✓ Blood Lust (Levi Ackerman - Attack on Titan) #wattys2021

Chapter Seven

Then, they came. 

"I got ya, El," Connie says, grabbing me and pulling me onto the roof. The Titan that ate Eren has long since walked away, ignoring even me. "Here, sit down. We're going to check on Armin." I nod, massaging out my ankles. They're not broke, that's for sure, but they definitely don't feel great. I think I can put weight on them, though, and that's all that matters to me.

Another cadet flies down beside me. "There's orders to withdraw. Everyone is evacuated! Let's go!" I immediately follow, heading towards HQ, dropping when I see Jean, slumped over. There's close to a dozen cadets by him. 

"Eliora!" he calls out when I land beside him, my ankles almost giving out.

"Jean, why aren't you withdrawing?"

"We're out of gas!" someone shouts and I glance around. These people will all die without it. Mine can't be much better right now, and I don't even know if I have enough to get over the wall. Connie lands beside me, his own face one of confusion.

"Those damn cowards," Jean says, his hands going to his face in anguish.

"The senior officers?" Connie asks, still confused.

"They've barricaded themselves inside, refusing to supply us with gas but we can't get it ourselves due to all the Titans." We look over at HQ, seeing at least six Titans crawling all over the building. My home for the last three years is gone.

"We have to take a chance!" Connie yells, determination in his voice, but even looking at HQ, I can't feel hopeful. "We'll waste what little gas we have trying to run."

"You're finally using your head, Connie. But do you think we have the capacity to pull it off? All the veterans in the Vanguard force have all been killed. Within our group of rookies, who has the knowledge or experience to lead the attack?" 

"Well, obviously not the veterans because they're dead," I retort, crossing my arms. "Jean, we can try."

"Let's assume half of our force even survives the initial assault. Then what? The supply room is probably crawling with Titans. I don't see much of us accomplishing much in there."

Connie's shoulders fall in defeat. "I guess it's hopeless."

"What's hopeless," I say, kicking Jean in the shin, though it probably just added more injury to me than him, "is giving up, Jean. We cannot just sit here and let ourselves be eaten! I joined the military so that I wasn't helpless again! That I wasn't the one relying on soldiers to save me, when they can't even save themselves! I've lived through this once already. I am not going to die out here, especially with a coward like yourself, offering himself up like a meal on a silver platter! You will be a poster of what not to do in the next training. Do you want Sergeant Sadie to use you as an example of a complete failure?" I kick him again. 

"Just leave me to die, Eliora."

Sasha comes to stand beside me. "Get up, guys! We can do this! If we all work together, we can make this happen! I'll take the lead." No one stands up, some not even looking in her direction.

I notice then, that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie are standing at the edge, looking on HQ. 

"Reiner," I say, and he turns to me. "Please tell me you have a plan."

He shrugs. "A suicidal one, maybe. Are you okay?"

"Maybe. Ankles are pretty shot but they're working for the time being."

"Annie!" We all turn, seeing Mikasa running towards us. "I know how bad things have gotten. I know I'm pushing forward my personal concerns but have you seen Eren's squad?"

I don't answer, as I know what's happened. Annie speaks forth from the silence. "Some squads have made it back, but I don't know about Eren's." 

"I think Armin is over there," Reiner says, pointing in another direction. She runs towards him, and I look sadly away from her retreating form.

"Eren is dead," I say, and the three standing look at me in surprise. "I was there."

"His whole squad was wiped out?" Someone behind me says, eavesdropping on Armin and Mikasa. Now, all eyes are on them two.

"I'm useless," Armin cries, looking down. Mikasa leans in front of him, taking his hand.

"Calm down. We haven't got the time for you to be emotional right now. On your feet." She walks over to me. "Eliora, we just need to get through the Titans in headquarters, then we can refuel, correct?" I feel as if I'm a kid in school still.

"You know the fucking answer, Mikasa."

"There's too many of them," Marco says, coming up behind us.

"I can do it. I'm strong. I'm stronger than all of you. I'm very strong. I have the ability to slay all of the Titans that block our path. All by myself. Either you are just not as skilled as I am or you all are spineless cowards. It's really too bad. All of you just sit on your hands and wait here. Sit here and watch."There's protests from the remaining cadets about her going alone and not being able to actually take them all out. "If I can't, then I die." With that, she's off.

I glare at her back before following. I will not be outdone by her. An Ackerman. I am not a child anymore. 

"I don't need your help, Smith," Mikasa bites to me.

"And I hope you get eaten by a Titan. Sounds like neither are true." We say no more. Our actions could determine if our comrades live or die. Though, if we are successful, I'll be pretty damn reluctant to share my gas with them. 

"Don't engage!" I yell over my shoulder to those that followed us. "Get to headquarters! Mikasa and I have the Titans." I take the left, while she goes right, both of us using way to much gas for this. We have to rely on the others. If we can't get gas, we are dead. 

When I see Mikasa fall, I move closer to the others, regrouping. I had more gas than the rest, so I'm sure I'll at least make it to headquarters, despite the gas I abused. It cleared out a chunk of the Titans, though. 

We stop on top of the roofs, still quite far from HQ. A man starts screaming, and I notice him in front of us, his gas completely out.

"I'll save you!" a girl screams, running after him.

"Don't! We need to stay together!" Four more people rush passed me, ignoring my orders. All suffering horrible deaths. "Dammit! The next person that leaves the group will be cut down!" The others look on as the ones who left are eaten, the inner turmoil clear on their face, but no one moves. They listened. Now, we might still have a chance.

"There's Mikasa and Armin!" Connie yells, pointing to the two figures far away. "Can I—"

"Go, Connie."