Barbed Wire
Written by Loverly Souris
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Chapter 4 – Wings of silver
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In District 3, they often say that the chariot ride is like sprinkling glitter on withered flowers. Every year they try to make it more grandiose than the previous year, but even the magnificent dresses, beautiful hairdos and perfect make-ups cannot hide the fact this parade is the overture of a bloody game in which twenty-three children will die.
However, they have to admit that the chariot ride is probably the most enjoyable event in the Hunger Games. Nobody dies after all, and the majority of the stylists is indeed talented. The hosts, Caesar Flickerman – whose hair and lips are gold this year – and Claudius Templesmith comment everything with such an enthusiasm like they are head over heels with every tribute, and though their detailed blabbering can become boring really soon, they try their best to say something nice about everyone.
Wiress doesn't pay attention – she only turns on her hearing when the District 3 chariot appears pulled by two black horses and she joins the chain of gasps in the dining room.
"I think District 3 girl stylist, Fatime Leroy has created something spectacular this year as well," Caesar says after he overcomes his surprise and Claudius nods approvingly.
"Well, she's not considered to be the best tribute stylist for nothing, is she?"
Lectra is stunning. She stands straight next to the boy, her face reflecting no emotion at the cheers they are getting from every direction. Her hair is towered onto the top of her head in an elegant fashion and there is a silver tiara of gears and metal laced into her locks. Her make-up is simple and enhances the brown of her eyes. She is wearing a sleeveless dress decorated with small silver-coloured plates and gloves that reach up to her elbows. A short cape made of what seems to be a heap of scrap metal is resting on her shoulders – it looks strange at first, but as the chariot reaches the middle of the road, something miraculous happens.
The pieces of metal move away from Lectra's body on their own and the cape turns into a pair of wings. The audience goes mad at seeing the transformation and starts to chant "District 3" in awe while the hosts are practically speechless. As the camera shows a closer picture of Lectra's back, Wiress sees that her dress drops to her waist and her first thought is that it looks like they implanted the razor sharp wings onto her spine, because nothing attaches them to the shimmering material.
Ethereal and deadly.
"Majestic! Absolutely wonderful!" Caesar exclaims and claps his hands. "I have to say, my dear Claudius, that Miss Torwell's costume is the best one this year."
"We haven't even seen everyone, Caesar. But I admit that this was a rather memorable entrance indeed."
"It was more than memorable. I suspect that there are some sponsors already who are willing to take Miss Torwell under their metal wings."
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The following two days are eventless, because the cameras are not allowed into the training. Instead, they show a few rather propagandistic shots on each District, only enough to present that life is perfect everywhere, then some memorable moments from the earlier Hunger Games and short interviews with the Victors. Of course, the Sector students have to watch these as well, and Wiress is glad that a long time ago she mastered a method to steer her mind away from the screen.
She thinks about Lectra. So far, her chances are pretty good, they see her as a tribute with attitude and according to the experts, she might be able to win or at least get into the top eight. Wiress wonders what she will do on the last day of the training when they have to perform in front of the Gamemakers. She knows Lectra is smart enough not to neglect the survival skills, but what weapon is she practicing with? Knives? Or spears?
On the third day, the announcement of the training scores is preceded by another interview, this time with the mentors. Nostra Kant is practically bursting with envy for not having Lectra, but he doesn't say anything bad about the boy tribute either, even if only out of politeness.
"He's a reliable kid, keeps the advices and learns quickly," he says.
Beetee is a bit fidgety when the interviewer turns to him, because he knows that the entire Panem is paying attention to his every word – they want to hear more about Lectra.
"Without doubt, District 3 tribute girl Lectra Torwell is one of the most interesting participants this year," the woman starts smiling. "Mr. Heller, what was your first impression when you met Lectra?"
"I knew she would be a hard nut to crack. And she immediately proved that I was right." There's a faint chuckling in the circle of mentors before Beetee goes on. "Lectra is headstrong and a bit opinionated, but probably the most powerful tribute we had in years."
"So you think she has the chance to become a Victor?"
"What kind of mentor would I be if I said no?"
More chuckling from the others. Despite his slight nervousness, he chooses his words very well.
"That's true. Anyway, I'm sure you have some kind of strategy for the Games. You surprised everyone eight years ago with your victory – can we expect some surprise from Lectra as well?"
"Sometimes even I don't have the slightest idea about what is going on in her head, so probably the answer is yes," Beetee says with a half-smile. "I know one thing for sure though – she will do anything she can to win."
And about an hour later, Beetee's words seem to be supported by the training score of 10 that flashes under Lectra's picture.
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"And now, ladies and gentlemen, let me present you the angel from the silver sky, Lectra Torwell!"
The ovation Lectra receives is shaking the ground like an earthquake even on the other side of the screen. Wiress is sitting at her usual spot in the dining hall and wishes she could be there with her – it has been only three days since she last saw her, but it felt like an eternity. For years, they met every day.
Her dress is a strapless emerald-coloured piece. It follows the shape of her body to her thighs where the material breaks into a skirt of multiple layers, each frill wavering independently as she walks to the middle of the stage. She is wearing a copper brooch of a pair of wings on her chest and, to Wiress' delight, as she brushes her hair behind her right ear, she spots the makeshift wire earring, her district token.
"Good evening," she says after the audience calms down and she sits into the armchair. Her expression doesn't betray any emotion.
"Good evening, Lectra," Caesar greets her and jumps into the questions without any ado. "Let's start at the beginning, shall we? You came from a very special part of District 3, the Sector of Talents. Can you please tell us a few words about it?"
"Well, it's basically a boarding school where we learn a lot of subjects like Mathematics and various fields of engineering. We have classes in the morning and work in the afternoon, seven days a week."
Caesar's eyes widen. "Seven days a week? So you have no time to go outside and play?"
Lectra shakes her head. "Not at all."
"And what about your family? You can't meet them either?"
"Actually I haven't seen them for twelve years. When they visited me after I was reaped, I could hardly recognize my brother, and my own little sister didn't know me, because she was still in my mother's womb when I was five and they took me to the Sector."
The audience collectively gives out a mumble of dissatisfaction, so Caesar quickly regains the lead before it can go further. "It is really sad indeed, but you seemed to cope with it brilliantly. When you were standing on the stage after your name was called and when you bid farewell to your home – which brings me to my next question. Burning your ribbon, did it have a meaning or you just acted on impulse?"
The first signs of an emotion appear on Lectra's face – her eyes narrow slightly and her lips curve into a small smile. "You know, in District 3, there are no cemeteries. We can't bury the dead, because there's concrete everywhere. So we cremate them and keep the ashes in urns, usually at home or in a place called Remembrance Office. The ribbon meant to represent my past – and me burning it meant that I left my past behind."
While the audience presents this answer with a round of applause, Wiress inspects Lectra's unchanging expression and notices by the look in her eyes that this probably wasn't the whole truth. If she didn't know Lectra hated the Sector, she would believe her.
"That was a really memorable departure, and I'd bet that half of the audience noticed you at that moment. The other half fell in love with you during the chariot ride."
A smirk, similar to the one on her Reaping appears on Lectra's lips. "Interesting. I had no intention of making them love me."
Caesar laughs. "They love you anyway. Now, about your costume – I think we are all very curious about how Fatime attached the wings onto your back and how could you make them move?"
"I don't think I should give Fatime's secret techniques away, but I assure everyone that I didn't need a surgery. See?" She turns to show her back to the cameras, lifts her hair and there is no sign of scars on her spotless skin. The audience gasps in surprise. "They were heavy though, and I was thinking about what'd happen if I accidentally stabbed my poor partner or myself to death. It'd be hard to replace either of us now."
"You would be hard to replace even if you didn't wear a pair of lethal metal wings. Well then, I think time is almost over, so I will ask you one more question. Beetee said in the mentors' interview that you would do anything for the victory. Let's suppose you win – what are you going to do after the Games?"
Lectra thinks for a while and her eyes soften. Wiress remembers the first time she saw this gentleness in the brown orbs, right after she finished bandaging her wounds on that fateful day years ago, and she immediately knows her mask of harshness falls away for a while.
"Well," she says. "I've never had a life you'd call easy. It was my fault. However, one day, I met someone who was similar yet different – she had a hard life, too, but it wasn't her fault. I promised this someone to go home as a Victor and create a carefree, happy life for ourselves. Because we deserve it."
This is the real Lectra, and Wiress doesn't even notice the streams of tears running down on her cheeks, only as she snaps back to reality with the sound of the horn. Caesar stands up, holds out his hand for Lectra to take it and leans to place a kiss onto her fingers. "May the odds help you to achieve your wonderful goal. Lectra Torwell from District 3!"
Before she walks back to her seat, Lectra looks straight into the camera for one last time and Wiress can almost feel the scent of her cigret in her nose.
She is here. She will always be here with her.
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Crying… rain of blood… corpses, familiar and unfamiliar people… whiteness… cold and fear… her best friend with her chest ripped open…
Sometimes, even if you decide something, your mind would do anything to work against you. Wiress decided to push away all her doubts in Lectra's return – her mind answers with a nightmare that shakes her determination and crushes the faint happiness she felt when she watched her departure. She prays to find some life in the debris of her hopes, in vain.
Though nightmares are not real, the feelings they evoke can have a devastating impact that, embraced in darkness, hurts much more.
"Everything will be alright… everything will be alright…" Wiress whispers again and again, as if repeating this sentence could chase away the bad dreams. "Everything will be alright…"
Morning finds her curled up under her blanket, escaped into a dreamless sleep with her tears still flowing like a river that no matter how hard it tries, it can never reach the ocean.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, let the 54th Annual Hunger Games begin!" And then, the timer goes off.
With each second, Wiress feels like more and more hope is being drained from her. They show an aerial picture of the arena, and it certainly doesn't help her panic either.
It is a mountain that seems like it has been recently hit by a forest fire. For a girl who grew up in District 3 and spent her life in the jungle of concrete only seeing nature in books, this place is a nightmare. The Cornucopia stands in the middle of a small bare plateau with the twenty-four tributes around it. There are only two directions to escape – uphill on the steep mountainside or down with the risk of falling into the pitch-black abyss.
Thirty seconds. The cameras are now directed at each tribute. Lectra's eyes are focused on the mouth of the Cornucopia and from that determined half-smile, Wiress knows she will go for the treasure and she won't suffice with the cheaper bags scattered around. Maybe she will get a weapon, too. No, she is sure that she is going to have a weapon.
The other tributes are not as confident as the Careers or Lectra. The lavender-eyed boy of District 5 is bundle of nerves, he cannot control the shivers that shake his body. The District 8 girl can barely hold back her tears, but the atmosphere around her is still warm. Her hands are in a strange position, resting on her belly. The large boy from District 10 is an exception though – he looks too calm for a tribute of a district that doesn't breed many Victors either.
Five seconds. Four… three… two…
No!
The sound of the gong echoes in the mountain and they run.
Lectra is fast – surprisingly fast. She reaches the Cornucopia at the same time as the first Career tributes arrive, and before they could notice her, she has already grabbed a weapon placed quite deep in the mouth of the horn among stacks of knives and spears. It is a strange object unlike anything Wiress has ever seen – two sticks made of some dark wood, each approximately forty centimetres long and they are connected with a short, thick chain at one end. It doesn't look deadly compared to the long sword that is lying next to it and Wiress wouldn't even consider it as a real weapon, until Lectra quickly turns a metal ring on each stick and a pair of sharp spikes pop out of the handles.
"Don't let her get away with that!" the boy from District 2 shouts at the girl from District 4 as he is busy with fighting off another tribute and the others still hasn't arrived yet. His companion reacts too slowly though – Lectra is already leaving the Cornucopia with the weapon in her hand and a middle-sized bag on her back. Nevertheless, she grabs a short sword and runs after her.
Again, the camera shows an aerial shoot on the bloodbath. The majority of the tributes are trying to escape uphill, no one is so stupid to go for the abyss. Since they cannot hide from each other, they climb with as much distance as they can allow, probably hoping that as soon as they reach the top, there will be a forest. Wiress sighs – there is nothing waiting for them.
Meanwhile, the District 4 girl reaches Lectra and the camera zooms back onto them anticipating more action. She collides with her and they both fall onto the ground with a thud. When they stand up, they are facing each other and the girl lifts the sword.
Wiress can hardly keep herself from covering her eyes when Lectra dodges the attack, and a second later another. She barely misses one though, and her opponent manages to cut her lightly on the side of her neck. However, as the girl seems to slow down a bit, Lectra snaps out of the defence mode and grabbing one of the handles with a firm hand, she swings the other stick with as much strength as she can gather. The wood meets her right arm with a loud crack, and the District 4 girl lets out a shriek of pain.
She falls onto her knees and reaches for the sword that she dropped, but Lectra kicks the weapon away. Before her enemy at her feet could have the time to look up at her either with hatred or despair, the stick crashes into her skull. There is no blood – but from the way the girl collapses like a rag doll, it is indubitable that her cannon will be fired at the end of the bloodbath.
There is a faint murmur around Wiress between the students, but she doesn't try to make out their words. Several feelings are competing in her heart – happiness and a renewed hope that her best friend is willing to fight, astonishment at her abilities, but also shock and sadness, because Lectra's eyes have changed into the cold eyes of a killer.
All the Career tributes has finished the massacre and they are sorting out the supplies from the Cornucopia – all, except two boys who are starting to find it strange that the cannons haven't been sounded yet and separate from the others to search for survivors still lingering around. They are the tributes from District 4 and – for some mysterious reason – 10. It explains his lack of anxiety during the countdown though.
As they circle the Cornucopia, they immediately spot Lectra with a sword and that strange weapon in her hands, their dead ally in front of her, and for a mere second they are just staring at each other. Then, Lectra breaks into a dash again.
She is not running towards the hill, as Wiress expects, but to the chasm. She outruns the large boys and reaches the edge far before them – she looks down and her eyes widen. She must have expected cliffs or the sea or something, but definitely not that bottomless blackness which stares back threateningly at her.
Wiress' heart clenches. Darkness is Lectra's greatest fear.
She looks visibly unsure, but the Careers are approaching her too fast to be distracted by doubts. She prods the ground with her shoes and lets out a tiny sigh of relief. The boys are only a few metres away from her when she turns, gives them a middle finger with her hand that holds the sword, then grabs onto her weapons and takes a step back.
Wiress' heart practically stops when she sees Lectra throwing herself into the abyss. The camera shows the dumbfounded faces of the two Careers as they look at each other and walk cautiously to the edge.
Finally, the first in the long line of cannons shakes the air and the invisible hand starts to choke Wiress again.
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Thank you for reading chapter 4. :)
First of all – sorry, I lied. :D I did my best to fit Lectra's Games into two chapters, I really did, but I failed, because there is going to be one more chapter to conclude her story. I hope you don't mind it though. :)
Her costume and her wings were inspired by the anime 'Saikano', which I recommend by the way, if you like extremely sad romance stories between a human guy and an ultimate weapon girl in the time of a bloody war.
Let me know what you think. :) Your comments are little sparks of happiness in my heart… wow, this sounds even sappier than the last one. XD