|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 17, 2019 15:49:55 GMT -5
[Hehe it's gonna be a lot of fun
I'm gonna have a list of jobs for the prisoners, a list of the products they can buy from commissary, a list of the contraband currently being kept in the warden's office. The forms for the prisoners will be like a prisoner's file, and on the forms for the COs it will have to be specified how friendly they are to the prisoners (i.e. how likely they are to help the prisoners out and stuff like that)
The idea is to create a community where if a prisoner needs something they will need to get the help of the COs or another prisoner. I.e. a prisoner needs something that they know is contraband, and they have heard a prisoner in another block has it so they have to bribe a CO to turn a blind eye while they go into the other block and take it from said prisoner
Also the prisoners will be randomly assigned a prisoner number and cell]
|
|
|
|
Post by Sparky on Aug 17, 2019 15:54:33 GMT -5
[ oooh this sounds cool. also sounds like the bigger the better, tho.. were you planning on small group or open? ]]
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 17, 2019 15:58:00 GMT -5
[It's gonna be open! Hopefully plenty of people will join and it'll be quite big[
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 20, 2019 17:02:36 GMT -5
Anyway hey how is everyone?)
|
|
|
|
Post by Hawkeyes258 on Aug 21, 2019 21:50:26 GMT -5
Pretty good)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 23, 2019 15:23:32 GMT -5
Louden is walking with me down a hallway towards my cell. I’ve just finished speaking to the Capitol once again. I’m drained, and empty, and cold, and I’ve betrayed myself and everyone I love.
And to make matters worse, I have to listen to Louden monologue.
“Bravo, really, Maddie. You almost moved me to tears. What a good friend you are to Holly and Everest. You really know how to give a performance, don’t you? But you know as well as I do that you’re not the noble warrior you pretend to be. If you were you would have let the boy die and continue to defy me. It would be a more selfless thing to do. Instead you, like a coward, give up just like that and lie to everyone. I’m almost disgusted by you, and that’s quite an achievement if I may say so myself.”
I don’t say anything, I simply clench my jaw and stare straight ahead as I walk. But it doesn’t stop a lone tear from slipping down my cheek.
“You can’t have it both ways, dear. I detest people who can’t face up to their own actions. I have to say you’re quite a disappointment.”
“I’m in love,” I say firmly “and I am doing this so you don’t hurt Everest.”
“You keep telling yourself that. We both know you’re just trying to save your own skin. You were never a hero anyway, not like the rest of them. Scared kids just like you who have the guts to actually fight for their cause. I respect the rebels far more than you. But no matter, it doesn’t matter anyway. Once I’ve got what I want out of you I’ll execute you and you won’t be able to disappoint anyone anymore. You will have alienated your friends and Everest so much that they won’t care when you die. Oh, you believe me, Amadrya Darrow, I am going to make you wish you’d died in the Games. At least then the people who’d betted on you would have been sad.”
“Shut up,” I say, my face beginning to go red
I feel the anger building in me, but it quickly drains again and the colour fades from my face. I don’t have it in me anymore. There’s no hope in me, no fight or fire. Everest and Holly cant stand what I’ve done, and I hate myself for it too. I don’t see a way out of what I’ve done. The worst thing is though, that I don’t know if I regret it. Everything is just a black hole and there’s no light and no air and I’m suffocating and lost and I don’t know where to turn anymore. I’m in a churning stormy sea and I don’t know where my lifeboat is and I’m drowning and I can’t find a way out.
I stop outside my cell. Holly and Everest are both asleep. They won’t hear this.
“Execute me sooner rather than later,” I say “I want out. I want out of this world, I want out of this deal, I want out of his pain.”
Louden just smiles, locking me into my cell.
“I told you I’d have you begging for death.”
(Okay this was very dark oops)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 23, 2019 18:48:00 GMT -5
Sunlight...
Sunlight?
I haven’t dreamed of sunlight in forever, it catches me off guard, and around me, instead of metal bars and scratchy cement biting at my skin, I see leaves, dancing in the wind around me as I turn, taking in the sky, a color of blue that I only remember.
And a voice....a voice sings to me, soft, gentle, with no words and only a soft piano playing, a voice of music, a hymn I’ve heard on rare occasions, perhaps once or twice before, but the song is so classical, so recognizable, and one I once thought of as cheesy, but to be honest, perhaps I still do.
Regardless of my thoughts on how cheesy the hymn was, I was curious because of it. A familiar tune, notes washing over me. And my feet moved on their own accord, my instincts forcing me to do a twirl in place, yet I didn’t realize what I was wearing. Heels? For some reason I was wearing heals, and I happened to notice this as my foot started to twist, incorrectly placed upon the ground and my body beginning to fall forward.
Until it didn’t, thank goodness, but my sharp glare was sent to whomever caught me, there arms wrapped around my waist for a moments, before falling back to my arms. Four hands, it seemed, rested on me. Two on each arm, keeping me up in my shocked state.
Yet my eyes caught brunette hair and a sharp gaze from one, and the other was brunette with a soft gaze of concern and mischevious nature. Macaria? Burton? I was shocked behind my own comprehension. Turning finally, they let go, and I opened my mouth the speak.
I didn’t speak, I only fell silent and watched them. They seemed to know my reaction, Burton frowning slightly, and Macaria shaking her head. Then again, it was beter then me being a loudmouth, perhaps.
Well, this was awkward, Thus, deciding I shouldn’t stare at them and be embarrassed, I started turning, before pausing. At first, I only took in the leaves, the sunlight and the clouds. But now I clamped my mouth shut to prevent from gaping.
Why was Amadrya in a white dress?
Why was Everest in a tux?
Swinging my gaze back, I gave Macaria a questioning glare. She simply smirked and shook her head, commenting that I was “So forgetful sometimes, it just took her words right out of her mouth,” and I was offended, for some reason.
I huffed, crossing my own arms, glancing down at myself. A gown, I was wearing a dress?
“Holly, are you alright?” Burton asked, dressed up as well, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, in which I froze, staring back. My gaze skimmed over his hand, fighting off a smile, and maybe a blush too, before rolling my eyes and grabbing his hand with my own, placing it away from me with a sigh.
“Fine, I’m fine. Shocked...what’s...all this?” I questioned, glancing at my two friends, for some reason...I was bonding with the killer girl?
“You really are forgetful!” Macaria accused, dressed up as well, “Isn’t it obvious? Holly, today Amadrya and Everest seal the deal?”
I must be extremely slow on processing this, raising an eyebrow with a quip, “Seal the deal on what?” I wanted to slap myself, it was obvious! But...but Everest and Amadrya were in a cell with me? Right?
“The wedding!” Burton added this time, feeling my head as if checking for a fever, a frown on his face, “What’s wrong with you? How could you forget?”
It was too much, this was too cruel. It couldn’t be real, it just couldn’t, and I started sobbing. I didn’t realize it, but I lowered myself, letting out quiet cries, I couldn’t look up, see the confusion or judgement on their faces. “You’re not real!” I screamed, “None of you are real! I’m never going to see you again! This never happens! This will never happen!”
More words came from me, screams, anger, frustration, sadness, everything. And it all came to a halt when a hand roughly tugged on my shoulde, much less gentle and supportive then Burton.
“Yes, Holly,” I hated that voice, the way it bought back memories of the pain and horrors, I hated him. I hated him. I hated Louden. “You’re right, you’ll never get out alive, they’ll never see that day, unless....”
I took the bait, turning, “Unless what?” I softly asked, so weak at this time.
“Unless you run,” Louden would never tell me this, but I turned, looking at the darkness around me, and a single patch of light.
Run. Run.
RUN.
And I awoke, with a start, the words echoed in my ears, my heart thumping wildly, a slight tremble and shake to my limbs, and eyes wet, throat dry. Fear, horror.
I shook, shakily, staring around. Amadrya and Everest, I had to find them!
But they weren’t there, the room I was in seemed barren, no cell, no windows, only a single door.
Where were they?
“Amadrya!” I suddenly called, “Everest!?”
I ran to the door, pulling on the handle desperately, as suddenly it came to me.
I was roomed differently than then, the dream wasn’t real.
And the door just opened.
It...opened?
I stepped hesitantly out, it seemed to be the dead of night though, and I found adrenaline building, I had no idea where I was, where Amadrya or Everest were. But I could get help. I could run, I could tell them....
I could escape, and I could be free. I didn’t have to be here, I could run.
Louden’s words, from my dream, repeating an echo, Run, Run, Run.
So I did, finding my winding path through hardness, I feet hitting softly on the ground. It seemed like minutes, hours had passed, and yet only mere moments did, fast, winding, finding my path.
A dead end, I’d turn, find a new one. Like a maze, I kept searching.
And eventually, I saw it, light, filtering in through a door, poring like little waves. It was not bright, but soft and gentle. Perhaps moonlight? Perhaps early morning.
From the color of the slightly yellow rays, I’d guess morning, the light dim, but bright to me, bright in the darkness.
I had stopped to make this observation, and I started running again. Closer, and closer, and closer.
Someone was behind me, “Why are you running?” He asked.
I was so close, the door open, shaking my head at the voice. I had to go.
“I can’t stay!” I cried out, gazing straight ahead, my voice shaky from breath loss.
The next words Louden said caused me to pause, a horrible feeling in my gut, still about a half of the hallway to go.
“Why?” He asked, and I noticed then the little object in his hand.
A remote?
I found dread pooling in my stomach, I already knew it was a trap.
I narrowed my eyes, turning around with a yelled out, “You know exactly why!” before running full speed towards the doors. It wasn’t smart, surely the peacekeepers would be alerted if I escaped.
A cry still ripped from me as the doors closed.
I cowered, I couldn’t help it, he already turned Amadrya to his side.
“Dumb move, District 8,” He commented, shaking his head.
“Don’t patronize me!” I snapped back, retorting was a defense, I had half the mind to simply attack him.
To be completely honest, I was tempted.
“No, but how about a deal?”
A deal? “Why in the world would I make a deal with you?”
He smirked, stalking forward, “Now, now, Holly, it’s not that hard. All I want if for you to speak to the district’s about your-“
“No.” It was cold, ruthless, abrupt and icy, but I refused to be some dog. They made Amadrya one, I refused to play that game.
“Interrupting, my, my, listen,” he held no softness in his voice, demanding attention, and he got it. “You do what I want, or both Amadrya and Everest will be sentenced to a public hanging, now, we wouldn’t want that now would we?”
My glare sharpened, opening my mouth to refuse. But a coldness set it, he held no lies in his eyes, he really would.
I didn’t have a choice, did I? If Everest and Amadrya would ever end up happy, I’d have to play along.
“Fine.” I snapped, “I’ll do it.”
Had things been different, perhaps it wouldn’t have ended the way it did.
And I wasn’t the angel they would doll me up to be.
Not anymore.
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 24, 2019 2:29:23 GMT -5
That was AMAZING! I loved it)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 24, 2019 15:56:22 GMT -5
I’ve got two bits of writing planned for tonight so I’ll do them before I go to bed. Forgive me if they’re short or not my best work I just have ideas and wanna write them before I forget)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 24, 2019 16:52:28 GMT -5
Louden’s words about executing us had been all too true. The deals he’d made with all of us didn’t make any difference. As he had promised, he kept everyone alive according to the agreements he’d made with us. Me and Holly and maybe Everest too. But the moment he had everything he wanted out of us? The moment the rebellion seemed to be growing and Louden sensed he might lose this civil war?
Well, he knew what he had to do. He’d had us read it out ourselves on the screen. All of us lined up in front of a camera.
I could remember it.
“The Capitol has finally brought long-awaited sentences against three of the prisoners held within its prisons. These criminals have been allowed to continue with their crimes unpunished for far too long now, and they are a continued risk to the safety of Panem,” Everest says, reciting from the teleprompter scrolling in front of us. That much is strange already; they usually gave us a physical script to read from.
“It is with a heavy heart that the President has decided that a harsh punishment is required,” Everest continues, but his lines finish.
It is Holly’s turn to pick up the lines, and I watch as she methodically begins to read. I can see in her eyes that she’s distanced herself from the whole thing.
“Therefore, the following are found guilty of treason...”
And I see the colour drain from her face as she falters. I hear a slight gasp come from her, barely audible. She has to keep going, though, and we all know it.
“Holly Alandria, Everest Stonewell, and Amadrya Darrow.”
Holly looks at Everest and I in turn as she reads out our names, and this has to be the first time I’ve heard her voice waver like this.
We’d known this was coming, but we’d assumed these prisoners would not be us. The Capitol has captured countless high-profile rebels since our escape from the Arena. But we should have known that getting us to read out our own sentences would be exactly the way someone like Louden would do something like this.
“These three are dangerous,” Holly continues “and continue to be so. Justice must be served if Panem has any hope of rebuilding, of continuing to stand against those who would destroy it.”
And now it’s my turn to speak, apparently. I swallow, and look apologetically at Everest and Holly. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry they’re here, I’m so sorry this is happening. Tears are filling my eyes and my voice is wavering but I swallow, try to even my voice and blink away the tears. Because if the sentence I’m about to read is what I think it is, I don’t want Panem or Louden to see my cry. After all this time of not being strong enough, just this once I have to try because there’s no way I’m going down like this. I said when I got reaped for the Games that I would not cry. Because the Capitol don’t deserve to see my cry, and my family shouldn’t have to.
“The sentence for them is as follows; Alandria, Stonewell and Darrow are all to be taken to a place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck until they are dead. This execution will be a public affair. The Capitol may see this event for themselves, and all residents of the districts are expected to watch it being broadcast in their town square as they would if it were the Hunger Games. The date of the execution will be set shortly.”
As soon as the camera shuts off, I run to embrace Everest, and with my other hand I pull Holly in too. We don’t have long, they’ll take us back to our cells soon. I’m crying,
I’m pretty sure. I don’t feel numb anymore, but now I wish I did.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper “this isn’t what either of you deserve. I love you both. We’ve been waiting a long time to be free. Maybe this is the only way we’re ever getting out of here. “
——————————
It’s the night before. Or morning, to be exact. Dawn will be coming soon, and our hours are ticking away. We’ve been up all night, all three of us. We’ve talked about a lot of things, and we’ve discovered none of us are scared of dying. For one, we’ve been preparing for our potential deaths ever since we got reaped, even Everest despite him being a career. For another, we have been tortured so badly that we all just want it to stop.
What we’re scared of is losing one another. I don’t want to be without Everest, and I don’t want to be without Holly either. Obviously in different ways, I love them both. I can’t imagine not having Everest, I don’t think I could breathe if he weren’t there.
And we have all decided that we want to show our defiance at our execution because we have nothing to lose now and we aren’t going to give Louden the satisfaction of going to our deaths scared. That’ll only prove the point he wants to make. Maybe the rebels will make us martyrs but I don’t care anymore. We just need to be angry and strong if we can.
A peacekeeper is unlocking all our cells now, and I realise with a jolt that morning has already arrived. He tells us we have to go.
I step outside at the same time as the other two. First I hug Holly.
“Thank you for everything you taught me, thank you for your wonderful strength and for doing everything I didn’t dare to. Thank you for making everything a little better. I know you don’t have a family, so let’s you and I die as sisters, huh? We can share parents in the afterlife, we’ll have three between us.”
I say thank you to her one more time but then I turn to Everest and give him a kiss. He seemed to already know it was coming.
“Our first kiss,” I say as I break away “and our last, but I don’t want to think about the poetry of that. Thank you for protecting me, for always being there for me, for being my rock through absolute hell. Thank you for making me forget I was in that hell sometimes. I love you so much, and I’m so sorry we won’t get to be together.”
Everest doesn’t say anything, just kisses me again. I can feel tears from both of us this time. But then it’s time to move.
And we walk out of the little hallway where our cells lie, about to step in front of all of Panem for one last time.
(Obviously not meant to be canon to the fic)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 24, 2019 17:15:52 GMT -5
I’m standing guard near the entrance of the rebel hideout, a gun in my hand. I’m on my own while the guard changes over; Alistair is meant to come out on watch in a moment to replace Diana. There’s always meant to be two of us out here, but the shifts change at different times so the entrance is never left unguarded.
It’s late, I’ve been standing in the cold for hours, and I’m exhausted. I don’t have long until my shift ends, though, so I continue to try and stay alert. I have to. My friends are all in there and I need to make sure they’re safe. This isn’t about winning some stupid game anymore.
But my blood runs cold as I feel an arm around my neck and the barrel of a gun at my temple. Someone snuck up on me from the side, and I know instantly the Capitol forces are here, and they’ve taken some efforts to camouflage themselves into the darkness with black clothing. A man has me, and my struggling does nothing but make him grip tighter. I feel my breathing speed up, my heart throbs and in my ears I can hear it pulsing.
“There’s nothing you can do. You’re surrounded. If you so much as move I’ll kill you right now.” the man whispers to me “stay quiet if you want a chance at living.”
My options are very limited right now, but I know one thing; he might have an arm around my neck, but my own arms are free and my gun is in my hand. I can’t shoot him, he’s on the other side of me and would catch my movements before I could take proper aim at him. Besides, it’s too dark to really see where I’m aiming. If I try to attack this guy one of the people with him will shoot me so I can’t do that. Besides if I do that it won’t stop his soldiers from getting inside. If I do nothing the Capitol forces will run in and capture or kill everyone inside the base, including the rebel leaders. The rebellion would fall apart.
But there is something I can do. And I’m scared and I don’t know if I want to do it. But I think about Alessandro, asleep inside and totally unaware of the danger. I think of Ari and Halina, far too young to be killed and certainly not able to handle the torture of the Capitol. I think of Everest and Amadrya in the Capitol, being tortured and used against one another. I think of Holly, suffering too under torture, the only girl who dared to stand up to me, to laugh in my face, the only girl who could set me straight and speak truth to me. The girl I respected. And I think of Diana and the words she told me about finally having a chance to be someone good. And this is my chance. There won’t be another, and I have to take it.
I’m sorry, Alessandro. I love you.
I point my gun into the air and shoot. The guy wasn’t expecting that, so he doesn’t catch my quick movement fast enough to shoot me immediately. He just looks st me in stunned silence.
“Now they all know you’re here,” I say defiantly, not struggling now, “by the time you get in there, they’ll all be armed and they’ll be ready for you. They stand a chance now. Gotta give the Capitol a show, right?”
I laugh with those last words, even though I know what’s happening. I hear the angry sound from the man, if it were light enough I’d see his face contort in anger. He pulls the trigger, his gun still against my temple, and lets go as I drop.
His men will still run in, but now there’s a good chance they won’t run out. The two gunshots from me and the Capitol soldier will have alerted the whole rebel base to danger outside. They’ll be ready.
And I’m proud, because I died for something. I died for something good, not to please the Capitol. I wasn’t too far gone. I gave the rebels a fighting chance. Maybe now everyone can be safe.
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 24, 2019 19:35:02 GMT -5
(Oof both are upsetting but like, so good!)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 24, 2019 19:52:39 GMT -5
Okay.
So here’s the thing.
I’m getting really really busy and my muse for this is kind of low. So I have some ideas.
1) Part of this, I feel, is that it’s easier to write from the perspective of my characters, while I love doing it for the others, what I have planned is about to get kind of confusing, especially if I continue with the multiple(like, every character’s perspectives). So the current plan, is to pick out a few select characters, and have every chapter be told in part of their view. Holly, Amadrya and Everest may continue from all three, but will mostly be one, most likely, and probably Holly? The others will be Halina, Alessandro, Ari, Burton, Macaria, and this will most likely be Macaria or Halina.
This change is partly because of overlapping events. For the current chapters, especially the next one, many perspectives are going to be used. A lot is going to happen.
2) The Second part to this, is that doing it this way will enable a possibility to let you guys(like Semper) write your own takes on your own characters reactions. In no way is there a main character, because well, in my mind at least, 2-4 characters currently hold this stance, and the spotlight is about to shift some, some.
And some shocking things will happen. Expect a rushed chapter with a lot happening, or multiple chapters. I’m full of some muse, and I have tons of plans.
3) Some planned deaths have changed, some of the writings have inspired me, and some shockers will occur. Planned events have changed and characters we love will die. I am not yet revealing this number, nor who. That will be, currently, for me to know, and you to find out.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 25, 2019 1:28:07 GMT -5
Okay I get all of that x
I just want to say I don’t want you to feel like you need to rush anything, just write however your muse wants x I just had a lot of muse x if you don’t feel like writing and just feel like exchanging memes or something then that’s all we’ll do because I understand that you’re really busy and your muse is low and I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to do or stretch yourself too thin)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 25, 2019 15:19:23 GMT -5
Okay I’m back from a very busy day and in the mood to write
I know I write a lot of Maddie but I may write some Macaria or Burton sometime soon as well)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 25, 2019 15:44:27 GMT -5
(Anything is good :3.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 25, 2019 16:07:04 GMT -5
It’s years after the rebellion ended. Our daughter, Ayla, is six. It’s around dusk, and I’m just laying on the bed in mine and Everest’s room, my eyes staring at the view outside the window. But it’s clear my eyes aren’t focused. I’m in another place entirely. If Everest or any of my friends were here they’d realise I was reliving some memories.
It was a bad day. On the bad days, I withdraw to bed. I don’t take visitors. I nap a lot. I stay away from people because if I have to face the normal world on one of my bad days I know I’ll either blow up or fall apart. Implode or explode.
I can’t bear the looks people give me. Either like I’m fragile, made of glass, or like I’m some kind of untouchable hero. I’m neither. They give the same looks to all of the other surviving tributes too, all of my friends. They don’t realise how normal we are. Or were before our lives were messed up. We were just kids, just normal kids. And all we want is to live completely ordinary lives. They hold Holly up as a symbol of perseverance and hope. They laugh at Burton’s jokes even when they’re not funny, they admire his caring nature. They see Everest as the embodiment of strength, Alessandro like some kind of noble knight. Macaria they see as far more deadly than she ever really was. Ari and Halina? Sometimes they baby them, forget their full potential and their incredible bravery. Other times they expect too much of them. Neither of them ever really got to be normal teenagers. At least most of my teenage years had passed before everything happened.
And right now as I stare at nothing I’m back in the Capitol and my heart is pounding. Louden’s voice is ringing in my ears, telling me how worthless I am, how not even my friends and family really understand me. I even hid the extent of my pain from Everest sometimes. But Louden’s voice doesn’t drown the screams of Holly and Everest. And suddenly I feel like I’m doused in cold water, like before electroshock. But right before the feeling of the shock I find myself anticipating, instead I suddenly feel the heat of the lights from the Capitol stage on my skin.
Suddenly, everything stops. I’m brought back to my room by a simple touch. A small hand on my shoulder. I turn to see a young girl looking at me with earnest blue eyes. Everest’s eyes.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Ayla is asking
I lift up my arm so Ayla can scramble into bed beside me and she does, lying more on me than beside me as she nestled into me.
“I’m just not very well sweetheart,” I say softly “you know mommy sometimes gets very bad headaches.”
Everest and I have agreed that Ayla and her younger brother Lewis should not know about what happened to us yet. How would we ever explain it to a girl of six? Not to mention that Lewis isn’t old enough to even understand us yet, given he isn’t even one yet. When they’re both older, then we’ll tell them. That’s what we’ve agreed. But for now they’re not ready, they’re obviously not ready, and we both know that. We want our kids to get to be kids, like we didn’t.
Ayla doesn’t answer, just snuggles in more and sighs lightly.
“Can you sing to me?” Ayla asks
I want to make something very clear; I don’t sing. The only people who’ve ever heard me sing would be my cousins, my husband and my children. Not even my friends, who I think of like siblings. I sing more now than I ever used to, though. Which isn’t that impressive since I used to sing pretty much never. My cousins maybe heard me sing twice in my life, and if I saw that they were watching I stopped pretty quickly.
But for Ayla. I nod and give her a small smile. That’s more than I normally manage on my bad days. And so I begin to sing and old folk song I learned as a child. My voice takes on a beautiful lilt naturally, taking on a magic with the upbeat but ancient tune.
“Sing oak and ash and thorn, my love
All on a midsummer's morn!
Surely we sing of no little thing
With oak and ash and thorn!
Of all the trees that are in the wood
This old land to adorn
Greater are none beneath the sun
Than oak and ash and thorn
Sing oak and ash and thorn, my love
All on a midsummer's morn!
Surely we sing of no little thing
With oak and ash and thorn!
Oak of the clay saw many a day
Or ever Aeneas began
Ash of the loam was a lady at home
When Brut was an outlaw man
Thorn of the down saw New Troy Town
From which was London born
Witness hereby the ancientry
Of oak and ash and thorn!
Sing oak and ash and thorn, my love
All on a midsummer's morn!
Surely we sing of no little thing
With oak and ash and thorn”
(This was quite short but I wanted a sweet happy AU scene y’know? This was the only folk song I found that would work. I edited it out to change England to ‘this old land’ so it can kind of work there but I couldn’t edit out London. So it doesn’t entirely fit with Panem and the Hunger Games universe (plus, I don’t know much about trees in America so oak and ash and thorn may not be the primary trees there/the most important trees there). But I tried XD)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 25, 2019 16:34:12 GMT -5
(I love it.
And I think the folk song really fits :3.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 25, 2019 16:38:06 GMT -5
Ahh thank you! I appreciate it  I should probably sleep but I just wanted to say I hope you’re doing okay and you’re not stressed with school and band and stuff I know how that stuff gets sometimes) |
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 25, 2019 17:02:34 GMT -5
I was headed to my death.
A soft, silent thrum vibrated as I walked, led out of my cell. The guard before me held a stoic look, I was chained, led on a leash like a dog, given no chance to escape, to run.
I tried running once, I was caught. I made a deal and broke my word. Everest and Amadrya at least got out, but I was stuck because of my actions, rebelling against the Capital, telling the revolutionaries to continue.
That night, I was beat harshly on public broadcast. Afterwards, Louden announced my sentence for treason against the Capital.
Hanging, public, for all of Panem to see. However, Louden didn’t broadcast this sentence. He said it at a gala he had planned that night, he knew that the rebellion freed Everest and Amadrya, he lost many peacekeepers in that fight. He knew they would come for me, rescue me.
He decided he would announce it right before, force it to be broadcast. Just days from from then, and now days had passed.
Days before, Louden thought I’d be the little angel his stylists dressed me up as, with pure wings and purity throughout. But I was a crow, a raven, a darkened thing, and I wouldn’t stop until I died or he lost.
I had a preference, but I already made my choices. Dressed in a black shirt and pants, my hair smoothly brushed, at least for a good last appearance. I set out, listening as the distant thrum of a television gave the telltale announcement I had known for days.
The guard beside me led me nearer, out the building, past my last sunrise, and to the stage before. Yet he stopped just before, in a secluded little spot.
He pulled out something odd, a golden key, and undid the chains and locks. Though, at first I mistook it for being freed, being saved, his stoic face reminded me that Louden wanted this. He wanted me to think that, he wanted me to appear free before being tangled in the deadly wires.
I turned, brushing off the reddened marks on my arms, glaring back, but the guard stopped me from walking the the stage, slipping something into my hand.
I paused, the cold metal felt familiar, too familiar. I looked at it, my hand, and noticed a knife, a dagger to be specific, and a little medallion with the logo of my District.
I was confused, glancing up at the Peacekeeper, raising an eyebrow.
He shook his head, “No one should die like slaughtered cattle.” Is all he said, walking ahead, and I blinked, confused beyond words, before hiding the dagger.
Once we got to the stage, he seperated off, I held the medallion in one hand, and listened as Louden spoke, glaring forward, a crowd before me...
Why didn’t they look happy, excited? They wanted this. They wanted me dead. But they look sympathetic, most do, anyways. Almost like they had to follow along, that even they couldn’t agree with it anymore.
Boy did we feel the same...
I listened, glancing ahead, to Louden. He was about to have his guards tie me up, but I refused, stepping forward instead and place the nose around my own neck, much to his astonishment.
I found my heart rate strangely calm, yet fast all the same. Adrenaline kicking through my blood, no one was coming, no one would.
But then someone did. It was fast, Louden’s booming voice calling “And so shall she die, to preserve Panem!” warning me of the milliseconds I had left before I had none left to count on. It was all so slow, Macaria appeared first, followed by Amadrya, Everest, and Alessandro. All looked shocked, and before I could realize this fact, my body was already sinking, the lever pulled and the floor falling from bellow me.
Realistically, someone like Alessandro would be dead in a second, neck snapped. Someone like a child would die slowly, not enough weight to kill them, but not enough air to live. My neck didn’t snap, but immediately I started thrashing, air caught off.
Rationality hit like a brick, but it was hard to get my body to cooperate, which is why I ended up almost losing the dagger when I grabbed it, and ended up cutting my side when raising it up, slicing at the rope above me.
It took many attempts, but I ended up getting it, sending my body flying down with the noose part still around my neck, and my body thumping on the ground.
The next moments, minutes, were a frenzy. I was still choking, screams of fear, gunshots...and finally someone came, loosening the rope around my neck and hugging me.
I never thought Macaria would hug me.
We took a quick escape, running, her helping me, out of the line of fire.
And we were out, running back, to their base, safe.
All that registered was the gunshot, and Macaria’s cry of alarm before in a rush, it all turned black.
My last day on Earth was certainly interesting indeed.
(This was the original original plan for the first scene, with some added stuff. The plans changed though.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 25, 2019 17:07:45 GMT -5
Oh my god that was amazing you have no idea how much I love Holly. That scene woulda been awesome and dramatic and so sad with that ending but I just know what you have planned will be incredible
Oh also, Macaria hugging Holly YES! As soon as I wake tomorrow I’m totally gonna write a scene where they hug because if them two hugging isn’t an image that warms my heart...)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 25, 2019 17:10:06 GMT -5
(Tbh.
I’m gonna write a crap ton of ‘What ifs?’ Soon.
I write so much Holly stuff oof.
I’m thinking of a Mal one next, where we see her reactions to...things.)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 26, 2019 2:35:37 GMT -5
Ahh that’s gonna be awesome!
Okay I’m gonna write that Macaria thing now)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 26, 2019 3:21:26 GMT -5
I’m doing the right thing now, and I’d actually be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. Being part of a team, trying to help one another, finally having a chance to take down the Capitol and the Games, it’s all pretty good to be honest. I don’t feel so empty anymore. Alessandro and I are officially an item rather than us just flirting in the Arena. Because we figured that it’s about time we stopped playing games. We are not prepared for this war like we were for the Games, and we know we could die any day. Plus we’ve been forced to actually confront our feelings for one another; in the Arena our whole relationship had been based on the knowledge that one of us would die eventually, if not both. We knew the relationship couldn’t go on and we couldn’t actually trust one another. But now our situation has changed, and we realise that this is more serious now than just something for our amusement in the Arena.
Now we have to re-evaluate everything. We have to acknowledge that we do have feelings for one another, that we need to trust one another. We have to treat this like a normal relationship now.
Diana told us they needed a couple of people for some espionage on some Capitol forces nearby. She’d chosen Holly and I for that job, which was probably a good call because for more subtle stealth work we’re probably the only two who wouldn’t immediately be caught. It’s been a little while since we got Holly and the others back from the Capitol.
This is why I’m currently standing with Holly a short distance from the Capitol base we’re meant to investigate. It’s not far from our own base and so we need to know how many soldiers are here and what kind of weapons are attheir disposal. Even better if we can get their orders.
But Holly can see the Capitol uniforms of the guards outside and I see a flash of fear in her eyes. The hell she went through isn’t ever going to leave her. I know that. But right now I can see she’s scared, and in danger of freezing up.
And suddenly I forget that I’m not really friends with this girl, only kind of frenemies, because I do something that completely surprises both of us and I pull her into a hug. She stiffens in surprise but then she seems to relax. I never thought I’d hug her. But I know I missed her when she was taken, and I hated seeing her hurt on screen, and I was relieved that we got her back safe. I always felt a kinship with her, in some ways it was like looking into a mirror. Only difference was she didn’t hurt nearly as many people as me.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I let go “I’m so sorry for what happened to you. But you and me, we’re going to fix this together. I don’t care about the whole spiel of nobility and goodness and justice, and I know you don’t either because we both know it’s total shit. But what I know we both care about is making the Capitol pay for what they’ve done. You and I should make them bleed for every second you suffered because of them. Because only I’m allowed to hurt you. So let’s you and me go in there, do this mission, and get one step closer to taking the Capitol down.”
And Holly actually smiles. The surprise from the hug had dropped from her face to be replaced by a smile, and there’s determination in Holly’s eyes. I think of Holly like some strange kind of sister, and I knew that was what she needed to hear. She’s unlikely to hear about getting revenge from the others, except maybe Alessandro. Amadrya and Everest possibly, but they both still seem to be more into the whole justice, making a difference, doing the right thing stuff. But that doesn’t help Holly. The two of us have a lot in common, and I know what she needs is to see Louden dead.
So Holly steps closer to the base, gesturing for me to follow. She doesn’t look scared anymore - so I smile too.
(Kinda short but meh. It wasn’t as sweet and genuinely affectionate as I thought a hug between them would be - but it somehow feels like it fits the two of them. Obviously it’s not canon to the fic. Oh also if Holly ever mentioned that hug again Macaria would vehemently deny it)
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 26, 2019 15:31:33 GMT -5
I took Louden’s deal, but it didn’t take me wrong to realise that this would be unlikely to protect Everest. Not for long, anyway. There’s no way Louden would make a deal he couldn’t work around, a deal he couldn’t terminate at a moment’s notice. Our entire deal was predicated on the assumption that Louden would uphold his end, which quite frankly is not a risk I am willing to take.
And I know that there’s only one way, one way in which I can truly ensure Everest’s safety. Or relative safety. Give him a chance to survive in here, to have a date that isn’t tied with mine. And if anything happens to me in here, I need him to be able to carry on.
It’s just me and him awake, and I’ve been trying to work up the courage to speak to him for some time. Finally I take in a deep breath and begin to speak.
“We need to talk,” I say softly, so quiet I’m not even sure he heard it. I’m not deliberately being quiet, but I think I don’t have the nerve to speak these words properly.
“Yeah?” Everest asks, his eyes moving to meet mine “what about?”
“About us,” I reply, “listen, I led you on and I shouldn’t have. Really. Because there isn’t, and there can’t be, anything between us. All the things I said in here, none of it’s true. Not really. I thought it was at the time, but I realise now that I just needed something to keep me sane, something to hold on to. But I don’t want to hurt you and I can’t let any of it go further.”
“Wait... Amadrya, what the hell are you talking about?” Everest asks incredulously
“I don’t love you,” I sigh “I wanted to protect us both in the Arena, especially after you gave me a chance by letting me join the Careers, and I wanted to give myself an anchor in here. My feelings for you aren’t real. You have to realise I could have never truly loved a Career. I hate everything to do with the Capitol. I always have. Careers are bred as Capitol mutts. You might be a good guy, Everest, who showed me kindness, but a Career is a Career is a Career. I needed to tell you the truth before this went any further and you got hurt. I’m sorry.”
I can feel that Everest is heartbroken. I am, too. I’ve been wracked with guilt for days just with the idea of telling him. Breaking his heart and lying to him. But isn’t being broken-hearted better than being dead?
“Good to know,” is all Everest says
His voice is harsh and angry, but underneath it I can hear the pain. It makes me hurt so bad I have to turn away so he doesn’t see any sign of the tears falling down my cheeks. I can’t say anything more because my voice will betray me. I have to completely cut him off. I have to. There’s no other way to protect him, because I love him but here that will only get him hurt. If I really love him, and I do really love him, I’ll let him go and do whatever it takes to keep him safe.
Because what was it Macaria said in the Arena? Gotta give the Capitol a show. And I know the only way to keep Everest safe and stop the two of us being used against one another, the only way to save him from worse pain, is to deny the Capitol its show. Take away the drama, don’t show the heartstrings it can tug at, and we might just have a chance. I know I hurt him and I know I’ve betrayed him and lied to him, but I have to set things right. Better he hate me than be punished because of me.
If he survives this, he’ll be alright. He’ll fall in love with another girl who won’t remind him of the Games or this place. And if the two of us die he won’t be left wondering what could have happened if we’d been able to live a life together. He won’t be wondering what would’ve been between us if we’d been free.
I know that before he met me he was living in full Career mode, strong and vicious and willing to do anything he needed to do to survive. Not showing any vulnerability, not letting anyone emotionally manipulate him. I need him to go back to that so he can survive in here. He has to forget about me.
And before I fall asleep, I look over my shoulder to see a pair of eyes looking at me. But they’re not Everest’s. Holly is looking at me - she wasn’t asleep when we were taking after all. She must have heard the whole thing.
And I see her shake her head.
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 26, 2019 18:03:44 GMT -5
(I love how you write this all.
Fitting in Holly’s deadset demeanor and silent acts of rebellion and disapproval.
I love Macaria, and Amadrya. And I love them all and I don’t want anyone to die.
*crie*.)
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Aug 26, 2019 20:02:39 GMT -5
To say I’ve given up is a lie. To claim I’m trying to hard is one too.
My time is ticking, all of ours is, and the only way to win is to hunt.
11212 235 415 919 1191212 1144 495.
The numbers tick in my mind, like a silent ticking. A tick, tick, tick...
My eyesight was dazed, my head rushed with nonsense, translating it all into code.
The numbers, a sequence, as specific as the haunted me like a ghost of the dead children in this trap.
Behind me, I heard the lowest of murmurs, Jensyn’s breath tickling soft words into the air, repeating the true meaning of the code.
All we do is kill and die.
Her eyes, I can see them out of my peripheral, turning myself to set a trap, one with the marbles, to cause one to step on the marble and fall into a trap, a mine, right into the dead end of that part of the maze.
I can feel her anxiety, and I can tell that even the sweet Jensyn doesn’t know how to reply, what to think.
“Mal?” She questions, stealing my attention, even if she already had it, “You okay?”
What a question. I roll my eyes ever slightly, setting the last of my trap down, glancing back.
“I-“ I stopped, feeling sadness and despair despite my attempts at bravery and happiness. “I don’t know,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’m scared for Pascal and knowing what these games truly mean, what we need to do to win, that breaks me. I want to get home, I want Pascal to get home, but everyone in here, all 24 of us, we kill or we die,” I remarked, blue eyes shifting back to the maze. “It scares me, knowing that to even get Pascal home, if we could even find him, I’ll have to kill. I’ve never prided my life above any other, but my friends and my brother? You, Elias and Pascal? You all matter much more to me than anyone else, including me. But if I die, I leave everyone vulnerable, because out of the 4 of us, I may be the most adapt to kill but keep my sanity,” I murmured, referencing Elias ability to fight, but his wild behavior in doing so.
“But if I choose to kill, am I a monster? Am I a victim? Am I just like everyone else out here?” I finally questioned, and sighed once more. “I don’t know what I am, but if I don’t do something, then we all take risks of dying anyways. And I know how killing has effected you, but you aren’t a monster, you’re a human. I’m just scared that I won’t be like you, that I’ll be a monster. I don’t want to win if it means killing someone like me, or my brother, or you or Elias. But I’ll have to,” I knew I was crying, my only eye leaking the tears, even if inside I already accepted these facts, came to terms with it. “To keep everyone alive, to keep you guys from that guilt, I’ll have to. And I’m the only one that should have to.”
The words I murmured that day echoed even now.
I don’t want to win if it means killing someone like me, or my brother, or you or Elias...
But I’ll have to.
I seperated from my best friend soon after. That conversation was the last I ever had with Jensyn.
And it haunted me, ever since I electrocuted the maze. I knew Jensyn died then. Jensyn was alive before then, as Jen was never announced as dying during the anthem, and exactly 7 cannons had fired when the shocking occurrence I caused came.
Plus, 1 from earlier that night, and the possibility was that Jensyn did die earlier, but I chose to doubt it.
I had deeper, harder feelings about this death, who turned out to be Ania, but I assumed it was Pascal, as Elias had died the day prior. Perhaps the Careers had gotten to him.
And thus my brother had died. I however, didn’t know this, yet.
When I spotted Jason, Felix, and Elara just down the slope though, meeting at the cornucopia as well, I froze. We were all drawn there, for a feast, for whatever reason. We came because we knew it would be the final battle.
Pascal wasn’t there, he wasn’t with them. The math didn’t add up, I killed seven, one died earlier, and only 3 we’re fore me. That was 11, plus me, 12. Only 12 were alive before that night. So he was dead.
I found myself blocking out all emotions. One of them killed him. My bet was on Felix, but Elara was handling him at the moment, which left Jaxon noticing me, just now arriving from the south while I entered from the north.
My blue eye narrowed, racing towards the cornucopia, where I spotted a weapon, and he too ran towards it. We both knew weapon would be needed for this fight.
I told Pascal I would get home, I had to avenge my brother. I couldn’t worry any longer over these kids and their families.
However, Elara and Felix seemed to notice us, stopping their fight and realizing that all of us left were there.
They ran over hoping to make a blow, and the fight boosted up to 4. As soon as I grabbed a staff, I noticed Elara charging at me, parrying her blow with a swift swipe at her legs, causing her to fall. Beside me, Jaxon attacked Felix, the two boys engaged in a battle. So I took my next attack to hit Felix, who was already somewhat weakened by Jaxon’s blow. Elara however, was attacked by Jaxon, the boy and I seemed to change targets for just a moment. But Felix turned the tide, hitting me while I was distractedly, the move caught me off guard. A cut to my side, which could have been fatal if I was anymore careless.
I barely had enough baearings, blindly aiming at Felix with my staff, hitting him away from me as I curled in slightly to my side. His knife had cut it, but I refused to let the wound slow me. He most likely killed my brother, he probably did. One of them killed Elias, and then killed Pascal. They had to have done so.
His next attack caused me to fall and roll back, losing my weapon, he had tackled me to the ground, tightly grasping at my neck and pushing down, attempting to choke me. I lost track of Elara and Jaxon in a mad frenzy, the two still fighting, exchanging blows. Seconds passed, me trying to gain air, and Felix with a cold gaze of anger and loss, reflecting my own to a degree.
Pascal, I told Pascal I’d win. So finally, I pushed him off, watching with cold anger as he rolled back. His back thudded against the ground, yet I pushed him right into Jaxon, whom he immediately went into combat with. The two fought with fists now, and Elara stood nearby, breathing heavily, before her gaze settled on me. We all wanted to be out, and we would all kill to do so.
And kill was her intent, she ran over, I dodged once, but fell right into a trap of hers, earning a kick to the stomach. As soon as she did this, she brought her elbow around, whacking me straight in the chest, knocking the air from my lungs as she did so. Yet as I backed up, I noticed that Felix had stopped fighting, rolling on the ground to get back up, and the someone was speeding at me, I didn’t really think, I reacted on instinct, grabbing a sword from the cornucopia right next to me, and swinging forward, wincing as Jaxon ran right into the blade, impaled right through the abdomen.
I staggered back, and the fighting stopped a moment as his canon went off. Elara and Felix breathing heavily, already bruised and bloody, and me myself the same.
Elara took the chance to try and catch me off guard, however I lunged, rolling out of the way, and Felix was left in the brute girl’s path, who tackled him to the ground.
So I took off, grabbing my staff from the ground, standing and lunging back up, and swinging it Elara’s back, knocking her away from Felix, who seemed to be close to bleeding out, and wasn’t moving much. His throat was cut open, now that I glanced over, and I pointedly looked away, soon his cannon would sound too.
Elara, in question, faced me, a dirty glare on her face, yet she didn’t move.
I ran forward, swiping at her feet, and she dodged. The two of us continued in this pattern, my arm cut open from a slash, and blood staining the ground around me. Yet still I glared up. Finally the canon sounded for Felix, and we stopped for a moment.
“The game makers killed them,” She breathed out, “All of our partners died in that shock,” she huffed angrily. “But you got to live, you, a spoiled girl!”
“I’m not spoiled!” I snapped, “I lost my brother, I’ll never see him again!”
Understanding flickered in her eyes, before hate did too, “That’s life, only one kid gets out alive Mallory, I have a family I need to see.”
“I can’t go home with parents missing two kids, Elara.”
We both went quiet. And she charged at me once more.
She has the upper hand, tackling me down, raising her knife up. “It’s better this way, you’ll get to see Pascal again, you won’t have to live with this.”
His name, it reminded me.
I dodged her blow, just barely, but it still embedded in my shoulder. But adrenaline pushed me up, rolling out from under her, and staring down myself, grabbing a trident from the cornucopia, right beside me, right on the outskirts of the cornucopia. She was getting up, staring at me with eyes fearful.
“Say hi to my brother for me,” I said, chillingly, before bringing the trident down on her, embedding the trident into her abdomen, causing a shudder to run up my spine, her body falling completely.
I was transported to the Capital. My actions caught up to me.
I couldn’t feel anymore, even healed, even styled up, I couldn’t feel. It hurt to feel.
I went to the interview for my victory, not caring for the fame I now had, for my money I won. I cared only for what I lost, and that look of fear.
9 children, dead because of me.
I was horrified to learn that these included Jensyn and Pascal.
And I refused to care ever again.
1-12-12 9 8-1-22-5 12-5-6-20 9-19 1 2-18-15-11-5-14 8-5-18-20.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sparky on Aug 26, 2019 21:06:47 GMT -5
[ eeeeek i'm really sorry I haven't been very active lately ;~; school's a bitch
i really don't know when i'm gonna to be able to gain control of my schedule, but hopefully it'll be soon ]]
|
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 27, 2019 2:31:00 GMT -5
(Thanks Chaos I’m so glad you liked it I get really worried about not doing other characters justice I won’t lie XD and it’s so true I love all the characters and I don’t want any of them to die. I love Holly, and Alessandro and Everest and I love Halina and Ari and ugh I just love them all Also that Mal post was amazing! I may write a Pascal thing. Perhaps the moments after he killed Elias but before the shock. Perhaps I write out a little bit of the thing we’d thought about doing where he gets taken by Careers. Not sure Sparky - don’t worry! I think everyone’s really busy (except me cos I haven’t started university yet). Take all the time you need) |
|
|
|
Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Aug 27, 2019 10:31:33 GMT -5
(I am 100% still doing the Pascal thing I was talking about, I’m gonna get that up today, but first, I had a thought. I couldn’t get a picture for older Macaria though so XD)
It’s years after the end of the rebellion, and everything seems calmer now. The other tributes and I have settled down in our couples, for married, had kids. The oldest of those kids are in their mid-teens already, which is a little bit scary. We’re all definitely getting old.
And I’m just tidying up around the house when there’s a knock at the door. Alessandro is out, so I go to see who’s there, and I open the door and am shocked to see a girl standing there; a teenage girl, with dark hair, tan skin, and blue eyes. I couldn’t say whether she looks more like her mother or her father, her resemblance to both of them is uncanny at times, depending on her expression and the lighting. Blinking away my shock, i beckon the girl in.
“What are you doing here, Ayla?” I ask as I shut the door behind the girl and gesture towards the living room
“Because you’re the only one I can trust to tell the truth,” the girl replies
And I already know what this is about. Ayla walks into the living room in front of me and takes a seat. I sit next to her and look at her questioningly, tilting my head as if I don’t know what she’s here to talk about.
“Tell the truth about what?” I ask “Why are you here, sweetheart?”
“I want to know what happened to my parents, all those years ago” Ayla replies earnestly, pleading with me with her eyes. An expression I certainly would never see on either of her parents.
“And your parents won’t talk to you about this?” I ask “You can’t ask Burton? He’d be the best person to tell you about this, he’s more... tactful.”
I’m desperate to not have to be the one to have this conversation with her. I’m not the right person for this, I’m too blunt and harsh and I definitely planned to kill her parents several times back during the Games. A detail I’d be eager to skip over.
“No, my parents won’t talk to me about it yet, they say I’m not old enough. And if I ask uncle Burton he’d only lie to me to spare my feelings. Please, aunt Macaria. I’m sixteen, aren’t I old enough to know? Don’t I deserve to? I know my mother doesn’t get headaches, I know she and my father went through terrible things and if I only knew...”
“Listen, honey,” I say with a sigh “your parents only want to protect you. I really shouldn’t...”
“Please?” she asks again, putting her hand on mine “if I know who they are, I know who I am.”
I am not really a kid person, at least unless they’re my kids. But I’ve always had a soft spot for the kids of my friends - even though I still wouldn’t babysit them or anything. Not for free anyway. Still, the teenager reminds me so much of her parents, and she’s so desperate to know, and wouldn’t it be better if she found out anyway? She’d only find out anyway years down the line and get furious at them for not telling her.
“Okay. I’ll tell you exactly who you are. You are Ayla Stonewell, daughter of Everest Stonewell, and Amadrya Darrow. Two of the strongest and bravest people I’ve ever known. You are a child of two districts. You were born after the rebellion, a child of the crossfire bringing in a new era of peace. You’re the first of a new generation. The daughter of rebels. I met Amadrya when we were teenagers, but I’ve known Everest all my life.”
“All your life?” Ayla asks “really? Can you tell me about him? And about mom too?”
“Of course. Me, them, our friends, we were going to change the world.”
|
|
