Attack on Titan / Interactive Story

24

You want to push yourself on your first day. When it's time to run a lap, you try to be the fastest in the pack. You almost are, there's a couple of other people in front of you that finish first. When it's time to stop, your legs feel like they're on fire and there's a giant cramp in your side. You're not the fittest, but if you worked hard enough, you could definitely gain some muscle.

"Grab boxes." The captain says, pointing to a giant stack of dark green containers. They're almost as big as you. "We're headed to the lodging."

There's not a second to breathe or gain your stability but you try to shake it off as you walk toward the haul of boxes. You grab a couple more than you can actually carry and attempt to walk.

"Woah, there." A box is lifted from your arms.

A boy, tall and muscular takes the box and adds it to his pile he holds. He makes it look as easy as carrying a kitten.

"The first step to surviving is to know your limits." He smiles with his teeth - pearly whites. He looks like a Roman god. "Name's Ballard Jesperson."

"Y/N L/N." You introduce yourself. "I'm trying to get a decent rank."

"Aren't we all?" Ballard flashes his grey eyes behind his tufts of platinum hair. He makes you look like a toddler when you walk next to him. He's probably been working out since birth; Nothin' like having a six pack by the age of seven.

A girl, just about as ripped as Ballard, runs up to you from behind, her arms filled with boxes; even her arm muscles have muscles. She's a couple inches taller than you but not as tall as Ballard. Her skin is a rich terra-cotta color, a black braid reaching down to her butt.

Ballard's face lights up at the sight of the girl's smile. "Winona! This is Y/N."

"H-Hi." You stammered. If the captain had heard the amount of voice cracks you had, he'd make you run a jillion laps extra. But I mean, who wouldn't get intimidated by these two?

Winona smiles and focuses her eyes on Ballard. "I saw you run up here."

Ballard laughed and almost looked embarrassed. It was an odd expression to see on this hulk-of-a-guy. "Want top ranks."

"Running faster than everyone else won't get you top ranks. Captain doesn't care about stuff like that."

"Then what will, smartass?"

Winona's thick eyebrows raise as she squints her eyes. She looks ready to chuck a fist right into Ballard's bulky chin. "You should know out of all people."

Ballard looks down at you to explain. "My dad made it into the Military Police. He's retired now."

That explains the obvious training he had to do to get those muscles - and his intention to get a high rank out of the class.

"How do you get a good rank?" You ask.

Ballard blows hair out of his eyes. "It's more about shutting up when it's needed and going beyond in maneuver gear. Dad said there's some fighting practices and also some classes for info you have to take."

Log buildings were not that far ahead and you could feel your muscles getting excited. Not much longer until you can set all these boxes down. When you finally reached the buildings you almost collapsed. Ballard and Winona helped steady you on your legs.

"Don't push yourself, kid." Ballard chuckles slightly. His tone says he's entertained but his expression looks concerned.

"How old are you two?"

Ballard coughed as he set the boxes down. "Eighteen. Winona's nineteen."

It was kinda humorous. Winona looked much younger than him despite her fit physique. Ballard reminded you of an old guy trapped in a body-building teenager's body; he had lines between his eyebrows and under his eyes.

"I'm only a year younger than you," you stated. "I'm not a kid."

"I know how old you are. Heard you and the captain - everyone did."

Great.

Everyone headed to dinner as the sun began to set. By the time everyone was seated in the wooden cafeteria, the sun was gone and the stars lit up the empty horizon. You sat with Winona and Ballard - as did most people. Their appearances seemed to lure in everyone. Hanging out with the ripped kids seemed to get you a high social status.

A lean boy with dark skin, Calum, and a pale girl with long blonde hair, Valencia, were two of the people who shoved themselves onto the bench at your table.

Everyone seemed happy yet determined. They all had high goals, and they all looked like they'd reach it. You scanned the room to see the rest of the trainees. A table with a very young boy sat surrounded by a girl with shoulder-length cornrows and a thin boy with biceps. They all looked much younger than the people you sat with. Around the room were other faces that you probably wouldn't meet. You would grow with these people. You would age and die with them - most likely. It made you sad a little.

"Y/N." Winona spoke through her bread. "Where are you from?"

You were caught off guard by the sad fortune inside you. "Oh, uh, Kaeju."

Everyone's eyes at the table widened. "Kaeju? You're kidding."

"Then you saw the titans." Valencia spoke up. "What did they look like?"

Explain (Chapter 30)
Refuse to explain (Chapter 31)