In the rubble of a ruined city, three young children wander aimlessly
Young Jean
Marieee, where are we going?
Young Marie
We're looking for food.
Or some shelter.
Whichever we find first.
Young Jean
Ugh, my legs are tired, I can't walk anymore…
Young Marie
Remember, we have to watch out for Louis.
We need to at least find some food for him.
He's too young to do anything, right?
Jean looks towards the small baby tied his sister's back as he nods his head
Young Jean
Sorry, you're right…
Young Marie
Trust me, once we make it to Paris, things will change!
We'll get to live out our dream life!
Just imagine it, getting to eat fine food at fancy cafes every morning, then going downtown to see the big city fashion, and the vibrant music!
It's a city of culture and dreams!
So, to fit in there, we're going to need to educate ourselves!
Young Jean
I don't want to be educated, Mom and Dad never were–
Young Marie
Jean!
Jean flinches as his sister glares at him
Young Marie
We agreed to never speak of those two again.
Young Jean
R-right…sorry Marie…
Young Marie
Sigh…I can't stay mad at you two!
Don't worry, once we make it to Paris, I'll make sure to give you two the life our parents never could!
Just imagining how vibrant everything will be is making my heart race with excitement!
I can't wait to get there!
Hard cut, as Marie is chased out of a store
Baker
Get out of here you street rat!
I don't need a little skank like you dirtying my doorstep!
Young Marie
Fine, I'll leave!
I don't want your bread anyways!
As the baker slams the door in her face, Marie laughs to herself, revealing the loaf of bread she had managed to hide beneath her coat
Young Marie
Heh, looks like we'll get to eat well tonight!
Jean, Louis, I'm home!
Marie walks into a small tin shack underneath an overpass
The three have aged, Marie's hair has grown long and dirty, as she's greeted by a small child who appears to be around four
Louis
Marie!
Young Marie
Is that you Louis!?
Oh, you looked so big and strong I barely recognized you!
Louis
Hehe, c'mon, you saw me this morning before you left!
Young Marie
Is your brother not home yet?
Louis
Nope, I managed to watch this place all by myself!
Young Marie
And we're so proud of you for being able to do that!
How about you go take a seat, you two are in for a treat tonight!
Young Jean
I'm back…
A young boy walks through the door, his face covered in dust and dried blood
Young Marie
Jean!
Can we talk for a moment?
Young Jean
Sure?
Outside the hut, Marie punches Jean
Young Jean
OW!!
What was that for!?
Young Marie
First, you leave Louis all alone, second, you come home covered in blood!
Do you know how worried I am about you two?!
Young Jean
Geez, you don't need to act like a mom…
Young Marie
I'm your big sister, of course I'm going to worry when you disappear during the day and come back with bruises and blood on you!
I don't know what I'd do if something happened to the two of you!
Young Jean
Yeah?
Well how about you?
Each day, you disappear and come back with bruises and food!
I know you don't have a job, you're stealing that, aren't you!?
What kind of example are you trying to set for Louis!?
Tears begin to well in Jean's eyes
Young Jean
You've always helped us…
What would Louis and I do if something happened to you…?
Young Marie
Jean…
Don't worry, your big sister isn't going anywhere…
I can't leave my precious little siblings on their own, now can I?
C'mon, Louis's waiting, I got a real treat for us tonight!
Young Jean
Alright…
Young Marie
Louis!
Hope you're hungry, I brought us a whole loaf of bread!
Louis
Wow!
What are we celebrating!?
Young Marie
There doesn't have to be anything special.
Being with you two makes everyday special!
Marie hugs Louis who tries pushing her off
Louis
Ewww!
Marie, that sounded so lame, hehe!
Young Marie
Whaaat?
I thought I sounded like a good guardian!
What do you think, Jean?
Young Jean
…
It was kinda lame…
Young Marie
Eh?!
You too?!
Louis and Jean look at each other before they start laughing.
Marie heaves a sigh, before smiling and splitting the bread
The next morning, Marie carefully moves around her siblings, careful not to wake them up as she prepares to leave.
Louis
Mmn…
Marie…?
Young Marie
Shhh
Go back to bed, you don't need to be up this early.
Louis
Marie…I want to go with you…
Young Marie
Sorry, Louis.
Maybe when you're older.
Louis
Hehe, alright…
I'm looking forward to that…
Louis drifts back to sleep as Marie looks on and slips out into the cold streets of Paris
Young Marie
(Jean, Louis, I'm sorry…)
(I'm so sorry that I can't find any good work for myself, and that all of our meals are stolen.)
(I'm sorry that we have to live out of a shack in the filthiest part of the city.)
(You two deserve better…)
(...and I'll get you a better life, no matter what it takes.)
(No matter how dirty my hands have to get.)
(It will be my burden alone to bear.)
(So please, don't hate me.)
Marie overlooks a large house, with a gate surrounding the building.
Young Marie
(Calm down, you've been planning this for weeks.)
(This is the big break you've been waiting for.)
(Things will go smoothly.)
(just, believe in yourself…)
Marie takes a deep breath as she moves towards the entrance
Two guards holding tommy guns are standing there as they notice the young girl moving towards them
Guard 1
Hey, stop right there!
What's your business?
If you've got none, then scram!
I won't give you a second warning!
Guard 2
C'mon, calm down.
She's just a little girl, she doesn't mean any harm.
Want some candy kid?
The guard reaches out his hand to Marie, a small piece of candy in his palm, she continues looking forward, ignoring him.
Young Marie
Cirque Umbra.
Guard 2
What was that?
With a loud audible crunch, the man's arm disappears into seemingly thin air
Guard 2
A-ahhhh!!!
Before the guards can even understand what just happened, they are both engulfed in shadows before being dragged off
Marie continues walking forward
Grunt
Hey, what's happening out–
As more guards come to see the commotion, more and more shadows pick them off.
Marie ignores it all and continues marching deeper into the building.
Eventually, Marie finds herself in a study on the second floor, with a large painting of the presumed owner on the wall
Marie utters the name of her Manifesto again, as a large humanoid figure forms out of the shadows in the room, and it pulls the painting off the wall, revealing a safe
Young Marie
Jackpot.
Cirque Umbra begins reaching for the safe, before one of her shadows blocks an attack
Marie covers her face with her shirt, as Cirque Umbra switches its attention towards the doorway
Tall man
That's the one who's responsible for all the damage?
Grunt
Y-yes sir…
I saw it with my own eyes…
She made shadows eat every last person in the mansion!
Tall man
Is that so…
Very well, boy!
It's time to prove your worth.
You're very talented when it comes to dealing with…"exceptional" cases.
Young boy
Yes, sir.
A young boy steps forward from behind the tall man
The boy appears to be younger than Marie and to be covered in bruises and scars, though it is hard to tell underneath the mask he is wearing covering half his face.
Young Marie
Cirque Umbra.
The Manifesto as well as the shadows in the room begin to lunge towards the boy, however he manages to block all their attacks with his bare arms
Young Marie
What!?
Tall man
Heh, he's quite something, isn't he?
I've never seen it before.
Not only can he see things normal people can't, he's able to touch them with his bare arms…
…and that's not all.
The man smiles, showing the ugliest grin that Marie had ever seen in her life. Each second he smiled, she could feel the pure malice and hatred leaking out of him.
Tall man
Not only can he touch them…
He can hurt them too.
Young Marie
What–
Before Marie can think, the boy crushes the shadows with his bare hands, before leaping and punching Cirque Umbra in the jaw, causing her to stagger
Marie falls to the ground, looking up at the boy, she sees him holding onto a small stone he seemingly kept in his pocket
Young boy
Mimic's Grasp.
The boy's fists turn to stone in the blink of an eye, as he begins to pound away at the Manifesto, causing Marie to start coughing up blood from each successive punch
Tall man
Heehee!!!
It's always so funny to see him do this, since I can't see what he's punching, but I get to see your funny reactions!
Marie grits her teeth, as Cirque Umbra manages to over power the boy
Cirque Umbra begins to punch the boy, not holding back.
As Cirque Umbra continues its assault, the boy's mask slowly breaks away, revealing the face hiding behind
Marie stops attacking, as she sees through the destroyed mask, blood, and tears, the face of her younger brother, lying lifelessly on the floor
Young Marie
!?
Jean!!!!