[center][h1][b][color=darksalmon]C H A R L O T T E[/color][/b][/h1][hr][b][color=gray]SHIGANSHINA DISTRICT — WALL MARIA[/color][/b][/center][hr]
Unlike the many other townspeople attempting to scurry to safety, Charlie's face barely showed a hint of panic. Instead, total dread stiffened the muscles in her face, her unmoving expression giving off a feeling of eerie calmness within the utter chaos that surrounded her. She hadn't shouted for help, nor screamed in terror at the corpse littered streets even once. Never was she one to let those sorts of emotions mould the expressions on her face.

But her panic spoke through her breathing, her running, even Charlie could feel her mental process beginning to crumble under all the sudden stress that had been placed on her, the thought that an excruciating death awaited her just a few neighbourhoods away. She was exhausted, absolutely [i]shattered[/i], she just couldn't anymore. The only thought that kept her legs from giving out under her was the distant sound of heavy footsteps following her. Charlie didn't even look back.

A sharp tug at her wrist made Charlie let out a horrified gasp, and for the first time since the attack she turned her head to look back. It was her mother, sweat drenched and panting as hard as she was, her grip only tightening as she dragged Charlie forward without a word. 

[b]"[color=darksalmon]Mother, where's—[/color]”[/b]

[b]"The boats,"[/b] her mother cut in. [b]"We're going to the boats."[/b]

Charlie's mother seemed to be unfazed by the disaster unfolding before her eyes, remaining calm and collected in the midst of terrorised screams and chaotic crowds. Not a shred of fear or horror was brought to the surface, or rather, she refused to let it show; the woman was dead set on her goal to get to safety. She wasn't looking back, leaving everything else behind her to die.

[b]"[color=darksalmon]Mother![/color]”[/b] Charlie exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. There was only one thing she was intent on not leaving behind for the titans to take over.

[b]"[color=darksalmon]Father. Where is he?[/color]”[/b] she said, her voice wavering a little in all its desperately mustered seriousness. Her mother seemed to have clicked her tongue at the question, and only continued to tug at her daughter's wrist again.

[b]"Charlotte, this is not the time—"[/b]

[b]"[color=darksalmon]Did you [i]leave[/i] him behind?—[/color]”[/b]

[b]"I'm telling you Charlotte, he is long dead!"[/b] her mother finally snapped, pulling Charlie along the road more roughly than she did beforehand. [b]"If you look back, all you will see is titans. There's no hope for anyone back there!"[/b]

That harsh statement delivered in an equally as harsh tone left Charlie silent. Emotion was completely drained from her face, only a hollow look left in her brightly coloured eyes. Although she was slow to run, she wasn't hesitant to follow, simply letting her mother drag her across the street like a rag doll. Soon they were within the vicinity of the evacuation boats, and the pair's running pace slowed. Although the two weren't out of the clear yet, with other panicked civilians trying push and shove their way into their only chance of escape, Charlie took this time to gather her jumbled emotions back together. Her town, her home, her father, all gone. It had all happened too fast for her to mentally process anything, too fast for her to even let out a tear of sorrow.

Charlie's mother loosened the grip on her daughter's wrist, and slipped her fingers into her hand. Charlie felt small goosebumps prickling her skin at the unfamiliar contact.

[b]"I'll tell you everything once we get onto that boat,"[/b] her mother said looking ahead at the frightened crowd, stern but reassuring.

For once, Charlie quietly nodded and agreed.