(A/N: I am so sorry that this is late! I meant to update last Friday but, (obviously) I got really busy and did not get the chapter typed in time. I will most likely post another chapter tomorrow because of the delay, and I should be posting chapter sixteen now. Thanks for reading! Here's is chapter fifteen...)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I apprehensively glance over at my mother, who stares wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the television. She must recognize the name too.
Asher stands next to me, whimpering. I follow his gaze reluctantly towards my dad, only to find him clutching the back of the couch, eyes squeezed tightly shut and knuckles white. I honestly wonder why this still scares Asher, even though he has seen it happen numerous times; but I then remember how it frightened me too, only worse.
Every time I witnessed my dad having an episode I would run outside and climb the big oak tree in the yard, not caring how high up in the air I was. Sometimes it took hours for my mother to coax me into coming down.
There is nothing in particular that is scary. I guess just the fact that someone so kind and caring can morph into a cold, seemingly hollow body for a few minutes.
I wrap my arms comfortingly around Asher, hoping that soon it will all stop.
I notice Everest is over by his mother trying to help her out of her torturing world of memories, with nurturing words. Unfortunately, Annie still refuses to remove her hands from her ears.
My dad is still stranded in his highjacked mind as a result of my mother not being able to convince him otherwise. Asher's tears remind me that I need to resolve this problem... quickly. I can't think of anyone else that can calm my dad besides my mother, who, at the moment, seems incapable of this action.
I suddenly dash for the kitchen, in hopes that Haymitch might feel the need to assist. I enter, only to find him passed out, with his head on the table. "It's still practically morning!" I exclaim at the drunken person in front of me. I begin violently shaking his limp body.
After a few minutes, I eventually give up with my arms aching and unsuccessful (unless you count a small grunt successful).
I try to think of all the stories my parents have told me about Haymitch, none in which can help me in this case.
Frustrated and almost out of ideas, I suddenly spot the glass of water that Asher had been drinking earlier. Without even thinking, I hurl it's contents towards Haymitch's face, splashing him right in the eyes.
He jerks awake, knife in hand, ready to slash. He then lowers it shortly after recognizing me. "It's always the water!" he swears under his breath. I have no idea as to what he means by this.
"Haymitch!" I shout in attempt to get his attention. "I need your help." He looks over me carefully before rushing to his feet, needing no further explanation. I hear a familiar whimper, that I assume is coming from Asher. I break into a sprint while Haymitch staggers behind me.
As soon as I reach Asher, I embrace him in a hug, hopefully calming his worries. I glance over at my mother, who still stares blankly at the empty television, as Haymitch tries to help her back to reality.
Soon something clicks in my mother's brain and she turns to my dad who is still having one of his episodes. "Peeta. Peeta, it's not real." She then begins to whisper inaudible words into his ear. They have almost an immediate effect, and right away his muscles loosen.
I feel Asher calm down once he lays eyes upon our parents, who at the moment are walking towards us. They sit down on the couch next to Asher and I. Asher automatically curls up against my mother. She silently kisses his forehead.
I scoot closer to my dad, inhaling his scent of cinnamon and bread. "What's so bad about the new president?" I ask at a volume in which only he can hear. He glances over at my mother, his blue eyes sparkling, as if asking for permission. She must have overheard my question.
My mother gives a slight unsure nod of her head, and my dad turns back to me. "You see, Willow," he starts, his voice low. "The new president is the granddaughter of President Snow, the man that was president when your mother and I were in the games. We are worried that..." he trails off, unable to find the right words.
I understand now, so I finish for him, "She will have the same intentions as her grandpa." He nods wordlessly. "Do you think she'll bring back the games?" I ask my voice fraught with apprehension. A harried expression plays itself across my mother's face.
"I don't know, Willow. All we can do is wait." My dad replies sullenly.
And that is exactly what we do – wait. Days pass and things only get worse. Within a week of Calina Snow's election, the train stations are shut down and a new law is passed that prohibits citizens from traveling in between the districts. Annie and Everest are forced to stay in District Twelve. Everest is a hysterical wreck, because the new law, keeps him from seeing Leah – delaying their marriage.
One day I walk into the kitchen, only to find him grasping a photograph of her, wet streaks running down his face. I begin to grow worried. I have never in my life seen Everest cry, and his actions signify that something is horribly wrong. "Is that Leah?" I ask while approaching him. He nods, and his trembling hands gently place the picture in mine.
I examine it carefully. Leah has light wavy brown hair that falls just below her shoulders, and sea green eyes that are very common in District Four. The picture must have been taken on the beach, because the background consists of sparkling water and white sands. Leah is bent over, laughing at the fact that she is having her picture taken.
Everest glances over my shoulder. "I remember that day." he says. "We had spent the whole day at the beach for her birthday." Everest smiles at the recollection.
"You know, you could write to her." I suggest. His smile fades.
"I don't trust the government, Willow, I would never know that she got it. Besides, it's just not the same." What if they bring back he games? My mother is right, I'm practically guaranteed as spot as tribute being the daughter of two Victors and all. That will make them very entertaining, and isn't that all they want? A good show?
Before my mind can process what is going on the door opens in front of me. "Willow, what are you doing?" asks my puzzled mother. Her voice is increasingly steadier than before.
"Uh..."
My dad interrupts my silence, "Did you hear us?" I nod. There is no point in lying when the answer is quite obvious.
"Is it true?" I ask my eyes filling with tears of fear. I look up, but they quickly avert their eyes to the floor.
"We don't know." My dad pulls me close, and I cling to him like a small child. We stand there, in that position a good while before pulling away.
"Remember Willow," whispers my mother. "We will always protect you." And with that last comment, all three of us walk down stairs.
As we approach the kitchen door, I feel a sudden urge for some fresh air. "May I go outside?" I ask my mother.
She smiles, knowing that my ability to stay in the house for long periods of time is feebly low. "Sure."
I dash towards the door and quickly fling it open, eager to be out of this house in where I have been trapped in for so long. I haven't even gone hunting lately. My mother has been apprehensive about going into the woods since Calina's election, thus resulting in my rarity in being out of doors. I had tried waiting it out, knowing that even she couldn't withstand not frolicking through the serene, exciting woods.
As soon as I step out into the warm air, I bound towards Hazel's house. I need someone to talk to – someone my age, and she is that perfect someone.
Hazel has been my best friend since as long as I can remember. That's why I found it so shocking that my mother was unaware of Rory being her father.
When I reach her house, I quietly knock on the wooden door, making sure not to wake Iris, Hazel's one-and-a-half year-old sister.
The door opens, and Orion, Hazel's other sibling emerges from behind it. "Hello Orion. Is Hazel home?" I ask the tiny four-year-old. He nods and widens the doorway, allowing me to enter.
Orion leads me down a short hall to Iris's room. "Hazel?" I ask while walking inside.
"Willow?" she questions when I spot her cradling Iris to sleep in her arms.
Iris, who has now dozed off is gently layed inside her crib for a nap. "It's been a while." Hazel informs. "I meant to come see you on your birthday, but I got stuck watching the kids. Sorry." I take note to how she refers to them as 'kids', as if they are her own children.
"It's fine. Where's your dad?" I don't dare ask about her mother. She died about a year ago, a couple months after giving birth to Iris.
"He's off running some errands." She sighs.
"Do you need any help?" I ask as she pushes a strand of her auburn hair off her face.
"Not with Iris, but I do need help keeping Orion entertained." She smirks, knowing that this can be an arduous task. Last time we had to babysit Orion he ran and hid from us for at least an hour.
"As long as hide-and-go-seek is out of the picture." I deadpan.
Hazel laughs. "Deal." We walk into the other room where Orion is playing.
"So what do you think of the new president?" I blurt out unintentionally. The question has been gnawing on my insides, anxious to escape, but I didn't mean to ask it at this very moment.
Hazel messes with Orion's dark hair, but once she comprehends what I am asking, he hands freeze. She looks up at me, serious. "I don't know, Willow. Something just seems odd about her." She frowns. I wonder if she is aware of Calina's relation to Snow.
"Yeah..." I agree. "Hey, have you ever met your uncle?" I change the subject quickly.
She gazes at me questioningly. "Which one?"
I stare at her. "There's more than one?"
Hazel nods. "Yes, two; Uncle Gale and Uncle Vick. I also have an aunt named Posy."
"Gale."
"Yep; infact he was in Twelve not too long ago." She pauses and then says, "Why?"
"Because I met him." I mumble, but Hazel still hears me.
"What! When?" she exclaims.
I begin to explain. "On my birthday. My mother and I were hunting, and he sort of snuck up on us."
"Oh. You do know the history between your mother and my uncle right?"
I pause. Even though my mother has never really mentioned Gale, I can just tell they use to be close; but I am not so sure how close. "Care to elaborate?" I ask, curious to seek out more information about my parents' history.
Hazel opens her mouth to speak, but Orion abruptly interrupts her. "Can we play hide and go seek?" he pleads.
"No!" Hazel and I shout concurrently. Orion begins to whimper, with a defeated expression plastered onto his face.
She walks over and gives him a hug. "Not today Or." He simply nods, still a bit disappointed.
I watch Hazel carefully. Just by her actions, you can tell she has had to grow up too quickly. Sure, who am I to talk, but she is practically Orion and Iris's mother, since their real one is deceased.
A cacophonous wailing suddenly pierces my thoughts. Hazel stops tickling Orion, and is about to go tend to her younger sister, when I offer to take care of it. "I'll get her." I say while making my way towards Iris's room.
When I reach, her crib the crying dies down. "You just wanted attention didn't you?" I accuse the small child, while taking her in my arms. The action is surprisingly foreign, considering the last time I held a baby was when Asher was born – six years ago. I then begin to think of Hazel, who has to do this every day.
A small grin forms on Iris's rosy face. I am amazed at how intelligent she seems, even at such a young age.
As I reenter the room in which Hazel is present, she quickly bombards me with worrisome questions. "Is everything okay?" she asks.
I nod. "Yes. Iris here was just in desperate need to be the center of attention." I reply with a smirk, while gesturing to her. Hazel breathes a sigh of relief.
I take a seat next to her on the floor and place Iris in my lap. Orion quickly scuttles over to examine his little sister. "Why is she so small?" he asks.
Hazel and I laugh. "Because Orion," I begin. "She still has to grow; she's not as old as you yet."
He frowns. "Yeah, but when is she going to talk? I want someone to talk to and all she does is cry and hurt my ears." Orion places his hands over his ears in demonstration.
"She'll speak when she wants too. She's just a late bloomer, or... maybe she just doesn't feel like talking to her stinky older brother." Hazel explains, trying to withhold a giggle.
"Hey!" protests Orion, but suddenly the sound of a door opening interrupts him.
"Hazel, Orion, Iris, I'm home!" Orion completely forgets about what he was going to say as he jumps up and starts bounding ecstatically towards his father.
"Daddy!" he squeals. I watch as Rory embraces his son in a big hug. He then directs his attention to us.
"Hello Hazel, and Willow, it's nice to see you again.
"You too." I quietly reply. I have always been shy around Hazel's dad, but now that I know my mother was somehow connected to his family, my apprehension increases by about ten percent.
He approaches us and thanks Hazel for taking care of the kids while he was gone. After his thank-you's, Rory turn to me. "May I see her?" he asks. I simply reply by handing Iris over. Once she is safe in his arms, he stares down at the face of his youngest child. Rory wordlessly traces her cheek. "Hey Iris, feel like talking today?" The still grinning infant remains silent. A deep sigh escapes his lungs, and he gently kisses Iris's forehead.
Orion walks over and clings to his father's leg. A soft hand rubs his back lovingly. I honestly wonder why they act as if they haven't seen each other in an eternity, why they savor every small family moment when everyone is present. Then it strikes me – they probably haven't. Rory works quite a bit, and now it seems as though he works twice as much as he did before Calina Snow was elected; then again I haven't been around that much to notice. Come to think of it though, my own dad's hours spent at the bakery have been increasing.
My dad.
I quickly glance out the window only to find the sky gradually growing darker by the minute, the amount of daylight slowly waning. My parents are probably worried sick. I had told them I was going outside – nothing about Hazel's, though it probably would have been safe to assume so. I quickly stand up, causing the dust at my feet to stir. "I have to go, it's getting late." I explain. "Bye Hazel, bye Orion, bye Iris, and bye Mr. Hawthorne."
"Bye Willow." replies Hazel and her father simultaneously.
"Bye." mutters Orion.
I am about to walk out the door, when I hear a small "Bye, bye." coming from the child in Rory's arms.
I jerk my head towards the voice. "Did she just speak?" I ask uneasily.
Hazel nods vigorously. "Yes!" she squeals her voice portraying numerous amounts of zeal. Rory is already cooing at Iris who, is smiling madly. Poor Orion has the most confused look on his face. I dash over there, eager to witness this event.
Iris is now constantly giggling as a result of Rory playfully tickling her.
We stand there and praise the small child a good while, before the incident about my parents returns to mind. "I really need to go." I inform Hazel.
She nods understandingly. "Okay. Bye Willow, nice to see you."
"You too." I respond while walking towards the door. As I step out side, I hear Iris continuously mutter her new favorite word.