Blaze Elwood

"So you have the package?"

"Right here" I take off my boot and pull out the small brown package. I give it to Demir and put my shoe back on.

"What is even in that package? Almost got me killed" I question.

"That's not your business. And it's not like most missions don't always get you killed." Demir scoffs.

"Sneaking onto a capital train for this one small package does make me a bit curious." I cross my arms.

"That's nice. Now I'm leaving first." Demir walks out of the alleyway and merges with the rest of the crowd. I know to wait a few minutes before leaving. After being involved with the crime groups you either learn quickly or die.

Once I leave I allow myself to be pushed in the direction of District elevens centre by the crowd. When I get to the check in instead of checking in I wait patiently near the end of the line, leaning against a light post. Some kids that come along give me looks like if they are questioning if I'm in the line or not. I just ignore then and instead scope out the town square.

District Eleven is...well, not a very nice place to live. On any other normal day of the year we would be seeing people worked hard and sometimes to the point of death by peacekeepers, kids being whipped publicly for laughing too much and the lawbreakers unfortunate enough to get caught lined up to be hung. And even though the themes of death, slavery and inhumanity seem to be so popular amongst the capital, on reaping days the peacekeepers are forced to act much nicer and the gallows are hidden under an advertisement for the Hunger Games for the day.

"Hey, Blaze" I spot the one person who I really trust, the only one from before I came a criminal who has stuck by me, my friend Mable.

"Hey" I hug Mable and we step into the line together.

"So what have you been up to?" she asks as we move up.

"The usual." I give her a pointed look. She bites her lip, something she does when she is nervous or worried.

"Are you sure you couldn't-"

"Hand" without realising it we have reached the front of the line. Mable gives her sample of blood and is checked in. I do the same and we walk to the fifteen year old females section continuing our conversation.

"Mable, we have been through this many times before. There is no way for me to get out of the crime groups, and you know if I just stopped turning up they would track me down and beat me to death. You could save me from abusive parents but professional criminals? Not a chance."

Mable looks like she is about eat her lip she is biting it so hard. My parents have always been a touchy subject. She was the one who informed the peacekeepers of the abuse so that they took me to the community home. It's not like I stayed there for long anyway, since I ran away to join the crime groups.

"Citizens of district eleven, what a privilege it is to be here today, representing the capital-" once the escort starts her speech the people of the district instantly start paying attention. We all know that if we act out now there will be much to pay when the cameras aren't rolling.

Once the usual speech is over I follow her every movement as she sifts around in the reaping bowl and pulls out a piece of paper.

"The female tribute for this year's games is...Blaze Elwood!"

Like the rest of the girls around me I look to see who this is out of habit. Mable gasps though and grabs my shoulders with a panicked look in her eyes.

"Blaze, that's you" I'm pretty sure my eyes widen to the size of plates. The escorts voice echoes through my head and I realise it is in fact me. I stand there with Mable for a few more seconds, my mind only registering shock before I realise I should probably get up to the stage. I try to hold my head up high as I step out from the crowd and get up to the stage. They all look at me with sympathy in their eyes, only stopping when the male tribute is chosen and it is his turn.

Mable is the only one I expect to come see me. So when she leaves the room after saying goodbye I collapse back down on the couch. But when the door opens I quickly sit up out of habit. A man who I can't ever remember speaking to before steps into the room.

"Hello, Blaze." He comes and sits down on the couch opposite me. There is an awkward silence.

"Who are you?" I decide to cut to the chase. The man sighs deeply as if he is having trouble finding what to say.

"Blaze, before I tell you who I am I have to say that I am sorry for what I did. I shouldn't have done that...I can't even remember now why I would-"

"What does this have to do with anything..." I say suspiciously.

"Because...Well, my name is Flin Elwood. I am your father." I freeze. If I though the reaping was shocking then I was wrong. I can't say anything at all.

"Look, I know you probably won't forgive me but I did want to say sorry."

I don't reply, I don't know what to say.

"I'll go now." He gets up to leave and I finally find my voice.

"Where is...mum" that word feels foreign on my tongue.

"This is her." He pulls out a photograph and I am shocked at how similar we look. The large golden brown eyes with a darker ring around the outside, the messy, wavy chestnut coloured hair that goes to the shoulders. It's like I'm staring at an older version of myself.

"She died. In a house fire a year ago. Goodluck." Flin leaves the room. I think back to the night a year ago when I left the community home to join the criminal group.

I search through my one bag of belongings. I don't have much, the 'carers' at the community home take most of your stuff when you arrive and sell it for alcohol money. The street is very dark so I have to search by feel. Eventually I find what I am looking for and grasp it in my hands as I walk up to the house. This is on the opposite side of the district as the criminal house but this is a stop I have to make.

I take a single match out of the match box I stole before leaving and light it quickly. I can see that the window has been left open. I peek through and I know this is definitely familiar. I chuck the match in, and light almost half the matches in the box, chucking them in different directions inside the house. I want to make sure this job is finished.

And as I walk away from what I suspect is the home of my parents, the smell of smoke and the feel of the heat on my back brings great satisfaction to me.

Blaze Elwood is by Graceaga

I wont say much as there is another chapter after, but please tell me your thoughts on Blaze :)

~~Sexichick