Velkan Findlay, District 3, Male, Age 17
"Hello? Is Electra home?" I stare at the boy in front of me. He has bronze hair, lovely blue eyes, a strong build, he's pretty tall. Or at least, taller than my 5'10. His blue orbs are currently roaming behind me, looking no doubt, for my older cousin Electra.
"No." This is a lie. I sort of just stand there, I'm not exactly the best with people, a little shy at times. We sort of just awkwardly stand in the doorframe. I fidget nervously with my hands, wondering if he's going to leave anytime soon. I hope he does. Before you ask why I lied let me tell you, I've been scaring away potential boyfriends for my cousins for years.
Way before the rebellion even started. But now that that's happened, it's just given me even more the reason to do so. None of us are safe, no bother getting attached now. I don't understand how any of them can possibly still feel the need to pursue a romantic relationship after Everythng we've lost. Plus, none of these boys are anywhere near Electra's league. The boy runs a hand through his hair nervously, biting down his lower lip and dodging my questioning eyes.
"Well, erm, tell her that Troy stopped by and maybe-" He starts fidgeting, and pulls out a piece of paper and a pencil. I watch as he scrambles to try and write something down, his information most likely. I plaster a smile onto my face, which is half real and half forced. Is that even a thing?
"No problem, Troy." I cut off his mad ramblings, I watch as he pauses for a second, his pencil still firmly in his hand. A look of slight shock plastered onto his face. I smile with mock sincerity. His blue orbs giving me a look of pure confusion.
"Um-" He raises a finger, his mouth clearly preparing to speak.
I close the door before he can utter another word, waving to him slightly as the mahogany wood shields him from my view. "Bye!" I shut, loud enough for it to be heard from the other side of the door. I sighed once the door was closed, boys are getting harder to chase off.
I look out the window, to see him still standing there in shock. I make a gesture with my hand, telling him to go. He quickly regains his senses, gives me a strains smile before walking off. His walk turning into a jog halfway through. Until finally he scampers off both pathetically and frantically.
I smile, remembering things before the war. When scaring off boys was just a joke. My uncle and I keep it up for, I don't know, closure? The war had been horrible, absolutely horrible. We in District 3, well we used to be a Capitol favourite believe it or not. Until the rebellion, because boy did we rebel. We rebelled against them, their own darling District 3.
We had been confident that we could win, it had been a civil war in the Districts. And when District 2 finally came to clean us up, well we lost. We had been prepared, all sorts of gadgets, gizmos. Yet, they had strength, pure brute strength. After that, well, we definitely lost the title of Capitol favourite. Now all of our lives were living Hells. Even though technically I hadn't rebelled. My family and I had been neutral.
By family, I mean uncles, cousins. That type of thing, considering I do live with them. And in my books, those who you live with, survive with and grow with are your family. Well, I didn't always live with my uncle. I, erm, used to live with my family. Like parents, siblings. That kind of family, now I live with my cousins.
When I was six, both of my parents had died from a rebel attack on the factory they worked at. They'd burned it to the ground. It was al anyone could talk about the following days to come. I can remeber my mom telling me that they'd be right back ("Just going to check on a few blue prints.") My dad ruffling my hair, mom planting a light kiss to my forehead. I remeber clutching my green stuffed animal when my next door neighbour, Simon, delivered the news.
I'd been six. Six. Back then, it'd been when rebel attacks were a rare occurrence. Happening every few weeks, and never doing much damage. There'd been too much to risk and not a good enough reward. We weren't showing the Capitol anything, they'd had stopped eve very last one of 'em by the time you could say rebel.
I barked out a laugh at the memory. Oh, how times had changed. Of course when District 13 came out with the bombs, the plans, we all followed. But I couldn't, I couldn't bring myself to side with them. The rebels had killed my parents. But the Capitol were monsters. We remained neutral.
When I'd found out about my parents I don't remember crying, oddly enough. My metrics seemed numb and blurry. All I can ever remeber is the pain, the pure numb pain. Where the whole world shuts down, until all that's left is you, and the pain that you're feeling
I remember him, Simon, telling me that they'd already called my uncle. He'd come and take me in. I'd live with him now. And at the time, the last thing I wanted was to replace my parents. But I can also remeber numbly nodding my head along. I was what they called, 'in shock'. And I understood that, I understood that I was currently in shock. And that soon enough it would the numbness would fade, and I'd feel for the first time, the true pain. Hiding blankly behind the wall of numbness.
I remeber a flurry of faces, voices. And for the first few days, I kept completely to myself. They'd talk, but all that I'd hear was a faint whisper. The pain blocki anything else out. I'd look at their faces, but they all seemed blurry, as well seeming to fold into one another. I remeber crying in my bed, before the door opened.
It was the little boy of the family. Derek. He'd been born deaf, he'd been a baby at the time. I remeber, him just a little baby, two. He'd crawled into my room, and I remeber just holding him. And it made me feel better. It was the feeling of security, I think. Of family. After that I warmed up to the rest of them.
My uncle Rick, and aunt Cara. Who treated and Loved me just as much as their own. I'd join the family arguments, and get the same amount of chores as the rest of them. ("But I'm not even your kid." "Sure you aren't" "I'm not!")
Electra, the eldest, who'd been eight at the time. I remeber her telling me all sorts of things, and me believing her, no matter how make believe they all sounded. I looked up to her, thinking one day I too would be in second grade just like her. That was a big kid years, she'd tell me facts and I'd correct her. Down to the very point where she'd ask me for help on schoolwork and assignments. I figured out very early on in life that I'd been born smart. And of course now, I've been scarring off potential boyfriends.
Christian had been my age. Tying us together for second oldest in the family. Excluding his parents, my uncle and aunt. We looked alike, sometimes telling passerbys that we were twins. They'd always just shake their head and laugh, us joining in soon after. After the war he was never quite the same. His best friend, Alex, had been killed in the rebellion. He had been Christian's everything. Sometimes he still turn, to tell Alex something, before remebering that he was gone. We had drifted away after all this, being around him was just too painful. I tried, we all tried, but he just seemed to get worse.
Then there'd been Sonha. She was a year younger than me, the little sibling I'd never imagined having. But she felt just like that. And when she came of age, potential boyfriends of hers were scared off as well. She had been annoying at times, but in the end she'd always be my little sis.
And then there was Derek. The little two year old who'd comforted me when I felt like my whole world had been gone. He was extraordinary. He deserved so much more than the run down, trash we call our District. He should be somewhere like 1. Not the Capitol favourite turned dump. He was a saint among a District filled with sinners, cowards and thieves.
Our proud District, reduced to this after the rebellion. I sighed. "Uncle Rick!"Rick's head soon poked its way from behind the couch. Smiling maniacally. "How was that, son! That was one way to handle things. I'm writing that one down." He mimed pulling out a notebook and writing on it words and shapes. I chuckled at my uncle's antics.
I put a finger to my chin, attempting to look I deep thought. "We call it; The interrupt-him-everytime-he-tries-to-speak-or-mention-himself-or-Electra/Sonha tactic." I said spreading my hands wide, to demonstrate. Using elaborate hand-gestures to accompany my words. He chuckled. "The name needs a little work." He says using a so-so gesture with his hand, by turning it in on itself several times. I shrugged, "Don't question my genius."
"Sonha! Electra! Velkan's gotta head out to work soon. You two better start getting ready for your own jobs!" Soon enough I hear a sound similar to a bang, resonate through the house. Before Sonha comes practically tumbling down the stairs. "Here, dad!" She gives him a mock salute. Before tromping her way down the stairs. Her hole filled sweater clinging closely to her, it looks to be a size too small as well as backwards. I decide not to comment.
Sonha's red hair is flying behind her as she trips over a cracked floorboard. She inherited the colour from her mother, the sole child in the family to own it. Electra's being more of a muted brown with red highlights. And Christian's and Derek's, as well as mine being a dark brown.
I try not to snicker at my cousin's clumsiness. She shoots me a glare as she steadies herself from her almost tumble.
When Electra comes down, she is much more composed, with that big sister vibe following her around like a lost puppy. Her hair is in a loose bun, with strands framing her face. She carefully steps over the chipped floorboard, with Sonha muttering something close to 'Show off'. I roll my eyes at her and cough out the word, 'loser.'
She glares at me and I stick out my tongue at her. She mouthed the words, 'real mature'. I simply glare. "Well I'm gonna go say good bye to Derek, then I'm off." I announce. Running my had through my hair once, a nervous tick (as well as fidgeting with my hands) I had developed over the years. They all nod, a chorus of "Ok"s and "Sure"s are passed around.
I was gifted in mechanics, whether it be passed down from my parents or my pure genuine curiosity that developed the skill I wasn't sure. But it was now certainly a part of my life. I worked in the factory part time, which sometimes enerved me. But I was fairly certain that there weren't going to be many rebel attacks now.
I open Derek's door... To find him sleeping. I smile. "Have a nice sleep, buddy." I gently place a kiss to his forehead. Tucking his exposed upper body under the sheets. He shifts in his sleep, and mutters something incoherent. I smile to no one other than myself. Slowly I let myself slip out of the room, closing the door, and the last thing I see is him clutching his blankets like his life depended on it. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.
I say my goodbyes, to my cousins and uncle. Before exiting the house. The way to the factory is short. I walk with a formed confidence. Thinks of everything that I could do today. All thoughts out the window, replaced by diagrams and blueprints of my brain.
When I finally reach the factory, I smile. But within the smile are trapped memories and lost potential. Longing for something different, yet wishing for it al to remain the same. Wanting a different life, but being content with my own.
And so I smile once more.
I loved writing Velkan! The first time I tried, well I failed. This time went a lot more smoothly. :)