Ymir's Legacy

Ch. 2; Drilled

Once they were dismissed, Aila and the other cadets headed to their dorms to change out of their uniforms to relax. Each dorm had a room shared by four people, Aila shared her dorm with Mikasa, a girl named Annie Leonhart, and Sasha. It made Aila feel relieved to know and have a familiar face in her dorm, and plus, Annie was quite intimidating. Once Aila had gotten to her dorm, she put her belongings away and decided to introduce herself to her dorm-mates. "Hey Mikasa, long time no see.", Mikasa turned around and saw Aila, she stood silent and stared, "Ah, that's right. You probably don't remember me, I mean I understand, it has been a wh-", she was cut off. Mikasa had ran up to her and hugged her tightly, this was rare, she hardly ever hugged anyone, including Eren and Armin. "M-Mikasa? What's the matter?", Aila looked down at Mikasa, and saw tears streaming from her face, she was shocked, she's never seen Mikasa cry. "I-I'm so glad.. I had thought you died in Shiganshina!" "N-No.. I survived but-", she choked. Remembering the horrors that unfolded before her three years prior. She began to shake, she covered her mouth, trying to stop herself from vomiting. Tears began to stream down her face, she was hyperventilating, she couldn't stop the flashbacks. They were as clear as day, she felt as if she was back on that day. She let go of Mikasa and ran out of the dorm towards the bathrooms.

She slammed open the door and ran into the first open stall, falling to her knees, splurging into the toilet bowl. She could hardly breathe, she couldn't see anything aside from her memories. "M-Mom.. dad... I'm sorry, I promise I WILL avenge you.." , BAAM! Someone had burst into the bathroom, "Aila?! Aila?! Where are you?!", it was Mikasa. Aila snapped out of her trance, she weakly said, "H-here..", Mikasa busted through the stall, seeing Aila laying on the ground only being held up by her head, her breathing was finally regulating and slowing down, she could almost see clearly now. Mikasa bent down and held Aila in her arms, "Are you ok? You look horrible! Can you breathe?" "Y-Yeah, I'm ok I just.. I needed to throw up, I didn't want to throw up on you haha", Aila replied with a weak smile across her face. Mikasa helped her stand, putting Aila's arm around her neck while hold onto her back. "Can you walk?" "Yeah, I just need to drink some water or something", she responded. Mikasa nodded and the two began walking out of th restroom and towards their dorm. Mikasa reached to open the door, but the knob turned on its own, opening the door for the two. There she stood, Annie, "I thought I heard footsteps heading this way so I was going to check to see who was coming in", the short blonde stated coldly, she stepped aside, allowing the two in.

Mikasa laid Aila down on the bottom bunk of a bed, "T-Thanks.. both of you", Mikasa smiled a little. Annie headed towards the bed, she sat on the foot, "No worries, had Mikasa here not run after you I would have, you looked like you were going to pass out" "Well I almost did, thank you for the concern", Mikasa's smile faded, "Aila, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring back painful memories... I just missed you so-" "It's alright", Aila said cutting her off. Annie rested her feet on the bed and crossed her arms, "So, what caused that anyways?, Mikasa shot Annie a piercing glare. Aila sighed, she sat up and stared into her palms, "I just, had a panic attack is all, I remembered that day, three years ago, I lost.. everything...", Aila saw a hand hold and caress hers, she looked up to see Mikasa holding her hand. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" "No.. it's ok, I haven't told anyone what happened, I think I should", Mikasa squeezed her hand, nodding in understanding. Annie stayed still and silent, curious about what her story was. "When the colossal attacked, I was right by you, Armin, and Eren, I was on my way home when I saw you guys. I was going to come over and say hi but... that's when it happened", Aila frowned, clenching her other hand. "The colossal had appeared, before I knew it, I was pushed back by the force of the wall breaking and lost you guys. When I could see clearly and stand, I realized my parents were still home, so I ran towards my house.. but when I got there..", tears began to well up in her eyes, Mikasa now sitting next to her wrapped her arm around Aila to try and comfort her. "W-When I got there, half my house was crushed, my father had been crushed by the rock on top of the house, my mother tried to lift the rock but.. it was no use...", Annie gripped onto her jacket, still silent. "When my mother realized it was too late for my father, she grabbed hold of my hand and we began to run, but once we got into the inner wall.. my mother collapsed to her knees because of my father's death, but a soldier from the Garrison came up to us and told us to keep moving. However.. once she stood up, the inner wall broke too, and a boulder came flying, the soldier managed to throw me away but... he and my mother were crushed under it. Once I came to, I looked over and- and I saw the boulder with blood splattered from under it.. and my mother's a-arm... sticking out from under it", once Aila finished talking, she looked up to see Annie AND Mikasa holding her. Mikasa was crying, "A-Aila I.. I'm so sorry.." "It's ok Mikasa.. it wasn't your fault...", Aila began to sob, but she soon said through her tears and teeth, "That's when I saw it.. that monster... the armored!", Mikasa let go slightly and looked at Aila's face, her eyes widened, "I will kill it.. I HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO KILL THE ARMORED!", Annie too backed up slightly, hiding her face with her hair. "That's why I joined the cadets... because I WILL take back our home and I WILL kill the armored titan that took EVERYTHING from me!", Mikasa held Aila's hand and looked her in the eyes, "Ok.. I will help you, I promise", Aila squeezed her hand back, nodding in agreement. However, Annie stood up and walked towards the door, but before leaving she stopped at the door, "Aila", Aila looked up to see Annie facing the door, hiding her face, "I will also help you get your revenge, you can count on it.", and with that, Annie left the room, crying.