The People You Meet in the Afterlife

Tom

Tom sat on the floor of the bar, his hand on the place where Marcel's fist had made contact. The patrons of the tavern looked on in stunned silence. Marcel stood over him fuming.

"Tell me Tom? Did you have anything to do with what happened in that village?!?"

Tom was silent for a moment.

"ANSWER ME!"

"Marcel maybe we should take this outside your making a scene."

"Who the f*ck cares, go outside and see the scene that's being made out there!"

The man behind the bar, a former officer in the Marley military, came from around the bar and helped Tom to his feet. "I'm telling you both to take this outside."

Marcel didn't say a word as stormed outside, Tom following behind.

"Now tell me what this is all about?" Tom asked.

"Why is there such an influx of so many new arrivals, why are most of them children?"

"Marcel you aren't making any sense..."

Marcel grabbed Tom by the arm pulling him along until they reached the overlook.

"That...that is what I am talking about" Marcel pointed down towards the decimated Rakago village.

Tom adjusted his glasses, looking down at the destruction and horde of titans below. He let out a small laugh. "You did it Zeke", he mumbled.

Marcel fought the urge to hit him again. "So, this is funny to you?"

"Not funny, but I do have to admire Zeke's handy work."

"What did he do Tom? What happened to these villages?" Marcel said, his jaw tight.

"Well, you know how to create titans...on a small scale."

Marcel instinctively rubbed the back on his neck, remembering the needle stick, the haggard face of the previous jaw titan accepting their fate.

"Looks like they finally figured out how to weaponize the spinal fluid." His mouth curled into a smile.

It sent a shiver down Marcel's spine. Even death hadn't changed Tom.

"What did they do? Why was Pieck involved? Was Porco involved?"

"Well, you know Pieck is always willing to follow orders. I don't know about your brother, maybe you should have been watching him better."

Marcel's fist tightened.

"To answer your first question, it looks like Zeke and the military scientist have been able to vaporize titan spinal fluid. Much more efficient than direct injections or ingestion. People see it as a mere thick fog."

"So, you decided to test it on civilians?"

"Well, it's not like we could have tested it at a military stronghold. They would have been wiped out."

"Maybe that would have been for the best." Marcel said. He felt guilty for including Pieck in that statement. He knew she hated the idea of harming civilians, especially children.

"To let those devils win?"

"Devils? They were innocent people, just trying to live. They didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't understand why you are so upset Marcel. You were on you way to kill many civilians, what's changed."

Marcel looked back down at the smoking village, then back to Tom. "It's not like I had much of a choice in the matter....as long as it wasn't Porco....and he could live a long life as an honorary citizen."

"Based on what I've been observing, Porco seems to have no problem with inheriting a titan."

"Guess I've got Zeke to thank for that." Marcel said flatly. "But it doesn't make wiping out entire villages ok Tom. Did you see how many children are here now? Many of them were devoured by their own parents."

Tom merely shrugged. "Casualties of war."

"What war Tom?! When did Paradis ever attack Marley, when have they ever been a threat? They live trapped behind walls, just trying to survive."

"They're devils Marcel. You should know that."

"They are Eldians, just like us."

"But we aren't like them. We knew our place...and atoned for the sins of our ancestors."

"That's a load of sh*t and you know it. Those people on the island have nothing to atone for...and Marley had no reason to send Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt on a possible suicide mission. Pieck shouldn't have her life cut short...."

Tom merely shook his head. "You've let those island fools brainwash you, Marcel."

Marcel shook his head, fighting the urge to tackle Tom and break his nose. "No Tom, it was Marley who brainwashed me, and now" He gave one final look below, "I see who the real devils are."

Marcel stalked past Tom, nearly knocking him over with his shoulder.

********************************************

On the farther side of the overlook, Marcel was relieved to find that no one was there. Not many came over to look down on what was taking place in the interment zone. The sun had sunk down in the sky in Liberio, he scanned the town and found his home. A painful lump formed in his throat, he had been gone for three years now, but he still got homesick.

He focused a bit harder; he saw his mother and father sitting at their kitchen table. Their faces looked worn and tired. He knew his father had accepted the fact that Marcel was probably dead and would never be coming home.

But his mother still held out hope. Marcel wasn't sure if it was mostly her in denial, or if she really felt like Marcel was still out there.

He looked around and noticed that Porco wasn't home. He looked around Libero and he spotted the familiar olive-green jacket that used to belong to him. He was sitting on a bench at the port, staring out at the sea.

"Probably waiting for Pieck. He's probably worried sick."

Marcel sat down on the cool grass wishing he could reach out to his younger brother. Tell him that Pieck was ok. Tell him how wrong he had been about being a warrior, that he was just being used as a tool. That Marley doesn't care what happens to him.

But he knew it was useless.

"If they catch that girl from the scouts...." Marcel shuddered at the idea of Porco becoming the Jaw Titan.

He pulled his knees to his chest, feeling the tears well up in his eyes.

"Porco...Porco...I'm so sorry. You are stuck in this cycle with no way out, and it's all my fault. I dragged you down with me."

Marcel's tears turned into sobs. "I hope you can forgive me one day."

Marcel let his head rest on his knees, the anger and sadness overwhelming him.


Porco Galliard stared at the water as the last light of the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. It was a chilly evening, but a warm breeze seemed to come out of nowhere. He looked up to the dark blue sky, getting the feeling that someone was watching over him.