AN: This was originally a one-shot but is now a full-out story! Tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: All rights go to Suzanne Collins! Only my creativity belongs to me!
It was over, finally over. The whole country was in ashes, but it was over. My family was nowhere to be seen, but it was over. They might've won, but thank goodness it was over. Finally over. I wandered through my old city, or what was left of it. I came upon a house, or what was left of it. I wandered through it, wondering who lived here. My foot hit something. It was a small book. A diary. It was perfectly intact, not a burn in sight. I sat down right there on the ground and opened it. I began to read.
Dear Diary,
Hello! My name is Ariya! This was Mother's idea, keeping a journal, a diary. She said it would help me keep my mind off everything that has been happening. She said it was a good habit. I agreed with her. I've had no one to talk to ever since my sister, Evelynn, hasn't come home. Mother said she went to a happier place. When I asked if I could go to a happier place, Mother said only good girls that listened went to happy places. If only I told Mother about the many times Ev snuck out of the house to see Marx. Who would be the good girl then?
Anyway, at least now I can write down everything I would've said to Ev. Ev would have been worse at listening since she is sixteen. She thinks just because she is six years older than me she is better than me. Well, I don't sneak out when Mother and Father tell me to stay put. Anyways, enough about Ev.
Lately, there have been many loud noises. Giant "BOOM"s can be heard from my room. Whenever there is a "BOOM", things fall from the sky. I have also heard people screaming during one of the "BOOM"s. I only asked Mother about it once. She told me they were screaming because they were finally free. I never asked Mother about the things that have been happening in my district ever again. Instead I asked Father. He only told me to never go outside. I went back to asking Mother questions.
I remember the day Ev went away. There were no "BOOM"s that whole week. They called some people to go to the square to be asked questions. Ev was part of the list. We made sure she got there safely. After the men in white took her, we never saw her again. I miss Ev. She's smart. I sometimes wonder why they take so long asking her questions. At least I know she's happy because she is with Marx Feelds, her boyfriend.
I have to go now, though. Mother said she has bread. We rarely get bread and I don't want to miss out on it. I've seen mice in this little underground place and I think they like bread just as much as I do. And they steal things; I saw them with my own eyes. I think I should tell mother.
Yours Truly,
Ariya Lorence
I sniffed. I turned the page. There was another entry, a little shorter. I flipped another page. Nothing else. I went back a page and read the last entry.
Dear Diary,
I'm afraid we won't get to spend much time together. Our time is cut short for reasons I guess I will have to explain. We still have not heard from Ev. I am starting to get worried, wondering if they kidnap people in happy places. I hope not, the places are supposed to be happy.
Mother woke me up early today. She told me we had to go. She told me not to take anything. I asked to say goodbye to you and she said only if I do it quickly. She keeps walking around frantically. Her blue eyes look wild and her blond hair flying behind her. Father tries to calm her down, his grey eyes stare into her blue ones as he tells her it will be fine.
I can't help but think how much Father looks like Marx. Their black hair falls in their face in an identical manner and their grey eyes seem exactly the same to me. I only catch snatches of their conversation. Father keeps telling Mother we'll find our way home. Mother keeps saying this may be the last time we see home. I ask her what she means. She tells me that we may be gone for a while. Father takes her into the next room.
I don't want to say goodbye to you my dear diary. You have been a fantastic listener, even if you didn't respond as much as Ev would. I hope I will be able to converse with you once again in the near future.
Farewell,
Ariya Lorence
I started crying, still sitting in the piles of ash, holding the book close to my chest. I had lost so many people in the Dark Days. It wasn't right. They took me from my family and wanted me to tell them where all the safe houses were, including mine. They tortured and killed Marx right in front of my eyes, telling me that he was only the first, especially if I didn't tell them. I didn't tell them. They tortured me using methods I'd rather not even think about. Now I found out my family is missing, most likely dead.
I reopened the book and pulled it away from my chest and looked at it. My blond hair was dirty, matted, and strewn all over the place. My blue eyes scanned the pages and the small, familiar handwriting, but everything was blurry from my tears. A little pen served as a bookmark in the diary. I pulled it out and uncapped it. I flipped to the next clean page.
Dear Diary,
My name is Evelynn Lorence. I'm thrilled to hear you served as a good listener for my younger sister while I was gone. I was wondering if you would listen to me. I'm in grave need of a good listener. Especially in these tough times.
I have lost many people. My friends, my boyfriend, and apparently, my family. I've been tortured ruthlessly. You may wonder why such cruel things would happen to innocent people. It was called the Dark Days. There were many wars, many battles, and many deaths. The Rebels have lost now so we must face the punishment of the cruel people of the Capitol. They have already annihilated District 13. My home is District 12.
I am on my own now, unfortunately. I'll have a new beginning, I suppose. I remember Mother had a diary herself. I always thought it was foolish. I now see that she had it for closure. When you don't want to talk to anybody, or when you have nobody to talk to, a diary is a great way to express your thoughts. I am looking forward to our future conversations.
Sincerely,
Evelynn Lorence
I put the pen back and closed the diary. I held the diary close to me. I sat there in the ashes of my house and cried some more. I don't know for how long I cried I just knew it was a long while. My silent tears turned into streaming sobs. After what seemed like hours of crying, I seemed to be out of tears. My breathing was laboured and I felt like I had been stabbed constantly in that spot where my heart was. I noticed a shadow covering my curled up body. I looked up. A lady who looked to be in her forties was standing there.
"Need a home, deary?" She asked. I vaguely recognized her. I might've realized her from the Seam. I nodded. She helped me stand up.
"Who are you?" I asked her.
"My name is Mae. Don't worry, Ev. I knew your parents very well. You're in good hands. My, you're only sixteen, aren't you?" she said. I nodded. I somewhat remembered the name. I followed her, still keeping the diary close to me. "You're in good hands," she repeated.
Here was my new beginning. I didn't doubt that haunting nightmares would be there. With the Dark Days over, only worse would serve to come.
All right then! What did you all think? Hope I'll see your reviews in the following chapter! ;)
-Amelia Letter