Chapter 12: Rye Everdeen Mellark
I hold her for what seems like hours.
She stopped crying, but only because she's exhausted, and all I hear is whimpers every 5 minutes as she nuzzles her head into my tear stained shirt, which is also stained with blood, just like the rest of our clothes.
I feel sick just thinking about it, if I'm honest.
I told Ara to stop holding Sokka's hand. All heat has left his body, just as the blood that surrounds us runs cold. It suddenly feels like there is no warmth left in district 4, and a winter has been cast across it's land. I think it's time to go home.
"Ara." I say quietly, bringing her head away from my shoulder and holding her there so I can look directly into her eyes.
I know it's not really appropriate right now, but even when her face is all blotchy and her eyes are all puffy from crying, she is still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
I think I have an eye for beauty, just like Dad says he does. He loves my Mom more than anything in this whole entire world, and I always see the way he looks at her.
Just like I am looking at Ara now.
Ara finally looks up at me, a tear splashing on her cheek.
"I think we need to go." I say, stroking her blood matted hair down and kissing her forehead.
"No," she sniffs out, "no, we can't just leave him."
I give her a faint smile, because I know what she's about to say next.
"We're going to bury him at sea. Just like we did with Mom and Dad. Just like my family have been doing for generations."
I hold her closer, embracing her and her bravery.
"If that's what you want." I say.
"That's what I want." She croaks out.
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He lies there peacefully as Ara wraps him up in the sheets, saying her goodbyes as she does so.
When it's time to cover his face, she takes one more look at him, and kisses his cold forehead.
"Goodbye brother." She whispers.
"Ave Atque Vale." She finishes off, and tightens the knot.
We drive out deeper into the ocean, into a secluded area where nothing can be seen from every which way that you look.
Placing his body at the edge of the boat, I help Ara slowly lower Sokka into the water, and we let go together, watching him sink further and further into darkness until nothing is left to to see.
I can tell she is all cried out, because all she does is hug me, not making a sound as the wind wisps through her dark hair.
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Once back at the dock, I help her anchor the boat down and tie it the the poles. Taking her hand, we step off and walk along the wood panelling, until we reach the beach.
She stops for a second, looking far out in the distance.
This girl has lost everything, everyone, yet she's still braver than me.
I take her hand and we walk up to the square where the place has gone quiet.
There is no one to be seen.
I grip Ara's hand tighter as I heard Sokka's words ring in my head.
"That's why I trust you, keep her safe."
And that I will.
We walk around and see nothing, nobody around to speak to, to tell them what's happened. Absolutely nothing.
Until I hear yelling, and I run towards the sound pulling Ara along with me.
"Stand back! I'll shoot! I swear, I'll shoot!" I hear a familiar voice shout. But then statue of President Paylor blocks their way, so I edge slows around it until I see Brook's son, Chris, yelling, tears of anger streaming down his cheeks, his face red with fury.
He points a gun at someone, but I can't go any further without being seen.
That is until Cliff comes into sight, placing his hands on Chris' shoulder.
"You don't need to do this." He says calmly, and suddenly I see his father in him, Finnick Odair, brave and smart.
"Just drop the gun, and we can get out of here, okay?"
"No!" He yells, "they killed my Mom! They killed her!"
Cliff takes a step in front of the gun, his stomach meeting the trigger.
"That doesn't mean you should sink to their level, does it? Do you want to be a killer like them?" He stares at Chris, his eyes firm and wise.
"I-I-I don't know what to do..." Chris talks slowly, still pointing the gun.
Cliff then takes and hand and lowers it to the ground, but Chris does not fight back.
That's when I hear the low, fearsome voice reply, and he steps closer toward Cliff and Chris.
"You're a coward." He spits out, "why haven't you shot yet?"
Then he laughs, a twisted sadistic cackle, that sends a chill down my spine. Ara's grip tightens on my hand, and my heart is racing.
The man clicks his fingers and two men come into view, beside him.
"Boy's, tie up Mr Odair, I'll take care of the kid."
The men do as he asks and Cliff starts yelling as the men cuff his hands behind his back.
That's when Ara screams.
The man turns his head and a wicked grin spreads across his face in our direction.
"Mr. Mellark! So nice to finally meet you in person, I saw your tape to Willow. Very moving, I must say."
I stare back at him in confusion. He saw the tape?
"It's a shame you came here instead of going to save your sister, I mean, how selfish of you!" He snarls.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" I yell, stalking up to him, only to be held back by Ara.
"Where's my sister? Where's Willow?"
He smiles and walks closer as I breath heavily in frustration.
"Who the hell are you?" I spit out at him. I already hate his guts.
"Oh, how rude of me!" He says sarcastically, holding out a hand to shake.
I don't take it.
"I'm Decimus. Decimus Cray? I'm an ex- peacekeeper."