Chapter 8: Rye Everdeen Mellark

The audience is quiet, though not one person in the district is missing from the service. There are no chairs to sit on, we all stand just like a reaping, staring at a stage. Just how Dad described it. The only difference is a priest, standing by the navy coffin, holding Brook's body. Her son, a tall guy, maybe 3 years older than me, stands firmly, like a soldier, next to his deceased mother. He must be sad, I mean of course he is, but he does not cry. He grieves on the only way he feels possible, and stays quiet. Shows no emotion. He keeps it bottled up inside, just like I do.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a friend, a mother, a daughter and a wife.
Brook Ashford was a beloved woman, and all who knew her felt joy and comfort when she was around."
We feel pain, and we share it throughout the district, and no doubt throughout anyone who knew her in Panem. We grieve together, and we mourn together. Such a sudden and undeserving death occurred with this saint of a woman, unjust and cruel."

Her son coughs, holding back the tears.

"We know not who did such a thing to this special woman, who was the kindest we have ever known, but we do know that this was not Brook's time. She was still so young. And for that, we are unforgiving.
Brook's son; Chris will now say some words, to finalise his goodbye."

The priest signals Chris to stand centre stage, right by the coffin. They did not leave it open, since the sight of the body was too much for him.

"Thank you all for coming today. I-I... Um." He wipes his hand across his face, sniffling a little. Standing closed to the microphone, he inhales and then exhales loudly.
"My mother didn't deserve this. And honestly, I don't know why it happened. My Mom would never hurt a fly. But I swear to you, I will avenge her. I'm not trying to sound all heroic, because I'm far from it. But I will find the person who did this to her, and I will show no mercy, I promise you.
You won't get away with this."

I feel sorry for him. I really do. Not just because he has lost his mother, but because he is trying to be brave when this is his time not to be. He should be allowed to show weakness, but instead he makes promises that I know for a fact he won't keep. He doesn't look like he could hurt a fly, either.

That's when I do it. I lift my hand, closing the three fingers to my lips. I kiss them lightly, and form a salute in the air that my Mom taught me.
I do not stand with Ara, or her Brother, I stand alone, amongst the sea of students from back home. They do not follow my salute, but I see Ara, who is still crying her eyes out, lift her arm into the same three-fingered salute. Almost instantly, the whole crowd follows my action, to show respect. To say goodbye.

That's when I see Sokka, Ara's brother, turn, giving me a stern look, like I am not welcome here. I understand though, because really, I do not belong here at all. I didn't know Brook. I may have met her for a short while, but we shared no connection.
So I turn away and start walking through the crowd, back to the shore, but I do not go to the dock where Ara's boat is, I find an empty one at the far end of the beach, walk down to the end of it. I sit down on the edge, the height not as big of an issue as the cliff, and hang my legs over it.

That's when I hear the creak of a board behind me, and I spin around to see Sokka, his face red with anger.
"You have ruined everything." He growls.
Okay, now I'm really confused.
"Pardon?" I squeak, realising I sound more afraid than I should.
"You heard me. If you'd have stayed out of 4, they wouldn't have done this to Brook. Jesus! I can't do what they want me to do, I can't!"

"What the hell are you talking about, Sokka?"
"They told me to kidnap you. They know you're a Mellark. But I couldn't do it! Shit!" He cries, kicking a misguided stone into the water. I watch it sink.
"Who's they?" I say, I really don't have time for his shit.
"They!" He shouts. "The ones that have your sister!? They wanted me to give you to them too! And because I didn't, they killed Brook!"

That's when angry boils up inside of me, and I grab hold of Sokka's neck.
"Who the hell are they, and why haven't they let my sister go?" I say bitterly.

"The revolutionaries. The old peace keepers? They want the hunger games back."