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Luna Night – District 9 Victor
The banging on my door wakes me – surprisingly. In the past few months it's taken extreme actions to get me to even stir. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though, I hardly slept at all. Voices bounce back and forth behind the closed door and I slowly place my weak morning legs on the floor.
By the time I reach the door the pounding has resumed and is now giving me a headache. I brace myself before I turn the doorknob and take a deep breath. For months I've been dreading this moment, hoping that the capitol would simply forget me and ignore the terrible tradition of the Victory Tour.
Here we go.
I'm surrounded quickly by the three flighty creatures and I'm instantly reminded of the small energetic birds that come in the spring. Their short words and racing tempo only increase my heart rate and I start to panic even more. I don't know wither I should laugh hysterically or scream.
"You're a wreck!" Screams one of the petite prep team members. I never bothered to ask their names and they don't seem to mind my only vague recognition of them.
They pull at my arms and I cringe involuntarily remembering the weeks my arms were tender, at least the finger marks are gone. We move to the bathroom without a single hesitation in their conversation. As they bicker in their high quick voices they pull my loose fitting pajamas off and leave me naked while they fill the tub.
They talk back and forth while the water rises, comfortably ignoring my nakedness. I cover what I can with my hands and avoid all contact with the large mirror across from me. I look down at my feet and wiggle my toes trying to distract myself. Just as I forget I'm standing naked in front of strangers I'm thrown under the water.
3 hours later I'm pressed up against a peacekeeper. With one arm he holds me against his chest and his other hand is extending in front of him pushing away the crowd of people. Aric is allowed to walk freely but of course they Floura insisted I be "escorted" to safety.
Cameras flash around me blurring my vision with pale clouds and red dots. Just like our homecoming, the people of district 9 have all crowded in front of the homely train station cheering their goodbyes.
Aric and I wave a little just like Floura told us and soon we reach one of the barriers in front of the train. The peacekeeper releases me and Aric gives me a light side hug – like Floura said we should if we want to appear as close friends – and we turn away from the crowd. A small gate opens and Aric and I step through after giving a final wave.
When the crowds disperse Aric looks over his shoulders then back at me, then back over his shoulders again. I start to get impatient just as he quickly leans down and presses his lips to my temple, then just as quickly straightens up and looks ahead like nothing happened.
I smile and dart my head to the right and left to check for straggling paparazzi. The silver door glides open in front of us and we step into the train like it's the first time all over again. The train is the same model as the one that brought us to and from the capitol so I find my room quickly and get ready for the districts.
District 11 – Home of the Rayez and McCormac family
The first day of our tour passes quickly. There wasn't much in district 12 except for a thick layer of coal dust and sad, gaunt faces. I didn't know the tributes from 12 – I don't even remember their names – so all Aric and I did was sit awkwardly on stage.
During the small activities throughout the day Zia would pop up and comment about district 11. Eplis and Marzipan have been strangely absent the past few days but I'm sure they'll show up for their districts… at least I hope so…
Our train slows slightly and I look up from my Capitol fashion magazine to look outside. Unlike the bright colored "fashion" in the magazine, outside is bleak. For miles I can see nothing but the mud and snow covered fields of the district. Small clusters of houses dot the endless stretches of snow giving the district it's only color. With the smooth gray sky, it's almost a complete white out.
The train glides to a stop at the station and I can already hear the crowd. Right, I'm supposed to be liked by this district. Floura told me that because of my connection with Zia 11 was one of my largest supporters.
As if on cue, Zia walks out of my bathroom brushing her teeth lazily with her finger.
"Hey girly! You excited to meet the folks?" She jokes but I can see the sadness – and even panic – behind it all.
I stand up from my chair by the window and walk over to my bag lying across my unmade bed. I put the loose pieces of paper, schedules, and supplied magazines – Floura said I needed to be up to date on fashion - in my canvas bag. "Sounds like oodles of fun," I grumble and not even Zia laughs.
"Yea," she sighs and sits on my jumbled sheets. "I'm not too excited either-" A knock on the door interrupts her and I straighten up, knowing who it is already.
"Come in," I call and hurry to fix my bed.
"So you're ditching me for the boy again?" Zia whispers quickly and I walk past her toward my couch to get my wool coat.
"Please Zia, I couldn't ditch you if I wanted." I give her an eye roll and she smiles anyway, even though my joke is bordering on mean. I turn back to the still unopened door and sigh impatiently. "I said come-" The door opens quickly and slaps against the wall inside my room with a bang. I involuntarily jump back a few feet and even Zia flinches.
"Whoa, sorry. I'm just a little jumpy right now…" Aric looks at me with unintentional pleading eyes and I hear Zia laugh behind me. I giggle without meaning to and Aric blushes and looks down the hall. "Uhh… Floura is waiting for us, I was supposed to come get you…"
I walk up to him and slip my hand into his, trying to make him less anxious, and we walk down the hall. I can feel Zia following right on our heels and her excitement/panic gives me a head ache. Aric keeps glancing at me nonchalantly and I know he's wondering how I'm going to handle the next day. What he doesn't know is that Zia is very much alive… kind of.
Who am I kidding? I'm terrified to out there and see Zia's family. I'm even bad at lying to myself.
As we get farther down the hall I see the winter sun light up the wall across from the train door and my heart stops. The door is already open, the door is already open. I don't know why that makes me panic so much but I drop Aric's hand and stop walking.
"Luna… what's wrong?" Aric asks but I can hear his voice wavering. He's just as nervous about this.
"Nothing." I close my eyes and take a slow, deep breath. "Come on, let's go."
I take long steps and end up beating Aric to the door. The cold air hits my exposed face as I walk into the open but I simply pull my coat closer to my body and walk through the crowd without pausing. People part a path for me and don't seem offended as they smile and wave. I can feel my eyes staring down every person that happens to make eye contact with me but I don't stop.
Somebody grabs my arm and I turn around to see Floura, red faced. "Luna! Where are your manors?" Floura lowers her voice so the gathering crowd can't hear. "These people are here to see you, wave back. Smile too, if you can." She releases me and rushes a head to speak to the mayor at the door to the justice building.
Aric reaches me and leads me by my elbow towards the building. Inside the walls look like they're crumbling so I make sure not to touch anything. I fold my arms across my chest and take the "look but not touch" approach. Aric follows close behind me but remains silent as we're escorted through the winding halls and large banquet rooms that will probably never be filled.
The halls get brighter and the crowd gets louder and I know we're getting closer to the front of the building. Right beside the two double doors leading out to the veranda Floura is looking over some papers. When she sees us approach she smiles brightly as if she already forgot my "rudeness".
"Oh perfect, you're on time. I took the liberty of asking the mayor what family members were present to honor the other tributes today."
Honor, yea right. More like mourn.
"For the late Miss Rayez we have her mother Destiny, it seems her father is no longer in the picture. Also, her best friend and cousin Marcella, or Marcy." I hear Zia gasp behind me and suddenly she's very there. "Do you…" Floura pauses and looks between Aric and I. "Do you want to know who is here for Blaze McCormac?"
"No." I answer without pausing, I want to hate Blaze's family too and knowing their names will make that harder.
"Uh…yes. Very well then. Out we go!" On cue the anthem plays and a small group of peacekeepers escorts us outside. Our chairs sit just outside the shaded area of the veranda; I guess the lighting is better out there.
Aric and I wave and sit down silently. The mayor begins his speech about the "lovely lives" Zia and Blaze had. I look straight across from me and see two woman standing in the roped off area. One is obviously middle aged with faint wrinkles and graying hair but the girl next to her must be only 16.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Zia walk past me. My head turns slightly to see her and I hope nobody notices. Zia silently jumps off the stage and she's almost completely gone from my view. Soon though, her brown hair pops up and I "focus" on the mayor.
Zia walks up to the 16 year old girl and holds her arms out hesitantly. Marcy cries and sniffles quietly and doesn't seem to notice her cousin right next to her. She's shorter than Zia by a few inches and her hair is tied back in a loose black bun against her tan skin, but they look the same. Same small nose, and large eyes, even though hers are brown not green.
I see the mayor turn towards us and somebody presents us with a bouquet of flowers. I know this is my cue to say what I want but my mouth feels dry. Zia's hand shakily touches Marcy's arm but the girl doesn't even twitch. With a broken spirit Zia's eyes fill with tears.
I slowly stand up and move toward the tall podium. The mayor gives me a small head nod and moves out of the way. I haven't practiced any kind of speech; I guess I'll just have to improvise.
"I- uh." Wow I'm really good at this. Zia's head snaps up to me and I know I have to do this for her. "Zia was my best friend. I never really had a friend before her; I'd never even met somebody like her before." My voice shakes and I lock eyes with Marcy as she twists her long sleeves into wet knots. "Nobody really got to see us talking and laughing at training, I think we were closer than people thought." I smile and Marcy kind of returns it.
"She made me feel like maybe I was still a human being." Ouch, that's going to be cut. "She really did change me and I'll always love and miss her. Thanks." I back away from the podium and hear Zia's mom sob loudly. Aric stands up as I get closer and takes my hand to lead me inside.
Zia isn't behind me when we get inside but I know she'll be back soon. Floura rushes off ahead of us to prepare our short lunch in the justice building. When we finish our rough, dry food we're ushered back through the crowd to the sparkling train. Only when I'm back in my room do I realize I've crushed my flowers in my hands.
"May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home"
So this chapter took me forever because of Grease. Sorry. BUT I was also waiting for tributes for the next story yay!
So go check it out because Marcella Rayez is a tribute.