District Nine Visitors
Author's Note: Going to fall asleep, soon…
Emmaline Riddick
I try to prepare myself to see my father. I can't let a single tear drop, or he'll drop to the ground. I grit my teeth and curl into a small ball.
Oops. I didn't hear him coming in. My father brushes my hair back. He takes each strand and puts it in its place. I relax and close my eyes. This gesture is so simple, yet it makes my day.
My father's shaking, and I know he's crying. I open my eyes and take his hand from my hair. I place it in my own, and I kiss his forehead. This is the way we stay, until a Peacekeeper demands he get out.
"Emmaline…" my father cries. I give him a hug and a kiss. I watch him until the Peacekeepers slam the door in my face. I curl up on the loveseat and replay the scene that just happened over and over in my mind. I'll never forget him. I'll never let go of this memory.
It's only when I have replayed this scene fourteen times that I allow myself to break down. My body shakes, and I sob. I shiver hard, and I scream into a pillow. I'm having a mental breakdown, and I can't let anyone see me like this.
That's when the door opens. It's a small girl, one whom I've never seen before. She looks about seven.
"You don't know me," the girl breathes. "But I've seen you around the school. You're older than I am, but I've watched you. You're so strong… When you got reaped, my heart just stopped. I wish you weren't… I wish…"
"Hey, listen," I whisper, getting off the seat to hold her tiny, cold hands in my own. "Don't worry about me."
"But you're my idol."
"No. You don't want me as your idol. You should be your own idol. You're the best one to be."
The girl frowns, and I smile at her. After a while, she smiles at me and says, "I'll never forget you."
"I'll never forget you, either."
Colt Evans
Teila bursts into the room, tears cutting through her makeup. She takes my face in her warm hands.
"I told you so," I whisper. "I have bad luck."
"You stupid boy," Teila sobs. "I can't believe you're… I can't believe…"
"Colt?" my younger brother, Nash, enters the room. His eyes widen in wonder as he looks around the plush room.
"Hey, Nash," I say, my voice gentle. I pat the seat beside me, and Nash rushes toward it. He bounces up and down, his face lighting up.
"Colt," Teila sighs. "You've got to come back."
"You have to," Nash echoes.
"Colt," Ben, my best friend, calls. He sighs and stares at the ground. Leif, my other best friend, follows closely behind.
"I can't believe you're leavin'," Nash stated.
"I know, buddy," I say, putting an arm around him. Nash is ten, but he sometimes acts a lot younger or a lot older. Right now, his face is even paler than usual, and his eyes are wide. He looks about five as he stares straight at an ornate vase. The vase is porcelain, with gold streaks.
"Are you coming back?" he asks.
"I'll try, buddy."
"Do ya promise?"
"Pinky promise."
"Stay safe," Ben mutters, not meeting my eyes. I can just barely see a single tear trailing down his cheek.
"I will," I say solemnly.
Teila looks straight into my eyes and says, "Don't let me lose my little brother, 'kay?"
"I'll try my best."