Hey Guys, I know this is a short chapter, but it's a big one (that's what she said) ok anyways, it's a lot to take in and I feel like focusing directly on Johanna and how much she has changed
Chapter 3.
They throw me in a dark cell, with one high up window that is barred with no pane. The unfiltered sunlight comes in but is cold.
"You're here." A voice comes out of the shadows. Her face comes just into the moonlight so I can see her outline.
"Johanna." I whisper. The barrette glistens in her hair. It's hard to recognize her. Her hair has grown out long, nearly unrecognizable and matted in blood. Her thin lips replace full ones. Her eyes straining to see. Hollow, like termites have invaded her and eat out her insides. This makes her dangerous. They would never let us climb trees like that because they would shatter and dissolve. They were untrustable and would turn on you in a minute. She is a hollow tree.
She crawls over with her arms, her legs dangling hopelessly. They have been broken. When I was little, a girl just learning how to climb fell and broke both her legs. Of course, they sent her to the factory, where legs aren't needed.
"This is the last thing I want." She sighs and takes out the barrette, twirling it in her hand. "The peg, it fell out in here somewhere. But it's always too dark to look." I reach out to her, trying to act gentle, we both were never good at that.
"That's alright." I tell it to her to comfort her, to cushion the fall. We sit in silence. She thinks. I look out the window, for anything. I'll look at anything other than those godforsaken eyes.
"What do they do here?" I'm scared for the answer of what waits for me.
"They bring food every three days. And unfiltered water. Just enough to last you if you ration it right. If you ration it wrong, it's all over."
"Just like the games." I mumble, not noticing Johanna flinch. "Sorry."
"What happened, after I left?" she looks out the window absently.
"Well, where to begin?"
"Mom, start with mom. Then work all the way down to Nessa." Now, she doesn't notice me flinch.
"Mom? Well, she, she died. A day after you left. She went into one of her rages while we were at the square watching. She said things she didn't mean, she couldn't control it. You know her rages; you were the only one who could control them." She smirks at this. "They shot her. Left she in the street didn't even look her way after that." She swallows.
"And dad?" she says hoarsely. I bite my lip. How can I tell her she's the only family I have left? I can't. I can't tell her the only thing she loves, District 7 is gone.
"He got worse with his addiction after mom left us. Black nevaeh became his constant friend, the house wreaked of it so usually I'd take Nessa and myself over to…" should I tell her about Mylar? No. She would just be angry. "Akiva Kurrah's, we kind've became a thing when you left." She chuckles slightly at this.
"A-and Nessa?" I hesitate. Nessa was the only thing that made her smile.
"Well, she got sick about 3 years after you left." I scoot closer and cautiously lay a comforting hand on her skinny knee. I know this will be the final blow that makes the tree fall. "I tried to take her to the doctor but, they, they didn't see her in time. I sat there with her for 3 days with no heat, or water, or food, or another single soul around. I was there when she slipped away. It was peaceful." I can't talk anymore, she'll understand. We sit in silence and tears threaten to spill over her eyes, I see them in the moonlight. She quickly turns away and brushes them out.
"What were her last words?" she says shakily.
"What?"
"What. Were. Her. Last. Words?" her voice has an edge of steel in it not but still threatens to break.
"They were, um," I try to think, "take care of yourself and stay alive. And if you see Jo…" Now I'm crying quietly. "tell her I love her." She sighs and I can see tears. I barely utter them, but I know she hears. She drags herself into her dark corner and brings a stale chunk of bread.
"Here," I don't know why she's being so kind, "you're the only family I have left. And since you can't take care of anyone else, I'll have to take care of you." I want so badly to lash back about Pillar and Mylar and Palma, but I would betray them. I smirk and try to look glum like I have disappointed her, all the while knowing my sweet secret. This comforts me. I take it and realize I haven't eaten in a while.
"Thanks." She returns to her corner and I hear muffled sobs. The tree has fallen and the animals are about to snatch it up until it is all but gone.