An Ocean Turned Crimson (A Shingeki No Kyojin Fanfic)

Twenty One: HOLY SHIT! YOU KNOW SAO?

I blink repeatedly.

There is a woman laying on the floor of this cave, bound to the wall with chains. Her hair is matted and shaggy, it's black like night and is making her eerie skin stand out. I cannot see her face. She's not emaciated. There are no signs of malnutrition. She's wearing the standard Little Island ground uniform. Is this how they deal with people who are going to be court marshalled?

My dog is the first to approach the weary woman. He nudges her with his nose and she stiffens. I can see her eyes now, they are a citrine colour. My jaw drops. Zada looks just as shell shocked. Carley is holding onto Zada's arm like it is a security blanket.

"You guys okay?" Blaise asks. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"...Blaise..." Ty' beckons the 'genderbent goldilocks' over to her. "I think that they might as well have."

"Ann-ie." the oh too familiar voice bounces off of the walls. "Za-da...Car-ley...Alu-card."

"Meredith?" Carley looks astounded. "No way!"

"Miss Franklin!" Zada is on her knees. She took her maiden name after she left.

"...Mum." I am just numb.

"Ann-ie. C'm-ere. Get me out-a here." I am instructed. Her eyes are hazy as if she's been drugged.

"Are you actually seeing her, Za?" I ask. My pallid skinned friend nods frantically.

"I see 'em, use the bla-des to cut me out-a there cuffs." I am instructed.

"What if they...break?" I stare and what remains of my dad's legacy.

"Then they br-eak." Mum shrugs.

"Use your tridents, Annie. We have more stuff for them." Lexi says. Is everybody here now. No, Gwen, William and Alissa are most likely standing guard at the entrance.

I nod. My friends step back and I flex my wrists. I raise my arms as the tridents assemble themselves.

"Don't hurt me!" Mum shrieks, facing away.

I have never heard two metals collide before. I can't break these chains with simple knives in this way.

"Hey, Durc Wolfgang! Gimme a hand over here!" I give him puppy dog eyes. He rolls his eyes.

"You didn't need the puppy eyes, Annie Coy." he sighs, flexing his own wrists, more blades. As Durc is built like a brick house he can surely break the chains with a lot less effort.

I cover my ears as Durc begins to hit the chains with his tridents.

Bang!

Clang!

Bang!

Clang!

Bang!

"It's chipping!" Lexi gasps.

"Holy shit! Is he a superhuman!" Gwen chirps.

Bang!

Clang!

Smash!

"Fuck." Durc's knives shatter. He huffs, putting new blades on his trident.

Bang!

Clang!

Bang!

Clang!

Bang!

"Booya!" Durc has cut the chain in half. It was locked around Mum's ankle and had been bound to the wall of the cave, as if it were a ball and chain but worse.