In an Alternate Reality III

P:3 Ch:16

The four jumped off the wall in search of Eren's home in Shinganshina. Eren was the leading them as he has lived there for most of his childhood.

They landed on the ground and began to walk around Shinganshina.

The buildings were falling apart due to neglect and weeds overgrew all the buildings. The cool evening air blew by them as they traversed the once populated city.

Eren walked with his hands in his pockets as Mikasa was right beside him while Levi and Hanji followed.

As they walked, memories began playing. The once lively streets were merchants sold their goods and the children played. The streets were Eren, Mikasa, and Armin once used to run around and enjoyed their once innocent lives as children.

They walked until they stopped by an open area with a fountain in the middle. It was the place where Hannes and the other Garrison guards sat and drank whatever booze they could get their hands on. In the middle of plaza there were three stools and a crate.

Eren walked toward the crate and on top they were three alcohol bottles. He kneeled to the level of the crate and grabbed one of the alcohol bottles. He inspected the bottle then took a whiff of its stench.

"Ugh. Smells just like him."

He gently set the bottle down and stood up. He looked behind him and saw Mikasa softly smiling at him. Levi just looked bored as usual, and Hanji was looking around.

They continued to walk. Eren and Mikasa looked around their surroundings. Eren looked down an alleyway where he remembered beating the three of Armin's bullies that one time. That was when Eren realized where they were. He looked up to the wall and noticed that it was slightly caved in. Mikasa looked in the direction he was facing, and she too realized where they were.

"This is...Where it all began." Mikasa said.

"We're not far from my home. Just about a block or two away." Eren told Hanji and Levi.

The four continued on their way. Flashbacks began playing of that hellish day five years ago. The bodies of civilians crushed under boulders. People screaming for their lives as the Titans began flooding Shinganshina. Eren and Mikasa running against the flow of the people running for their lives as they ran toward their home. The flashbacks faded and Eren began to get a headache. He instinctively put a hand to his face. Mikasa noticed and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You okay?" She asked worryingly.

"I'm fine. These headaches. They haven't happened in a while." Eren said as he took his hand off his face.

They came to a stop. Eren eyes slightly widened at the sight in front of him. His house. It looked the exact same as when they left it.

"We're here."

Eren took out his other hand from his pocket and walked towards his house. The others followed.

Eren and Mikasa began to inspect the area. There was silverware on the floor. They both kneeled and gathered the rusty plates and goblets. That was until Eren noticed some hinges underneath a boulder that was trapped in some stakes of wood.

"It's over here. We just need to remove all this rubble."

Eren began lifting two stakes at a time. It began to dawn on him on how far he has come. From being a child who couldn't save his mother to being the second strongest human.

They cleared the area from the stakes of wood. Now, the only obstacle was the boulder sitting on top of the cellar door. With the help Levi, Mikasa, and Hanji, they were able to move the boulder and access the cellar.