(REWRITING IN PROCESS)
Reiner grips my hands a little tighter. "I...I like you. A lot," he stammers. "You're on my mind all the time." He looks down at his lap, shaking his head before looking up at me again. "I know it sounds crazy, but... I think...
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A/N: I typically don't like blonde men, but he's the exception. 😫 ~~~
Present: Age 22
The moon casts a faint light as we slink through the narrow alleyways of Marley's industrial district where they make most of their weapons. My nose burns with the smell of gasoline that lingers in the air. The city is quiet, besides the low hum of machinery, but that would soon change with the chaos we were about to unleash.
Reiner leads the team, his movements are calculated as he checks each corner before motioning us forward.
We move silently, avoiding the few soldiers still on night patrol. Each step feels heavier than the last, as we get closer and closer to our target area. As we reach the outskirts of the warehouse, we split into two teams. Jean and Reiner move to flank the front while Pieck and I break off toward the back entrance.
"Stay low, stay quiet." she whispers. "This way."
I nod, trailing closely behind her. My pulse quickens with each step we take forward. We crouch low as we approach the towering warehouse.
"This is it." Pieck murmurs.
I drop to my knees, pulling off my bookbag quickly. My fingers fumble with the zipper for a moment before I can retrieve the explosives. Pieck pulls out a flashlight, then points it upward to the warehouse ceiling, clicking it on and off in three quick flashes to signal to Jean and Reiner on the opposite side. Seconds feel like hours before we see their responding signal. We're good to go.
Pieck gives me a curt nod and waves the light one last time, signaling for the countdown to begin.I set the timer on the explosives.
"Let's go." I whisper.
We move quickly, slipping out the back of the warehouse. We need to get as far away as possible to be safe from the blast.
Just as we exit, the sound of a metallic click stops us right in our tracks causing my blood to run cold. "Stop where you are!" A rough voice rings out.
I freeze, my breath catchest in my throat. Slowly, I turn, eyes widening as a Marleyan soldier steps out of the shadows, his rifle raised at us. My heart hammers in my chest while I'm frozen in place.
Pieck's body tenses beside me, but her face remains calm, she keeps her gaze locked on him. Everything is still as we watch the soldier's finger hovering over the trigger, ready to fire at any given moment.
In a blur of motion, Pieck lunges forward. Her hand connects with the soldier's rifle, shoving it to the side. My adrenaline immediately kicks in, my body moving before my mind can think.
I rush forward to help Pieck wrestle the weapon from his grasp, but he's too strong. He moves, swinging the butt of the rifle towards me.
Pain explodes across my forehead as the hard metal connects with my skull. I stumble backwards trying to regain my focus, but it's hard with the blood now running down my face.
