Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.
Throw sticks and stones, but you're not gunna break my soul. ~Part of Me, Katy Perry.
I wake up early the next morning, I'm actually happy for a moment with the sun coming through the broken window onto my face. Then I see my dead brother still in my arms, and I burst into tears again. Loneliness. That's what I mainly feel. It's mixed in with the anger, the depression, and the emptiness. I'm alone now, in my life, I have no family left. I don't get up; because I don't want to let go of my brother, and I don't have any reason to get up. I don't have any reason to do anything anymore. No, I do actually. Because I promised him I'd stay alive.
So I'll just stay here for a few days, maybe. I get out from under my dead brother and go and stand in the kitchen. I just stare at the stale bread on the counter, I don't want it. So I just stand there, staring at Kline's body sitting by the dying fire.
I don't move from that spot all day long. I can't move. I can't get my eyes off of my brother, who's gone. Tomorrow he will be buried, I'll do that tomorrow. Take him down for a proper burial. Tears roll down my face as I think I'll never see his face again. I don't even look when someone knocks on the door. I don't make a sound, but they come in anyways.
"Denver I was wondering if-" Hazelle cuts off her sentence when she sees me. She walks over slowly. "Are you alright?" she asks, her voice chokes a little from tears she's holding back. I gently shake my head; she follows my gaze and lets the tears roll down her own face. Then her arms are around me, comforting me, and I just stand stiff.
After a while she stands back, "Do you want me to get Levy?" she asks. Levy, the man who buries the dead here in District Twelve. I guess today would be as hard as tomorrow, so I just nod. Once she's gone I force my limbs to go and sit by my brother. I stroke his face gently until Levy arrives, with two other men who work under him. Hazelle and Vick and Rory stand with me as they put Kline on the board.
"You coming to see him buried?" Levy asks in his husk voice. I shake my head solemnly; I don't want to see Kline lowered into the ground. I just go and plant one last kiss on my brother's forehead, then; I put three fingers to my lips and extend them to him. My final goodbye. Tears don't roll down my face as I watch my brother go away from me; I'll never see him again after that.
Hazelle doesn't waste time and instructs her two youngest boys to rebuild my fire for me as she boils water and makes me some tea. Vick and Rory give me a hug before they go back to their house; Hazelle stays with me until I've drank all my tea and eaten two slices of bread. Then I'm alone again. I somehow make my way to bed and manage to fall asleep.
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I wake the next day and don't get out of bed, but my brain works faster than it did yesterday. I lay in bed for a few hours before there's knocking on my door. I don't answer, I don't say a word. I don't even get up when I hear the heavy footsteps going around my house in the other room, but I notice the house gets warmer. They must have built up my fire for me. I guess I better go thank them; I slowly drag myself out of bed. I don't need to change, I didn't put on pajamas.
I stop in the doorway and stare at the person who stands in my house, heating up water in the kitchen. Gale. He turns around and stops when he sees me, I just stare at him. Why is he here? Why is he helping me out? He gives me a sympathetic grin, his eyes sad. I give him the greeting I've given him every morning for six years, but without the words. Just a slight raise of my hand. He returns it like he has every single day.
"Good morning"
I just nod, not wanting to say words, not finding the strength to say words. Maybe later I'll talk, but not right now.
"My mom told me what happened. I'm really sorry; he was a great guy Denver. The mines are closed for the rest of the week so I figured I'd come and help you out." Gale explains to me. I'm surprised he remembers my name after all this time. I honestly consider telling him to get out, that I don't need his pity after being ignored for years. But I don't, because I do appreciate that he's talking to me again.
I do manage a weak smile at him and then go and sit at the table. I put my elbows on the table, something that always annoyed Kline, and my chin in my hands and stare out the window. Don't stay like this all day. Don't stay like this all day. I remind myself over and over, I don't want to completely shut down. That would mean death. Maybe I'll go out to the Hob when Gale leaves. But for now, I sip slowly on the tea he hands me.
Gale sits across from me and watches me with sad eyes. After about an hour I muster up the will to talk.
"I'm glad you're alright." I say softly. He doesn't smile but seems happy that I'm talking.
"Thanks, though I feel bad, so many didn't get out." His gaze shifts down to the table, away from my face. I guess he's expecting me to say he should, or he deserves it. But I don't say that, I say the opposite.
"You shouldn't. You deserve to live. I'm not mad at any survivors. I'm mad at the Capital, because it's their fault." It is their fault, mine accidents shouldn't happen. Not if the proper safety precautions are taken. But we're just the people of District Twelve; they don't care if some of us die on their behalf.
"Everything's their fault." Gale actually growls out between his teeth. There's a fire in his eyes, blazing hatred towards the Capital. A fire that I've seen in my own eyes before. A fire that could start a rebellion.
"Of course it is, my whole family, our families, could all be alive if it weren't for them." There's now a harsh snap in my voice.
"Yea, it's all them." Gale tries to calm himself. I try to calm myself, which doesn't take long when I think of how Kline would scold me for voicing what I think. It's not safe too, especially if we are overheard. We sit in more silence and my mind drifts to work. I need to get a job. No merchants hire Seam kids as employees. Cray is not an option, I'd never do that. I don't want to be a teacher. I can't really sell anything. That leaves one thing. The mines. I could go work underground, into the death trap that's now claimed the lives of two of my family members. But I can work with a pick axe, I know that, and I'm not really scared of anything happening. I guess I'll see if I can do that.
I look up at Gale again. "Will you do me a favor?" I ask him.
"Sure" he shrugs.
"Can you come down to the mines with me?" I really don't want to go talk to the foreman by myself. In answer Gale stands up and pushes his chair back. I get up too and he holds the door open for me, I actually laugh a little.
"What?"
"Nothing, you used to always just slam the door in my face on purpose. I guess I was expecting that again." I shake my head at the memory.
"Yea, when I was six I did; now we're nineteen Den." Gale rolls his eyes.
"I miss it when we were six." Gale stiffens and just gives me a grunt. I steal a glance at his face; he seems to be thinking back to then.
Gale and I walk down the road next to each other towards the mines. We get some glances as we walk, people know our history, people know my brother just died. Gale follows me into the foreman's office when we arrive at the mines. I tap on the desk to get the attention of the lady behind it.
"Yes?" she asks.
"I came to speak with the foreman." I say curtly. The lady gives me a look, then glances at Gale behind me. She nods.
"I'll tell him you're here." She dismisses herself and disappears into another room. I feel Gale's breath on my neck before he whispers in my ear.
"What are you doing?"
I turn and look him in the eyes. "I'm getting a job."
Next chapter we have the job "interview". Please review! The more reviews I get the faster the updates will come! Promise!
So baby why don't we just dance? ~Why don't we just dance, Josh Turner.