Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

58 ⚕︎Sacrifice ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 58
⚕︎Sacrifice ✍︎
Titan

sac·ri·fice

/ˈsakrəˌfīs/

noun

an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy

"Damn Mutt."

I feel another shock vibrating through my nervous system and I clench my jaw, yanking at the electric collar keeping me chained to the wall.

"Keep that up and you'll choke yourself." Grisha chuckles, holding the remote in one hand and a sirloin in the other. Eren hasn't eaten in four days, we need that and I intend to get it no matter what.

"You're no more intelligent than a rabid beast, are you?" Grisha asks, studying me with a calculated look.

I growl, snapping my jaws at him and am silenced by another shock.

"Behave yourself, Mutt, or I might just have to put you down."

I stop moving and settle on glaring at the man who thinks himself Eren's father.

"Good." Grisha smiles and I feel sick to my stomach. "Now. Answer my questions and I'll reward you." Grisha gestures with the steak. I simply nod. "You come out to take the brunt of Eren's punishments. Why?"

"I won't let you hurt him. I won't let you hurt us." I growl with what little courage I have left.

Grisha's eyes darken and I know I've made a mistake when he backhands me across the face. "I am not HURTING you! I'm helping you! I'm making you better and you should learn to appreciate it!"

I spit on the floor, not daring to look up at him.

"Apologize, Mutt."

I'm shaking now but I manage to force myself to sit up straight. "I'm sorry."

Grisha grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "Try again."

"I apologize for insulting your work and behaving improperly." I rephrase, recalling the many lessons he's taught us about proper manners and edicate.

"That's better." He tosses the steak on the floor at my feet and I scramble to grab it, tearing into it immediately. "Now, you are no longer permitted to take Eren's place for punishments. If you do, the hell I will bring upon you will make you wish Eren never conjured you into existence in the first place." Grisha spits and I shrink back, pressing my spine up against the wall.

I nod my understanding but I know I am going to disobey. I have to protect Eren, and if that means making things harder for me, then so be it. I hug the five year old inside my head and lock him away so he cannot see or hear anything that happens to the body. He will be spared.

-
Eren

"Titan!" I jolt awake, startling Levi who has his arms wrapped around my shaking form.

"What's wrong with him?" Levi asks, rubbing my back.

I take a breath, leaning into his touch. "A memory. It's not mine, it's his but I don't remember it, well, I didn't until now."

"Can you tell me about it?" He asks quietly. "I can't see your eyes. Is he in there too or is he hiding?"

"He's hiding." I sigh and explain the dream, voice heavy with guilt.