Aurelia Ozment
Former President of Panem
Balbina: Where are you? (21:34)
Balbina: Have you found a place to stay yet? (21:42)
Balbina: Aurelia? Please respond. I'm worried about you. (22:31)
Every time I try to type a response up, the words escape me. I have a million and one thought running through my mind that I want to tell her, but I can't find the best one to start with. So I stare out the window of the SUV, at the blank dark night, as if it'll help me think of what to say.
The streetlights replace the stars, though they're nowhere near as pretty. Isn't that a shame?
Balbina: Aurelia? (22:39)
** Aurelia is typing **
"Only a five minute drive now, Agatha." Aemil mutters from the front. I can see the worry lines and creases in his dyed skin. His road rage is overtaking him, as he curses at anything that's mildly inconvenient. Hardly a pleasant drive.
"Not long left then." I nod, showing a frank smile.
Aurelia: Am safe for now. (22:40)
Balbina: Good! Are you in a safe spot, or are you on the move? (22:40)
Her response is near instant, which throws me off slightly. She really does care for me...but I won't be able to see her for a couple of months. Balbina is probably on watch, as her house is in the area of where I was sighted. Heading back there would be a death warrant for the both of us.
Aurelia: Am in friend's car. Going to Drusilla's. She's been trying to find me for a long time. Got in touch with her earlier. (22:41)
Balbina: Drusilla? I haven't spoken to her in years! (22:41)
Aurelia: Me neither. (22:41)
She doesn't respond straight away. Drusilla was one of my closest friends when I was in power, but I dropped her recently, when I found out they had employed more people to hunt for me. She's been trying to reach out to me for around a year now, but I haven't responded. It sounds shitty, but it's for her own sake. If she values her life, she'll ignore me too.
My hands are shaking now, which makes typing a lot harder. Aemil hasn't noticed the tears yet, though I don't fault him. He's probably got a lot going on in his mind. And he's also done more than enough for me. I really lucked out when I ran into him… Aemil could have shut me out of his house, or reported me to the officials, or refused to drive me back into the city...his rough exterior really does paint a false picture of him, as it covers up his heart of gold.
"I used to spend a lot of time in Magnolia Park, when I was a kid." Aemil said, tapping his hands on the wheel. We stopped due to the heavy congestion.
"Really? Did you live in the Magnolia area then?" I ask, somewhat curious.
He shakes his head. "No, I was just out on the streets a lot. But it'll be nice to go there again." Ah, I guess he didn't grow up in such an affluent area of the city then, seeing as this is one of the wealthiest parts. I'm not sure what to say, until my phone vibrating saves me from the awkward small talk.
Balbina: Are you certain she's trustworthy? (22:42)
Aurelia: Yes. (22:43)
Drusilla was my surgeon when I was President and one of my closest colleagues. Her work is unparalleled. She's the best in the city, so I always used to go to her whenever I needed a new identity, which also happens to be now. I'm not sure what I'll go for this time, as I don't have a lot of options left.
I can see the grand golden gate to the park in the distance, shimmering brightly. It's beautiful, yet blinding to look at. I've always went for a look that made me blend in, but perhaps I could go for something that makes me stand out this time….just like that gate.
Aemil suddenly stops, causing me to jerk forward slightly. I almost drop my holographer, but I catch it at the last second. Then I realise that this is the last time I'll ever speak to him, so I suddenly blurt out: "Aemil, thank you for everything you've done."
"Eh, just doing my duty." He jokes. I giggle, wiping the few tears that are still coming out.
"When I go...I don't think I'll ever see you again. So I guess this is our final goodbye."
"Just like something out of a fairytale." Aemil smiles.
I pull him into a tight hug, though he doesn't really try to hug back. I see him look away awkwardly. "Goodbye Agatha. It was great meeting you." His deep voice resounds in his chest, making me feel strange. I just want to cry even more.
"You too." I smile, before stepping out of the car. He pulls back and just like that...he's gone. It's so bittersweet…but that's my life. I can't stay with anybody forever. It's not possible for me to settle down with my loved ones. I always have to abandon them...
As I tread through the pile of dead leaves, taking in the fresh night air, I can't help but cry even more. All I want to do is scream all my anguish and suffering and pain out, and clear those bad thoughts and feelings out of my mind. I just wantp to feel relaxed and safe, even if it's only for a day. I can't handle constantly being on edge like this, never knowing if I'm going to be betrayed and tortured and killed at any moment, or if I'll be responsible for the killing of my loved ones. I can't take it anymore.
My phone vibrates once more. I take a sudden stop at the lake, staring at the moonlight and my disgusting looking face in the reflection. My hands can hardly stay still as I type.
Balbina: Please stay safe x. (22:46)
Aurelia: I will, don't worry. (22:46)
Balbina: Text me back soon? (22:46)
Aurelia: As soon as I can. (22:47)
Drusilla's face when she peeks at me from behind the door is of pure happiness and bliss, yet all I can give back is an awkward smile. She lets out a squeal of excitement, pulls me in and hugs me. I try to put the effort in with smiling back and listening to her babble on, but it's so hard too when I just don't have the hope or happiness anymore. It just shows how much of a terrible person I am.
"Ooh, ooh, sit down in the living room. I made us coffee." Drusilla said, pointing to the kitchen. "You need to tell me all the gossip and news you've collected over the past year."
"Well, it might take me a while." I laugh. She laughs a bit too loudly back, before quickly disappearing.
Her living room is certainly interesting...Drusilla has always been a bit of a crazy cat lady, but I didn't know she took it this far. Everything has a fake cat print on it, there's tons of little statues of cats and other small creatures, cat toys and fur is spread everywhere in the room...it's all a little overwhelming, but it's oddly endearing. It reminds me of her whiskers and cat inspired clothing. I pet one of her fatter ones while I wait.
"I still remember how you like your coffee, Aurelia! Isn't that strange how we remember the littlest of details?" She laughs, passing it over. I take a small sip…a bit of an odd aftertaste, but it's warm and milky. Just how I like it.
I nod, taking another sip. "Yeah...it feels like I'm losing all my important memories as the day goes by, but at least we still have the smaller things in life."
She also nods, going over to pick up one of her tabby cats. It was sleeping peacefully, but I guess Drusilla wants it on her lap. She strokes it, which makes it mew happily. "Mmh, mmh...so Aurelia, what have you been doing all this time? Why haven't you responded much?"
"I've just been...running away, as usual. I almost made it out of this hellhole, y'know. But then they almost caught me and I had to come back." I frown, not too happy with what happened.
"Ah, that's a shame. So close, but yet so far...you'll get out next time." Drusilla offers a friendly smile, but it doesn't really help. Her words feel fake, just like her over exuberant smile.
I frown. "Thanks…that's why I didn't respond much, sorry. I was scared they'd find a connection between us. Then they'd punish you…"
Drusilla then laughs too loudly...again. It's somewhat creepy at this point. "Ah, no, don't worry. They've already punished me. Or, err, are punishing me."
"Punishing? Oh god...what have they done to you, Drusilla? Are they hurting you? Please don't tell me they are..." I say, my voice getting much much softer. I can feel my pointed tone slowly start to disappear, as Drusilla's smile mask which is usually plastered onto her face drops.
"No, no...they're making me hurt other people...I perform surgery on the avoxes...to r-remove their t-tongues…" She gulps, looking very disturbed. I can see freeze over, as she stops stroking her cat. "They make me punish these I-innocent people n-now, Aurelia. They make me…"
Her voice is dull. The lack of emotion is frightening.
"No, no, no, they can't do that Drusilla. That's terrible, so so terrible of them...oh, but you're innocent too! You're innocent Drusilla, don't feel guilty, please." I quickly plead, unsure on what to say. "You're only doing what you have to do."
Drusilla doesn't respond. "I don't have a choice. I told them I want to quit, but they refused to let me. They said it's either that...or they'll...kill me."
They'll kill her for being associated with me. My worst suspicions have been confirmed again...I'm responsible for all of this...I'm the reason she's being psychologically tortured…
"Dru, I'm so so sorry...I never even thought they'd do something like this…"
She turns her head, as she begins to stroke her cat. "I didn't either." She starts to wear that fake smile again, showing her blinding teeth. "But...but they did! And that's...ok! Because I've been working to stop it!"
"You have? Have you attempted to join the...rebellion again?" I ask, as it's the only thing I can think of.
Dru vigorously nods, pushing the bright bleach blonde hair out of her eyes. "Yeah! I've joined the rebellion once more!
"That's...that's really good! So is the Apostasy back?" I say, smiling with her. The apostasy was the rebellious political party formed by myself and a few others. Dru was one of the first sponsors of the group and was heavily involved throughout the years. But of course, we disbanded when Scuttle took my place.
"Yeah! Back and rejuvenated. We've been trying to reach you for so long but it's been so hard...you've done so well hiding. It's really impressive. Every time we got close to you, you scuttled away like a little...rat!"
Her tone is a lot more cheery than her dark words. She almost sounds ominous.
Suddenly, the cat jumps from her, digging its claws into the carpet. Dru doesn't take much notice, only giggling slightly.
And oh goodness...what is this headache? My head feels like it's own fire. How did it develop so quickly? And I feel so groggy too, as if I'm going to pass out any moment. But I push through it anyway.
"Oh yeah, we've also rebranded. I wanted it to be called the Aureate, but we're now the Argent organisation."
"Aureate? Forgive me if I'm being conceited, but that sounds like my name."
"Yeah, silly. I wanted to named ourselves after you. You're like...a patron saint to the group. Which is why we needed to find you. We needed you back again to inspire hope in all of us. You're the one who gave the Apostasy power. You let us run the country and make the changes we needed to make...so if anyone is going to get the Argent Organisation to power, it's you!" Dru said, sounding optimistically and foolishly hopeful.
I sigh. "It's not that easy though. This isn't a democracy anymore...and we only won by the smallest of margins, because I lied about our planned policies. The entire Capitol hates us and it's not like I can run again…"
"But you can act as an advisor!"
"I wish I could, but I can't. You can't associate me with the group...you're practically giving away the fact you're rebels."
The headache feels like it's gotten even worse in such a short amount of time. Thinking seems to take a lot more effort now. Dru doesn't laugh this time. "Of course, we won't. You'd be hidden! We have a base in the dunes of 3 where you can hide and…we don't even have to use democracy, we can use force…like Scuttle did…"
I...I don't know what to say or do. I feel like I'm going to pass out at any moment. "Please, Dru, this is all way too much for one night...please, just let me think this through before we make any hasty decisions." I say, shutting her up. I'm not even
sure if I want to join this...I'm too old for all this rebellion nonsense now.
"I...I don't think it's fitting for me to join yet. I should pass down the torch to a new generation of rebels to keep fighting." I finally decide on an answer.
"You don't want to help? After all they've done to me and you? After what they did to your own children?" Dru spits out at me without a second thought. Each word is like a slap on my skin, stinging even more and more. "Are you that selfish?"
"No...it's not being selfish…"
"It is." She harshly accuses me. What's with this childish mentality?
I...I'm not being selfish...I just don't want to through all that suffering again. "Please, can we just talk about this tomorrow. I'll make my final decision then. It's too late and my head is pounding and I'm so tired." I feel so disoriented and dizzy too. Every time I look at her, she seems to get further and further away.
She takes a large sip of her coffee. "Tired? The caffeine will help."
C-caffeine? She's done something too this coffee, hasn't she? "What have you done to this coffee? Why were you so eager to give it to me?"
"Nothing, I was just being kind…" Dru says, still with that annoying fake smile. My hands are shaking so much now…
I drop the glass, watching it shatter on the floor. The hot drink almost burns through the carpet. I take a step back, one more and a third one. I can feel my consciousness drift away from me...and before I know it, I've passed out. The last thing I see before crashing on the hard floor is Dru's apologetic face.
New prologue! This is a lead on from the last one, where Aurelia was fleeing from the forest where she was hiding. If you haven't read that one, this one won't make too much sense.
Eek? Yeah, Drusilla drugged Aurelia. It'll be explained why next time but you can probably tell why. I was going to have a longer prologue with two other POV's, as this was going to be the last prologue before the cast announcement, but I've decided to extend the submission date to the 24th of April!
We have 7 submissions so far and I know a few people are planning on submitting, so we should reach it by then. There's still plenty of spots open too if you haven't reached out to me yet, or submitted.
Thank you to everybody who has submitted so far! If you are interested in submitting, is it ok if you message me? I'd love to know and talk if you want to.
