Marigold

The smoggy air makes it almost impossible to see the stars in the sky above the burning city of Vale. The little girl falls asleep in Marigolds arm while she brings her to the evacuation point. The two of them stand out from the burning environment.

'All right little one we're almost there.' Marigold drops down to the ground just a couple blocks away from the evacuation point. Her footsteps echo along the walls of the dark alleyway. She walks with determination to the end of the alley and looks to her right and left to see if the coast is clear.

'Looks like we're good.' She drops off the girl to the Vale guards who have made their efforts protecting the area.

'You better take care of her and make sure she gets back to her family.' She starts to walk back through the alley.

'Miss where are you going it's not safe out there?' The guard reaches for her arm. Marigold pulls away.

'I'm going to try to save more people.' She continues walking down the cracked and broken road. She walks toward a little dust shop that is boarded up.

'Hello anyone there?' She knocks on the bright green door. There is no answer. She busts down the door, making a loud thud. The dust shop has been vacated and it looks like several people have raided the building. Marigold cautiously makes her way towards the see the broken dust vials to see a man on the floor. He has a hole in his back made from some sort of gun. She turns him over to reveal scratch marks on his chest.

'I don't think this was a Grimm attack.' She is immediately hit from behind by a large black figure, knocking her out.

'You should have read the sign little girl.' The hooded man starts to laugh with increasing intensity. She blacks out with the laughter fading away. Marigold wakes up with a terrible headache. She has a small itch on her nose, so she tries to scratch it but she notices that she can't. She is tied up to a chair, and that her weapons have been confiscated. She looks around to see where she is. The room is very small with a tiny clock reading *Nine O'clock* on it. There is a small table in front of her, and on the opposite side of her is a metal door with a giant lock on it. She begins to try to free herself but to no success. She tries calling out for help, she is gagged with a cloth. The door suddenly flies open revealing a strange man. He is wearing a white suit with a grey scarf around his neck. His orange hair hides half of his face. His black bowler hat has a red band and a feather tucked in it. He slams his black gloves on the table.

'So you're the little bee I keep hearing about.' He stands there for a moment with his bright green eyes expecting for an answer.

'Silly me! Let me take off that gag. Where are my manners, So where was I? Ah right, why were you buzzing around that old dust store?' Marigold looks up into his green eyes and spits in his face.

'You'll never get away with this.' He takes out a cloth from his suit pocket and wipes his face. He puts the cloth away and slaps her across the face. He straightens his sleeves.

'Now that wasn't very nice was it. I'm going to ask you again. Now why were you snooping around my dust shop, you little insect?' He slaps her again, and reframes himself from anymore violence.

'That isn't your dust shop. You killed that man didn't you?

'Of course I did. Do you really expect me to pay for that dust, especially the taxes? Have you seen how much the dust tax is here, its insane. So when I told that to little old Mr. Shopkeep he refused to let me leave so I had to cancel his business, which makes me the new owner.' He grabs another chair and sits down crossing his legs. He sets his cane on top of the table.

'You killed that man he probably had a family you monster!' She starts to squirm in her chair a little.

'Close but not quite. I may be a monster but I'm not thee monster. You see I have a little score to settle with this big bad lady. She goes by the name of Salem.' He looks down at his watch and up at Marigolds wings.

'Salem what kind of name is that?'

'That doesn't matter! Now as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, Salem ordered one of her grimm to kill me and well I'm obviously not dead am I so.' Marigold glares at him with suspicion.

'So this Salem chick can control grimm. I guess you really are a crazy maniac.'

'No I'm a crazy maniac, but with a plan!' He pulls on Marigolds wing. She lets out a small shriek.

'Ow! what was that for?' She starts to whimper.

'These wings are very rare for a faunus to have. And they could prove to be useful. So are you in?' Marigold looks at the man with confusion.

'Wait are you trying to make me join you?' The man grabs his cane from the table and aims it at Marigolds chest.

'Of course not. I'm forcing you!'