Chapter Four

I choked off my shout. Funny how she could hear, even with the cheers of the crowd. Her face picked me out of the people. What could she see? A skinny girl wearing the uniform of a the Capitol? A face filled with sorrow? Was Peyton scared?

A wave of rage washed over me as my eyes picked out Julia, cowering on the stage. Nyal was on the other side of the line, throwing her frequent glances filled with worry. She flinched at every jeer. She was the weak link. The smallest.

My despair inside me was almost overwhelming, like I could feel all the sadness of their families inside me. I felt worse for Nyal's mother, with a baby to look after and now two less children, made to fight each other while she had to watch and pretend she enjoyed the entertainment.

I don't know if that was the reason that pulled me forward, but I suddenly felt my hand release Cassie's and Conner's, and my aching feet leading me to the stage. My hands pushed people away. Anger propelled me forward. Anger helped me shove people who would encourage the bloodshed. I vaguely heard my mother call my name.

All I wanted was to be up there, with the forbidden children, like I was. To die along with them, instead of being spared and being forced to watch friends bludgeon each other to death.

I wanted to become a tribute.

A tiny part of me told me that this was stupid. But it was dominated by the other part that was controlling my body through the crowd. Somehow I reached the barricade of Peacekeepers around the stage. It only enraged me further. Peacekeepers? They were the ones who encouraged the brutal ways of the Capitol, finding children and leading them to slaughter.

I pushed them aside and forced myself through.

I felt arms grab my waist and pull me back, but a scream was wrenched out of my mouth, seizing the attention of the people on the stage. With years of skills of hunting and self-survival, I pulled myself free and my foot kicked the Peacekeeper in the stomach. He grunted. I heard the crowd cry in shock. My mind mentally thanked my mother for the killer heels.

I stumbled up onto the steps.

"Please!" I begged the tyrant. "Let- them- go!" I gasped, falling to my knees in front of the crowd. All lights on me. A pleading girl wearing the colours of the Capitol.

I avoided looking at my friends. But I could tell that they could recognise me. Unease swept through the chains, the sound of clinking was all I heard. The crowd was holding its breath.

The tyrant looked over me and into the face of the Peacekeepers. He shook his head. Probably a signal to stop the Peacekeepers from sending bullets through my brain. "My dear girl, I can't do that. These people are the results of breaking the law. Letting them go will encourage others to ignore the law. That cannot happen. They are forbidden children." He nodded. Hands like vices grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet.

At first, I was at a loss to answer. I fought against the force pulling me back. I resisted, trying to shake the grip off. Then when my words rang out, loud and clear, I felt surprise ripple through the crowd. Even me, I was surprised at my own stupidity. And daring. "So am I!"

This time, a gasp echoed through the square. The tyrant chuckled. The Peacekeeper released me.

"Do you expect me to believe that?"

I looked through the crowd and spotted my mother, hugging my siblings, who looked confused. My mother, on the other hand, had tears streaming down her face. Don't, she seemed to be begging. Don't say it, Lanie.

I could turn back. I knew that if I let the words be heard, the repercussions would be irreversible. There would be no turning back.

But what would I turn back to?

"I'm a forbidden child," I said, straightening up. I caught Nyal's gaze. His eyes averted to someone over to his left. Julia. He was sending me a signal. Save her, please. Save Julia. I gave the smallest nod that I could. "Let her go. Take me instead," I said, pointing to Julia's small, shaking frame.

The tyrant laughed, this time, along with the crowd. "A bargain? Girl, I do not trade two forbidden children. I take them both." He nodded to the Peacekeeper behind me again.

I stepped forward, evading the restraining grasp. "No!" I shouted, thinking quickly. Save Julia. Please. "She isn't the forbidden child. I am."

The crowd was loving it. I was supplying entertainment. The cameras were drinking in the scene. I wondered what the other districts were doing. What my brother was thinking.

My brother.

"She's not a forbidden child. She's my cousin. M-my brother's daughter. You don't want her. She's innocent. Please. I'm the one you want," I pleaded.

"Why was she found in the forest with the others, then?"

Forest. Others. Found. All these words ran through my head as I thought of a convincing lie.

"We met," Nyal spoke up. His eyes avoided my bewildered stare. Behind me, I heard the footsteps of the Peacekeeper come closer.

The tyrant put up a hand and let Nyal speak. "Go, on, boy."

"She was collecting food. She's not one of us."

One of the Peacekeepers marched over and whispered something in the tyrant's ear. "This guard recognises you," the dictator said, motioning to the white suited man beside him. "You fought against him trying to protect the girl. You called her your 'sister'."

A noise a bit like gong, sounding the end of a game went off in my head. This was it. The game's over. I would be killed for lying.

"Niece in law," Nyal said.

Shock spread throughout me. Niece in law?

"Is this true?" the tyrant asked, directing his question at me.

"I-uh- yeah," I mumbled, tripping over my words.

"Sorry?"

"Yes," I said, a little louder. "Yes it's true."

"She had no weapons," Nyal said. "Unlike us. She was only in the forest to collect food. I wanted to protect her, because she's my sister in law's child. Her only one, of course. I'm sure my sister-in-law wouldn't like to lose her only child."

"Why wasn't this clarified earlier?" the oppressor asked the Peacekeeper next to him, who seemed stumped.

"Because he hit us every time we tried to talk," Nyal said.

"Hm," the president said, considering.

Hope fluttered a bit inside me, giving me warmth. Giving me a bit of sense too, making me realise that I had sacrificed myself to let Julia go.

I hoped my brother wouldn't let me down.

"Release the girl."

My breath came out of me in a quiet gasp of relief and shock. Julia was free. I kept my face masked so the ruse wouldn't be discovered.

The chains clinked open and little Julia was unbound. She leapt forward and hugged me, her tears wetting my ugly dress. I bent over, whispering to her. "Listen, live with my brother and his wife, they will treat you well. Tell him I love him."

"Lanie!" she cried, as the Peacekeepers pulled us apart.

"You'll be fine!" I yelled.

As the manacles locked shut on my wrists and ankles, severe understanding loomed over me. Julia was now okay, thanks to me. But I certainly wasn't.

The president was now struggling to gain the crowd's attention again. He continued his speech about how the generation of forbidden children should be eradicated, and promised the best Hunger Games yet with extreme enthusiasm.

The Peacekeepers started to lead us back into building while the crowd was cheering. As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of my mother's face along with the expressions of the twins. All three were terrified. Then the door clanged shut.

And that was the end of my performance.

I know this one was quite short compared to the others. More are coming! Please review, so I know to continue the story.