Awakening from the Abyss
Part 3
The darkness receded, and I found myself back in the artificial womb, surrounded by the soft beeps and whirs of the life support systems. Hanji's face was inches from mine, her eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely a whisper. "Hanji...?" I croaked, my throat dry and parched. Hanji's face lit up with a radiant smile, and she gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Hey, you're awake," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Welcome back." I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back into the womb. Hanji's hands were on my shoulders, holding me in place. "Easy, don't strain yourself," she said, her voice firm but gentle. The medical team bustled around us, adjusting the settings on the life support systems and taking readings from the various monitors attached to me. Hanji kept her eyes on mine, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "How...how long was I out?" I asked, my voice still weak. Hanji's eyes never left mine. "Three days," she replied, her voice soft. "You've been through a lot. The team is doing everything they can to help you recover." I nodded, trying to process the information. Three days? What had happened during that time? Had the Titans breached the walls? Was the world outside still safe? Hanji seemed to sense my unease, and she leaned in closer. "The walls are still standing," she said, her voice reassuring. "The Scout Regiment is on high alert, but we've had no major breaches. You're safe, for now." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. For now, I was safe. I had Hanji by my side, and that was all that mattered. As I gazed into Hanji's eyes, I noticed something strange. A look of unease flickered across her face, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of fear. "Hanji, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. Hanji's expression smoothed out, and she forced a smile. "Nothing, I'm just...worried about you," she said, her voice a little too bright. I wasn't convinced. There was something more to it, something that Hanji wasn't telling me. I made a mental note to press her for answers later, when I was stronger. For now, I just wanted to bask in the warmth of Hanji's presence, to let her care for me and nurse me back to health. As I drifted off into a fitful sleep, I knew that I had a long road ahead of me, but with Hanji by my side, I felt a sense of hope that I hadn't felt in a long time. The darkness closed in around me once more, but this time, I wasn't alone. Hanji's hand was in mine, her fingers intertwined with mine, a symbol of her unwavering support and love. And as I slept, I knew that I would face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with Hanji's love and my own determination to survive.