ˏˋ 𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 ˎˊ

ii.

That Day | The fall of Shiganshina | part two

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The smell of death was strong.

The dead gave off a distinctive, sickly-sweet odour that's immediately recognizable and hard to forget.

Death wasn't kind. You certainly knew that.

It snatched where it could, taking people who were far too young, far too good. It didn't pretend to care, it didn't pretend to distinguish. The hooded veil of death had hung over the world for a long time, always threatening. Death had ripped away a part of you that could never be returned.

In the distance, thick grey smoke billowing into the skies. The once pale blue sky is now shielded by a veil of darkness as the smoke swallows up the whole sky. The swirling darkness was frightening, and with that, the song of chaos and destruction has graced the lands again, with their sweet symphony.

You felt the emptiness cloud your mind and body. Everything happened so fast, just before your very eyes. Hannes was still carrying you and Mikasa, he rounded the corner of an alleyway and continued to run, his life depended on it. Owlishly, you continued to blink, staring off into space. The tenseness in your body relaxing, leaving you slumped over on Hannes' shoulder, your arms dangling around as he ran. Releasing a shaky breath, you finally recovered from your state of shock, your mind running excessively. The once chilling emotion of fear vanishing and now replacing it with the scorching flare of anger, you turned to attack Hannes, striking him ontop his head, relentlessly.

Flinching, Hannes stopped in his tracks, "What is it?"

A blaze of indignation burned furiously in your eyes as you glared over at him, "We could've saved her! We almost had her out! Why did you interfere?!" You seethed, pulling at his hair. "My mom-"

Before you could finish your attack, you were roughly dropped to the ground, landing on your back.

"[Name]!" Mikasa called after you, wiggling out of Hannes hold, to run to your side.

You watched Hannes approach you, gazing solemnly into your eyes, he knelt before you, gripping your shoulders in his hands, "[Name]. The reason why your mother wasn't saved was because you were weak," He confessed, stopping another attack from you by holding onto your arms. "I. . . The reason why I wasn't able to stand up to the Titan. . . was because I didn't have the courage!"

A great tremor overtook him, as Hannes slumped forward in a dishevelled heap, his regret and grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. You gasp, watching the drop of grief well up in his eyes. The sincerity of his words, and the unspoken regret he displayed. Standing up, he took a hold of you and Mikasa hand. You let him lead you, and continued the gut-wrenching sobs that tore through your chest.

Looking back into the distance, Mikasa tucked his face deeper into his scarlet scarf, thinking absently to himself, various pictures transpire in his mind, such as blood. The ruby red colour was something Mikasa knew all too well, the metallic scent, the way it tasted, and how, when escaping, it oozed like a river.

It was remarkably familiar.

Hannes had led the both of you to the docks, dodging countless of petrified bodies as they pushed and cried in fear. You looked around you, at the mass of distressed people, most eagerly wanting to abroad the boat and sail away from the massacre. Walking onto the boat, you instantly attached yourself to Mikasa, not looking back at Hannes, who must stay behind to protect the citizens of Wall Maria. Sitting down on the deck, surrounded by many others, you released a shaky sigh, sitting ever so closely to Mikasa, wanting comfort but not vocalizing it. The frantic screaming and crying escalated, making you wince. In the distance sounds of battle resonated in the air above all the screaming, the boat you were aboard finally started to move along to Wall Rose, leaving several others behind to wait for another boat to dock.