"It's strange to think that we'll be leaving in three days' time." Margo says as she violently scratches off a barnacle. I cringe at the chipped paint, but Margo doesn't seem to care. She didn't even want to come to work today since we would only be receiving about a quarter of our paycheck since we won't be finishing the week.
"It's strange to think that we'll find out who our final match is today." I say and Margo nods her head in agreement. She looks excited at this thought though. I know my best friend is excited about leaving.
"I hope my husband is strong and handsome. I want him to be tall and mysterious." Margo says dreamily and I laugh even though I know she's completely serious. Margo has always wanted to be married to someone attractive, she could care less about his personality. It's kind of shallow of Margo, but my best friend really isn't that shallow. I know she'll end up loving her husdand no matter how he turns out.
"I think you need to add patient to that list." I say to Margo and she sticks her tongue out at me. It's a very childish move but I never said Margo was mature for her age.
"And what do you want your husband to be like?" Margo asks and I bite my lip as I think about it. My lips are chapped and a little sunburnt from the sun. I was going to have to remember to apply some lip balm when I got home tonight.
"All I want is for him to be family oriented and a hard worker. I don't care what he looks like as long as he can genuinely love and provide for his family." I say and Margo sticks her tongue out again.
"I detect major bull." Margo says, "I know you want him to be like Sinon." She says this mockingly and I retaliate by snapping my towel at her thigh.
"Sinon is far too immature and obnoxious for my taste." I say even though it's a lie and Margo knows it's a lie. Her eyes become sad and understanding for a moment.
The work bells rings and Margo tosses her towel into her bucket. We hurry away from the docks, both of us rubbing our sore shoulders. My back always hurts after work and I feel like my spine is protruding out. I rub the bottom and stretch out. In three days I won't be working on the docks anymore, the one plus of leaving home.
"Look, its Elise." Margo says before lifting her finger and pointing to our blonde friend. Elise stands awkwardly waiting for us. I frown and I realize that there's a glittery trail of tears falling down her face. "Doesn't she usually walk with Tommy?"
"Yes, but don't you see her tears? They must have called it off." I say and Margo's eyes widen in surprise."
"I thought for sure that they would be the idiot couple to runaway together." Margo says and I roll my eyes.
"Try not to be so insensitive to Elise's face." I say and Margo sighs but agrees with.
"Hi, Elli." I say carefully but she doesn't smile. She breaks down into tears and hugs me awkwardly for comfort. I stiffen at the touch and try to console like my mother does for Persi. I rub my hand in circle on her back but she only cries harder. "There, there, it's going to be ok."
"No it's not." She sobs and I shoot Margo a pleading look to help me.
"You knew it was going to happen sooner or later Elise." Margo says and I shoot her another look, I shouldn't have asked her for help with this. "I don't see the point of crying over him."
"Margo!" I hiss when Elise sobs even harder, "Come on Elli, we need to go to school."
We walk slowly with Elise crying, Margo grumbling in annoyance, and me trying not to think of the final matches being delivered in the school house. I sneak a glance at Margo and we meet eyes. She rolls her dramatically and I don't blame her for being annoyed with Elise. I also don't blame Elise for being upset. I just needed to stay neutral with the whole situation.
When we finally make it to the school house everyone in our class is already inside. The Capitol officials are standing at the front of the class with a pile of large full envelopes at their sides. Margo eyes them greedily and I nudge her to her seat before passing the Capitol officials with a smile. Elise stumbles into her seat and places her head on her desk not looking up at anyone.
The sight of the yellow envelopes causes nerves to flap in my stomach. The feeling reminds me of butterflies flapping around and tickling my skin, underneath the table Margo takes my hand and squeezes it. As excited as she is, she's nervous too.
"Hello dears! I'm Maerzellete and this is my husband Claudius." Maerzellete says with a grin. She has ice colored hair and purple eyes making her look almost normal to her husband who's skin is dyed a deep yellow to match his artificial gold eyes. The Capitol citizens are the only people in Panem who don't have to participate in being contracted, they get to choose who they marry.
"As you all know, the Match Ceremony is this evening." I suck in a deep breath. I had completely forgotten about the Match Ceremony. It happens every year on the same day so I don't know how I could have forgotten it, but I did ad now I feel like an idiot.
The Match Ceremony is when you and you contract partner are announced to the whole nation. The Capitol times it perfectly so that you and your contract partner are showed on the screen at the same time. Of course we already know who were being contracted too beforehand but we aren't allowed to tell anyone until the Match Ceremony.
"But the Capitol wants you to know who your contract partner is beforehand. We will call you into your teacher's office" which is really just an oversized broom closet, "one by one in alphabetical to present you with your contract partner and your new employment in your new home District." Claudius says with a clippy Capitol accent.
"Once you receive your Contract you are required to return home to get ready for the Match Ceremony which starts at five o'clock sharp." Maerzellete adds before clasping her hands together in excitement. "The first up is Nathaniel Albain."
One by one my classmates rise and head into the backroom. They are inside for almost three minutes each until they comeback out squeezing their envelopes to their chests and smiling or holding their envelopes to their sides and trying not to cry.
Sinon has just left the room and passes Margo who is entering. They touch hands reassuringly and Sinon meets my eyes and smiles. He nods his head and I know that he's conforming that he is contracted to the girl from District One. I didn't have a doubt in my mind, she was his highest match. I shift in my seat uncomfortably, suddenly feeling apprehensive at the fact that my best friend was no longer at my side.
Elise is called up a few after Margo, but she refuses to move. Her head stays on the table and for a second I think she's fallen asleep. They call her again and she lifts her head slowly, her eyes not glancing anywhere but the floor. She won't go into the room though and I can tell the Capitol officials are becoming annoyed. "Just go inside Elise." I whisper quietly even though I know she can't hear me, please go inside."
"I refuse to be contracted. I will not participate." Elise says strongly and I bite my lip. The air in the room suddenly seems tense and I'm afraid to breath.
"Elise." Maerzellete says calmly but I can tell she's gritting her teeth. My hands become clammy and I wipe them on my dress watching the scene play out in front of me.
Elise looks at everyone that's still in the classroom. All of us look forward trying not to make eye contact with her in fear that we will be seen as treasonous as well. My eyes glance at Tommy who's looking down at his feet. Even he won't sell himself out for the girl he supposedly loved.
"I will not marry a man I do not love and I will not leave my District to join one I do not know. This is my life and I have every right to live it the way I please." She spats as Maerzellete. She snatches the envelope from Claudius's hand, who has appeared at the office doorway.
She rips the envelope in half and I cringe. Elise then stomps out of the room without a word more. Her eyes desperately search the room for anyone who agrees with her but we all stay silent, holding our breaths for the episode to be over. Elise storms out and I let out my breath my eyes falling on the Capitol official. Maerzellete's lips are pursed and her eyes narrow at the ripped envelope on the floor.
"There's always one." She sighs before pulling out a small walkie-talkie from her back pocket. "Please send the Peacekeepers out to search for an Elise Nulling's." I shiver with a sense of fear and tangle my hands into the tips of my hair.
"Norah Odair." Claudius calls and I rise slowly. He smiles at me reassuringly before leading me into the office. I sit in the chair across from him and try not to seem nervous.
"Norah Rochelle Odair of District Four?" He asks and I nod my head, "Could you please state your address?"
"House number 159 North Shore." I say and Claudius nods his head.
"Good, good." He says before handing me a stack of paperwork. "Now, please sign here and here. These documents are your marriage contracts, as you can see your contract partner Gale has already signed."
"So I'm contracted to Gale?" I ask, trying not to sound too relieved.
"Oh silly me, I should have shown you your contract partner first." Claudius says with a laugh, "Yes, your contract partner is Mr. Gale Hawthorne making you Mrs. Norah Hawthorne after the Match Ceremony tonight."
I nod my head and sing my name with loopy scrawl. I pride myself with my signature, it's very hard for other's to replicate. I hand the papers to Claudius and he hands me the large envelope. I smile and rip open the seam. The first paper is exactly like bio I received when I got my possible matches. It's all about Gale and his job. The next paper is about my new family. I'm going to have two brother-in-laws and a sister-in-law who still live at District Twelve. They're all quite young and I feel strange calling them in law's. My mother-in-law has the same dark tones as Gale and I smile at how soft her eyes are. She resembled my mother in way that already made me homesick. The last paper is my job description. I'm a laundress, working under my mother-in-law. The pay isn't that good and I wonder if my family will even have enough to survive as I calculate the cost of living in my head.
"Thank you Claudius." I say and he nods in head towards me.
"All in a day's work Mrs. Hawthorne." He answers and I feel my smile falter at the use of my new last name.
I almost feel like running home, but I don't. I just walk quickly feeling my legs burn with the speed. I arrive into Town Square soon, my hands gripping the envelope like a life line. There's a crowd in the middle of Town Square and someone screaming. I hurry to the crowd and Persi runs into me. She has tears in her eyes and I do the only thing I can think of to comfort her, scoop her up in my arms. She buries her face in the space between my neck and shoulder and wraps her legs around my midsection.
"It's Elise." She whispers and I get myself to push into the crowd. Elise is in the hand of two Peacekeepers and her mother is screaming, begging for them to let her go.
"Miss Nulling, you have a choice. Either proceed onwards with your contract or become an Avox for the Capitol." The Peacekeeper drones and my sister wraps her arms around me tightly. I should leave, but I can't seem to get my feet to move.
"And if I choose neither?" Elise asks and the Peacekeeper's hardened face turns into a dark smile.
"Instant death." He answers and Elise's mom screams in a horrific way that makes my blood turn to ice.
"Well, I pick the third option." Elise answers and I drop my sister. She luckily lands on her feet; I pull her close to me, burying her face into my stomach so that she will not be able to see what happens. I cover her ears with her hands and then put my envelope into my bag and cover her hands with mine.
"Elise, please!" Her mother screams and I try to tear my eyes away but I can't. I can't even get myself to move my sister away from everything. I'm stuck, my feet glued to the ground as I watch helplessly from the sidelines.
"I'm sorry. I love you." Elise says as the Peacekeeper presses the gun to the back of her head. Elise's eyes land on me and I bite my lip to keep it from quivering, "Be brave." She says before the bullet rips through her skull.
Elise's mother screams and my sister lets out a sob. The Town Square is in an uproar and I scoop up my sister, pushing my way through the crowd to make in home. Persi sobs out of fear but I can't say anything to calm her down at the moment. The thought of the bullet is too much for me to bear right now, so I can't form any words.
We make it onto our street but I don't put Persi down until we're in the safety of our house. My mother hurries to us and I hand her Persi. My hands are shaking and my legs feel like gelatin. I collapse onto the floor trying to catch my breath.
I feel hands wrap around my shoulders and I look up to find my brother. For once he doesn't smell like fish and saltwater and I know it's because he's actually really taken the time to smell nice for the Matching Ceremony that's only in three hours. "What happened? Tell me what happened?"
"Elise, killed by Pea- peacekeepers, she refused to take part in Contract process. So-so they gave her a choice and she-she picked to die." I say with a sob and Finnick pulls me into his arms. The feeling reminds me of when we were children and I fell off a cart, breaking my arm. Kassi ran home to get my mom but Finnick stayed to comfort me, he held me the same way he does now.
"You're going to be ok." Finnick says quietly and I try to contain my sobs by taking deep breaths. "Look at me, as long as you weren't apart of anything you're going to be ok. You just can't think about her, you have to go to the Match Ceremony in three hours and you need to look like everything is ok."
I nod my head and he helps me up. Annie rushes over to me and takes my hand, "Come on, while your bath water is still warm."
Annie washes my hair, she untangles it and combs her fingers through it softly. She hums a small little lullaby, the same one she hums little Finn when he's crying. I'm finally able to relax enough that I'm not longer sobbing or shaking.
My mother and Persi come in to help me dress. Persi is bright eyed again and I know that Finnick helped her feel better, me keeping her ears covered and eyes away from the sight probably helped since she can't picture the scene in her mind. "I want to talk to my daughter." My mother says as she helps me slip into a light blue dress, it's the same color as a cloudless sky.
"Norah, I expect that next time if you are ever in a situation like that you'll think. You not only put yourself in danger to witnessing that but your little sister as well." My mother scolds as she braids my hair down my back. I take a deep quivering breath and meet her eyes in the mirror.
"I –I just couldn't move. She just seemed so desperate and I couldn't move. I wasn't thinking and I'm sorry." I say, my mother smooth's down her own hair before helping me to my feet to get a final look at me.
"There's going to be a time when you're a mother and you're going to understand where I'm coming from." My mom says and I smile at her when she nods in approval at me appearance.
"I already understand where you're coming from mama." I say and she shakes her head.
"Protecting a daughter is different than protecting a sister." My mother says before pressing a kiss to my forehead, "Now come, we don't want to be late."
The Match Ceremony is always very long when you're waiting for your name to be called up to the stage. It's mandatory to attend so the whole District piles into the square. I try not to look at the spot where Elise has been shot. The Peacekeeper's already cleaned it up so it doesn't look like anything had happened in that spot just three hours later.
I don't understand how they time the Match Ceremony just perfect but they do. When your name is called in your District your contract partners name is called in their District at the same time. You both make it to the stage and the screen shows your contract partner. The Capitol loves the contracts reactions. They're favorite is when the people bread down in tears or they smile in some flirty way. I didn't know how I was going to react.
I can't pay attention during the Match Ceremony, so I miss Margo and Sinon being called up. My mind keeps floating back to earlier, when Elise told me to be brave. Why would she tell me that? Why did I have to be brave? I begin to chew my nails trying to think of anything but the bullet and the terrible noise her skull made when the bullet bit through.
I almost miss my name being called. Juliet Pratchet nudges me with her elbow and I snap out of my daze, pushing my feet to walk faster to make up the lost seconds I had missed. I don't want to be the one who delayed the Ceremony.
Claudius escorts me up the steps and I take my place facing the screen. I take a deep breath and place my hands behind my back. I pray that my braid held and that my hair doesn't look as wild as it really is. I smooth out my dress and when my eyes flash back to the screen Gale appears. He stands tall with his arms over his chest. His eyes are as grey as they were in the picture and he smiles just a little bit. It's not even a smile really, the corners of his mouth just turn up the slightest. I smile at him almost shyly, in his picture he was handsome but here live on the screen I couldn't believe how attractive he really is.
He nods his head to me and I look away shyly before looking back at him. The corners of his mouth lift even more and I give him a slight wave before the screen turns black and I'm ushered off stage. My family stands a little ways to the left and Finnick gives me a thumb up. I knew that as long as I wasn't contracted to the military official he would be happy. At the end of the ceremony when every couple has been announced to the Capitol and the Districts we bow our heads and recite the promise to our nation. We promise Panem that we will thrive and our country will continue to grow, that we will rise from the ashes that almost destroyed us the first time. We promise to survive.
We walk home in a small chatter, Finnick and Annie parting with us to go back to their house which is really just behind ours. You can cross over the fence in our backyard and end up in theirs. I decide to go to bed right away, Persi follows close behind. She unbraids and then re-braids my hair and I do the same for her.
She snuggles up next to me and we lay facing each other. "I'm sorry I didn't pull you away today." I whisper to her and she takes my hand.
"It's ok. She was your friend. Besides I've seen worse." Persi says before squeezing my hand, I know she's talking about the factory accidents. She's witnessed countless, including a boy's arm be ripped off. I shudder at thought of my sister seeing something so terrible; at least I was able to blind her from seeing Elise become shot. "Your contract partner is so handsome. I'm going to have the most beautiful nieces and nephews."
I smile, feeling guilty that she'll never get to see them. "You know they're going to love you. They may not know you but I'll tell them about you and they'll love you as much as I do." I say and she laughs.
"Do you think my husband will be that handsome?" Persi asks and I smile at her.
"I don't know Persi, but I'll be looking forward to your Matching Ceremony, so I can see you again." I say and she nods her head.
"I love you Norah." She whispers before closing her eyes and drifting off.
"I love you too." I say before closing my own eyes. I don't fall asleep right way but I do think about Elise. She wanted to die, her own small rebellion against the Capitol that they can't control everything that happens to their citizens.
Be brave, repeats in my mind until I fall asleep.
A lot happens in this chapter. I hope it doesn't seem too rushed.
I got a PM asking how Norah looks since the reader had a hard time picturing her. Norah has red hair kind of like Merida from the Pixar movie Brave. it's just as unruly as that and the same color. She's small but not petite and her eyes are brown.
But feel free to picture Norah the way you want.
Let me know what you guys thought in this chapter in a review!
