Chapter 1
Silence of Images
"Cause I've drawn regret from the truth of a thousand lies"
I make my way through the dark hallways, now and then the lights flicker weakly around me. The irregular stone floor, continuously hurting my feet as I do. After a while, I reach the end of the corridor, pushing hard the silver door in front of me. At least, the lights of this room work properly. I walk with my bare feet through the cold marble floor, while my eyes get used to the amount of brightness. After a few seconds, they do.
No windows, just four snow-white walls compose the room. The only piece of furniture is a black leather, L shaped, couch in the middle, but what I'm really looking for is the projector. I walk forward, and turn it on, it takes a few minutes to show the image, and while it does, I sit comfortably, bringing my knees towards my chest, hugging them with my arms. I smile. Caesar Flickerman, as if time didn't affect him, enters the light-filled stage, with that exaggerated smile of his. Last time I saw him, he dyed his hair in a very bright orange that seemed to glow, this time is lavender, which is better I guess. His blue suit glitters with the lights, as he welcomes someone on stage.
A boy comes in, he isn't quite tall, but he isn't short either. He has ashy blonde hair, and blue eyes. With one hand, he greets Caesar, with the other, he holds the hand of a brunette girl, small in stature, with olive skin and gray eyes. Oh, I see! This are the famous troublemakers of District 12! The star-crossed lovers, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. I must accept I'm a bit disappointed, I expected them to be more menacing. Looking at this two brings old memories back, the people from the Seam, those who worked at the mines, even the bakery of the corner I used to visit sometimes... They reminded me of home. Haymitch must be proud of them, I knew he'd be a good victor. I smile again, welcoming the sweet memories. I feel a little old actually! I remember the Mellark boy, not Peeta, but his father, who used to be in love with my best friend... I also wonder what happened to her. I wish they'd tell me how my family, and friends are. I'd be better if I knew, or at least that's what I want to believe. The interview goes on, and suddenly the baker's boy is on his knee. Caesar looks shocked, as so does the girl, or well.. She tries to. As an actress she is really bad, I must say. She should probably stick with archery. However, the camera focus the audience, and it is clear that they completely believed the act. I can't help but laugh. After all this years, it will never cease to amuse me how oblivious can the people of the Capitol be. Instead of using their money to stop aging, they should use it to improve their intelligence, because it is obviously non-existent.
We aren't here because of this people of course, those who can be easily manipulated by stupid lies do not suppose a threat to the Capitol. But, those who can think coherently do, those who decided to see the bluff at the past Hunger Games as an act of defiance instead of one of love are the real issue, and of course, this two, especially the girl, became their symbol of hope, which makes her a more than obvious target for President Snow. I don't believe that those two on stage meant something by what they did, but their little episode with the poisoned berries transcended to levels I didn't thought I'd be able to witness. At least, she made good use of the pin, and that makes me happy. It's a shame I have to be on this side , even if it is just for the meantime, now that people in the districts decided to wake up from their slumber, and stand up for what really is important. It was to be expected though, we, of all people, can identify with the fact that the odds are never in our favor. Not now, not back then when it was all suppose to end… But, didn't.
I stand up, and turn off the projector. Once again, I find myself walking in the dark hallways, heading to that terrible place. I came here to see those two, after all the stories from the guards and the president, I couldn't help but to be curious about who they really were, how did they look like. Maybe it was because I know better than most that an image can say more than words, and that the eyes are the gates to the truth. By what I just saw, I can tell that they are lying, that this is just a made up, probably even rehearsed, act. Maybe if they were good at portraying what Snow wants them to, there'll be no need for us to come. Therefore, I shall be grateful for their lack of skill, but some of us, aren't as grateful, some did want it to be over. I prefer to see this as a second chance to make things right, instead of committing the same pointless mistakes of the past. I'm not scared of what's going to happen from now on, I doubt any of us is, we have already been through the worst, and somehow, we have… Survived.
I make several turns, before seeing the door, and stopping. I don't want to go back there yet. I want to savor the privacy, the silence of images I have now. The irony of the term I just thought of makes me want to laugh, and I do. Silence of images, huh? That's kind of impossible. I guess people will crave for the silence of being alone every now and then, but I don't have to. What I crave for is knowing that nobody is around me, at least for a few minutes. I sit down in the hard stone floor, leaning my back against the wall. I look towards the ceiling, were I spot a camera. A bittersweet smile appears on my face, of course I'm never alone if every step I make is being constantly observed. I decide to stay here for a little longer, at least no one will bother me here for a while. I like having time to think, even when it can be overwhelming. Thinking about the past, for me, has always been the hardest. Reminding myself of everything that I don't have any more, everything I could have done, and everyone that is gone, hurts. On the other hand, the future, which is normally attached to the word hope, seems more bearable to me most of the times. But, I like to remind myself that the present is also important, that it gives me time to make up for what already happened in order to have a better future. Also, because if I don't cherish it, even when it seems almost impossible to enjoy this present of mine, I'd look back someday, somewhere, regretting what I didn't do, and that sorrowful cycle will continue to repeat itself all over again until my time is finally over. Knowing all this, I stand up once again, and start walking towards the door firmly, yet calmed. A part of cherishing this moment is to face adversity, and reminding myself that the real enemy is not behind that door, but rather somewhere else, surrounded by white roses and blood.
"And whatever pain may come, today this ends"
A/N: This is a SYOT! You can find the form in my profile, and PM it to me. The final tribute list will be posted next Saturday (12/14/2013). The quotes are from Linkin Park's song What I've Done.
Any thoughts on what the Quell is going to be about? Or about the character that narrates this chapter?
~Izzy