The Forgotten Ones

Chapter 4

The struggle is real. I barely made it outside before falling down again. My legs are wobbling uncontrollably and my head is starting to spin again. Each step outside was agonizing. My leg isn't fully healed, but I really want to use, at least, my ODM gear right now. I'm afraid I might even forget how to use it. I was a pro at it too.
What am I thinking?! This place is getting me doubtful about myself!
I'm on my knees when Hanji approaches me. She's as cheerful as ever. I don't understand how she can be so cheery. She reminds me of a friend I once had when I was still with the Forgotten. Lolly was rightly named, she was a jittery girl who had way to much spirit. More than once I've almost called Hanji by Lolly's name.
"You look great for walking out of a building on your own with that leg, Cinder! Are you sure your up to using gear today?"
Lolly died with a smile and a laugh. She should have lived, but she insisted with grins that she was fine and to attend to the other wounded first. I'm positive Hanji would do the exact same thing.
I shake my head. "I'm not stupid. I'm obviously done for today. It's progress none the less. To be honest, I'm beat."

After I struggled back up to my room, where Armin had disappeared from, I got unchanged again. This time was way harder then the last time I got into these clothes. Finally I'm in my nightwear. I flop down on my bed, exhausted. Finally I can sleep the days pain away.

Dreaming can be such a troublesome thing. Do you really want to see the things you dream? Look there, it's your group of friends, swinging through the trees. Picking off Titans like they're beetles, squashed beneath your blade. Look! Look, it's your friend, Mar, healthy and free. Look! Look it's your brotherly like friend Jet, with his slicked back hair and sly look about him. The mischievous type he is. And look!! It's Asher! The boy who confessed his love for you after you had your leg chomped off. But look at the four of you. Your little squad. Laughing and swinging. And free. You four are free. Maybe not from the titan infestation problem, but you're survivors who are care free. You have it better than the Wall Wimps. The broken ones, with no clue. With no hope. They've never seen the ocean have they? You've had that luxury for years now. It's only a 2 weeks wander to get there. Those poor souls who've never seen a true forest, lake, or desert. And now look. You're stuck inside these walls, and they know a little bit about your dream life they wish for. They're begging for your help. You can't do it alone, don't get me wrong. You need The Forgotten's help. Dreams help you assemble information you know, into a picture painted on a wall. Clear as day. Good morning Cinder. Wake up.

I gasp as my body jerks forward out of the weird dream I just had. Was that my self conscious talking to me through dream land? Well, if so, then I'm right. The people who live here need our help.
I need to talk to Hange. I brace my fake leg onto my stub, then put on a supportive brace on my injured full leg. 'Geez,' I think. 'My legs are so jacked up. If Mar found out I ruined my good leg she'd laugh and say, "Told you. It was fate."'
It's 7 AM now. Hange should be here to pick me up in my wheel chair. I glance over at the chair on wheel. I hate it so much.
The door slams open making me jump to my feet, then remembering my dinged up leg, I fall flat on my face.
"HANGE!!!! Hey, next time warn me!!" I yell at her. Turning to look up at her, I instead find a cold glaring look.
"What the hell? Levi? What if I was getting dressed? Where's Hange?"
He rolls his eyes. "Get up. Hange had something important she had to attend to. She won't be with you today."
I raise my eyebrows and grin. "So am I stuck with you today?" If so, I'm going to drive him crazy. Then I'll bribe him with my newly decided proposition to help these wimps. Oh, he'll hate me so much.
"No. Are you kidding me? I'm not baby sitting. I was just sent as the guy to tell you. A new squad leader will be watching you today." Crap. "His name's Matsuda. He'll be here in an hour. So you can wait here; wallow in defeat, Cinder."
What. The. Actual. Well he just ruined my days plans. He's won once again. Screw Levi. I want Hange back. Now I'm stuck with a new guy? Matsuda?
Levi leaves. He didn't smile or smirk like I thought he would. Seriously, the day I see him smile, I will consider it a victory in my book. A whole hour to just sit here? No way. Time to see how far I can get on my own again. Get off the floor, check. Use bedpost to support weight, check. All I have to do is start training my leg to bear weight again. One step. Cringe. Another step. Not so bad. I do this small exercise for about 20 minutes. My legs are warmed up, time to hit the hallway. Making the trek to my door isn't hard. That's a good sign. Slowly I open it, sticking my head out, checking for people who might linger nearby.
"Oh hey Cinder! Were you getting bored?"
Armin. You have got to be kidding me.
I swing the door open all the way and sigh exasperatedly.
"Hey crier. What's up? I was just going on a stroll around the place." He looks offended. Mission accomplished.
"Well I was told to keep you here-"
"Yeah right. They stationed weakling you to withhold me? Do they really think I'm that weak right now?"
Armin furrows his brows and frowns. He twiddles with one of the straps on his outfit. "Cinder, you'd be surprised. I am a trained soldier."
"And I've lived next to Titans my whole life. Literally, at night I could sometimes hear or see Titans passing by my temporary homes." I'd beat him any day. No problem.
Foot steps approach us. I turn down the hall and see another Scouting Regiment soldier. He's tall, maybe 3 inches taller than me. He wore his uniform and the typical green cape with the wings of freedom symbol printed on the back. He waves at us as he approaches. I fake smile at him. He smiles back.
"The name's Matsuda, nice to meet you Cinder." He looks at Armin and waves him away. Armin struts down the hall, away from me thank God.
"Hi." I say non enthusiastically. "You obviously know who I am."
"Yeah, I've been told about you. Your a limp, huh?"
I raise my fist to slug him in the arm, almost growling inhumanly. He calmly raises his hand and pulls my arm down.
"No need for violence with me Cinder. I'm not your enemy. You can tell me who is."
I seriously hate this guy. He's smooth. And he's a good looking guy too. I hate it. I hate him. He's my new baby sitter for God's sake. I just hard glare at his chest, not focusing on anything.
He places his hands on his hips, tilting himself into a questioning pose. "Cinder. You're suited up and on your way to somewhere. I want to know where and why. Work with me here and I'll work with you; or at least try to."
Let's play with this guy. It'll be so much fun. I grunt and turn my back to him. He's obviously a newbie trying to rank his way higher. I'm just one step in the ladder.
"Oh come on Cinder. I want to make friends, not enemies. And I want you to be a friend." He's holding out his hands in beckoning.
I roll my eyes, hard and obvious. "Shut up. Matsuda was it? Yeah, I don't care about you or your friends and enemies. Take me to Erwin, I have something important to talk to him about."
I turn around now. He looks hurt. "Cold. But hey that's what I'm here for I guess." He looks like he just failed a mission. I feel great now.
"Can you walk all the way to his office in your own?"
Another hard glare. One long held out breathe escaped through my teeth. My goal is to intimidate this dude. So far so good. "I'll. Be. Fine. I'm getting better." All exasperated.
We start walking. While the awkward air surrounding turns even worse, he says something again.
"Why the hell are you such a drama queen?" I didn't expect him to say that and almost stumble. He reaches out his hand and grabs my arm. I find my balance within a few milliseconds, then jerk my arm out of his grasp. It was strong, but my jerk is stronger. Too strong. My body flys into the opposite wall and I crumble to the ground. The sound of my body hitting echoes down the corridor.
"Ow," I mutter to myself. Matsua is a little shooken at what just happened. I try and use the wall to stand back up.
Matsuda shakes his head and reaches down to help me up. Oh no you don't.
"DON'T TOUCH ME," I yell. He jerks backward. "Do. Not. Touch me." I can hear footsteps coming my way. I'm half slung against the wall. My babysitter is at a lost. I try again to bring myself up the wall into a standing position but falter. My butt hits the ground again.
"Jesus Christ," I curse.
"Matsuda, what just happend?!" I turn my head right, the way we were headed. It's Eren and Mikasa. Erwin follows them. I sigh again, giving up and leaning against the wall. I'm just ganna sit here for a few.
"I... Uh... She..." Matsuda you idiot. You're babbling like a seagull. Eren comes and kneels next to me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just, uh, tripped. That's all." He starts to help me up. I flinch away from him. "Please don't touch me," I say with as much kindness I can muster. I have nothing against him. I'm not going to ruin his day like I did with Matsuda.
Erwin face-palms. "Will you all stop acting like children? Please."
Mikasa hasn't said a word nor looks like she will. Weird one she is. Eren looks at me with compassion burning in his beautiful green eyes.
"Let's try this again," Erwin starts. "Matsuda, go find Levi and tell him that I need him." He looks at me. "Can you get up?"
"I might now that I've regained some of my strength."
"Try."
I do. I'm almost on my feet when my fake leg makes a cracking noise. I start to crumble again but before I hit the floor, some one grabs me and pushes me upright onto the wall. I almost flinch away, about to scream at someone again when I see who it is.
Hange? My breathe goes ragged. "Stop touching me." I say without emotion. She looks at me dead in the eye. She hasn't let go of me. I'm braced up against the wall with her arms.
"Hange? What are you doing here?" It's Eren asking.
But she isn't done staring me down. "Aw come on Cinder," she says coolly. It's terrifying how calm and intimidating it is. "I'm gone for one morning and you decide to get into trouble. Is this getting you anywhere?" Slowly she slides me down the wall so my legs are bent out in front of me and I'm sitting again. Eren moves out of the way and I see Erwin standing with an upset look stretched across his tight face. His arms are crossed.
"Hange. I expect you're leaving her for me to deal with? You have business right now elsewhere."
She swings around to face Erwin.
I bet a million that she was smiling gleefully when she said, "Oh I'm on a brake right now. Don't you worry one bit Mr. Boss."
When she turns back to me her eyes are still intimidating as hell. I look away, shifting my gaze to the floor.
"You all can leave," Erwin's voice echos. "Hange and I can handle this." Foot steps. Eren and Mikasa are gone. Matsuda left earlier. I didn't even notice at the time.
"Her prosthetic is broken. She looks fine otherwise. We'll probably have to build her a new one, it looked pretty beat up to begin with," Hange says to Erwin. He humphs.
I finally speak again. "Erwin, we need to talk."
"I can agree with that," he says grimly.
"It's about the Forgotten. I'll agree to your proposal. On a few conditions." I look up at him. He's surprised, I can tell. Hange shakes her head and laughs.
"There's my Cinder! Surprising us again!"
Quickly I hiss, "I'm no ones "Cinder," got that?"
She rolls her eyes. "Come on Floor sitter. Let's go get that beloved wheel chair of yours." I moan. Erwin leaves without saying a word more.