#scoutregiment

The loud bang as the door was kicked open startled them all. They were faced with rifles raised at them.

Soldiers under the Military Police Regiment stormed their home. Rounding them up one by one.

Her brothers quickly moved to shield her but were soon brought to their knees. The cake a forgotten heap at the table.

Deep inside she was scared by the sudden intrusion. Although, what was happening did not surprise her somehow.

She was insightful and quick to pick up on things for a child her age. Her parents always took pride in the fact that she is wise beyond her years.

For over a few months now, she and her brothers watched worriedly as their father came home, looking older day by day.

The stress taking a toll on him. But what could they possibly do?

At night they struggled to make sense of the hushed whispers that emerged from their parents bedroom. They knew something was about to happen.

Her birthday, was the first time in a long while that joy and calmness filled the atmosphere in their humble home once more.

A welcome excuse to abandon the troubles that weighed them.

An MP came from behind her, picking her up just as she watched her panicked mother try to reach for her. Missing her just by a second.

She warily looked up at the soldier and to her 8-year old mind, he appeared to be smiling kindly. But she saw the hint of sympathy in his eyes accompanied by pity.

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.” He whispered reassuringly making her relax a little.

The soldier knew what fate awaited the family.

He believed the kids should have been spared from this circumstance.

But much like the people inside the Walls, they have nowhere else to go when the nobles turn on them.

She could hear her mother crying, her pleas an endless chant from her lips as her father was dragged from his chair at the head of the table.

She was brought to their living room to join the rest of her family. Stood between her brothers, forced to watch helplessly as the soldiers turned their house upside down.

Papers flew in the air, drawers pulled from their compartments, pillows on the sofa torn, curtains ripped, cabinets toppled, and plates were shattered.

She turned her head just in time to see the soldier that carried her approach the bookshelf by the corner near her room.

Small legs broke into a run, hugging the soldier by his knees as she pleaded. Not those books.

“Please, sir. Don’t destroy them. Please.”

The soldier sighed, gently moving her aside before toppling the shelf.

Tears fell from her eyes as she watched the place she called home be reduced to nothing but broken chaos.

As the soldiers finished, a order was heard for them to be brought outside. The MP easily lifted her again.

Her mother tried to take her from the MP but another grabbed her by the elbow dragging her out their door after her father and brothers.

“Mama...” she had whispered. Small hands reaching out as the MP gently shushed her.

Once outside, he set her to her feet beside Bran. She saw Alec nudge Bran from the corner of her eye before nodding his head towards her.

As she faced the crowd that had gathered before them, she grew uneasy. A man, who she assumed was the MP Commander, stood before them.

He untied a scroll and began loudly.

“Hereby stands nobleman Marius Fords, declared guilty as charged of Treason Against Humanity. The severity of said charges are punishable by death.”

She heard her mother hold back a sob, clinging to her father as she shook. Fresh tears welled in her own eyes as she processed the words.

She felt Bran reach for her hand, squeezing lightly. “Everything will be alright, Claire.”

Bran felt helpless as his sister tugged at his hand. Eyes identical to his, silently communicating the fear she felt.

How much comfort could he offer when he felt the same way? He sensed Alec stiffen but his face remained devoid of emotion.

What was to happen to them if their father was executed?

“Furthermore, he is also found guilty of Abuse of Power and Money Laundering.” Gasps rose from the crowd, murmurs buzzed as people started to gossip.

The Fords family have always been highly regarded. Painted as an image of the perfect family, revered by many due to their generosity and joyful nature.

Perhaps as revered as the King.

But these kind of allegations, proven or not, could turn friends and acquaintances into foe. No matter how kindly they had treated those around them.

The people’s anger could be felt as they began to close in. Curious eyes turned sharp and hostile as they listened.

The MP Commander nodded an order to the soldiers standing guard around the family.

In perfect synchronization, they pounded their rifles to the ground before aiming them towards the crowd effectively silencing them.

“However by mercy of the good King Fritz, he is to be stripped off his title and rid of his riches. More over, he with his wife, Agnes, and children, Alec Matthew, Bran Marcus, and Claire Agatha Fords are to be banished into the Underground City. Effective as of this day, 8th of April in the year 831. Signed, His Majesty, King Fritz.”

Little Claire trembled in fear as she heard the word “Underground”. It’s not that she’s a noble snob but everyone knew just how dangerous the place is.

Her brothers had always told her stories about it. How screams were a constant and how one can never tell night and day. She had always been scared of the dark.

She tugged at Bran’s hand again, tears now unstoppable as she felt panic rise within her. She was restless.

But she saw that her brothers had paled as well. Unable to tend to her for they needed comfort themselves.

She knew now that the stories were indeed reality. And that’s where they’re supposed to go now.

Alec and Bran felt like they could might as well take a titan any day over being in the Underground. They heard that everyday down there was a fight for survival.

Blood a constant sight and crime at an all time high.

Agnes fell on her knees sobbing in disbelief. How could this happen? She thought of her children living a life in that place.

She shuddered at the thought of the dark and damp hell within the Walls.

Marius heaved as he ran towards the MP Commander before going down on his knees. He was certain his heart was going to burst out of his chest.

“Spare the children! Please! They are innocent. Just take me please.” He begged knowing that lives depended on it.

The Commander remained stoic. Eyes trained straight ahead. Ears deaf to the pleas of the desperate man.

Deep down, his heart clenched. He knew this family. He knew the truth. But there wasn’t anything he could do as well without risking himself.

Soon an MP came to bind their wrists in shackles. Linking them before shoving Marius forward while they trailed behind him.

A single drop smeared Claire’s cheek. She raised her head and more followed. It was raining. Was the sky crying for them?

Her brothers always told her rain happens because they skies wept. She believed them.

She was roughly taken back to the present when she heard Alec hiss in pain. Shackled wrists reaching up to shield his head from something.

Then Claire noticed her parents do the same. They were being stoned as the MP herded them. She felt one particularly sharp rock strike her.

Wincing in pain she reached up to her right cheek, feeling moisture on her fingers. The sight of red liquid a more pronounced confirmation of the cut.

Hot fat tears continuously rolled down her face as she kept herself busy looking down and crouching to make herself smaller to be a harder target.

The thunder of the livid mob almost overpowering the angry pitter-patter of the rain.

Little Claire refused to look up. Refused to meet the unfriendly stares of people they once knew or helped in someway.

They were abandoned. Ousted.

She felt cold as her dress got soaked. Her special birthday dress her mother had sewn for her. Bright red just like she wanted turning dark from the water.

Words such as thieves, liars, pigs and traitors were shouted at them. She wondered if they were true.

In her heart, she felt hurt. She didn’t understand what was going on. Why were people saying bad words and hurting them?

“But I’m not bad.” She sadly thought, her lips jutting out in a petulant pout.

She never quarreled with her playmates or ever hurt a fly.

Marius Fords was a generous noble, holding countless charities to help feed many alongside his wife who provided free medical aid.

Their family has always politely greeted people as they handed out bread to old and young alike. Easily gracing everyone they met with kind smiles.

Claire can’t recall a moment her father hesitated to offer assistance to anyone in need or ever hear anyone have anything bad to say about them.

The Fords were always a go-to for people in need. Never ones to turn away or dismiss.

Always approachable for they themselves lived a simple life. Making people think they are one with them despite their status in society.

Even at her young age, Claire knew her family was loved by many.

At least before today.

Why were they being punished?

Marius gravely kept his head down. Keeping silent as he endured the groans of his wife and sons muffled by the rain and the shouts as they endured the stoning. Claire whimpered and sniffled.

Had he been alone, he would have proudly held his head up. An innocent humbly accepting his fate no matter how grim.

But he wasn’t alone.

Blood trickled down his eyebrow, a particularly deep cut obscuring his vision. His felt his wife stumble as she momentarily lost her balance, tugging the chains that connected them.

Alec rushed to help, ulitimately pulling Bran and Claire forward as well until they all crashed together on their mother.

Agnes tearfully reached for their children. Weeping for every cut and scratch that littered their skin. Teeth chattering from the drop in temperature.

His heart broke at the sight of his battered family just as thunder boomed.

Denying the comfort of meeting their gazes, he bent down to try and help. He brought them here and for that he would be eternally sorry.

He could stand his pain with every contact but it wounded him beyond physical for his family to be involved in this.

Soldiers harshly pulled his sons to their feet as the girls were treated a little gentler.

He watched as a soldier stuck close to his daughter effectively shielding her from anymore harm. An arm extending across her small shoulders.

He gave the young man a grateful smile just as he was shoved to move forward.

Despite being innocent he had no choice but to accept their unjust fate. It was better than being executed.

Alive, they could strive for something better once more.

But what hurt the most was that they were still in their neighborhood.

Risking a quick glance around, he noticed those they considered close family friends were nowhere in sight.

People who should have been there to defend them or simply send them off. Instead, he was met with dirty judgmental looks.

Their house was only few blocks away from the entrance of the Underground but they were taking the long way round.

Being paraded in whole city of Mitras, an act to demoralize them and humiliate them for all of the Walls to see.

Coming into the center of Mitras, passing by all too familiar corners, the family sadly thought back to better days.

The shop Alec and Bran frequented with their father, equipments for hunting. A favorite pastime between the men.

The shop owner closed its doors as the family came in sight.

The library Claire practically grew up in as well. Her mother mostly left her to the elderly woman that kept the place on weekends.

Little Claire fondly called her “Nana”. She’d always receive a kiss or some sweets in return.

She had read every storybook when she was younger. The day she had put the last book down she came to watch Nana crotchet.

She had wanted to learn. Ever so curious and eager. By the time her mother came to fetch her, she proudly presented the pouch she made.

Recently she had moved on to history and medicine. She knew what she wanted to be in the future.

A skilled and compassionate doctor just like her mother.

Today, Nana watched from the balcony of the second floor, her heart breaking for the mother and child she had come to treat family.

Agnes had looked up thoughtfully back at her. Nodding as Nana waved goodbye.

Then there was the candy shop the siblings went to when one was having a bad day. Claire’s first time there was when she scraped her knee.

Her brothers had praised her. She was never one to bawl and shriek under pain. She’d tear up silently, stubbornly sniffling or whimpering lowly.

Bran and Alec’s first time on the other hand was a different story. It was when they pitifully got rejected by the girls they liked when they were 4.

The boys had bawled from heartbreak, Marius and Agnes hadn’t known how to handle the crybabies seriously. It was just ridiculous and amusing.

So in they went, then it became tradition.

Today the middle-aged woman that always catered to them stood by the street in front of the shop. Waiting with three bags, treats for the children.

She tried to break through the soldiers acting as barricade between the family and the mob. Catching the one that stood protecting Claire by the sleeve, she handed the bags with pleading eyes.

Alec and Bran had thrown her a grateful smile. Thankful she was there to uplift them just like she always did on bad days. Even if it was the last time.

The walk was long. Eventful nonetheless. The family knew they were close, every step they took reluctantly, feet heavy and hearts dreadful.

But time seemed to be playing a cruel trick on them. Because soon enough they found themselves by the entrance to the Underground.

The sun had just set, enveloping the streets into a moonless night. Lamps dimly lit the city but from where they stood, they could see the roof of their house.

The soldiers unchained them. They offered resistance as they were pushed down the dark stairwell.

This was it.

They just had to arrive on the most dangerous time inside the Underground.

Only two guards accompanied them as they descended. Every step felt like the air was closing in on them.

All little Claire could think of was the extinguished candle wick this morning as they succumbed to the darkness that awaited them.

Time wasn’t relevant in the Underground so it disgusts him that these men are already raring to go at this time of day.

“Don’t they have anything better to do?”

Didn’t matter anyway, he was only here to see what he can steal. He was hungry and he needed money to buy some clean fucking water because the public water pump is guarded by greedy thugs.

Voices arose from inside, catcalls and lewd remarks were heard across the street from where he stood. Women must be getting dragged unto the stage now.

He has witnessed this one too many times thanks to the time he spent with Kenny.

Tucking the necklace inside his pocket, he crossed the street as he eyed a potential target. A sleazy MP was starting to doze off from too much booze.

What a useless scum.

Creeping a bit closer he crouched to avoid attention as he rounded the corner to slip under the man’s table. Carefully but swiftly plucking his bag from him.

Normally, he would have straight up beat the shit out of the man then take what he wanted but today he just wanted to keep a low profile. He wasn’t in the mood for confrontation.

He was about to get up and leave when another MP that sat on the table rose and tripped on Levi’s crouched form as he stumbled up to avail more drinks.

“Some luck,” Levi muttered under his breath, slinging the bag across his body as he gave the man an insulting bored expression.

“Oi! You fuckin’ runt!” the man exclaimed waking Levi’s victim in the process.

The man bent down to see what was going on and despite his intoxicated state was able to slur, “That’s mine! Give it back yah piece of shit!”

Knife at the ready, he delivered the heel of his hand forcefully to the man’s nose. Levi stood up toppling the table over but not before his hands twisted as he slashed the ankles of two MPs.

Glass bottles were sent crashing to the ground and the sound of glass breaking unfortunately attracted more attention. Men from different tables rose to see what’s going on, not that it was unusual.

His leg flew up kicking his victim on the left knee just as the MP was starting to recover from the blow on his face, the impact sending him promptly back to the dirty ground.

Levi did the same to the other but sent him flying instead, back hitting the brick wall of the bar with a sickening thud before slumping on the ground.

Interested eyes watched the scene unfold.

This was no ordinary scuffle.

A fair number of thugs have already heard of his name. A lot more had a taste of what Levi can do.

Besides what can be expected from a kid seen rolling with a man like Kenny the Ripper?

Other men advanced toward Levi, some eager to participate with nothing better to do and some smugly thinking they would finally be the one to teach the kid some lesson.

His knife was a blur as he skillfully spun it in his hands. His eyes flashed mockingly at the men that gathered before him, challenging them to step up.

Levi dodged just in time as a man clumsily lunged for him. His elbow brutally landing on the man’s back before shoving him forward, his face planting firmly on the ground.

Just then a punch from another flew by Levi’s face as he deflected the blow with his arm wielding the knife to slice through the man’s wrist.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and Levi quickly twisted under the touch to slash through his opponent’s belly but not deep enough to be fatal before kicking him forcefully.

That was the thing.

Kenny taught him a lot of things. Killing was certainly one of those. Especially when hello’s didn’t work or striking a deal is impossible.

Levi willfully and diligently learned and did it all. But he never dared to kill. It was like he drew the line there. Unless it was absolutely necessary.

Pain is the best form of discipline, he believed.

So, he just resorted to as much violence leaving whoever unlucky man he dealt with to a bloody pulp. Kenny dismissed it, knowing it’d naturally come to him one day.

The squabble was going on for a while, a healthy pile of losers stacked up in Levi’s corner. He could hear the bar owner angrily calling for intervention over the groans.

His place might not stand Levi’s exhibition.

Cracks decorated his walls as Levi sent men flying methodically. The women he has for auction went scrambling in fear of the obviously ruthless confrontation outside.

The display of brutality never fazed Levi and he normally would enjoy it against these pigs but then again he wasn’t in the mood today.

He just wanted some damn food.

So when perpetually incompetent MPs arrived at the scene, he broke into a run deliberately heading for the market. He could easily lose them there, working his small form to an advantage.

“Get back here, you!”

Levi shoved and rammed his body against people that blocked his way. Men and women were flung unto crates and tents in the busy street of the market.

Curses were directed at him but he could only care less. He kept his head forward, his focus solely at outrunning the MPs and other drunkards.

They should tire out soon enough.

Incredibly agile as he is, Levi pulled on baskets rendering a few men to slip on fruits, jumped on carts, and slipped through stalls maintaining the men at a safe distance from him.

He dodged between two boys that looked like they were hopelessly looking for something and would definitely shit their pants anytime soon.

They seemed odd openly standing there like that, looking lost themselves.

Bumping their shoulders inevitably in the process, he saw them wobble at the impact through the corner of his eyes. They whipped their heads around just in time as his pursuers came close.

Levi pushed himself harder before rounding a corner and crouching under a stall. He waited for a few minutes before his pursuers passed then he quickly made for the alley on the left.

Just then he heard a cry, “Here! He’s here!”

“Fucking snitch.” Levi bent down to pick up a rock and targeted the man, hitting him on the head.

He rounded a corner and came upon a dead end.

Thankfully there were crates he could use to get to the other side of the wall. But they weren’t quite high enough so he’d have to jump.

Climbing with ease from years of practice, Levi was startled as a boy rose from a nook between two crates. Failing to halt his momentum, their heads butt, quickly sending them both down to their asses.

“Ow!” The boy groaned as he rubbed his forehead.

Levi dismissed it and shoved the boy forcefully out of his way with his body just as the boy was regaining composure.

The weight of the movement sent the boy by the edge of the crates they were standing on, dangerously close to falling.

Staggering, the boy desperately reached out for anything to steady himself. Small hands latching unto the hem of Levi’s left trouser leg.

Pulling with all his strength and toppling them both in the process, the boy shouted, “Hey!”

“Get off me, you idiot!”

Levi swatted at the boy’s hands that moved to grab his sleeves. He did not have the time for this. But he stilled momentarily as the boy spoke again.

“That’s rude! I could have fallen-”

The voice sounded familiar yet unfitting for the boy. With furrowed eyes, he tried to take a good look at the boy’s face obscured by the beret he wore.

Just then a shout froze them both.

“Oi! You’re dead, brat!” Both of them whipped their heads to see Levi’s friends round the corner.

Both kids could clearly read their thoughts through the men’s eyes: Levi is meeting up with his accomplice.

The boy turned to Levi and that’s when Levi saw it clearly.

Those eyes.

They were wide with confusion but Levi just mistook it for panic.

Levi himself was perplexed. The boy was, to put it simply, strange.

Quickly shoving the boy off him again, Levi hoisted himself higher, grabbing the top of the wall to jump on a roof on the other side and breaking into a run once more.

“Hey! Wait! Don’t leave me here!” A fading plea followed him just as footsteps thundered closer.

Hissing in complete irritation, Levi did something that shocked himself.

He couldn’t believe what he was doing but after an incredibly rare moment of hesitation, Levi’s feet skidded on the roof as he turned back.

Running towards the wall he came from before bending his body over.

“Get up, idiot! Do you wanna get caught?!”

He extended his hand for the boy to take, “Move, brat!” Levi barked.

The boy scrambled to get higher just as the men started shaking the crates. Straining his short arms to reach Levi’s hand.

Levi observed the boy’s hands were ridiculously soft and smooth as he easily yanked the boy up and practically dragged him along by his arm as he ran.

Cursing and grunting in frustration as he had to hold the boy up because the clumsy idiot slipped and tripped constantly.

Unlike Levi, the boy obviously wasn’t accustomed to the twists and turns of the Underground.

An endless stream of oof, ow, and ahh was heard as they sped by accompanied by pitiful grunts and groans.

“Are you trying to guide them to us or something? Shut up!” Levi berated the boy.

“I’m... sorry! I... am... trying... keep up!” The boy breathlessly answered.

Noticing they were nearing the end of the heart of the Underground, Levi made a sharp turn to the right propelling the boy’s body crashing to a wall.

The sudden change of direction throwing the boy’s balance off.

Levi shook his head in annoyance as he pulled the boy up once more. Or that’s what he’s trying to tell himself.

In reality he still can’t get his head around how, for the first time in his life, he came to be in charge of someone else beside his own self right now.

Voluntarily, as a matter of fact.

Jumping down a deserted alley with ruined buildings, both of them bent to catch their breath. He was about to pull the boy again to his destination when the boy spoke.

“Did we lose them-” the boy was abruptly cut off as Levi grabbed him and slapped a hand over his mouth.

Pulling them both to crouch behind a corner of a cracked wall. Levi felt the body against him heave and his own heart beat rapidly as voices rose.

“Those runts. Spread out! They must be here.”

Levi had his mouth on the boy’s ear, “I’m going to let you go but don’t you dare make a sound. Follow me to that boulder on the left. Got it?”

The boy nodded and Levi let up.

Going on all fours, the two of them made their way behind the boulder. Levi signalled for the boy to help him clear the chunks of bricks on top of a thick wide plank before lifting it by himself.

Nodding his head towards the hole he uncovered, Levi instructed the boy to get in silently. He was beyond ready to hustle the boy in when he finally obliged despite the clear hesitation on his face.

Levi followed closely behind carefully placing the plank haphazardly, so as to avoid suspicion as he slipped through the hole.

It was too dark inside the narrow tunnel and he bumped into the boy who was shaking.

“What the fuck are you doing? Get a move on!” he whisper-shouted.

“B-but I can’t see and.. a-and I’m not too fond of the dark...”

“Then should we stay here then?” His voice was leaking with sarcasm and outright annoyance.

“Fine! Why don’t you go first then?”

Levi was actually thankful for the cover of darkness. The boy’s sudden outburst unexpectedly surprising him.

And Levi isn’t one to be easily surprised. Or feel any emotion under than his usual rage or one might even say, apathy.

“Keep your voice down! Use your fucking brain, will you? Just think. It’s too tight in here and you were in first. So move, now.”

Levi was seriously about to reach his limit. He has never felt so exasperated before and it’s beyond baffling to him.

“I-I don’t even know where we’re going.”

“Alright. Let me get back out there so we could have more space to switch and I don’t know, might as well get caught?”

“W-wait. D-don’t do-”

Rolling his eyes, Levi roughly pushed the boy forward and kept at it until they reached the end. Light partially illuminating their way as they drew closer.

They crawled out the limited space and Levi had to pull the boy back before he went wading into the polluted water.

Too preoccupied at the sight before them as they arrived at a wide cavern. There was a huge opening on top, revealing sunlight and greenery from outside.

The tunnel grates around them that lead to a stream were dead giveaways that they were in the sewers of the Underground.

The opening provided a natural exhaust, allowing fresh air to purify the supposedly offending odor of the place. It did smell and felt mossy.

That fact was proven when the boy slipped as he spun around to observe where they were, landing on his ass with an audible thump.

“Umph!” slightly echoing in the hollow area.

The boy continued to eye the surroundings in awe as Levi sat by an elevated rock formation by the pillars like the ones that held the Underground stable.

He needed to get his wits sorted. This day definitely wasn’t going as smoothly as he wanted.

He watched as the boy turned his head slowly to get a better look around them.

Noting that his clothes were ill-fitting, sleeves appeared to be too long that they had to be rolled up his elbows, the same goes for his trousers.

The beret sat loosely atop his head now. Presumably because of their grueling venture.

“Wow,” the boy mused to himself.

Levi was fed up with the strange boy’s astonishment.

“You do realize we’re in the sewers, don’t you?”

“I’ve never been in the sewers,” he whispered absentmindedly.

Levi glared in disbelief as he began to question why he even bothered with all the fuss he went through because of the stupid, troublesome brat.

Assuming the brat was probably spoiled rotten and sheltered.

Just then his beret slipped, releasing long light hazelnut hair with soft curls at the ends from its confines leaving Levi befuddled.

Just like that, a girl stood before him.

He didn’t even notice her turn back to look at him nor the moment recognition crossed her features.

“Y-You-?” She spoke snapping Levi back just as his eyes fell on the healing cut on her neck. “Are you alright? You’re bleeding...”

Reaching out to him, Levi eyed her suspiciously as her hands gently grasped his left arm. He winced as he became aware of the long gash on it, blood trickling down to his hands.

Levi’s eyes raised to glare back at the strange girl with eyes uncannily matching the peculiar stone of the necklace in his pocket.

Eyes that made him display a very uncharacteristic display of behavior. Even Levi is thrown off by his own sudden deviance from his usual self.

Eyes that made him feel emotions rather unknown to him. A far cry from his typically limited range.

Eyes that placed him in a state of uncertainty.

< Chapter 2 | Chapter 4 >

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