"Is it true that you were trying to find a way out of your home district?"
Rose knew that it wouldn't matter what she'd say, they were still going to punish her. It was not true that she was finding a place out of her district; she was just curious and wanted to know what was out there. She still couldn't believe that she could have been so stupid to no look around before she started climbing. She looked up and saw the impatience written on the peacekeeper's face. "Yes."
He nodded as if this is the answer he knew he would get. Rose closed her eyes and waited for the crushing blow of the whip. When it didn't come she looked up. The peacekeeper was talking to a boy around her age, maybe a little older. She recognized him from school, but couldn't remember what his name was.
He had his hand on the arm that had been raised to deliver the snap and was talking in the peacekeepers ear. With a final nod the peacekeeper handed him the whip and approached Rose. "You're lucky this time," he said as he undid the binding at her wrists.
Lucky? No one has called me that in years. Rose got to her feet and ran after the boy that had kept the pain of a whipping from her. Running in the direction that she had seen him retreat to after taking the whip she stopped when she came around a corner and was facing the outer wall of a home. Not the front or the back, but the side of a home and no way to get to a door or window. She turned and headed back towards the district square.
Deciding to head home, she started walking. On impulse, though she turned back and looked over her shoulder at the mysterious home. A quick movement caught her eye. She focused on where it had been, but there was nothing there. Shaking her head, she continued to her home.
Rose opened the door and heard the mice quickly scatter. Dropping onto the makeshift mattress she closed her eyes, racking her memory for some kind of clue to the boy that became her savior today. Nothing.
The morning light came streaming through the holey blanket that Rose had hoped would keep out the chill in the winter. She opened her blue eyes. Eyes that had captivated those that she'd worked with in the textile factory. They had described them as the dark blue that the people of the Capitol could only hope of obtaining. People had tried to get the color, but it was so dark, near black, that it was impossible.
Just another day of keeping up pretenses. She dressed and ran to Calpurnia's house. Calpurnia was the only friend that she had in District 8. Well not the only one apparently. Who is he and why did he help me? She shook the thought from her mind and continued the short, freezing sprint.
"Ready?"
Rose smiled as her friend opened the door, greeting her with the daily question. She nodded and the two friends sprinted to the school that they were required, by law, to attend. If they didn't and were caught, surely the snap of a whip would be the punishment. Not wanting to relive that situation, Rose thought it best not to skip today.
