A Long Dream

Hangman's Tree

Riding further through the crowds, racing quickly from the inner gate, Sarah was nearly shaken from the horse when another quake shook the ground. Turning back, she witnessed an enormous titan standing amidst dust and smoke. His plated body was still in its running position as it came to a sliding halt.

Blond hair sat atop its head, and its yellow eyes peered through the city. Smoke escaped its mouth as its shoulders slumped forward, and for a moment, she wondered if it was sad. The thought soon escaped her as the screaming continued, and more titans entered wall Maria.

Four days later, Sarah struggled to hold the reins as Bluey trotted slowly through the forest. Her thighs were blistered and bruised from riding for days on end. She was hungry and tired, though she didn't want food or sleep. Emptiness and pain weighed her heart. It burrowed in her chest like an endless abyss. She was hollow. Broken.

It had been days since she entered wall Rose, and she hadn't the care to approach the refuge camp. Instead, she allowed her mare to take her far into the forest, away from everyone.

As another night came to pass, darkness pulled the edge of her eyes, forcing her to sleep. Her raw hands released their grip on the reins, and she slipped from the saddle.

Bluey reared and huffed as Sarah fell to the ground. Lying on the grass, she hadn't the will to move.

"Pa!" a boy about twelve called. "I heard somethin'!"

"Let's see... Stay back, Nile!" The older man, with dirty overalls and a straw hat, pulled his son back by his shirt.

"What's a horse doin' out here?" the boy asked as he examined the feral, untamed horse. Bluey stomped and shuddered as the men moved closer.

"Looks like a mare..." the father said. "Poor things been left starved and wild for days by the looks of it."

The boy's eyes widened in horror as he pointed to a lump on the ground. "Lookit! It's a girl!"

"By the Gods!" The father raced closer, ignoring the offensive snorting of the mare as he fell to Sarah's side. Turning her over, he was shocked to find her breathing.

"She's a refugee!" the boy exclaimed.

"Been through hell, by the look of it. Come on, boy, let's take her home. We'll find out more about her when she wakes."

As the moon rose, the world was filled with the soft flickering of candlelight as homes were filled with hungry men and tired children. Sarah lay in the bed of a young girl. Her body twitched and eyes shifted quickly beneath their lids.

Dreaming of the haunting memories of her family being destroyed, she awoke with a violent gasp. Sitting up, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. The dark room was lit only by moonlight. Wooden planks made up the walls and flooring. Another small bed was pressed against the opposite wall, with a bedside table and oil lantern between them.

Dresses laid in a pile on the floor, along with old dolls and flower crowns. Sarah gripped her forehead and her palm filled with sweat. Closing her eyes, she couldn't erase the memories. The emptiness was heavy and dark.

Voices whispered outside the door. The floor was cold beneath her feet as she stepped across the room and peeked through the door. In the living area was a family. Two young girls and a boy with their parents. They sat at a table eating a meal of stew and dinner rolls.

"Go check on the stranger, would ya?" the father said.

"Of course, Pa."

The boy stood and walked to the door. Sarah backed away when it opened and met the eyes of the stranger. "Oh, good, you're awake." He smiled. "Ma's got supper waitin'. Come on now, before it gets cold."

He walked back to the table, and Sarah slowly followed. She sat between the young girls, who looked up at her with genuine smiles.

"Have a seat," the mother said while filling her bowl with stew. "What's your name, honey?"

Sarah couldn't speak. The thought of eating made her nauseous. The family became silent as they stared at her, waiting for an answer.

"Leave her alone, Mil," the father spoke kindly. "She'll speak when she's ready."

Mildred nodded and took her place at the table. "You're welcome to stay long as you need. We could use the extra hands around here. They'll be sendin' more refugees our way. Might find your people out there."

Sarah was quiet as the others ate their meals.

Six months later, Sarah worked on the farmstead. She found a home with a man named Daniel, who had lost his family in the invasion. He was kind enough, though she never spoke to him. She never spoke to anyone.

Early in the morning while cleaning the barn, three strangers approached the settlement. Two boys and a girl. They were dirty and tired and looked to be about Sarah's age. She watched as they walked through the foggy morning, getting closer to the barn with every step.

"Excuse me," the larger of the two boys, with short blonde hair, said. "I'm Reiner. This is Bertholdt and Annie. Our village was destroyed, and we've been wandering for months just trying to find somewhere safe. Do you think we could find a place here?"

She looked between them and then turned away. Shoving her pitchfork into hay, she continued cleaning the barn. "You'll have to talk to Sid," I said. "He'll be up in a couple of hours."

"Thanks." He looked around before leading the group to a nearby tree. When Sid stepped out, he invited them to stay, so long as they did their part to help the community. They agreed and were given a room in Sarah and Daniel's home.

As the day faded to night, Sarah washed her hands in the spigot outside. Daniel's voice echoed from nearby, and she found him speaking to the newcomers. They sat in front of the cabin with long faces as he told his story of how he lost his family.

"First we heard of it... was from the titans..." he said. "Can't say it's been easier for the others. The girl you met earlier; she's been here nine months. Still don't know her name. She won't speak to anyone."

"She isn't from here?" Reiner asked.

Sid shook his head. "We think she came from deep in Maria. Probably Shiganshina, judging by her injuries and the state she was in when she came through. Covered in blood and ash. Had a nice chunk of her arm bitten by a titan."

Sarah covered her arm and backed into the shadows, hiding from the group that didn't know she listened. "She was bitten?" Bertholdt gasped.

"Yeah. Was a small one. Did her arm up good. I think she lost everything. Just does her work and goes to sleep. Passing the time... Aren't we all..." He sighed. "Anyway, my village had no warning. The ground just started trembling. I went over to the windows and when I opened them up... it was a titan. I can't recall anything after that. I just got on my horse and ran... leaving behind three kids... they were about your age..."

Sarah closed her eyes as he retold the harrowing story of how he left his family behind. As Daniel left his spot, the trio fell into a quiet conversation. When Sarah stepped by and for a moment she stopped. Reiner's bright yellow eyes caught her off guard when their gazes met. They were familiar, yet she couldn't place them.

Turning away, she crossed her arms and headed inside, not bothering to understand his familiarity.

As morning came, she stepped back into the frost. Moving to the barn she caught a glimpse of something dark hanging from a nearby tree. The shadow was dark beneath the diminishing blanket of moonlight. Edging closer, hoping to get a better view, she found the silhouette of a man.

Blood dripped from his parted lips as he swayed in the cool morning breeze. A wooden stool was overturned beneath his feet. Sarah was quiet and still as she looked at the man she'd come to know as a friend, the one who left his family behind, the one who could no longer handle the pain.

Sorrow befell her as she looked into Daniel's puffy, bloodshot eyes, and whispered a quiet goodbye.