Brianne snaps awake when she smells the delicious smell of freshly baked bread in the early morning and the sound of the bustling crowds. She opens her eyes and sees that she fell asleep right next to the water fountain. Brianne sees her father's letter still in her hand, and she folds it neatly. She then puts the letter away into her dress pocket, and she looks around at the bustling Capital. The streets are filled with people going about their normal morning routines. Brianne is quickly saddened realizing once again that she is alone in this world, her mother and father both dead, and the Military Police searching for her for some unknown reason. The smell of freshly baked bread overwhelms Brianne's thoughts, and she slowly approaches the bakery. The baker, Louie, is outside his store to loudly advertise his baked goods.
Louie: Get your freshly baked pastries, freshly baked pastries right out of the oven! Come and get 'em, folks! Come and get 'em!
Levi Ackerman, 11-years-old, is strolling down the streets of the Capital's atrium, hands in his pockets and one place in his mind: Louie's bakery. He loves going to the bakery to steal from Louie because not only does Louie make the best pastries in the whole District, he's also a complete douche especially to the homeless kids like Levi. Stealing from Louie makes Levi feel like a good vigilante, sort of like Robin Hood except he keeps the riches, the pastries, for him and his two best friends, Farlan Church and Isabel Magnolia. Levi pauses when he sees Brianne walking towards Louie with determination and eagerness flaring in her eyes.
Levi: (smirks) Well well well, what have we got here?
Levi notes that he's never seen this girl before, especially since he knows all the homeless children living in the District of the Capital. He also notes her nice dress crumpled and dirty as if she is a well-off girl who slept on the ground last night. The girl's hair is messed up, and her face is stained with dirt and tears, her eyes swollen badly...Brianne clears her throat and bravely steps in front of Louie. Before she can even open her mouth, Louie looks down at the little dirty girl condescendingly.
Louie: Hey, get lost, little girl. Paying customers only.
Brianne's heart pounds in her chest from Louie's quick rejection because of her appearance, but she's determined to eat.
Brianne: But I'm really hungry, sir. I promise I'll pay you back.
Louie: (angry) Hey, shoo! Go on, get!
Brianne: Please-
Louie angrily grabs Brianne by the shoulder and shoves her so hard that she falls to her knees.
Louie: Get lost, street rat.
Brianne feels tears forming in her eyes, and she walks away towards an alley to cry. She sits down and leans her back against the wall to cry. Brianne sniffles quietly as tears stream down her face, her stomach growling.
Levi: Looks like you picked the wrong guy to get some free food from this morning, huh, kid?
Brianne gasps loudly because she's startled, and she looks up seeing Levi standing and leaning against the wall across from her but deeper in the alley. His hands are in his pockets, and he looks up at Brianne with a cool, unfazed look. Brianne quickly wipes her tears with her arm and stands up defensively. She can tell this is a homeless kid, and she doesn't trust him by the chilly look in his eyes.
Levi: Whoa whoa, chill out, little girl. I'm not into blondes. (looks at the disheveled Brianne up and down) Looks like Louie really got to you though, huh?
Brianne: Do you mean the baker?
Levi: Yeah, that's Louie.
Brianne: (sighs) I asked for some bread but he wouldn't give me any. I promised I'd pay him back.
Levi: (approaches Brianne) Hey, you know what, kid? Looks like you and I are floating in the same boat. We want the same thing.
Brianne: You want some of that bread too?
Levi: Yeah. I mean, who can blame us? Doesn't it smell good?
Brianne: It smells wonderful.
Levi: Then we should help each other out. Whaddya say?
Brianne: Oh no. I'm not going to go back there again-
Brianne turns around shaking her head, and Levi jumps in front of her so that she can look at him.
Levi: Whoa whoa, hold on. You gotta trust me on this one. Louie, he treats kids like us like shit all the time.
Brianne: (gasps) You said a bad word!
Levi: (eyes Brianne but chooses to ignore her comment) Listen, kid. You and I, we can make Louie change his mind about kids like us. We can show him that kids like us aren't so bad and that helping us out once in a while would do him some good.
Brianne: What do you mean?
Levi: (smirks) All you gotta do is follow my lead. You in or what?
Brianne's stomach growls loudly, and she looks back at Louie and the pastries. She looks back at Levi and nods unhesitatingly.
Brianne: I'm in. What do I have to do?
Levi: You distract Louie, and then I'll put the bread into this.
Levi takes out an empty pillow bag from his back pocket.
Brianne: Okay. When do I do it?
Levi: Now. Go!
Brianne quickly runs off to Louie, and Levi watches her running around him in circles to distract him.
Louie: Hey! Hey you little rascal! Get outta here!
Brianne: Catch me if you can, Mr. Mean Man!
Brianne taunts Louie by sticking her tongue out at him, and Louie lunges after Brianne. She dodges his attack, and then she quickly pulls his baker hat over his eyes. Louie roars angrily as he comes crashing down to the ground, and Levi steals as much bread as he can as fast as he can, stuffing them into the empty pillow bag. Brianne has to keep Louie busy until Levi packs the pillow bag with bread, and Levi runs off first. Brianne notices this, and she quickly runs off towards Levi as Louie curses her with some terrible swear words. Levi is running as fast as he can away from Brianne, but she is determined to keep up with him to get her fair share.
Brianne: Hey! Hey, wait for me!
Levi stops running and sighs, shaking his head. He turns around to walk backwards so that he can look at Brianne finally catching up to him.
Brianne: (breathless and excited that the plan worked) Wow, we were really good, weren't we?
Levi: Uh, yeah, kid. Real good.
Levi turns back forward and starts to walk faster, but Brianne is following closely skipping in strides to keep up with Levi.
Brianne: So when can we eat those pastries?
Levi: We?
Brianne: Yeah, I'm starving.
Levi: Listen kid, I hate to break it to you but the dynamic duo is now the dynamic uno.
Brianne: What do you mean?
Levi: What I mean is that our little partnership is done, no more.
Brianne: But...but why? I don't understand.
Levi: Basically, what it comes down to is I don't need you anymore.
Brianne doesn't understand why Levi is doing this to her, so she runs in front of him to block his way.
Brianne: (angry) But that's not fair!
Levi: (walks around Brianne) Fares are for ferries, kid. Just consider this a free lesson in the street life.
Brianne: Hey wait! I helped you get those! You're not being fair!
Levi turns the corner, and Brianne chases after him again. She stops dead in her tracks when she sees a dead end, and Levi is nowhere to be found. Brianne looks around, and she looks up to the roof to see Levi jumping from roof to roof to get away from her. Brianne is even more determined to get her fair share, but she knows there's no way she can follow him roof to roof. She follows Levi by running through alleyways, taking shortcuts to make sure that she doesn't lose Levi. Brianne hides behind a house when she sees Levi jump back down onto the street. He looks back and around to see if Brianne followed him, and he sees that she didn't. Brianne watches him enter an old, dark, abandoned shack with wooden boards nailed to the windows. Brianne circles around the abandoned shack Levi entered, wanting to get a better idea of what she's about to walk into. She can't see into the house at all, so she decides to climb on top of the roof to find a way in instead of just barging through the door. She sees a hole in the roof, and she cautiously peers down to see Levi talking to his two friends while they eat the pastries together.
Isabel: So how'd you do it this time, Levi?
Levi: (dramatizes) Picture this. The atrium of the Capital. The people are hustling about. The freshly baked pastries just fresh out of the oven. Then, enters Levi. He's not out for himself but community-minded. And he's not alone. Enters the opposition. A vicious, ugly, psychotic monster with gleaming claws, dripping fangs and hungry. It came at me, its eyes burning. I knew my time was near. Suddenly-
Brianne accidentally breaks through the flimsy roof and falls into the shack, scaring all 3 of the kids. When they see what fell down from their roof, Isabel and Farlan immediately go on offensive mode while Levi just sighs and shakes his head with a small smile. He notes how ambitious and eager this little girl is to get her fair share of food, and it amuses him. Isabel and Farlan stand on their feet, towering over Brianne still down on the floor.
Farlan: (growls) What are you doing here, little girl?
Brianne: (frightened) I-I followed that boy.
Brianne points to Levi who's resting on an old couch as if he was expecting her. Isabel and Farlan look back at Levi, and they look back at Brianne confused.
Farlan: Don't lie to us, kid! How did you find this place?
Brianne: (stands on her feet) I'm not lying! That boy promised he'd share those pastries with me. I helped him get those.
Levi: (coolly) Hey, what took you so long, kid?
Farlan and Brianne look at Levi again, and they realize this "vicious monster" is this little girl standing before them. The two laugh hysterically grabbing onto their stomach. Farlan approaches Levi first, and Isabel winks at Brianne to give her a sign that everything's okay.
Farlan: Hey hey, an ugly psychotic monster, huh, Levi?
Isabel: I really like those burning eyes.
Farlan: Man, the great Levi had to get help from a little girl! (bellows out laughing again)
Levi: (getting annoyed) Hey, cool it, Farlan.
Farlan: Gleaming claws, huh?
Levi: Farlan.
Farlan: And dripping fangs!
Levi: Farlan, look!
Farlan looks to the door, and Levi pounces on Farlan hard. The two start wrestling, and Isabel rolls her eyes.
Isabel: Ugh, what a bunch of immature - oof!
Farlan knocks into Isabel accidentally, and he goes back to Levi to fight.
Isabel: Why you.
Isabel joins in on the fight, and Brianne stands there watching the 3 friends wrestling each other at the same time. Kenny Ackerman, Levi's maternal uncle, comes into the shack holding a bag full of potatoes.
Kenny: Hey, hey guys! Knock it off.
The 3 kids stop wrestling when they finally realize Kenny is back home, and they run to him excited to see him holding a bag full of food.
Kenny: (notices Brianne) Hey, who's this little girl?
Isabel: She's a vicious psychotic monster who helped Levi get those pastries. (smiles at Levi)
Farlan: (laughs) Yeah, yeah. And don't forget her gleaming claws, dripping fangs, and burning eyes.
Kenny: (kneels down to look at Brianne) You helped Levi get those pastries?
Brianne: (nods) Yes, sir.
Kenny: And Levi promised you'd get some of it?
Brianne: (nods) Yes, sir. And he lied to me. He tried to run away, but I followed him.
Kenny: Do you know who I am?
Brianne: (shakes her head) No, sir.
Kenny examines Brianne, noting that she belongs to a well-off family because of her dress. He can tell this girl is in a bit of a ruff, so he plans for the brighter future.
Kenny: Alright, I'll tell you what, little girl. You can stay with us as long as you live by our rules.
Brianne is quiet, afraid of living with strangers like this.
Kenny: You don't have anywhere else to go, do you?
Brianne: How did you know?
Kenny: (smirks) I can tell. Don't worry, we're good people. We won't hurt you.
Isabel: Yeah, we'll take care of you, kid. Kids like us gotta stick by each other to survive in these Walls, right?
Farlan: (mouth full of potatoes) Yeah! You'll love it here.
Brianne smiles weakly. She already feels at home with Isabel and Farlan's reassurance, and she looks at Levi last. He smiles at Brianne, and she nods deciding to live with her 4 new friends. Levi hands Brianne a potato, and she happily takes it.
Brianne, Levi, Farlan, and Isabel walk through the streets of the Capital in the bright afternoon.
Brianne: So what kind of work do we do?
Isabel: Charity work.
Brianne: Charity work?
Farlan: Yeah. The rich pile up their goods, and we take them as charity for the poor.
Brianne: You mean we steal from the rich people? That's what we do?
Levi looks back at Brianne and can see she's uncomfortable living the life of a thief because she's a goody-good girl. Levi puts his arm around Brianne in a head-lock position to keep her close.
Levi: Hey, don't worry kid. If you got your pals, you got all you need.
Farlan: Looks like we gotta clean you up and get you some on-the-job training, kid.
Brianne: (nods) Okay.
Isabel: Now listen up, Bri, because you've got a lot to learn.
Farlan: And if you don't learn, then you don't get to eat.
Isabel: You gotta be tough and always use your head. If you can do that, the streets will be just like home, alright?
Brianne: I don't really get it.
Farlan: Just watch how we do things, and you'll get it.
Levi: If you do exactly what we tell you to do, these streets will become streets of gold.
Brianne: (nods excitedly) Alright.
Brianne follows the 3 around all day, watching them taking the town in style by being brave and bold. Brianne sticks by their side, learning from the best on how to survive on the streets. The 4 make a stop at the market. Brianne watches Isabel, Farlan, and Levi go for a bunch of vegetables and fruits, and she freezes. The vegetables and fruits make her reminisce about the very last day she spent with her mother alive, how they were so happy together unknowing that such dark times would come ahead. Brianne rubs her eyes, and she sees her mother inside the market eating strawberries with her father. Mary laughs, and she and Thomas look at Brianne smiling at their daughter. Mary puts her hand out for Brianne as if calling for her.
Brianne: Mother, Father.
Brianne walks forward, and she doesn't realize that Farlan, Isabel, and Levi are running out of the market. Levi can see Brianne in some kind of weird trance, and as he runs out of the market with a bag full of strawberries in one hand he heaves Brianne over his shoulder with his free arm. He runs off with Brianne over his shoulder, and the 3 come to a stop in an alleyway. Levi puts Brianne down and is huffing and puffing from all the weight he's carrying.
Levi: (breathless) One rule, kid: don't get caught, and you could've gotten us caught back there.
Brianne is still out of it, unable to get her parent's hallucination out of her mind. She stares out at the alleyway with her mouth slightly open. Levi looks back and sees nothing there, and he looks back at Brianne.
Levi: Kid?
Brianne: (snaps out of it) I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Levi. I didn't mean to.
Isabel: You look like you've seen a ghost, Bri. You okay?
Brianne: (nods) Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Farlan: We should get moving. Move to Spot 3. We're too open out here-
Farmer: There you little shitheads are!
Farlan: Shit! Run!
Farlan and Isabel run one way with their bags of apples, and Levi and Brianne run the other way with their strawberries. Levi runs with the bag of strawberries in one hand, and he holds Brianne's hand with his other hand. They make a sharp turn behind a building, and they run into an alleyway. Levi bursts through the backdoor of the building, and he pulls Brianne in. He puts his back against the door to prevent anyone from coming in, and Brianne looks around at the abandoned building. She can tell it is an old training gym because of the wooden flooring and the large mirrors all around. Levi and Brianne wait for a few minutes quietly together in the abandoned dojo.
Levi: Alright, let's go meet up with Izzie and Farlan.
Brianne nods, and she runs to Levi's side. She holds his hand tightly, and he looks at the little girl. He feels like he's Brianne's older brother, and he feels protective of her. The two walk out onto the streets together, and they pass by a newspaper stand. Brianne comes to a halt when she sees a picture of her house in ashes and rubble in the front headline of the newspaper. "THE TURGARD FAMILY HOUSE BURNED TO THE GROUND, 3 BODIES EXHUMED FROM THE ASHES." Brianne's mouth drops as she stares at this headline and the picture of her house in ashes. She stares at the picture of the 3 burnt bodies, 2 adults and 1 child.
Levi: You okay, kid?
Brianne: (weakly) That's...that's my house...
Levi looks at the newspaper, and he notices the family name Turgard. He looks at Brianne, and he can tell she's telling the truth. Levi haggles with the newspaper boy, 7 strawberries for a newspaper. Levi hands the newspaper article to Brianne, and they head back to the shack immediately. Farlan and Isabel haven't arrived back, so Brianne and Levi read the paper together on the couch. They fit perfectly in the couch, and Levi holds up the newspaper so that Brianne can read it.
Brianne: It doesn't make any sense...my father wasn't in the house when they killed my mother. And...and I'm here. I'm not dead.
Levi: The Military must've covered it up.
Brianne: What do you mean?
Levi: That's the only explanation. They want to make it seem like you were all found dead.
Brianne is quiet. She knows that her mother's body must've really been burned in the house, but she doesn't know where the other two bodies of the man and little girl came from. And it makes her furious. It angers Brianne knowing that her family has been painted in such a lie, that she and her family were "killed in a terrible accident" caused by a candle next to the curtains.
Levi: So you're a Turgard, huh?
Brianne looks at Levi.
Levi: Your father. He was the commander of the Military Police.
Brianne: How did you know?
Levi: I just know. So...what really happened to your mom and dad then?
Brianne: ...my father was killed. I know the King ordered it.
Levi: How?
Brianne: Because my father was working on a case. It was about a teacher who thought the King was lying about outside the Walls.
Levi: What do you mean lying about outside the Walls?
Brianne: I...I don't really know...but I know the King did it. I know he killed my father and that teacher. And the Military Police came to our house that same day at night. They killed my mother in front of me. I was hiding under my bed, and the man stabbed my mother in her heart. I watched her die.
Levi is moved by Brianne's tragic story, and he feels for the little girl.
Brianne: There was so much blood. It wouldn't stop coming out. She just kept bleeding...and I ran away. I had to. My mother told me to. She knew they were coming, and she told me to run and never look back. And this...
Brianne takes out her father's letter.
Brianne: This is the letter my father wrote to me. He knew he was going to die, so he wrote this letter to me.
Farlan and Isabel return, and Brianne quickly hides the letter back in her dress pocket. She pretends as if nothing is happening, and Levi knows she wants to drop the subject. As Brianne is sorting through the strawberries and apples for the ripe ones, Levi takes Farlan and Isabel away so they can talk.
Farlan: (referring to Brianne) She okay? She seems upset.
Levi: The kid's a Turgard.
Isabel and Farlan: What?
Levi: The Commander of the Military Police was her father.
Isabel: Then she must've read what happened.
Levi: (nods) Yeah. We bought the paper.
Farlan: Wait, but it said she was dead too.
Levi: It's a long story. I'll explain it later, not around her.
Farlan: Does Kenny know about this?
Levi: Let's not tell him who she really is. And let's not mention what Kenny does to the kid. It'll just drive her away from us. She needs us to look after her.
Farlan and Isabel agree to not tell Kenny that Brianne is a Turgard because Kenny is a serial killer who kills Military Police and their families. They also know that Brianne would refuse to stay with them if she knew what Kenny really does during his free time.
Isabel: You know, it won't be safe with Brianne living with us.
Levi: What do you mean?
Isabel: I mean, the MP knows how she looks. Her family picture is in the headlines, and...well, it's not hard to spot her.
Farlan: So what are you saying? Throw her back out onto the street so the MP can catch her and actually kill her?
Isabel: She could get all of us into trouble or worse.
Levi: (adamant) No. We're not throwing her out on the street. She's one of us. She's part of the gang, and she's going to stay with us.
Isabel: But we could get caught. What do you think the MP's gonna do to us once they find out she's living here with us and Kenny? They could kill us.
Levi: (angry) I don't give a shit. I'm not throwing that little girl out onto the street so the dogs can get her. I'm not gonna do that, not after all she's been through.
Isabel: You barely know this girl, Levi. Why the hell are you so protective over her?
Levi: (takes his stand) She watched an MP kill her mother. She watched her mother die in front of her, bleed out to death. She doesn't deserve to be abandoned too. I won't do that to her.
Farlan: Listen, listen, guys. I got an idea. We just gotta change how she looks.
Levi and Isabel: What do you mean?
Farlan: Cut her hair, change her clothes. I mean, cut her hair real short like ours, right? Make her look like a boy. No one would notice then.
Isabel: Till she grows boobs.
Farlan: We'll worry about it when it happens. But for now, let's just cut her hair like a boy.
Levi agrees, and Isabel reluctantly agrees. Levi grabs the knife, and he walks over to Brianne.
Levi: Hey. I need to cut your hair.
Brianne looks up at Levi confused.
Brianne: What?
Levi: Farlan, Izzie, and I agreed. We can't let the MP catch you cus then they'd kill you. And your picture is all over the paper, so it'd be easy for them to catch you if they find you on the street. We need to change how you look.
Brianne: But I like my hair. It's like my mother's hair.
Levi: Yeah but what do you want more, your hair or your life?
Brianne is quiet and is upset.
Levi: You really have to think about this?
Brianne: Just please don't cut it very short.
Levi: (nods) Alright, Farlan, hold down the kid so she doesn't move.
Farlan holds Brianne by her shoulders as Levi grabs her thick golden sunshine hair in one hand. He cuts it as close as he can to her head, and Brianne gasps when she realizes how much hair Levi cut off.
Brianne: (angry) You cut off all of it!
Levi: I had to. I'm telling you, the MP would recognize you if I cut it a little bit.
Brianne: But I look like a boy now!
Farlan: That's the point. The MP is looking for a little girl, not a boy, right?
Isabel: Maybe we should start calling you Brian, huh?
Brianne is very upset that Levi cut off all her hair, and she doesn't understand that all he wants to do is protect her from getting caught and killed by the MP.
Brianne watches Kenny teaching Levi and Farlan how to fight. Kenny easily kicks both their asses, and Brianne claps for Kenny like an impressed child. Kenny bows like it was a performance.
Brianne: Wow, can you teach me how to fight like that, Kenny?
Levi: (gets off the floor) Why do you want to learn how to fight?
Brianne: Because I want to join the Military.
Kenny: (curious) And why would you want to do that?
Brianne: So that I can join the Military Police. Then, I'm going to kill the King.
Levi, Farlan, Isabel, and Kenny are taken aback by the sudden blunt statement from Brianne.
Isabel: W-why do you want to do that?
Brianne: Because he killed my mother and father. He's a coward. The people don't deserve a terrible King like that. We deserve someone much better, someone who doesn't kill good people.
Levi: So you're just gonna throw the King from his throne and appoint someone yourself?
Brianne: Well...the first part I'll do...and the people can decide who their next King is together. I would vote for Kenny.
Kenny: (amused) Me?
Brianne: (nods) Yes. You're a great fighter, you're very brave, and you were kind enough to feed me and let me live here with you. You're a very kind man like my father.
Farlan: (awkward) Uh, hey! Who's hungry, huh?
Farlan throws a potato to everyone, and Brianne sits on the couch eating her potato alone. Levi joins her and hands her an apple. She takes it with a smile.
Levi: So, you're really gonna join the Military?
Brianne: Yeah. And I'm going to kill the King.
Levi: (chortles) You got guts, kid. I'll tell you that. So...when do you plan to join?
Brianne: When I turn 11. In 2 more years. And until then, I'm going to train to prepare myself. I have to be the top 10 of my class to be in the Military Police. That's why I need you to help me fight, Levi.
Levi: You know, I don't think it'll be a good idea joining the Military. I mean, you're gonna be working for the man who you want to kill.
Brianne: I know, but it's the only way. (looks at Levi) Will you help me learn how to fight?
Levi is quiet. He doesn't want Brianne to join the Military because he likes what he, Brianne, Farlan, Isabel, and Kenny have together. He likes how they live together, and he's already gotten used to it. He's afraid of change, but he knows Brianne is determined by the look in her eyes. He knows one day he'll regret his decision to help Brianne learn how to fight, but he knows it's for her own good.
Levi: Yeah. I'll help you.
Brianne: (smiles) Thanks, Levi. You're the best.
Brianne hugs Levi tightly, and he smiles. After eating their dinner, Levi teaches Brianne the very basics of fighting, her stance and pose. Farlan and Isabel watch while Kenny is out doing what he always does...After a long night of learning the basics, Levi calls it a night knowing that Brianne needs a rest. Isabel and Farlan lay on their cushion and close their eyes to fall asleep. Levi waits for Brianne to lay down on her cushion, and he blows out the candle. Levi plops down on his cushion, and he closes his eyes to go to sleep. Brianne gets out of her own cushion, and she drags it over right next to Levi. Brianne snuggles next to Levi, and she digs her face into his chest and the cushion. Levi opens his eyes, and he looks up at Isabel. She smiles at Levi, and Levi smiles as he closes his eyes again to go to sleep.