HOME | DD

Description
In little more than a week word had gotten out about Levi and I. My squad members treated me differently, and everyone I passed whispered and looked away. I wasn't intimidated; but after a while it got to the point where it was so annoying that I just had to bring it up with Levi. He was also being treated differently, and we agreed that from than on we would try to keep our relationship secret. We decided that every night we would sneak off together and hide in the broom closet outside of his office. No one ever found out, so I was happy. I thought Levi was too.

“_____, we need to talk.” he told me one night.

It was those five words that sent my mind reeling and put my nerves on edge. Was something wrong?

I adjusted my position against the closet wall and cleared my throat. “What is it?”

“This... arrangement of ours. I don't think it's working out the way we want it to.” he wouldn't meet my eye in the dark.

“But... but what about everything we've been through? Does that not mean anything to you?” I could feel tears start to form, but I forced myself to hold them back. I would not cry.

“Of course it does. But I'm a high ranked officer, I have other duties to attend to. I'm sorry.” he cupped my cheek, eventually meeting my eye. Then he left.

I finally let myself cry as the door banged shut behind him.

*********************

I was lying on my back, looking up at the clouds with my hands behind my head when a face blocked my view. It was Faith, a fellow squad member and former trainee with me.

“Are you sulking again?” she asked as I propped myself up with my elbows.

“Sulking? No way.”

“Good! 'Cause, you know, it's been almost two months and everything...”

“Faith, I told you before, I'm over it!” I laughed playfully, nudging her shoulder with mine.

She sighed in relief. “Great!”

But it wasn't great. Because I was lying to myself and my friends. I wasn't over Levi breaking up with me, and I never would be. I just wouldn't admit it to myself, or anyone.

“Now that you're a Single Sarah, how about you and Alec, huh?” she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me.

I sighed. “No, Faith, I-”

I was cut off by a sickening 'BOOM!' The ground shook, and people started screaming as they ran past us.

“What the hell was that?!” Faith got up, and I with her. Black smoke was coming up from the south side of the wall, creating a shield that blocked my vision.

“There's only one thing it could be...” I muttered, heart racing. Faith went pale, and I could tell she was as scared as I was.

“W-we need to find the others..!” she gasped, starting to run.

Using our 3DMG, we flew up high, scanning the city for any sign of our squad.

“I don't see them!” I tried not to panic, but it was hard, given the circumstance.

“There, to the west!” Faith pointed. I could barely make out five people standing on top of a nearby roof, facing the direction of the smoke.

“Are you sure that's them?”

“Positive. No one has red hair that bright besides Anna!”

I nodded, and we went to them, landing gracefully by their side.

“It's about time you got here!” our squad leader, Kara, snapped once she saw us.

“So sorry, ma'am,” Faith said. “We were-”

“No excuses!” yelled Kara. “The titans are coming through the wall, we need to stop the ones we can until help arrives. Now, Faith, Alec and _____. You three work best together. Stay here and stop the titans from advancing any further. Anna, Duncan, Toby and I will go to the opening in the south and see what we can do. Good luck.”

We saluted and the others left, leaving Faith, Alec and I alone with a group of titans.

“Right, okay!” Faith said, instantly going into leader mode. “Th-”

But she never got to finish. A titan appeared out of no where and before any of us had time to react, he grabbed her. She screamed, and so did I, but I could do nothing to help her. I was frozen in fear, forced to just watch.

“_____!” I was suddenly pushed from the side, sliding down the roof and grabbing the gutter so I wouldn't fall. Above the rim I could see Alec where I once stood, covered in blood. His blood.

“ALEC!” I hoisted myself up over the ledge, about to run over and help him. But his eyes stopped me. They were full of fear, but also happiness. He wanted me to leave him and save myself. He was ready to die for humanity.

I closed my eyes and looked away as the titan grabbed him. I didn't cry out as his piercing screams were all I heard. When I knew it was over I finally opened my eyes and forced myself forward. Two of my teammates were already dead; I had to save the others.

Disregarding my orders, I soared away to where I knew I would find Kara and the others. On my way various titans tried to grab for me, but I easily dodged. I wasn't dying today.

I defiantly wasn't prepared for what awaited me at my destination. Only two of my comrades were still alive. Toby's body hung limply off a roof edge, the bottom half missing. I couldn't find Duncan, but on one lone bloody arm his cloud shaped birth mark that we used to make fun of winked back at me. Kara was desperately trying to ward off as many titans as she could, but more kept on appearing, and I could tell she was getting tired. I found Anna crouched helplessly in a corner, trying to stop the bleeding where her left leg had been ripped off.

“_____,” she croaked when she was me. “It's over, isn't it? I didn't think this day would come so soon. Tell Alec I love him, okay?”

I didn't have the heart to tell her that her little brother was dead. Instead, I smiled down at her. “Don't worry, Anna. We're going to get out of this, together.”

She looked up at me hopefully. “Promise?”

“It's a promise.” I unsheathed my swords and leaped up, swinging around the closest titan, wind whipping my hair in my face. “Just let me kill this one titan! For the squad!”

I swerved, aiming my swords at the back of its neck, when my wire snapped, thrusting me backwards into the mouth of a waiting titan. I screamed as he sank his sharp teeth into my abdomen. I could taste blood bubbling up in my throat, and it hurt to breath.

'I failed...' I thought sadly as the world went dark. I thought for sure I was going to die as the titan prepared for another bite, but instead he bulked, yelling and dropping me. I would have hit the hard ground and died instantly, but instead strong arms grabbed me and placed me softly on the ground.

It was difficult to see, but I forced my eyes to focus on the person who saved me, crouched on the ground next to me and grasping my hand forcefully. It was Levi, his usual vacant eyes filled with tears.

“Le-levi..?” I gurgled, the blood in my throat escaping down my jaw. I knew I was dying, but Levi holding me helped, even though I hated the look in his eyes.

“Don't you dare close your eyes,” Levi pleaded. “Help is coming. Stay awake!”

Blood trickled from his forehead down his cheek, but other then that Levi seemed to have no real injuries. I smiled weakly at him, and I thought I felt his arms tighten around me, but I wasn't sure. Everything was fading. I was so tired...

Something wet fell on my face. I blinked, it was getting harder to see. “Was I... useful to humanity?”

“Of course, of course. Oh god, this is all my fault,” I heard Levi sob. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry...!”

“Levi,” I whispered with as much strength as I had left. “I forgive you, and I love you...”

“I love you too, _____!” was the last thing I heard as I drifted away.