Flashback

"Why does she have to come over?  She's pure evil!"

I frowned at my dad.

"(F/n),"

He sighed, taking a break from what he was doing.

"She's not "evil". You need an older female in your life to help you. This is good for you. She loves you like you're her own."

"No, it's not! She hates me! She treats me like a bag of garbage! Nobody ever believes me!"

"That's not true-"

"Oh really? What did you, Tristan and Quincy think when I told you I talk to the dead?!"

"..."

"Exactly."

I huffed, going back into my room and slamming the door shut.

I felt warm tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I hated that damn bitch and she knew it. That's what she wanted from me so it'd be easier for her to play victim.

"(Nickname), please open the door."

I heard from the other side of my door.

"Go away!"

I responded, tightening my grip on my desk chair.

"Tristan, would you try and get her out of there?"

I heard my dad whisper.

Those damn fools.

My door swung open. Tristan and my father both stood outside in the hallway.

"The hell you two want?!"

I shouted, picking up my chair.

"Jesus, (F/n)! Calm down! Why're you so mad?"

Tristan entered my room.

"I said, leave me alone!"

I threatened to throw the wooden chair at him.

Before I tried to swing it, Tristan grabbed a hold of my arm while the other grabbed the chair. He then set the chair back down in it's place.

"What's wrong?"

He quietly asked, keeping ahold of my arm.

"Nothing."

I muttered, jerking my arm back from his grasp.

Tristan inaudibly sighed, rubbing his temple.

"A sixteen-year-old girl shouldn't be acting so violent over hatred, y'know?"

I didn't say anything back, but just sat down on the edge of my bed. I didn't want to socialize anymore.

Tristan got the hint and left my room, shutting the door a bit behind him.

Lying down on my bed now, I covered my face with my hands with a long sigh.

I heard a noise and then my bed dipped a bit.

"What is it, (dog's name)?"

I asked without removing my hands from my face.

I heard him whine and rest his chin on my stomach so I rubbed his head.

I got (dog's name) when I was only nine so he's seven-years-old now.  He's a (size) (breed of your choice) with beautiful (color) eyes.

I sat up from my previous laying position and looked down at (dog's name).

"You hate her too, right?  So you can understand where I'm coming from."

He looked up at me and wagged his tail a bit.

(Dog's name) suddenly pounced from off my bed and left into another room.

"Well... that lasted."

I said to myself, getting up.

As soon as I was up, (dog's name) was at my feet, holding his favorite toy in his mouth.

A soft chuckle left my throat as I grabbed the toy from him and threw it out the door.

(Dog's name) bolted out my door again, chasing after the toy that I threw down the hall.

I giggled as I heard the sound of his claws scratch against the wooden floor. The noise stopped for a moment before I heard it again, growing louder.

Before I knew it, he was back, sitting in front me, waiting for me to throw the toy again.

"Oh, (dog's name)~..."

Time Skip

I was looking out my window, watching the sun set when I heard a knock on the front door, downstairs.

"Quincy, can you get that?"

I heard my dad shout.

Sounds like the bitch has arrived.

"Oh~!  Quincy!  How are you?"

I heard her annoying, screechy voice cheer.

I banged my forehead against the windowsill, waiting for the ringing in my ears so I wouldn't have to listen to her anymore.

Sadly, I couldn't knock myself out. After I gave up, I went back to lie on my bed.

Tamara has a daughter, around my age. When we were younger, she would sometimes bring her over. Surprisingly, she wasn't a bitch like her mother. She was actually very sweet.

Then one day, she just stopped bringing her. Not sure why, but I haven't seen her since I was eleven. I wonder how she is? Now that I think about it, none of us have been over to Tamara's house before. Well, that I know of.

Time Skip

A few hours have passed now, and I never left my room once.  Not even when Quincy tried convincing me to come out for dinner.  I really wanted to eat, but not with the real witch in this house.

I heard someone start walking down the hall, so I stopped to listen.  A faint, soft knock was then on my door.  I got up to answer it and I wish I could just slam it shut again.  It was Tamara.

"What?"

I asked with an irritated tone.

"Well I'm leaving now.  Thought I'd at least say bye."

"Okay.  Bye."

I said for her, crossing my arms.

She rolled her eyes, which said "stupid teenagers".

She "smiled" again and grabbed me in a hug.  Which I never hugged back.

"I will get my ways, (f/n).  Just watch.  I'll make you suffer even more."

She whispered.  My eyes widened as I saw my dad show up now.

"Did you hear her?!"

I shouted, shoving her off of me.

"Hear what?"

Tamara then, as usual, blamed it on me.

"I-I just gave her a hug... a-and I told her that I'll see her later!  She thinks I'm lying!"

"Because you are, you fucking bastard!"

I shouted but then immediately regretted.

My dad looked over at me, furious of what I just said.

He came over to me, not knowing how else to discipline me.  So he slapped me.

*SMACK*

I covered the cheek he slapped as I fell to the floor.  He put a lot of force into that slap.  I kept my gaze down as he awkwardly left my room.

Then Tamara knelt down in front of me.

What the hell does she want?

She pulled off her "best" sincere face.  In all honesty, it wasn't that great.

"You deserved that slap, after everything you've done.  You just keep blaming everything on me.  They'll never believe you."

She whispered before standing up again.

I furrowed my brows.

...What?  Is this bitch for real, right now?

Before she left, she landed a kick to my side.  I didn't try to stop her because I knew that if I did, I'd just get in more trouble.

Once I knew Tamara was gone, I sat up against the wall beside my door. There was a scratch so I reached up and opened the door so (dog's name) could come in.

"Hey, boy."

I sighed, rubbing his head.

Flashback End

Jean and I were currently messing around in the halls of HQ.  We were supposed to be outside training with the others, but it's kinda pointless.

Jean found this old leather ball outside on the streets so we were just tossing it to each other.

Jean threw the ball pretty far so I started to run backwards to catch it.  Big mistake.

Just as I was about to catch it, I crashed into someone.  Not just anyone.  I knocked him to the floor, hearing him growl and curse under his breath.

I already knew who it was without having to turn around.

...Shit...

It was Corporal Levi.  One you don't want to mess with.

"I'm so sorry, sir!"

I exclaimed, quickly helping him up.

"Tch.  You two, back outside.  Run laps around HQ until you're six feet underground."

Jean tried his best not to laugh but he failed.

"You're such a child."

I whispered, elbowing his ribs.

"On with it, brats!"

The corporal shouted.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Jean stuttered, saluting before running out to the training grounds.

"Wow."

I mumbled, still standing in place.

"Move your ass!"

He shouted again, shoving me.

"Okay, okay! I'm going!"

I said, defensively.

I looked over my shoulder, at him, once more before I left.  I stopped when I realized the red-headed girl and blonde boy were standing next to Corporal Levi.

He noticed me staring and hardened his glare on me so I quickly made my way outside, rolling my eyes.

Stupid Corporal!

When I got out there, Jean was waving me over.

"Hey! Why weren't you here earlier?"

He asked after jogging over to me.

I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say but I got interrupted.

"(F/n)!!!"

An overjoyed voice shouted, making my ears ring.

I turned my head in the direction of all the yelling and saw Hanji so I gave her a bored look.

"Guess what?!"

She smiled widely, grabbing my hands and almost breaking them from the pressure.

"What?"

I asked.

She started giggling with excitement.  I was losing patience, quickly.

"Would you mind helping me capture some Titans?"

"Jesus..."

I muttered, looking at the ground.

"Experiments?"

I asked, looking back up at her.

"Yep!  So can you help me?"

"...Fine.  I'll just have to get permission from Captain Le-"

"No need for that!"

"Hanji, I have to ask him or else I'll get in troub-"

"I already asked him."

She cut me off.

"Did you?  Did you really?"

"Yes!  I did!  Now come on, we're going to get momma some Titans!"

"Wait- right now?"

"Obviously!  I can't wait any longer!"

She grabbed my wrist and started dragging me towards the horses' stables.

"B-But... I haven't even fought Titans yet."

Hanji stopped and turned around to look at me.

"Well, there's a first time for everything!"

She shrugged, pulling me again.

I slightly chuckled at her response.

When we got inside, I got my horse, (h/n), out and got his saddle and reins on while Hanji did the same with her horse.

"(F/n)!  What about training?"

I heard Jean shout, entering the stables.

"Oh, um... maybe when I get back?"

I answered, putting on my gear.

"Okay."

He sighed, leaving.

"Ready to go?"

Hanji asked me, mounting her horse.

"Yep."

I replied, mounting mine as well.

"Let's go then!"

She cheered, whipping the reins.

I followed Hanji out of the stables and towards the gates of Wall Maria.

A few other cadets joined us because we can't go alone in case something bad happens.

"So what's the plan?"

"We will enter Wall Maria and lure one back towards Karanese.  From there, some Garrison soldiers will have a giant net ready to capture it for us!"

I nodded, looking back in front of me.

"Wait,"

I furrowed my brows when I came to a realization.

"Hm?"

She hummed, looking over at me.

"How are we actually going to get the Titan through the gate?"

"Uh... guess I never thought of that..."

She laughed, rubbing the back of her neck.

I shook my head, laughing a little at her.

"We'll figure something out."

I said.

Time Skip

We made it outside of Karanese and into Maria.  It felt a lot more ominous than before the fall of Wall Maria.

We rode off a little bit more to the nearest forest.

Dismounting our horses to give them a quick break, we tied them to tree trunks and climbed to the highest branches.

I sat down, pondering about the plan.

I looked around the fields surrounding the entrance of the forest we were in.

Then I saw it...

Soldiers.

Dead soldiers.

I watched as the blue, transparent figures fought against the blue, transparent Titans. It was the 57th expedition.

So many dying at once... It was very overwhelming.

Screams, cries... All begging for mercy.

I jumped off the branch, landing on my two feet, stumbling a little when I landed.

It continued on, and on until I felt my form getting shook.

"(F/n)?  What's wrong?"

Everything I was seeing that wasn't physically there, disappeared.  I then looked over and (up/down) at Hanji.

She had concern traced in her brown eyes.

"I'm fine."

I mumbled, walking back over to my horse.

"W-What were you... looking at?"

She asked, slowly walking over to me.

"Nothing."

I sighed, resting my forehead against my horse's neck.

"I said I'm fine."

"You sur-"

"I'm.  Fine."

I said sternly, looking back at her.

"Let's just get your Titan and go home.  Okay?"

"Okay."

She whispered, getting on her horse.

We rode deeper into the forest, waiting for the first Titan that would show up.

As if it were reading our minds, the ground started to shake.

"Oo~! I think we got ourselves a Titan!"

Hanji shouted with pure excitement.

"Everyone, get ready!"

A soldier shouted.

Then a seven-meter class Titan emerged from the trees, immediately spotting us.

"Go!"

Hanji yelled, turning her horse around and going back towards where we entered.

Everyone followed her lead, trying to lure the Titan out of the forest and back to the walls.

I was in the back of the group, keeping an eye out for things. I looked over my shoulder and saw that the Titan wasn't there anymore.

What...? Where did it go?!

I looked back ahead of me, informing the others.

"The Titan's-"

I shouted, but cut myself off.

I had this strange feeling, but I knew what I had to do.

"Hanji! Go left!"

"Wha-? Why?"

She shouted back, looking over her shoulder.

"Just go!"

Hanji nodded, quickly turning left, the others following behind.

That's when the same Titan came running out of the trees where Hanji would've been just moments ago.

The soldiers started screaming, the Titan chasing us again.

A soldier riding in front of me, slowed down so we were riding next to each other.

"(F/n), how did you know?"

He asked.

"I-... I just had a feeling."

I hesitated.

"Thank you, though."

He grinned.

I slightly smiled back before he rode back up to his assigned position.

Flashback

"(Nickname), Tamara is coming over later."

I heard my dad call.

Ugh... Why?!

I stopped stocking the shelves and went to the back-room, where he was.

"Why is she coming?"

"Because she's upset and needs comforting."

"Is it her period again? 'Cause I don't wanna be here for that again!"

"No. It's not her... period. Trust me, I didn't wanna be there either. Anyway, she's upset over some family thing. I'm not sure yet."

"Whatever."

I muttered under my breath, crossing my arms and going back to stocking the shelves.

"You better wipe that attitude away before she gets here."

He shouted so I could hear.

"Like I care!"

I responded.

Time Skip

I just closed the shop a little over an hour ago and right now I was working in the back room.

I was buffing some new ODM swords before they get shipped out to the Garrisons in Wall Sina, tomorrow.

There was a soft noise coming from behind me so I turned around to see what it was.  I didn't see anything at first until it happened again.

On the counter, there was a small pile of cloths that were falling to the ground, one by one.

I rolled my eyes, going over there to pick them up.  When I was kneeling down and folding, there was another noise.

Looking over to my left, I saw transparent legs.  I looked up and it was the spirit of my grandfather.

"Grandpa?"

He smiled down at me.

"Did you do this so I knew you were here?"

He nodded.

"I always knew you were watching over me."

I whispered, chuckling slightly.

When I finished folding the cloths and putting them back on the counter, I adjusted my high ponytail (If your hair is long enough) and dusted off my work apron.

"What are you doing here?"

I asked, leaning against the cabinets.

"Well, I wanted to visit and see if you were doing okay."

"Oh."

"Listen...-"

He started to say but there was a knock on the front door.

I turned my head in the direction of the sound and when I looked back, he was gone.

"Dammit."

I quietly cursed.

I left the workroom and down the hall that led to the house's front door.

Opening it, I saw Tamara.  She looked miserable and upset.

"Come on in."

I mumbled, opening the door wider for her.

"Where's your father at?"

She asked with a wavering voice.

"Upstairs, in the kitchen, probably."

"Okay.  Thank you."

She whispered, going up the stairs.

I went back to the workroom, taking off my apron and hanging it on it's hook before going upstairs where everyone else was.

Quincy was in the living room, next to the stairs, giving Tamara a hug.  My dad then came out of the kitchen and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.  Gag.

"What's wrong?"

He asked, seeing her saddened face.

"That's what I wanted to talk about... It's probably best if I just talk to you about it, alone."

Oh God...

"Kids, how about you go back to your rooms and give us a few minutes."

Dad said.

Quincy and I nodded, going back to our rooms.

"What do you think happened?"

Quincy whispered to me.

"Not sure."

"Wait... do you think you're psychic powers can figure it out?"

"Quincy..."

"Do you think it can?"

He asked again.

"I can try..."

I sighed, slouching.

"Yes!"

He quietly cheered.

Quincy invited me into his room, where I would try and figure out what was up with Tamara.

"Just do whatever you've gotta do."

He said, sitting down on his bed.

I nodded, sitting on the floor, beside his bed and just concentrated.

I could hear my dad and Tamara talking in my head.

"It's about my daughter..."

Tamara said.

I could feel that my dad was about to say something but she stopped him.

"Please don't say her name... I'll start crying again if you do."

"Sorry."

He whispered.

"She... S-She passed away... just a few days ago."

"Wha-?  Tamara, I'm so sorry!"

"Is it working?!"

Quincy shouted, shaking my shoulders.

I opened my eyes, grabbing his wrists so he would stop shaking me.

"It was working before you interrupted me!  Asshole."

"Oh... Oops?  But what did you hear?"

"Her daughter died."

I whispered, sadly.

"Oh my God... How?"

"I don't know.  That's when you shook me."

"Fuck!"

He shouted.

Flashback End

"We're almost there!"

Hanji shouted, pointing towards Karanese.

I looked over my shoulder again, the Titan still following far behind.

"Big bro?"

I heard a voice in my head say.

What?

"Big bro? Are you there? Is that you?"

No...?

Then the feminine voice disappeared.

That was weird...?

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

『Word Count:』3,136

FUCK! I'm sorry it took me so long to update this!

It's almost Christmas break for me, so I'll try my hardest to update then.

Let me know if you liked the chapter!

~AlpineBreadStick