Grant Hyral
Post ThemeWall Maria - Shiganshina District
With every step that Grant took, he could feel his body grow weaker and weaker. There was a sound in the sky, the eerie screams of residents that he did not know, nor would he ever know, filled the air like a virus infestation. It was still a fresh sound. In the short space of time that Grant felt had ticked away, there was no cease to the screams and death heard in the distance. Grant was lucky to have a horse in the first place, let alone almost end his life to save some random individuals. Why had he done that? He wasn't against living, as he'd more likely benefit more if he did, but that was something different...
As he continued his run, the crowds of people seemed to be thinning by the boat. Less and less seemed to be heading over, which probably meant there were Titans nearby. It was likely that most of the people who tried going for the boat either went for the gate or died trying to do either. Grant felt lucky; he felt blessed for what had happened. The soldiers, right on time, saved him from something that nearly tore him to pieces. Any second later, and the chances of Grant's survival would have been minimal, if they weren't small enough already. A boy of his age...Against a Titan that size. Even for a slow titan, it would have caught up eventually. The sight of it chasing behind him left him worried, almost completely frightened of what he'd witnessed.
His eyes rolled within their sockets, where his lens focused slowly onto the sights around. Amongst the sounds of hell, Shiganshina had buildings that looked much like the ancients' own. There were natural pieces of shrapnel, where mud, rock, concrete and blood all formed a compound so disgusting and discomforting that Grant could almost feel himself throw up inside his own neck. It was vile. The world was vile. He had lived outside the walls all his life, and upon visiting these districts, he felt even more isolated. Trapped within what seemed to be a feeding cage, there couldn't be a worse area for someone who valued space and freedom.
Eventually, he came to a halt, panting for air to reach his lungs. Grant was exhausted, but he was there. The boat, large in its size, stared down at where he was. It's hull felt daunting, almost terrifying. But as he approached, there was no sign of anyone really. Luca must have been cut off from his journey to the Boat, and there was no doubt that Mateo would have ran for the Headquarters. Whether or not either of them were stupid for doing so, it couldn't matter to Grant. He had no say in it, nor did he have the power to change anything that might happen. Slowly, he approached the boarding ramp, where children were being prioritised in loading aboard.
A man tried pushing past Grant, as he panicked to get a-front of the line and onto the boat. Everyone was like that, but Grant simply persevered onwards. He was guided by a member with the Military Police insignia embedded onto his chest. There, he could see more and more people on the Boat, begging for either loved ones to make it on-board or for the boat to actually start moving. Everyone was on edge, there was no denying it. No one could keep calm, and no one should keep calm. It was like the apocalypse, only more gruesome to every teeth, bone and muscle crushed beneath the skin or teeth of humanity's greatest predator. A slaughter, fit for the Titans. Today's big game hunt...The rest of humanity as anyone knew it.
Eventually, Grant felt his feet level off, as he ascended onto the boat's deck. Here, people were sitting down, stood up or running around in sheer panic. No one knew how to react. No one knew how to cope with their losses. Grant felt guilty. He hadn't lost anyone, at least not from his knowledge. Providing Mateo would survive, and that Luca had made a B-line straight for Trost, no one in his family were dead. Well...He didn't know about his parents...Or his brothers and sisters...
Grant went near a bench, where a couple of people were sitting. From there, he leaned against the wooden railings of the boat, feeling his eyes cloud up greatly. The sorrow of everyone around him was starting to get to him. He couldn't watch people suffer like this. Those who were put out of their misery could have passed as the lucky ones. They didn't have to witness what Grant was seeing. The sufferig for them had ended, but it caused more suffering for those still left. And now, all Grant could think about was his home. The titans were breaching a district...A full district. His family and birthplace was outside...It was there, unprotected and unknown to most. What if the Titans had reached there? What if they were still there, unknowing of what had happened? But what if they knew what was happening? They must be worried, they couldn't sit idle and wait for their son to die. Or could they? Were they already dead?
So many questions caused for Grant to shed a tear. He'd never been emotional in his life, it just wasn't his character. But today had gotten the worst out of him, or at least the worst so far. There was nothing he could do to help these individuals. There wouldn't be any way to help them, not from what he could tell. There was no one aboard to comfort him, or share the pain he had of watching everyone else's. The world felt like it was crumbling down. Grant was crumbling down, slowly, piece by bloody piece. For once more, he was there, alone and friendless aboard the only ticket guaranteed to get them to safety. Once more, he was out of the reach of love and comfort. Grant never wanted to see something like this again...He knew that he couldn't stand for it. He wanted to protect everyone, just like those girls he nearly killed himself over. Something that could make a difference, any difference, would matter to him.
Banned
