Cliff Harbor, Catholic Church.
A nun knelt in the center of the empty, open-air church, holding a Cross in her hands. A shaft of sunlight fell across her face, and her black-and-white habit looked utterly sacred, yet a red handprint still marked her cheek.
Behind her crowded hundreds of Eldia people fleeing for their lives. After the Suder Allied Forces stormed Cliff Harbor and began a retaliatory massacre, she had kindly taken them in, risking punishment for violating church doctrine. The other bishops had abandoned her and fled at the first opportunity, leaving her here alone.
The nun, Saint Teresa, glanced behind her at the women and children huddled together. They clung to one another, their eyes filled with fear.
"Mom, I'm so hungry..." murmured a boy who looked rather weak.
"Hold on a little longer. We'll be able to leave soon," his mother said with a bitter smile.
Hearing this, Saint Teresa slowly rose, took a baguette-like loaf from beside her, and walked toward the mother and son.
Rumble! The ground suddenly began to shake, and the loaf fell to the floor.
Saint Teresa fell to the ground.
"What's happening... are they going to bomb the church too?"
"Sister, save us!"
"What is that? Titans! It's the Rumbling!"
Through the windows, the Eldia residents saw entire swaths of buildings collapsing in the distance and Colossal Titans advancing beneath billowing steam. Terrified out of their minds, they scrambled away in a blind panic.
As Saint Teresa tried to get up, the crowd knocked her down again. Countless feet trampled her back and fair face, leaving footprints all over her. Her ribs had already been broken underfoot.
She coughed up blood, struggled to rise once more, and walked into the sunlight at the center of the church. With trembling hands, she