All I've ever known is the street life. Ever since I was a little girl, I've done what I've had to do to survive. My name is Fiona, and this is the story of how I met my fate.

It all began a year ago. I was waking up to a bright morning sun tucked in as warm as possible in a threadbare blanket I'd always taken with me through the multiple orphanages I went through, it was my last year at Ms. Hamilton's Home for Lost Girls, and I would miss it. Miss Hamilton was kind to us, but she required a lot of chores. I jumped out of my bed and raced to put on my dress seeing as I'd slept in too late. The other girls had all gone downstairs to begin their chores and nobody had bothered to wake me up. I tugged my dirty brown dress over my head and braided back my sunlight colored hair with a green ribbon. My toes poked through my holey boots, showing off my mismatched socks, one was gray and the other was maroon. I made a mental note to look for a maroon ribbon to match my single sock.

Today, my chore was to scrub the floors of the front room. A few girls made some teasing remarks about me sleeping in late.

"Fiona, didn't you hear us getting up?" Asked one girl, Mellony. She had pretty red curly hair she usually wore in a half-up down hairdo with a pale blue ribbon. She was the same age as me, and the prettiest girl in the orphanage. She'd be able to get a job easily.

"I didn't because I have a case of nunya." I said as I filled up my wooden cleaning bucket with water from the water pump in the middle of the kitchen. I also grabbed a patched rag.

Mellony scoffed. "A case of what?"

I smirked. "A case of….. Nunya business."

"You think you're so funny Fiona, don't you!?" Mellony said. She threw her rag on the ground. "Well I'll show you. You won't be laughing when I get an invitation to the king's ball and you don't!"

"Ball schmall, I have better things to do," I said. And I did. I saved my nightly free time for running around with my friends. I didn't wait for Mellony to say anything and went to scrubbing the floor. I could see some of the royal guards walking outside patrolling the street. I stuck my tongue out at them. They made life for people like me all too difficult.

When I was done scrubbing the floor, I put my bucket out and went to Ms. Hamilton's office to explain that I'd done my chores and was ready to visit the market if she needed anything. Ms. Hamilton told me no, but gave me two silver garlins. "Try to find something nice to wear in your hair, Fiona," Ms. Hamilton said. "I'll give you money for a dress if you'd like to go to the ball.

I politely declined, and left the building to look for a bite of food. I didn't need anoything for my hair. The market place of Drylliad is my favorite place to be, there's so many happy people and good food to eat. I love food.

"I spy with my little eye, a tomato!" Said somebody. My best friend, Edwin. He also had blonde hair, and brown eyes. Edwin ruffled my hair. "You've gotten a little dirty working at your orphanage. When will you come live with me and the boys? Everybody would love to have you around."

I shook my head. "I couldn't leave Ms. Hamilton. Do we have any plans for today?"

"Rumor has it that the captain of the guard is out and about, I think it'd be fun to try to rob him blind. I bet he has a lot of money on him."

"I dont know Edwin that doesnt seem like a good idea. . ."

"Itll be fine, besides, we have the rest of the boys: Mush, Race, One-eyed Willy, Crip, Boots, Snitch, Dutchy, and Sniper. We'd have this in the bag."

"Okay Edwin, but I'm still a little nervous. What if we get caught?" I asked. I was scared of going to prison. I'd heard that bad things happened to people there but I also loved the rush that came from pickpocketing somebody. It made me feel like a giant when I got away with snatching something from some rude noble's velvet purse. "Never mind, I'm not scared anymore."

For that part of midday, we stole coins and rings from nobles as they paraded themselves through the marketplace. Some other members of Edwin's gang joined us. I waved at Mush across the market place. He was too busy flirting with one of the queen's lady-in-waiting to know I was there. I rolled my eyes, and turned around.

I crashed right into somebody.

"Well, well, well," said a voice I dreaded with my whole heart. I'd been caught stealing by none other than Roden, the captain of the guard. "Look what we have here. A little urchin, what do you have there in your hand?"

"A pie, can't you see? Are you blind and deaf you oaf?" I shot back, clasping my hands behind my back so he couldn't see the velvet purse i'd stolen from a rich looking man.

"Well that's not very nice."

"And you're very ugly. And stupid and I'm sure you know how much I hate you."

"Hand over the money you stole, thief."

I lunged forward, and yanked Roden's sword from his sheath. I'd always been good at using swords, it was a talent I had that I'd always carried with me. I pointed it at his chest. "Over YOUR dead body!"

Roden smirked, and held up his hands. He looked like he knew what I was going to do next. In a flash, he'd grabbed my wrist, and held me against his chest. "That was easy."

I slammed my head back into his face, and ran for cover. My heart thudded in my chest and Roden's boots followed me. He was yelling curses at me. I turned down an alley way and kept running. . . But I hit a dead end.

"You'll pay for what you've done," Roden said as he stood in the middle of the alleyway.

I was trapped.

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