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Grey clouds curtain over the woods as raindrops stain the muddy landscape, leaving the footprints marked behind them non-existent.
Mikasa can feel her unsteady pulse pound on almost every fibre of her body. The Titan races them from behind. Its profound size is the only reason she and her childhood friend could get ahead of it. Their first encounter with it still sees no end. Eren didn’t register earlier what hand he grabbed to run alongside her. Never let it go even when they trip or tumble into thorns, deepening old abrasions. The marathon sees no end and she could feel his energy deplete. She decided mid-way to lead them. After losing vision in his right eye when escaping the Titan which was once his best friend Armin, the path ahead became jaggy. The day before he caused both of them to fall into a large pothole, gaining Mikasa a major scar on her right cheek that disgruntles him every time he sees it. He’ll never admit it as he wants to appear strong for the one person he is alive to protect. The reason he keeps fighting. If they don’t fight they die.
The creature sounds far away enough, only to Eren at least. He doesn’t realize where they are until his friend stops to tap his shoulder.
“Let’s go over there,” Mikasa signs, pointing to the entrance of a dark building in front of the parking lot they stood in.
The decay is pungent upon entering. You can’t joke that rain is leaking through the building's ceiling because it is already a skeleton of what it used to be. Mikasa maintains her position as a bodyguard, confirming no sign of a threat with each turned corner. A five-star hotel. Now a lifeless image of earthly possessions that are of no use. Evidently, a large pile of ragged clothes in a pyramid shape sits in the middle.
Rumble. Rumble. Rumble. The Titan makes its approaching presence known. Hands still held, the pair instinctively hide under a mouldy kiosk desk. Eren tries to make the best out of his good eye to peek over the table to make sure the coast is clear. He unclasps their tangled hands, signalling to Mikasa that they can shelter within the deserted place for some time. They ensure not to lose sight of one another as they comb through the empty building, There is truly no sign of any inhabitants. Animal nor human. A shiny metal blocks Eren’s peripheral while he searches for useful objects. A camcorder. The glass barrier enclosing a gadget shop looks broken into. Vintage televisions and Polaroids sit arranged for the shopper's intrigue. Curious, he opens the LCD monitor expecting to be disappointed yet it powers on. Mikasa’s eyes are empty as she wanders around the same area, unsure of what she needs to be looking for until the camcorder in her face pulls her attention. Eren stays unmoving, clearly enchanted by what is reflected to him in the viewfinder. Her neck-length hair is pin straight just like it had been before havoc wreaked on Earth. Most obviously, the scar appears to be gone— healed almost. If only it were so, Eren confesses in his mind. He notices her concerned expression and passes the device to her, standing in front of the shattered glass. She instantly draws the device down, shocked by the footage rolling in real-time. Putting it up to her eye again she walks closer to the tall boy. The untainted skin on his face, the fresh shirt, and the sunny hues outlining his figure are otherworldly. The footage’s clarity is good enough to fool a drunk mind. His hair is still short just like she had cut it before the chaos ensued, but his eyes expose the dream-like footage. The perfect appearance of them makes her feel uneasy because she is growing used to his new look.
“My eye. I look better in the camera, no?” Eren’s fingers are sharp with amusement as he smiles shyly.
“The camera’s cool, but you’re more handsome without it,” Mikasa reassures and gently brushes her fingers across his rough-surfaced face.
The two spend uncounted hours filming themselves around the facility. Youthful laughter fills the void as they play pretend, creating the story of a new couple in each store. With the camcorder still in hand, they enter a run-down restaurant. Cobwebs and mouldy plates decorate the opulent space. The story of this new couple is that they are on an anniversary date. Eren suggests they both imagine eating macaroons. A delicacy they once enjoyed. Mikasa fakes the motion of biting into it when her eyebrows raise.
“It feels like I really ate it,” She tells Eren.
He attempts the action. Biting into nothing he imagines the flavour, fooled momentarily by the memory of the macaroon. Mikasa giggles peering at his acting, deciding to play into it and wipe powdered sugar off the corner of his mouth. The next scene is of a couple crashing an engagement party. Non-existing figures are in disarray. Their peaceful meals are disturbed by this couple, who steal cups and turkey legs to cheer on the lovely evening. It is time for the next story. Eren leads his lover into a wedding attire boutique, playing the role of a rich fiancé. Slipping into the dusty wedding clothes, bashful at the sight of each person undressing. The boutique still has a functioning photo booth in the corner, so they take the opportunity to take free photographs. Starting with a simple arm-linked pose, they break out into laughter at their seriousness, choosing to loosen up and pose comfortably. Mikasa grabs her fake fiancé’s face for a Cheek-To-Cheek, then sits on his lap for one more serious one but they are unable to contain laughter. Eren models in front of the photo booth lens, grinning his go-to grin as Mikasa fixes his middle part. Having enough of the mini-photoshoot, the next location is a random office where pillow fights emerge and dart games with VHS tapes are played against a wall. Mikasa makes it known to Eren that their wedding guests are awaiting them back in the restaurant.
He agrees, “Let’s put on another show for them.”
The newlyweds are back in the crowd. Mikasa performs a classic love song for the faceless audience using a microphone from the gadget shop. Her handsome husband congratulated his beloved with a flower to decorate her hair. They sing a duet version of the classic hit. Never breaking eye contact; bewitched by the fantasy of another life. A fantasy that runs short. A thudding quake accompanies the duet. Their smiles drop. The restaurant walls break down, revealing the abnormal creature that has been hunting them down. A chase commences. Pulling each other by the hands on a path to various flights of stairs that lead nowhere. They stop in front of an opening which calls out to them. A crack in the hotel's concrete wall, sneaking in sunlight from the outside. They are at a crossroads. Eren stares at the landscape, roaring with other deadly Titans that he can count by hand. They both realize their only option is to run back down. To the entrance of the building. The Titan trails closer as tired bodies make their way back to the pyramid of clothes. The giant body jumps from the floor it chases them to the ground floor, leaving them out of luck.
Mikasa picks up a pipe, hoping to seize the last chance of survival. If we don’t fight we can’t win. Eren jumps involuntarily to whisk away the object. If they have truly been forsaken then he won’t stop without a fight. Painted with tears on his face he stabs the creature's legs with all that’s left in him. Managing to do a small portion of harm. He hits it repeatedly stopping only when the pipe breaks. Mikasa watches as he collapses onto the ground in defeat. Insult to injury. The Titan swaying while it steps closer. Mikasa crouches down to her protector, hugging him tightly. Eren covers her hand on his chest, his body shakes but he is calmed by Mikasa’s three taps against his chest. I. Love. You. She keeps her streaming eyes ahead, covering his good eye with her left palm. Doing what she can to protect him from their end. The colossal-sized creature’s foot raises, a blood-stained colour appearing in view. Not a single regret remains from either of them. No regret to choose to perseverance, to indulge in escapism, or to love one another.
the end