The darkness slowly fades away, as the boy's eyes flicker open. Cringing from the light of a candle, his mind feels numb, as if he has just woken up from a deep slumber.
Suddenly, flashes of tall, human looking demons flash through his mind. The horrific scene of them swarming around him, crazed looks in their eyes sends shivers downs his spine.
The large hands grasping him, raising him up to be devoured…. And that is where his memories stop. That is all he remembers about anything.
"Ghaaa!" He screams shooting up from his lying position, sweat dripping down his brow as he pants.. "Titans. Where?" He asks, breathless.
"Hey kid. Calm down. Your safe." A calm emotionless voice states.
"W-who are you?" The boy asks. The man who spoke earlier is sitting across from him, on the other side of the prison bars.
The man is short, standing at around 5ft4, with short well kept black hair and pale skin. Sitting next to him is a tall man, white shirt well kept blond hair, and wide shoulders.
"My name is Captain Levi, and the man standing next to me is the newly appointed commander of the scouts, Commander Erwin." Levi states calmly before asking, "And what's your name?"
"My name is…. Well…. I don't know?" The boy states, grasping his face with his hand as if trying to think.
"You don't know? Do you remember anything?" Levi asks again.
The boy can only shake his head, "I only remember the titans. Their ugly horrid faces. I remember being picked up by them, being too petrified to move, but after that it all goes dark."
"I see." Erwin states, his eyes staring deep into the boy, making him a little uncomfortable.
"So, you have no memory of being a titan then?"
"Being a Titan? What are you talking about? That's insane!" The boy whispers, his eyes now glued to the commander.
The commander nods, his expression softening as he states, "I see. Well, as absurd as it sounds, you were pulled from the back of a Titan."
The boy freezes upon hearing that, brief memories of himself punching the Titan that had picked them out filling his mind, but remaining foggy.
"I kind of remember punching a titan, but not clearly." The boy murmurs.
"I see."
Before the conversation can proceed any further, the door at the top of the stone staircase bursts open revealing the slender figure of a woman.
"Where is he? Where!" She shouts as she flies down the stairs. Her maroon red hair seems to almost glow along with her chocolate brown eyes.
Before Levi or Erwin can react, she is already within the cell. Without hesitation, she lunges at the boy on the cot, much to his surprise. "Huh what!?"
"Hehe mine!" She shouts as she tackles him with a hug. "Gotcha! I heard your a Titan? Explain? What did it feel like? Did you want to eat people?" She asks.
Despite the surprise, the boy kind of melts into her arms. He doesn't know why, but he can't help but to feel safe in her arms, despite the barrage of questions.
"Hange! Get out of there this instant. The boy might be a threat." Levi groans as he can't help but dislike Hange disregarding her own safety.
"Ohhh it's fine. How could this cute little guy hurt me? He seems harmless. Aren't you?" She asks him.
He nods his head, "Yeah. I don't want to hurt anyone."
Hearing this, Hange smiles at Levi before stating, "See?"
"As for your questions, sorry but I don't remember." He replies with a disappointed expression.
"Aw it's okay kiddo. I'm sure it'll come back to you." She says with a wide grin.
"Um yeah. Where am I anyways?" He asks looking around.
"Hm? Your currently under the Scout headquarters in wall Rose." Erwin responds as Hange finally gives up her hug, heading back to the other side of the cell.
"Scouts? Wall Rose? What is that?" The boy asks, his brow scrunching up in confusion.
The three can't help but look at each other incredulously. "You don't know about the walls?"
"The walls?" He asks confused.
This answer alone was enough for the three to realize he truly remembers almost anything.
After a moment of quiet conversation among the three, Erwin turns to the boy, "Boy. Recently, the titans broke through the first wall. They devoured nearly half of humanity.
Thousands of families were murdered. Men, women, children, soldiers, and civilians were all murdered by titans. Hearing this, what do you think."
The boy can't help but grit his teeth. The image of the demons filling his mind. The thoughts that so many innocent people were murdered.
"I…. I hate them…. I wish they would just disappear." He states quietly, his face contorting into a mix of fear and hate.
As he thinks about this, a flash of hatred surges through him. His memories are clouded, so much so that he can't even understand where this emotion is coming from.
However, one thing is clear to him. Filled with this emotion he declares, "I don't know what…. But they have taken something from me. Something precious. I can never forgive them. I can't see what it is, but it's something precious to me."
The three scout officers all look to each other before nodding….
"Give us a moment." Erwin says, leading the other two up the stairs.
Then heading upstairs gives the boy some time to look around his cell. Dispute being a prison, it is quite comfortable.
The room is well lit by many candles hanging from the ceiling, and the temperature wasn't too cold. That paired with the comfortable straw bed seemed to give him a good impression on his 'captors.'
Besides, he can't blame them for imprisoning him. If what they say about him being able to transform into a titan is true, locking him up is a must.
Glancing over at the wall to the right, the boy sees his own reflection in a mirror that is placed on the wall.
The boy can't help but be slightly excited to see himself…. After all he can't remember anything. Not even his own appearance.
The boy looks to be around 15 years old. He looks like he stands around 5ft9, and has short unkept blond hair, simple pale skin, glistening green eyes, and a strong jaw.
One thing that surprises the boy is his own physique. Strangely, his body is extremely well defined, his muscles seem to be very robust and filled with energy and power.
"I don't feel liked I ever should have been built like this." The boy mutters to himself in surprise. While his appearance for the most part feels very familiar, his body's muscular build does not. He can almost tell that it wasn't like that before.
After a few more moments of waiting, the three enter the room again, returning to their spots.
After only a brief moment of silence Erwin begins to speak. "Boy, let me start by explaining how this world works to you briefly."
The boy nods, patiently waiting for him to continue. Erwin, satisfied with the attention the boy is giving him nods his head and continues his explanation.
"Within these walls, humanity cowers from the threat of the titans. Under the leadership of our king we hide within our walls. We pretend the titans outside are nothing more than nightmares who we will never see.
That was until Wall Maria fell. Now people have begun to grow ancy. They cannot help but worry.
Despite this, they still go on pretending that they are safe. That they live in peace. They believe that the titans are an enemy we can never defeat.
However we scouts are different. We refuse to believe that humanity's future remains within the walls! We refuse to sit by as our people are butchered like cattle!
Unfortunately, to some people, this isn't enough. Because we scouts haven't made any significant progress in our expeditions outside the walls, our support from the both the people and the government is lacking.
They have given up on taking back what belongs to us. Wall Maria and the world beyond even that great wall.
However, if you possess the ability to transform into a titan and can control it, we may have a real fighting chance.
Do you understand what I'm asking you son? I know this is a lot for someone who just came to, but it is pivotal that we know where you stand. We need you." Erwin stated calmly.
Hearing this, the boy can't help but feel his heart beating in his chest. He can do this.. he can be the one to crush the titans…. He can save humanity!
"I understand sir. I want to join you. Let me join you!" The boy shouts, his passion radiating outwards. His excitement, fear, anger, and happiness all mixed into his voice.
Hearing his response and seeing the determination in the boys eyes, Erwin can't help but grin. "Good. Well then boy, this is the beginning of your new life. As such, I promise to take you under my wing.
As of this moment, I wish to adopt you as my son. Do you accept?" The man asks.
"Y-your son?" The boy stutters shocked. "W-why?" He asks.
"First, it's to give you a reason to be with me inside Scout headquarters without having to join the Military. Secondly, it's because I see something in you. Something I want to watch grow. I want to help you develop into the man who will protect these walls, and to retake the world outside…". Erwin declares calmly, a warm look in his eyes.
Hearing this, the boy freezes up. Sure there was motivation behind it, but the man in front of him truly wants him to be his son…. He has expectations for him! He wants to guide him!
For an unknown reason, the boy begins to tear up. For whatever reason, he knows he has never had someone look at him the way Erwin is currently doing so. No one has ever looked at him with such warmth and excitement.
"Yeah. I would love that."
Erwin nods, "Good. Then I will give you the name of my father…. From now on, you will be known as, Gillian Smith…. My son."
With a smile and a sharp nod, Gillian smiles, "Yes father!"