Thank you for the reviews from the last chapters! This is chapter 3 !
Ah! I forgot to notify everyone that ATTACK ON TITAN is not mine, nor is Levi but that's ok, in my head, Levy is forever MINE along with my other anime/manga men. BWAHAHAHHAH!
Chapter 3- For the Glory of humanity
Petra's lungs felt like it was going to give up. She clutched her dress in one hand while the other held a lunch box covered a pink daisy flowered cloth as she ran. She ignored the looks, so she did not at all notice that aside from annoyed expressions and the rude exclamations, there were also looks of appreciation from some of the men she passed.
"Please be here. Still be here." She muttered. Petra let out an exhale of relief as she saw a horde of wings of freedom. She scanned for his blond head. "Daniel!" She called, out of breath.
The sound of a female voice turned lots of many heads. There..she saw her brother getting down his horse. Daniel met her halfway with a mixture of grief, relief, regret and surprise in seeing his sister. "Wh-what.. How did you know..." He started.
Petra held his unshaven cheeks. Then in a sudden move, slapped her brother only to grab him to lock him to her bosom afterwards. "Idiot. H-how could you?! How could they?! It's only been months..Three months! Since your graduation.. It's unacceptable..."
Without her knowing, she unsettled the atmosphere even more. Those newbies shuddered but stilled themselves. For the Glory of Humanity...
"What is this?" A sharp dull male voice cut the tense atmosphere. A dark man came with his horse, scowling down at them. They stiffened. Daniel Ral instinctively stood in front of his sister, shadowing her with his tall figure. He saluted; "Sir!"
Levi assessed the situation with black eyes full of calm indifference which exuded threat and coldness without him meaning to. His eyes flew passed the brother to the sister then to the hand clutching the brother's arm then the pink thing he often see in the cadet's hand. For some reason, he heard Four eyes whispering in his head; forbidden love
Tch. "Ral. The gate is coming up. Say your goodbyes quickly." He said and rode away. Hope he comes back, sunny girl.
Petra looked up at once to her brother, looking deeply as if to implant her brother' face to her memory. She held his face with tears welling up in her deep blue eyes. Daniel Ral held their foreheads together; blue to blue. She wanted him to promise.. Promise he'll be safe but something painful was lodged in her throat.
"Gate is opening!"
Petra sobbed and pecked her brother on his lips. He kissed her forehead softly, lingering. "I love you, Petra. Always." Petra choked quietly and two pearly drops fell. He wiped it and said: "Smile", eyes pleading. "I'll show you the world." Flaming water. Frozen earth. A meadow full of daisies.
He took the lunch box gently, not once removing his eyes on her. Then he turned around and went outside the walls.
She didn't close her eyes.
He never looked back.
And he never came back.
Levi watched the sunny girl under the setting sun. The gold of her hair literally glowed as if it was a mirror that refracted the sunlight to his face. It fucking hurt his eyes. The girl, Petra was unwrapping a present, wearing the same look on her face when she watched her brother in the choosing ceremony. The poor thing is trying too hard -and failing- not to cry, Levi thought. He was standing right in front of her, unnoticed while Erwin was still on his chair; Four eyes on his left side while Mike stood like a giant behind.
A dress. The box showed a light green gossamer dress, obviously quite expensive. Her slim fingers traced the sweetheart neckline. They were shaking and blistered, he noticed. But pretty and clean. She put them away as if she didn't like it. Maybe she doesn't. On the table, she placed the box containing the dress then beside it, was a rectangular worn leather bound sketch book.
"Captain! Petra! Sketchbook. Bag!"
When she opened it. He heard her gasp. It sounded more like a mewl to him but it was a gasp. He examined the page from where he was standing. The first page showed towering trees in black and white. Next, a lake with trees surrounding it. Daniel drew it that looks like it was glittering under the moon. This was their first night, Levi remembered. It was full moon the day they ventured beyond the walls. A waterfall was next; rolling hills in green; their abandoned HQ never looked that welcoming, as if the empty houses were homes and people were in there living. Survey Corps soldiers camping, a little bonfire lighting their features in the night- laughing whilst on their watch. They were all so absorbed at the masterpieces that their hearts stopped when the beauty turned suddenly grim.
First Titan attack. The strokes were heavier and faster. Angry. Soldiers getting eaten, their terrified expressions shown. Some were shadowed. Big eyes.. Big hands.. Big bodies.. Human-like Titans.
Then it was her. Her picture lying on her side in a bed. Her brother's bed. The strokes were full of grief, slow and heavy. Her eyes drawn big and aggrieved.
Second Titan attack. It was only Titans this time. He did not include his comrades dying. The next pages were filled of them. Big smiling eyes, big smiling mouths, big teeth, big angry frowns. Big mouths open. So detailed. Hanji was leaning in enraptured and terrified. They did not stop her. Even Levy and the others were feeling the same.
Then it was her again, no longer her everyday worn-out dress. She looked so pretty and happy in the dress he bought out of his small weekly cadet allowance for her. The dress he wrapped so carefully and beautifully for her 19th birthday. The dress she unwrapped in front of them- strangers. Not her brother or her father. She left the sketch book on her lap and hesitantly picked up the next wrapped item in a green cloth, the wings of freedom folded. Hanji straightened. Petra ignored the blood and the familiar shape.
The tears she was holding back fell like raindrops. Hanji's face crumpled as she tried to stop her feelings showing. The others were really good at it. But the silent terror was still there. But it did not matter, Petra held her brother's hand. All that was left of her beloved brother. She could still remember his warmth and the way the sun can turn the ends of his fair hair to gold. It felt like a stab in the heart that was left gaping open. She can hardly breathe.
His left arm. His drawing arm. The one he uses to hold her cheek. She held him and felt the once warm hand on her face once again but it was cold. Hanji's eyes looked away for a moment then looked back when she remembered she had to watch. She has to do this little thing for the poor girl.
The sobs were muffled and agonising. The tears endless. She turned towards the window where the sun was setting as if to hide from them. She rocked herself back and forth, clutching the arm.
Her brother showed her the world, indeed. Or at least tried to.
Later on, she stood, curtsied and left with her brother's rucksack on her back and his covered hand close to her heart.
At home, she looked at the pictures again and realised one thing- there were no flaming water or frozen earth nor a meadow full of daisies.
But a lot of titans and death.
As she continued the pages until the last of the empty ones, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of such familiar long and cursive writing.
My sweet sister,
If you are ever reading this, I am probably dead. I am so sorry. So sorry..Petra. I don't even know what to write right now.
When it happens that I die, please, please forgive me. Please don't cry.. Oh, but of course you will.. I just wish that you won't cry too much. I wish you won't cry forever. I am sorry. Sorry, Petra.
I hope that you shall never have to read this letter. But this world we live in right now is very cruel. One day, we shall never have to be scared of them.. One day, we shall be free to go outside, to explore and to be free.
Do you believe in reincarnation? For the sake of being with you and father again, I do. One day, we shall be brothers and sisters again. One day, sister.
But now, I shall live with you; in your memories and in your heart. I love you so much. I love you and father with all my heart.
I love you. Forgive me.
Daniel.
End of Chapter 3