Phoenix Rise

Chapter 4: District 11

Siobhan POV

If you have to asked me about making a decision on choice of not killing Effie and taking Pepper powder? I would take the burning sensation again, because I'm sure my ears were bleeding of Effie schedule. I hate schedules, they can be so annoying and just making it more time consuming. So grabbing a chocolate chip muffin eating it by the window, as the snow was absent. Not in district eleven, but very close. I practically felt nauseated ready to puke out nothing.

"Cinna was up late working on organizing your garment car. He must have over a hundred outfits for you. Your evening clothes are exquisite. Gale's team is probably still asleep." Effie noted out.

"Does Gale need prepping?" I yawn, for it was like six in the morning.

"Not the way you do," Effie replied.

I nodded, another torchers day of remake. Having them ripping the hairs off my body with bikini wax while Gale sleeps. Though I find it odd, how the absent of facial hair the guys had in the arena. Sure they get a wax face for no beards or whiskers, but the month there and Gale or Cato, or anybody didn't grow hair. What's the point, as I took a bite of my muffin and headed to Hells cart.

Music was playing while a loud rip could be heard from the follicle and wax. I bit my lip and pray not to scream while grabbing Octavia's hand for dear life. At least she shows sympathy while Venia tears strand from strand. Until it got to the last hair area in my private section. I asked if they could leave that alone not wanting to feel that much pain again. Except I got a no, but they had a substitute, as they damp a cloth with some chemical and dabbed over there. I flinched over the slight burn over my sensative area, until tossed in the tub that now all the hair was gone off my body. The water smelled unpleasant, while my hair and face was plaster in cream. After three baths in different concoction and water; I sat down raw.

Flavius tilted my chin and sighed. "It's a shame Cinna said no alteration on you."

"Yes, we could really make you something special," Octavia added.

"When she's older," Venia said hint of Grim. "Then he'll have to let us."

I personally don't want to know what they had in mind. There was hardly anything they can do about my legs, but doesn't mean my upper body wasn't safe. After six hours of pure torture, I came into the dinning cart to see Effie, Cinna, Portia, Haymitch, and Gale eating. I sighed, dragging myself to the table and started eating some stew. People talked about how a good night sleep they had, but I noticed Gale had a bit of bags under his eyes. This concern me, usually Gale was a morning person and had enough sleep and energy. Not a dead man walking.

Suddenly the train made a stop for fuel. I took this a signal of relief of a delay. Since the conductor announced a malfunction with the engine and be delayed a few hours. This resolves Effie in a, frenzy. As she pulls out her schedule and blabbers about a catalyst event of turn of event. I couldn't stand it anymore that I snapped.

"Who cares Effie!" I snapped everyone in the room stared at me. "It's not like it's the end of the world."

With that said, I got up and left the dining car. I needed some air as I got up to a door and open it. Some sort of an alarm went off, but I don't care. I jumped out with a loud crunch of gravel ground and wobble some on my left leg. Grabbing the rail for balance I walked down the trail staring close to the cart. Soon I was at the caboose, and continued to walk farther. My mind was completely at it, I absolutely don't want to go on this trip. Most importantly, I don't want to go to District Eleven. To Rue's home and have her Siblings look at me disappointedly. It was me who was supposed to die; it was supposed to be me, not Rue, not her. I was near death and yet a twelve year old dies. All I could do now was fund for her and Thresh Family. So far, Rue parents' gratitude my charity as well as Thresh's grandmother. But what do their siblings think? A kiss-up, that's for sure.

Once I saw a good strong tree I climbed it. I was about a good hundred yards away from the train, easy to get there in time. Sitting on the thick branch, I stare at a mockingjay nest. The bird didn't seem to mind my presence as she tended her eggs, keeping them warm with her body. I smiled sadly, remembering how I tried to keep Rue warm and be a sister to her. Taking a deep breath, I whistle the four note melody. The Mockingjay paused for a second before she responded as well. I kept at it, whistling the melody as the bird responded.

After ten minutes I heard footsteps from below. It would probably be Haymitch to give me a damn lecture. Yeah, it was wrong to snap at Effie and rude behavior, but I couldn't take the optimistic energy anymore. I look down, instead of seeing the old drunk, it was Gale. I scowled at him. "If you're going to scold me, I'll slap you."

Gale chuckled and lean against the trunk of the tree arms crossed. "Don't want that now do we." Though he stared at my prosthetic leg and frown. "Bad day?"

I snorted for an answered. Gale sighed and took a deep breath and was about to say something then shot his mouth. I was going to ask him what's wrong when he shook his head. Whatever is bothering him, he needs to stop battering around a bush. Until he spoke, "Do you wanted us to be together?"

"What are you asking?" I replied confused while a bit hurt from his question. Does he want us to break up? No he couldn't, I wouldn't suffice without him. He was my best friend and boyfriend that I would die if he left me. Sure I would have mend the pieces and moved on, except I would have a huge hole in my chest if he left me so soon. He was my rock. "You're breaking up with me?"

"No," Gale assured turning around to face me as tears were falling down. He grabbed my right knee and gave a gentle squeeze. "Of course not, it's just . . . I don't want to force you to be with me. And it wasn't fair to hold anything that happens in the Game. It's just . . . Damn it, how can I say it? . . . I don't want you to feel like your cage for the Capitol."

I scowled at his words, they didn't make sense. I jumped down and turned to him. "What aren't you saying Gale?" I demanded. "What did President Snow tell you? I know he confronted you and we are prepared to do anything for our family. We promised not to hold secrets Gale. So tell me, what did President Snow talk to you about?"

Gale closed his eyes, debating himself yet again until he looked up at me. "Don't you think it's strange, that we kept saving each other and we hardly know each other than the basic?"

"Gale," I growled. "Don't change the subject!"

"It's nothing Sio, President Snow just wanted to congratulate me." Gale assured. "You're favorite color is Pink right?"

I groaned; it was no use to get the information out of him. He was stubborn like any guy in the world. Taking a deep breath, "Purple, like lavender, something soft but not to deep. Yours is still red, right?"

"Yeah," Gale sighed as he took my hand fingers entwined and we started walking. "Your drawings are on the rage."

"I got a whole cart full of them" I said.

When we got back to the train, we went to the dining car, where everyone was still having lunch. I apologized to Effie about the outburst which she accepted graciously. Announcing I was under a lot of pressure and it was true. I've been so stressed the couple of months over the Second Tea shop and Capitol clients request on personal tea from me, that I hardly relax from the hobby I so enjoyed.

With that out of the way, I showed Gale my drawings. Gale probably didn't suspected to see a gallery of simplest of things, but as he enter. He saw coal dust in form of the Hunger Games. Some that others won't get right away if you haven't been in the arena. The Cornucopia surrounded by tributes. The forest and the abstract branches. The female cult of the Careers. Rue in the trees, Thresh within the wheat fields. The cave where we hid, the stream and rivers, Foxy being stealthy with in the bushes with a fox beside her, Cato holding his sword proudly, Gale and his bow and arrow, and finally, Willow meadow. But in a corner lies a rough image of Rue cover in flowers.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"I . . . to be honest, I don't like them." Gale breathed walking towards the resent sketch of willow meadow. "I try to forget what happen in the arena and you brought them back in black and white. How can you remember all this?"

"Guilt," I said picking up a charcoal stick. "And a photographic memory . . . Do you still?"

I remember on the last train ride, how Gale had a nightmare that he almost fell to a certain type of madness. The one that locks you mentally from the world to be reminded of guilt. You die in the games, for a piece of you never goes on, and you're lost in a certain prison in some sort of form. The guilt of killing and your hands stain red. I look at my hand every time, though flawless it seems, blood still remains. The blood of Nine, Six, Seven, Rue, Foxy, and Cato; their blood was forever there. It's a curse to have a strong memory that it plague in my mind like a nightmare.

"Yeah, still have them . . ." Gale said. "Does it help to draw these?"

"So, so," I shrugged going to a canvass and started too randomly on the white paper. "Tell me about yours, you seem exhausted."

"Not like you," Gale said taking a seat next to me watching my hand do its work. "Guess, I'm a bit . . . nervous to sleep. Not wanting to see it all over again. But they just won't go away."

"They won't," I simply said. "Though it happens in the past. The past forever haunt you until your grave. Unless, you learn to accept, however you didn't have the worst."

Gale nodded, even though he might have been blown in an explosion making him half deaf until repaired. Killed Glimmer, Marvel, Clove, and Cato; his hands remained clean. Once done with the basic frame of the drawing, I turned to Gale. "Do you really don't like my work?"

"Just those," he said as he pointed the ones from the beginning of the game and Careers. "They're great! Really!" He gave a chuckled. "I wished, I had some art talent, could have made a sculpture."

"Of a clump," I snickered. With that said the train lurched forwards.

"C'mon, we're near District Eleven."

We went back to the caboose and sat down in the chairs to gaze at the landscape. To see open fields with cattle and sheep grazing about. I was amazed to the space unlike our forest home. Except the excitment fell to shock as we passed barbed wire. The open fields became a in terminate camp, wire, poles and metal plates. As watchtowers spread out armed with security men with guns. Rue mention how strictly enforced the district officials are. In fact, I heard rumor that there was a riot during the game after Gale and I said goodbye to Rue. To see this, what's supposed to be agricultures orchards was a prison. This place makes District 12 a haven.

Crop fields were soon seen, as men, woman and children worked in them. Most had dark skin while others beige as they wore straw hats. Some of the workers turned around and others waved, until the orchards took place. Seeing kids climbed on them to collect fruit.

"How many do you think live here?" I asked though in school, this district had the most populated.

"More than they show at the reaping." Gale muttered. "Probably samples."

I was going to ask him what he meant, when Effie came in telling us to get dressed. When I got to my compartment and let the prep team, do my hair and makeup. Cinna appeared with a short embroidered tan dress with a gold belted waist. I was hesitant at the length of the dress. It would show my prosthetic leg to the public. And it wasn't a pretty sight, for it looks more machine than an actual leg. Cinna said that District eleven wanted to see the real me, no lies or cover ups they did in the game. I nodded putting the dress on, enjoying how the cotton felt on my skin followed by the flats.

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District Eleven wasn't much of a city, like I thought before. It was a camp or some military base I read in a text book. As a parcel of its citizens could attend the event, not wanting to miss the harvesting season. The Square was confined and backed near the worn justice building and I felt nervous. Gale and I stood behind the doors waiting to be announced after the mayor of District Eleven makes his speech in our honor.

I was so scared and nervousness that my palms were sweating madly and butterflies flutter in my stomach. That I think I'm about to puke. I fiddle with my medallion while adjusting the golden headband. Cinna was either trying to make look younger and innocent or elegant and mature, it's hard to tell. The anthem then played followed by a clip of a microphone.

"Are you ready?" Gale asked paler than ever before.

"Yeah and you?" I asked.

"Think I'm going to be sick." Gale said.

"Just not on me, okay." I said while taking his left hand and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. Gale chuckled and then the mayor introduces us as the massive doors open in protest.

"Big smiles!" Effie said as she nudged us out to the town square stage.

There was a loud applause, but nothing like the Capitol, which was okay. We walked out and stood center stage into the bright sun that my eyes cringed at the blazing rays. It took a moment to adjust before seeing banners that decorated their abused state. The square was also packed however a handful compares to the entire population that lives here. There were two other stages set up as well on the sides of the Justice building. Those were constructed for the dead tributes families.

On Thresh's side there were only two people. An old willow woman with a hunched back, and a tall muscular girl. I assumed they were Thresh's grandmother and Sister. On Rue's side, were her five siblings and parents who bore fresher tears? Though the father tried to be strong and gave a smile, I could see it in his eyes, the disappointment at me. Even when I funded for Rue's family, money was nothing compare to an innocent life.

When the applauses died down and the mayor gave the speech in our honor. Two young girls came up with bouquets of flowers. Gale went up first doing his part of the speech as he held the notecards and read them aloud. You can tell, but his detail on words that it was rehearsed and not at all like him. It was too formal and to restrain from what Gale actually was. I'm guessing Effie wrote his card. Once he was done with his speech he stopped and was hesitant before saying.

"They were the best people I ever met," Gale said.

To the crowds response was a gasped and small murmur. To see that the hunter does have a heart and wasn't the Capitols toy. As for the families they smiled and they too know that their children were indeed the best. When he got back to me, I kissed him on the lips in a simple peck.

Then I walked up stage to the Podium to make my speech. I stared at Rue's sister to see her staring at me, for a second I thought I saw Rue once more. Shaking my head, I went on with my speech.

"I want to give my thanks to the tributes of District Eleven, to Rue and Thresh." I said looking between the two families as I told of their children. "Thresh was a strong and powerful man and we met a handful of time before the Game. We had the same goal and that was to make sure Rue was safe." I looked at his Grandmother. "He was a caring man and brave for he denied being a Career or anyone's term except his own. That I wish I knew him better."

Thresh's Grandmother looked up and gave me a smile. The crowd went silent as well letting me continued. I turn to face Rue family next.

"For Rue, she was like a sister I never had, and she'll always will be. I regretted not being fast enough to save her, for I was in a brick of death and yet she suffers. It should have been me and I apologized to you all. But even when she's gone her spirit lives on. We can all see the angel that hops around the tree's with her mockingjay friends, singing for the next day. Though young and pure she was. She was the bravest and wisest for her age. I gladly met and I hope that we all never forget; that even the small can be brave." I said aloud and let the tears fall down.

"Thank you for your wonderful children." I said letting them see my vulnerability. "And thank you for the bread."

With that I did the unthinkable. I whistle Rue's four note melody. After a long paused the audience responded as well to the four notes of the mockingjay tune. By the end of the tune, I felt a hand grabbed my very own. An old man in worn overalls and flannel shirt kissed my hand and placed three fingers on my forehead making some sort of symbol. What happen next was spontaneous, for in sync the crowd lifted three fingers from their left hand against their lips and extended them to the air. The signal of goodbye.

Immediately I was pushed off from the podium as the mayor, rushed in presenting each of us a plaque that was larger to hold both it and the flowers. So I put the flowers down and shook the mayor's hand. However Gale wrapped his arm around my waist and quickly led me inside, like there was going to be a bomb or something.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Fine, just hot out there." Gale said.

I nodded then realized something. "Wait, I forgot my flowers."

"I'll get them," he said desperately.

"I got it," I assured turning around to fetch the bouquets.

I walked outside again, however it wasn't the same atmosphere as it was before. For a pair of peacekeeper dragged the old man who kissed my hand and touched my forehead was forced to the ground. Forcing him onto his knee's in front of everybody, and shot a bullet through his head.

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Sorry for the long hold up. I debated on what I wanted to write and was busy with the other stories. Thanks for your patients and I'll try to write the next chapter soon.

Also please leave a review. I love reviews.

Silent wolf singer