Hi guys!
Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I love them all and thank you!
Someone asked when the action would start in this story. Since I'm going through the Tour first and then the Games' warm-up, the real action won't start at least until chapter 15. But although there's not a lot of action, I'm hoping that some of the things going on make up for that.
Thank you and please read on!
Chapter 8 – India
Marina
I stand on the balcony, rubbing my arms in the cold air. My breath fogs in front of me, as my skin erupts in goosebumps from the icy wind. Above me the stars sparkle in the darkness, their dim glow barely lighting up the scenery in front of me. I can only just make out the massive hulking shapes of the mountains in front of me, their dark sides covered in thick forest.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Joseph joins me, his voice wistful. I nod, resting my hands on the cold metal balcony, looking down below. The huge hotel complex we're in is just on the outskirts of the city India, nestled at the foot of the huge mountain range along the Eastern side of Lorien: the Mountains of Ice and Fire. No one has ever made it past the mountains; they're too high to fly over and too dangerous to pass through. No one knows what is beyond the mountains.
"You lived here, in the city?" I ask softly. Joseph shakes his head, pointing to a small patch of glittering lights further up the mountain: the glow of a small village.
"No, I lived in that town there for the first part of my life" he explains. "It was where they keep the orphans and other undesirables; we weren't allowed into the city until we were old enough to work" he shrugs. "But I ran away when I was ten and then lived in the forest. I couldn't stand the orphanage and just wanted to escape," he sighs, his face dark.
I know the story of course, he's told me many times about his life. But being in the actual place that he grew up in is different from hearing stories. Now that I can see the thick black trees with the unforgivable cold, I can fully understand just how resourceful Joseph is to have survived that long in this place.
"What was it like? Being in the forest by yourself?" I ask softly. I see him turn his head out of the corner of my eye but I continue to gaze into the distance, awed by the dark magnificence of the mountains.
"I was never completely alone" he finally replies. "There were the animals, you see. That's how I came to shape shift actually. There was this one animal, a black rab-" he suddenly stops, and I can see a blush on his cheeks in the darkness.
"What's wrong?" I finally ask. He shakes his head, pursing his lips. I decide not to push him; it must be painful being back here after all this time. The least I can do is keep quiet and make it easier for him to cope.
"I'd do anything just to have one more day in that place" he finally says. "Just a few more hours" he shakes his head, looking embarrassed with himself. I take his hand, noticing how warm his skin is, despite the freezing cold.
"Let's do it then" I say, straightening up. After obeying the mogs for months, I want to do something rebellious. I want to escape, if only for a few hours.
"Do what?" Joseph frowns. I grin and gesture out to the forest, the black trees looking intimidating in the darkness.
"Let's go out into the forest. You may never get the chance again," I say softly. "Besides, the others will cover our backs for a few hours…they'll tell the mogs we went out to explore or something" I smile, squeezing his hand. "You can't pretend you don't want to go" I grin.
Joseph looks out at the forest longingly, his face looking vulnerable and young. I would be lying if I said I was desperate to go out in this weather, but knowing that this is what Joseph wants above all makes my decision easier. After everything he's done for me, this is the least I can do.
"If they find out, they'll punish us" he says weakly, as if that's the only excuse he can think of. I raise an eyebrow at him, a smile making its way onto my face. I can tell he's hooked, despite himself.
"Since when are you scared of authorities?" I challenge. He grins, then turns to look back at the forest again, his face still filled with conflict. I can tell he wants to go but knows he shouldn't go.
"And I'd like to see it too" I try one last attempt. "I'd like to see your old home, where you grew up" I can tell it works at once, the thought of doing something for me.
"Well maybe we could" he looks out at the forest, but before he can do anything more, Reynolds steps out of the open door, surprising us both. His face is kind, an amused light in his eyes as he takes in Joseph and I. I don't know why but I pull my hand out of Joseph's.
"I hope you're not planning anything," he teases, probably knowing full well what we are up to. My cheeks heating up to a bright red won't help the matter at all.
"We were just thinking of seeing the forest," Joseph says honestly. I look at him alarmed, expecting Reynolds to start telling us off for even thinking about that, but his mentor simply laughs. I can't help but think that if it were Adelina she would be shouting at us about rules and regulations.
"Maybe another time" Reynolds says kindly. "We've had a long day of travel today and you have your speech tomorrow" he adds. Joseph nods, looking disappointed, but accepting as well. I look down, anger kindling in me. Why do we always have to follow rules? Why can't we just have one day off?
"Curfew is in half an hour," Reynolds adds, turning back to the main room. He winks at Joseph, making the two of us blush, and then heads back inside. I look into the room behind me, the common room where we're allowed to chill in and hang out with the other tributes before we go to our own rooms for bed. I can only see a few mentors there; I don't think many of us want to socialise anymore. Especially not with me, not after my speech in Navaria.
"Maybe another time then" Joseph leans his elbows on the railing, looking out at his old home. I nod, leaning on the balcony next to him. "I might head in now, you coming?"
"Soon" I repeat softly. I don't want to though, not when I can imagine all of the accusing looks sent my way. I thought I wouldn't be alone in reading the cards out, but all the others seem to blame me. I can feel Joseph looking at me now and then I feel a light touch on my cheek as he tucks some hair behind my ear.
"You know, I don't blame you for sticking to the cards in Navaria" he finally says softly. I feel tears burn behind my eyes, but I fight them back. I'm sick of crying, sick of never being able to sleep because of terrible nightmares that haunt my nights. I'm sick of feeling scared, of feeling as if I've done something wrong.
"Tell that to the others" my voice is bitterer than I expected it to be. "They think I'm siding with the mogs. They think I'm one of them now" I look down at my hands.
"No they don't" Joseph shakes his head, placing one of his hands on mine. "They're just…there's a lot going on. The 15th Anniversary Games are going to be announced soon and this Tour is just brining back memories of the Games. We all tried to hard to forget but being here and saying the speeches just brings everything back," Joseph sighs, his face looking haunted. "They're just stressed and taking it out on you"
"It's not fair" I sigh, leaning against him. My head rests on his shoulder and I can feel his arm move so that it's wrapped around my shoulders. "They shouldn't judge me for doing what they'll probably do themselves" I say bitterly.
"I know" Joseph soothes. "They're just…I don't know, we're all just tired. They'll forget about it when it's their turn to do their speeches" he shakes his head, the ends of his curls brushing my hair.
"What are you going to do tomorrow?" I ask him curiously, deciding to change the subject. I don't want him to be angry with me. "Follow the speech or say what you want to say?" I look up at him. He meets my eyes and I can see just how vulnerable and scared he is. How nervous he is of messing up.
"I don't know Marina" he leans down and presses his cheek against the top of my head, releasing a sigh, as if he was in pain and it's gone. "I just don't know"
Xxx
Maren
It's all going wrong. Horribly, disastrously wrong. I pace in the waiting room, my hands clenched in fists at my sides, a glare on my face. The other Victors keep their distance, probably wondering why I'm in such a bad mood. It's good that they stay away; if one even tries to talk to me there's no knowing whether I'll be able to keep my temper.
I could kill Stanley for his stupid speech. All I had to do was make sure that the others didn't say anything that could possibly start more rebellion in the districts and I've already failed. Part of it wasn't my fault: it was clear with the crowd in Navaria that they didn't need much persuasion, but still, I should have done something. That crowd was the exact thing that Setrakus was trying to avoid and I did nothing.
The thought of my sister's tear-stained face haunts me and I spin on my heels, turning to face the door, breathing heavily. I try to push the thought of Lilia out of mind, and instead focus on Setrakus Ra and his demands. I just need to keep calm, not panic and stop further things happening. That should be easy…right?
"You're heading on stage in ten minutes" the Mayor says, clearly bored and desperate to go. He adjusts his suit over his huge stomach and I feel a look of disgust washing over my face. I notice Stanley has the same look on his face and anger washes through me; yeah, it would be fun to punch him right now.
"And this time please let's try to stick to the cards" Henri adds, focusing on Joseph who will be talking today. He looks white, as if he's barely able to talk, but he nods all the same. I feel a bit sorry for him, but compared to me, he's got it easy. He just has to read a speech, not calm down the whole of Lorien. He doesn't have the fate of his family resting on his shoulders.
"Yeah, let's not try and be all revolutionary like 'wise guy' over there," Cody mutters, shooting a look of distaste at Stanley, who straightens up at once. Like me, he looks like he's ready for a fight.
"What did you say?" he growls. Cody smirks; looking smug at having wound Stanley up. Not that it's hard of course. Part of me supports Cody, since after all Stanley caused all of my problems. He was the one who pulled the stupid Loric symbol, which led to me getting roped in to the mogs' stupid task. And Stanley just stands there smirking, as if he has no care in the world. He probably doesn't; his family must be safe, unlike mine, whose lives hang in the balance.
"Break it off guys" John shakes his head, fidgeting in his suit. "Now isn't the time". A flash of guilt washes over me as I look at him. He's going through a rough time having to deal with his grandparents' deaths and I've done nothing but shout at him. Yet a selfish part of me thinks that at least he doesn't have to worry now. He doesn't have anything to be blackmailed with.
"You don't agree with what I said?" Stanley continues as if he didn't hear a thing that John said. "You think that the mogs are in the right, and they're the 'master race'?" his voice is mocking and bitter. "You think if you're going to suck up to them that they're going to reward you?"
Cody rolls his eyes. "Maybe I do think that" he grins. "Maybe it's already happened. Why don't you just wake up Stanley? No speech of yours is ever going to change anything and it's better to be on the winning side, than on the losing side," he laughs cruelly. "Besides, you don't exactly have a way with words. That speech of yours? It was shit" he grins.
Stanley lunges forwards with a yell and I react without thinking. Maybe it's because of my underlying anger with him that has caused me to be in such trouble. Maybe because I'm desperate for a fight after months of being cooped up. Or maybe it's because I'm seeing Stanley as Setrakus Ra and not Stanley at all.
I grab Stanley by the arm and use his momentum to spin him around, throwing him to the ground. He struggles to his feet but I put my foot on his chest and shove him back down to the floor. John moves to intervene but I shoot him a glare, pushing down on Stanley so he won't move. I can see the others moving forwards but then stop, as if something on my face seems to stop them in their tracks.
"Maybe you should both just grow up" my voice is so angry that I barely recognise it. "You're acting like little kids and I'm sick of it," I snarl. Stanley struggles again but I push him down with telekinesis, and he grunts in pain.
"Maren, stop it, calm down" John says, holding his hands out as if I'm some kind of rabid animal. I shoot him an angry glare, so worked up that I don't even realise how over the top I'm going. After days of fear for my family, I so need to punch something. And Stanley is the perfect punch bag.
"I need to calm down?" I shout. "This guy needs to calm down!" I push down harder on Stanley. "He needs to sort his shit out and stop ruining it for everyone else!" I can see some of the mentors hurrying forwards but no one seems to be keen on intervening. Despite knowing that I'm being stupid, and over the top, it's nice to be the tough one once again.
"What are you talking about?" John inches closer. "Look, let him go and then we can talk. You're hurting him"
I can see Joseph edging in on the other side, as if to tackle me. Idiots, I can take them down with my eyes closed if I want to. I snort in derision and press down further onto Stanley with telekinesis, just to prove a point. He writhes beneath the legacy, gasping for breath, and I feel the tiniest feeling of guilt. Nearby, Sarah has her hands pressed over her mouth in horror, her eyes watching with terror as John inches closer to me. As if I'm the threat.
"Maren, let him go" Marina says softly, stepping forwards too. "He hasn't done anything"
I fix them all with an infuriated glare. "If you only knew what the hell he had done then you wouldn't stand there and say that!" I yell at them. Cody stands nearby, a smirk on his face. "He's just ruined everything again and they're going to-" I'm interrupted from my words when Stanley moves from underneath me, knocking my leg away and kicking me backwards. He leaps to his feet, trying to move away from me.
I right myself at once, moving forwards to tackle him but then arms have locked around me, dragging me back and away from him. I struggle slightly but I know it's pointless; Joseph has stepped between Stanley and I, and the Mentors have finally stepped forwards to do something. Kat's face is filled with anger but there's concern there too. She looks at me as if she's never even seen me before.
"Enough!" Henri yells in anger, putting himself in the middle of the whole confrontation. "Enough!"
"Maren? Everything all right?" John asks gently, releasing me hesitantly. I push away from him, still angry, but I'm starting to be aware of just what a fool I made of myself. I cross my arms, feeling the anger subside and embarrassment starting to flood over me.
"I'm fine," I snap. Stanley is giving me a look that could probably kill and I can see the others are wary of me. I want to burst into tears all of a sudden, wishing that this tour just wouldn't go on and I could be at home, protecting my mother and sisters. I feel so weary; I've barely slept for fear and I can barely eat. I feel defeated before I've even started.
"Sure you're not fine, you're crazy!" Stanley shouts, clearly annoyed that I held him down in front of everyone. I snap again, my weariness turning into anger, and I lunge out for him, but John grabs me again, his hands tight on my arms. He pulls me back, and away from Stanley.
"Stop it," he warns the other Victor. "You're not the only one hurting" hearing his voice filled with understanding fills me with weariness once more and I sag a little, giving up my aggressive stance.
"Please, she's hardly suffering, I mean-" Stanley protests.
"Stop this!" Henri interrupts him with a shout. "You're about to go on! Save this childish argument for later" he fixes us all with a glare. I grit my teeth, desperate to wrestle out of John's grip and just get the hell out of here, but I know I can't.
"Let go of me," I tell John shortly. "I'm fine" He hesitates but then lets go, the look in his eyes indistinguishable. I can see the others standing by the mentors, looking nervous as they watch me. I feel sick; do they think I'm a monster now? Do they think I'm unstable or insane?
"What are you all looking at?" I snap at them and they look away. The mogs are starting to line everyone up in an order to head out onto stage, and I can tell that the others are more than happy to get away from me for now. Kat shoots me an odd look but moves away to help the mentors organise the others.
"What the hell was that Maren?" John looks at me in concern, and it's the look of fondness in his eyes that is ready to destroy me, not everyone else's anger. I suddenly feel as though I can tell John everything: Setrakus' visit, my impossible task, my family's fate… It would be so easy just to tell the truth for once.
"I…I" I stutter on the words I can never say. "I can't tell you," I finally whisper, tears building up in my eyes. John frowns, a steely look in his eyes.
"This isn't over" he says fiercely, and then the mogs move towards us, separating us as they prepare to put us on stage for today's show.
Xxx
John
Maren stands next to me, her face emotionless, as she stares silently ahead. Her hair and clothes are slightly rumpled, as are Stanley's, but no one would ever know what just happened inside by looking at their faces. Yet there's definitely tension underlying in the air, as Joseph steps forwards for his speech.
I can't get Maren's face out of my mind; that mad, despairing look that she had when she was holding Stanley down on the floor. It was almost as if destroying him would solve all her problems. I had never seen her look so out of control, or so terrified in the entire time that I've known her. It scared me.
Unlike Navaria, this square is a lot smaller and there are a lot less people in the crowd today. They're roped in so they can't move around much, and mog soldiers carrying guns control to reinforce that caged-in feeling. There are screens behind the crowds, showing the ceremony from how people will be viewing this back home. I can see cameras moving around, zooming in all of our faces. I imagine back in the Capital, Caesar Flickerman will be saying a voiceover about us all in some studio.
Joseph steps forwards towards the microphone, looking down at the cards in his hands a few times. He swallows nervously, but stands squarely in front of the speaker. I can see the crowd waiting, their faces calm and patient. They don't seem to have the same supressed anger that the people in Navaria did; they don't seem to be waiting for anything revolutionary. The mogs aren't taking anything for granted though, and I can see soldiers wandering around the crowd with their guns loaded and ready in their hands. But judging by the overall atmosphere there isn't going to be any issue today.
"We are honoured to be here today, to celebrate our success with all of you" Joseph begins neutrally, sticking to the cards. I don't blame him; I felt sick after watching the mogs shoot innocent people in Navaria and I don't want to see that again. I have enough nightmares of the mogs killing innocent Loric kids in the Games; I don't need to see more deaths in my dreams.
On my other side, Sarah shifts a little, her face still pale from the earlier fight. I want to reach out and take her hand to reassure her, but I know it won't help. Besides, I think she's scared of more than Maren's temper. She's scared of the mogs, the consequences of messing up on this tour and the threat of death. And me holding her hand won't send that fear away.
"The Mogadorians have given us the opportunity to visit and celebrate our Victory in the Games with the wonderful population all over Lorien, something that we are very grateful for" Joseph continues, his voice barely showing the tension he must be feeling. "However, this is more than the chance to celebrate, but a time to remember and regret past actions"
I frown a little; this wasn't in the earlier speeches, and I thought they would all be the same. I glance at the Mayor nearby, but his face is neutral. Yet something tells me that this change in speech has everything to do with the ceremony in Navaria. The mogs were understandably worried by the reaction and now they're going to try and stop it.
"The Funeral Games show both the Mogadorian and Loric populations the devastating effects of war between two nations. I am witness to this"
Joseph's voice is colder now but he continues to read the cards steadily. He glances to the side very slightly and I follow his gaze, noticing with a slightly feeling of dread Marina stood close to the edge of the stage, three mog soldiers near her. It looks perfectly normal to everyone else but something tells me that if Joseph were to stray away from the cards' content, Marina might not be standing for long.
"I saw the terrible consequences of two races that fought one another. I saw many deaths, the majority of which belonged to the Loric, my race. One of the deceased was my partner Nia, who was killed in Round 2" he looks down at the cards, swallowing, and then looks up again, his face dark. The crowd watch him neutrally, neither frustrated nor angry at his passivity. It's like they just don't care. Like they expected this.
"Yet the Games also show the mercy of the mogs, particularly when our Beloved Leader saved us from death and granted us all freedom to live and work in the Capital" Joseph continues. "Likewise, the Tour allows us Victors to share in the wealth and generosity of the Mogadorians" he continues. Stanley's face is like stone, but I can see the smallest smile on Cody's face.
And, weirdly enough, on Maren's too.
"The Tour has allowed us all to see the wonders of what can be achieved when both Loric and Mogadorian work together. With our Legacies, and their power for technology, we can work together to make Lorien a better and stronger planet" Joseph grits his teeth and folds the cards together, the tendons on his fists standing out.
"We should not allow ourselves to be carried off in the foolish hopes of two races with different systems and planets" Joseph clears his throat "We should realise the potential that combining the two together can achieve. The Mogadorians have realised this. I have realised this…now it is the time for the rest of Lorien to realise this"
Xxx
Adam
My fingers fumble in my jacket pockets as a light snow falls around my face, the fluffy bits of snow landing and melting in my dark hair. My fingers feel like they've frozen and I swear in annoyance as I desperately dig around my pockets, trying to find the damn keys to get into the house.
"You know, I'm surprised you have the normal key entrance for your houses" Hannah remarks, as she stands shivering nearby. I didn't know that this weather really affected her but maybe she's feeling the aftereffects from me. "I would have thought you guys would have fingerprint sensors or even the cool eye scanning things, or maybe some obscure technological thing that you guys come up with" she grins. I roll my eyes, sighing in relief when I find the keys.
"It's just a townhouse" I shrug. "There's no need for strong security here when there are mog soldiers patrolling the streets every ten minutes" I unlock the door, entering the warm house. "The country houses though…their security is a lot tighter" I lower my voice, knowing that with my family around I'll have to speak in my head to talk to Hannah. I don't know how I'd be able to explain to my father that I have a dead Loric tribute in my mind.
"Adam?" my mother's voice is nervous as I shrug out of my coat, hanging it on the hook. I frown a little, approaching the dining room where there's usually dinner laid out on the table for me. "Adam, dinner's ready"
I enter the room slowly, but nothing seems amiss. Dinner is ready as usual and my mother is the only one here; Ivan's not back yet, and my younger sister, Kelly, must still be working with the Pikens. She's still one of the youngest workers there so she'll have the rubbish night shifts to work. She won't be allowed to pick and choose her shifts for a few years, even if she is a General's daughter. Mogs don't tend to let family status govern work hours; it's all about individual ability.
"Smells good," I say, drawing a seat back and heaping food onto my plate.
My mother watches, her eyes narrowed with anxiety but she doesn't say anything. Maybe she's worried about the Victory Tour. After all, the Victors did put on a bit of a show in Navaria, but today's ceremony in India was incredibly laid back in comparison. I wonder who the mogs threatened to get the speaking Victor to cooperate.
"How's work been recently?" my mother asks. I shrug, shovelling the food into my mouth, hungry after a long's day work.
"It's all right" I mumble through the food. My mother frowns, interlocking her fingers together, her face tightened with stress. Hannah is watching her with narrowed eyes but I just don't care right now. I'm too hungry and tired to worry.
Truth is, work has been incredibly busy after the ceremony in Navaria. The Loric went crazy in that district: setting fire to the factories, the mogs' headquarters and murdering officials, both Loric and Mogadorian. It was so bad that we had to send the Scouts over, much to Hannah's anger. I haven't heard much since, which tells me that the Scouts did their job all too well. Of course, the ceremony in India today will have helped hugely.
"Look, the thing is Adam-" my mother begins but the front door slums shut with a loud bang. My mother flinches and dread begins to creep into my stomach: my father's home. My mother is usually delighted to see him, unless he's angry. And seeing as he's never angry with my mother, that can only mean one thing.
He's angry with me.
"Adam" my father stands in the doorway, his face calm on the outside, but I can sense the anger brewing underneath. I'm in huge trouble.
"Yes Father?" I stand, wishing that I could continue eating, but I know if I do that I'll be thrown out of the house faster than I can say 'help'. I swallow nervously, lowering my eyes respectively and praying that he'll let me live, even though I have no idea what I;ve done wrong. Nearby, Hannah has stood up, as if she can fight my father, but I know how hopeless that would be.
"You have applied to become a Gamemaker" he finally says, his voice filled with anger. I look up, and then lower my eyes again when I see the murderous rage in his eyes.
I was right, I say bitterly to Hannah. I said he was going to kill me for this!
I swallow and then nod slowly. "Yes Father" I can see his hands tighten as he rests them on the back of a chair, and I can only imagine his face working as he tries to control his temper. My mother rises, and I see her head over to my father, resting her hands on his arms.
"Please" she whispers softly to him. "Please, let's just hear him out. I know you're angry with him for whatever reason, but please, let's just listen"
So, she still doesn't know the truth about the Games then. My father must want to spare her the details, but I can tell from the look on his face as I raise my eyes, that he severely regrets that. If my mother knew the truth, then she wouldn't have any qualms about my sudden and mysterious disappearance.
"Fine" my father snaps, dragging a chair out and sitting down heavily. I stay standing, knowing that is what he would want. "Explain, Adam" his voice is still barely controlled, and turns cold when he says my name. Man, he hates me so much. I bet he would kill me now if not for my mother's presence.
"I let you down in the Games by showing weakness" I say hurriedly. This is all my mother knows and I know she thinks my father is being slightly unreasonable. "I thought that maybe the violence in the Games was too extreme" I lower my eyes. "I couldn't have been more wrong"
"What are you saying?" My father still doesn't trust me but I hear the faintest hint of doubt in his voice. I got my intelligence and ability to lie from him. My mother is holding his hand, looking trustingly at me, believing every word. Although it hurts to lie to her, I can't help but be glad that she's on my side for now.
"I saw the Loric uprising against the mogs in some districts. They were so violent, so angry" I shake my head, as a normal mog citizen would. "It made me angry, to see such waste and destruction happening, after all we've done for them" I inject the right amount of resentment in my voice and I can tell from my parents' faces that I'm starting to win them over. Perhaps my father never truly wanted to believe that his oldest son could be such a traitor and seeing this new, reformed boy in front of him must be a dream come true; how can he not want to fall for it?
"We've done so much for them and then they pay us back in this way! And then I saw the advertisement for the Gamemaker position and I remembered just how much I had shamed you, Father, in my own Games" I lower my eyes, as if embarrassed. "I wanted to make it up to you, and do all I could to improve our family name more"
"You will never do as well as Ivan," my father says gravely, after a short silence. A flash of anger and irritation passes through me at the mention of my brother's name, but I lower my face and keep my voice neutral. They must never know my desire to kill my own brother.
"I know Father" I say softly. "He is a Lieutenant in the Scouts, and is an honour to the whole of the Mogadorian race," I say, pretending to be respectful. "But I was hoping that if I were even to be considered a contender for the Gamemaker position, then that might restore the honour I degraded"
There's a long silence and I look up to watch my father regarding me narrowly. My mother is beaming, apparently taken in by my speech, but I can tell my father is trying to look at this from every angle, to see if I am really telling the truth. Hannah sits in the corner, a grin on her face and silently applauding.
He suspects you of lying but he'll never think you're capable of taking the role on to help Loric. He distrusts you, but not that much, she laughs. He's going to fall for it; you just wait and see.
You're too optimistic sometimes. I reply shortly, but I watch my father hopefully all the same. His eyes are still narrowed but I can tell the suspicion is starting to clear from his mind.
"Fine" he stands abruptly. "I highly doubt that they will consider you for the role," he snorts. "After all, you have barely any experience and are very young…and weak" he says derisively. "But I am glad that you are doing this for your family. I am pleased to see that your faith in our nation has been restored" he smiles tightly. My mother beams happily, her rigid posture relaxing, and she links her arm with my father.
"Thank you" she says earnestly. "I knew he had simply lost his way," she says excitedly. "And you were right, a term in Surveillance has made him realise just how atrocious and disgusting those Loric scum are" she shivers.
Bitch, please, at least we don't kill children for fun! Hannah snarls angrily. I want to shoot her a look to make her shut up; as much as I agree with her, I don't like the way she badmouths my mother. If not for her, I would have been killed by my father and Ivan at least ten times by now.
"They are appalling Mother" I agree, plastering a similarly horrified look on my face. "Some of their actions recently…" I trial off, pretending to be horrified. I think I might have laid it on a bit thickly just then because my father narrows his eyes again, but my mother rambles on, and I see the suspicion fade.
"I just hope they never decide to fight against us. Who knows what would happen?" she shudders. My father's face turns gentle, for him, and he rubs my mother's back comfortingly. It's weird to see someone so cold and cruel be kind to someone.
"They won't" he replies. "We have the best security in place here" his eyes fall on me and I can see the icy coldness in them. "And if the Loric do ever decide to attack, then we will crush them"
Hope you enjoyed!
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