[Hurry up, or you want to see your child die here!]
The sun isn't going to stick around forever to light up our lives, so when it dips below the horizon, a lot of folks decide it's time to kick back and recharge by getting some sleep.
Some people believe that even when the sky is dark, they can still catch a bit of sunlight. Because of this, they decide to stay awake, hoping to find that light. It's interesting how they seem like two completely different sides, yet they don't even realize that, at their core, they're essentially the same. Both of them are hoping that tomorrow will bring some changes to their lives.
Even when the night sky blankets the Trost district, the lively sounds of activity continue to echo, creating an atmosphere that feels like it will never quiet down. Every now and then, screams drift out from the narrow alleys, mingling with the chill of the night wind.
Some odd vibrations coming from the ground and the buildings can also be felt. In contrast to humans' sharp and anguished cries, you'll also catch the deep, rumbling groans reminiscent of wild animals. It's hard not to feel a bit paranoid when you're walking down streets you know so well.
"Never stop running and don't look back," a middle-aged woman advised her son, her voice steady and filled with conviction. As time went on, the hand that once gently held his small hand began to grip tighter.
"My leg hurts…" the boy said, wincing as he shifted his weight. Despite his hopes, he didn't receive the warmth and affection he had anticipated from his mother. Instead, he was met with a serious expression that only deepened his discomfort.
He understood the reason behind it all, and right now, they were making a swift escape from it. He struggled against his mother's commands, glancing back only to be met with an overwhelming darkness. The streets that once should have been aglow with torches and lanterns were now shrouded in darkness, as he hadn't spotted a single soul either.
Even so, the boy's heart raced faster and faster. He had been running for quite a while, and on top of that, he shared the same worries as his mother. Because of this, he didn't dare to ask for a break.
"Mom, do you think Dad and Sister will be alright?" The question that had been weighing on the boy's mind for so long could no longer be kept to himself. He felt an urgent need to know the answer immediately, especially since it concerned his loved ones too.
The mother, who had remained quiet throughout, could only gaze at her son, her feelings a swirl of confusion and tenderness. Fresh blood occasionally trickled from his head, staining his innocent face, while his body and clothes were coated in a heavy layer of suffocating dust.
It wasn't just him. his mother was in a similar predicament, though her situation was just a bit better. A few hours ago, just as a loud explosion echoed from the gate, a family that was simply trying to pack their belongings for evacuation was met with a shocking disaster. A massive 5-meter titan had crashed through the roof of their house, leaving chaos in its wake.
She witnessed firsthand the sight of her husband and daughter, both completely crushed and unable to move. Her body instinctively sprang into action at that moment, carrying her son as she ran.
She could still hear her husband's desperate screams urging her to keep running, but nothing could compare to the heartbreak that washed over her when she heard her daughter's cries for help, pleading to be saved.
Ever since that moment, everything turned dark for her. It felt as though peace was a distant dream, especially when she was jolted awake by the terrified screams of her son.
"Mom, there's a giant titan right behind us!"
She was certain her son wasn't joking, so she decided to take a quick glance back just to confirm. Her pupils widened in an instant as she caught sight of a darker shadow darting swiftly in her direction. At the same time, she felt vibrations coursing through the ground, reminiscent of a small earthquake.
In her state of shock, she failed to notice the uneven road ahead, where tiles and small stones littered the path, creating obstacles in her way. As a result, she suddenly picked up her pace and started running faster, which caused her to stumble and fall first, followed closely by her son.
"Please run... I'll be right behind you," the mother urged. She could sense her legs were gradually giving out on her, so she did her best to persuade her son to move on without her.
"Wake up, Mom! The titan is getting closer... Come on, I'll help you..." the son said, his voice shaking with fear. His eyes brimmed with tears, a clear sign that despair was gradually consuming him from the inside out.
While the two of them were caught up in their argument, the shadow lurking behind them began to grow larger. Even though they tried to ignore it, their bodies couldn't stop shaking when they heard a low growl.
The son, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but glance back despite his mother's clear warning not to do so. As soon as he caught sight of a face looming several times larger than his own, a wave of regret washed over him. The proximity of that massive visage was both startling and unsettling.
They questioned if the titan's broad grin would actually widen enough to trap them within it. They could picture their bodies gliding smoothly through its throat. It was only then that the mother truly understood. This titan was the one that had ripped the roof off their home.
"This can't be happening... No way..." the mother exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief. The trauma she had been trying so hard to keep at bay surged forth, overwhelming her, and she pulled away from her son's comforting embrace.
With both hands gripping her head tightly, she let out a scream that echoed her despair, tears streaming down her face in a frantic rush. Her son, trying to muster all the courage he could, tugged at her, but his small frame offered little support against the overwhelming force of their situation. The titan loomed nearby, its presence a constant reminder that they were not alone in this chaos.
Although slow, the titan's hand definitely grabbed the oblivious boy. It was almost as if the titan was in no rush to end things. Instead of crushing the boy's tiny form in his massive grip right away, he seemed to toy with the idea, guiding the boy's fate toward his gaping mouth instead.
The mother, holding onto a bit of common sense, wasn't about to let her last child be taken away from her. She ran and did everything in her power to set him free. Whether it was biting, hitting, or screaming, none of her efforts seemed to make a difference.
In the end, she found herself clinging to the titan's fingers, her grip the only thing keeping her from slipping away. She came to understand just how powerless she felt, and if her son had truly been consumed by the titan, then at least she would be with him in spirit. She knew she could no longer escape from her family.
In that instant, a thunderous hiss of metal filled the air just before the titan's wrist was cleanly severed. The mother who fell, without thinking, immediately tried to get her child out. The problem did not stop because the titan who was in pain seemed to be angry with them and pounced fiercely.
Once again, the unmistakable sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed down the quiet street. They were oblivious to the chaos unfolding in the shadows around them. But this time, the head of the towering five-meter titan had been cleanly severed, leaving a chilling silence in its wake. Thick steam billowed from the wound, and once his body collapsed, the titan lay still, showing no signs of life whatsoever.
"What are you waiting for? Just run towards the north gate! You still have a chance to get out of this city!" At some point, a young man found himself standing on the massive corpse of the titan. He gripped a sharp sword in each hand, the blades glinting as they caught the soft glow of the moonlight.
Eren was the young man with the disheveled and grimy look, clearly indicating that he had been through a tough day. He had spent the entire day meandering through the city, searching for residents who were still trapped. This relentless pursuit had led him into some pretty risky situations more than once.
The mother and son instantly recognized that this young man was their savior, and just as they were about to lower their heads in gratitude, the familiar tremor of an earthquake shook the ground once more, but this time, it was even more intense. In the dim light of the night, they could just make out the massive figure of a 15-meter-tall titan charging toward them.
The titan stomped through the neighborhood, completely indifferent to the houses beneath its feet, treating them like mere targets. A wave of dread washed over them, a fear that felt all too familiar. Feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness, Eren could only mutter curses under his breath.
"Shit, out of all the titans I've encountered, why did it have to be one of those abnormal ones?"
Eren instantly recognized the type of titan he was up against, mainly because of the unusual way it ran. Picture this: a towering 15-meter-tall prehistoric human, arms lifted high in the air, charging towards you with infectious excitement. It's a sight that sparks the imagination and brings the distant past to life.
"Things are becoming more risky at this point. You guys need to get out of here, now!" Eren said, his voice firm. He might have looked young, but he was a soldier, and the situation they were facing was a perfectly valid reason for his command.
Despite her reservations, the mother was unaware that every soldier battling the Titans was outfitted with 3D maneuver gear. This meant that if Eren chose to, he could effortlessly evade them, but the same couldn't be said for them.
"Hurry up, or you want to see your child die here!"
"Thank you very much..." After expressing her thoughts, the mother gently lifted her limp child and carried him away from that place.
"I hope they'll be alright," Eren said, his voice tinged with worry. He knew he should be there to guide them to safety, especially since, after just a few hours, the Titans had completely taken over the city. It felt like everything had turned into chaos.
So, If you somehow managed to break free from one situation, there was a pretty good chance you'd find yourself facing another. And honestly, your luck might not hold out for a second escape.
"Alright, you ugly beast, listen up! My mission here is to take down every single titan in this city!"
With his swords crossed, Eren launched himself forward, taking a running start before effortlessly soaring through the air. His grappling hook zipped through the air, catching onto the walls and rooftops of nearby houses, pulling him ever closer to the towering titan that loomed ahead.