Chapter 2 - daisy, daisy cry..

Petra awoke with a quiet but terrified gasp. At first, she stared at her dim ceiling, the shadows of her nightmare floating over her bright blue eyes. It was her brother, running towards her looking haggard and older, yelling at her to run at the top of his lungs. Then, a large hand grabbed him, tossed him to air and swallowed him... She closed her eyes tightly and put a fist over her erratic heart.

Petra has always had a very good auditory acuity. So, when she picked up her father starting to groan as his complaint of having to wake up every day in early mornings, she sat up and wore her favourite red silk robe - the only one she has. She walked down their narrow and creaky stairs to the kitchen.

The robe was her mom's before she died from an epidemic. Her father gave it to her as a present on her 18th birthday two years ago when the times were tough and they had scarcely enough money to buy their daily necessities, let alone presents. But it was the best gift she ever had and a treasure - for the three of them. Her father's eyes sometimes glazes over then smiles and ruffles her hair before setting out to work in the construction site, sometimes in offices as a cleaner, lifter of heavy objects for market sellers and etc. Her father is easy to be with and a cheerful man. Always laughing and has no addiction to smoking those ridiculously expensive cigars and drinking wines. He works hard for them. And she loves him with all her heart.

Every morning, she gets up and prepares him breakfast to make sure he eats before going out. Sometimes, her father skips meals. She knows it's because he feels that the food will just get wasted on him and that they need to conserve as much food as possible, just in case the market's goods skyrockets again. It breaks her heart to think him being hungry. So she makes him breakfast everyday and then goes out to bring him lunch wherever he is during the day.

Whilst her father washed himself, she quickly picked out an egg from their tray and scrambled it so it looks bigger. There were three left. Eggs are quite expensive since they are the closest from chicken meat which are very expensive, indeed!

Petra 'halved' the egg (her father's slightly bigger) and laid it expertly to a plate with a bread. Then, she grabbed an apple and sliced it to add to his plate.

"Ohayo! Otou-chan! " she greeted brighty to her father as he walked down the stairs to their table with a smile- a sad forced smile. He was thinking of food shortage again. She fought a sigh.

"Ohayo, Petra, love." Her father said and affectionately kissed her on the forehead. Then, he sat down happily and said: "itadakimasu!" With a big smile. She sat down in front of him with her own plate.

"Where are you today, tou-chan?"

"Hm! I'm in the construction, love! "He said brightly then faltered a little. "You're brother is choosing a team today. He wrote."

Petra's smile vanished as she looked at the letter on her father's hand. It was crumpled around some edges as if the crisp paper had been written delicately only to be handled brusquely by her father. She didn't need to look at it.

"Did he write his choice?" Petra asked softly.

Her father paused and then as if he cannot contain it anymore, he broke down crying. His half-eaten food forgotten. Petra stood and hurriedly went to her father. "Shhh...it's ok. It's ok.. I'm here.. Father.." She cooed.

The most heartbreaking thing about her father's cry was that it was not loud. It was a silent, heartbroken wail. "Oh, father..." She caressed her father's dark hair and embraced him. He muffled his cries onto her stomach.

"The Scouting Legion.." He choked out. "Petra, my dear. You're brother... He.. He wants to die!" His father wailed even more.

Petra closed her burning eyes and refused to cry. She has to be strong. What her father needs is a wall to support himself with and and an anchor with a rope to propel himself forward.

Just like how her brother needs the 3D maneuver gear.

"Petra-chan!"

Petra glanced over her shoulder to find her childhood friend, Olou striding towards them.

"Aah! Olou! How you've grown! Look at you! So tall!" Her father greeted him first.

He blushed and then turned to Petra, looking at her almost expectedly. Petra gave him back a funny expression that said; "Yeah right!" They chuckled together. Aurou softly punched her on the shoulder which Petra returned tenfold.

"Aw! " He complained. "I didn't even punch you that hard!"

"Well! I'm a girl and it hurt!"

"What kind of argument is that!?"

"The good one." Petra smartly replied, grinning at him haughtily.

Olou snorted but hid his smile. "And you women preach about equality..." He mumbled.

Petra just smiled and turned to smile to comfort her father who was watching the scene with a sad and hopeful expression. He approves of Olou. He was reliable and obviously loves his daughter - his dense and oblivious daughter.

"Why are you here, anyway?" Petra asked, curious.

A sweat dropped on the young man's temple. "Eh? I was just passing by and saw you! W-where are you headed to anyway?!"

Petra gave him a disgusted look. What a hopeless liar! How would this guy survive this world! Olou caught the message and smiled his apology.

"Hmph!" Petra turned away and led her father to the training grounds where the choosing ceremony would occur. Daniel ranked 9 in the top 10 of the 95th Trainee Corps. The ranking did not comfort but scared her. Being first might help a little but she knew that's wishful thinking.

Olou watched his friend as he stood by her side, though it felt like he was far, far away from her. Those songs about a girl looking far and not noticing the boy loving her closeby seemed to be written just for him. He sighed and searched for Daniel. Maybe if he finds him first, she'll notice him...

"There he is!" But of course, Petra finds her brother first and leaves him and her father behind. Her hair swayed behind her and he fought the urge to grab the soft golden strands. Bet they would feel nice. The only time he got to touch them was when they used to wrestle and of course, she was fighting him ferociously. It was not really a romantic sight nor the smack she gave him for grabbing a woman's hair.

She looked so good, nowadays. More men has been noticing those nice curves and big bright blue eyes..

"Olou. " He turned to Mr. Ral with a startled expression. Did he magically read his mind or something? Damn! He was ready to stutter an apology before Petra's father smiled at him and patted him on his shoulder.

"You're a good man. I like you. But she's too young. Patience, my son." He said and then followed his daughter.

Olou was motionless for a moment. My son, my son, my son.. Did Petra's father just called me HIS son?! He grinned and followed.

Daniel turned when he heard his sister call his name. The anxiety and his shaking seemed to melt off him when he saw her. His friends who saw the sudden change stared as he strode to catch his sister as she threw herself to him. "Oh.. Petra.. You came! Thank you!" He said, his voice husky from his overwhelming feelings.

Behind him, his group of friends were dazed with the unexpected show of public attention. Daniel Ral is known to be kind and a very good soldier but reserved. They didn't know he has a girlfriend- a pretty one at that.

"Father.." Daniel embraced his father next who closed his eyes tight and hugged his son back, tighter and then let go to clamped his shoulder hard. He didn't want to break down again. Not here..

From the stage, Levi was bored out of his wits. He stood leaning his back against the wall and waited for the stupid ceremony to begin. He glanced at four eyed loony who was swooning over something behind the curtains.

"Hmm! I think I smell forbidden love!" She chuckled maniacally.

Another Survey Corps weirdo appeared. "Smell?" Mike sniffed. "You're right, Something smells here." He said and peeked behind the curtains too, dwarfing four eyes from his view.

"Hm... Daniel Ral! That blond hottie! His kind facade hides a boiling passion towards his little sister!"

Levi scowled. "Disgusting."

Mike sniffed towards his direction. "Love, Levi, loove.. It has the best scent ever."

Levi just scowled at him more. He still remembers how the imbecile dipped his head down to a dirty puddle years ago. Levi holds grudges.

"We're starting." Erwin walked in with the Garrison and the Military Police Commander. Good. The waiting always takes longer than the choosing.

"The Military Police is the protector and the most loyal to his majesty, the king. The strongest, the best and the most elite are the only ones who can apply and be chosen for this honour- For his Majesty, the king!"

The cadets saluted. Levi looked away and his line of vision moved straight to a sunny-haired girl from the crowd through a gap between the stage's curtains. The colour and the dress made him realise who the girl was.

Ral's sister..I see she came out the woods alive.

" Join the Garrison and help us defend humanity and these walls. Offer up your hearts for order and Peace" The old drunk drawled out lazily, looking almost asleep on his feet then held his wine and drank up.

Now it was the Survey Corps turn. Levi listened.

" I have two greatest fears." Erwin started. Everyone was quiet.

"But before that, I shall tell you my fear of the pain of being in the hands of those giants.

I fear their teeth that they will use to tear my flesh, bits by bits away from me!

I fear of sending more of my men to experience just that and those who had.

I fear to see titans within these walls.

I fear the sight of wailing women, children and men.

But the greatest of all my fears are FEAR itself and humanity.

You know the high numbers of our casualties. I came not to beg nor to force. I came to ask - not if you can but if you would, with the Scouting Legion, give everything for the glory humanity!

Those who wish to join us, please salute in front the Scouting Legion's flag."

Petra watched alongside the parents, Olou and her father as Daniel Ral walked carefully to the Scouting Legion and followed by some more.

She watched, face blank but her eyes filled with numbed pain as her brother fasten his green cape. By where she's standing, his wings of freedom freely swayed with the afternoon wind. Petra's eyes slid upwards. Behind the curtains was a dark looking man, scowling at her. She averted her eyes, looked at her brother and silently prayed for his safety.

End of Chapter 2