Born and Raised

Prologue~Drip

In tight communities, word spreads quickly. It rages through the towns and streets until everyone knows it, everybody knows that fact, especially when the fact is that someone can turn into the thing that has been attacking them for the last hundred years.

It was only a matter of time before the attention on him became too much. Eren didn’t remember what happened, he remembered someone attacking, but he doesn’t know who. He remembers someone screaming but he doesn’t know who. He remembers someone grabbing him, but he doesn’t know who.

Everything was dark, only a single candle shined through the room. It was so quiet. Only a single drop of water would fall from the ceiling, echoing out in the room.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

It kept going, acting as a hammer to Eren’s head, worsening the headache. Everything hurt. He hadn’t eaten in ages. He can’t remember what they had given him, just that it was terrible. His muscles tightened and shook, his shoulders and legs screamed from the harsh position. It held him up, his tippy-toes just staying on the ground but without enough give to let his full feet on the ground.

Creaking, the cage opened, the familiar figure walking forward. Their white outfit was wrapped in familiar brown straps and the haunting green cloak. “Evening, beast,” the figure said in his annoyingly chirpy voice as he lifted up Eren’s head. “How are you this morning? Terrible? Good.” The figure giggled, walking back and grabbing a syringe. “We are sorry Eren, we never wished for things to end this way but… you left us no choice. You’re too dangerous. You’re a monster.” The figure walked forward, squirting out a small amount of liquid from the syringe before tiling Eren’s head back again and revealing his vein.

Slowly sinking in the needle, the figure watched it in fascination. He slowly pushed the liquid into Eren’s neck, watching in joy as Eren began screaming.

Everything was on fire. Everything hurt! Everything hurt!

The figure removed the syringe, humming as he put it down. “Don’t be so dramatic, Eren. It’s not that bad, not for a monster like you. Don’t look at me like that.” The figure walked closer, looking into Eren’s eyes. “I’m just protecting my people. They need to be protected from monsters like you. I’m the good guy.” He chuckled, turning around and walking back to the gate.

“You… You’re not… You’re not the good guy!” Eren glared through his hair, glaring at that green cloak with those hateful black and white wings.

The figure smirked, leaving the room without another word.

“You sure we’re not taking it too far. It’ll do no good if he dies first.”

The figure turned, looking at his friend as he took off his cloak. “You’re kidding? He’s a titan shifter, he can take it. Besides, the more times we do it, the more he’ll hate that scouting regiment. Once he’s fallen completely, all we have to do is let him free and he’ll destroy them.”

The figures chuckled, unaware of the person overhearing them. Jericho was sick. He tightened his fist, hearing the strained screams from below and the laughs from those beside him. They found this funny. Eren was the same age as he was. This was wrong. This was all wrong!

Glancing at the people who had saved him all those years ago, Jericho was beginning to see them for the people they actually were.

Monsters.

Walking away, he began his plan.

~~~

Screaming, the figures ran about, fleeing the titan that towered above them. The titan narrowed his eyes, grabbing them and ripping them in half without a second thought.

Jericho stepped back, shaking in fear as he stared up at the titan. He was going to die. He was going to die!

The titan looked over him, slowly reaching out. Jericho covered his head, cowering in fear as the hand came closer, gently stroking his head.

“Th… Thank you.”

Jericho stared in shock, lifting his head to look at the titan. For a second, Jericho thought that would be it, he would leave. Jericho would be alone.

Slowly the titan moved, wrapping his hand around Jericho and picking him up. He stood to his full height, carefully putting Jericho on his shoulder, ensuring Jericho was secure before he turned and began to run away from the massacre.

Jericho slumped down, resting against the titan’s neck. “You’re welcome… Eren.”