Emi arrived home from school, excited to finally spend some time with her brother. She had meticulously phe night, first they’ll py some games, wate TV and then; Eren will read her some English books.

  She liked the way his voice sounded when he read her stories.

  Her mreeted her, "Wele home, sweetie." Emi smiled brightly at her, "Hi mummy. Where's Onii-?"

  "He's at work today, remember?" Her mother replied, frowning slightly at her daughter's fetfulness.

  Emi sighed, crestfallen that she would have to wait loo py with Eren. "Why don't you go py upstairs? I'll call you when dinner is ready." Emi rudging upstairs to her room.

  The afternoon passed quickly for Emi, who sat alone pying her video games. Time passed by faster than she realized. Soon the sun began to set, painting the sky with warm hues of reds and es.

  "Emi!" Her mother called from downstairs. "e down for dinner!" She answered back, "Ok!"

  The time was 6:20 pm, Eren should be home any minute now. She raced dowairs to find her parents sitting at the table eating dinner.

  Her excitement reag its peak. "Emi sit down, dinner is getting cold." Her father motioowards the seat across from him. Emi sat dowantly, stealing a g the door.

  6:31, the door knob remained unmoved. No sign of Eren. Emi started to eat her food with chagrin, he promised.

  "Is Eren not ing home?" Emi asked, her parents g each other before looking back at her. "I'm sure he's just caught up at work." Her mother responded softly.

  "Yeah, he'll be here soon." Her father reassured her, although his words were empty. As they shared a gnce, among the many things they knew about their son, he was always tardy.

  6:40, 6:45, 6:50. Emi lost all hope in her brother, believing that she had been fotten, again. Her dinner sat half eaten, pushing the food around the pte.

  "Why don't you go have a bath honey?" Her mgested gently, reag out and ruffling her hair. Emi nodded sullenly.

  "Ok, mom." She stood up from the table, dropping her fork onto the pte with a loud ctter. "How about I call him while you're ih? It'll be alright." Her father smiled reassuringly, trying to hide the uneasiness behind it.

  7:20, The ph, and rang. No one answered. Emi stepped out of the bathroom in her pink pajamas, holdiowel in hand. She dried her hair whilst walking towards her room, stopping by the stairs when she heard a versation happening downstairs.

  "Where is he? He would call if something came up, right?" Her mother's voice was shaking, her words filled with worry. "Maybe we should call the police." Her father spoke with equal .

  A chill ran down her spine; Emi could feel the dread settle i of her stomach. Tears started to well up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. She desperately wao be reassured that Eren was safe, that nothing had happeo him.

  Emi sprio her mother's side, huggiightly.

  7:50, The door was yet to be opened. Emi sat, staring at the entrah baited breath, waiting for her brother to walk through it. Her heart pounding against her chest, her body trembling.

  'He promised.' She repeated in her mind over and over.

  Mr. Heart was on the phoalking to someone, anyone who might know where his son might be. Whilst Mrs. Heart, held Emi close, stroking her hair softly. "It'll be ok sweetie, Eren will be home soon." Emi nodded slightly, but her mind was elsewhere.

  8:00, "All right, I'll go the guild and see what's happening." Mr. Heart spoke into the phone before hanging up. He walked towards the front door, pulling on his jacket.

  "Do you wao e with you?" Mrs. Heart asked as she stood up from the couch, letting Emi go. Mr. Heart shook his head.

  "No, stay here just in case he es back."

  "Emi stay here with your mother, help her out while I'm gone." Emi nodded weakly, her head hanging low.

  He turned back towards the door and stepped out into the night.

  A strong breeze blew through the empty street; the clouds were dark, and the air felt heavy. Mr. Heart pulled his jacket tighter around him as he walked briskly towards the guild.

  As he turhe er, two shadoroached him. His spirt went up immediately. The first one he reized was Rika.

  However, Mr. Hearts spirts dissolved quickly after seeing the state of the two. She looked distraught and shaken. Her eyes were red and puffy fr, her clothes were tattered and stained with blood.

  The other shadow was Akira, but something seemed different about him. He carried a rge axe over his shoulder, its bde coated in blood. His eyes were lifeless, unreadable.

  "Rika, where is Eren?" He asked tentatively.

  8:05, The door rattled.

  "Eren's home!" Emi sprio the front door, standing oippy toes. Excitement welled up inside of her; the past hour of wone, repced by her love for her brother.

  "Onii-! You're te!" She shouted eagerly. However, when she opehe door, the face staring back at her was not her brother.

  Mr. Heart walked in, his expression grim and cold. He didn't meet Emi's eyes as she looked up at him expetly. She smiled happily, thinking that everything was fine now. Her big brother had e home safe.

  "Daddy, where is Onii-?" He kept silent, walking straight past her towards Mrs. Heart who was standing behind her.

  "Where's Eren? What happened...Please tell me he's okay." Mrs. Heat's voice cracked, tears rolling down her cheeks. Mr. Heart pulled her into his arms, holdiightly. Emi stared at them, fused by their behaviour. "I'm sorry." His words were soft and broken.

  Rika and Akira followed him ianding by the doorway silently. The pair wore matg expressions of despair and sadness. "Rika, where is Eren?"

  Rika couldn't hold it in any longer; her posure crumbled, and she broke down g. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She sobbed untrolbly.

  Akira grabbed her shoulders gently, "It's not your fault, you did everything you could." He turo Emi, kneeling to her level. "I'm sorry little one. We did everything we could." He pced his hand on her head, rubbing it gently.

  "Where is Onii-?" She asked again, fear starting to take root.

  "He's gone. Your brother won't be ing back." Mr. Heart answered bluntly, but still refusing to look at his daughter.

  "But, but. He promised." She whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're lying! He is going to walk in!" She shouted at them, tears spilling from her eyes. Rika embraced her, holding her close to her chest. "No, No! My brother is ing, you liar!" Breaking free Emi spriowards the front door. Running dowreet, calling out for Eren.

  "Eren! Eren... please, you promised. e back. Please. You 't leave me alone." She cried out between sobs, stumbling as she ran. Mr. and Mrs. Heart caught up to her quickly, pig her up from the ground. They both held onto their daughter tightly. Holding her in a tight embrace.

  A link of sorrow betweehree; a loss of equal measure.

  AnnouHi guys and gals,

  Thank you all for reading the prologue for my web novel.

  This is my first go at writing and would love some of that feedback.

  English is my first nguage and I'm still crap at it. Hopefully One day I afford aor.

  Or an artist to repce my cover. Even tra as well.

  If enough people pick this up I'll try a up a discord. And a patron and all those oodies.

  Once again, thank you for reading.

  I'll see you all soon.