Attack on Titan: The New Generation

Chapter 16 Weak

Silence, that's the only thing I could hear. I lifted my head, eyes widened, full of shock. I looked to Michelle's face. Blood speared from her mouth, and dripped from her nose.
"No." I whispered.
"Lilly, she's gone." Said Jen. I continued to look at Michelle's face. I couldn't tell if she died in peace, have I short and quick death. Or a long painful death. My eyes watered and I soon began to cry. Someone behind me put there hand on my shoulder.

Suddenly, something snapped, making me for angry I have ever been. As soon as the hand made contact to my shoulder, I turned around and punched the stomach of a cadet. The cadet fell, then soon began to through up. I turned back to Michelle's corps. I closed her eyelids and picked her up. She laid along my back, and I held on her arms, securing her. I began walking in the opposite direction as everyone else.

"Lilly, what are you doing?!" asked Jen. I turned around and said "I'm not leaving a soldier behind. Especially one who saved me." I snapped. Jen looked shocked, either from hearing what I said, or the site of tears dripping down my face. I turned back and began walking. I heard the group continue running. the rain started to fall harder.

"Michelle, I know you can't hear me physically, but I know you'll hear me somehow. I'm sorry, that I couldn't get to you sooner. You shouldn't have died, it should have been me! Why did you save me?!" I said to the corpse on my back.
"WHY!" I screamed. More tears began to flow from my eyes. My hood fell down, exposing my head to the cold rain.
"I'll make sure you didn't die because of a decision, in vain. I'll carry your death on my back for as long as I live! through out battle, while I sleep, while I die. I'll carry your death, and nothing will stop me." I said.

I walked to the building where I was held when I broke my hip a few years back. I kicked open the door, no one was there. I walked through he building until I found an open and empty room. I walked in and put Michelle on the bed. I grabbed her hands and put them together as if she held her hands on her lap. I ran to another room and grabbed and white blanket. I covered Michelle up from head to toe.

I walked to an office and took a piece of paper and pencil. I walked back to the room and wrote on the paper
'Cadet Michelle Ackerman was killed in a thunder/lightning storm. A tree was stroke and fell on Michelle.' I walked over to the corpse and placed the note on her stomach.

I walked out of the building and stood in the rain. I looked up, and closed my eyes. The ran began to lighten up, but it was still cold.

Suddenly I heard a horse gallop towards where I was standing. I looked back down and opened my eyes. There were the other cadets holding their packs. Battlow lead the group back. And by the look of his face ii was pissed. He stopped in front of me and got off his horse.

"What the hell do you think your doing?! Quitting the hike an walking back without permission! You have some nerve! I should send you to pulling weeds right now!" Battlow barked.
"Go ahead, I walked back because I carried a dead soldier on my back. She died saving me, I wouldn't leave her body in the rain. I WILL NEVER leave a soldier without being noticed for their act! And if I ever do, then shoot me on the spot!" I snapped. We stood their silent, as the cadets behind us were shocked by my response.
"I see. Where is this 'dead cadet' you're talking about." I moved to the side and pointed my finger to the door.

Battlow walked in the building, me and the other cadets followed. We walked to the room where I placed Michelle. The cadets gasped and Battlow walked to the body. He pulled down the blanket and stared at her face. He covered her back up and wrote something down. We walked to me and handed me a piece of paper.

I looked at the paper and saw it read 100% on it. My eyes widened, a perfect score, for disobeying my instructor. Why? I turned around and walked through the crowd. They all smelled like BO.

The bell ranged and I walked to the mess hall. I took my food and sat down. People soon began to walk in and eat. Me, Mariana, and Jen sat alone at the table. Completely silent. No one talked at all. No gossip, no news, nothing. I finished the food before anyone else and walked to my cabin.

When I got there I changed into my hoodie and old pants. I through my clothes in my dresser and laid in bed looking at the ceiling. For at least a hour I fiddled with my mother's necklace with my eyes closed.

Someone opened the door and walked in, I opened my eyes and saw Mariana and Jen lay on their beds. I closed my eyes again and finally fell asleep.

It's been a week since Michelle has died. We held a memorial service with her family. Things have been quiet in our cabin, with now an extra bed and dresser. People began talking again in the mess hall, but Mariana, Jen and I really haven't.

I opened my eyes and got up. I got changed into my uniform and woke up Jen and Mariana. They got ready and we began walking to the mess hall. We got our breakfast, which was some kind of oatmeal and an apple. More people began walking in and eating.

Then a familiar face sat down on at our table.
"Why are all of you so depressed looking?" I looked up and saw that is was Tom!
"Where have your been! We haven't seen you in over a week!" I said happy.
"I had some busy things to get done." Tom replied.
"I'm sure you did." Mariana whispered. I looked over at her and her eyes were closed.

"So, where's Michelle, Carol and Shaun?" Tom asked.
"Carol and Shaun are..." said Jen.
"Are right here!" Carol added.
" How come your sitting with us all of a sudden?" Asked Jen.
"Lets just say, that we trust Lilly now." Carol replied.
"So, where's Michelle?" Asked Tom again. It became very silent and awkward.

"She's gone." I said with my head lowered.
"Did she get transferred to pulling weeds?" Asked Tom.
"No, she's dead." Answered Jen.
"Lets not talk about it now." Said Carol.

We finished our breakfast and lined up out in the training yard. The cadets became to walk out, then Battlow.

"TODAY IS SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT." Battlow began. I lifted an eye brow. What would be 'different' about today?
"YOUR GOING TO FIGHT, HAND TO HAND COMBAT. YOU'LL BE PARTNERED UP THROUGH OUT THE DAY." Yelled Battlow. I haven't been in I hand to hand combat, the closest was at a small martial arts school near my house.

An assistant walked around and partnered up cadets.
"Move over here." Commanded the cadet. I followed the cadet, an looked up to see who was my partner was. My eyes widened and I felt the awkward vibe.
"Hi." Said Shaun.

I began to blush, as I lifted my hand and waved. Battlow demonstrated how we're supposed to attack and counter attack. The assistant handed out fake daggers to each group. I held the dagger in my hand, and rolled the handle between my fingers.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, but expect my not to hold back." Said Shaun with a cocky smile. I rolled my eyes, and got ready. I ran in holding the dagger out, and Shaun did as was shown. He takes the dagger from my hand and pulls me up.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?" Shaun said in a worried tone.
"Nah, but I can't promise that I won't." I chuckled. He raised an eyebrow and got ready. He ran in, but I didn't do as was shown. I stepped out of the way, as I did, Shaun turned his head in surprise. I swung my leg, and it hit him right in the head. He flew back, and slammed into the ground. He draped the dagger as he fell, so I picked it up.

"You ok?" I asked. He shook his head and mumbled "No."
"Alright, try not to move. I'll get someone." I sighed. As I walk away I mumbled to myself "Why can't know one handle getting hit?"