The Six Keys

Attack on Titan Part One

"Congratulations, Lillianna," the voice said, waking me from my candy scented slumber. "You have made it to the last anime, the final task. Succeed, and you will have saved two worlds. Are you prepared for it?"

"Do I really have a choice?" I asked groggily, yawning and rubbing my eyes.

"Afraid not," came the reply before a light flickered on, making me squeeze my eyes shut for relief.

When I opened them again, I was seated in a cafeteria, surrounded by faces I didn't recognize. Not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, I stared into my lap. I noticed I was wearing all white, with contrasting black, knee-high boots and leather straps around my legs, waist, and upper torso. Before I could make any guesses or assumptions, everyone was called into another room. I hopped up and followed the crowd, grabbing an apple on my way out.

I was pushed by the masses down a wide wooden corridor and into the room at the end. Everyone dispersed once inside, going from a dog pile to single file lines. Men stood in front of everyone at attention. Once everyone was settled, one of the men greeted us. As I munched on my apple, my eyes wandered and found that the others were saluting, their fists at their chests.

"Oh!" I whispered, mimicking everyone else and dropping my apple in the process.

The most muscular and chiseled of all the men appeared in front of me in seconds. Chewing my last bite and gulping it down, I stared down at my feet.

"Finally get your fill, little piggy?" he grunted. Everyone stayed still out of fear or respect, maybe both. "I don't know what you think this is," he continued, his deep voice growing in volume. "But it sure as hell is not a pigsty! You hear me?!"

"Yes, sir," I squeaked.

He returned to the front, his voice bouncing back off the walls.

"Wall Maria has been breached," said the man, towering over the others. "Survey Corps have taken a break from their normal jobs to help the Garrison Regiment." He gestured towards the other men, one of which I immediately recognized as Levi Ackerman, who was considerably shorter than the other captains.

All of the terms, references, and characters were familiar, making me realize my final task was somewhere in Attack on Titan.

"However, it's not enough," boomed the man's voice, making me look back at him. That is where you all come into play. We need as many recruits as possible. All of you will be assigned to the Garrison Regiment, and could possibly be moved to Survey Corps or the Military Police Brigade, depending on how you do until the wall is fixed."

After more talking, different individuals were called forward, standing in front of everyone while they received the final part of their uniforms along with their Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.

Everyone chattered excitedly, showing off their Regiment jackets. I sat in the hot sun, running my hands over the tan jacket and the fabricated roses on the back. Tugging it, along with my equipment, onto my body, I awkwardly awaited orders.

Coughing on dust and dirt that was kicked up from the other recruits who were rough housing and practicing their fighting, I looked around. Some Survey Corps members were guarding the wall, none of them being Eren Yeager, the star of the anime. I guess he was working on controlling his Titan Shifting abilities in order to repair the wall, meaning he wouldn't be of any help today. Not that it mattered. This would be the hardest task. I had no time to make friends.

"No one will be put in a group," explained another captain. "For now, listen to all captains, and if you see a titan, kill it! The civilians are in the process of being moved into Wall Rose, but it takes time. We need to keep the casualties low. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!" shouted all the other soldiers in unison.

"Titans are approaching!" shouted a Survey Corps member from the top of the remainder of Wall Maria.

"This is it!" shouted the captain over the screaming of nearby civilians. "Spread out and have at it!"

The experienced members of Survey Corps and the Garrison Regiment stayed at the opening as hordes of titans made their way inside. New people, a couple captains, and a few others fanned out to different parts of the village.

Not wanting to face a huge, man-eating monster yet, I grappled to the roof of a two-story building, taking a seat but keeping an eye out.

"They'll see you," a whisper came, making me jump in surprise. I looked behind me nervously and caught a glimpse of blond hair behind the chimney. I peeked around it and found Armin Arlert, sweaty and trembling.

"They'll see you," he repeated, lifting a shaky hand to pull me behind the chimney with him.

"Armin?" I asked, tugging my equipment away from his as they clicked loudly on contact. "What's going on?"

He brought a finger to his lips to silence me as a small titan, no more than fifteen feet tall, toddled onto the street. Mikasa Ackerman, bound in her Survey Corps uniform and iconic red scarf, flipped from house to house before slashing the back of the titan's neck and soaring back to wear she came from.

"They made a mistake making an innocent girl like you go out here," Armin whispered. "Too many people have already died...."

He continued crying quietly to himself, but it got old really quickly.

"You shouldn't have come if you couldn't handle it," I snapped, standing. "I dunno about you, but I actually serve a purpose here. If you'll excuse me, I have duties to fulfill."

"You'll die out there!" he pleaded. "I can't watch another person die, please!"

Leaving him to his breakdown, I jumped across the street, using my equipment to swing from house to house.

"This feels great," I thought, feeling the wind in my hair. "It's like flying!"

Hearing someone grappling behind me, I turned my head and saw Armin following me. Poor guy probably didn't want to be alone.

I heard a woman scream and headed towards the sound, Armin close behind. Looking down at a street, I saw a young woman, holding up her long skirt as she ran. I quickly hopped into the dirt, facing the woman as a sixty foot titan- I assumed- whirled around the corner after her. I started running towards her, creeping closer and stopping when I saw what was around her neck.

A golden key on a brown cord.

The necklace danced as the girl ran, the titan hot on her heels. She gasped as she tripped.

"No!" I screamed, feeling my face go red.

I sprinted to help her but it was too late. The titan scooped her up, chomping at her flesh before swallowing her.

"Shit!" I said, terrified as I realized what I had to do.

I had to get that necklace.