[center][h2][color=Moccasin][b]Reese Kestrel[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6p6UEsQABs[/youtube][/center]

[indent][color=Gray][i]A heartbeat.[/i]

Or had it been several?

There was nothing that Reese could do; their imminent defeat was sure to come, and the boy was but another lost soul in the faceless crowd. Everything had happened too fast for him and his mind to handle emotionally, the madness taking a toll on his mental state as he was being helplessly carried through the massive mob at the northern gate. [b]"Let me through!"[/b] Maston would say as the butcher struggled through the frightful people, a desperate bravado in his voice. [b]"I have a child!"[/b]

It was without a doubt that grave damage was about to be dealt to humanity; a defeat so great that it had already begun to number their days. He imagined how life within the safe confines of Wall Sina, ignorant to the atrocity and great loss of life on this day, would not change. What would the government do, anyway? It was the military who were supposed to take action, and here, Reese watched the Garrison fearfully gather in small pockets around and on the northern gate, afraid to do a single thing.[/color]

[color=Moccasin][b]"This can't be it,"[/b][/color] [color=Gray]Reese conflicted within himself, at a disagreement with reality itself. His trembling fingers locked around one another, pressing into and around his skin. It [i]was[/i] all real.[/color] [color=Moccasin][b]"Uncle..."[/b][/color]

[color=Gray][i][b]"What are we doing?!"[/b][/i]

Reese's head snapped to the roaring voice, trying to find its owner among the people. [b]"Why are we standing here while the titans continue their destruction this way?!"[/b] His face lit up with surprise as it belonged to one of the Garrison stationed in the district, a fairly-built young man with strangely-fashioned black hair, and stormy-gray eyes that could easily captivate others' attention. He had shouted from halfway down the wall, using his gear to begin downwards as his feet kept himself near the base of the structure.

The boy was among others to look up at the soldier, but he had been speaking to the other Garrison members who refused to act. [b]"This section of the wall will also be breached if we don't stop those titans!"[/b] the soldier continued, drawing two blades from the boxes at his thighs and brandishing his weapons. [b]"And more people, more families, more children, will be killed if nothing will be done!"[/b]

[i][b]"If we fall now, our lives, our training will mean nothing! All of those who died today will mean nothing!"[/b][/i]

[b]"We are the watchers on the wall,"[/b] the soldier's voice cracked with passion, pointing a blade towards the central point where the titans were encroaching upon their position. [i][b]"Our lives, or theirs!"[/b][/i]

For the moment that Reese had listen to the soldier's talk, he felt a small ignition burn inside of his heart, even as his own cowardice and uncertainty remained. [b]"Garrison, to me! Bixon, Asher, do not shut this gate until everyone has made it through!"[/b]

Even with the soldier's willingness to take control of the Garrison, a majority of the other soldiers did not listen to him as only few joined the young man as they flew back into the titan-infested district. Mere moments later, and only the smoke from the battlefield that transformed Shiganshina District remained in sight. As Maston arrived at the dock of the boats, he placed Reese down to his feet, kneeling and urgently sending the boy off first with blessings for safety.

Reese's legs mindlessly guided the boy towards the boat, the soldier reaching beyond the crowd to specifically accept him first. The youth's vision was blurry from the hysteria, finding a clear spot for himself as he sat down on the main deck of the boat. He cradled his legs into his chest, his chin resting at his knees as the boy tried to contain his tears. Even in safety, there was nothing but his memories of the dead to haunt him.[/color][/indent]