Phoenix Rise

Chapter 5: You promised!

Gale's POV

My hand quickly covers Siobhan eyes the moment the gun shot the man. I was too late as I pulled Siobhan back into the Justice Building as Peacekeepers with guns shoved us in. I yelled at them saying we're going as Siobhan body went limp. Damn it, this was my fault, I should had warned her. But I was afraid that she would overreact and now her spoken words lead another person death which she had to witness. Once inside, the door slammed shut while hearing the soldiers going back to the crowd.

Haymitch, Effie, Portia, and Cinna waited under the blank screen that mounted on the wall, their faces confused and filled with anxiety.

"What happen?" Effie asked as she hurried over. "We lost feed just after Siobhan beautiful speech, and then Haymitch said he thought he heard gun fire, and I said it was ridiculous, but who knows? There are lunatics everywhere! Gale, why do you have your hands over Siobhan face?"

"Old truck Effie," Siobhan whispered. "That the exhausted fumes got in my eyes."

Two more gun shots.

Siobhan whimpered covering her ears. Why did she lie to Effie, Siobhan wasn't much of a liar person? Better yet, if Effie knew what was going on, then she would go at it.

"Both of you. With me," Haymitch said.

I removed my hands from Siobhan face to see how pale she was. However, she didn't look scared, no, she looked neutral. Crap, I knew that face anywhere and I knew she was debating what's going on and see that it wasn't going to end very well. We followed Haymitch leaving other behind along with the peacekeepers. We ascend many hallways and staircases before we reached the top of the Justice Building. Haymitch open a door that leaded to an old dusty room that had mold. Siobhan sneezed twice when entering. I would have laughed at her mold allergy but now wasn't the time for jokes. Haymitch turned around then yank the microphones off our chest and stuffed them beneath a couch cautions. Afterwards he waved at us, cost was cleared.

But it wasn't, as he led us through another maze and into a trapdoor. After he pushed it aside we found ourselves in a dome filled with broken furniture books and rusty antiques. How would Haymitch know about this place if he only been here once twenty-five years ago?

"What happen?" he asked.

Siobhan related the citizens whistling followed by the old man touching her, the salute, the hesitation with the mayor, and the execution of the old man. She was practically crying, "What the hell is going on Haymitch!"

"It will be better coming from you," Haymitch said to me.

Crap. As I looked at my angry girlfriend who seem she was ready to beat me up. So telling her to sit down on the chair and told her everything. Telling her about President Snow, how the districts aren't obedient, not convinced that we are actually having a relationship, me challenging the Capitol with my rebel self and such. All in all, we are in deep trouble that the whole country was in jeopardy because I was trying to keep us alive. "I was supposed to fix it, prove those who doubted us on the tour. Calm things down you know. But your speech got those three civilians killed, and now everyone has to bare-"

I didn't finish as Siobhan punched me in the face. Holding burning tears as she glared at me. "It's my fault! I made things worse for acknowledging my friends!"

Suddenly she kicked a marble stand knocking a vase offer and shattered on the floor. She turned to face me. "This fucking has to stop, right now! We promised not to hold secrets to each other! And yet you . . . err! Damn it Gale! What am I, am I week or frail in this stupid trust circle! Am I that useless because I have one leg? I dealt with Snow before and his sick games!"

"It's not like that, Sio -"I started.

"No, it's exactly that!" she yelled at me. "We promised to work things out together! You think you have important people too, huh. You think Mark is left back at District Twelve, would be dead as anybody else! Damn it! So what is it, am I not that trust worthy after all we been through?"

"You're always reliably good, Siobhan," Haymitch said bewilder from her cursing. "So smart and caring in how you present yourself before the cameras. I didn't suspect that you would say about . . . them."

"Them, have names; Thresh and Rue. You overestimate me like always. Now, because of me; I screwed up today. What do you think is going to happen to Rue's and Thresh's families? I worked hard in getting them money from marketing. You think they won't receive their share on profit? I don't even know if their still alive, damn it!" She smashed her fist onto a desk causing it to crack. I never have seen her like this. Not as madder than me.

"You're right," I said placing a hand on her shoulder. "We should have told you back at the Capitol."

Siobhan snorted shoving my hand away. "Really, how about when you gave me that sleep syrup?"

I winced at her tone. I screwed up big time. I should have just told her this morning before we gotten to district eleven. She had countless things blocking information from passing. She was smart and secretive when needed to be and yet I missed judged her yet again.

"Look, girl -"Haymitch started.

"Oh, shut it, Haymitch. I know you kept me alive because I'm your only friend's niece. And I wanted Gale or Rue to win. But this isn't the arena. Innocent civilians are dying out there. We can only stop this if we play our part. We all know I'm good with public presentation. Now I know what's going on, I don't need to be coach on what I have to say. Except, I need to know what I'm walking into," Siobhan said monotony. Her face was red as well as her eyes, but her expression was blank.

"From now on, you'll be fully informed," Haymitch promised.

"Better be," Siobhan said as she turned around and left; leaving a trail of dust everywhere.

"Did you choose her, Haymitch?" I asked

"No," he said. "I flipped a coin now and then between you two. I wanted my spirit just like the next drunk."

I sighed, true. If Haymitch didn't help Siobhan during the games; Mark would have taken all his alcohol and make an intervention. Before losing his only friend. From what I heard, mentors have to make a choice in people they had to save. Most districts have two or more victors easy to split up the tributes. But over the fifthteen years, Haymitch had to choose one of us.

"You'll see the choices you'll have to make. If we survive this," Haymitch said. "You'll learn."

I learned a lot of things today. This district is different compare to twelve. First our fences are unguarded and barely charged. The peacekeepers aren't welcome but not strict. Our working makes us exhausted than spiteful. While we try to increase population they have an over population. No wonder District 11 suffer more with desperation. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Snow was right. A simple spark and can engulf everything. But that was politic. For friendship terms, I realized I made Siobhan so angry that she can hold another side.

"So, now you see why I call her a shrew?" Haymitch spoke out. "She has such a temper when getting the right spots. Surprised she didn't mentally snap during the game."

I nodded, everything was happening to fast for me. Snow's warning, the shooting, and the possible consequences on the way. It was improbable along with other thing. All because I was being me. Just opening my mouth can stir thing up towards the circumstances.

"Come on," Haymitch said. "We've got a dinner to attend."

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Siobhan POV

I sat in the shower letting the hot water washed evidents of me crying away. I just wanted to stay under here forever and not come out. I remember Uncle Mark told me about another culture that people cleanse themselves in water. To wash away their sin, purfying. But I knew I couldn't stay in there for too long. Luckily, Cinna convinced the prep team that he got me for today and let them prepare for tonight's dinner. I thank Cinna for that, he knew I didn't like people seeing me cry and in pain. So grabbing the rail, I hopped out of the shower and sat on the toilet frying myself before attaching me leg. A shock of electricity shot through as I hissed.

Cinna said everything was going to be alright after I told him what happen. But I couldn't get the old man's death out of my head. I was so lost in this moment of shock when Cinna snapped his finger at me. That I blink to hear my medallion playing the music box. I sighed to see myself in the mirror. To see I was in a white gown with a unique print with a delicate fuchsia, purple or turquoise design. Some beaded straps and low cut back, White sandals and the medallion in place while my hair was simply curls.

Cinna comes behind and places a silver shawl around my shoulder. "Like it?"

"Love it," I murmured. "It expresses me."

"Let's see how it looks with a smile," he said kindly. A reminder that any moment the paparazzi would be out. However how can I be happy if Gale broke our promise? Anyway, I managed to put on a small smile. "There we go."

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It seems Haymitch hasn't told Effie what was happening when we assembled for dinner. It was a good thing, because I already had enough of a headache already. And her evening schedule was already fuel to the migraine. She saw this and tossed it aside.

"And then, thank goodness, we can all get on that train and get out of here." She said.

"Is something wrong, Effie?" Cinna asked.

"I don't like the way we've been treated. Being stuffed into a truck and barred from the platform. And then, about an hour ago, I decided to look around the Justice Building. I'm something of an expert in architectural design, you know." She pointed out.

"oh, yes, I've heard that,' Portia said.

As Effie talked with Portia in how the Peacemaker showed up and order to back inside. But most importantly pointing a gun at her! God, this district was a complete jail here. I told her that was awful and tell her maybe we should ditch the dinner party. I hoped she would say yes, but knowing Effie she said she'll manage and that gale and I couldn't missed the party of our honor. I groaned mentally for all I want to do was go to bed. We got into Effie's formation from prep team to victor as Gale looked at me concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm not feeling so good." I muttered.

Gale nodded wrapping an arm around my waist. I flinched pulling back some, for I wasn't in the mood for his closeness. Gale sighed and took my hand.

"I really do care about you Sio," Gale said. I flinched when he uses my nickname. The one that Rue gave me. He noticed this and pecked my head.

"Want talk about it tonight?" he asked.

". . . yeah, we need to talk." I said.

"Okay," he whispered as the light hits us, and I put on my most good poker faces of a smile. Though deep down; I was empty.

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Back on the train I laid in my bed after putting on my nightgown and removing my leg. A small knock was heard and I let Gale in. He was also in his pajamas and took a seat on the bed. The room was engrossed in silences before Gale took a deep breath.

"The reason, I've been holding back is because I felt you had enough pressure on you. If I told you what happen during the conversation between me and Snow, you might have snapped. Now I see it was the other way around." He said looking at me. "I'm sorry Siobhan; I just wanted to protect you."

"Gale," I sighed. "We promised back on the train, that we are in this together. To protect our love ones. But I need to know, do you actually care for me or are you using me? I'm not some toy Gale. I'm a human disable being. I may be physically weak doesn't stop me mentally. You think you had it worst. You don't have blood on your hands, Gale. You don't know what it was like for me when we were separated during the games. What it felt to have your hands coated in blood and feeling pain each second. And during the night I prayed you were safe, hoping not to see your name up in the sky. I care about you so much that I almost died during the explosion . . . when I saw you injured. Damn it, Gale, I was afraid to live without you."

"Siobhan," Gale sighed taking my hand as I cried. Soon was in his arms as he rocked us side to side.

"I . . . love you Gale." I whispered. "But, how can I love you if you keep turning back."

"I know and I'll make it up, I promised." Gale said as he laid us done on the bed. My head resting on his chest while he rubbed small circles on my back, "we'll do this together."

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Okay, hope you guys enjoy this. But I feel like nobody is interested in this story anymore? Is it because it's the beginning and not the action of the quarter quells? I will continue this story if there are five more reviews.

Thanks for reading and please leave a review.

Silent wolf singer