ok so
Ado Jaeger --> younger
Jeanny boy --> older
armin x ????????????
marco //distant giggling
ah yes marco always gets the bad ending, this is no exception
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
Rebel - Chapter Five
EREN
I look at Armin before I go, and I can't help but laugh at my own request. His face is dumbfounded, as if unsure of what I asked him. I told him to punch me, add some bruises to my facade. At first, he refused, but eventually he gave me a weak punch in the shoulder. I point him to my face, and he's about to punch again, but he seems hesitant. After a few minutes more of coaxing, and a few weak punches later, he finally delivers a punch straight into my cheek bone that causes me to stumble back a bit and wince. He seems immediately apologetic, but I grin and shake it off, teasing him about what an arm he has.
Our moment is gone after a few seconds, and I know I have to leave. The patrols should be arriving soon, and it would be in my best interest to get in before. After I'm about half way to the hospitals, I find out the best ways to use the boots, learning to jump on the edge of the roofs and press the button to get an extra boost off. As I get closer to the hospital, I put the remote on a 'safety' option, making it inept to turn on, even if I accidentally press the button. I put it in my boots, feeling the area to make sure that it is undetectable from the inside. Armin told me that the person he bought these from said that the material in both were not metal, or something that could be traced by the machines. I hope for our sakes that this wasn't a lie.
I take a deep breath as I drop into an alley way, fingers gripping into the crevices between the bricks. I use the worn down metal stairs that lead up the building from letting me free fall. I can't take any risks this early. I land on the ground from a set of lower stairs, letting my feet and ankles absorb the pain; even though I know this isn't correct. I groan, my limp becoming way more realistic. Especially since my knee is acting up again. I continue limping. Maybe this was a bad idea; I'm actually in pain now.
I shake my head softly, looking up to see the reddish-grey symbol that signifies the hospital. I nearly scoff at the sight of it. Red Quartz; could they've honestly picked a simpler name? However, I ignore this as I hear the sounds of people talking outside. I move out into the open, moving towards the hospital and clutching the bicep of my right arm with my left. I lick my lips as I prepare to speak with natural Quartz dialect. I repeat it in my head. Younger or casual, kiddo; older or formal.. My thoughts stopped, and it went against my first thoughts when I continued walking. After a few moments of familiar gear spinning in my brain, my mind settles on 'sir' and 'miss'. I hope these are correct as I make it to the door, dipping my head and looking at the ground as I pass the soldiers.
"Evening, sir." I say with a nod to the nearest one, who basically scoots away from me as fast as he can. Typical goddy rich soldiers. However, I just nod again and move into the hospital, moving to the clerk. "Can I get a room for the night, miss?" I notice recognition in her eyes, and I know I have this part correct.
"What happened?" She says blankly, and I feel myself struck by the apathetic tone in her voice; though I guess I really shouldn't be surprised.
"Was in a fight; I feel somewhat dizzy, and I think something happened to my knee..." I do a little hobble for her, my face scrunching up in a wince automatically. I know others are watching me, and as the clerk leads me to the waiting room, my eyes meet with someone I know. My eyes lower and I dip my head, and as I catch another soldier saying their name, I bit my lip to ignore it. Hanji. Someone I thought I may never see again, and someone who was almost impossible to recognize. The new captain seems younger, and I'm guessing that it's the new age-reversal elixir that makes people look younger; as long as they keep take it. Though it's not scientifically proven to remove all of those years, it is shown to take off one or two years for every year you take it. However, no one has tried to go back and become a young child. Everyone knows that anyone younger than 10 is pretty much useless in this society.
She motions to soldiers, who pat me down. I am relieved that they don't find my knives or remote, but they do take the small amount of currency I have on my belt. Their payment. And then I'm pointed in the direction of the waiting room.
At least half an hour later, I realize that the plan cannot wait any longer. I move to the nearest soldier, who instinctively reaches for his gun, causing me to pause. Other soldiers tell him to lower his weapons, and he does. I guess there's no shooting in the hospital, unless necessary. Nonetheless, he seems like he wants to get away from me. I'm pretty much done with these money-dwellers, but I pretend to be unaffected. "Where are the restrooms?" I ask, and he ignores me. My hand moves to tug on his leather jacket, my green eyes meeting his. "Please?" I say, my index and middle finger reaching into his pocket and grabbing his ID. The soldier doesn't seem to notice, eyes scanning me. I feel nervous, but I know he'll forget me eventually if I can just get away. He turns and points, and in this second I quickly shove the ID tag into one of my jacket pockets, and I'm relieved to see that the pocket is big enough to hide the somewhat awkward shape. I nod and murmur an appreciative thanks, limping towards the direction in which he pointed.
When I reach the restroom, I close the door and lock it, scanning the poorly-lit room. I notice a ventilation shaft on the ceiling, and I narrow my eyes up at it. I reach into my boot, pulling out a knife to unscrew the vent. Standing on the cover of the toilet, I boost myself enough to get my arms through, pressing the palms of my hands against the metal, pulling myself enough to see in. I nearly gag at the air. It's dense and humid, and hard to breathe in, but I think I'll be able to fit through them. I let my feet drop once more before pushing myself more forcefully, this time my elbows reaching in. With much effort, I pull myself in, crawling through. I pause for a few seconds, pulling my shirt over my nose and mouth. It's harder for me to breathe, but the air I breathe in feels a lot less musty. I struggle through, horizontal against the vent as I pull myself forward with my forearms.
I can feel my sweat mixing with the dried blood, and I grunt as some trails down my lips and side of my cheeks. It tickles and itches, but I can't waste time. I don't have to go far, and I know that. I just need to get to the staircase. Armin said that the vaccines were on the third floor. I'd have to go up two flights. I think about strategy. In an open staircase like he showed me, especially a spiral one, it's important to go with speed and not stealth. I have no idea where I am, but I see a new vent. My knife, still clenched in my sweaty hand, sets to work and starts unscrewing the vent. I slide the vent away, looking down. I see a sign that is pointing to the stairs, and I let a relieved exhale escape into the air. The best part? It's empty. I slide the vent forward more, until it's not covering the hole at all. I estimate the gap, and decide it's low enough for me to make a gentle drop down. I ease my body out slowly, until I'm holding the vent by only my hands, wincing as my muscles strain to hold me up. I slowly let myself drop, landing a bit too painfully on the balls of my feet. I wobble slightly before I'm dashing towards the stairs. my soft boots landing silently on the steps.
Dashing up, I find the high-security room. It's easily found by the high-tech scanners around it, and most importantly, cameras. I curse. I know they can already see me coming up the steps. It's too late to make it seem like an accident. I dash for the door, my boots sliding on the white tile floor as I grab the ID from my tag and scan it. As figured, all soldiers have access. I instantly come in, and at first, everyone is just surprised to see me. However, soldiers quickly raise their guns. I grab the nearest doctor, holding him next to me as, in crude words, a meat shield. I press the knife into his side gently, not enough to bring blood. "Where are the vaccinations?" I ask. He stutters nervously, and my attention is moved to the soldiers.
"Let go of the doctor and stand in front of us with your hands up! Or else you'll be shot and put in jail." I let out a sarcastic chuckle, and eye their badges on their uniform. "Newbies." I mutter. I turn back to the doctor.
"Tell me where they are." I watch his hazel eyes look over to a cabinet, and I slowly pull him towards there and dig through. I notice that under the label vaccinations, there's no full test tubes. There's only painkillers and supplements. I curse under my breath as I use my other hand to take them, stuffing them into my spare pockets inside of my jacket. I'm very glad for the many pockets I have. "Duck." I say simply, pushing him down as I run towards the door. I zigzag, and do everything I can. A bullet grazes my left side of my chest, and I quickly stumble to the right. The next thing I know, I'm zooming down the corridor. Their shots ring out, and I can hear boots coming up the stairs. I curse, running randomly down the corridor, back and forth, left and right. I quickly open an emergency exit, barricading the door with a mop that a janitor probably left carelessly behind. I loop it through the double-door handles, reaching in my boot for the remote of the boots, and I put my knife in my belt. I know that the wimpy mop handle won't hold them back long, and I run down the hallway of the corridor, following it to what I'm assuming, is the second floor. I see windows, and I take a deep breath. As I pause to catch my breath, I'm aware the sirens are ringing. Most of the soldiers that were outside are now inside, by the looks of it. I pull my gloves out of my jacket pockets, putting one on my right hand. I hear thundering footsteps, and I run to the window and punch the glass with my gloved hand. I pocket my left glove, grabbing the remote that I hastily put in my pocket. "Alright, Armin. Can you protect me from this?" I force myself through the small gap caused by the shattered, the glass cutting a few spots of my jacket, even scratching the top of my forehead a bit. Ah yes, more blood.
I jump out, turning on the remote when I know I'm close. I feel myself falling slower, and it's a bit of a relief until I hear shots, and feel them being close to me. I quickly turn off the remote, shoving it in my belt as well. I duck under the roof of the hospital, and I know they can't shoot me from above. I'm about to run towards the alleys that I came from, but from the shadows of the hospital building, Hanji appears. I see no recognition on the captain's face, and I know that she doesn't remember me. I don't blame her, I look different. Especially with blood on my face. She lifts her gun and aims at me. "Trost." She warns, and I can't help but smile solemnly at the word. A word that should be said perfectly by her, but it seems awkward. "Give back the vaccinations, and we'll say this never happened."
I shake my head quietly, not reaching for my dagger. I'm afraid to use my voice, afraid she'll recognize me and alert officials.
"Then you leave me no choice." I notice that she is turning the safety of her gun off slowly, and my eyes widen. I instinctively move my hand towards my belt, grabbing my knife. I throw my arm back, and throw the knife with all my strength, ducking and rolling as she fires. I don't stay long. I don't even try to retrieve my knife, as expensive as those damned things are. I aimed for her shoulder, and I hear her grunt and stumble, and I take this chance to get my remote and start sprinting away, making sure to use the small boost to help. I slither through the alleyways, moving to Obsidian. I see Armin's gentle blond hair, and I'm limping towards him. I pat my chest gently, making sure the test-tubes I have there are safe and not broken. They aren't.
I sigh in relief as I move to hug Armin, and he hugs me back in relief. "You're late, you're thirty minutes late." He mutters, and I notice that his cheeks are wet.
"I'm sorry," I whisper quietly, lifting my head as I hear someone approach. Armin lowers his arms. "This is Mikasa... She's a friend of mine. She's living in Obsidian temporarily, but she's moving back to her original home in Quartz."
The woman steps out from the shadows and nods at me. I notice her red scarf, and the way it's knitted reminds me of Armin's style. I look at Armin. "I didn't know you knitted scarves." I ignore my jealousy as I think to myself: I didn't know you knitted for other people.
Armin just grins cheekily. "Whatever I need to do to make money for us, you know?" I smile at him gently, but I feel a pain in my chest. "Yeah." I said simply. "Anyway," he continues. "Let's get to Mikasa's house and see if you have any injuries."
It's then that I realize the only pain in my chest is not jealousy, but also the area where the bullet scraped me. "Oh, I hope it's close." I mutter quietly. Armin looks over at me worriedly, but I shake him off.
"Well, Mikasa has a jeep, so..." Armin leads me towards it and my eyes widen. A jeep? Who was this woman? In the poor sectors, too...
However, I take the ride gratefully, and we make it safely back to Mikasa's house at around 2:30 in the morning. I'm tired from my run, but I know I'll sleep after I bandage my wounds. Or rather, Armin does. He somehow knows what to do with everything. And so, after that, I fall asleep.
Twenty one days. Three weeks. Three weeks of watching. I watch the house that my family owns. Nothing happens. No one in or out. The three-lined cross looms in its crimson red glory on the front door. But nothing changes. I don't know what's going on.
Armin doesn't say much to me. Every day, after dinner, the same time the patrol came that fateful day, I look outside of the window, looking through the curtains that Armin made from old clothes that don't fit and miscellaneous bags from the store and recycling lots. He gently walks up behind me, sitting down quietly next to me. Every day, for a few minutes, we just sit. But then Armin hugs me and forces me to rock with him as he hums. Sometimes it's just random notes, sometimes it's mimicking of the birds, and sometimes a song of freedom, like ones we sang back in the days of the true Survey Corps.
When I first realized he was humming one of the Survey Corps songs, I was surprised. They are now illegal and the particular one he sung could get you a death penalty. But the fact he was comfortable and brave enough to him them too me brought gentle, warm tears in my eyes, and I would just look over at him with a thankful smile. He would say nothing, but dip his head.
This process would go on and on, but today, on the twenty-first day after the marking of my family's door, I decided I'm going to do something about it. I'll get vaccines. The rich Gem Sectors receive them; most of the time. I can get them. Shouldn't they have them in hospitals?
I run a hand through my hair, the blond strands running against my fingers. "Armin," I say, and he turns towards me. He seems surprised that I have spoken, as when we usually watch the house, it's silent. However, I press on. "If we wanted to raid a hospital to get plague vaccines, would you go with Red Quartz or Ruby Health?"
Armin's eyes widen slightly, but he quickly lowers his gaze, his mouth moving as he whispered to himself. "Well," he spoke up. "Red Quartz is closer and therefore easier to get to. However, many Ruby citizens prefer to go to Ruby Health because it shows their sector in a more dignified way. In other words, so they don't see us. So the idea of Red Quartz having vaccinations is even lower. I personally doubt they have vaccinations anywhere in the hospital, but it's worth a shot." He sends me an amused glance with his pun and I let out a forced laugh. "Ha. Ha. A shot. Very funny Armin." I say, rolling my green eyes. "But tell me something I don't know."
Armin grins at my unenthusiastic reply, but it vanishes at my second statement. "Well, though Ruby Health is a good idea, or, a better one than Red Quartz, it's going under some strict observation from teams of soldiers, including high ranked captains and commanders supported by the government."
I am surprised, honestly. "What are they observing?" I say, lifting my right eyebrow in interest. It sounds suspicious.
"That, I don't know, I'm afraid. We could ask around, but I doubt anyone will know. They might think we are undercover government officials trying to see if there are any people who know too much." Armin carefully continues. "It is a possibility that they are hiding vaccinations, but it's dangerous. I would think about it, Eren."
Hearing my birth name in his tone makes me shiver gently, but my green eyes never leave his. "I have to. I have to save who is sick, I have to get them vaccinations. Draw up plans for Ruby Health. I'm going tonight."
Armin's eyes widen at my decision, but he knows I won't change it. He nods simply and pulls out his large sketchbook, drawing on it the plans of the building for me to study later.
I go to the bedroom and suit up. Black track pants, check. Black shirt, check. Black leather boots and jacket, check. Beanie? No check. I look around frantically, sighing in relief. I hate losing these god damn things. I pull a black ski cap over my blond hair before pulling the tight beanie over that. The black ski cap should keep my hair gone, and the beanie should effectively hold it in place. I sigh at the reflection I see in the mirror. "I look like a doofus." I say simply. As I look at myself, I wonder what my brothers look like. When I left, my older brother had similar brown hair and green eyes. Only our family could tell us apart.
I smile quietly as I think about my younger brother. He had light brown hair and pale blue eyes. He is the weakest out of all of us, but he has the biggest heart. He loves engineering. Loves building. Put that kid and paper together and he could make you an origami castle.
My smile disappears as I realize something. He was also the most sickly. It was either him that was sick or mom. And I am very certain it's my younger brother. He's younger, his immune system is weaker. My hands shake slightly as I zip up my jacket, plastering a fake smile on my lips as I go to check on Armin.
I enter the bedroom where he is sitting, sketchbook out in front of him. He is laying on his stomach right now, sketching idly, but he sits up when I enter.
"I think it's my younger brother," I say quietly, looking at Armin. My hands rest firmly behind my back, and I didn't want to show him my nervousness. His face tensed slightly, and I picked up the small movement his pencil made when his grip pressed into it.
"He will be okay." He said softly, meeting my gaze worriedly. "Your family is full of fighters, your brother is not an exception."
I can't help but to smile, "You don't even know him, Armin!" My voice is teasing, and my goal is accomplished when Armin relaxes a bit.
"Anyone related to you gets the stubborn fighting gene, I think. I've met your older brother and that's proof enough." Armin grins back, putting his pencil down and going to me. "Look at me, I'm already stubborn just by being around you." His grin widens as he chuckles, and my hands slowly fall from behind my back, gently grabbing his shoulders and pulling him next to me. I give him a friendly hip bump, grinning at our child-like moment.
"Oh, shut up! Just because my older brother looks like me doesn't mean he acts like me too!!" My defensive act lowers as I continue. "He's much less daring, but he follows his heart. I guess that's something the Jaeger family is best at. We are always hunting the ones who have wronged us in some way."
Armin carefully decides to lower the topic. "I know. The point is, your brothers won't give up without a fight."
I nod in agreement. "That's true, but nonetheless. Vaccines, we have to get them." Armin nods and returns to his sketchbook.
"I have a plan." He says, waiting for me to give him the go ahead. This guy always manages to come up with sturdy plans in shorts amount of time. I give him a little nod and he talks about me coming in like I'm injured and demanding a room; offering pay of course. I then would sneak around until I found the vaccines.
It seemed like a reliable plan, and I give another nod to show that I liked the strategy. He continues onward, telling me how I would go from there. Knowing how little the hospitals cared for those from the slum sectors, I would probably be in a waiting room for at least half an hour. I could make a half assed excuse like I'm looking for water. At this part in the plan, I wrinkle my nose slightly. I know that there isn't any better option, but I still don't like it. Armin senses my cautiousness and sighs.
"I know, but I can't think of anything better." He sounds genuinely sorry, and I feel bad for bringing it up, my green eyes darting nervously until he continues. "From there, you'd find the room..." He points to a location on the drawing and my eyes scan it. The room itself, the hallways. Possible entries and exits. Armin is quiet as I study, and he only continues when I look up. "You'll take what you need and get out. Whatever it takes. Walking, running. Just be prepared."
I flash Armin a grin. "Prepared? You know me, leap before you think!" I try to be teasing but Armin doesn't look like he is amused.
"Seriously, Eren." His blue eyes lower slowly, "Just be careful. I worry about you, you know." My eyes widen at his words but I just nod slightly.
"And I worry about you as well, so tell me where you'll be waiting. I don't want to accidentally lead them here." My eyes confidentially meet his. I have never lead anyone or anything after me to a place of importance; especially my house. I do not plan too either, but we always make precautions. As Armin says, "leave as little up to chance as you can". I take my beanie and pull it further down my hair, smiling at Armin as he spoke.
"I'll wait on the border of the Obsidian sector. I know someone there who can take us in for a few days if need be." His voice is stronger, and for a second I reminisce on how much he has changed over the years. However, I know that I have to think about the plan. Obsidian is a bordering sector to Quartz, and escape would be easy through alleyways. Obsidian was the richest sector, but seeing as their black buildings would help conceal us in the night, it was the best bet. I try to remember my last few runs in Obsidian, before nodding.
"That will do." I say simply. My friend smiles in relief, and I can't help but to rustle his Blondie hair that so adorably stands out. "Now, let's go eat some dinner, and then I can get started when the stars come out. Yeah?" I'm answered by a nod, and soon we are reheating left over canned goods, talking about silly things; like the rowdy kids next door, or 'mysterious' things like how do rainbows work. Armin tells me all about these dumb rainbow things, but I don't get it. I thought the suns light was yellow? That's how I always drew it. Eh, maybe this reasoning is what made me fail the Trials.
I shake off the thought before I get focused on the bull-shittery of the Trials. As if on cue, I get a slight pain in my right knee, and my hand moves to pinch it. Usually I can handle the pain that I received from my missing ligaments in my leg, but sometimes at thought or at actually stressful actions that make it hurt more.
We eat, but my fingers tap against the kitchen table warily. The pain will get worse during my run, which will probably help with my disguise; an injured person reporting for help. I also pack a small amount of currency, tucking it into my belt. I put small daggers in my boots, sliding them into the small leather-loop compartments inside.
After dinner, Armin helps me smear blood over my skin, most of it animal blood that he probably picked up from the butcher; disgusting, but it would have to do...
As the sun falls, I start putting on my jacket, but then I slowly come to the realization; I can't use my 3DMG on this mission- though I usually don't use it, it would be helpful on this one. Armin grins at me as I mention this, moving to the bedroom and coming back with two tiny metal looking boxes. They were skinny, and I was rather confused what they were for until he stuck them onto the soles of my shoes. The metal moved over the soles, distributing evenly like it was water in an invisible container. He does this for both of the shoes before handing me a remote with a singular button. He tells me to put on the shoes before pushing the button, and I do so.
I zip up the shoes from the side, and I take the control from his soft grip. I press the button, and I'm not sure what to expect, but it's not this.
I lose my balance nearly instantly, and I feel lighter. I look down and notice that I'm hovering just a few centimeters off the ground. "Oh my god," I whisper in surprise. "Oh my god, Armin." I say again. "You're a freaking genius, how did you figure this out?"
Armin grinned. "Well... I can't claim all the work for myself. I got the anti-gravity pieces from the alleyways, but I had to nod them to distribute so easily. It moves like a fluid, so as long as you plan to land on your feet some way, it will help take away most of the shock. Just don't do anything too exerting. You might still get hurt, plus, after they absorb enough shock, they shut down for a few minutes in attempt to reboot. In other words, it's a work in progress."
I make sure to take heed to his words. "Alright." I say, confirming that I indeed listened to him. "But, still, Armin, dude," I go off, my green eyes looking down at the shoes as I press the button again, letting them turn off and recharge. I watch the bar on the side of the remote start lighting up fully as it turns off. 'Ah, good. Quick recharge.' Is all I think to myself. "This is amazing, you're a freaking genius, Armin!" I say with praise, and I notice a sheepish blush on his face.
"Ahh, stop flattering and get ready." He murmured, looking away as if trying to make me believe my words didn't have much of an effect on him. He can't fool me, though.
"Aw, can't take a compliment from your best friend~" I purred at him, and I noticed him muttering something to himself. However, when I question it, he says it was nothing. I give him a suspicious look, but he doesn't say anything. A few seconds of silence, and I drop it.
I get ready for my mission.
I look at Armin before I go, and I can't help but laugh at my own request. His face is dumbfounded, as if unsure of what I asked him. I told him to punch me, add some bruises to my facade. At first, he refused, but eventually he gave me a weak punch in the shoulder. I point him to my face, and he's about to punch again, but he seems hesitant. After a few minutes more of coaxing, and a few weak punches later, he finally delivers a punch straight into my cheek bone that causes me to stumble back a bit and wince. He seems immediately apologetic, but I grin and shake it off, teasing him about what an arm he has.
Our moment is gone after a few seconds, and I know I have to leave. The patrols should be arriving soon, and it would be in my best interest to get in before. After I'm about half way to the hospitals, I find out the best ways to use the boots, learning to jump on the edge of the roofs and press the button to get an extra boost off. As I get closer to the hospital, I put the remote on a 'safety' option, making it inept to turn on, even if I accidentally press the button. I put it in my boots, feeling the area to make sure that it is undetectable from the inside. Armin told me that the person he bought these from said that the material in both were not metal, or something that could be traced by the machines. I hope for our sakes that this wasn't a lie.
I take a deep breath as I drop into an alley way, fingers gripping into the crevices between the bricks. I use the worn down metal stairs that lead up the building from letting me free fall. I can't take any risks this early. I land on the ground from a set of lower stairs, letting my feet and ankles absorb the pain; even though I know this isn't correct. I groan, my limp becoming way more realistic. Especially since my knee is acting up again. I continue limping. Maybe this was a bad idea; I'm actually in pain now.
I shake my head softly, looking up to see the reddish-grey symbol that signifies the hospital. I nearly scoff at the sight of it. Red Quartz; could they've honestly picked a simpler name? However, I ignore this as I hear the sounds of people talking outside. I move out into the open, moving towards the hospital and clutching the bicep of my right arm with my left. I lick my lips as I prepare to speak with natural Quartz dialect. I repeat it in my head. Younger or casual, kiddo; older or formal.. My thoughts stopped, and it went against my first thoughts when I continued walking. After a few moments of familiar gear spinning in my brain, my mind settles on 'sir' and 'miss'. I hope these are correct as I make it to the door, dipping my head and looking at the ground as I pass the soldiers.
"Evening, sir." I say with a nod to the nearest one, who basically scoots away from me as fast as he can. Typical goddy rich soldiers. However, I just nod again and move into the hospital, moving to the clerk. "Can I get a room for the night, miss?" I notice recognition in her eyes, and I know I have this part correct.
"What happened?" She says blankly, and I feel myself struck by the apathetic tone in her voice; though I guess I really shouldn't be surprised.
"Was in a fight; I feel somewhat dizzy, and I think something happened to my knee..." I do a little hobble for her, my face scrunching up in a wince automatically. I know others are watching me, and as the clerk leads me to the waiting room, my eyes meet with someone I know. My eyes lower and I dip my head, and as I catch another soldier saying their name, I bit my lip to ignore it. Hanji. Someone I thought I may never see again, and someone who was almost impossible to recognize. The new captain seems younger, and I'm guessing that it's the new age-reversal elixir that makes people look younger; as long as they keep take it. Though it's not scientifically proven to remove all of those years, it is shown to take off one or two years for every year you take it. However, no one has tried to go back and become a young child. Everyone knows that anyone younger than 10 is pretty much useless in this society.
She motions to soldiers, who pat me down. I am relieved that they don't find my knives or remote, but they do take the small amount of currency I have on my belt. Their payment. And then I'm pointed in the direction of the waiting room.
At least half an hour later, I realize that the plan cannot wait any longer. I move to the nearest soldier, who instinctively reaches for his gun, causing me to pause. Other soldiers tell him to lower his weapons, and he does. I guess there's no shooting in the hospital, unless necessary. Nonetheless, he seems like he wants to get away from me. I'm pretty much done with these money-dwellers, but I pretend to be unaffected. "Where are the restrooms?" I ask, and he ignores me. My hand moves to tug on his leather jacket, my green eyes meeting his. "Please?" I say, my index and middle finger reaching into his pocket and grabbing his ID. The soldier doesn't seem to notice, eyes scanning me. I feel nervous, but I know he'll forget me eventually if I can just get away. He turns and points, and in this second I quickly shove the ID tag into one of my jacket pockets, and I'm relieved to see that the pocket is big enough to hide the somewhat awkward shape. I nod and murmur an appreciative thanks, limping towards the direction in which he pointed.
When I reach the restroom, I close the door and lock it, scanning the poorly-lit room. I notice a ventilation shaft on the ceiling, and I narrow my eyes up at it. I reach into my boot, pulling out a knife to unscrew the vent. Standing on the cover of the toilet, I boost myself enough to get my arms through, pressing the palms of my hands against the metal, pulling myself enough to see in. I nearly gag at the air. It's dense and humid, and hard to breathe in, but I think I'll be able to fit through them. I let my feet drop once more before pushing myself more forcefully, this time my elbows reaching in. With much effort, I pull myself in, crawling through. I pause for a few seconds, pulling my shirt over my nose and mouth. It's harder for me to breathe, but the air I breathe in feels a lot less musty. I struggle through, horizontal against the vent as I pull myself forward with my forearms.
I can feel my sweat mixing with the dried blood, and I grunt as some trails down my lips and side of my cheeks. It tickles and itches, but I can't waste time. I don't have to go far, and I know that. I just need to get to the staircase. Armin said that the vaccines were on the third floor. I'd have to go up two flights. I think about strategy. In an open staircase like he showed me, especially a spiral one, it's important to go with speed and not stealth. I have no idea where I am, but I see a new vent. My knife, still clenched in my sweaty hand, sets to work and starts unscrewing the vent. I slide the vent away, looking down. I see a sign that is pointing to the stairs, and I let a relieved exhale escape into the air. The best part? It's empty. I slide the vent forward more, until it's not covering the hole at all. I estimate the gap, and decide it's low enough for me to make a gentle drop down. I ease my body out slowly, until I'm holding the vent by only my hands, wincing as my muscles strain to hold me up. I slowly let myself drop, landing a bit too painfully on the balls of my feet. I wobble slightly before I'm dashing towards the stairs. my soft boots landing silently on the steps.
Dashing up, I find the high-security room. It's easily found by the high-tech scanners around it, and most importantly, cameras. I curse. I know they can already see me coming up the steps. It's too late to make it seem like an accident. I dash for the door, my boots sliding on the white tile floor as I grab the ID from my tag and scan it. As figured, all soldiers have access. I instantly come in, and at first, everyone is just surprised to see me. However, soldiers quickly raise their guns. I grab the nearest doctor, holding him next to me as, in crude words, a meat shield. I press the knife into his side gently, not enough to bring blood. "Where are the vaccinations?" I ask. He stutters nervously, and my attention is moved to the soldiers.
"Let go of the doctor and stand in front of us with your hands up! Or else you'll be shot and put in jail." I let out a sarcastic chuckle, and eye their badges on their uniform. "Newbies." I mutter. I turn back to the doctor.
"Tell me where they are." I watch his hazel eyes look over to a cabinet, and I slowly pull him towards there and dig through. I notice that under the label vaccinations, there's no full test tubes. There's only painkillers and supplements. I curse under my breath as I use my other hand to take them, stuffing them into my spare pockets inside of my jacket. I'm very glad for the many pockets I have. "Duck." I say simply, pushing him down as I run towards the door. I zigzag, and do everything I can. A bullet grazes my left side of my chest, and I quickly stumble to the right. The next thing I know, I'm zooming down the corridor. Their shots ring out, and I can hear boots coming up the stairs. I curse, running randomly down the corridor, back and forth, left and right. I quickly open an emergency exit, barricading the door with a mop that a janitor probably left carelessly behind. I loop it through the double-door handles, reaching in my boot for the remote of the boots, and I put my knife in my belt. I know that the wimpy mop handle won't hold them back long, and I run down the hallway of the corridor, following it to what I'm assuming, is the second floor. I see windows, and I take a deep breath. As I pause to catch my breath, I'm aware the sirens are ringing. Most of the soldiers that were outside are now inside, by the looks of it. I pull my gloves out of my jacket pockets, putting one on my right hand. I hear thundering footsteps, and I run to the window and punch the glass with my gloved hand. I pocket my left glove, grabbing the remote that I hastily put in my pocket. "Alright, Armin. Can you protect me from this?" I force myself through the small gap caused by the shattered, the glass cutting a few spots of my jacket, even scratching the top of my forehead a bit. Ah yes, more blood.
I jump out, turning on the remote when I know I'm close. I feel myself falling slower, and it's a bit of a relief until I hear shots, and feel them being close to me. I quickly turn off the remote, shoving it in my belt as well. I duck under the roof of the hospital, and I know they can't shoot me from above. I'm about to run towards the alleys that I came from, but from the shadows of the hospital building, Hanji appears. I see no recognition on the captain's face, and I know that she doesn't remember me. I don't blame her, I look different. Especially with blood on my face. She lifts her gun and aims at me. "Trost." She warns, and I can't help but smile solemnly at the word. A word that should be said perfectly by her, but it seems awkward. "Give back the vaccinations, and we'll say this never happened."
I shake my head quietly, not reaching for my dagger. I'm afraid to use my voice, afraid she'll recognize me and alert officials.
"Then you leave me no choice." I notice that she is turning the safety of her gun off slowly, and my eyes widen. I instinctively move my hand towards my belt, grabbing my knife. I throw my arm back, and throw the knife with all my strength, ducking and rolling as she fires. I don't stay long. I don't even try to retrieve my knife, as expensive as those damned things are. I aimed for her shoulder, and I hear her grunt and stumble, and I take this chance to get my remote and start sprinting away, making sure to use the small boost to help. I slither through the alleyways, moving to Obsidian. I see Armin's gentle blond hair, and I'm limping towards him. I pat my chest gently, making sure the test-tubes I have there are safe and not broken. They aren't.
I sigh in relief as I move to hug Armin, and he hugs me back in relief. "You're late, you're thirty minutes late." He mutters, and I notice that his cheeks are wet.
"I'm sorry," I whisper quietly, lifting my head as I hear someone approach. Armin lowers his arms. "This is Mikasa... She's a friend of mine. She's living in Obsidian temporarily, but she's moving back to her original home in Quartz."
The woman steps out from the shadows and nods at me. I notice her red scarf, and the way it's knitted reminds me of Armin's style. I look at Armin. "I didn't know you knitted scarves." I ignore my jealousy as I think to myself: I didn't know you knitted for other people.
Armin just grins cheekily. "Whatever I need to do to make money for us, you know?" I smile at him gently, but I feel a pain in my chest. "Yeah." I said simply. "Anyway," he continues. "Let's get to Mikasa's house and see if you have any injuries."
It's then that I realize the only pain in my chest is not jealousy, but also the area where the bullet scraped me. "Oh, I hope it's close." I mutter quietly. Armin looks over at me worriedly, but I shake him off.
"Well, Mikasa has a jeep, so..." Armin leads me towards it and my eyes widen. A jeep? Who was this woman? In the poor sectors, too...
However, I take the ride gratefully, and we make it safely back to Mikasa's house at around 2:30 in the morning. I'm tired from my run, but I know I'll sleep after I bandage my wounds. Or rather, Armin does. He somehow knows what to do with everything. And so, after that, I fall asleep.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Rebel - Chapter Four
Levi
It was only a few weeks after that I forget my siblings words, and I find myself dashing up the side of the school to the roof, where I squat and look over the practice field with bored eyes. It took me only five minutes to climb up the school. They redid the design of the building not too long ago, taking down the bricks and replacing it mainly with steel. I had slipped on my gloves and boots, a perfect new use of new technology. They can stick to nearly anything. The gloves and boots are similar to suction cups in how they work, but they really just seem like normal boots. They are troublesome and annoying for casual wear, but for climbing they are probably one of the better inventions made by the Democracy.
The building is four stories tall. One floor is a pool area, another is a gymnasium area while the other three are classes. The wind rushes through my black hair, my grey eyes raising from the ground to the blue sky. My windbreaker is flapping helplessly around me, and I'm tempted to just zip it up and go down the way I came. But looking over to the gigantic screens on the sector's government skyscraper. Seeing another threat caused by Trost? Ever since he blew up our airships, the government has always tried to find him. We don't know what he looks like, we don't know his motive, we don't know if he is working with the Patriots, we don't even know where he lives or where he is striking next. He's spontaneous in actions, but smart and strategic. Either he's a mastermind, or he has someone helping him. Maybe both.
I slowly stand up, slipping out of my black jacket, the red stripes on the sides of my sleeves matching those that run down my track pants. Ruby sector, I think with a glorious smile, leaning my head back. But soon, my restless mind quiets and I have to focus. I close my grey eyes, my face clearing of my past smile. Slowly, a simulation plays easily in my thoughts. I'm being chased up by soldiers. Rebels, maybe. They're armed, I'm pinned to the top of the building. My eyes stay closed, but my body moves. It presses against the railing of the building. They're going to be here any moment, and their guns will be ready. There's nothing to barricade the door. Nothing on the school roof.
My eyes don't open as I jump, holding the sleeves of my jacket to try and get most of the area of the jacket to become a parachute. My arms snap back. I must have got the jacket to fan out properly. My hands strain against the fabric, and it slips out of my grip. My eyes finally snap open, and I'm falling. My mind races, but I just force my mind to still. Roll on impact. I remind myself. Over, over, and over again. I don't know how long the time passes, but I grunt as I try my hardest to fall more vertically, my core scrunching painfully. I swing my arms, and finally I get to a somewhat reliable position. I quickly fall back into the falling position, and I wince as I reach out and the tip of my boot and it runs along the steel of the building, squealing coming from the friction. I quickly push off, using the momentum to straighten myself. I'm close enough to the ground. This either works and I land well enough on my knees, or the momentum will be too strong and I'll probably crack open my skull. Negative thoughts aside, I bend my knees expectantly, waiting. Not patiently. My fingers are trembling. Maybe Hanji was right, maybe I should just stop trying. We will probably never catch Trost. This thought surges through my mind, but suddenly, my mind stops working. It freezes on my constant 'roll on impact'. Instincts and adrenaline, I realize later is what took over.
It's getting closer, and I space my feet a little bit, making sure they aren't angled out or staggered. I give myself enough space, spreading them to match my shoulder-width, maybe a bit less. I feel the ground under my feet, specifically right below my toes. I jolt as I absorb all the shock. I'm glad I landed properly for this, and all I can feel, mixed with my dumb rushing adrenaline, is relief. No broken toes, no bad ankles; yet. My hips move down, my strong thighs and calves easing out the amount of shock I received from the fall. Everything moves with it. I let my upper body fall, the side of my left arm lashing out to protect myself as I slam into the ground, tucking my head in and using my feet to push me over. I'm somersaulting, but the jump was not all perfect. A jump from a four story building could never leave me unscathed, and this is no exception. I can't help but let out a scream as I dislocate my shoulder; I hope; but also receive a pain in my lower arm, a few inches above my wrist.
I quickly muffle my scream, laying on the ground. I get up a few moments later, breathing heavily. The ground feels odd underneath my feet, but I could care less. I roll my left shoulder, and when that hurts and doesn't fix anything, I roll my arm. My right hand smashes against it until my shoulder pops back, and I wince as a strong huff of air exhales from my nose. I cradle my arm and place it by my stomach, and when I start walking towards the school doors, I already see a few curious students and worried teachers headed my way. They don't seem surprised as they say me enter, holding the door open for me. I won't lie, this is not the first time I've gotten hurt on a "stunt", but I don't think I've ever broken a bone. If I hadn't let go of the dumb jacket, I probably would've gotten out with just a bad muscle.
Some teachers move around me, trying to pry other kids away. The kids are asking what I've done now. If I beat Trost's records. I'm confused at first but I realize eventually. I didn't have a reason for jumping. I had no reason to try and put myself in a situation. But it wasn't hard to think about how it could relate to Trost. Spontaneous thinking. It's what he would've done. My mind doesn't leave the topic as I am say down in the nurse's office. I don't hear what the nurse says, though it's probably the usual: "I'm calling Captain Hanji and the principal." Slowly, I come to the idea that Trost wouldn't have jumped. Or, at least, not like what I did. He would have his jacket. Maybe buttoned around his neck but opened. He would've thrown himself over the edge, made it look like he was jumping. Especially if he was equipped with my boots and gloves, he would've tried to jump and press against the wall for a while before he believed he could make a safer jump, where he could've grabbed onto the ends of his jacket to help parachute him slightly. It would strain the shoulders, but it would be much less of a cost then what happened to me.
The building is four stories tall. One floor is a pool area, another is a gymnasium area while the other three are classes. The wind rushes through my black hair, my grey eyes raising from the ground to the blue sky. My windbreaker is flapping helplessly around me, and I'm tempted to just zip it up and go down the way I came. But looking over to the gigantic screens on the sector's government skyscraper. Seeing another threat caused by Trost? Ever since he blew up our airships, the government has always tried to find him. We don't know what he looks like, we don't know his motive, we don't know if he is working with the Patriots, we don't even know where he lives or where he is striking next. He's spontaneous in actions, but smart and strategic. Either he's a mastermind, or he has someone helping him. Maybe both.
I slowly stand up, slipping out of my black jacket, the red stripes on the sides of my sleeves matching those that run down my track pants. Ruby sector, I think with a glorious smile, leaning my head back. But soon, my restless mind quiets and I have to focus. I close my grey eyes, my face clearing of my past smile. Slowly, a simulation plays easily in my thoughts. I'm being chased up by soldiers. Rebels, maybe. They're armed, I'm pinned to the top of the building. My eyes stay closed, but my body moves. It presses against the railing of the building. They're going to be here any moment, and their guns will be ready. There's nothing to barricade the door. Nothing on the school roof.
My eyes don't open as I jump, holding the sleeves of my jacket to try and get most of the area of the jacket to become a parachute. My arms snap back. I must have got the jacket to fan out properly. My hands strain against the fabric, and it slips out of my grip. My eyes finally snap open, and I'm falling. My mind races, but I just force my mind to still. Roll on impact. I remind myself. Over, over, and over again. I don't know how long the time passes, but I grunt as I try my hardest to fall more vertically, my core scrunching painfully. I swing my arms, and finally I get to a somewhat reliable position. I quickly fall back into the falling position, and I wince as I reach out and the tip of my boot and it runs along the steel of the building, squealing coming from the friction. I quickly push off, using the momentum to straighten myself. I'm close enough to the ground. This either works and I land well enough on my knees, or the momentum will be too strong and I'll probably crack open my skull. Negative thoughts aside, I bend my knees expectantly, waiting. Not patiently. My fingers are trembling. Maybe Hanji was right, maybe I should just stop trying. We will probably never catch Trost. This thought surges through my mind, but suddenly, my mind stops working. It freezes on my constant 'roll on impact'. Instincts and adrenaline, I realize later is what took over.
It's getting closer, and I space my feet a little bit, making sure they aren't angled out or staggered. I give myself enough space, spreading them to match my shoulder-width, maybe a bit less. I feel the ground under my feet, specifically right below my toes. I jolt as I absorb all the shock. I'm glad I landed properly for this, and all I can feel, mixed with my dumb rushing adrenaline, is relief. No broken toes, no bad ankles; yet. My hips move down, my strong thighs and calves easing out the amount of shock I received from the fall. Everything moves with it. I let my upper body fall, the side of my left arm lashing out to protect myself as I slam into the ground, tucking my head in and using my feet to push me over. I'm somersaulting, but the jump was not all perfect. A jump from a four story building could never leave me unscathed, and this is no exception. I can't help but let out a scream as I dislocate my shoulder; I hope; but also receive a pain in my lower arm, a few inches above my wrist.
I quickly muffle my scream, laying on the ground. I get up a few moments later, breathing heavily. The ground feels odd underneath my feet, but I could care less. I roll my left shoulder, and when that hurts and doesn't fix anything, I roll my arm. My right hand smashes against it until my shoulder pops back, and I wince as a strong huff of air exhales from my nose. I cradle my arm and place it by my stomach, and when I start walking towards the school doors, I already see a few curious students and worried teachers headed my way. They don't seem surprised as they say me enter, holding the door open for me. I won't lie, this is not the first time I've gotten hurt on a "stunt", but I don't think I've ever broken a bone. If I hadn't let go of the dumb jacket, I probably would've gotten out with just a bad muscle.
Some teachers move around me, trying to pry other kids away. The kids are asking what I've done now. If I beat Trost's records. I'm confused at first but I realize eventually. I didn't have a reason for jumping. I had no reason to try and put myself in a situation. But it wasn't hard to think about how it could relate to Trost. Spontaneous thinking. It's what he would've done. My mind doesn't leave the topic as I am say down in the nurse's office. I don't hear what the nurse says, though it's probably the usual: "I'm calling Captain Hanji and the principal." Slowly, I come to the idea that Trost wouldn't have jumped. Or, at least, not like what I did. He would have his jacket. Maybe buttoned around his neck but opened. He would've thrown himself over the edge, made it look like he was jumping. Especially if he was equipped with my boots and gloves, he would've tried to jump and press against the wall for a while before he believed he could make a safer jump, where he could've grabbed onto the ends of his jacket to help parachute him slightly. It would strain the shoulders, but it would be much less of a cost then what happened to me.
The principal arrives quickly. While as to most kids it's 'I will tell the principal and your parents', I only get the principal. Luckily I have Hanji, who hasn't come yet to give me my lecture.
"What were you thinking?" The principal yelled angrily at me. Realizing her mistake, she took a breath and calmed down. "That was very dangerous, Levi. Don't you learn anything from Hanji? Or is your sibling not telling you to stop. I know you weren't raised properly, but you have to stop."
I narrow my eyes, my fists tightening, though my left hand quickly loosens as the pain shoots through my arm. "Leave Hanji out of this." I narrow my eyes. "You think I'm doing this because my parents are dead and Captain Hanji doesn't have common sense?" I shake my head in disbelief, a sneer on my lips. "My sibling and I are doing fine. Thank you for asking."
A light knocking sounded and I turned, the nurse opening the door. I forgot she was there. In walks Hanji, with the disappointed face that appears when she gets the calls from the school. However, noticing me cradle my arm, I see alarm piercing into his emotions.
The principal sighed as she turned to my sibling. "Levi decided to break school protocol, again, by climbing to the roof during school hours." A pause as I recieve looks from everyone in the room. "Your sibling then proceeded to jump off the building with no warning whatsoever, and with the looks of it, fragmented some of the bone in his arm."
I think Hanji just tuned all of that out except "fragmented some of the bone in his arm". He stands up. "My sibling, brother to a captain in the army, and a perfect 1500 on the trials hurt his arm and the first thing you do is call the principal to lecture him?" Outrage is heard in his voice. "Call the hospital. I want a hospital on this now. Whether it is Ruby Health of Red Quartz."
The nurse quickly moves to place the call, but the principal is fuming. "You're sibling will be fine." She says sibling in a mock way, and for a second I forget that Hanji and I are in fact not blood related. She goes on, "Levi is hardly harmed, and as the 1500, he should know how to handle himself. With our new technology, he will probably only need two days to heal. However, the other students that had to bear witness are harmed-"
The principal's voice is cut by Hanji's. "Oh no! You're precious students saw Levi falling from the roof! That must've been terrifying! I bet it's more so when they realize hospital help was not offered immediately!" The sarcasm in my brother's tone is strong, and it takes all I have to keep my stone face emotion on.
The room sits in tense silence until the nurse announces that the hospital ambulance is here, which is when Hanji stiffly stands up, looking over at me. He just dips his head slightly, but squints at my boots. "Levi, take those off. You'll make it harder for yourself."
I realize that perhaps that's why the walk here seemed so tedious. The grip is worn out on one of the shoes, which must've been the one I slided against the building. I slip them off, walking in my white socks with a slight curl of my lip (which of course is in disgust). I follow after Hanji to the ambulance, sighing as I am helped up, them grabbing my right hand. They question both of us about what happened, though Hanji obviously doesn't have much input. He just says it was an accident. Like every other time I've hurt myself at the school.
Wary eyes scan me, but they let me sit down on the bed inside. I look over to my sibling and offer them a hopeful and pained smile, but I don't get one in return. It seems that though Hanji is worried and knows I am in pain, it's not enough to get me a get-out-of-lectures-free-card. I know that the moment we're alone, I will get to hear it all again.
My adrenaline is gone by now, and I'm gritting my teeth. The medics notice and inject my left bicep with something, and the pain is only a dull ache. I hold off the pain until we get to the shiny silver and glass building of the hospital. Though I'm offered to be wheeled in, I quickly shake my head. I can walk. They offer again, but this time my answer is not as gentle.
"My injury is not in my legs. I will be fine." I say coldly, and they just nod ferociously before walking ahead of me and opening the doors as they go to the receptionist to find me a room. By the time I walk in and reach the desk, Hanji by my side, we are led to another room. It's one of the smaller ones. I realize that I was taken to the hospital on the border of Ruby and Quartz. Also known as, Red Quartz. Both citizens from Ruby and Quartz are admitted here. Usually the people that come here are of higher class, but I notice many poor people, dirt on their faces and clothes ripped. I tear my eyes from them, walking past them with my chin up. I look over to see Hanji, figuring he would do the same. However, her eyes were disapproving at me, and dipped his head respectively to each of the people who met our eyes.
I just shake my head softly as I'm placed into the room, told to wait for a doctor. I sit on the cot, the sound of the wrinkling of the white sheet being heard in the silent, dim room. Based by the white machines, I'm assuming that they plan on giving me an x-ray. My wandering eyes focus on the angry face of my sibling.
"What?" I ask, generally confused. The other sighs and I find myself even more lost.
"You don't have to act like that." Was the soft reply I received, and I send the speaker a bewildered glance. Noticing my never-leaving confusion, Hanji speaks again. "That you're so much better than them. You know your sister is there, somewhere. I know that you are more physically and educationally better than them, but they're still people." Hanji's eyes darken. "We're all the same, Levi."
I never even took time to think about his words. "We aren't. The better of us are placed as higher ups and soldiers. They are measly citizens!" I raise my voice, standing up. "And don't bring my sister into this." My louder voices deepens as I continue. "She wasn't given an option. When I was gone on a mission, our parents were killed. She doesn't know I'm her brother."
Hanji runs her tongue along her chapped lips. They begin to utter words, but the doctor steps in. I thank her, offering a weak smile.
"So, a possible break in your left forearm, Levi?" The doctor said as she stepped forward to me, turning on a few more lights so it wasn't as dim. I sit back down on the bed.
"Yeah, I think it might just be a fracture, but I guess you'll see." I say with a grin, and the doctor replies with a chuckle.
"Indeed... Actually, if you could sit over on that machine?" She pointed at one of the perfectly clean tube-like machines, and I nod, sitting down on it. I put my arm automatically in the arm rest.
"I'll just take a picture of the area." She explains, tightening the manual arm rest so that the circular part of the rest curls up and wraps around the injured part of my arm. I wince as it gets too tight, and she stops. A click of a button and a few whirring sounds later, she takes the device off.
"I'll go get these pictures developed and I'll return in a few minutes." She takes the undeveloped photos that resulted from some other department in the machine and walks out of the room.
"I can't believe you decided to jump off the school. What were you thinking?!" I look in the direction of the outraged voice, my annoyed gaze meeting my siblings' angry and irritated one.
"It was a simulation. I thought it up." I replied coldly, interrupting Hanji as her talking began again. "I admit, the result was bad. I didn't mean for it. I had a good plan but my strength didn't hold up." My grey eyes lower, studying the colored tile squares that make a hollow sound when I get up. "Fractures don't take long to heal with our technology. I'll be fine."
The doctor, gracing and relieving me yet again by her presence right before my brother speaks, enters with the pictures and puts them on the glowing board in the room. She points out the fracture in my bone. The pain medication is wearing off, and I get even more wary of the split in my bone when I see it.
"It's bad, but it is just a fracture." She concludes, and I realize I missed whatever else she said before. I nod like I listened to it. "Alright." I say softly. "I'm assuming I have to stay the night?"
She chuckles, "At least that. Possibly tomorrow night as well."
A soft sigh is heard from me, but I nod and walk out with my brother following me. I slide on the soft tile, wearing only socks. I realize I left my boots in the ambulance, but I see my brother picking them off of the ground next to where he was standing, and I turn around.
His military boots and my doctor's high heels click, and the hospital is loud with commotion and coughing. Whenever I pass someone who is coughing, I instinctively move away from them. Strong hands rest suddenly on my shoulders, causing me to jump. I look up and see Hanji, a stern look on my sibling's face.
I cast her a sour look. I don't want to get the plague. Sure, as a citizen of Ruby, I get a vaccine every year, but still, sometimes people with the vaccines get sick. I shake it off though as I'm taken to my private room.
"You'll be given a dose of pain medication, but it will be infused with your normal medication. It will help mend your bones from the inside." I nod, laying down on the bed. "You know how the rest works." She said with a chuckle, and I let out a hollow laugh as well.
My wary eyes cast on my sibling, but they return to the doctor, as it seems she was not finished talking. "Also, Captain Hanji, it's asked that you leave soon. I know you have a mission, and Levi needs rest."
Hanji nods, lifting his right hand to his forehead, resting the left side of his flat hand against his skin in a salute. "Alright. I'll just tell my brother about the mission and then I will take my leave." The doctor nods and leaves, and my brother's arm returns to his side.
I wait to hear about the mission, but it's quiet for a long time. Minutes feel like hours before Hanji speaks. "I will be patrolling Ruby Health tonight, helping distinguish plague victims and making sure the hospital is up to protocol. It will go smoothly, and I'll be back tomorrow morning or late tonight to talk to you."
I want to offer to go, but given the fact I just pulled a stunt and I'm injured, I don't bother. "Take care." I whisper, and Hanji gives me a gentle hug. "You too, Ravioli." He spoke the last words in our conversation, stepping out of the door with a gentle wave.
Wary eyes scan me, but they let me sit down on the bed inside. I look over to my sibling and offer them a hopeful and pained smile, but I don't get one in return. It seems that though Hanji is worried and knows I am in pain, it's not enough to get me a get-out-of-lectures-free-card. I know that the moment we're alone, I will get to hear it all again.
My adrenaline is gone by now, and I'm gritting my teeth. The medics notice and inject my left bicep with something, and the pain is only a dull ache. I hold off the pain until we get to the shiny silver and glass building of the hospital. Though I'm offered to be wheeled in, I quickly shake my head. I can walk. They offer again, but this time my answer is not as gentle.
"My injury is not in my legs. I will be fine." I say coldly, and they just nod ferociously before walking ahead of me and opening the doors as they go to the receptionist to find me a room. By the time I walk in and reach the desk, Hanji by my side, we are led to another room. It's one of the smaller ones. I realize that I was taken to the hospital on the border of Ruby and Quartz. Also known as, Red Quartz. Both citizens from Ruby and Quartz are admitted here. Usually the people that come here are of higher class, but I notice many poor people, dirt on their faces and clothes ripped. I tear my eyes from them, walking past them with my chin up. I look over to see Hanji, figuring he would do the same. However, her eyes were disapproving at me, and dipped his head respectively to each of the people who met our eyes.
I just shake my head softly as I'm placed into the room, told to wait for a doctor. I sit on the cot, the sound of the wrinkling of the white sheet being heard in the silent, dim room. Based by the white machines, I'm assuming that they plan on giving me an x-ray. My wandering eyes focus on the angry face of my sibling.
"What?" I ask, generally confused. The other sighs and I find myself even more lost.
"You don't have to act like that." Was the soft reply I received, and I send the speaker a bewildered glance. Noticing my never-leaving confusion, Hanji speaks again. "That you're so much better than them. You know your sister is there, somewhere. I know that you are more physically and educationally better than them, but they're still people." Hanji's eyes darken. "We're all the same, Levi."
I never even took time to think about his words. "We aren't. The better of us are placed as higher ups and soldiers. They are measly citizens!" I raise my voice, standing up. "And don't bring my sister into this." My louder voices deepens as I continue. "She wasn't given an option. When I was gone on a mission, our parents were killed. She doesn't know I'm her brother."
Hanji runs her tongue along her chapped lips. They begin to utter words, but the doctor steps in. I thank her, offering a weak smile.
"So, a possible break in your left forearm, Levi?" The doctor said as she stepped forward to me, turning on a few more lights so it wasn't as dim. I sit back down on the bed.
"Yeah, I think it might just be a fracture, but I guess you'll see." I say with a grin, and the doctor replies with a chuckle.
"Indeed... Actually, if you could sit over on that machine?" She pointed at one of the perfectly clean tube-like machines, and I nod, sitting down on it. I put my arm automatically in the arm rest.
"I'll just take a picture of the area." She explains, tightening the manual arm rest so that the circular part of the rest curls up and wraps around the injured part of my arm. I wince as it gets too tight, and she stops. A click of a button and a few whirring sounds later, she takes the device off.
"I'll go get these pictures developed and I'll return in a few minutes." She takes the undeveloped photos that resulted from some other department in the machine and walks out of the room.
"I can't believe you decided to jump off the school. What were you thinking?!" I look in the direction of the outraged voice, my annoyed gaze meeting my siblings' angry and irritated one.
"It was a simulation. I thought it up." I replied coldly, interrupting Hanji as her talking began again. "I admit, the result was bad. I didn't mean for it. I had a good plan but my strength didn't hold up." My grey eyes lower, studying the colored tile squares that make a hollow sound when I get up. "Fractures don't take long to heal with our technology. I'll be fine."
The doctor, gracing and relieving me yet again by her presence right before my brother speaks, enters with the pictures and puts them on the glowing board in the room. She points out the fracture in my bone. The pain medication is wearing off, and I get even more wary of the split in my bone when I see it.
"It's bad, but it is just a fracture." She concludes, and I realize I missed whatever else she said before. I nod like I listened to it. "Alright." I say softly. "I'm assuming I have to stay the night?"
She chuckles, "At least that. Possibly tomorrow night as well."
A soft sigh is heard from me, but I nod and walk out with my brother following me. I slide on the soft tile, wearing only socks. I realize I left my boots in the ambulance, but I see my brother picking them off of the ground next to where he was standing, and I turn around.
His military boots and my doctor's high heels click, and the hospital is loud with commotion and coughing. Whenever I pass someone who is coughing, I instinctively move away from them. Strong hands rest suddenly on my shoulders, causing me to jump. I look up and see Hanji, a stern look on my sibling's face.
I cast her a sour look. I don't want to get the plague. Sure, as a citizen of Ruby, I get a vaccine every year, but still, sometimes people with the vaccines get sick. I shake it off though as I'm taken to my private room.
"You'll be given a dose of pain medication, but it will be infused with your normal medication. It will help mend your bones from the inside." I nod, laying down on the bed. "You know how the rest works." She said with a chuckle, and I let out a hollow laugh as well.
My wary eyes cast on my sibling, but they return to the doctor, as it seems she was not finished talking. "Also, Captain Hanji, it's asked that you leave soon. I know you have a mission, and Levi needs rest."
Hanji nods, lifting his right hand to his forehead, resting the left side of his flat hand against his skin in a salute. "Alright. I'll just tell my brother about the mission and then I will take my leave." The doctor nods and leaves, and my brother's arm returns to his side.
I wait to hear about the mission, but it's quiet for a long time. Minutes feel like hours before Hanji speaks. "I will be patrolling Ruby Health tonight, helping distinguish plague victims and making sure the hospital is up to protocol. It will go smoothly, and I'll be back tomorrow morning or late tonight to talk to you."
I want to offer to go, but given the fact I just pulled a stunt and I'm injured, I don't bother. "Take care." I whisper, and Hanji gives me a gentle hug. "You too, Ravioli." He spoke the last words in our conversation, stepping out of the door with a gentle wave.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Rebel - Chapter 3
It was only a few nights later, and Armin and I were conversating over small bowls of chili. Armin had gone to the store, small knife blades in his boots. He had picked out yarn that was on sale, and bought a medium-sized ham. He had come back with a big smiling grin on his face.
On the first night we had ham and potatoes, and it took us over two hours to finish. The small portions of ham we cut for ourselves sat on our tongues. We had to make it last as long as possible.
The next night, Armin put canned red beans, canned corn and the leftover cooked ham in a pot to make us chili. It's what we are eating tonight, and we have just enough for tommorow as well.
Armin's blonde hair is getting too long now, and he borrows rubber bands and other hair ties to pull his hair back into a ponytail, though his bangs and some of his hair is too short to be pulled back. I always cut mine with my dagger, it's uneven, and I'm well known for my dangerously-tussled hair that "can never be styled". It's not like it matters, anyway. I will never be on the screens like the actors and actresses. I'll never be any high rank for the Democracy. The United Forces of Sina.
During this particular night, we listen to the radio. Armin is sitting on the floor of the bedroom, his back leaning against the wall, his pillow going from the back of his head to his shoulder bones as he tried to get comfortable. I hear the quiet clicking of the metal needles. My green eyes follow towards the source, which is just Armin's nimble fingers moving between the crocheting needles. The yarn is a brown that reminds me of my past, of the jacket I used to wear so proudly. However, the yarn changes to a darker brown, like my old hair color and I just smile.
"That will look awesome," I complimented, Armin's startled eyes looking at me.
"Thanks!" He exclaimed in appreciation, and I just beam in response.
He has hardly grown up. His chin is more defined now, and his cheekbones are more visible, but despite that and his hair being longer, there's not much of a difference. He has the same small frame, still shorter than me. His eyes, that have always wanted to see the outside world, are the same. He has the same ambitions, but he adapted to this new society well. Without the titans as a threat, society has crumbled. Poverty, confusion, over-population. Our leader, King Mr. Reiss, carries the leadership "as well as he can".
I focus into the radio, who is speaking on the crackly quality. "I am going to make the passing grade for trials from 800 to 900. Students that finish with middle school are to take the test before high school. This is to promote more successful generations and to protect Sina!" The audience bursts into cheers. A small scowl crosses my face. The audience is probably filled with Elites, who live within the gem sectors. Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz. They can afford their education, they have the better schools. They don't have people on the streets, or foreclosing homes, or people robbing banks and each other just to get a few Notes for food or blankets.
I feel a gaze, and I look up slowly. He's worried, I think. He seems confused, but the way he furrows his eyebrows and wrinkles his nose for just a few seconds lets me see his concern. I've known Armin too long to not realize this.
"It's just a sensitive topic," I murmur, and realization dawns on him as he flushes and nods his head.
"Sorry, I forgot!" He apologized in a rush, but I just shake my head.
"We have hardly talked about it," I said, my right hand moving, palm up in a "it-doesn't-matter-Armin-I'm-certain-about-it-being-okay" action. The blonde just rolls his eyes before continuing. I notice that it's hardly a quarter done, but it has only been a short while. With nothing to do, I lay on the bed and close my eyes.
I don't fall asleep, though. I listen to the radio. I wince as an obnoxious, monotonous beep comes from the radio. "Military Police will be searching through homes in the-." There's a break here, there always is. The next part used to make me laugh, at how choppy the sentences were, but now it makes me worried. I know where this is going.
"-Obsidian," There's a brief pause between the names of the sectors, and I don't have to listen to know. I whisper the words along with the radio broadcast. "Quartz," My somewhat raspy voice overlaps with the radio, as I tried to imitate the static. "Stone, and Talc sectors for plague control. Please remember that if you are in these sectors, that you open your door when the police come, or else they will kick your door down. Thank you for your cooperation and never ending loyalty to the United Forces of Sina." The broadcast is then over, returning to its gentle music.
However, despite how unsurprised I am, Armin is freaking out. "Shit!" He said, rushing the word. I look over at him in interest, and he shakes his head. "This beanie, it will never be done by then."
I chuckle and look over at him as I speak: "That's the worst of your problems? We can just say my employees threw me into a bucket of bleach as punishment for not reaching my quota. That's a temporary fix, right?" I say, closing my right eye and using my left to look over at him.
He lowers his needles and gives me a deadpan look, but eventually sighs. "It's a better plan then trying to get this done." He admits slowly.
"Plus, they have to go through the entire Stone sector. That will take at least an hour. You've got this. Stone is one of the biggest sectors in this area!" I say this almost in a giddy tone, and I'm please by the smile that is now worn on Armin's face.
"Alright!" He said, getting back to work. Often he calls me over, making sure the hat fits, and making adjustments if he had to, which were generally minor. He was good at this by now.
It was about one and a half hours later- which I had counted in my head to keep me awake- when I heard the distant marching. I hear loud metallic clicking over it, and I'm disappointed to see Armin rushing.
"Take your time," I warn, and he slows down. He's nervous, and his hands are shaking slightly. I move over to him, hugging and leaning my chin on his right shoulder, watching his small movements to make the hat.
After a few more minutes, he finishes it, reaching over to scissors and cutting off the hat from the yarn. Armin places it on my head, making sure it fit, he leaned over towards the bed, pushing me off and nearly making himself fall onto his side as he reached for a hair tie. He pulls all my hair back, and I grumble. The ponytail is not long at all, but it keeps some hair out of my face. He then puts the small knitted hat on my head, and I grin at.
"Beanie~" I cooed to my hat happily, chuckling at the odd look I received from my friend.
But every ghost of a smile is gone as we hear the door knock. The hat has enough holes to see through to my blonde hair, but it just seems like my hair is supplied with lots of colors. I praise Armin for picking yarn with two different colors. I snap out of it as I hear Armin unlocking the door, and quickly following after him. The soldiers burst in, two with guns and the others investigating. They have gloves on, but I just let out a low chuckle. They don't even need them. These stupid Gem sector police get yearly vaccinations.
But I feel, rather than hear what happens next. I heard a crack, and then a boom. I look around, but Armin's still there. I walk over to him, who is by the window, letting the police look through our food and other things. They take a few cups of chili, but looking over, we still probably have enough for a small meal for tommorow.
That's the least of my thoughts, looking at the dead bodies outside. Some of them are still twitching, and I feel my gaze drifting up the street as I see a limping person. Distantly, I can hear that it's a young boy, maybe even my age. "Oh my God." I whisper, looking at the boy coming closer.
Armin slowly reaches for my hand, and I look over to see him shaking. "It's Connie," he says quietly, but I already knew. How he did was a mystery to me, with his nearsightedness.
I'm about to go outside and help Connie, but the officials are barricading my house. One with a gun goes outside, and holds it up, aiming at my comrade.
I hear the soldier yell, "Do you have the plague?"
The small reply as the man walks closer, "....vaccine, ...please... money."
I'm trying to decipher it, as I didn't catch all of it. I expect the soldier to lower his gun. He didn't have the plague. He was just asking for a vaccine so he didn't get it. I look over at Armin, but he is tense. Maybe I was wrong. The soldier looks through the gun.
Another crack, and a body moves to the ground. I feel a jolt next to me. I watch Connie fall, his mouth moving.
I hardly realize that I'm crying, until I become aware of the liquid that dripped to my hands. My eyes are burning, the memory forever etched in my brain. Armin is trying not to cry. He's trying to be strong for me. Through my shaking breaths I hear him murmur.
"He's with Sasha now," he says weakly. "Eating everything they want to. Slacking off like they did in training."
I smile weakly, wiping away the few tears running down my cheeks. They're in a better place. And they're together. I nod, showing Armin that I understand.
The Military Police take a quick saliva sample, sticking it in a test tube. They swish the liquid, which slowly turns a shade of emerald green. I watch to make sure Armin has a green result as well. He does, to my relief. We both offer a small, weak smile to each other. We are okay. We are safe.
But looking outside, at all the things happening. They step over and on the dead, not even noticing; or if they did, not caring. The bodies of plague victims are being thrown onto a truck by people in protective suits and gloves. The bodies of those who tried to escape, or for people like Connie, ones who died begging for mercy. I'm happy that he's now with Sasha, as the two got closer after we gained back our land. As the need for expeditions outside of our development decreased, many people started trying to get on with life, get over the scars of the past.
People like Levi, Erwin and Hanji were able to do that, I guess. I will never forget the people who died. I refused to let them die and be forgotten. I was told that we carried their cause, but humanity wasn't victorious. We just took back what was ours. We won back our land, but the titans are still ruling the rest of the world. They are the true victors.
They told me that I would have gone into the Platinum sector, even with my bad test results. All I had to do was pledge my allegiance. But I couldn't do it. And when I came back with not even a 700 on my trial test, I knew I would be forced into the slums. But, nothing really happens as it's supposed to. It doesn't matter, though. I'm here now, and I have my best friend.
I look over at him, and his hand curls gently over mine, his fingers slowly moving to fit in the cracks of my hand. I squeeze his hand as we look outside the window, watching the soldiers. They mark the doors of people who have the plague with a red x, two diagonal lines intersecting each other. People are locked in there and the soldiers continue on, a covered disinfectant truck coming by and busting down the door and taking everyone. They usually have a few of the Garrison, to do some of the heavy work, like shooting the plague victims in the head. Armin buries his head into my left shoulder, and I gently rest the side of my head against him.
People like Levi, Erwin and Hanji were able to do that, I guess. I will never forget the people who died. I refused to let them die and be forgotten. I was told that we carried their cause, but humanity wasn't victorious. We just took back what was ours. We won back our land, but the titans are still ruling the rest of the world. They are the true victors.
They told me that I would have gone into the Platinum sector, even with my bad test results. All I had to do was pledge my allegiance. But I couldn't do it. And when I came back with not even a 700 on my trial test, I knew I would be forced into the slums. But, nothing really happens as it's supposed to. It doesn't matter, though. I'm here now, and I have my best friend.
I look over at him, and his hand curls gently over mine, his fingers slowly moving to fit in the cracks of my hand. I squeeze his hand as we look outside the window, watching the soldiers. They mark the doors of people who have the plague with a red x, two diagonal lines intersecting each other. People are locked in there and the soldiers continue on, a covered disinfectant truck coming by and busting down the door and taking everyone. They usually have a few of the Garrison, to do some of the heavy work, like shooting the plague victims in the head. Armin buries his head into my left shoulder, and I gently rest the side of my head against him.
They move house to house, and soon they will be at my family's. I see more soldiers marking x's, the red paint like the blood of the victims that will soon be spilled. I hold my breath as I see them knock, my mother going out to greet them. Five minutes pass slowly, but soon it's ten. Then fifteen. Thirty. I look over at Armin with wide eyes, but he shakes his head.
"It's okay." He said, his voice strong but his blue gaze doubting.
"No, it can't be. It's taking too long. Something is wrong." My cautious voice says, green eyes never leaving the house of my family.
An hour is soon to passed, and we haven't moved. The soldiers finally move out of the house, and I'm relieved to see them walking out without marking the door. But as if they forgot something, they turn around. A new order? I wonder if they had a new command. They return to my family's door, pulling out the red spray paint and shaking the bottle. One line, diagonal. Left to right. Another, intersecting the other with practiced precision. Right to left. My hands drop from Armin's back to my side.
The soldier pauses, looking over to the larger group. He receives a nod.
A third line, horizontal, crossing in the intersection.
What does it mean, I've never seen a marking like that. I look at my friend, but he's just as confused as I am. Armin, who knows everything. Everything about the streets, the government. Everything.
We dwell in silence as the soldiers back in their trucks and move on, the containment truck following a few yards after.
I don't sleep well that night, and neither does Armin. I wake him up with my tossing and turning, and he tries to make me relax.
It's difficult, though. How can I possibly relax when my brothers and mom are at risk.
I think sometime in the night, I fall asleep. I think that maybe Armin put some sleeping medicine in my food, as it seems that on every 'plague search' I sleep just a little better than normal.
But I'm grateful. I'm lucky to have Armin by my side, I'm lucky that he cares for me. I'm lucky I'm not walking alone in the streets.
Armin is the true reason behind my success.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Rebel - Chapter Two
It's not hard for me. Nothing is, I think, as I walk down the halls of my college. My dress shoes click quietly against the tile floor. The schools sure are more clean, I think appreciatively. However, I'm somewhat glad to be graduating. For my age, I should be a first-year. But I'm graduating this year. And I can be off on the front lines, fighting. I miss it.
Perhaps I should explain myself. I'm Levi, Sina's only prodigy. I'm the one who scored a perfect 1500 on my trial. The trial is a test you have to take after middle school to determine which high school and college you are going to, but also to decide if you will live in the gem sector or the "slum sector" as it's beginning to be called.
However, I, of course, live in the gem sector. With no questions wrong, no problems in my athletic ability, and my sibling as a soldier, I was made for greatness. I am going to be in the hierarchy of Sina forever. My older sibling, Hanji, has graduated already and is a Captain in the military. Though it was a difficult switch from scouting legion back to school, I'm glad to be getting out very soon.
I remind myself of this as I walk outside of my school. It's my lunch break, but I don't plan to be back.
The worlds most-known criminal is a former scouting legion member. He's identifiable by the 3DMG on his waist, which most soldiers ditched after we found a way to fight back with cannons. He also wears the jacket on every crime he has done. I wrinkle my nose, chuckling. Which of my old comrades would rebel? Could it be Historia, against her father?
Though Historia should be next in like for the throne, it's actually Petra. The Elites decided that we needed someone with military experiences, but was also considerate enough to the civilians. And in order for Mr. Reiss to accept the offer of having a former military soldier, it would have to be one of his choosing. And he had chosen Petra. Though it was a surprise to most civilians that he didn't pick his daughter, it was no surprise to me.
So, with former scouting legion in the next-in-line, why fight. Perhaps Ymir, who was always backing up Historia. However, Ymir is rumored to be out of the walls for a few years now. The criminal's real name is unknown at this point, but most people have started calling him, "Trost." This is for the rather silly reason which is: "Trost was the first battle humanity won."
Nonetheless, the name stuck. I suppose that it is better than "Criminal 001." We hardly know anything about the criminal. His fingerprints are always either impartial or non-existent. We have never gotten a blood sample. His endurance, strength and improvising is out of this world. He climbed the skyscraper in his sector in only six minutes and forty seconds.
I'm standing in front of the skyscraper of my sector; Ruby. All of them are the same height, used to shown important announcements from Sina. I stare up at it, eyeing the small hand and footholds. I pull out my stopwatch using my left hand, my dominant right hand gripped in the first hand hold. I can see places that I should use to hold my weight, and I let out a short breath.
"Ready," I murmur slowly. "Set." I continue, resting my stopwatch rope around my neck, the small device still in my left hand. "Go!" I exclaim, slamming my thumb into the button as the plastic device slammed into my chest. Instantly I'm scaling up the wall, my boots giving me a boost as I get a grip and then force myself higher. I can hear the stopwatch beep, meaning that it's been six minutes and forty seconds. I let out a frustrated grunt, but I keep going. I look up, and I'm close. I think I might be around the midway point. I let out a soft chuckle as I climb.
The average person in the gem sector would say this is impossible. That climbing the tower could only be done in 15 minutes, even by a soldier. But Trost is a legendary criminal, and I'm Sina's prodigy. I hum to myself, and I'm only a few minutes away to the top of the grey metal building, with windows of strong, bullet proof glass. I'm climbing up the side, and soon I reach the screen. My hand reaches for the top corner, pulling myself up. I finally reach the top of the screen, the top of my toes resting on the surface as I look up and continue climbing. It is then that I hear loud noises. My peripheral vision shows me that these noises are actually helicopters, and I frown.
"Levi, we want you to get down immediately." A speaker voice said, and I let go of the building with one hand to turn off my stopwatch. Eight minutes, six seconds. I probably would've reached the top by ten, or at least twelve minutes.
The person speaking must've realized his mistake, as he corrects himself quickly. "We want you to grab the ladder from the helicopter." I sigh and nod, my narrowed eyes looking over as they drop the ladder and move closer. I reach out with my right hand and barely grab one of the rungs, using my grip on the building with my feet to help boost me up. My left hand grabs the rung above my right, and then it's just climbing from there. My arm muscles strain without the foot support I used to have, but I remember pull-ups, and this helps me figure out what I have to do.
Eventually, I'm in the helicopter, meeting the angry face of Hanji. She throws me a set of the radio communications headset, and I put it on, readying myself for a lecture.
"Again." Was all my sibling said, her red hair moving in the wind from outside. I shut the door. "Again, you disobey not only the school, but my rules as well."
I don't look at Hanji, my eyes downcast. I recall a time where we fought side by side for humanity. But now, she's my adopted sister. She treats me like a little brother.
"You could always take me with you on your missions," I say hopefully. I miss being out.
"No." Was my one worded reply, and I roll my eyes. Since when did our roles and conversations switch sides.
"How will we catch Trost if we can't even beat him in strength and stamina." I say, narrowing my eyes.
"Intelligence and luck." Hanji says, looking over at me. "One of which you have."
I meet Hanji's eyes expectantly, wondering what my sibling meant.
"You are extremely intelligent, you have been ever since grade school. However, your luck is... hardly even noticeable. Perhaps if you had more luck, we wouldn't have to have these meetings after all your stunts." Hanji grins, and I shake my head.
This is Hanji, for you. Though she most likely was angry at first, she seems to agree that my "stunts" are important in my growing.
"I got you out of school, for the day. You can go home and spend time with your cat."
I roll my eyes at the mentioning of the cat, who I named Wings. I named it with a few of my old friends in the scouting legion. Petra is one of them. Along with Auruo.
I force the thought away, as it's not necessary. I can feel myself walking through the library that's known as my brain, and I, the librarian, carrying this book about those friends, and locking it far away into the cells of darkness.
"Thanks," I say to Hanji, who is still looking at me expectantly.
Hanji rolls her eyes. "Seriously though, Levi. Stop with the stunts. Study for now, and when you graduate you can do them."
The helicopter touches the ground, finally, and I take off the headset that we were talking through.
I hop off the helicopter first, throwing open the door and jumping, my knees absorbing the entire shock. I slowly fall into a sitting position, and the whirring of the helicopter slowly comes to a stop as the pilot stopped, and I feel Hanji pulling me by my collar to get to my feet.
She's yelling at me for something or other, but she silences when Erwin approaches. Everyone does a salute; Hanji and I to Erwin, and Erwin to us. Hanji and Erwin are of the same rank. Their leader is a mystery, they just refer to him as "the boss".
"Boss told me to come here to help you, if there was any trouble, Captain Hanji." Erwin says, and I look between the two.
"Actually, could you please take my little brother to our apartment." Hanji says, and I scowl slightly at the "little brother". I can't tell if she means the small age difference, or height. But with the cheeky way she always looked when she started to first say it, I'll have to guess that it's both.
Erwin clasps his hands on my shoulders and forces me to walk towards the car, and I sigh as I do so. "So, Erwin. How was your day." I stated, though I should've used a questioning tone.
Erwin just shakes his head. "It was fine, Levi. Another daredevil act from you? Nearly worried Hanji shitless. In the middle of a lead on a criminal when suddenly," he pauses and changes his tone to sound like the school principal. "Uh, yeah.. Captain Hanji, Levi is no longer in the school." He shakes his head. "You'll be the end of her."
I shrug, though I do feel a little bad. "If Hanji took me on her missions with her, I wouldn't have to find things to do when I'm bored." I remark.
"Hanji is trying to keep you safe. After you went to the last mission and got stabbed in the arm she decided that it was too dangerous for you, and I think she's right. More importantly, you should respect your sibling's and friend's opinion, and live with it. You're supposed to graduate this year anyway. You'll probably be placed in the Platinum Sector."
The Platinum Sector is the highest sector. It's within the walls of the original Sina, and is very loosely populated. It's for the best of the best citizens, the military police and of course, the ruling King, Mr. Reiss.
I reply with a quick and indifferent, "Maybe." The conversation ending as we reached my apartment that I shared with Hanji. Don't get me wrong. It's huge. It's just part of a complex. I nod slightly to Erwin, who is now driving away.
I enter my house, calling for Wings. The cat peeks it's head from the upstairs, and I look up at her. "Come on, Wings! It's just me!" The cat slowly trots down the steps and walks to me. For some reason, my cat often hangs around me or comes when I call, but it's nice to see an animal so nice to me.
When she gets close enough, I scratch the top of her head and listen to her purr. After a minute or two I walk away, moving towards the kitchen to make me something to eat.
Though it's only been a couple of years since we have gained back all of the land lost, a lot of technology has come out. Some materials we find from small expeditions outside of the wall. By we, I mean the small about of scouting legion left, for most of them decided to become workers, as we don't go outside the walls offer anymore. The garrison is a weak army force from the slum and/or Gem sector; for those who score around 800 to 1200. Anyone from either sector who gets above 1200 is automatically bumped into Sina, and put in the military police. Everyone has the option to either be in their military section or they can choose to be a worker; except those in Sina. As long as you passed, you were put into the military police. Funny how things changed.
Not only our society, but a lot of daily things have changed. Even to the simplest new discoveries like stronger and more accurate cannons. All of our houses are no longer simple with just stone or wood, and in fact, most cities are this boring shade of grey, white and black. The street lamps are a fluorescent shade of blue, which come from special kinds of... Algae? I don't recall exactly. They are apparently fluorescent at night. Hanji was rather excited about this when they first came it about it.
Hanji is nearly four years older than me at age 23. I'm only 19. Or rather, that's what the doctors said. They wanted to keep the commanders of the survey legion young until the titans were, for sure, weaker than humanity. So they came up with some kind of drug. Hanji wanted me to take it. I probably wouldn't have if she didn't convince me.
Sure enough, eventually, I started looking younger. My face got more round, my eyes larger and the bags under them diminishing. I didn't get shorter. Hanji looks the same. Erwin... Looks hardly different. Just a rounder face.
I think about all the advancements we have made as I cook myself dinner, and hearing me open the refridgerator, I hear a loud pounding down the stairs. A small hiss from my cat, Wings, confirms my assumptions; it's Sawney- the dog that Hanji named after her miraculous titan. The large dog comes bounding towards me, jumping and pressing its front legs against my upper leg. I grumble at him, shaking my leg to get him away.
I decide to just make a microwave meal because I'm feeling particularly lazy and I would rather hit the gym than stay here and cook. I open the box and throw the plastic tray in the microwave, setting the times. I throw a small biscuit at Sawney, watching him leap into the air to catch it. Sawney is something like a collie, though instead of black spots he has brown.
A beep catches both the attention of me and Sawney, and I quickly move to the microwave. My meal is cooked, as perfect as it could be, and I sit down at the table and start to eat. It has some chicken parts, and as I get more full, I throw some at Sawney, setting one or two aside for Wings.
I put my trash and silverware away, locating Wings and picking her up. I carried her to where I put the spare chicken, offering them to her with my free hand (as I has my right hand wrapped behind her front legs). She licks the first gingerly before snapping her small jaw around them, chewing thoroughly. I set her down, but she doesn't leave, and I take the second and kneel, giving it to her. She meows after she's finished, and I pet the top of her head.
As I'm washing my hands, I look out the kitchen window to see young children playing frisbee outside. How nice it is to see people just a few years younger than "me", (who, after the medication, is now "19") not learning how to fight for their lives.
I make sure to leave some more cat food, waiting for her to finish. I have to keep Sawney away, as he has a tendency to try and steal Wings' food. Once she is done, then I poor some dog food for Sawney. Leaving water in two bowls for them, I change into gym clothes and sneakers before walking out of the house.
I lock the door behind me, putting the key back into my pocket. Around me, I see soldiers patrolling, and I notice the roses on their jackets. Garrison. I study their guns. A newer model, it's one of the ones that have a silencer, I think.
We exchange nods, and I keep walking towards the gym. I flash the door my ID card, and the door opens. I'm on the treadmills in an instant, but not soon after I'm working on punching bags and then bench pressing.
I keep working until I'm tired, then I walk home, take a luxurious bath, change into my silk pajamas and head up my elegant spiral staircase to my room. I fall asleep quickly, comfortable under my sheets. I don't hear Hanji come back, as I was too absorbed in my sleep.
Wings had curled against my leg as I slept, her nimble tabby-grey body causing my eyes to open slightly. "Wings," I mutter, her green eyes closing. I let out a sigh as I rest against my white pillow. The blankets are crisp and everything smells clean.
I quickly fall back asleep, dreaming. I dream about being at someone's funeral. Everyone has blacked out faces, and I cannot tell who is who. I shake hands with the black blobs, and from their misty grip I assume that whoever died was important. The Elector? Is this even a real dream?
I look around in my dream. The casket is closed and the sky is cloudy. What gloomy weather for a gloomier day. My tongue snakes across my bottom lip, and I turn to feel a gaze. There's two black figures further spaced from the rest. I can hear whispering, but it's nothing distinguishable. Just like wind. Their words swivel around me, and I close my eyes to hopefully distinguish the words. Hearing silence, I open my eyes. Raindrops hit my cheeks, and I look up. More water runs down my form as I realize everyone has disappeared. I move towards the casket, the casket was in soft grey marble, with rubies and diamonds encrusted on the casket sides. A shaking hand moves to run through my black hair, which is sticking closely to my head due to the rain.
The waterdrops run down the sides of the casket, and my right hand rests against the surface. I open my mouth to speak, but it's silent. As if the words have been stolen from my own throat. I take a deep inhale of the cold air, calming my senses down. I want to talk, give my grievances, but I don't even know who it is; even if I could speak, I would still be at a loss.
I start to shove the cover off, my muscles still a strain against the heavy weight of the lid. It won't budge, and slowly the imagine darkens. I lose hold of the dream, and dissolve into a dreamless sleep. I am aware that I'm sleeping, but my dreams won't come back to me.
By the time I wake up, it's time to go to school. I hear Hanji cooking, and I slowly budge into my uniform, wrinkling my nose as I slide down the bannister of the stairs. My sibling excitedly wraps their arms around me, resting her chin on the top of my head.
"Morning," I say, my voice somewhat rumbling in my throat as I spoke.
"Morning!" Was Hanji's all too excited reply, and I shake my head, moving over to the counter island to receive my plate of breakfast. Omelette, I thought with a slight smile, sitting in my chair and leaning back. We ate in peaceful conversation in our home, with it's glittering lights and shining floors.
I'm glad I live in the Gem Sectors.
Perhaps I should explain myself. I'm Levi, Sina's only prodigy. I'm the one who scored a perfect 1500 on my trial. The trial is a test you have to take after middle school to determine which high school and college you are going to, but also to decide if you will live in the gem sector or the "slum sector" as it's beginning to be called.
However, I, of course, live in the gem sector. With no questions wrong, no problems in my athletic ability, and my sibling as a soldier, I was made for greatness. I am going to be in the hierarchy of Sina forever. My older sibling, Hanji, has graduated already and is a Captain in the military. Though it was a difficult switch from scouting legion back to school, I'm glad to be getting out very soon.
I remind myself of this as I walk outside of my school. It's my lunch break, but I don't plan to be back.
The worlds most-known criminal is a former scouting legion member. He's identifiable by the 3DMG on his waist, which most soldiers ditched after we found a way to fight back with cannons. He also wears the jacket on every crime he has done. I wrinkle my nose, chuckling. Which of my old comrades would rebel? Could it be Historia, against her father?
Though Historia should be next in like for the throne, it's actually Petra. The Elites decided that we needed someone with military experiences, but was also considerate enough to the civilians. And in order for Mr. Reiss to accept the offer of having a former military soldier, it would have to be one of his choosing. And he had chosen Petra. Though it was a surprise to most civilians that he didn't pick his daughter, it was no surprise to me.
So, with former scouting legion in the next-in-line, why fight. Perhaps Ymir, who was always backing up Historia. However, Ymir is rumored to be out of the walls for a few years now. The criminal's real name is unknown at this point, but most people have started calling him, "Trost." This is for the rather silly reason which is: "Trost was the first battle humanity won."
Nonetheless, the name stuck. I suppose that it is better than "Criminal 001." We hardly know anything about the criminal. His fingerprints are always either impartial or non-existent. We have never gotten a blood sample. His endurance, strength and improvising is out of this world. He climbed the skyscraper in his sector in only six minutes and forty seconds.
I'm standing in front of the skyscraper of my sector; Ruby. All of them are the same height, used to shown important announcements from Sina. I stare up at it, eyeing the small hand and footholds. I pull out my stopwatch using my left hand, my dominant right hand gripped in the first hand hold. I can see places that I should use to hold my weight, and I let out a short breath.
"Ready," I murmur slowly. "Set." I continue, resting my stopwatch rope around my neck, the small device still in my left hand. "Go!" I exclaim, slamming my thumb into the button as the plastic device slammed into my chest. Instantly I'm scaling up the wall, my boots giving me a boost as I get a grip and then force myself higher. I can hear the stopwatch beep, meaning that it's been six minutes and forty seconds. I let out a frustrated grunt, but I keep going. I look up, and I'm close. I think I might be around the midway point. I let out a soft chuckle as I climb.
The average person in the gem sector would say this is impossible. That climbing the tower could only be done in 15 minutes, even by a soldier. But Trost is a legendary criminal, and I'm Sina's prodigy. I hum to myself, and I'm only a few minutes away to the top of the grey metal building, with windows of strong, bullet proof glass. I'm climbing up the side, and soon I reach the screen. My hand reaches for the top corner, pulling myself up. I finally reach the top of the screen, the top of my toes resting on the surface as I look up and continue climbing. It is then that I hear loud noises. My peripheral vision shows me that these noises are actually helicopters, and I frown.
"Levi, we want you to get down immediately." A speaker voice said, and I let go of the building with one hand to turn off my stopwatch. Eight minutes, six seconds. I probably would've reached the top by ten, or at least twelve minutes.
The person speaking must've realized his mistake, as he corrects himself quickly. "We want you to grab the ladder from the helicopter." I sigh and nod, my narrowed eyes looking over as they drop the ladder and move closer. I reach out with my right hand and barely grab one of the rungs, using my grip on the building with my feet to help boost me up. My left hand grabs the rung above my right, and then it's just climbing from there. My arm muscles strain without the foot support I used to have, but I remember pull-ups, and this helps me figure out what I have to do.
Eventually, I'm in the helicopter, meeting the angry face of Hanji. She throws me a set of the radio communications headset, and I put it on, readying myself for a lecture.
"Again." Was all my sibling said, her red hair moving in the wind from outside. I shut the door. "Again, you disobey not only the school, but my rules as well."
I don't look at Hanji, my eyes downcast. I recall a time where we fought side by side for humanity. But now, she's my adopted sister. She treats me like a little brother.
"You could always take me with you on your missions," I say hopefully. I miss being out.
"No." Was my one worded reply, and I roll my eyes. Since when did our roles and conversations switch sides.
"How will we catch Trost if we can't even beat him in strength and stamina." I say, narrowing my eyes.
"Intelligence and luck." Hanji says, looking over at me. "One of which you have."
I meet Hanji's eyes expectantly, wondering what my sibling meant.
"You are extremely intelligent, you have been ever since grade school. However, your luck is... hardly even noticeable. Perhaps if you had more luck, we wouldn't have to have these meetings after all your stunts." Hanji grins, and I shake my head.
This is Hanji, for you. Though she most likely was angry at first, she seems to agree that my "stunts" are important in my growing.
"I got you out of school, for the day. You can go home and spend time with your cat."
I roll my eyes at the mentioning of the cat, who I named Wings. I named it with a few of my old friends in the scouting legion. Petra is one of them. Along with Auruo.
I force the thought away, as it's not necessary. I can feel myself walking through the library that's known as my brain, and I, the librarian, carrying this book about those friends, and locking it far away into the cells of darkness.
"Thanks," I say to Hanji, who is still looking at me expectantly.
Hanji rolls her eyes. "Seriously though, Levi. Stop with the stunts. Study for now, and when you graduate you can do them."
The helicopter touches the ground, finally, and I take off the headset that we were talking through.
I hop off the helicopter first, throwing open the door and jumping, my knees absorbing the entire shock. I slowly fall into a sitting position, and the whirring of the helicopter slowly comes to a stop as the pilot stopped, and I feel Hanji pulling me by my collar to get to my feet.
She's yelling at me for something or other, but she silences when Erwin approaches. Everyone does a salute; Hanji and I to Erwin, and Erwin to us. Hanji and Erwin are of the same rank. Their leader is a mystery, they just refer to him as "the boss".
"Boss told me to come here to help you, if there was any trouble, Captain Hanji." Erwin says, and I look between the two.
"Actually, could you please take my little brother to our apartment." Hanji says, and I scowl slightly at the "little brother". I can't tell if she means the small age difference, or height. But with the cheeky way she always looked when she started to first say it, I'll have to guess that it's both.
Erwin clasps his hands on my shoulders and forces me to walk towards the car, and I sigh as I do so. "So, Erwin. How was your day." I stated, though I should've used a questioning tone.
Erwin just shakes his head. "It was fine, Levi. Another daredevil act from you? Nearly worried Hanji shitless. In the middle of a lead on a criminal when suddenly," he pauses and changes his tone to sound like the school principal. "Uh, yeah.. Captain Hanji, Levi is no longer in the school." He shakes his head. "You'll be the end of her."
I shrug, though I do feel a little bad. "If Hanji took me on her missions with her, I wouldn't have to find things to do when I'm bored." I remark.
"Hanji is trying to keep you safe. After you went to the last mission and got stabbed in the arm she decided that it was too dangerous for you, and I think she's right. More importantly, you should respect your sibling's and friend's opinion, and live with it. You're supposed to graduate this year anyway. You'll probably be placed in the Platinum Sector."
The Platinum Sector is the highest sector. It's within the walls of the original Sina, and is very loosely populated. It's for the best of the best citizens, the military police and of course, the ruling King, Mr. Reiss.
I reply with a quick and indifferent, "Maybe." The conversation ending as we reached my apartment that I shared with Hanji. Don't get me wrong. It's huge. It's just part of a complex. I nod slightly to Erwin, who is now driving away.
I enter my house, calling for Wings. The cat peeks it's head from the upstairs, and I look up at her. "Come on, Wings! It's just me!" The cat slowly trots down the steps and walks to me. For some reason, my cat often hangs around me or comes when I call, but it's nice to see an animal so nice to me.
When she gets close enough, I scratch the top of her head and listen to her purr. After a minute or two I walk away, moving towards the kitchen to make me something to eat.
Though it's only been a couple of years since we have gained back all of the land lost, a lot of technology has come out. Some materials we find from small expeditions outside of the wall. By we, I mean the small about of scouting legion left, for most of them decided to become workers, as we don't go outside the walls offer anymore. The garrison is a weak army force from the slum and/or Gem sector; for those who score around 800 to 1200. Anyone from either sector who gets above 1200 is automatically bumped into Sina, and put in the military police. Everyone has the option to either be in their military section or they can choose to be a worker; except those in Sina. As long as you passed, you were put into the military police. Funny how things changed.
Not only our society, but a lot of daily things have changed. Even to the simplest new discoveries like stronger and more accurate cannons. All of our houses are no longer simple with just stone or wood, and in fact, most cities are this boring shade of grey, white and black. The street lamps are a fluorescent shade of blue, which come from special kinds of... Algae? I don't recall exactly. They are apparently fluorescent at night. Hanji was rather excited about this when they first came it about it.
Hanji is nearly four years older than me at age 23. I'm only 19. Or rather, that's what the doctors said. They wanted to keep the commanders of the survey legion young until the titans were, for sure, weaker than humanity. So they came up with some kind of drug. Hanji wanted me to take it. I probably wouldn't have if she didn't convince me.
Sure enough, eventually, I started looking younger. My face got more round, my eyes larger and the bags under them diminishing. I didn't get shorter. Hanji looks the same. Erwin... Looks hardly different. Just a rounder face.
I think about all the advancements we have made as I cook myself dinner, and hearing me open the refridgerator, I hear a loud pounding down the stairs. A small hiss from my cat, Wings, confirms my assumptions; it's Sawney- the dog that Hanji named after her miraculous titan. The large dog comes bounding towards me, jumping and pressing its front legs against my upper leg. I grumble at him, shaking my leg to get him away.
I decide to just make a microwave meal because I'm feeling particularly lazy and I would rather hit the gym than stay here and cook. I open the box and throw the plastic tray in the microwave, setting the times. I throw a small biscuit at Sawney, watching him leap into the air to catch it. Sawney is something like a collie, though instead of black spots he has brown.
A beep catches both the attention of me and Sawney, and I quickly move to the microwave. My meal is cooked, as perfect as it could be, and I sit down at the table and start to eat. It has some chicken parts, and as I get more full, I throw some at Sawney, setting one or two aside for Wings.
I put my trash and silverware away, locating Wings and picking her up. I carried her to where I put the spare chicken, offering them to her with my free hand (as I has my right hand wrapped behind her front legs). She licks the first gingerly before snapping her small jaw around them, chewing thoroughly. I set her down, but she doesn't leave, and I take the second and kneel, giving it to her. She meows after she's finished, and I pet the top of her head.
As I'm washing my hands, I look out the kitchen window to see young children playing frisbee outside. How nice it is to see people just a few years younger than "me", (who, after the medication, is now "19") not learning how to fight for their lives.
I make sure to leave some more cat food, waiting for her to finish. I have to keep Sawney away, as he has a tendency to try and steal Wings' food. Once she is done, then I poor some dog food for Sawney. Leaving water in two bowls for them, I change into gym clothes and sneakers before walking out of the house.
I lock the door behind me, putting the key back into my pocket. Around me, I see soldiers patrolling, and I notice the roses on their jackets. Garrison. I study their guns. A newer model, it's one of the ones that have a silencer, I think.
We exchange nods, and I keep walking towards the gym. I flash the door my ID card, and the door opens. I'm on the treadmills in an instant, but not soon after I'm working on punching bags and then bench pressing.
I keep working until I'm tired, then I walk home, take a luxurious bath, change into my silk pajamas and head up my elegant spiral staircase to my room. I fall asleep quickly, comfortable under my sheets. I don't hear Hanji come back, as I was too absorbed in my sleep.
Wings had curled against my leg as I slept, her nimble tabby-grey body causing my eyes to open slightly. "Wings," I mutter, her green eyes closing. I let out a sigh as I rest against my white pillow. The blankets are crisp and everything smells clean.
I quickly fall back asleep, dreaming. I dream about being at someone's funeral. Everyone has blacked out faces, and I cannot tell who is who. I shake hands with the black blobs, and from their misty grip I assume that whoever died was important. The Elector? Is this even a real dream?
I look around in my dream. The casket is closed and the sky is cloudy. What gloomy weather for a gloomier day. My tongue snakes across my bottom lip, and I turn to feel a gaze. There's two black figures further spaced from the rest. I can hear whispering, but it's nothing distinguishable. Just like wind. Their words swivel around me, and I close my eyes to hopefully distinguish the words. Hearing silence, I open my eyes. Raindrops hit my cheeks, and I look up. More water runs down my form as I realize everyone has disappeared. I move towards the casket, the casket was in soft grey marble, with rubies and diamonds encrusted on the casket sides. A shaking hand moves to run through my black hair, which is sticking closely to my head due to the rain.
The waterdrops run down the sides of the casket, and my right hand rests against the surface. I open my mouth to speak, but it's silent. As if the words have been stolen from my own throat. I take a deep inhale of the cold air, calming my senses down. I want to talk, give my grievances, but I don't even know who it is; even if I could speak, I would still be at a loss.
I start to shove the cover off, my muscles still a strain against the heavy weight of the lid. It won't budge, and slowly the imagine darkens. I lose hold of the dream, and dissolve into a dreamless sleep. I am aware that I'm sleeping, but my dreams won't come back to me.
By the time I wake up, it's time to go to school. I hear Hanji cooking, and I slowly budge into my uniform, wrinkling my nose as I slide down the bannister of the stairs. My sibling excitedly wraps their arms around me, resting her chin on the top of my head.
"Morning," I say, my voice somewhat rumbling in my throat as I spoke.
"Morning!" Was Hanji's all too excited reply, and I shake my head, moving over to the counter island to receive my plate of breakfast. Omelette, I thought with a slight smile, sitting in my chair and leaning back. We ate in peaceful conversation in our home, with it's glittering lights and shining floors.
I'm glad I live in the Gem Sectors.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
title switch?
changing it from
What's A Mob To A King --> Rebel
Rebel --> Criminal --> Leader
i will make a smart quote ok
What's A Mob To A King --> Rebel
Rebel --> Criminal --> Leader
i will make a smart quote ok
Monday, April 14, 2014
What Is A Mob To A King - CHAPTER ONE PART TWO
We had finished our potatos after a while, savoring them over small talk. For a while, I kind of forgot what it was like to be the most wanted criminal of the democracy. Armin is counting up our savings as I clean up the scraps. I can hear the soft, rushed whispering as he counts them by hundreds. We are saving up for vaccinations, or any emergencies. We could run, or buy new identities. I run my hand through my abnormal beach blonde hair. Usually, only leaders can have such hair colors, which is yet another reason why I make it dirty. People here work all day. Digging through trash to find food, working in factories. Building houses, but not for them. For the the rich people who are sent to keep an she on us. For the soldiers.
A long, monotonous beep is heard from outside, and Armin and I hardly exchange a look as we exit our house. There are people standing on the side of the road, looking up. The screen on the skyscraper for my sector shines bright as it clicks to life.
"Please stand for the pledge of allegiance." The monotonous computer-like voice begins.
My neighbors had placed their right fist over their heart, thumb outwards and their left arm behind their back. This was our salute for a while, and I remember "offering my heart" to a completely different cause just a few years ago. However, it was during these thoughts that I realized I was in public with my blonde hair. I sent Armin an odd look, and his eyes widened with terror. But he quickly shook his head, mouthing the words to the pledge. I followed.
The wait seemed tremendous, but no one complained. There were soldiers everywhere, with their guns up. The words show up on the screen, and the repeating of the memorized words was all I heard from my neighbors. Even Armin whispered the words.
"I pledge of allegiance, to the land, of the United Forces of Sina. And to this democracy, in which we stand, one world, one nation, under strength and power to all."
I mouth the words, my green eyes focused on the screen. I know the things that could happen. I can hear the gun shots, the screaming and the collapsing of bodies. But nothing happens to me. I must've been convincing enough. I can't pledge to this. The life we are living now. We love out of fear, not from the titans, but from ourselves. Our own corrupt society. I gave my heart up for the strength of humanity. And this isn't our strength.
I remember that my father used to say there was a world outside from here called America, which is where the Democracy Of Sina based their pledge off of. This was one of the very small amounts of things he said.
My father is dead now, however. He got caught trying to sneak me and a few of my closest friends, along with my mother, into the neighboring lands. We had reclaimed the land from the titans, and he says that there is another settlement over there. However, the Democracy Of Sina has told us nothing about this. Everyone was sure that if another place was open to settlers, we would be told. After all, that would solve our overpopulation problem.
But we got caught. My father was always in trouble with the government. He was too concerned about the outdoor world. The President and the few other Elites said that he would "bring danger to the land within the walls". Where we used to have three walls, Maria, Rose and Sina, we live in one big one. Sina. Or so they say. We built more and more walls, and even though we are seperated, we don't call them 'districts' we call them 'sectors'. I live in the Quartz sector, one of the poorest. Most of the sectors are named after types of rocks or gems. The sectors inside of the old Sina are generally the well-liked gem sectors, while everywhere else are rock sectors, or nonprecious gems, like, as I said before, quartz.
But throughout the pledge, this is all I can think about. It's not until Armin pinches my arm that I look down at him, and he sends a dangerous look to my hair, I quickly nod and I'm walking back to the house. Slow, to not look suspicious, but fast enough to be quick. Sometimes Armin gets in trouble for his hair color, but people realize that he's born with it. Most of the patrols are nice to him. He did well on his trials, but his family all passed on and he had no money. He would've been a great military general.
We slowly enter the house and click the door shut, and we release the breath we were holding. "I need to get my beanie back," I mumble, my left hand running through my hair.
Armin looks up, frowning. "I can't believe you lost it... But I can make you a new one. Brown. Maybe green. Hazel. Whatever is on sale."
I feel awful about losing the beanie. Armin makes them for me sometimes, when we have a lot of spare money. I lost the last one on a previous run, where I had jumped out of a three story building, use a sheet behind me as a parachute. The wind must have knocked it off or something. I'm not worried. All they can find out is that the DNA belongs to some dead person, and finding a possession of a dead person from the lesser valued sectors is not a big surprise.
"I'm sorry," I say, looking down. My green eyes are downcast, but Armin just shakes his head.
"Whatever," he says with a sigh. "Like I said, when we have more money I can go out and find some string for sale.
I nod, moving towards the bedroom. It's just a simple mattress on the floor, with a few tattered blankets that we either found, stole, or bought. It keeps us warm enough. My bare feet are cold against the wood, and I slowly pull the blankets onto the bed. Though I didn't really enjoy doing chores, Armin and I liked things a specific way. Even in runs, I liked to stick to a plan. Yes, I can run off track and I can improvise, but I would prefer not to.
I pad over towards the solitary window in the room and pull up the blinds so I can see out. There is the house with my mom. My brothers. I smile as I think about them, but I feel myself getting envious and upset when I see my mom hugging them. That could've been me, if none of this happened. I hear shuffling behind me and I turn, relieved to see it was only Armin. I grin at him and flop onto the mattress. "I made it," I say, lifting up the pile of blankets and slithering under.
Armin smiled and pat the blankets gently before laying on top of them. "Well done!" He said nearly sarcastically. Silence filled the room, but it was comfortable, our shoulders touching gently.
"Be more careful about your hair," was all he said, and looking over at him, I realize that he is still worried about that. He shouldn't be worried for me, but I'm glad he cares.
"I'll try," I say, grimacing. "I just heard the noise and figured that I had to go immediately. Next time I'll grab a hat or something. Promise." I smile at him, my head turning slightly to look at him, and he does the same.
Our smiles mirror each other before he looks back up at the ceiling. "Good night, Eren."
I close my eyes, a distant smile on my tired lips. "Good night, Armin."
haha ok
so basically i'll be uploading the first chapter here in parts until i can get my ao3,
which is where i will upload chapters (finished and full)
idk i'm a reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow writer so maybe it will come out
every other............. friday????????????????????????
you know i'll work things out haahaha c;;
anyway i owe one of my friends some fanart for her fic so uh
maybe my ao3 chapter will be up liiiiiiiike
friday after my birthday
ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
which is where i will upload chapters (finished and full)
idk i'm a reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow writer so maybe it will come out
every other............. friday????????????????????????
you know i'll work things out haahaha c;;
anyway i owe one of my friends some fanart for her fic so uh
maybe my ao3 chapter will be up liiiiiiiike
friday after my birthday
ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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