Glory For Mankind | AOT [book 1]

Ch.16:The Reckoning

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Ruvik cursed as he mounted his horse and steered it away from the dock, heading in the direction the light had come from. The Military Police soldier cried out to him as the man he was escorting took off. "Captain! Wait! Sir, where the heck do you think you're going?!"

History was repeating itself, Ruvik was sure that was the exact same strike of lightning that appeared before his hometown perished. These thoughts caused those haunting memories to resurface, the faces of his mother and brother both flashing in his mind.

Ruvik shook away the thoughts and clutched the reigns in his hands before making his horse pick up the pace. There's no way in hell it was happening all over again.

When Ruvik reached his destination, he sent his horse away and scaled the wall. Once he reached the top, he stood beside the Garrison soldiers that gathered along the wall. They watched in horror as the monsters began invading the district, wearing looks of dread and hopelessness - too frightened to even speak.

Ruvik frowned at the sight of titans pouring in. They were moving quickly.

One of the Garrison soldiers began to panic. "Oh my... Oh my God! They're coming! What are we going to do?!"

Those words sparked hysteria among the others, resulting in soldiers crying in terror at the destruction that has occurred among the district.

Ruvik had enough with the noises the soldiers were making. He drew out his swords and gained everyone's attention. "Pull yourselves together! All of you begin escorting the civilians out of the city! Our first priority right now is rescuing all residents within the district!"

With that said, everyone watched as the Scout took off into the chaos below, the Garrison soldiers looking at each other in worry before following his lead.

Ruvik propelled his way into the streets of the city and maneuvered around the town buildings. His mind in a frenzy as he tried estimating how long it had been since the Scout Regiment had departed beyond the wall - that and how much ground they covered while he was being escorted to Wall Sina

How long would it take to send out a message to them? How many of us will be dead before they return? While contemplating this, Ruvik had already taken down three titans. Only to stop on a roof at the sound of a woman screaming. Quickly, Ruvik followed the noise, spotting a woman crushed by a massive part of a building that a titan had fallen on top of.

In front of her was, who Ruvik assumed to be her daughter, a terrified little blond haired girl, holding a stuffed rabbit in her trembling arms.

Ruvik landed on the road and ran to them. When the woman saw him, relief washed over her. The first thing he thought were two words.

She's dying.

"Thank the Walls!" She cried. "Sir, please, take her with you!" Tears were streaming down the woman's face as she begged.

"Ma'am.." Ruvik began.

"P-Please! I beg of you! Take her before -"
Horror struck over her features when the titan was standing up from the collapsed building down the street, the crumbled pieces of the house falling from its body as it moved. It's attention zeroing in on the three.

The little girl stared at the approaching titan with dread. She was too scared to blink as it walked closer and closer to them.

The mother turned back to her daughter. Sending her a kind yet desperate smile as she coaxed the young girl."Go with the nice soldier, Wendy. He'll protect you, okay? Don't ever leave his side!"