Marlene's story began normally for a girl which grew up in Wall Rose: Her parents lived in good standards; they were pottery traders - from them Marlene got her high interest in culture and art. She had two older brothers: Michael - Member of the Scouting Legion and Matthias - Member of the Military Police. Their mother, Judith, and their father, Joseph, were very proud of their kids. Marlene was the only girl in the family and the jewel of her mom and dad. Because of the status from Michael and Matthias, Marlene felt the pressure of keeping up with her brothers. In her childhood she had a handful of friends, but was more with her brothers, even they were a little bit older than herself. Michael and Matthias were the reason why she got a more hard-looking outcoming, a more chaotically personality and she had less interest in girly things like cooking, sewing or something like that. Especially Michael was very proud of his little sister, kept always an eye on her and enjoyed the time with the little girl. Matthias wasn't like that: He became jealous because Marlene was the "holy child" of the family and he didn't understand why she got extra privileges only because she was a girl. The relationship of they both didn't went good at all. Matthias grew up to a very egoistically and mischievous person, too proud of his status in the Military Police and if he got the chance, he liked it to treat others badly and called Marlene "useless and weak". He was the opinion that Marlene never would be able to reach the status like him, because she was only a girl, who couldn't even do the simplest things in a household. Marlene wasn't a girl with good abilities in being a housewife, so she thought Matthias was right about her. Marlene tried always to show him the opposite, but most of the time she failed, at least - he never gave her a chance to develop. Otherwise than her brother Michael: As the oldest of the siblings he encouraged Marlene, she was a personality by her own and shouldn't listen to Matthias; she could reach also a good status like him, if she would work hard for it. He trained her in boxing and defense fighting, to make her stronger. For Marlene, it was a good feeling to not being weak; Michael wasn't only a brother for Marlene, he was her best friend too.
When Marlene wasn't outside to play or to help her parents with pottery, she drew artworks. Her parents recognized her talent for art and supported her. Marlene's dream was to become an art teacher. Joseph was very proud of his daughter, encouraged her to study and made all possible for her to join an university. He was also glad about his daughter wouldn't join the military like her brothers and Joseph had hope, that Marlene would get the chance to live a good life inside Wall Rose or maybe - if it possible - Wall Sina.

Years ago Joseph lost one leg in an accident during work time. The family wasn't included in the trouble during the Titan Attack, but the consequences hit them hard: Business wasn't good as before, because nobody got money and the incoming of the refugees didn't make it better. In that hard time, Marlene tried to support her family in every situation, but they didn't earn enough money to buy the medicine for her father. He needed operations on his leg but without money, it was impossible. His sons sent some money time by time but it didn't helped. Judith gave up her job to carry on her husband. Marlene wanted to do something and tried to sell some of her artworks. She went to an university, showed her paintings and other works and asked about a job. The teacher said that she had talent but has to wait some years, when the business would be better again. Marlene hadn't time to wait and felt miserable. Because Matthias bullied her again for can’t do anything, she got a break down and searched for an opportunity. She found a way to sell some stuff on a weekly market, near to the wall. It wasn't the best place, more like the "forgotten places" - those corners, where the sun never shines and the people there were often poor and mean. Here, she sold a little bit of her things week by week and got to know a police man. They both talked some time together and he noticed her failure in selling stuff. He asked her about her motivations and why she was on a place like that. Marlene told him shortly her situation; the man gave her a tip, that if she would be an intelligent girl, she could earn money, when she simply use her status of a woman. Marlene immediately knew what he wanted to say and had beaten him for his rude remarks. So she got banned from the weekly market. Later, at home, she was very downcast and told her brothers about the conversation with the man. While Michael kept her up to did the correct way, Matthias tread her, like always: she wasn't able to be a simply prostitute, too dumb to make one right job. Michael went into a heavy argument with Matthias about that and couldn't believe that his brother was that mean. Marlene tried to calm down the situation but couldn't do anything. Michael left the house and went back to his military position. Sadly, it was the last time the three siblings talked to each other: On a mission of the Scouting Legion Michael died and so Marlene lost her brother and best friend. The family was very touched about his death and the health of her father went very bad. Matthias hadn't time to visit the families house often; Judith did all for her husband and Marlene felt like a burden. After long thoughts, sleepless nights and months of sadness, she knew that her father needed the money for his operations or he may will die. She went back to that dark place and searched the police man to take his offer to earn money. She never would have thought that it would end so badly, because in a moment she wanted to change her decision, the police man didn't let her go...

Because Marlene hated lies, she never told her parents or Matthias about the situation. She was sure, Judith and Joseph would be disappointed about what she had done and she couldn't look in her father’s eyes anymore. Marlene tried to avoid conversations. Time passed and she felt every day more uncomfortable to live on that place. Marlene decided to make a cut, literally: One day she came down the stairs with short hair, a little package and a bunch of money. Her father looked in her eyes, shocked, scared and very sad. For him, the worst case happened: his sweet daughter wanted to join the military. Joseph asked her about the money and why she wanted to leave her parent’s house. Marlene said, she wanted to be mature enough to live her own life and that she wouldn't follow her parent’s wishes to study inside Wall Rose or Sina anymore; it wasn't her business (secretly it was a lie. The only lie she told to her parents). Also that she felt sorry to disappoint her father, who couldn't understand all. Marlene said in front of Matthias, that he was right and she never would be a member of the Military Police. That was the first time Matthias looked to his sister with eyes of a brother and felt guilty inside. They both never talked about that all. Marlene chose a training camp far away from her home.
Later, Joseph got the operations - all what Marlene wanted. She always sent money to her family and written letters during the time in the Training Corps. If she got the chance, she visited her parents' house. For her, her family was priority number one; especially her father.