hoax - Jean Kristein

1.3

Paradis

The past 2 years passed in a blur, we had joined the cadets training programme, before joining the 104th cadets course. I didn't even know the date, all I knew was that it had been 2 years. I was 13 now, though I felt much older.

I hadn't used my titan once. Not back in Marley, and not in Paradis.

To avoid extreme injury, I had to grow. Had to give the titan time to entangle and fuse itself with my soul before I would be able to use it.

We were lined up among hundreds of other cadets, when out of nowhere a bald headed guy started yelling at each and every one of us. I stifled a giggle. The commander back in Marley did the exact same, to break and intimidate us in order to shape us into their ideal soldiers. It was funny then, and it's still funny now.

He had a large vein popping out from the middle of his forehead, and spit flew everywhere, his eyes crazed as he made his way down the lines.

I had to smother any form of amusement from my face when he came close to avoid punishment. My face was stoic, no emotions seemed to be present.

"And who are you? Another coward looking for glory?" he bent down a little to be face to face with me. I wasn't short, in fact I was quite tall, standing at 5'7.

"No, Sir. I'm here to serve and help humanity." I saluted, I hadn't told him a lie. I was there to serve and help my side of humanity.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue and assessed me before moving on.

I looked further down the line, and my breath got caught in my throat.

Was she seriously eating right now?

I huffed a laugh, before quickly catching myself and facing forward when the instructor looked back at me in confusion. He was about to come to me again, before he heard the loud crunch crunch of someone eating.

"Hey, you there. What do you think you're doing?" he asked. The girl flicked her eyes over to him, not quite realising he was talking to her.

He whipped his head around and marched down the line, before standing in front of the brown-headed girl. She was chewing a little faster now, and noticeable sweat built on her forehead as she avoided eye contact with him.

Everyone around her was throwing side-eyes, not knowing how to react to something so ridiculous.

"You are officially on my shit-list. Just who the hell are you?" He shouted. She quickly swallowed before saluting,

"Sasha Braus from Dauper Village, at your service. Reporting for duty, sir." She looked straight ahead, potato still in hand.

"Sash Braus, huh?" he looked down on her, "And what is that you're clutching in your right hand?"

"A steamed-potato. It sat there in the mess hall begging to be eaten," she paused before quickly adding, "Sir."

The grey headed guy next to me was having trouble containing his laugh, I couldn't blame him, I was so close to losing it.

He continued questioning her, and to everyone's surprise (and horror) she offered to share it with him, assuming that that was why he was upset. I nearly palmed my forehead in frustration. Instead of accepting the potato, she was given 50 laps as punishment.

I made eye contact with the guy next to me and we both quietly giggled.

Later, a group of us were standing outside the mess hall, watching Sasha run her laps. I learned that the guy who was next to me was called Connie, and together we were chatting about her. Apparently, her village wasn't very far from where he was from, they were practically neighbours.