𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒇 | A Yeager Story

[24] The Truth

???'s POV

The first thing it did was break my legs.

The devil said, "Now, with this, you cannot escape."

Then, its next action was to rip my arms.

"Now you won't be able to fight back," It chuckles in amusement as it continues to devour every finger that was still attached to my torn arm.

The devil waited for a few more minutes until I calmed down before its torture once again began.

Its next target was my skin. It whispered, "Scream, little one, doesn't it feel good? To know unbearable pain, isn't it an honor to experience it?"

And when I didn't respond, it continued. "Don't want to talk? No matter, I'll just pull your tongue out. Happy?"

Yes. Its eyes pushed me to think of that accursed word, goading me to react. More.

Torture me more.

Squeeze everything within me.

Please... I beg of you...

Maybe then, I'll finally be allowed to die.

***

Mina's POV

Death.

A word that continues to hunt thousands of humans.

It brings fear, trauma, isolation, and sorrow.

But for those who refuse to run and instead fight it head-on, for a moment... it bestows that sense of peace that is so rare and hard to achieve.

"Aren't you scared of dying?" A trembling soldier who had survived the massacre that the beast titan had brought questioned me back in the previous world. His eyes, so lost in torment, quivered in fear, prompting me to say my next words.

"No," Why should I? "I already died, after all."

And that's a fact that will never change, even after Ymir has pushed me into this world.

So... why am I still hesitating?

Didn't I come here to change this goddamn destiny that the devil has condemned us to suffer from?

"Be bold, young Yeager," Ymir tempts me as the scout regiment temporarily gathers in a meeting room. "At this rate, your beloved father would still-"

"Suffer," I whisper to myself as I secure a spot near the wall. "I know."

Isn't that why I'm preparing so much? This time-gun, acquiring Annie as an ally, and having the commander's support... isn't that enough?

"You know very well that it isn't, Yeager-chan." Then it giggles. That freaking horrendous being dared to giggle! "You know as much as I do that Eren Yeager is still walking on the path destiny laid out for him. A path that will ultimately lead to his useless attempt to free this world."

"..."

You don't have to tell me that. I get it.

"Stop being too soft," Before finally giving me my wanted silence, she whispered. "Take more risks. I'll handle it if it ever targets you."

While lifting an eyebrow, I commented. "This is the second time... damn."

But before I could even ask a question, someone spoke. "Did you say something, Mina?"

"Hmm?" In an attempt to cover my mumblings, I immediately respond. "Nothing, Armin. Guess I'm just tired."

This isn't a lie, but resting is not something I can afford to buy at this moment.