**Chapter 1: Descent into Darkness**

The sun had long since set on the desolate landscape outside the walls, casting a dark and foreboding shadow over the survey corps' expedition. Hanji Squad had set up camp, and I had retreated to the safety of our tent, exhausted from the day's search for a titan. As I lay on my makeshift bed, I felt Hanji's gentle gaze on me, her eyes lingering on my face before she turned away to tend to the campfire. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the flames lull me into a peaceful slumber. But my rest was short-lived. My mind was suddenly beset by a dark and twisted nightmare, transporting me back to a time I thought I'd left behind. My abusive ex-boyfriend's cruel face loomed over me, his words cutting deep into my psyche like a rusty knife. I whimpered, my body trembling with fear, as I relived the anguish and terror of my past. My mental state began to deteriorate, and I felt myself regressing to a state of infancy. My thoughts became cloudy and disjointed, and I began to coo and grunt, my vocalizations reduced to those of a newborn baby. I was consumed by discomfort and agitation, my body writhing in distress. Hanji noticed my distress immediately, her eyes snapping to my side as she rushed to my aid. She saw the fear and terror etched on my face, and her expression softened with concern. She gently wrapped her arms around my fragile body, stroking my hair with a soothing touch. "Shh, it's okay," she whispered, her voice a gentle lullaby. "You're safe now. I'm here." As she rocked me back and forth, I felt a semblance of calm wash over me, but it was short-lived. My heart began to beat rapidly, my breathing growing shallow and labored. I whizzed, my body trembling with fear, as my throat muscles spasmed, constricting my airway. The world around me began to darken, and I felt myself being pulled under. My eyes rolled back into my head, and I was consumed by a severe seizure, my body thrashing wildly as I choked on my own saliva. Hanji acted swiftly, intubating me with an endotracheal tube and stabilizing my airway. I was plunged into a medically induced coma, my fragile body in need of rest and recovery. But even in my comatose state, I was hypersensitive to my surroundings. The slightest change in humidity or temperature made me stir, and Hanji knew she had to take extra precautions to ensure I didn't wake up too early. She placed a vibrating pad on my stomach, mimicking the sensation of movement inside a womb. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she vowed to create an advanced makeshift artificial womb, one that would simulate the comfort and security of a mother's womb. As the hours passed, I began to show signs of premature awakening, my body stirring restlessly. I groaned, my vocalizations soft and incoherent, as I cried out for... comfort. "Han...ji," I whispered, my voice barely audible. The humidity and temperature changes were making me uncomfortable, and I whimpered, my eyes fluttering open. Hanji's face was etched with concern as she gazed at me, her arms wrapping around me once more. "Oh, you poor thing," she cooed, her voice soft and soothing. "You must be uncomfortable." She stroked my hair, holding me close to her stomach, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I lay my head against her chest, my mouth seeking out her nipple, and as I began to suck, I felt a deep sense of comfort and security. For a moment, I forgot about the pain and terror of my past, lost in the warmth and love that Hanji embodied. But as I looked up at her, I knew that this was just the beginning, and that our journey was far from over.