Already Gone

Chapter 17: The Monster Was Me

When her ears stopped ringing Liesl wasn't sure exactly where she was or who had survived, all she knew was that her head was pounding and the screaming hadn't ceased.

"Liesl!" Gabi shouted, reaching down and shaking her until she opened her eyes fully.

"Gabi? Gabi!" Liesl reached forward and pulled Gabi against her chest. "Oh my god, thank god you're okay!"

Gabi was shaking like a leaf in her grasp, allowing herself a few brief moments of grief in Liesl's arms. When she finally let go of her they exchanged a quick glance, Liesl's eyes beginning to tear up again as she recalled what had just happened.

"Gabi—"

"—I know, but right now we need to fight."

Liesl stood up, blood dripping down her shins from her scrapes knees, and watched ahead as Pieck—The cart titan, aimed directly for Zeke.

He killed them, two kids.

The Zeke that had promised her the entire world had been destroyed by the monster that he had become, everyone, and no one, was to blame for what had happened to him.

"Liesl..." Gabi's voice trailed off as she watched the Beast Titan gain a new set of holes.

"No, he's not my problem right now," Liesl reached down and grabbed Gabi's arm, running quickly out of the open. "I need to at least try and keep my word, you need to stay safe."

The sound of ODM gear whizzing around the tops of buildings made it clear that the Jaegerists were responding to the threats with full force. Up above Armin and Mikasa tried to fight who ever they could to prolong Eren's life, including The Cart titan and Magath.

Liesl kept her eyes forward, she didn't dare look back at Zeke, or up to see her old, and new friends. She was afraid that if she looked, it would be the last time she ever see them.

"Look it's Falco's titan, and...and Reiner?" Gabi's voice went quiet as she saw the Armored Titan kneeling down, purposely exposing his nape so that Falco could bite down on it.

Liesl crouched down to Gabi and tried to advert her eyes, but the girl refused to look away. All those years spent perfecting her skills, always wanting to surpass the status quo and prove her worthiness to Marley. If she had known that those years would lead up to this, she wouldn't of dared to be a Warrior Candidate—no one would.

"It's nice to see you," A feint voice calls out to them.

A man, or more like a corpse, strutted from the Jaw Titan, leading a trail of blood behind him.

Porco? Liesl questioned as she saw the half of a man stumbling toward the Falco and the armored titan. His blood was smeared down his body, and every breath he took only spurted out more of it. Not even his titan abilities could heal him now.

"Reiner!" Even his Porco's shoutswere weak.

"Now you have to admit it! That to the end...I've always been the better man!"

As Porco advanced so did Liesl, she ran toward him in a desperate attempt to try and save whatever remnants of a happy life she had. But just like before, she was far too late, and far too weak to help.

"Mr. Galliard?" Gabi cried out from behind.

Liesl felt like someone had kicked her down to the brink of death. Everything moved in slow motion, the titans in front of her, the swooping of the Jaegerists, the gun shots. It wasn't until she saw a familiar wounded soldier—this time with both his legs and eyes—that she suddenly felt the blood rush back to her body.