#Just some WHG reminiscing

[concealeddarkness13]

A New Dawn Part 11

In which Kai sneaks off with the twins, and she has some good laughs! Tagging my collaborator: @ratracechronicler!

Intro

Kai: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10

Rat: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

Rat and Eli kept checking on me throughout the next few days. Rat even snuck in some street food, and she winked at me and said it was the best healer she knew about. She never really stayed long enough for me to ask her again about what Tila might have said. And she didn’t really meet my eyes. What had she heard? Why wouldn’t she tell me?

She had at least told me that Tila had revealed that one of the aliens had stung me with their weird hairs, and that had made me see and hear what they wanted to. So, that was how they could talk to me without actually being there. But now, hopefully, they had been scared off. They hadn’t tried to whisper in my ears since I had confronted Tila. Hopefully, they were gone for good.

I stiffened when the door opened. Now, the real enigma. Miss Evy was so…nice, and she already seemed to care about me, even though she barely knew me. And she fussed over me so much, asking if I ate and if I was feeling okay. I didn’t get it.

She brought in food and set it on the small table next to my bed. I looked away from her as she started unwrapping the bandages to check on how I was healing. “Thank you.” Just because I didn’t get it, didn’t mean I couldn’t be thankful for what she was doing.

She laughed quietly. “I don’t mind at all, dear.” She frowned down at the wound on my leg. “It’s healing well, given that you don’t have the advanced healing Tersatellans do. I’d say you still have a few more weeks until this is healed, though.”

A frown tugged at my lips, and I looked away before she could see it as she wrapped my wound up again. A few more weeks? It had only been a few days, and I was already bored just sitting here. I forced myself to speak anyway. “Thank you for all your help.”

She nodded. “Of course, dear. Now, you should eat.”

I nodded, but I didn’t reach for the food yet. She walked over to the table again and took some of the food and practically shoved it into my hands. “Please eat, young lady.” Her eyes were so stern. I shrunk down a little and took a few bites, and she smiled. “I’ll check on you in a few hours.”

She left, and I kept staring out the window. I perked up when Rat and Eli left the house together. Maybe I could follow them? It would give me something to do. But…ever since the encounter with Tila, they had been closer. Looking at each other and smiling, brushing their hands accidentally, whispering in each other’s ears. They probably wanted some privacy. And…I had never been interested in that stuff. If I followed them and they were only being romantic, that would be a waste on top of being too nosy.

I sighed and leaned back as I finished up the food Miss Evy gave me. It was really good. I’d have to make sure to mention that when I saw her again.

Nothing really changed as I just sat there. It was just so boring. I couldn’t move around. And I shouldn’t just be staying in one place for so long. I had to do something. Healing was stupid and boring.

I perked up again when Tim and Tom left the house. Darn it. I could at least follow them. I listened for a little bit to see if Miss Evy was near my room, and when I didn’t hear anything, I jumped out of bed, winced at the stab of pain, and opened the window. I crawled along the roof, even though I had to move slower than I normally did because of my wound. When I got to the edge, I landed as softly as I could and jogged as quickly as I could after them.

Once I caught up to them, I stayed a few blocks behind them, and I remained in the shadows. They didn’t seem to notice, since they were so engrossed in talking to each other. They even bumped into multiple people as they talked and walked, and they weren’t even stealing anything.

Tim did look down at what was probably a beacon at one point, but Tom kept talking like nothing was wrong. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but I didn’t dare get any closer. If they figured out I was following them, they’d probably just bring me back, and this was at least interesting.

But still, with their long legs and the wound on my leg making me walk slower than normal, I was falling behind. Soon enough, I wouldn’t be able to see them, and I’d probably get lost. Crap. I gritted my teeth and tried to walk faster, but I didn’t have to worry about that for long because Tom collapsed on a bench, and Tim stood over him, glaring at anyone who gave them a second glance.

I was able to catch up before they continued walking. They finally stopped in a less crowded area, and someone I didn’t recognize met them. I actually got close enough to listen this time.

Tom laughed after the person they met said something. “You’d better have some good stuff this time. We might be getting a gig with the Kill Switch themself!”

The other person laughed. “I have something prime for you, but I don’t know about something worthy of the Kill Switch.”

Tim shook his head with a sigh. “Ignore my brother’s ramblings. What illustrious items do you have for our inspection?”

The person showed them mostly junk, but there were a few broken machines that could easily be fixed and a rusty knife that had even more useful things with it. I grinned when I saw it. Maybe I could slip that away from them? I shook my head, though, when I remembered all the weapons Tim had with him. Anyway, they were nice. Maybe I could just ask them for it.

When they were done buying, they walked back the way they came, and I had to slip into an unlocked building while they passed me. Tom was grinning at Tim as he held up the knife. “This really could be a good one for the Kill Switch. Maybe as a parting gift.” Tim nodded, and I frowned. Well, my idea to ask them was dead too. Who was this Kill Switch? The way the seller talked about them, they were a big deal.

But it was no time to wonder. I had to keep following them. They just went to a quiet alley where no one else was, and Tom sat down and pulled out what they bought while Tim kept watch. Tom was working on cleaning it up and getting the broken machines to work again. I sat down behind the corner of a building, just straining to listen to what they were saying. I knew it was stupid to even follow them out. What if something happened to me while no one knew where I was? But I was just so tired of doing nothing already. I hissed out a breath. I should just walk up to Tim and Tom and beg them to let me come along with them. It would be safer anyway.

Before I could make up my mind, someone who was walking past noticed me, and his eyes darkened. He stopped right in front of me and glared down at me, and I just frowned back at him. What was his problem?

He actually grabbed my hoodie before I could react and pulled me up so I was standing (even though I still had to look up to just see his face). He waved a finger in my face. “We don’t want people like you in our city! You’re an abomination! Get out of here!”

I just stared at him. What in the world was he talking about? What had I done?

He shook me. “What do you have to say for yourself? Speak!”

Before I could even think, two more shadows loomed behind me, and I didn’t even turn around. Crap. I was surrounded. I finally slipped my knife into my left hand, but it would be harder to defend myself with my non-dominant hand.

But one of the shadows behind me reached around me and held the man’s arm in a death grip. The man winced and actually let go of my hoodie. And then Tim pushed past me and loomed over the man instead. I just stared at Tim. His eyes were so dark.

“If you lay your fingers upon this person again, you will find your arm separated from your body. You will be incapacitated, eviscerated, and even decapitated if you even look at her again. Now, if you would be so kind, leave this vicinity and never look back.”

Tom shook his head with a smirk and leaned up against me. “What’s with all them fancy words? Why don’t we’s just bash his skull in?”

The guy looked between them as his face paled. Tim finally let his arm go, and he ran off without another word.

I just frowned after the guy. Why had he even done that? What had I done? Tom laughed, and he was still leaning against me when he spoke. “Now, why have you been following us?”

I flushed, and stuttered a little before I could get it out. “I…I was just bored sitting around. I’m sorry.” So, they probably noticed at some point.

He laughed. “I don’t blame you. I’d go crazy if I had to lay in bed all day.” He had me sit down next to where he had been sitting, and he pushed a broken machine into my hands. “Here. You can help me, at least.”

I glanced over at Tim to try and see what he thought of all this, but he wasn’t even paying attention. He was staring at his beacon again.

As I started working on getting the machine working again, Tom kept talking. “Now, I’m sure you’re dying to know all the embarrassing secrets we know about Rat and Eli. We participated in this extermination with them, so we know everything. Like how one time, Rex—have you met Rex yet?”

I shook my head. “Uh, the name’s not familiar.”

Tom laughed. “Tag, not name.” What was the difference? What was with these guys and being particular about what things were called? “Anyway,” Tom continued smoothly, “you’ll hate him. It’s tradition. At some point of the extermination, he tried convincing everyone that hunger is caused by bugs implanted into people by the government. And Eli? He actually believed him! One might even say Rex had poor Eli eating from the palm of his hand.” Tom smirked and, without looking, raised a hand for Tim to high-five.

Tim stepped in with a smirk. “This was around the time I, who couldn’t exactly find a lot of restaurants around that catered to my needs, fell real gracefully down a couple stories of jacked-up scaffolding and Rat very nobly decided she was going to rescue me. Savor that image. Savor it, ma femme.” I smirked as I did picture it. Rat was only a little bit taller than me, and Tim towered over me. Rat probably was pulled down more than she was able to help.

“Didn’t she kiss Rex one time just to prove a point?” Tom grinned fiendishly.

“Don’t preach it too loud. You’ll hurt the poor boy’s feelings, knowing his chances are compromised.”

“You didn’t hear it from me, but anyone watching closely when we first gathered and chose teams might’ve thought Rex was a little eager to side with Eli.”

“Of course, we, being gentlemen, don’t indulge in such idle gossip,” Time said loftily, and they both snickered in unison.

I just grinned back at them as I kept working. It was hard to imagine that these light-hearted memories could have happened in a life or death situation. I almost wished that I could have experienced it myself.

 After we were done making everything look good, Tim and Tom brought me along as they sold it all (except the knife) to other people. Tom was good at making the stuff seem better than it was, and Tim loomed over them so that they were intimidated into buying it. They were good at this.

When we got home, Miss Evy ushered us in, and Tim and Tom went off to do some chores as she turned on me. She put her hands on her hips, but her eyes were just disappointed. I shrunk down anyway. How could someone who didn’t even look angry make me feel so intimidated?

“So, would you like to tell me why you decided to leave without telling me?”

I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “I just wanted to do something…”

“And you probably aggravated your wound again. Come on. Let’s check it out in your room.” She gestured for me to follow her, but I dragged my feet. I didn’t want to go back there. I’d be trapped again.

Tom popped his head back into the hallway. “Miss Evy, would it be okay if Kai rested out in the living room with us after you check her wound? I think it’d be better for her healing if she had some laughs and interaction.”

Miss Evy nodded, and I relaxed. I glanced back at Tom before I left and mouthed a thank you. He grinned, gave me a thumbs up, and disappeared again.

Miss Evy fussed over my wound, but she did say that it wasn’t badly hurt, so that was good. After she was done, she escorted me over to the living room and made sure to make a comfortable spot for me before I sat down. It wasn’t that bad, was it?

Rat made a face at me, and Eli watched me with concern in his eyes. I just tried to smile. “So, how was your day?”

Rat crossed her arms. “Well, it was going really well, until Tim told us that you snuck out and followed them. Then Eli decided to get all worried.”

He flushed. “I wasn’t that worried. I knew Tim and Tom would watch over you.”

She snorted. “He kept glancing around like he might see you and need to protect you.”

I hung my head. “I’m sorry—”

But she didn’t let me finish. “And then Tim told us that someone harassed you and called you an abomination. Now, that was unexpected. So, we had to do some digging to see if something changed on social media. And sure enough, it’s plastered with pictures and videos of you running through Fre Jac-Mac.” Rat and Eli exchanged a glance as if they knew what was going on. “So, it’s going to be harder to roadtrip now.”

I frowned. Were people really unhappy about seeing whatever I had done a few days ago? And now I was making it harder for Rat and Eli again. I still couldn’t look them in the eyes. “I’m sorry—”

Rat held up a hand. “Stop. I know what you’re going to say: “I’m a burden and you should leave me behind and I don’t matter”, right?” I nodded. Guess I was too predictable. She shook her head. “Well, don’t say that. We’re gangsters, and we’re friends now. You don’t get a say in whether we bring you along or not.”

Eli glanced over at her. “Isn’t that basically kidnapping?”

“Nah.”

I frowned at her. “So, what are we going to do then?”

Rat grinned a little too wide, and I swallowed hard. “We’re going to have a dress-up session so that no one could possibly recognize you! Tonight, we’ll have fun.” I just stared at her as she cackled. Great. Why did it sound like something evil?

Eli frowned. “Tonight? So, do you want to leave tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I think both me and Kai will die of boredom if we don’t see some new scenery, so yeah.” She glanced back at the kitchen where Tim and Tom were talking. “Sorry, Jacques and Macabreak!” They fell silent, and Rat turned back to us. “I’ll make sure not to push Kai too much. Anyway, isn’t your brother in Farsia right now?”

Eli nodded. “And I think he wants to check up on us after what happened with the social media.”

Rat nodded. “So, it’s settled. We’ll head to Farsia tomorrow and meet up with your bro.”

Tim and Tom walked in after a little bit more, and Tom sat down next to me and smirked at Rat. “So, us three had a grand time today! We talked all about how embarrassing you were in the extermination.”

Rat stuck out her tongue at him. “Well, what about you? You missed the whole extermination because you were stolen by leeches on the first day!”

Tom held his hand to his chest. “You wound me, madam! Let’s not forget I wasn’t actually stolen. You all but tossed me into the ocean with them.”

Tim shifted, and I looked over and shrunk down when I saw his eyes. They were so dark.

Rat glanced at Tim as well. “Yeah, well, you know how us Tersatellans just love impromptu swimming. Fun fact, Kai: most of the bodies of water large enough to fit a person in in this country are frozen. And yet, despite this fact, and despite the much larger fact that he’d only conquered walking and breathing a few days ago, when I happened to fall into the ocean, Eli here valiantly came to my rescue. Since I have actually encountered a pool in my lifetime, you can imagine who was saving who.”

A smile pulled at my lips as Tim’s expression lightened, and he snickered with Tom. Eli, for his part, just smiled. “This happened more than once. I think there were explosives involved during one attempt. I really didn’t learn.”

Tom nudged me. “Talk about spite, irony, and ignorance here—we had this little free-for-all feast once we made it back from the extermination, right? You know how Tim and I have all this junk we’re allergic to? All the same, we found the spiciest tamales we could smell and tried to get this guy to eat them.” He glanced over at Eli.

“That was when Spike called us ‘veggie burgers’,” Tim muttered.

“As he loudly thunked down a whole slab of brisket in front of the beanpole here.” Tom nudged Eli with a wink.

Rat shrugged. “Spike was just settling the score, Tom. You don’t even know. You should have seen the two of em that Monday when we went to Aeon Island and got all gussied up. Nobody’d give Mr. Sunglasses a second glance no matter how many poses he definitely struck on complete accident. Poor soul’s nothing without a crowd. And meanwhile, this guy?” She nodded at Tim. “Had at least ten hopefuls at any given moment just watching him eat grapes. If mortal peril hadn’t kicked in, someone would have proposed. I guarantee it.”

Tim smirked at her. “Yeah? You wanna talk fruit, ma femme? I seem to remember, and now—correct me if I’m wrong, but we were sitting in this high-end establishment in the classiest island in the bay, representing our country, no? And there you were. Trying to toss a grape into your mouth from above. Like a kid. And missing. And hitting your eye instead.”

Rat scoffed. “Oh, don’t stop there. My acute appreciation of the situation and hand-eye-coordination. Then it was onto the fruit puns. I almost killed everyone in the room.”

Eli grinned. “I contributed to the war effort.”

Tom leaned back after he was finished laughing. “Boy, I’m sorry I got left out on the mortal peril, but you two tag teaming bad jokes? That, I’m grateful I missed. I weep to think how all those poor suckers suffered.”

Taeo’s stupid texts had already rubbed off on me, and I had to try. I cocked my head and tried to keep my expression serious. “Oh, they probably suffered punful agony.”

They all stared at me for a little bit before they all burst out laughing. I leaned back and laughed too. Everything was fine. Everyone was safe.

Rat and Eli decided to keep going with the puns, and even though Tim and Tom groaned at the stupid puns, they were smiling. Was this what it felt like to have a family? Safe and comfortable and happy?

Once everyone decided to go to bed, Rat pushed into my room after me and wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Now, it’s time to get dressed up.” Crap. I had forgotten about that. I just nodded and closed my eyes as she started rummaging through some stuff she had with her. It was going to be a long night.

#writeblr #a new dawn #after Rat Eli and Kai leave Kallias opens the door to the place the twins sleep rubbing his eyes #Kallias: So what did I miss? I think I slept for one or two weeks. #Tom *leaning against Kallias*: Oh just some new and old friends. #Kallias: Good. I hate meeting people anyway. #Don't mind me #Just some WHG reminiscing

[pen-of-roses]

WHG Reaping

WHG Tag list:  @ratracechronicler, @maple-writes, @nightskywriter, @rhikasa, @concealeddarkness13, @aeslin-writes, @the-moving-finger-writes, @knmartinshouldbewriting, and @makeitmonstrous! All three below the cut!

Sophia

She barely payed any heed to the escort, outside of wondering how people were allowed to wear something that orange with that many bows. Nor did she watch the screen, instead focusing on her plans for later that night. Wearing the same dress to the Reaping and the party just would not do. Of course, she’d have to coordinate with Regina. Who exactly would all be there? Surely some people from the Capitol, but how many? Though, being able to talk more with other members of community here couldn’t hurt either...

Regina squeezed her hand, quickly letting go just as she heard,  “Lady’s first!”

Two Reapings. After today, it would be just one more, and after that she would no longer have this hanging over her head. If she did eventually reach the Capitol, would she have end up dressed like that? Maybe she could-

“Sophia Renee!”

She blinked.

She watched a much bigger version of herself repeat the action.

A hand squeezed hers.

“The Capitol likes a good first impression.” Her mother’s words echoed in her ears.

She tossed her hair back and smiled at the camera, gingerly making her way up to the stage with the Peacekeepers and taking the escorts hand. Then she curtseyed to the audience, laughter from earlier echoing in her ears.

“I am honored to represent our beautiful District 10.” Another of her best smiles, as she smoothed down her deep purple dress.

“Sophia Renee!”

District 10 Tribute.

There was more than one way to get the attention of the Capitol after all.

Lynn

Beside him, Rowan stiffened as the first Tribute, Sophia, was called. Her family had been the ones blamed for the accident that had taken theirs, though nothing had ever been done about it and for most, the incident had faded from memory. For most.

She had also been their childhood best friend.

His fingers twitched, wanting to rub soothing circles over their wrist like usual. But as the escort, Miss-yes-the-miss-is-important-Sienna Orchard, walked to the next bowl, he felt the weight of his actions settling over him.

Comforting them suddenly seemed cruel.

“Caden Crane!”

Maybe he should wait for the third name, just in case. Stranger things have happened in the past, after all. And being cautious with such a reckless plan-

A boy, barely passing for ten, let alone old enough to have their name drawn for this stepped up to the stage.

“I’m sorry.” Before Rowan could react, he had already stepped forward. “I volunteer as tribute!”  

He stood to his full height then, just an inch or two past six foot, and slipped on the calm mask as his sister had taught him all those years ago. A slight smile, almost arrogant in a way, reflected back on him from the massive screens.

Caden looked shaken by the experience, giving him a short hug, then a confused look, before slipping back into the crowd. Good. Stay there, keep your head down kid.

Sienna held out her hand, “And what is your name?”

The orange fabric of her gloves felt almost cold on such a hot day. Or maybe it was the dread creeping in from his own choice. “Lynn Aballane. I am honored to be your tribute,” he mimicked the previous girl with his bow, before looking directly into the camera with that same smile, “Almost feels like I’m going home.” Then quickly moved to stand next to Sophia, who had tilted her head in a way very reminiscent of his sister when she was plotting.

Even from here he could hear the whispers. He would not turn though. Stare straight ahead. Wouldn’t seek them out. Don’t look down. Any of them, it would be too much, would make him regret. He couldn’t have that. No, no volunteering, saving that kid’s life was the proper move. This had to work.

He could feel no regret.

That is, until the next name was called.

Rowan

Lynn was gone, no he was just standing on the stage, only a few feet away, but in the games, gone, gone. Nails bit sharply into their palm as they stared after him.

This was not the Lynn they were used to, but oh, they knew him just as well. The mask for his sister and her organization, put on for everyone and anybody not yet close to him. Was this their plan? But he would have told them, unless, unless this was his plan all along.

There were too many people around, and the whispers were growing louder, and it was all just too much, too much.

But Laurel would be there. And Lynn was a fighter, a survivor, he could win.

The escort, what was her name something to do with orange, was walking to the last bowl. The clicking over her heels hadn’t been this loud before. The sun hadn’t been this hot.

“Stop it.”

Just as dramatically as the last two, she pulled out the paper, and, painstakingly slowly, why were they always so obsessed with this needless drama, opened it.

“Rowan Elswyth!”

Time froze. They were maybe twenty lines of people back from the stage. There were peacekeepers coming towards them. Their own face reflected down at them, the picture of calm save slightly widened eyes and the nails biting harder into their palm. Lynn and you-are-not-thinking-about-her stood on stage, both looking shell-shocked.

Think quick, don’t paint a target on your back, don’t offend the Capitol just yet. Act like they had.

Suddenly everything was moving again. They stepped out with the Peacekeepers, their smile far less confident than those of the other two. Their steps were forced, deliberate, and slow. Don’t want to be here, don’t want to be here. No one will volunteer. No, don’t want anyone else to. Don’t want to be here, don’t want to be here.

With only a moment's hesitation, they shook the escorts hand.  

Their eyes flicked over the camera, the peacekeepers, the lines of children, these were children all of them gathered here, people they had grown up with, and any of them could have been chosen. Lynn was here with them, Lynn would be forced into these games. One of them would die. Or both. And, no no no that wouldn’t happen. Couldn’t happen. They wouldn’t let it.

And something clicked.

They did not bow. They did not smile.

They stared into the camera, and quietly spoke into the offered microphone. “Thank you for this opportunity.”

“Your District 10 tributes!”

#Writeblr Hunger Games #excerpt #sophia #lynn #rowan