Brianne Turgard, 9-years-old, wakes up with the sun shining in her face through the curtains. She opens her icy blue eyes to look up at the curtains glowing radiantly, making her golden sunshine hair further lighten up the room. Brianne continues to lay in bed and she counts to 10 in her head. When she reaches 10, her mother, Mary, comes striding in with perfect timing. Brianne is a spitting image of her mother: icy blue eyes, long golden sunshine hair with curled ends, fair skin, and rosy red lips. Mary greets her beautiful daughter with a warming smile that makes Brianne smile.
Mary: Good morning, love.
Brianne: Good morning, mother.
Mary walks to the curtains and opens them, letting the sun beat into the room.
Brianne: (groans) It's too bright, mother.
Mary: Get up and say goodbye to your father.
Brianne: (jolts up in bed) He's leaving already? But it's so early!
Mary: Go say goodbye. He's getting ready to leave.
Brianne immediately hops out of bed and runs downstairs to the living room in a frenzy. There she sees her father, Thomas, standing there in the kitchen, equipped with the Military Police uniform. Though Brianne looks nothing like her father (long dirty blonde hair that is tied in a ponytail, olive green eyes, and a beard that reaches down to his neck), she is a chip off the old block in terms of personality: ambitious, courageous, daring, and eager. Thomas is putting on his MP jacket when he looks to the stairs after hearing all that noise. He smiles seeing his daughter awake to greet him goodbye to work.
Thomas: (sighs quietly) I told your mother not to wake you.
Brianne: Why are you leaving so early today, Father?
Thomas: We've got orders from the King.
Brianne skips to her father's side, watching him getting ready to head out.
Brianne: Ooh, about what?
Thomas: (smiles weakly) You know I can't say.
Brianne: Aw, not even a little bit?
Thomas: Maybe I can tell you when I get back.
Thomas kneels down to look Brianne eye-to-eye.
Thomas: Take care of your mother while I'm gone.
Brianne: Will you be gone for long?
Thomas: No, not too long.
Brianne: Is it something about the King lying?
Brianne can tell she hit the mark by the darkened look on her father's face. His eyebrows furrow.
Thomas: Were you listening to your mother and me talking last night?
Brianne nods shyly, sheepish that she is caught for eavesdropping. Thomas sighs and puts his hands on his daughter's shoulders firmly.
Thomas: Don't speak of anything to anyone, do you understand me?
Brianne: (nods) Alright. I won't say anything.
Thomas: I mean it, Bri. What you heard last night wasn't for you to hear. Don't speak a word of it to anyone.
Brianne: I promise, Father. Just come back soon!
Thomas: (smiles) I will. I love you, darling.
Brianne: I love you too.
Thomas kisses his daughter goodbye, and then he stands back on his feet. Mary comes downstairs and watches the two with a smile. Thomas walks over to Mary to kiss her and talk quietly so that Brianne can't hear. Brianne watches her parents give a final kiss to one another after finishing talking in whispers. She watches her father walk out the door, and her mother goes into the kitchen to cook up breakfast. Brianne helps set up the table for breakfast, and she and her mother eat together at the table.
Mary: Your father tells me you've been listening to our conversations at night, Brianne.
Brianne: It was only for a little bit.
Mary: What did you hear? Be truthful.
Brianne: (shrugs) I just heard some things about the King. Father was talking about how some people think the King is lying.
Mary: Lying about what?
Brianne: Mm...I can't really remember. I think it was something like...something about outside the Walls.
Mary: Anything else?
Brianne: I remember Father talking about a teacher who thinks the King is lying. Mother, is the King going to kill the teacher?
Mary pauses eating and puts down her fork.
Mary: Why do you ask that?
Brianne: (shrugs) Because the King can do whatever he wants, can't he?
Mary: Do you think the King will kill that teacher?
Brianne: I think so. I don't think the King would be very happy knowing people are calling him a liar. He's a good man, isn't he?
Mary: (pauses) There's no such thing as a good man or a bad man. Remember, it's not who you are that defines you; it's what you do, the choices you decide to make.
Brianne doesn't understand her mother's words.
Brianne: But do you think the King is a good man or a bad man?
Mary: (smiles knowing her daughter is too young to understand) It doesn't really matter what I believe. But you're right, Bri. The King can do whatever he wants, and it doesn't matter what we do or think.
Brianne is quiet, soaking up her conversation with her mother.
Brianne: If I was King, I wouldn't want to kill the teacher. I would want to ask him why he thinks I'm lying, and then I can tell him the truth about what's happening.
Mary: (smiles) You mean if you were queen, darling.
Brianne: No, I would be King. A king is more stronger than a queen.
Mary just laughs, and the two finish up their breakfast. When Brianne is done eating, she takes her plates and utensils and puts them all in the sink. Her mother stands in front of the sink to start washing all the dishes as Brianne starts wiping the table.
Mary: If you really want to know, Bri, the teacher is dead.
Brianne looks at her mother about to ask if the King did it, but she already knows the answer to her question. The two finish cleaning up in the kitchen, and Brianne finishes cleaning the table first. She waits for her mother to finish washing the dishes.
Mary: (finished washing the dishes) Now, get ready to help me bring in some fruits and vegetables for dinner.
Brianne puts on her little apron and takes out the wooden basket to gather the crops from their backyard. She then puts in the machete into the wooden basket. Brianne and her mother head to the backyard to collect some fruits and vegetables from their garden.
Brianne: Mother, look at these strawberries!
Mary: Oh, they look delicious.
Brianne: Can I pluck them?
Mary: If you want, love.
Brianne plucks the ripe strawberry and eats it immediately. She savors the wonderful flavor and can't stop smiling.
Mary: And what about that one? Do you want to eat that one?
Brianne looks at the strawberry her mother points to.
Brianne: (speaks like rote memorization) You can't eat that one because it's not ripe yet.
Mary: (smiles) Good girl.
Mary is proud how fast Brianne has learned about ripe and unripened fruit.
Brianne: How about this one, Mother?
Brianne has already plucked a strawberry and is holding it up to her mother. Mary kneels down and Brianne feeds her mother the strawberry.
Mary: Mm! Very delicious.
Brianne smiles proudly and continues helping her mother pick out ripe fruits and vegetables.
Mary: Don't you want to ask me any questions.
Brianne: (immediately) How was the teacher killed?
Mary: I didn't say he was killed.
Brianne: But he was, wasn't he? The King killed him.
Mary curses herself for bringing a girl in this world too smart for her own good.
Mary: Do you really want to know?
Brianne: Yes.
Mary: You won't like what you hear, and you may not understand it either.
Brianne: I want to know, Mother.
Mary: The Military Police killed him.
Brianne: (gasps) Really?
Mary: Yes.
Brianne: It wasn't Father, was it?
Mary: No, of course not. Your father is a good man. He wouldn't obey such an order.
Brianne: The King ordered the MP to kill the teacher?
Mary: Yes.
Brianne: How terrible. Just because he thought the King was lying?
Mary: I suppose so.
Brianne: Is the King really lying?
Mary: What do you think?
Brianne: (pauses) I think he did.
Mary: Why?
Brianne: If he wasn't really lying, then he wouldn't care about what the teacher said. But the King killed him, so I think he's lying.
Mary nods quietly.
Brianne: What is the King lying about?
Mary: That I cannot answer.
Brianne: Why not? Don't you know?
Mary: I do know, but I will not tell you.
Brianne: Do you think the King would kill you for telling me?
Mary: No, I don't fear for myself. I fear for you, Brianne.
Brianne: For me?
Mary: If anything were to happen to you, Brianne, I could never forgive myself. I trust you enough to talk about these things with only me and your father, but if you were ever to talk about this with anyone else...he will know. He will find out. The King has eyes and ears everywhere, and you must be careful every time you step out of this house.
Brianne: Would the King really kill me because I know he's lying?
Mary: Yes, I'm afraid he would.
Brianne: Even if I don't know what it is he's lying about?
Mary: Yes, Brianne. That is why you must never speak of this again to anyone.
Brianne is quiet, and Mary hugs her daughter tightly. She can sense her daughter is a bit frightened knowing that she's do dispensable to the King.
Mary: The only way the King could ever take my precious daughter from me is if he kills me first. (looks into Brianne's eyes) And you know your mother can put up one hell of a good fight, don't you?
Brianne: (grins) You're the best fighter in all the Districts. But not better than Father.
Mary: (smirks) Didn't I ever tell you the story about how I saved your father from a treacherous fate when we were younger?
Brianne: (gasps) You saved father's life?
Mary: Yes. (puts her hands up) With these two hands.
Brianne: What happened? Tell me, Mother.
Mary: I'll tell you the story at dinner with your father there. You can even ask him if what I tell you is true.
Brianne: Oh, I can't wait! Mother, I want to join the Military Police just like you and Father.
Mary: The Military Police, huh? Well then, you'll have to be in the top ten of your class.
Brianne: Oh that'll be easy, Mother. But I want to become someone great like you and Father. Maybe I can be even greater one day.
Mary: (laughs) I'm sure you will be much greater than your father and I put together, Brianne. I know you will be one day, but for today help your old mother bring the basket into the kitchen.
Brianne carries the heavy basket of fruits and vegetables back into the house, and she puts it on top of the kitchen table. Brianne and her mother sort through the food that they're going to use for dinner, and they gather the left overs in another basket. Then Brianne and her mother walk out of their house with Mary carrying the basket of left over fruits and vegetables. They arrive at the slums of the Capital, and all the homeless people immediately swarm over to Brianne and Mary. Mary puts the basket of food down, and she and Brianne hand over their left over fruits and vegetables to the homeless. The homeless thank and bless Mary and Brianne as they take the food. Brianne then carries the empty wooden basket as she and her mother head back home to prepare dinner. As they walk towards an alley on the street, they hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs.
Mary: You stay here on the street.
Brianne nods, and Mary runs towards the alley. Brianne follows her mother but remains on the street in broad daylight. Brianne sees a young Oriental lady in the alley being ganged up on by 3 men. They're holding up her dress as if they're about to take off her underwear. Mary stands there with her feet planted on the ground.
Mary: Let her go.
The 3 men look at Mary and scoff.
Man 1: Run off, woman. Don't get in a man's way when he's having fun.
The men look back at their young prey.
Mary: (sternly) I said let her go.
Man 2: (to the men) I think she wants to join in on this, fellas.
Man 3: (smirks) Oh yeah? Why don't you come here and join our party, woman? We promise you'll get your turn after this.
Mary picks up a nearby rock and throws it at the man's head. It bonks him hard in the head, and the man growls like a ferocious beast.
Man 3: You'll regret that, you bitch!
The man lunges after Mary, but she's swift. She moves to the right, making the man lose his balance as he swings his arm to hit Mary. She then elbows the man in the spine, and the man falls to the floor groaning loudly. The other two men start running to Mary to attack her. Brianne watches her mother kicking ass, and she knocks the other 2 men onto the ground. Brianne squeals with joy watching her mother stand tall as the 3 men are on the floor groaning in pain. The 3 men immediately scuffle onto their feet and run off shouting "crazy bitch" at Mary. Brianne watches her mother help the young lady onto her feet and brush off her dress from the dirt. The lady is still hysterical and crying, unable to speak or do anything as she watches Mary brushing off her dress for her. Brianne walks to her mother and the young lady.
Mary: Are you alright?
Lady: (trembling) Y-yes, yes, I'm fine. (looks at Mary and grabs Mary's hands) Thank you so much. You saved my life.
Mary: You should learn how to defend yourself just in case something like this happens again.
Brianne: (interrupts) Wow, you have beautiful hair.
Brianne notes the Oriental lady's beautifully slick, long black hair.
Lady: (weak chuckle) Thank you.
Mary: This is my daughter, Brianne Turgard. And I'm Mary Turgard.
Lady: My name is Mika Ackerman. I...I just got married yesterday.
The lady turns red, not knowing why she shared that kind of information to a complete stranger.
Mary: (smiles) Oh, congratulations. Well, we'll be off. Take care.
Brianne: Goodbye, Mrs. Ackerman.
The young lady nods, and Mary smiles warmly at her. She and Brianne then walk out of the alley back to the street, and then they walk back home together.
Brianne: Mother, don't you ever get scared you might get hurt saving other people? What if those men had knives?
Mary: You'll either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Brianne: What does that mean?
Mary: You'll find out when you get older, Bri. It's our responsibility as the Military Police to help people at all times, at all costs.
Brianne: But you're not with the MP anymore, Mother. You retired.
Mary: Yes, I did. But once an MP, you will always be an MP.
Brianne and Mary arrive back at their house, and Brianne helps her mother prepare dinner. She sets up the tables while Mary finishes cooking. The two sit at the table and start eating, waiting for Thomas to arrive back home.
Brianne: Mother, will you teach me how to fight?
Mary: Why do you want to fight?
Brianne: Because I want to be like you. I want to fight and help people just like you.
Mary: You're too young to fight, love.
Brianne: When did you learn to fight?
Mary: When I joined the Military.
Brianne: When can you join?
Mary: When you're 11.
Brianne: Then when I turn 11, I'm going to join the Military.
Mary smiles weakly, and a loud knock comes on the front door. They both look to the door, and Mary goes to answer it. She opens the door and sees her friend from the MP there, Alfred.
Mary: (surprised) Alfred!
Alfred: Mary. Can I come in real quick?
Mary: Sure. Thomas isn't here.
Alfred: I know.
Alfred comes in the house and Mary closes the door behind him. Alfred immediately looks uncomfortable seeing Brianne there.
Alfred: (to Brianne) Oh, look at you, Bri. You got so big since I last saw you.
Brianne: Hello, Alfred. Did you eat dinner?
Alfred: I haven't, but I'm not here for dinner. I need to talk with your mother. Will you excuse us?
Brianne nods and she walks upstairs. She walks into her room, and she closes the door. She then goes on her knees and puts her ear to the door so she can hear their conversation. Alfred gives a sigh of relief knowing Brianne isn't there to hear the news, and Mary can see how tense he is.
Mary: What's wrong, Alfred?
Alfred looks back at Mary and doesn't have the energy to speak.
Mary: Alfred.
Alfred: I'm so sorry, Mary. I-I wish I didn't have to tell you this.
Alfred can already see that Mary knows what this is about. Her face grows tense.
Alfred: Thomas...is dead.
Mary's face darkens and her heart drops.
Alfred: Here. This is for you and your daughter.
Alfred takes out two letters, one for Mary and one for Brianne. He hands them to Mary, but she doesn't grab them too shocked by the sudden news. He lays them on the kitchen table.
Alfred: I'm sorry, Mary. I really am. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
Alfred pauses for a moment and then quietly leaves. Mary wobbles onto a chair, still too shocked to react. It was just this morning when Thomas promised he'd be home for dinner after he took care of the murdered teacher's case who's name is Ernest Smith. Mary glances at the two letters on the table, and she grabs the one that says her name on it. She opens it quietly, and she reads it silently...Brianne listens to her mother running up the stairs which immediately gets Brianne curious and anxious. Before Brianne can even move out of the way from her door, her mother bursts through into her daughter's room. She looks around and sees Brianne on her bottom behind the door.
Mary: Get up. We must leave now.
Brianne: Leave? Why? What about father?
Mary: Get up now! They're coming.
Brianne: Who's coming? Mother, what's happening?
Mary kneels down to look Brianne eye-to-eye.
Mary: Brianne, promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what you see or want to do, you must run. Keep running, and don't look back.
Brianne: (confused) What?
Mary: (sternly) Listen to your mother, Brianne. Whatever happens, run and don't let anyone catch you. (sighs) Here. This is for you.
Mary hands Brianne the letter from Thomas to her.
Mary: It's from your father.
Brianne: A letter? Where is he?
Brianne and Mary hear the front door burst open, and Brianne immediately gets frightened.
Mary: (quietly yet firmly) Be brave, Brianne. And remember what I told you. Run.
Brianne: Mother-
Mary leaves Brianne's room and closes the door behind her. Brianne opens the letter from her father and is about to read it when she hears her mother screaming from the upstairs hallway.
Mary: What do you think you are doing barging into my home?!
Man: I'm sorry, Mrs. Turgard, but we have some Military business to take care of.
Brianne can hear multiple footsteps walking up the stairs towards her mother. She gets so scared that she hides under her bed with her letter in her hand. For a bit of comfort, she cuddles with the blanket underneath her bed, hiding behind it. Brianne hears loud screaming and then she sees her door burst open again. She sees for a split second her mother back-pedaling as a man is walking forward. They both plop onto the ground with the man on top of Brianne's mother. Brianne sees her mother's arms up as if trying to stop something from coming down on her, and she just sees the MP soldier on top of her mother. Brianne hears more footsteps coming up the stairs, and Mary screams in frustration as she can't hold off the MP's knife for much longer. Two more MP soldiers enter Brianne's room, and Brianne is horrified when she sees a knife slowly stabbing through her mother's chest. Brianne can hear the soldier shush her mother as Mary gurgles out blood, gasping for air as her lung is punctured deeply by the knife. Brianne watches the blood pour out of her mother's mouth, her mother's eyes still wide open, lifeless. The MP soldier gets off Brianne's mother, and he heaves her onto Brianne's bed. From underneath the bed, Brianne can see her mother's limp legs hanging from the edge of the bed. The man wipes his knife of blood on Brianne's blanket as he looks down upon Mary.
Man: (to the other 2 MP soldiers) Go find the daughter.
The soldiers salute their captain and spread out through the house to search for Brianne. Brianne sees the man who killed her mother walk over to her closet to search for her, so Brianne quietly covers herself with the blanket underneath her bed. The man kneels down and looks under the bed, but all he sees is a pile of clothes and blankets. Brianne listens to the man walk out of her room, and she peeks out to see the coast is clear. She quietly crawls out from underneath her bed, and she looks back at her mother dead on her bed. Her mother's eyes are wide and filled with horror, blood is pouring out from her mouth and her chest. Brianne can't speak, she can't move, she can't do anything but stare at her mother. Brianne reminisces about this morning, how she and her mother bid goodbye to her father before breakfast, how her mother trusted her enough to talk about the King's ambiguous deceit, how she was taught a lesson by her mother about not being afraid to fight for others. And now, her mother is gone from the world, dead right before Brianne's eyes lying on her bed, blood pouring out profusely. Brianne doesn't realize how long she's been staring at her dead mother until she hears voices outside in the hallway.
Woman: We can't find the little girl anywhere.
Man 2: I don't think she's in the house.
Man: Where else would she be? Mary was here, so the little one must be here. Go check again. Turn the house upside-down if you need to.
Brianne knows she needs to run, just like her mother said. She folds her father's letter and stuffs it into her dress pocket. She then opens her window quietly, and she looks down to the grass beneath her. Brianne looks back at her dead mother, feeling torn that she has to leave her mother behind like this.
Brianne: Goodbye, Mother. I love you.
Brianne looks back down at the grass. She takes in a deep breath, and she jumps through the window down to the grass. Brianne lands with an oomf and is glad the grass cushioned her fall. Brianne stumbles onto her feet and runs as fast as she can in a random direction. She continues to run and run on the dark streets until she's at the water fountain in the atrium of the Capital. She decides to take a breather, and she sits on the cold cement of the fountain. Brianne takes out her letter from her father and starts to read it.
Brianne, I ask that you honor the Turgard family legacy, that you will uphold the values your mother and I have taught you. Commit yourself to the improvement of the Capital, its institutionals, and its citizens. Please, remain strong. You are young, and you are destined for great things. Make the most of your opportunities so that you may give back to those who have given to you, to change the lives of millions of people. Please, do not be overcome by my death. Do not lead a destructive lifestyle, do not be obsessed with anger or revenge. Invest in the Capital; treat the people like family; watch over them and use your strength and courage to safeguard the people against forces out of their control. My deepest regret is that I will not see you grow into the great woman you will one day become. And finally, my precious daughter, I ask that you will never allow the Capital in the hands of fate. You have lived through dark times, and surely there are more to come. But it is the good and great people who stand up for the weak when others will turn and run. In death I will love you forever. Your Father, Thomas Turgard.