chap 2
The world was chaos.
Screams tore through the streets of Shiganshina as debris rained down like shards of the sky itself. Mothers clutched their children, men barked frantic orders that no one followed, and the ground quaked beneath the aftershock of the Wall's collapse. Dust and smoke filled the air, making every breath a choking struggle.
I stumbled with the crowd, my smaller legs barely keeping pace with the rushing tide of panicked adults. At any second, I expected a falling boulder to crush me—or worse, a Titan's massive hand to pluck me away like a doll. My heart hadn't slowed since the Colossal Titan's kick. It slammed against my ribs so violently, I thought it would burst out of my chest.
"This can't be real… it can't be real…" I muttered, my voice swallowed by the chaos. But the ringing in my ears, the metallic stench of blood, and the sheer suffocating dread pressing on my body all screamed the same truth: this was reality.
No. Calm down, Ray. Yes—my name is Ray. Don't panic. I already know this story, don't I? I know what comes next. The best way to survive isn't the Wall gate—no, that's where everyone's heading, and that's where the Armored Titan will strike. The true escape is the boats at the river.
But here's the problem—I'm not from this world. I don't know these streets, these paths. I'm a stranger dropped into a nightmare, and no one is going to stop and give a terrified child directions in the middle of this chaos.
Think, Ray. Think. There has to be a way. I can do this… I have to do this.
Okay… I remember. The nearly largest chunk of stone the Colossal kicked landed to my left—not too far. I can still see it, looming like some cursed monument. It's been nearly a minute since the Wall was breached. According to canon, Eren and Mikasa should be on their way home right about now. And that massive slab of debris… if memory serves, it's resting directly on top of Eren's house.
Which means the scene is about to unfold—the one burned into every fan's memory. They'll arrive, only to find their home reduced to rubble. His mother, trapped. Helpless. And then… that Titan. The so‑called "Stepmother Titan," the one who will devour Eren's mom before his very eyes. Afterward, Hannes will drag the kids to the river, forcing them onto the boat—their only chance of survival.
That's how it should happen. But standing here, staring at the wreckage, doubt creeps in. Is this really the same stone? Or just one of many massive rocks littering Shiganshina? I can't be sure. The canon is my only guide, but what if this world doesn't play by the same script?
It's a gamble. Live or die—all of it hinges on whether I'm right. But if I don't take the risk, I'll die anyway, crushed or eaten like the rest. My chest feels tight, my breath sharp, but I force the thought down.
No more hesitation. Here goes nothing…