Hybrid Theory: A [Linkin Park] Spinoff.

Slip.

[Secondary timeline. Eren's point of view.]

I open my eyes to find myself standing in the middle of a blood-soaked street, looking around frantically for Chester.
Gunshots ring in the distance.
I turn to find Chester sprinting towards me, a black object clutched in his left hand, a look of wild panic in his eye.
He continues running, not even slowing down to let me catch up to him,"SHOT...A..REBEL..... HAVE TO....HIDE!"
I run after him,"WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?"
He stops below a fire escape ladder, breathing heavily,"Ambush. Dark alley. Blue eyes. Solid blue. Thought she was a Hybrid." He throws himself up the ladder.
I follow him, "How could you not tell the difference?"
Chester steps onto the roof,"I'm sorry. She had a hood on. I couldn't see her face."
I stand up and move to the opposite edge,"Well. Half of Fieldview's surviving police force is looking for me."
"What did you do?"
I grin and pull my hood onto my head before crouching on the edge,"Broke into the highschool AV lab."
"For what?"
"I sent a message. To any survivors who are able to join the resistance."
Chester walks over beside me, his light jacket blowing around his shoulders in the soft wind,"Good. After my stunt, we'll need all the help we can get."
Just then, our phones ring, followed by a distorted voice.
"My name is Eren Antonio-Wakefield. I have an important message for the survivors of Fieldview. My friend, Chester Bennington, and I, are local resistance leaders. I will not say how I am able to send this message, but I will say this: Survivors. Join us! Join the cause. Join the ones fighting for those who fought for us. Join the resistance!!!"
The sound fades as radios across the city fall back into their silent sleep.
Lights click on. Voices fill the air.
"Do you hear that, Papa?"
"Yes, little Jimmy. I heard it. They are coming to save us."
"Mom! Have you heard the radio!? The rebels are asking for our help!!"
"Leah. Call your brother. Ask if he's okay. I heard gunshots earlier and I hope he didn't do anything stupid."
Just then, Chester's phone rings.
He looks at me,"What do I do? It could be that girl!"
"Give me the phone."
He hands me his phone.
I take it and hit the answer button, quickly placing it to my ear,"Hello?"
The girl.
"Chaz? Are you okay? Mom heard gunshots and she started to worry."
My voice drops, the tone alarmingly similar to Chester's,"Listen. Please. Tell mom not to worry. I'll be home later. I have a friend that I'd like you to meet. And as for the gunshots, there was a riot on the outskirts of town. I'm fine. Love you."
The line clicks.
I toss Chester's phone back to him as my eyes settle on a black speck in the distance.
"What's that?"
I shake my head,"I think it is a Hybrid factory..."
"Wanna go check it out?"
I look down at the snow-covered ground, "No. Stay in the shadows. If we go poking around a regular civilian factory, then we'll just be in even deeper crap."
A scream cuts through the wind and snow.
I stand up, my eyes scanning the streets.
Chester nudges me,"It came from my mom's house!"
I stand there,"What!?"
He drops down from the edge, quickly swinging feet first into an open window.
I drop from the ledge, my hands unable to grip the slick stone,"I'm falling!"
My grip fails. I force my voice out of my throat as I fall downward,"CHESTER!"
He reaches out to grab my hand.
Too late.
A muffled Thump rings out as I find myself sprawled on my back, laying in a snowbank, temporarily unable to breathe.
Voices.
"Eren!?"
"Chaz. What happened to her?"
"Leah. Go tell mom to get the bathtub running. Get the water hot. Eren is going hypothermic."
"Okay, bro."
Receding footsteps.
Chester's arms under me.
I gasp, my head spinning, every muscle screaming in pain from the fall and the cold.
His voice. Faint.
"Eren. Stay with me. I'll get you inside and warmed up."