The Free Ones (Attack on Titian)

Chapter 1: Saving Lives

Mary opened her eyes to the small amount of light coming in through the shattered window. She yawned and allowed a smile to form. Birds chirped outside past the slow pounding of giant distant feet.

"Lumi," she whispered as she shook her friend. "Lumi, get up. Its time to leave."

Eventually Lumi's red eyes fluttered open to stare at Mary. "I'm up now," Lumi mumbled. Her eyes trailed to the mess of dirty blond hairs that sat upon her friend's head. "Dude you got some serious bed head. You should redo your pony-tail."

Mary sighed and disappeared into a different room. She returned with a hairbrush, a hand mirror, and her own hair fixed. "Now fix yours," she demanded.

Lumi took the mirror and scowled at her reflection. One of her pigtails had fallen out and let her black hair be tangle into a displeasing ball. She took the brush and slowly brushed the snarls out as not to cause too much pain.

When Lumi had finished fixing her hair Mary had already gotten two empty bags and a plate of toast and mashed potatoes that would be their breakfast. Lumi and smiled and took the plate from her friend. They ate quickly and headed out.

Once they stepped out of the building they got a good look at the destruction and devastation that had befallen Shiganshina. Buildings were destroyed and the streets and walls were caked in drying blood and body parts. They casually walked across the small field and into the streets. Along the way they avoided the big feet of an ignorant titan.

"Where are we going first?" Lumi asked out of curiosity. She had her hands tucked behind her back as she leaded forward a little and smiled at her friend.

Mary frowned and took another glance around at the blood. The fact that Lumi was so calm standing in the site of death and she was feeling waves of sorrow confused her. "I want to see if anyone is trapped or hiding. They will need our help getting to safety."

The expression on Lumi's face changed to one of excitement to one of disappointment. "You mean I have to talk to people?"

A sigh escaped Mary's mouth as she motioned to a house. "You stay here and don't get stepped on. I'm going to go inside."

With that Mary opened the wooden door of the house and looked around. It was a simple home with a kitchen and table with chairs. A set of stairs led up and another down so Mary went down. At the bottom she found a young boy and a woman who was probably the boy's mother.

Mary smiled and held out her hand as they stared at her with hopeful eyes. "My name is Mary Ann. I'm here to help you get out and to safety." The woman nodded and took Mary's hand. "If you have any things you want go grab it. We may have to run so keep it light." The woman nodded again and led the boy upstairs.

With another smile Mary stepped out of the house and onto the street again. Her eyes widened as her they landed on a gruesome drawing done in blood. The drawing depicted two people, a man and a woman, being stabbed being death by two men. Behind the people was the figure of a titan. Mary remembered the scene as one from ten years ago, the death of Lumi's parents.

When Lumi noticed Mary behind her she turned with a toothy grin on her face. "Isn't it pretty? What a nice red color," she said in a voice of innocence.

Mary frowned sadly at her friend knowing that she hadn't been exactly right since ten years ago. The attack in that city had changed her. Lumi was probably in need of some help that she would have been able to get back there but not here.

When Mary heard the door creek slightly she quickly covered the disturbing image. The woman and boy came out, each with a small bag. "This is Lumi. You need to be quiet as we go but we will get you to safety. I promise," Mary said sincerely.

The woman nodded again and clutched her boy's hand. Lumi smiled at the boy and he gave her a face that almost said he was scared. Blood smears decorated Lumi's face and blood dripped off her fingers. Mary instantly ran back inside and returned with a clean rag. She proceeded to rub the blood from her friends face and hands.

When that was done the group started to head in the direction of the fallen Wall Mira. As the reached an intersection a titan resting on that street saw then and stood. It began to make its way over to them.

"Run!" Mary said as she lifted the boy into her arms and ran down the street. The boy's mother was able to keep up and they made it to wall Maria. Several other Titans had given their attentions including an aberrant.

Once on the other side of the hole they made a quick turn and ran along side of the wall. More titans had taken notice but Mary was not giving up. The boy in her arms clung to her in fear and she tightened her grip around him. "Lumi! Run ahead and see what you can find!" Mary shouted to her friend who smiled and took off ahead of them.

As soon as Lumi returned the woman tripped. Lumi caught her and stabled her. It was obvious she was running out of energy. "There is a hole in the wall there! It's not big enough for titans to get through but we can! There is an abandoned city on the other side!" Lumi shouted as the hole came into view. They turned into it and ran a little farther in as a titan arm reached in.

"We made it," Mary said as she placed the boy on the ground next to his mother. She pulled out a canteen and handed it to the woman. "Here drink. You must be tiered."

The woman took the water and held her boy close. The site made Mary's heart squeeze tighter. She looked away and examined the closest building. It was another simple house, perfect for the mother and her son. "Here. This house is slightly dusty but it will keep you safe. Were going to go back and see who else we can save," Mary explained as she helped the woman inside and too a seat.

The woman smiled and took Mary's hand as she left. "Thank you for saving my boy and me. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

Mary smiled back at the woman. "All you need to do is take care of your son. We will be back." The woman nodded and thanked her once again.

As the rest of the day went on they had saved sixteen more people from Shiganshina. They had many close calls but everyone made it back alive. The sun was beginning to set as they inspected the last building in the destroyed city. No one was inside letting the two girls know that they had successfully saved everyone they could and it was time to get supplies.

Mary clutched the gold key around her neck. She turned to her friend. "Ready to go get our medicine?" She asked and Lumi nodded and started to skip in the direction of the Doctor's house.