In an Alternate Reality IV

Hell on Earth

Eren roamed the street of Marley all by himself while the Squad stayed back. It was fairly easy for Eren to fit in because of everything he saw in his father's memories. The streets were thriving with merchants who tried to sell their goods, kids who enjoyed their innocent childhoods, and the people talking with their loved ones as they walked around Marley.

"Look at them.... They all look so...Happy...Their lives aren't perfect, but this is the closest they'll get to Heaven."

"I'm getting sidetracked here. Now, where's that liquor store?"

Eren looked around in search for the liquor store. As he walked, Eren twirled a wallet between his fingers until he felt he bumped into someone. He looked down and saw a kid on the ground holding a bag of money in his hands. Behind the child, a woman was chasing him.

"Give me back that money!" The woman yelled.

Eren kneeled down to the kid's level and gently grabbed the bag from him.

"What's your name?" Eren asked.

"Ramzi, sir."

"Okay, Ramzi, you shouldn't be stealing. I'm sure you know what happens when you get caught, right?"

"Yes, sir...I'm sorry."

The woman chasing Ramzi caught up to him and saw that Eren had the bag in his hand.

"Here you go, ma'am." Eren said then handed her the bag.

"Thank you, sir...You damn child! This will be your last and only warning. Next time you try and do this, I'll get your hands chopped off! You hear me?" The woman reprimanded Ramzi.

Ramzi stayed quiet and Eren just went on with his day as the woman continued to scream at the kid.

Eren walked with his hands in his pockets and continued his search. With each blink, he saw different images play. In one he saw buildings crushed to dust, the streets painted red, massive footprints on the ground, and people running for their lives. In another, he saw a child's head being crushed by a foot and as he took a closer look, he saw it was that kid from earlier with another kid that looked younger.

Eren blinked once more, and this time there was no destruction. It was the same streets he was roaming, but there was something right in front of walking toward him. It was the other Eren. The same one who spoke with him all those years ago.

Eren immediately stopped walking and the Other Eren stopped right in front of him.

"What?" Other Eren questioned.

"Are you real?" Eren asked.

"No. Well, yes. Only you can see me. Speak with me through your mind. You don't wanna look like a creep around here."

"Right." Eren said through his mind now.

The two Eren's walked side by side. Other Eren had his hair tied to a bun and his eyes had the same shine of hope Eren last saw. Eren was shorter and only reached up to his shoulder.

"I'm certain you've seen what the future holds for you, right?" Other Eren asked.

"Yeah..."

"Our worlds are alike yet different. You and I are different people.... You're a good man. You are a better person than what I ever was. Your Reality holds a brighter future than mine." Other Eren said.

"My Reality? What happened to yours?" Eren asked.

"We are but two of the countless other versions of ourselves that exist."