didn't know she was unchained."

Eren's head tilted in confusion. "Unchained? What does that mean?"

"She can't do anything," Lara said bluntly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Û~Û

The group of six moved through the dimly lit corridors of the military compound, each step calculated. Levi led the way, his movements silent and precise, a shadow among shadows. Mikasa followed close behind, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of movement.

At the first checkpoint, they crouched behind a stack of barrels. Two guards stood chatting, their rifles slung lazily over their shoulders. Levi signaled for patience, waiting until the guards were distracted by the faint sound of a bottle smashing down the hall—a diversion set up by Sasha moments earlier.

When the path was clear, they slipped through, their breaths held tight.

Jean stumbled slightly on a loose stone, and Mikasa's hand shot out to steady him. "Quiet," she hissed, her voice barely audible.

As they approached the courtyard, a patrol passed unexpectedly. Armin quickly whispered, "Get down!" They pressed themselves against the wall, their bodies blending with the shadows.

The guards paused. One of them shone a flashlight in their direction, and Levi's hand tensed on the hilt of his blade. The beam lingered for a second too long before moving away.

Once the guards moved on, Historia tugged at Levi's sleeve. "We need to hurry," she whispered.

They reached the outer wall. Armin produced a makeshift grappling hook, hastily constructed from spare parts he'd scavenged. "This should hold," he said nervously.

Mikasa tested the rope with a sharp tug. "It'll have to."

One by one, they scaled the wall. Sasha almost slipped, but Jean grabbed her arm just in time. "Careful," he muttered.

On the other side, the group landed softly, their boots crunching against the grass. Ahead lay the open plains, and beyond them, the unknown.

Levi turned, his voice firm but quiet. "We're not stopping until we find her. Let's move."

Their horses galloped through the open plains, hooves thundering against the earth as they surged forward. The air was thick with tension, every shadow a potential threat.

The first Titan emerged from behind a ridge, a lumbering 10-metre monstrosity with crooked limbs. Levi barked, "Eyes open!" and launched himself from his horse. His ODM gear hissed as he soared toward the Titan, slicing through its nape with precision.

Another Titan, smaller but faster, came from the left. Mikasa intercepted, her blades cutting cleanly. Sasha's arrows flew true, piercing a 7-metre Titan's eyes, giving Jean time to finish it off.

"Armin, watch the rear!" Levi shouted.

As they pushed forward, more Titans appeared, drawn by the sound of their horses. Historia narrowly avoided a grab from a 15-metre Titan, her horse skidding to the side. Jean and Connie flanked it, their combined strikes taking it down.

They barely had time to breathe when they entered the forest. The trees loomed tall, their dense canopy casting eerie shadows. It was the forest of their nightmares—the place where Levi's squad had met their end.

"This is where they died," Levi muttered, his voice low. Mikasa clenched her fists, the memories of that day resurfacing.

The group moved cautiously, every creak and rustle putting them on edge. They reached the cave where Eren had been held before. The remnants of the hideout were still there: burnt wood, scraps of cloth, and old bloodstains.

"She was here," Levi said, kneeling to inspect the ground.

Armin examined the area. "If we follow the trail from here, we might find something."

Levi nodded. "We trace it. No stopping until we find her."

They mounted their horses again, their resolve steeling as they pushed deeper into the unknown.

Û~Ûu

Author Note: What's gonna happen in the next chapter? Guess it.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Do drop your thoughts in the review section.

Till next time!