Alive Again: Attack on Titan

Chapter 4: Operation "Retake Wall Maria"

If we knew the hell we were about to be put through, neither of us would've went with that soldier. But the more I thought about it, the more I've come to realize that we had no choice in the matter. We were escorted in the dead of night, being transported by wagon with as many people as the wagon could carry, the youngest were no younger than twelve, I noticed as we neared Wall Rose that more and more wagons joined this ever growing caravan in its mystery destination, this created a heavy feeling in my core as I felt something bad was coming, drawing ever closer. I couldn't help but worry, my grip tightened on the hoe in my hand, my sister's grip on my arm tightened also, I wasn't the only one worried about this, it was especially unnerving how they asked us to bring something that could be used as a weapon. If we were being recruited to retake Wall Maria, then why are we taking our own weapons? Most of us are wielding farming equipment, making all of us severely under-equipped for titan-killing. Why wouldn't we be getting weapons when they train us, or are they not going to train us? Many thoughts swirled through my mind, each one turning my thoughts about the operation to the worst. "Whatever happens, I'll protect you no matter what." I told Elizabeth as the wagons began to enter a city.

Looking ahead I find that this city was right next to Wall Rose, at the gate of Trost and just on the other side of that wall and the walls of Trost was titan territory, where we would have to go to be able to retake Wall Maria. The wagons stopped at the gate with the soldiers getting out of the front of the wagon "Alright, we will get out right here. In Trost, several members of the Survey Corps are going to lead the operation into Wall Maria. You are to meet up with these soldiers and do as they say for the remainder of the operation." The Garrison soldiers explained as we began to exit the wagons.

"Yeah, this is totally going to work, a bunch of untrained humans armed with farming equipment fighting titans? What can go wrong?" The familiar voice of the red-haired cynic quipped with a devilish grin.

"Nicholas Marxton, you're wanted by the Military Police right? If you want you can go back to the interior straight into the custody of the Military Police, other than that this is your only option, you choose." The Garrison Soldier who seemed to be a commander of sorts told him, this made his grin fade and get replaced with subtle look of frustration.

It was at this time that the ground shook as the gate of Trost started to rise, I look back to the trail of wagons to see thousands of people starting to gather, the manpower of this operation. What started going through my mind wasn't possible, it was unthinkable, they couldn't. Was this a mass execution of people? Is the government really about to send thousands of people to their deaths? It was a simply inhuman thought, but the more I began to think about it, the more I started to see the bigger picture, if there were less humans within the walls, there would be less famine, therefore saving lives, but in the process, destroying far more. I could now see the decision they had to make, but it didn't make it any prettier, especially when I think of the fact that me and my sister are a part of the sacrifice.

No. I won't die; I refuse to just be sent to my death, to let my sister die! It wasn't going to be easy, but I was determined to live through this, the titans needed to pay for their crimes. For those crimes, however, I couldn't do a thing to them in my state: under-equipped and in the company of others in the same boat. If I was to survive, I would have to do it once outside, not watched by the soldiers, break away and find a way back inside the wall all while protecting my sister in the process.

"How old are you, son?"

I look over to the old weathered voice that spoke to me to find it came from an older man, likely well into his life with dark gray hair with a short beard and mustache, he looked weary. Startled by the sudden question, I took a minute to respond "I-I'm sixteen..." I told him, there was no reason not to answer.