Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

MEMOIRS OF HAVAS [16]

'The great fall. The clever grow shallow, and the immortal meet their maker. We imagine the world as permanent, but the truth is our lives are a thousand stolen, fleeting moments. But in the end, the bill always comes due.'

-An extract from an article written by a Havasian philosopher.

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MEMOIRS OF HAVAS

16

Wall Maria, North Region, Havas, The transport tunnel through the Larken Peaks

Warren had arrived at the train station, eager to head to O'Haen and content to leave the issue of the four mystery children to Schmidt's capable hands.

He had urgent business in O'Haen, after all.

Unfortunately, his train had departed over two hours ago. And there wouldn't be another until the next day.

Warren sighed, signalling for a taxi and condemning himself to lighten his wallet further. Damn Schmidt for getting him all excited about that job with those kids, he thought bitterly.

Getting into the automobile, Warren wondered how the demonstration was going.

He was rooting for those kids. They seemed sweet— if a little standoffish. But, even more than that, the prospect of cooperation with a nation across the sea was exhilarating.

Perhaps he'd bring it up with the Council, thought Warren.

Unfortunately, Warren soon learnt that he would never make it to O'Haen.

His taxi had barely set off into the tunnel when a great rumble thundered through the earth. Warren frowned. Immediately, his fellow travellers began panicking, looking out their automobile windows to see what the commotion was about.

"Driver? What was-"

Another rumble. This time far louder, as if a giant explosion had been set off at the edge of the city.

What was happening?

It couldn't be coming from the base? Could it?

The sounds of panic outside grew louder.

The automobile stopped. "I'm going to see what all the fuss is about," said his driver gruffly, exiting the vehicle. Warren followed, squinting back towards the entrance of the tunnel.

He waited, apprehensive. The entire tunnel was deathly silent; everyone stilled, waiting, listening to the sounds of certain doom approaching.

It was barely five minutes before he began hearing screams drawing nearer— a massive crowd, hundreds of panicked Havasians fleeing into the tunnel as if their lives depended on it.

The crowd broke into the gloom of the tunnel. They shoved past the automobiles on the road, running at full tilt towards O'Haen. They were screaming; some clutched bloody wounds, their children crying as they fled.

What in Larken's name was happening?

One woman tripped and fell right near Warren's feet. Through the chaos, he rushed to help her up.

"Ma'am," he began. She struggled, her face alight with panic. "Ma'am, ma'am, please, calm down. What's happening?"

She was shaking like a leaf as the distant explosions drew nearer. "The-the-the gate..." the woman stuttered.