A/N- Roll on chapter 2! Once I finished chapter 1, I really got into the story, so more shall be revealed in this chapter about Zinny and her life, etc. So, here we go with chapter 2 x
Disclaimer: Yup, I still don't own The Hunger Games. But I do own Zinny (as you know)
The silence echoes around the square. For the moments following Effie's announcement, I'm frozen to the spot. My whole body's paralysed as I attempt to take in what she just said. I can't. The words Peeta Mellark keep replaying in my mind, over and over. No matter how many times I see them in my mind, I can't believe they're true. They can't be true.
I'm still dumbfounded as Peeta walks up to the stand, his fists clenched tightly, his facial expression blank and unreadable. He manages to climb up the stairs to join Effie and Katniss without showing any sort of emotion. His eyes stare out in the distance as his hand is thrust up into the air in a signal we all know too well. The sign of farewell.
It's only after the applause from the audience that I finally come to my senses and realise what's just happened. Some of the girls standing around me turn to me and offer their arms for comfort, knowing that I'm Peeta's sister. I'm Peeta's sister.
I'm his sister and I was too wrapped up in my own relief that I wasn't chosen, that I completely and utterly forgot about him. I guess I never thought that this would really happen. And now that it has, all I can do is run.
I run and run, leaving the swarms of celebrating people behind. Let them celebrate another year of life, I don't really care. All I care about now, is reaching Peeta, before he's taken to his death at the entertainment of the Capitol. I can't let him go without saying goodbye.
Goodbye. That one word that means a thousand things, said a thousand times, doesn't mean much. But it does. Goodbye means a lot when it's final. When it's probably the last word you'll ever say to someone. When you say it to your brother, whom you're supposed to protect from words like this.
I've kept him safe for this far, by always being there when he needed me. Always there to pick him up and mop away those tears that dare to spring from his clear blue eyes. Those beautiful eyes that used to look at me in a state of admiration. Something we never could share with our parents. Things were always too complicated at home, with not enough room to care for each other, well not properly anyways. Sure, there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads, but that was about it. Enough to keep us alive; not enough to keep us smiling though. Our parents were always too busy to show us affection once we were old enough to walk and talk. I'd seen my older brothers live a life empty of real love and even went through it myself. So, as soon as I was old enough to understand, I swore to myself that I'd always be there for Peeta. And I guess, be the mother he never really had.
And until now, I had kept to my promise. That's why we're so close. But now, they're going to take all that away from me. All that I know, all that Iove. And I can't let them. Not now, not ever. I made a promise.
I continue running past familiar face after familiar face, each one more distressed than the one before. Most of them I recognise from the market. Buyers, sellers and just the ones that hang around trying to find scraps to feed their families at home. I can probably name all their faces, I've seen them so many times. Seen those pale, thin faces struggle to even manage a weak smile, nevermind speak. Seeing them always tore a whole in my heart and seeing them now almost brings a tear to my bone dry eyes. You don't even need to speak to them, or even know them, to know what they're feeling now. Relief. Relief that they've been spared another year, although many of them might not even last six months in their condition. It's truly heartbreaking to witness their struggle to keep alive. People know it's just life if you live in the Seam. But, deep down, it's just another reminder of how badly we're treated. The capitol live a life of luxury, meanwhile, us regular people in the Districts are often finding it hard to even keep ourselves fed, nevermind dressed in fancy clothes and jewels. Another of a long list of things the capitol are guilty for.
Pushing all these thoughts to the back of my mind, I begin to concentrate on where I'm heading. The Justice Building. This is where the newly chosen tributes are taken before they're whisked off to the Capitol, then plunged into a deadly bloodbath, otherwise known as the Hunger Games arena. They travel by a vehicle of some sort, so they'll have been there for a while now. But, I'm on foot, which will slow my time down by a lot. Maybe even enough to miss seeing Peeta completely. This thought must trigger something in my brain, because I suddenly get a rush of adrenalin and my run turns into a full sprint.
It's not long before the Justice Building swarms into full view. Only about 100 metres now. As I move closer, the crowds get thicker and I'm forced to drop my speed to just a steady jog. Peering between heads, I can just make out the main entrance, which is heavily guarded by Peacekeepers. It will take some persuasion to get myself through those doors, due to the fact that they probably won't believe Peeta's my brother, as we look so different. Him, with his blond curls, gentle blue eyes and fairly stocky build. And me, with my slightly wavy auburn hair, piercing green eyes and thin figure. Ok... looks like Plan A: persuasion, will be of no use. Plan B it is. I must admit, the idea of forcing myself in sounds more appealing. But that's just me.
After several crushed toes, a bruised arm and a face that's been elbowed more times than I can remember, I'm finally in front of the double doors that mark the entrance to one of the largest, emptiest buildings in District 12. My eyes dart around the entrance, scanning for some way of entry. Alas, the only way in seems to be in front of my body. I guess it's back to Plan A then.
A rather tall, big built Peacekeeper blocks the entrance and in his side pocket, I notice in his possession, a small gun. Probably loaded with a sleep solution of some sort, I think as try to examine him further. My risk assessment is cut short when he notices me sizing him up. His gaze drops down from overlooking the crowd to directly in my face.
"Can I help you, miss" He grumbles, eyes still locked on my face and his arms neatly crossed across his chest.
"Yes you can actually" I speak up boldly, trying to keep my voice steady, although my heart is beating hard from the run, "I've come to see my brother, Peeta Mellark"
His voice breaks out into a state of disbelief and laughter. "You have got to be kidding me, miss" He pauses for a moment while he chuckles a little more. Once his joke is over, he returns to his former position and frowns slightly, "Sorry, only close family. You know the rules"
I was expecting something like that to happen. But really, who can blame him? We look as much like brother and sister as, I don't know, a bear and a snake. Me being the snake. All the same, I was so sure that I would be able to break in that I didn't prepare myself with what to do if this situation arose.
"Look, I know we're not identical twins or anything, but we do have similarities, right?" I propose, with my best cheeky smile I can pull off.
"Right... Nah, don't see it" He shrugs his shoulders and rolls his eyes.
"Honestly, we are related. I swear on his life!" I talk back to him, a hint of desperation in my voice.
"Doesn't change anything, he'll be dead in a week or so anyway" His head turns away, obviously fed up with me.
He's pretty much the only thing standing in the way of me and Peeta and I won't let him have the satisfaction of stopping me. The only thing I want in the world right now is to see my brother, before he's taken away from me. Probably never returning. I need this so desperately and no one is going to stop me from getting it. No one. Not even a big, security guard, who's armed with a sleeping gun.
Time is running out and I can't spare any to run my mind through possible ideas. I have to think and act now.
My hand clenches up in a fist and I tense my arm, ready to punch his smug little face, when I'm stopped in my tracks. The door behind him swings open and my mother stands in the doorway, her eyes slightly red. She must have been crying.
"Let her through. She's my daughter" She says, her voice sounds slightly shaken.
The guard sighs and nods his head at her, then moves to the side and gestures with his hand for me to enter. I give him one small glare, then walk inside.
I've stepped into, what seems to be a reception. The room is fairly large, with cream painted walls and a polished marble flooring. A long, narrow granite desk stands before me. Mother takes a pen from the pot and begins to sign our names on a slip of paper, labelled 'Tribute Guests'.
Once the form is filled in, she turns back to me and gestures for me to follow. Still silent, she walks a few metres ahead of me, leading me up the marble staircase and down a corridor to the left.
We walk for a few minutes, but not one word passes either of our lips. The only sound is the soft thuds of our feet, as they walk along on the marble floor. Besides, I feel to awkward to say anything and I pressume she's still upset to talk to me either. She must have seen Peeta for the last time, I think, as she finally stops and nods at the door infront. This must be where they're holding Peeta for his last moments in District 12.
Strangely, I start to feel somewhat nervous and hesitate to open the door straight away
I look into her eyes for some sort of comfort, but all I get in return is a clouded mist of depression. So, I turn my attention to the door that lies between me and Peeta and forget about any symptoms of nervousness that my body may be trying to deal with.
Clearly marked in a gold lettering on the faded red door, is the number 64.
The door creaks open as I step inside, closing it firmly behind me. We need privacy, time alone, before his every move is live on TV. There won't be moments for only us anymore, I'll have to share them with the rest of the districts and... the Capitol. This last thought brings a lump to my throat, but I just swallow it and make my way over to Peeta.
He's sitting, head in his hands, on a lush velvet sofa. The rest of the room is as fancy as the sofa, with soft carpets and gold patterns climbing up the walls.
I sit down on the sofa beside him and tap his shoulder lightly, causing his head to stir and look up at mine.
"Hey" I whisper softly, lips curved up in a friendly smile.
"Oh, hi. Was wondering when you'd show up" He said, although the words seemed angry, the tone of his voice wasn't. It was soft and smooth.
"I would have been here sooner, honestly. You would not believe-" I begin.
"I'm only joking with you, Zinny. You're such a fuss pot" He tries to add a little light to his voice, but it still sounds depressed.
I giggle a bit, to ease the tension and lighten the atmosphere between us, but it's obvious that the moment has passed and the sadness returns.
"Well, I had you to look after, so of course I fuss a bit"
"Fortunately for you, I won't need to be looked after anymore" His eyes flicker down the the floor, as if he's avoiding eye contact.
"Peeta, don't say that. There's still a chance..." I plead softly to him, desperately attempting to force some positive thoughts into his mind.
"I can say it, cuz it's true. There is no way that someone like me would survive longer than twenty-three other tributes. Especially not against the Careers" Peeta's voice has risen slightly and his eyes flick back to meet mine.
"That's not entirely true" I say, my gaze burying deeper into his.
"They've had the training. I haven't. All I know is how to bake a loaf of bread - and that's hardly going to help me in the arena" He replies, with a sharp edge to his voice.
"You can do a lot more than that Peeta" I say back.
"Really? Yeah, like what then?" His tone hinting with sarcasm.
"Frosting" I slip out, without even thinking properly.
"Wow... now that's going to come in real handy. I'll just ice them to death!" He says even more sarcastically.
This is going nowhere...
"Oh, Peeta. I'm sorry for everything, it's just that all this has come as a bit of a shock to me" I let out a sigh.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. You've done everything for me, and here I am, shoving it back in your face" He says.
I open my arms and offer a hug. As usual, he accepts and we sit there for a moment, stuck in each other's embrace. I don't want to let him go. All I want is to keep him here with me, safe and unharmed. But I know I can't, so I just hold him for whatever remaining moments we have together.
After a few minutes, Peeta mumbles into my shoulder.
"I'm scared, Zinny. I'm really terrified"
This only makes me hug him harder, pulling his body even closer to mine. Breathing in his familiar scent and feeling his warmth. However, soon enough, my eyes become damp with brewing tears.
I try to blink them away, but it's obvious that they're here to stay.
"This is so unfair" I finally let out, tears starting to break free from my eyes and trickle down my face.
We pull apart after a short while and he sees the tears that are now streaming down my face and dripping into my palms, forming a small pool.
Despite the wetness in my palm, Peeta takes my hands in his and looks into my eyes.
"Zinny, it's ok. These things happen, there's nothing you could have done" He calmly tells me.
I sniff quietly and wipe the dampness from my eyes and cheeks. "I know, Peeta. But these things shouldn't happen. It's not right"
"I know, but there's nothing we can do to stop it. We'll just have to deal with it like everyone else"
"But I can't, Peeta, I can't!" I stand up and turn my face away from him. "I don't see how you can be so calm about it!"
"I just have to be strong; show no weakness" He shrugs.
"No you don't! That's supposed to be my job" I reply back to him, a slight shaking in my voice, as I try to keep more tears from sprouting out.
"You're entitled to show your emotions though. You're just human"
"Yeah, but that's what they want! The Capitol want to see our weaknesses and see our suffering. They want to remind us who's in power" I manage to spit out, having it bubbling inside me for the past six years. "And I can't take it anymore!"
"But Zinny-" Peeta tries to cut through to me, but once I've started, I can't stop everything from spilling out.
"They think that they own us. That they're all mighty and we're just their servants and entertainers. Our suffering is their idea of a good show!" I exclaim, now pacing around the room, fists clenched with anger.
"I know, but-" He tries yet again to bring peace, but again, it fails.
"This can't go on for any longer. They can't treat us like this. They don't own us!" I'm practically shouting now.
Just as I'm about to shout more truths about the Capitol, the door slams open. A Peacekeeper stands in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest like the security gaurd at the door...
"Oh, not you again" I sneer at him, eyes flaring angrily.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to ask you to leave now" He says in his deep gruff of a voice.
"You're sorry! Pfft! You people of the Capitol don't apologise for anything! You're all just, cold hearted-" I yell back at him in protest.
"Miss, I think that you should be quiet and leave now, before things get out of hand" His arm gestures through the open door.
"Before? I think you'll find that things got out of hand a long time ago, when the Capitol decided that they were better than us!" I snap back at him, the rage building up inside me getting more and more ferocious.
"Right, I've been nice. But now you're just offending the policies, so I'm going to have to remove you from the building forcefully" He says, stepping towards me.
I take a step back, ready to defend myself if needed. The whole time, my eyes are firmly locked on his face, showing that I wasn't going to back down.
He seems to register in his thick skull that he's not going to get me out alone, and he pulls out a walkie-talkie and says something in a code I don't understand. I think he's calling for back up?
Minutes later, it turns out that my prediction was right, as several other Peacekeepers flood into the room.
I exchange a quick glance with Peeta, before hands clamp tightly on my arms and I'm slowly dragged out the room.
I resist, struggle, trying to break free to get back to Peeta, whom I didn't even say a proper goodbye to. No matter how hard I jerk, scramble and thrash about, their grips never loosen. I'm strong, but not strong enough. Not against four tough men, anyway.
We're nearing the door out towards the corridor and I know it's too late. I can't get out of their grasp; as long as their holding me, I'm stuck. Oh God, I feel so stupid!
Why did I let them get to me that badly? Yet again, I was too busy thinking about what I wanted myself to say, without thinking about what Peeta needed. He needed comfort, a shoulder to cry on, maybe. Instead, all he got was my rambling and myself causing more trouble. Again. Just like always.
Everywhere I go, I leave a trail of trouble behind me. And I've left one here to. Here, as in the last place I'll ever be next to Peeta again. I've blown my last chances with him. I should have been strong, but here I am, being taken away by security. I'm just a girl who let's her own feelings get in the way of everything important. A trouble maker. That's what I am.
Just as the door is closing, I manage to yell at the top of my voice, hoping for Peeta to hear my last words to him.
"Just remember that you're more than a piece in their games!"
The last thing I see, is not Peeta. Nor the door that now separates us once more.
The last thing I see is my mother's face, filled with disappointment. A face I've seen too many times.
That's the last thing in my mind, disappointment. Then everything goes black.
A/N- EEkk, wow, that had emotions in it... I think you'll be able to understand a little more about how messed up Zinny is...
So, yes, you know the drill. Please review and I love you forever if you do x GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS.
Thanks, FireflyLlama XD