Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 26 •

Lorraine heard muffled voices all around her as the world faded back into reality. She opened her eyes and above her, Armin was looking down at her, gently shaking her awake. Hanji stood over them both, barking orders to the other soldiers around them. Lorraine's eyes widened and she sat up, holding her head in her hands. She looked around and Armin said in a worried tone, "Lo! Are you okay?" Lorraine asked, staring at the Colossal Titan, who was emitting a constant, billowing cloud of steam, "This is...this is real, isn't it, Armin? They really...they caused all of this..." Armin stammered, "I-I wanted to tell you, but-" Lorraine cut him off, "R-Reiner's really a Titan...isn't he? Just like Annie...!" Armin looked down and said, his breath shaking, "Yes...I'm sorry." Lorraine bit her lip. She felt the sting of her teeth breaking the skin and she tasted blood in her mouth. Hanji, kneeling next to a soldier, shouted, "We need cold water! Where is our medical team!?" Another soldier, Nifa, said, "I-I'm sorry, Section Commander! The medical team is lost! Many flew off the wall or got injured in the blast!" Hanji cursed loudly. Armin grabbed Lorraine by the upper arm and said sternly, "Lorraine. We need you. You're the last person we've got right now who's trained for this." Lorraine looked up at Armin. His eyes glimmered with fear and sincerity.

"I-I...I can't..."

Armin said, "Yes, you can! Lorraine, stand up and fight! Fight against the traitors who destroyed our home!" Lorraine shook her head, tears filling her eyes again. Her mind was still racing with the events that had just taken place. The flashes of lightning, the sounds of Titans roaring, and the screams of her allies replayed over and over in her head. Armin said, "You can do this! I-I know they were our friends, but...but you have to!" Lorraine felt like her heart may just leap out of her chest. She wondered what Levi would do if he were here.

"He would fight. In any way that he could."

She took a deep breath, filling her stinging lungs with air, and stood up. She called out, giving a strong salute, "Section Commander!" Hanji turned.

"Lorraine Ackerman! I've been trained as a stand-in medic!"

Hanji nodded and said without a moment of hesitation, "Great! We need water and bandages, stat!" Armin nodded and stood up. He was still worried for her, but he knew that he had to try and fight, too. Lorraine and Armin ran in separate directions. As she ran, she looked over the wall, watching as the fight below raged on. Punches flew, blood spurted into the air, only to evaporate seconds later, and roars echoed far. Lorraine furrowed her brows and turned to focus on the task at hand, grabbing a medkit from one of the surviving supply crates and a canteen of water. She jogged back to the side of one of the injured soldiers.

"I-it's going to be okay. Just hold still."

She rummaged through the medkit, grabbing a soft cloth and pouring a little bit of water on it. She gently dabbed at the soldier's burned hand, taking note of the blisters forming on his knuckles as she swiftly and softly cleaned the burn before wrapping his hand in gauze. He winced as she wrapped the wound tightly.

"I have to do what I can. I have to."

She picked up her kit and moved onto another soldier, whose face was burned and whose arms were scuffed from a burst of steam and a rough tumble to the solid stone below. She dabbed at the soldier's injuries, cleaning them as gently as she could.

"I joined the Scouts to prove myself and to conquer my fear of the Titans. Friends or not, they're still...Titans. Yeah. I have to do this."

She glanced up out of the corner of her eyes to take a peek at Bertholdt. His Titan form was still emitting steam non-stop. "Listen up," Hanji shouted, "Squads three and four, take position behind the target. Rashad has command." The man with the newly bandaged, burned hand gave a salute and said, "Roger." Lorraine finished bandaging up the other soldier's forearm and looked up at Hanji. Hanji said, "Squad two, wait here. Lauda, I'm putting you in charge. We're going to abandon the capture plan. Our new objective is to kill them." Lorraine's heart sunk. Hanji growled, "Do not hesitate this time."