Seafret - Oceans
20
It's been bad. Real bad. Many people have been punished by offenses we didn't even thought of as illegal any more.
Every day I go to a place I used to call home, but doesn't feel like it anymore. A home is where you feel safe, where you can go to relax. Lately my house has been anything but that. My father has been put under a lot of stress because of the new Peacekeepers and the up risings happening in all the other districts; just a few days ago I saw a glimpse of what they did to District 8.
Where my house is bad, outside is worse. People keep shooting me looks of… Can I call it jealousy? Envy? Wrath? They all seem to dislike simply because I am the Mayor's daughter, because I don't have to sign up for tesserae.
I look up from where I'm standing in the streets. The streets are near deserted, as they have been for days now. They are either wounded at home or too afraid to go outside... and I don't blame them. I put my hands in my pockets, and look at a kid running by, almost bumping in to me. ''I-I'm sorry-'' he looks up at me with big hollow eyes, before quickly running away.
I bite my lip and clench my hands, shaking my head before walking on in the opposite direction.
When I reach the square, I look at the peacekeepers standing all around. Looking for somebody to put one toe over the line.
I cross the square, my head held high when I come across the little boy I just saw running the opposite way. A Peacekeeper is holding him in a tight grip on his little arm, and I'm afraid he is going to break his arm. ''You were going to steal that bread, huh boy? Little dirty thief you are? Stealing is punishable by law, you little criminal.'' The boy was looking at him with moist, big eyes.
He looked so afraid. ''Please sir, it wasn't stealing it was just lying there in the trash-'' Smack. I gasp and put a hand over my mouth, trembling. ''It was on somebody else's property-'' he whistles to one of the other peacekeepers, and signals him over. ''Tie him to the post. It's his first offense- That is 10 whippings.'' ''No,'' I say as they drag him over to the post, and before I know it my feet are leading me to them. ''Please, he is just a boy.'' I run the last bit and position myself between the post and the little boy. It's the new Head Peacekeeper, Thread.
He looks at me with cold eyes. ''You're the mayor's daughter, why are you interfering with the law?'' I frown and my hand finds the boy's shoulder.
I hold it hard, as if I can hold on to him forever. I can feel his bones through his thin woolen sweater. ''This boy is starving. Can't you see? This whole district is starving. His parents are probably out of work, and the tesserae they get isn't what it used to be. He is trying to survive, because you put them out of work.''
He looks like he is about to strike me down, so I brace myself, holding on to the little boy's shoulder tightly. ''Sir, the fence is on. It's time to check on Everdeen's place and wait her out. Multiple Peacekeepers are already circling the perimeter.''
Thread looks at the Peacekeeper giving him the new, and nods. He then looks at the other one still waiting at the post. ''Do it five times.'' He then looks at me, and I detect no warmth in his eyes. ''One more time, and you'll be at the same place. See it as a favor to your father for the hospitality he has showed us.'' He then turns around and marches in the direction of the Victor's Village.
My heart is beating like crazy when they rip the boy from my grasp and undo his shirt, tying him to the post. You can count his ribs. Katniss. They are going to wait her out. My heart is pounding against my chest, as she starts the whipping.
1.. She can be put to death because of poaching. 2.. She could die from being electrified by the fence. 3.. Prim wouldn't survive that. 4.. I wouldn't survive that. 5.. I need to help her.
The Peacekeeper unties the boy, and he falls to the ground, tears streaming down his face and blood trickling down his back. I rush to him and fall on my knees.
He is sobbing, and his face is wrenched in pain. With trembling hands I take off my scarf and scoop snow in it, then tying it up and holding it against the wounds the lash made. He is trembling beneath my touch, and his shirt is torn on the ground. ''C-cold,'' he manages to say.
I take off my coat and wrap it around him. I reach in to my pockets and give him all the money I was carrying. ''Go home, try and keep snow on those wounds.'' He nods. ''Thank you,'' he says quietly before walking off.
I stand up and wipe the snow off my pants. It's significantly colder without my coat and scarf, but I have others. I turn around and run to Katniss's usual spot where she comes back. I listen and here the air sizzling with electricity. Not much later I hear rustling, and a soft gasp.
I look up and see a soft outline of somebody I only know too well. She looks at the fence, and then she notices me. She softly shakes her head when she sees me. ''Let me help you,'' I whisper softly. I see her open her mouth and then close it, shaking her head again. I bite my lip and clench my fists, and I'm starting to feel annoyed. ''Damn it Katniss… At least let me help you, I already don't get to see you anymore.'' She just looks at me, sitting there, and she looks away. I take a deep breath and look around me. Looking for something for her to climb on, a ladder, anything.. ''Please don't, Madge.'' I look up, and she is looking down on me with a sad expression. I nod slowly. ''Of course..'' I turn around, my hands in my pockets.
I want to look back over my shoulder. I want to build her a ladder and get her out of there safely, back to the ground. Tell her to leave her game behind. I want to hold her. Every time I see her crossing the street, see her out of my window, all I can think about is holding her close and not letting go. And it kills me. You're selfish. My nails pierce in to my palm, and my eyes water. You are selfish for wanting her. For still loving her when you said you would stop. Why can't you stop? When I reach my house and run to my room, I realize why it doesn't feel like home anymore. It hasn't been home for a long time anymore. Home is safety, and love, and security. Home is feeling happy. Home was Katniss Everdeen, and still is.