Cruel Beautiful World

Year One

"I guess we are partners now," a very small blonde held her hand out to a shady looking freckled girl. The freckled one stood glaring at the pale hand that was held out in front of her. Then her yellow eyes pierced the girl's blue ones.

Awkwardly the blonde slowly put her hand down, but the freckled one shot her hand out and caught the pale one.

"I suppose we are," the drill instructor had just put them into pairs. And unfortunately these two opposites had just gotten together.

"I'm Ymir," they slowly shook up and down, the blonde squirming under Ymir's piercing gaze.

"Umm yeah I'm Krista, Krista Lenz," the girl is too sweet for her own good. She spoke with so much joy. But maybe this was the girl.

"Okay maggots! The camp is five miles away, for your first task as a solider in training is to walk to the grounds!" The super tall man jumped in the back of a wagon.

"If you can make it, you can always stay in the fields," that's were all the young kids stood now, it's dark. And Ymir is tired. Time to start moving.

The taller girl began to walk, leaving her partner behind, but she ran up beside her. They marched alongside the other recruits quietly, but the freckled girl could feel her blonde partner's eyes on her. But she didn't look back.

"So how old are you?" Ymir picked up her speed trying to avoid her teammate. But the girl kept the pace.

"I'm fourteen," Ymir spoke with no emotion in her voice. She just needed to get to the camp grounds, get away from this annoying little girl.

"Oh that's cool, I'm twelve," how could Krista speak with so much joy? It's freezing out here, it's dark, and they have more miles to go.

"That's pretty young."

"Yeah, it's the youngest you can be and go into training," oh really? Ymir thought she was pushing it. "I think there are a few others my age," the girl looked over her shoulder to a brunette boy, raven haired girl, and a blonde boy.

"Governments killing them young," she spoke under her breath, her partner stopped in her tracks and just stared. Amazed that Ymir would say that. Or maybe she was pondering, what she said was honest. But so blunt about it.

The comment managed to keep the blonde's mouth shut for the rest of the walk. Most of the kids spoke quietly to each other. But the ones in front strolled silently.

***********************************

They eventually reached the grounds, there standing between two shacks was the man for before that was yelling at them. He stood with two assistants holding folded light brown jackets.

Krista appeared next to the taller freckled figure. She gave Ymir a small smile and whispered, "we made it." Her yellow eyes rolled in the back of her head, she's too nice to be living in this awful world. Looking at the young faces around her, everybody deserved a better world. Not one that made them die as kids.

"Okay Maggots!" The man stood a few yards away from the kids but it still stung Ymir's ears, "I see that some of you didn't make it. But the ones who did, congratulations, you guys are now cadets." The boys and girls got in two lines in front of the cabins, the drill sergeant's assistants gave out the outfits.

"I'm your drill sergeant, Keith Shadis, now get some rest. You'll need it," the girls all walked into the cabin. There stood bunk beds lined against the wall.

Most of the cadets began to mingle with each other, but Ymir was never one for small talk. She just walked over to an empty bunk and sat on the bottom one. She laid down and watched all the girls talk.

They seemed preppy now, but it would die down quickly. Her blonde partner strolled over beside Ymir.

"Do you mind if I sleep above you?" She was shy, acted like Ymir would jump up and attack her at any second. She didn't blame her, she could be nicer.

But she won't.

The freckled girl shrugged and watched her attempt to climb in the upper bed. But she couldn't reach. Krista looked over to Ymir, but it was no use. She knew that this girl wouldn't help her. She stepped on the edge of the bottom bed and struggled to pull herself up. But she did do it.

Ymir's yellow eyes danced around the room looking at every girl. Who could be the one she needed? Ymir didn't really know what she would do when she found her, she just wanted to. She must be worth something, right? That's what she kept telling herself.

But maybe fate has already helped her out. Maybe the girl is the one in the bunk above her. The world has been oddly cruel to Ymir, but at the same nice ever so nice. But it's highly doubtful, she'd probably be sadder if it was her.

She'd still be mindless, outside wandering just waiting to die if she didn't find that boy.

Thinking about that made her sick. So she cut the thought short and rolled over and rested her tired eyes.

"Goodnight Ymir," was mumbled above her. But the nice girl wouldn't get a response.

She really did deserve a better partner.

A better world.