Alternate | Aruani

Chapter 3: Nightmare

"Annie you're late, it's past six. Where have you been?" Her father asked as she entered the house.

"Sorry father, I didn't notice the time, I was at the river." She said.

"You've been really lost lately, something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, don't worry." She gave him a small smile and he looked at her worriedly. It wasn't like her to be like this.

"I'll go take a shower, bye." She said and left him. She entered her room, she was still unfamiliar of the place. She woke up here with no memory of how, just like Armin. She spent her day observing the place, and even saw him. Everyone in this place are like the ones she know, same face, names, personality. The only difference is the place where they are, they aren't them but are like them. She thought she was the only one who isn't from here.

'I still don't know anything from this place, maybe read books? That seems like what Armin would do.' She thought and entered the shower.

* * *

"Annie! Dinner time come eat!" He called for her and she did, they ate together in silence. This kind of silence is always present, it's just her and her father and there was really nothing to talk about.

She finishes and brings her plate on the sink as she was about to leave her father stops her.

"Sleep early okay, you need to go to school tommorow morning." She nodded her head and left.

'School? Shit I don't even know where I go to. I'll need to find soem personal information, since it's almost like I'm living a life similar to mine but completely different from it too.' She thought and headed inside her room, and tried to find where she would put her personal informations. She looked around the room and found her bag. She searched it and found her school ID.

'Paradise High huh?' Annie continued to search her bag and her room. Soon enough she got tired and decided to rest.

* * *

"Annie!" Armin yelled, why is he yelling my name?

"Armin?" I tried running towards his voice but I can't? I can't move. I tried opening my eyes, I can't either. I'm stuck, stuck where?

Oh no...

I'm back inside the crystal again! I don't want to be stuck here again! Please, Armin! Help me, please. Talk to me atleast, please.

"Hell as if I'm gonna help you out there Annie. You're not a good person, you never were. You deserve this, you're stuck alone there. You brought this upon yourself after all. You're a monster, a monster that killed hundreds of innocent lives."

What? Armin why are you saying this? It's not like you saying things like this.

"You're a monster Annie! A monster!"

No- no I'm not, I'm not, I'm not... I'm not.. I'm not a monster. You're lying! You're lying...

"Guys! We didn't even get to talk this out! Guys!"

Marco? I'm sorry... I'm sorry please.. forgive me please...

The sound of screams filled my head, screams of the innocent people I've killed.

I'm a monster, I really am a monster. I don't deserve to live, I don't deserve anyone. I'm not a good person. I'm far from that.

Armin I'm glad I could be a good person to you... for a while atleast.

"Annie! The world is your enemy! Trust no one!"

* * *

She botled awake gasping for air, and started to cry.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry everyone please forgive me I'm sorry." She muttered over and over again.

"Armin, where are you? I need you please... please I'm so alone... I'm all alone..." She cried hugging her knees closer to her her clothes were damped with tears. She could never forgive herself after all that she did, after all of those people she killed, it's almost impossible for her to forgive herself.

"Annie?" Someone knocked on her door, she didn't utter a word and just listened to the continues knocking.

"Annie, open the door please. I heard you screaming is something wrong?" Still she didn't talk.

"Annie please, I'm coming in." Her door unlocks with her father looking at her worriedly. His face softend seeing her a crying mess. He sat on her bed and hugged her.

"What's wrong Annie? We can talk about it if you want?" His words comforted her, but she can't tell him, she knows he won't be able to understand what she means.

"I had a nightmare, I don't want talking about it." Her tears slowly stopped pouring down. She hugged her father back and they stayed like that for a while.

"Do you want water?" He asked and she nodded. He stood up from her bed but she stopped him.

"Don't leave me." He smiled at her softly and placed his hand in her cheek.

"I'll be back don't worry." She nodded her head and watch him head out the door. He came back with a glass of water in a short span of time, Annie drunk it and calmed down.

"I love you dad. Thank you."

"I love you too Annie." She fell asleep in his arms, he left her once he made sure she was sleeping peacefully.