Chapter Three - Keith and Lea∞

I stayed in for a whole two days, mostly just wandering with a confused and blurry mind. I had skipped school too, the first time I've ever done so. I had my excuses ready though I guess no one suspected me. Mom and Dad went to work and Amy was more likely at Sarah's or some other friend's house or even maybe the Woods. Not that I care much.

It was that second day as I wandered to the TV room. Turning it on with the remote, I found it had many channels, all from the Capitol except some test broadcasting from District 3.

I had just flicked the channel and found one with Caesar Flickerman interviewing my stylist when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" I yelled.

I heard the door open and slam shut. A shaky voice I recognized called my name.

"Lea!" I exclaimed. I ran up to the front door where my best friend stood. Her hazel eyes glistened with tears and her face was pale and streaked with them.

Lea steps in all alone. All we do is hold hands. Then she smiles.

"Don't cry!" I said and hugged her.

"I was so scared…" Lea said quietly "I thought…"

I pulled back. All we do is exchange glances in the silence. Voices come through the other room where the TV was left on.

"What gave you the idea for the greenish black look on Alanna's outfits?" I heard Caesar ask.

"Well, green and black brings out her eyes," Rivers says softly "The moment I saw her, it was emerald eyes that brought my attention up. Not the hair or the skin or even the size. Just those eyes. The ones I saw just knew there was no way she was going to die. That she is a fighter, and she was. She just seemed so… lucky. So full of grace, hopes, and chances. I wanted to show it to everyone else out there. I arranged her wardrobe so everyone in District Five can see that too."

Lea looks at me and smiles, the one that makes almost everyone happy. Even at the worse of times.

"I guess its true?" I said sarcastically in a funny tone. I was wearing a green and black stripped T-Shirt with black pants.

Lea laughs. "Well, maybe," she says and moves a blond bang from her eyes "But what about hazel?"

"Red. With a red headband. Then bring you to the Capitol and boys will roll all over to you."

Lea drops her smile. "I hate the Capitol."

"I do too."

"But I want to know, how are you faring?"

"I'm good, to the least."

Lea rolls her eyes. "High and mighty?"

"As much as a puddle of possible mud does."

Lea laughs and I join her this time.

"But seriously," Lea asks more seriously "How are you? You weren't at school."

"I'm… still… recovering."

"Everyone is. Some… changed."

"You heard?"

"Josh Loonson is acting like a snub. I saw that argument a couple days ago, I was there. I passed by his house a few times and I can hear yelling. A lot of yelling. More than the crying."

I stared at the floor. "At least someone else is sullen."

"Amy? Where is she?"

"Somewhere. I don't know, she won't speak to me."

"I heard about that. I'm really sorry about that but really I don't understand."

Lea is an only child. Thats why her parents always freak out on reaping day. I remember on the day of our first reaping, I went over to her house and heard lots of crying. Usually that would be normal but I've never adults so… shaky.

That was the day I don't want to remember though. My first reaping was Aaron's last.

"Its like… lets say… someone you love dearly-"

"Like Jonathan Dearly," Lea said and chuckled.

I gasped. "I thought you were into Regal Gendsew!"

"That was two months ago before he went all psychopath! I want some good guys."

"What are you talking about?"

"Regal was expelled for no reason."

"Who would spray paint the school windows with the initials R.G.?"

"Maybe Christopher Rosen. Christopher was always jealous of him!"

"You're talking about the bully! Sheesh, Alanna, sheesh!"

We went on like this for an hour, talking about boys and passing secrets, like good old times. My dad once said we're too young to be talking about boys but he's my dad!

Lea laughed after I made a remark about a boy named Timmiet when we heard a scream. We peeked into the TV like someone was there. On the still-on television was a picture of me with wide eyes of seriousness. It was me, ready to shoot the arrow into Antonio's face.

Then the screen split. For a few seconds, Aaron towered over Sam as he stabbed him to death. It paused when his fierce eyes looked up.

"Now that," Caesar Flickerman said, who appeared with his spokesperson companion Claudius Templesmith "Is some family resemblance." He pointed at us.

I shut off the television and looked at Lea, who was trembling.

"She stabbed me," Audry cried.

"Lea…" I started.

"Should I go?" Lea asked.

"If… if you want…"

"I have homework to do anyway." Lea stepped up to me and held my thumb tightly, giving it one of our good luck squeezes. "I'll see you later."

"Bye then."

She stepped away and then out the door. I looked at my thumb, wondering what she meant good luck by.

It was maybe a half hour later when I stepped outside in boots, feeling the slight chill of autumn. Both of my pockets were full but I still managed to shove my hands into them. It was the wind chill bothering me and the heat of the sun beating down on my back.

I passed up workers leaving their shifts at the solar power factory. I looked up at the power lines casting their thin, gray shapes across the sky from tower to tower. We always make enough electricity to aid ourselves, unlike what I heard about other Districts. But that still leaves us to pay the cost for it.

I passed one taller building, a bit old and run down that me and Lea named The Abandoned, with loud voices coming from it. In the window, I saw a dozen men and some women hunched around an old table yelling at each other.

I walked pass, getting a hurtful feeling from what Lea told me about yelling from Josh's house. I was planning to go there soon, but I had another task to run.

I crossed into the Woods then took a right into a worn path. Following the path, I left the Woods and into the Meadow. I was told our Meadow by the edge of the District used to look like a scruffy field of yellow dirt and dry, dead shrubs. Now, its been prettied up with short green grass and flowers for its purpose.

The path still went on. On each sides of it were colorful flowers, many I can't name. I followed up the path farther on until I saw the gravestones. The Tributes' Cemetery.

In District 5, we respect the deceased tributes. Somewhere by the 3rd or 4th Hunger Games when people realized the Hunger Games were going to last a long time, the Cemetery was established for all those who died due to the Capitol's cruel weapon.

I counted up the rows of two, or five times, one with a marker of the victor. The earlier ones, weather beaten and eroded, were more unreadable from over half a decade ago. I could hardly make out the first boy tribute's name. It read, "Wilbur Yeti - 18 - 1st Games 11th place - brother, son, best friend" I couldn't make any of the family member's names "-dearly missed - Rest in Peace."

I could only make out the "J" and "S" initials and "sister" on the girl's gravestone. Wishing both their families well, I moved on and counted up.

Once I got to the 52nd row, I knelt down in the grass and felt my finger over "Aaron Chance McLee - 16 - 52nd Games 2nd place - brother, son, friend - parents Selena and Emmit siblings Amy Hope and Alanna Grace - dearly loved dearly missed - Rest in Peace."

"Rest in peace," I murmured. I looked next to it and looked at the girl tribute's stone. "Hannah Grabell - 15 - 52nd Games 22nd place - daughter, best friend - parents Paula and Freddie - dearly loves dearly missed - Rest in Peace."

She was an only child. No siblings. I don't know whether it makes it harder on her parents or easier on the family, where not a lot have to suffer the pain of loss or for the parents to feel they've lost they're only child.

"I miss you Aaron," I said, turning back to my brother's stone "I only wish you were here now."

A tear rolled down my cheek. I stood back up and walked on to the latest one that had one gravestone and one marker.

"Wade Loonson - 15 - 54th Games 8th place - son, brother, friend - parents Jeanine and Quest siblings Keith and Josh - dearly loves dearly missed - Rest in Peace."

"Wade," I started "Wade… I… I miss you." I knew down in the not-so-grassy-yet dirt where flowers and cards lay. "Wade… you were my friend. And I can't blame you or myself for your death anymore. Though I may be the remaining Survivor, I… I want you to know… I was that one. I promise, Wade, to do whatever I can to make you unforgettable. To aid your family however I can."

I pulled out one of my pockets a folded sheet of paper. I unfolded it and set down the drawing of Wade, his smile that night after the interviews, dimples included. My initials "AGM" in the corner and a note under the drawing "Gone but never forgotten." Smiling at the sight of the picture, I said, "Wade… I love you. I miss you."

Tears rolled down my face as I stood up and walked down the path. I counted the number of gravestones - even the ones from the 50th Games with double the tributes, all not making it.

110 tributes from District 5 entered the Hunger Games. Five made it out. 105 didn't. The number, to me, doesn't seem fair. Life isn't fair.

I scurried down the path and into the Woods. I wind off the path and scale a dozen feet up a tree and relax, closing my eyes, sleeping.

When I woke, I heard the bell signaling curfew.

Darn it. The sky was an array of reds, pinks, purples, and dark blue with the first few stars. Shivering in the nighttime cold, I looked around. The Peacekeepers would be marching around, forcing everyone in and keeping night watch for anyone not sleeping. I'd be caught and lashed if I was discovered.

"Guess I'll stay up in this tree…" I said to myself "Like good ole times." I climbed higher, out of reach of the world below me. Sometimes me, Aaron, and Amy would get caught in the Woods at night, so we'd spend the night up here.

But we were always with each other. Now I'm alone as darkness starts to seep in and I get scared. I climb higher until I'm just basically a few feet below the tree tops. A bright moon shines down on me just as I try to curl up. But the branches are too thin for me and start to crack under my body. Scared of falling, I rush down and tentatively set my feet on the ground.

I know there isn't any dangerous animals in the Woods - its much too small for that - but I just get scared. The darkness reminds me of the arena, that someone or something is lingering around, ready to kill me.

With only moonlight, I tried getting out the Woods. I soon realized it was pointless, but I didn't want to stay.

My eyes were beginning to get heavy. Something caught my eye in the hill. In the moonlight, I saw someone emerge from behind a hill. Someone else was behind that person. I didn't recognize them. I saw a glint of metal and the first person fell over and begin to tumble down the hill. A scream escaped him/her lips and right away knew it was feminine.

I almost broke down crying in fear. Instead, I gave a loud choked sound and began stumbling all over. Eventually I hit a tree and fell over.

I suddenly saw a spear fly right past my head. Any closer I would have a spear in my neck. I held my breath and saw Jackie appear. She held an ax in one hand and the other was covering her ear. She noticed me and screamed.

I gripped the tree with my might, my head throbbing, me feeling dizzy.

Ethan shoved me away. I collapsed on the ground and saw Tailor tackled Ethan. Both of them flew right into the water.

I screamed as I saw them disappear under the current. I got up and ran along the shoreline, screaming Ethan's name over and over, looking for a sign. But no one appeared.

Tears dripped down my face as I put one foot on a branch, and continued the sequence slowly to climb up. My mind becomes blank except with this process only. I climb to the top and stare only at the moon.

I woke to a pink, orange, and yellow sunset with a thick, beautiful rainbow through the soft, shimmering light in the rain. I watch it fully, listening to it fully, feeling calm. It feels like I've melted into this scene. Out of the entire Games, out of my entire life, this view right here is the best. The most beautiful scene I've ever looked at. I memorize every part of it.

I look for a good place, wondering what is wrong with my brain. I've been traumatized by the 54th Hunger Games, going crazy by its flashbacks. I know I need them controlled somehow because I can't handle it.

I lay down, closing my eyes, going into a slumber.

"Alanna! Alanna! Where are you?"

I open my eyes. The voice is familiar.

I climb down slowly and low enough to see the ground. Below me is Keith. His brown hair undone and sagging over his blue eyes.

I slowly climb lower, purposely rustling a few leaves. Finally when I'm ten feet above his head, Keith looks up, shocked yet smiling.

"My gosh, Alanna, you scared me," he says and smirks.

I don't. "What do you want?" I ask "Don't you hate me?"

Keith shakes his head. "Why would I?"

"Because of…" I let it hang.

"Thats not a reason, Alanna." Keith climbs up to a tree, but because of his size, he doesn't dare go higher. He holds out his hand and I grasp it. The two of us help each other down.

"Were you out here all night?" Keith asks.

"Yes… I couldn't go home. I got lost."

Keith pulls out a grayish sack with a blue patch attached. He walks forward and motions me to follow.

I do and untold we begin to pick some blackberries and put them in Keith's sack. They're good and sweet, having to be unfound. I'm reminded of the blackberry pie Keith gave me and Amy the day of the reaping, the day my life changed for good.

Once we finish, we begin treading home. We easily get out the Woods.

"Keith," I begin "Whats wrong with Josh? I mean, I know he… well-"

"I don't know what happened with Josh," Keith answers "I've never seen him that hostile."

"I've never seen Amy so sullen, either. I don't get it, what changed?"

"I don't know. He snapped when he noticed you at the funeral. He's been mean ever since."

"Amy stopped talking, period. At least, when I'm around. And she's never smiling."

"Josh stopped smiling." The expression on Keith's face can only be describe as devastated. He stops walking. "Its weird. I've never… I mean… wow… he was right."

"What?" I'm anxious for a reply "Who was right?"

"This guy named Kyro Wednt. He came to our door after your homecoming and talked about- never mind, Alanna."

"No, tell me Keith!"

"Alanna-"

Keith begins to run forward but I grab his sack. It bounces him back, which is weird happening to a large 18-year-old from a 14-year-old.

"Tell me, Keith. Tell me, did I cause something?" I ask.

Keith sighs, not looking at me. "Yes. Along with the relief theres tension. I'm not sure. That Kyro guy talked about District One and how unfair they've been. He said… he said that… we should be part of… this battle-"

"Battle? What, what?"

"He said we should… against District One… because of Antonio… who…"

Keith begins to tear up. I drop the sack as the young man's hands go to his face and sobs loudly.

"Keith, Keith Loonson listen to me!" I jump up to pull down his hands. His face is already red and blotchy. Holding on his wrists tightly as I look up into his eyes, I say "We… we have to be strong. We need to hang on to hope and take chances, to be graceful."

Keith sniffs. His lowers himself to my level. "Hope, chances, graceful," he says quietly.

"Grace, hope, and chances," I said "C'mon Keith, please. I know Wade's gone, I miss him as much as you do. But… I promised to help you guys in any way I can."

He sniffs again. Keith gives a choked sound from his throat as I open up the sack and dump the contents of my pockets in them. Its coins, mostly silver and gold coins, our District's money. It has our District symbol on one side and Panem's on the other.

"Keith…" I whisper.

He uses the sack as a towel and wipes his face. It makes hardly any effect. "Thank you, Alanna McLee."

Keith stands up, ready to walk on. "I… I think you should go home. Your folks must be worried."

I nod. We say our farewells and go separate ways.

I'm sorry about the lack of uploads! I was working on this chapter and nothing seemed right!

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