A Raven in The Phoenix's Nest

Promise Not to Promise

Eren's POV

"Er-Eren?!"

She looks surprised when sees me. Very surprised. Her pink lips trembled, faintly. Her Porcelain skin suddenly flushed in panic. Her eyes slowly turned restless— dispelling the calm that had previously settled there.

Like a storm in the middle of the ocean.

I remember it happened sometimes. When she was with me. When she was looking at me. The gaze was filled with worry.

"How did you get here? I mean, how did you come back to life?" I asked her.

"E-Eren. I..."

"Answer me, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!"

I've been holding this emotion since morning, since I saw her.

I break it. I am angry.

That was my promise to her: 'No Anger, No Temper'. However, my action should be understandable. She was the first to break it. Her promise to me: 'Always Together, Forever and Ever'.

"I was at your funeral that time. Came to bury you who are asleep— dead in a coffin. Right in front of me. I swear! Right in front of my eyes!"

I grab her shoulders hard and push her into the locker. I leave it to my anger to take over the situation. I see that her eyes begin to tear up, ready to shed tears. However, I am insensitive. I really don't care. It's useless. I'm absurdly angry. Can't be extinguished.

"Come on, you know why I'm angry! YOU ARE ALIVE! You're alive and never told me about that, even you didn't give a single sign. It's bullshit, isn't it?! "

I keep pressing her so badly.

Insulting.

Cursing.

Anything that can make her feel humiliated. Due to the fact, my sense of disappointment toward her can't be tolerated anymore.

"Eren..." She said softly.

"Don't call my name. Answer quickly!"

"Eren, please take your hands off me."

Suddenly her face changed. Her eyes return to normal. The storm is gone. Back to being a calm ocean. Even calmer than before. Her tears that were ready to drip suddenly disappeared, throw away all hope from the cry that I really expected from her.

"Eren, mind your hands?" She pleaded emphatically.

I let go of my hands and take a step back from her. I look again at her blue eyes. I look again at her figure from toe to head. Just to make sure that she really is Annie. Just to make sure that she comes back to life.

"I'll tell you everything. I'll tell you when the time is right. "

I'm just silent. Waiting for her to finish talking.

"However, right now, please stay away from me. I want to be alone. I don't want anyone near me. Even if it's you. "

Without replying to her words, I immediately leave her alone without looking back. With pleasure, I grant her request. Considering her as mound of dust— despicable as trash of the past; Like charcoal and ash; Like a parasite nest.

I speed up my steps further away from her. Keep on walking. Don't know where to go. Just want to get away from her.

The confusion make me unable to think clearly. The confusion makes me get emotional easily. The confusion make me unaware of Mikasa's presence behind me.

"Eren ..."

"Oy, since when have you ..?"

"Sorry to surprise you."

Like a mother figure, She studies my face in great detail. Looking for something that shouldn't be there.

"What is wrong with you? Have a problem? Is that woman the cause? Who is she? Is she your crush?" She asked repeatedly.

Typical Mikasa.

"Oh, she is... nobody and yes, I'm fine. "

When I smile to reassure Mikasa, at that moment I realize that Annie is no longer there.