Hello once again, valued readers! Welcome to Chapter Two.
Thank you all so much for the support! I got really inspired to write, and this story wouldn't leave my mind, so I just had to update.
In this chapter, we see the aftermath of Spring getting reaped, and the surprising yet confusing news she gets during goodbyes.
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Enjoy!
Once, when I was young, I broke my finger when I was feeding the goats. I'd thought it was a good idea to string along a bale of hay with one finger by a thin piece of twine. I only lasted a few steps before I heard a sickly crack, and sure enough, when I looked down, my ring finger was bright red and bent at an odd angle, signs of inflammation already beginning to show. I let out a scream at the sight, not necessarily at the pain.
I'd run home, leaving the bale of hay in the middle of the dirt path to the goat pen. At this time, I think I was the youngest in the house, and my oldest brother, Markus, threw down a copy of the newspaper that he had been reading when I burst through the door dramatically, tears running down my cheeks. He'd leapt up from the seat he was at and tended my finger instantly, taking me into the kitchen. This was back when we were closer, and Markus and I spent a lot of time together, for Percy and Link were too energetic for him to tolerate and Tobias cried constantly.
When Markus had managed to get me sitting in a kitchen chair, he brought a large, calloused hand up, rubbing the soft flesh of my skin. This was one of the last tender moments we shared, for he moved out shortly after this, but it was my sweetest memory of him. He was so gentle, so compassionate, but also stern and authoritative like Dad.
I remembered how he'd told me that when you get hurt, your body cries because tears help repair the wound. He'd told me that tears can repair any time of anguish, be it physical, emotional, or social. He said to never be ashamed to let your tears loose, for it was a sign that your body was strong enough to realize it needed to fix itself. Tears didn't make you weak, rather in Markus' mind, they made you stronger.
As the microphone rings unpleasantly in my ears, I hear my name being repeated once more and I see peacekeepers making their ways to me. For some reason, I remember that story, Markus' words leaving an imprint in my mind as I feel two strong hands grabbing me by my elbows. I heard something that sounded like a stream running over rocks, like a garbled wet sound. I didn't even know a human could make that sound, when I realized it was me. I was the one crying, except now, I wasn't crying to fix myself like Markus always said. I was crying because I was facing imminent doom.
I was walking, but my legs didn't feel like they were moving. The Justice Building of District 10 loomed before me, Cavannah Featherquill's white smile flashing at me, almost blinding me. I could hardly see her through the mist of tears in my eyes, and I cursed myself for being so weak. Why couldn't I control myself? I had to be strong for everyone. For Mom, Dad, Markus, the twins, Tobias, Keanu, and little Juni. Oh, poor, sweet little Juni. Did she even know what was happening?
Shakily ascending the grey steps to the stage, I willed myself to calm down, but still, my shoulders shook and my body heaved with the effort of trying to suppress my sobs, albeit unsuccessfully. I made my over to Cavannah, who wrapped a long, skinny arm around my shoulders. I hazily mused over the fact that even though Capitol people could have all the food in the world, they still didn't eat, really. They'd eat fine and small portions of the finest foods, but God forbid them gain any weight, for being skinny was all the rage.
A fleeting moment of anger flashed through me, my veins burning as my blood boiled beneath them. As I looked out at the crowd, I saw so many people who I knew for a fact didn't eat breakfast this morning, or maybe not a meal at all yesterday either. Yet they didn't care if they were fat or skinny or didn't fit the standards for beauty. I saw how the people of District 10 really didn't care about what they looked like, for you worked here, and so what if you were pretty or handsome? That didn't get the cows milked any faster.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome your female tribute from District 10- Spring Farlane!" Cavannah's voice was overly enthusiastic and her grip around me tightened and I forced myself to take a shaky breath.
Thankfully, Cavannah saw that she wasn't going to get much of a reaction from the rest of the people from 10, so she gave it up and loosened her grip on me and I retreated over to the safe spot of the stage, away from her grasp. In her huge heels, she made her way over to the giant glass bowl that contained the boys' names, and I felt my breath hitch once again.
It hadn't totally dawned on me that I was going to the Hunger Games. Some part of me refused to accept that there was an extremely high possibility I would never see my family again, or hear the gentle lowing of the cattle, or the neighs from the horse barn, or Chester's barking when the sheep started to act up. All these thoughts brought another wave of sadness over me, and I could feel my eyes starting to water again. Furiously, I brought a hand up, pawing at my eye, willing it to stop with the waterworks.
As Cavannah fished around in the bowl, I prayed under my breath that she wouldn't draw Tobias' name. My family was already losing one child, and they really didn't need to lose another to the sick Capitol because they wanted entertainment. I watched with baited breath as she plucked a single slip of white paper from the bowl and did a tediously slow walk back to the microphone.
With a clear voice and that annoying Capitol accent, she spoke, "Dale Morrow!" A wave of relief washed over me as I knew that neither Tobias nor my close friend Bugsy had been drawn, but my heart sank slightly when I realized who it was.
Dale Morrow. He was 18, and I knew from seeing him around at school that he wasn't the most popular. I think he had a few distant friends, but even that I was unsure about. The entire District knew about his story, though, and chills ran down my spine as I saw him emerge from the sea of boys, limping, a long-term cause of what happened in his household years ago.
Rumor has it that he killed his sister and mother, but then again, that's just rumor. Nonetheless, I shivered slightly as his black gaze flickered over to mine as he painstakingly took the stage on his side, refusing help from the peacekeepers who insisted on helping him up. I had to look away when I realized he was challenging me- he wasn't going to avert his gaze, so I figured I would do it.
Dale was rather tall, one of the tallest boys at school. He was built strong, with big hands and arms and a sturdy middle. He would've been offered a job with one of the ranchers early in school if he didn't have that limp. Apparently, he got his limp from his mother breaking his leg when he tried to kill his little sister, and it had never gotten the chance to heal, for in District 10, work doesn't stop for anything, unless you're dead.
His dark hair matched his eyes- black as night. His skin was tanned like most of the people from 10, and his lips were always in a frown. Because no one had been able to prove him guilty, as there were apparently no witnesses to what happened, he wasn't pegged as a criminal in the Capitol's eyes, but to everyone in 10, he was as good as dead to them. I had a feeling that some people would leave the square feeling relieved that he was finally going to get justice dealt to him. I didn't know how to feel or what to believe, but by the way he was staring at me, I knew that I could count him out as an ally in the Arena.
Cavannah grabbed both of our wrists after she had welcomed Dale, raising our arms in the air. I looked out at the crowd for the first time since I had gotten to the stage. I noticed Summer first, tears streaming down her face. Her mascara was running, causing her tears to be black and inky against her tanned skin. Her bright red lips were puckered as her lower lip wobbled.
My eyes found my family next, and my heart caught in my throat as I saw my mom sobbing uncontrollably against my dad. I had never seen her cry like she was now. She was always a strong person, but now, she was really crying, and I had the suspicion she had been crying since my name had been called. My dad was trying his best to be as sturdy and strong as possible while my mom wailed, her head in the crook of his neck, but I could see some tears streaming down his face as well.
The twins both wore masks all the time. I'd never seen them cry, and they weren't now, but there was something different about them. Usually, they were wild and rambunctious even on days like this, but now, they were serious and morose. Their eyes were sad and their lips drooped in identical frowns.
I hardly saw Markus behind them, but he wore a similar expression to the twins'. I could only look at the little ones for a short amount of time, as I saw Juni weeping just like Mom, and Keanu held her up just like Dad held up Mom. His strong little jaw was set and I could tell he was grinding his teeth to prevent himself from crying. My heart ached at the scene. Neither of them were old enough to understand what was happening, but they cried with the rest of the family.
I sought out Bugsy and Tobias next, which wasn't difficult. The two were standing next to each other, and Tobias' bright blue eyes were watering, his cheeks shiny from the two streams that ran down over his skin. Bugsy was showing his emotion in his own way, and I saw in that moment just how much the people in my life cared for me, and the realization nearly split my heart in two.
Of course I knew that they loved me, but I didn't know how much, but it was clear now. I saw the pain and the sorrow on all of their faces, and I instantly felt guilty for not realizing it sooner. I felt guilty for not appreciating them more. I felt guilty for not living life the way I should have. Most of all, I felt guilty for not being grateful for the life that I was given, because it was about to get a lot worse from here.
After Cavannah felt like we had gotten enough attention from the audience and there were enough pictures taken of us, she escorted us to the Justice Building to say our final goodbyes. I was escorted to a different room, adjacent to the one where Dale goes. We exchange an accidental, fleeting glance as we part ways, and I could just feel the malice rolling off him in waves.
Once the door was shut, I sat down on the convenient lounge chair and took a deep breath, attempting to calm myself down. A few moments later, the door is being opened by peacekeepers and my family rushes in. I immediately stand up as my mom flings her arms around me and I'm not able to keep back anymore tears, the last semblance of my dignity shattering as I let my emotions loose.
My dad comes in soon after, hugging both me and my mom, and the rest of the family follows after. We end up in a pretty large group hug, and my heart feels like it could burst. How could this be taken from me? I don't deserve it!
I kneeled down as the two little ones required my attention after a few more moments of the hug. I wrap my arms around them, forcing myself to calm down. I had to be strong for them. They couldn't see me cry anymore.
"Where you go, Sping?" Keanu's voice asked me, his inability to pronounce R's pained my heart. It was something I was going to miss.
"I'm going to that place we watch on the television every year, Keanu. Don't worry, though, I'll come back," my voice wasn't strong and it was very unsure, but I tried my best to hide it.
"You come back?" Keanu's face turned gleeful, his lips pulling into a grin as he hugged Juni. "Sping come back, Juni!"
I couldn't take anymore, and I forced myself to stand up and turn my back to them. I embrace my brothers in one last hug as they wish me luck, and they tell me that they believe in me, but I know they're doubtful. I gave all of the rest of my family one last hug as they filed out of the door. When they were gone, Summer and Bugsy were the next ones to spring in the room.
Summer immediately wrapped her arms around me in a similar fashion as to what my mom had, and yet again, I was crying. My body heaved as my body was racked with sobs. Summer tried to choke some things out, but I couldn't hear her. I silently soothed her, my hand running up and down her back as my voice was low and calming. I'd done this several times when the little ones had gotten scared or worked up or had had a bad dream.
Once she had herself together enough, she pulled away from my hug so she could finally talk to me. "Oh, Spring, I can't believe this. This isn't fair!"
"I know, Summer, I know, but I can do this. Don't you believe I can?" I asked, almost desperately. I wanted to hear it from many people that I could do this, almost in some sort of miraculous way that I would believe the words.
"Of course, Spring. You're the strongest girl I know. You can do this. I believe in you. You have to get out of there. I need you," her voice was saddening, and I knew that she was another person I would have to come home to.
All this time, Bugsy had been standing in the doorway, obviously waiting for Summer to be done with her turn. She said one last goodbye, hugging me tight before slowly walking out of the room. I was so glad to be alone with Bugsy in that moment, I almost cried. He was so calm and quiet, he was exactly what I needed to calm down.
"Hey, there," he finally said in that quiet voice he has, advancing towards me. He opened his arms for me and I gladly took refuge in them, resting my head against his chest. I noticed then just how tall he had gotten over the past few years. He towered over me now, and he was beginning to become more popular with the girls than even my brothers, who were infamous lady killers.
His dark brown hair had gotten long enough for him to style up, and his muscles were taut and strong beneath his skin. His bright green eyes, which always shone with curiosity and excitement, were now analytical and sad. My heart wrenched in my chest.
"Hi," I finally answered, my voice quiet and hoarse after today's events of crying.
It was quiet between us for a while before anyone spoke again. We stood there, just holding each other. "I'm scared," I finally said, and it felt so good to say what had been on my mind since my name had been called and not have to hide behind a mask of strength.
"I know," his deep voice answered, his large, rough hand going to my back and making soothing circles. I could tell he had something else to say, and I tilted my head up. He had a pained look on his face as he let his arms go limp around me before taking a step back once he heard the peacekeepers come in the door.
His face looked as if he wanted to say something, and I could tell he was debating within himself before he finally spoke out, "Spring, I love you." As soon as the words left his lips, one of the peacekeepers grabbed him and escorted him out the door as he repeated the phrase several times, fighting against the men in white. It took nearly four people to get him out, and by now he was breaking down, sobs violently being ripped from his throat.
I gulped as I was left in the room alone, my emotions feeling raw and majorly screwed over. What just happened? I didn't have anymore time to think before I was being escorted out of the room and onto the train. A million thoughts were running through my head. The rest of my visits with my family and Summer had been typical, but Bugsy totally shocked me.
Was the thing he had told me so long ago true? I could've sworn it was just because he wanted Summer off his back. I felt hopelessly confused as I was pushed onto the train. I wanted to go back and talk to him more, and I was suddenly wishing that he had had more time to talk to me, or he would've just simply said that in the beginning so now I wouldn't be so damned confused for the hardest thing of my life. I didn't need any distractions, but now I would be thinking about Bugsy's words for days. I knew I would think about the rest of my family and Summer, too, but now I was confused on top of sad and regretful.
Dale was already there once I got on, and I forced myself to put my stoic mask back on. There was no way I'd give this criminal the chance to see me weak, even if he had seen my display at the Reaping, that didn't matter now.
The Games had begun, and I had to win.
What'd you guys think? Let me know in a review! Poor Bugsy, right? And no, this story will not be an OC/OC, so don't worry, it's just there for some extra drama and backstory ;-) In positive news, there is a possibility of everyone's favorite District 2 career making an appearance next chapter, so hold onto your hats, everybody! (Ew, excuse the corniness, it's late.)