LOCKED AWAY

Locked Away - Part 1

As a journalist covering the war in Shiganshina, I witnessed first-hand the horrors of the Titans. I saw soldiers fall in battle, their bodies ripped apart by the monstrous beings. But nothing could prepare me for the moment when I locked eyes with the Beast Titan.

He stood tall and imposing, his piercing gaze fixed on me. It was as if he was studying me, analyzing my every move. My heart raced as I realized that this was no ordinary Titan. There was intelligence in his eyes, a level of control that I had never seen before.

But my moment with him was cut short as another titan swooped in and took me away. I was thrown into a cell and taken to Marley, where I was kept as a secret prisoner. The shock and confusion I felt at being captured and taken to a foreign land was overwhelming. I had no idea what would happen to me next.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The small, dingy cell that was my prison offered no comfort, and the constant interrogations left me exhausted and drained. I missed my family, my friends, and my home. I longed for the days when I could walk outside freely and without fear.

Pieck, one of the warriors who had taken me, seemed to be the most sympathetic towards me. She would bring me food and water, and sometimes even sit and talk to me. "I'm sorry you're in here," she said one day. "It's not right, what we're doing to you. But I can't do anything to help you escape."

I appreciated her kind words, but I couldn't help feeling bitter towards her and the other warriors. They had taken me away from my life, my home, and my work. They had turned me into a prisoner, locked away from the rest of the world.

Eventually, I learned the names of the warriors who had taken me - Pieck, Zeke, Reiner, and Porco. They were the elite warriors who fought for Marley. They were the ones who knew about my imprisonment.

Despite the dire circumstances, I found myself drawn to Zeke, the Beast Titan. His presence filled the room whenever he entered, and I could feel his eyes on me, studying me as he had done back in Shiganshina. But there was something different in his gaze now - a sense of regret, perhaps, or even remorse.

One day, as we sat in my cell, Zeke began to speak. "When I was a child, I never imagined that I would become a warrior. My parents wanted me to, but I didn't see the point. But then, things changed. I realized that I had to fight for my people, And so, here I am."

His words were filled with sadness, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him. "I'm sorry," I said softly. "It must be hard, being a warrior."

Zeke looked at me with surprise, and then a small smile appeared on his face. "You're different from the others," he said. "You have a kindness in your heart that they lack. It's refreshing."

The words filled me with a sense of warmth, but I couldn't help but feel confused. Here I was, a prisoner of war, locked away from the rest of the world, and yet I was finding myself drawn to the Beast Titan, a creature who had caused so much destruction and death.

But as I looked into his eyes, I could see something more - a sense of longing, perhaps, or even vulnerability.

Despite his fearsome appearance and his role in the war, there was something human about Zeke that I couldn't ignore. I found myself drawn to him, despite my better judgment.

Days turned into weeks, and our conversations became more frequent. Zeke would tell me stories about his childhood, his struggles and his fears. I found myself listening intently, feeling a sense of kinship with him.

One day, as we sat silently, Zeke reached out and took my hand. "I know we shouldn't be doing this," he said softly. "But I can't help feeling drawn to you. There's something about you that I can't resist."

I felt my heart race as he leaned in, his face inches from mine. There was a sense of longing in his eyes, a desire that was impossible to ignore. And despite the danger of our situation, I found myself leaning in too.

Our lips met, and for a moment, everything else faded away. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, and the softness of his lips. It was a moment of pure emotion, a release of all the pent-up feelings that had been building inside me.

But as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Zeke pulled away, his expression pained. "I'm sorry," he said. "This was a mistake. We can't do this."

I felt a sense of loss as he stood up and walked away. It was as if we had shared a brief moment of intimacy, only to have it snatched away by the harsh reality of our situation.

Days turned into weeks, and our conversations became more guarded. Zeke seemed distant, lost in thought, and I found myself missing the connection we had shared. I couldn't help but wonder if I had imagined the entire thing if it had all been a moment of weakness for both of us.

But then, one day, Zeke returned to my cell, his expression serious.

Zeke had revealed to me that he was fighting against Marley, alongside Eren and the rest of the Survey Corps. His plan, however, was controversial - he aimed to use the Founding Titan's power to sterilize all Eldians, thus ending their ability to pass on the "curse of Ymir" and eventually bringing an end to the Eldian people.

I found myself conflicted by Zeke's plan. On one hand, the idea of ending the cycle of violence and oppression that had plagued Eldians for generations was tempting. But on the other hand, the idea of sacrificing the ability to have children, to continue the lineage of our people, was a difficult pill to swallow.

Despite my reservations, Zeke continued to visit me in my cell, and our conversations turned to the nature of our world and our people. He spoke with a passion and intensity that was hard to ignore, and I found myself drawn to his way of thinking.

One day, as we sat together in silence, Zeke took my hand and looked into my eyes. "I know what I'm asking is difficult," he said. "But I believe it's the only way to end this cycle of violence. And...I want you to be with me when we do it."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words. "What do you mean?"

Zeke explained that he wanted me to be by his side when he activated the Founding Titan's power, that he wanted us to face the future together. "I don't know what the future holds," he said. "But I know that I want you with me. I care about you more than I ever thought possible."

I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and the passion there. Despite everything that had happened, despite our differing beliefs and the danger of our situation, there was a sense of connection between us that was impossible to ignore.

And so, with a sense of trepidation but also a glimmer of hope, I took Zeke's hand and nodded. "I'll be with you," I said. "Whatever happens."

We sat together in silence for a few moments, our hands clasped together. And in that moment, despite the uncertainty of our future, I felt a sense of peace and belonging that I had never experienced before.