1 Chapter 1: The Revenant

Ron woke up with a start, his body drenched in sweat and his heart racing. He had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there. All he knew was that he was surrounded by darkness and the air was thick with the stench of death.

As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, Ron saw that he was in some kind of underground tunnel. He could hear the faint sound of footsteps approaching and the eerie whispers of the wind.

Ron tried to stand, but his legs felt weak and unsteady. He stumbled and fell to the ground, his head hitting the hard earth with a thud. He groaned and closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them again, he would find himself somewhere else.

But when he opened his eyes, nothing had changed. He was still in the dark, dank tunnel, and the footsteps were getting closer.

Panicked, Ron scrambled to his feet and began to run. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he had to get away from whatever was coming for him.

As he ran, Ron's mind was filled with flashes of memories he couldn't quite grasp. He saw images of a burning city, of giant humanoid creatures with grotesque faces and gnashing teeth. He saw the faces of people he didn't know but somehow felt a deep connection to.

And then, as he reached the end of the tunnel, Ron saw something that made his blood run cold.

Ahead of him, standing tall and proud, was a Titan.

Ron froze in place, his eyes locked on the monstrosity before him. He knew he should run, but his legs wouldn't move. He was trapped, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the Titan found him.

But then, something strange happened. The Titan's eyes seemed to focus on Ron, and for a moment, it was as if it was looking straight through him. And then, with a roar that shook the ground, the Titan swung its arm, smashing the wall of the tunnel and revealing a sliver of daylight.

Ron felt a surge of hope and began to run again. He burst through the opening and into the light, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he ran, Ron couldn't shake the feeling that he had been here before. That this was all somehow familiar to him. And then, as he stumbled through the ruins of a city he didn't recognize, he saw something that made everything fall into place.

There, on the ground, was a broken blade with the initials "JK" etched into the hilt.

Jean Kirstein.