Okay so here is the second chapter I promised you. This one kind of focuses on Lilit. Don't worry it's still in Alek's POV. But it kind of goes into detail about how Lilit is adjusting and how she is doing much better than Alek and Newkirk. Jaspert will appear too. So if you're a Lilit lover, this is the chapter for you! Enjoy! :)
~Z
Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape or form Scott Westerfeld or Suzanne Collins...
I'm starting to think that Training is just a cruel way to torture us. Training for the War Games was never this brutal. We have to run three miles every session. After that we do our stretches and drills, in the mud. Lilit is usually the first to jump into the mud. I'm starting to think that she enjoys these training sessions a little too much. Following our drills we sit in a classroom and go over tactics until our minds turn to goo. Newkirk and I always fight to stay awake but Lilit is always up and alert. I wonder what they are putting in her food. I desperately need a dose of whatever she is having. When tactics are over we go hand-to-hand combat. The three of us stay in a group and Lilit takes Newkirk and I both down easily. I don't see how Lilit needs to go to Training. She is already better than most of the other soldiers here.
I see Lilit jogging up ahead. It has only been a few days since we started training and she is already leader of the group and the only girl in this squad. The boys are either intimidated by her or crushing on her. She doesn't pay attention to anything the boys do. As for Newkirk and I, we are usually the last ones to finish our 3 miles and the last ones to dive into the mud. And the officer always has to yell at us when we fall asleep or fall behind.
At least in one week and a half we will perform our mission. Adela has forced us to wear our Propo uniforms on the day of the mission. The uniforms are more than decorative; they actually have armor and protection under the fabric. Mr. Rigby has also issued us special weapons. Lilit was given special throwing stars that return back to her with a push of a button. Newkirk was given a set of knives that fly back to him. I was given a special sword and a knife that come back to me if I need them to.
It's Dinnertime when I see him walk to our table. I wonder why he is coming over here. Before I can ask Lilit or Newkirk he sits right across from me and next to Lilit. Lilit doesn't notice she continues to eat her rice. Newkirk smiles at him
"I heard you're all going on the rescue mission to get my little sister." Jaspert says.
"You heard right," Newkirk says.
"I found out that I'm assigned to your squad." says Jaspert.
"That's going to be helpful." Lilit says.
"You must miss her." I say out of nowhere. Everyone at the table looks at me.
Jaspert doesn't say anything like he's thinking of what he should say. "Of course, but I know that we will get her out."
"Of course we will if lover boy here has anything to say about it." Lilit says as she points to me with her spoon.
I roll my eyes. "Will you please stop calling me that?" I ask.
"Nah too fun." she says eating her food.
"Ignore her," Newkirk says. She sticks her tongue out at him. "Anyways how have you been Jaspert?"
"I've been fine but now I'm stuck with my Ma and our aunts. Deryn's looking like the lucky one right about now. I can't handle all the nagging. 'Jaspert go get my knitting tools!' 'Jaspert come rub my feet!' 'Jaspert stop slouching and sit up straight!' I'm pretty sure the Capitol can't recreate this kind of torture." he says shaking his head.
"You're a hero man. I would go loony after five minutes." Newkirk says.
"Thanks," he says rolling his eyes.
"I bet I could last." Lilit chirps.
"Be my guest." Jaspert says gesturing to the table that his family is sitting at.
"With pleasure." she says as she stands up and heads to the table.
The women welcome her and they all go into a conversation. Lilit is pointing over to us and saying something to them but I'm terrible at reading lips. A woman who I take is Jaspert and Deryn's mother looks our way and waves. The three of us wave back absent mindedly. Lilit looks like she is telling a joke or a story. The women are all smiling and laughing at something. Jaspert and Newkirk gape. Apparently the women were hard to please.
"I can't believe it," Jaspert says.
"I know, I would have thought for sure that they would be scolding her but now they are welcoming her like a sister!" Newkirk exclaims.
"She's like Deryn and my aunts were repeatedly trying to change her!" Jaspert screeches.
"That's Lilit for you." I mumble as I go back to eating.
Lilit waves a goodbye to the women and walks back to our table with a skip in her step. "I don't know why you find them annoying, they're a riot!" she says.
"My Ma? A riot? You must be joking." Jaspert says.
"Your mother was the funniest one! Well then your aunt Elaine was a close second. Such crazy women. How you find them irritating is beyond me." she says.
"You're insane." he says.
"Tell me something I don't know Blondie." she says.
"Blondie?" Jaspert asks.
Newkirk just claps and smiles. "Well done, well done."
Lilit puts her hands up. "I try,"
"Alek you haven't said much." Jaspert says.
I then realize that they're talking to me. "What? Oh sorry, I'm not much of a talker." I say as I finish my dinner.
"Well all right then. I have to go back or my aunt Rita is going to come over here and drag me away by the ear. Wish me luck. See you three tomorrow." he says. We wave him goodbye and all leave to Training.
Newkirk and I are trying to figure out how to put these guns together. All the pieces are laid out in front us and we have no idea what pieces connect to which. We might as well have been told to build a working rocket with plastic spoons that run on carrot juice. Some of the other soldiers are having trouble as well. That means we aren't the only ones. Lilit is already done and lying in the grass. I still don't know she always does this so fast. I'm starting to think that she has someone else do it for her. She easily could persuade one of the other soldiers.
"Have you figured it out yet?" I ask Newkirk.
He shakes his head. "I'm pretty sure we got broken guns."
"Having trouble boys?" We both turn around and see Lilit looming over us.
We both slump our shoulders and stare at the ground. "Yes," we both mumble.
Lilit sits next to us and swiftly puts our guns together. She puts them back into our hands and walks away leaving us dumbfounded. We stare at each other then at her. I inspect the gun. It's put together perfectly.
"How did she..?" Newkirk starts to ask.
"I don't know. I just don't know." I say.
We all go back to our apartment. It's almost time to go to bed. I open the door and see that Bovril is already fast asleep on the bed. He hasn't even bothered to change. I kick off my shoes and flop onto the bed. Newkirk goes to his bed on the floor and falls into it. Lilit goes to the bathroom to bathe. I change Bovril into his night clothes and tuck him into bed. Newkirk is sleeping and snoring loudly. I drape his blanket over his head and wait for Lilit to finish so that I can shower and wash away all of this disgusting sweat.
Lilit exits the bathroom door minutes later in her night clothes and her hair in a wet tangled mess.
"All yours lover boy." she says as she sits on her bed.
I sigh, grab my clothes and go into the bathroom. After my shower I head out into the main room and see that Bovril is sleeping peacefully. Newkirk is laying on his stomach with one of his legs bent in the air and clutching his pillow in one of his arms and drooling on it. Poor, poor pillow. I sit on the bed and notice that Lilit is still awake under her covers.
"What are you still doing up?" I ask her.
She just looks at me. Her eyes aren't as lively and wild as usual. "Can't sleep. Never can." she says simply.
"Want to talk about it?" I ask. I sit cross legged and face her.
"Don't know where to start." she says.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Just my family." she says quietly.
"Your grandmother and father?" I ask.
She nods. "Yes, my grandmother is getting older and more and more frail. She is one of the people who I truly care about." she says.
"And your father?"
"He was part of the Rebellion in District 11."
"What do you mean 'was'?"
"The Peacekeepers found out that he was one of the leaders so they executed him on live T.V. I was there in the live audience during the execution. Now I only have my grandmother left." she whispers. Her focus is somewhere off in the distance.
That has to be traumatic to see someone close to you be killed right in front of you. I should know the same thing happened to me. "I'm sorry," I tell her.
Her attention turns back to me. "You don't have to be. He was a good man and an excellent father." she says smiling a little. "Things are never going to get easier are they?" she asks.
"Don't think they ever will." I say. I lift the covers and settle myself in.
"Thank you Alek." she whispers.
I look at her. "For what?" I ask.
"For understanding me and not turning me away." she says.
"You're welcome. Good night." I tell her as I turn off the lamp.
"Good night lover boy." she says in the dark.
I can see her standing in the middle of the clearing here in District 13. But why is she here? I don't think twice. I run straight for her. She turns and sees me. I see her smile at me. Her arms open for me. I see her saying something but I can't hear her. I run faster. The distance keeps growing and it looks like she is getting further and further away. I finally reach her and hold her. I hold her tightly. I won't let her go.
"Alek," she starts to say.
Then I hear the sound of a knife cutting through the air. I hear it hit something. I search myself to see if it hit me. But it didn't hit me. I look around but I don't see a knife anywhere. If it didn't hit me then who or what did it hit? I look at Deryn. She has gone lifeless in my arms. Her eyes have closed and she's gone limp. I search her back and see that the knife is sticking out from the middle of her shoulder blades. I take the knife out and throw it on the ground. I lay her body on the ground. She's gone. And I couldn't save her. I feel something sharp enter my stomach.
I wake up and see the black ceiling remembering that it's night time. I calm my breathing and look around the room. Everyone is still asleep. I run my fingers through my hair. No need to wake up everyone because of a nightmare. It was just a dream. Get a grip Alek. I tell myself. I wrap the blanket tightly around me and close.
"Alek you broke you promise," I hear her say. I sit up so fast my pillow hits Lilit in the face. She instantly wakes up and glares at me. My breathing comes out in chunks.
"Alek are you okay?" Lilit asks.
"Broke your promise." I hear Deryn say in a sing song voice.
"Did you hear that?" I ask her.
"Hear what?" she asks me slightly confused.
"Why did you leave me Alek?" Deryn asks in a sad voice.
"I didn't want to!" I shout at the ceiling.
Lilit stands up and grabs my shoulders and steadies me. "Alek, stop it. You're imagining things." she tells me.
"But I hear her,"
"She isn't there. Your mind is playing tricks on you." she says. "Go back to sleep."
"But-"
"Go to sleep. She isn't there. She is in the Capitol miles away from here. Now go to sleep." Lilit says as she climbs back into her bed.
"Okay," I whisper. I settle back down into the bed and pull the blankets up to my chest. I close my eyes and steady my breathing.
"Night lover boy." Lilit says.
"Night." I say.
"Good night Alek. Sweet dreams." I hear Deryn say in cryptic voice. I hold my hands to my ears to block her out. I fall asleep like that.
My mind is playing with me. I won't let it win.
A/N: Tell me if you enjoyed this chapter. I know Alek is starting act like Annie Cresta but I think is really ties in with the story. I mean wouldn't you go crazy if the person you cared about taken from you and you couldn't stop them? So do you think I nailed all the characters? Yes, no, maybe so? Well review/comment. And all that jazz. See you all sometime soon!
~Z