This was written as sort of an audition piece for Rodion when I submitted his character for Death Numbs the Pain: The 124th Hunger Games.
This piece goes into the first time that Rodion's secret identity was discovered.
"What the HELL do you think you're doing mate?"
Of course he knows what he's doing. He's got a sixteen year old girl by the scruff of her shirt, far too closely to his face. She has a small piece of crumbling bread held tightly between her fingers. Tears are welling in the corners of her eyes but you can see she's trying hard not to let them fall. My guess is she stole that bread. In our poor little district it's not uncommon, yet this uptight peacekeeper has decided to heavily lay down the law on her. Just for the sake of a little bit of bread. It's sad really, but that's what I'm here for.
The man in white scowls, with his head turned to me. You can't see his eyes behind the helmet but he seems to be scanning me up and down.
"Great. You're not that bloody guardian are you?" he grumbles. He knows the answer which is why he keeps fist clenched on the fabric. Normally I'd be like that girl he's holding but the Guardian can't afford fear. So, I just smile and pretend to laugh carelessly.
"Bingo mate. And I guess you can see my little sharp friends too" I slowly pull out a knife from behind my back, only so much that he can see the handle "so how about you let her go and we can have a nice long chat?"
"Screw you"
"I figured you'd say that" I softly state, and in a flash the knife in my hand is whipped out a tears through the air until it lodges itself within peacekeepers hand. He lets out a pained scream, instantly releasing the young girl who stumbles past me, uttering a quick 'thank you'. I can't focus on her because I know what will happen next. My eyes stay of the white clad. He groans and stumbles forward. His right hand grips the handle of the knife in the other and sharply dislodges it, letting it clatter on the floor. His looks back to me, flushed with red, burning with anger. What does the guardian do now?
He runs. I run to my left towards the grassy fields and as planned he follows behind. He's pretty fast for a guy suffering from blood loss. No matter, if I can just lead him on a wild goose chase away from the citizens, then knock him out then nobody else has to get hurt. I can get away scot free and the Guardian once again remains a legend.
My footsteps become lighter as they finally tread upon the grassy floor. This should be far enough. I stop one foot and twist my whole body in one turn around it. As a stroke of luck the peacekeeper is right behind me, so the other twisting foot spins round and connects with the side of his face. He falls back instantly and writhes on the ground. He's not quite unconscious yet, but I can't just leave him to faint from a lack of blood either. Too risky. Maybe if I kick him in the head again, that should work. Yes, of course! I pull back my leg as far as I can and again I strike it forwards.
But it doesn't connect. Instead it's halted. Something is holding it. With no surprise it's the peacekeeper. He sharply tugs at my ankle which causes me to fall back painfully. In an instant he turns the tables and pins my neck with his arm. The other hand reaches out the tear at my mask. I'm even screaming by this point. He can't know, HE CAN'T!
But now he does. As we share glances he shows nothing. No surprise. Nothing.
He just lets go, and leaves me to wonder why.
And to fear.