Chapter 3

The path was long and dark, as they walked through the dark forest Eren thought about his little brother. What was his first experience entering Darkest Ground and what horrors his brother would face alone? Most online games he played have public chat channels, party chat or private channels but this game was on a level of real life the only way of communicating was by face to face.

This world has nothing but death and horror and there's no telling what kind of monster he would face next. Eren then let go of his worries, knowing that his brother is skilled just like him. He was sure that his brother would manage. Eren then looked at Sarah.

"Have you ever lost someone, Hunter?" Sarah asked him, looking down towards the ground.

He looked at Sarah thinking about what she said, remembering that day like it was yesterday. February 15, 2088, it was a rainy day both Eren and his father were riding in the car heading home from their family get together. They do this every once a year, sometimes they'll go up there to Ohio or sometimes Allen and their mother would come down to where they live. Eren and his father don't get along as much his dad was a retired veteran, and he wanted him to be in his shoes.

"Eren you listen to me! There's more to life than just sitting at home playing video games! I've served 25 years in the military and protected our country! I will not see you waste your time on games for the rest of your life!"

Eren's father was very blunt, reaching towards his glove department he grabbed a registration sheet and put it on Eren's chest.

"Here son I'm doing you a favor! Like my father did me even though at first I didn't understand but as the year went by, I've seen what the world truly is! It's not like you and your brothers fantasy games fighting dragons and all that bullshit! Life is hard and it will beat you dead and I don't want you to waste your life!"

Eren looked at the paperwork and tossed it to the floor.

"One day you will see my son. I'm only hard on you because I love you. But your 18 now and you need to decide and sometimes the wrong decision will follow you for the rest of your life."

Eren's father pulled over to a breakfast bar

They were an hour away from home, since the arguing made him and his dad hungry they got something to eat. They entered the restaurant and sat down at the front desk, as a young nice country girl who looked like she was a model came to take their order.

"That weather is not being kind to y'all today. Can I get you young boys anything? Drinks are free tonight."

She smiled at them with her perfect skin tone, pulling her notepad and pen from her breast.

"A coffee and all star breakfast, please darling." She smiled at him and wrote down his order and then looked towards Eren

"And what about you sweetheart?" Eren didn't respond to her at all since he was so focused on her figure, a sharp pain hit his rib getting his attention.

"Pay attention boy the girl is asking you what you wanna eat."

Eren holding his side grunting pointing towards the all star breakfast as well and a class orange juice. The waitress then smiled and wrote down his order.

"I'm Sorry sweet heart my son is lost for words sometimes when speaking to girls." The waitress laughed.

"It's fine I get that all the time. My pa always told me to stop putting so much makeup on and wear tight outfits when I talk to customers. But enough about me let me get your order taken care of. I'll be back in a jiffy."

The waitress walked away from them to put in their order. A alert sound came from Eren's phone, grabbing it he saw that Allen sent him a text message.

"Hey bro did you and dad make it home safely?" Eren replied back.

"Almost there we still got an hour to go. We stopped to get something to eat." Eren sent back the text to his brother.

"Ok well I'm going to bed. Moms say she loves you and dad also. Don't take what he says to personally he means well. Love you bro."

Turning the screen off, as the waitress came back with their drinks but also their food as well.

"Now see that didn't take too long did it?" She smiled, placing their food on the table.

"Wow that was fast. Thank you ma'am" Eren's father smiled as he prayed over his food first then dug in.

"You need anything else handsome?"

Eren stared at the waitress again. leaning towards him revealing the top of her perfect breast, another sharp pain came in the rib. Grabbing his side the pain felt just as bad as the first. The waitress laughed again and walked away.

"Son how many times I have to tell you? Speak when spoken too." His father went back to eating his food.

Eren didn't feel like arguing and started eating alongside his dad. After a while their plates were clean and their stomachs full. Eren's father called out to the young waitress to get their receipt. She was until a loud noise of motorbikes came rushing nearby.

"Shit! Their back again. Always trouble with these guys."

The young waitress rushed back to the kitchen. Eren looked to see who the bikers were, on the back of their large black coat was a word that said Swine. Five men were getting off their bikes walking into the restaurant. When they came, looking around, seeing Eren and his father sitting at the table.

"Hey you 2 that's our spot! I told that stupid bitch that was my spot for me and my crew!"

Each of them looked a little older than Eren, growing angry, he took the knife he had and clenched in his fist. The young waitress came back out from the kitchen, alongside her was a bigger man who was the cook and owner.

"Now I've told you Boys to stop coming here and trying to mess with my daughter!" Having a large frying pan in hand he threatened them.

"Calm your breaches old man! Me and my crew only came for dessert if you know what I mean."

The waitress looked down shedding tears. Eren felt rage clenching his fist, as a hand touched his shoulder.

"Stay here son." Eren's father got up from his seat and walked towards the young biker gang staring down at their leader.

"Now gentleman I believe that this man just said he didn't want you back in his store." He replied back at the biker leader.

"Yea and so what!? I do whatever the fuck I want! Just like I fuck his stupid Dau-"

A fist came into contact to the young gang leader mouth. The punch was so hard that it knocked him back to the door. The other 4 bikers tried to swing some punches back but Eren's father, an ex marine, handled them all with ease. After a minute the whole biker gang was laid out on the floor beaten and bloodied.

"Now I believe you owe this young women an apology." They all got up limping staring at the man that beat the hell out of them.

"Fuck you old man!" The leader said before being knocked to the door again.

"I could do this all day kid." He said as the rest of the biker crew picked up their leader, bleeding from his mouth and nose.

"Sorry you stupid Bit-" Another punch came but this time it was harder knocking him through the door and on the wet ground knocking him out.

"Now leave and don't come back." Eren's father gave the rest of them a look so terrifying that they just ran out and picked up their leader. When he became conscious he got on his bike, turning back and pointing at him

"I'm going to kill you old man!" They started his motorcycle and rode off with his gang.

"They shouldn't bother you anymore."

Eren's father said to the cook and waitress. They both thanked him for his service and offered no charge for their meal. Eren stood shocked at what he just witnessed, never seeing his dad like that before it was like he was a whole different person.

"No! It can't be!"

Eren returned to his senses noticing Sarah running towards a young girl leaning on a sign. The girl was very young, her eyes were gouged out and a large metal pole pinned her body to the sign with large words that said.

"Welcome to Wellspring."