Mørket Blir Mørkere
One: Red Harvest
June 1st
Reaping Day.
The sky was a grim and bleak grey which did nought to help the equally dull buildings of District Five. Though it was fitting that Reaping Day, would be greeted with such miserable weather, a dark day deserved nothing more. The few spatterings of colour were graffiti plastered on the walls from those who decided that grey was not the only colour in existence, small spots of light against the shadow.
Pluto Fang ambled towards the Reaping Square eyes staring at the ground, doing his best to ignore the usual jeers thrown at him. Vicious fools they were, full of spite and fear that they directed outwardly as cruelty towards others. Pluto wished such things on their faces, but it was bettered not to provoke them and make a dark day even darker.
Pluto signed in and took his place in his section. Managing now to lift his head up now that he was blended in amongst the crowd.
The Mayor of District Five, Escort and other officials began to assemble on stage. The mayor read out the tale of the founding and the history of Panem. He recited the story of the First Rebellion and the implementation of the First Hunger Games. After the mayor had finished reciting the list of District Five's Victors. Five had managed to accumulate five Victors, only one which was still alive today, Cosmo Catalyst. Often sprouted as an eccentric who had at least one part of his head in the clouds. His manner of dress certainly seemed to agree with this assessment. He wore a black coat with red-lined Inverness cable. Beneath that lay a velvet jacket of a deep red colour and a frilly white shirt. A choice of attire that is most unusual for someone from Five. But then again as Pltuo had been frequently told Cosmo was not like most people from District Five and they weren't just talking about the fact that he was a victor.
The mayor then handed proceedings other Alcyone, the escort for District Five.
"Welcome District Five, the time has come once again to select two brave souls to represent you in this year's annual Hunger Games and shake this up a bit will be reaping the boys first!". Alycone walked over to the boys and plunged her hand deep into the bowl, she rummaged around a bit before pulling out the fateful slip.
"Spark Atmos" Alcyone announced.
It had to be now. He had to do it. It was the only chance he would have to escape him
"I volunteer," he spoke quietly but seemed thunderous of the silence that hung over the Reaping Square.
"A volunteer," Alcyone said excitedly, "District Five doesn't get many of those, come up boy not need by shy, in fact, you should be pretty proud of yourself.
The boys around Pluto began to part, giving him a mixture of confused and pitied looks. His eyes naturally directed themselves towards the ground, he tried to lift them up to look forward, but they soon found their family place as he emerged from the crowd. A quick glance up revealing his soon-to-be mentor Cosmo Catalyst with an amused expression is enough to persuade him to direct his glance directly at the ground once more. Slowly he began to walk towards the stage only just now begging to feel the weight of those two fateful words. He walked up the stairs and shook the escort's hand.
"What is your name, brave young man?" she asked
"Pluto Fang," he replied, hoping that would come out clearly but only seemed to amount to but a whisper
"Congratulations Pluto". Let us give this courageous boy a round of applause"
Silence.
"Now on four the girls." The Alycone reached his hand deep into the bowl and pulled out a name.
"Leela Coil!" she announced
Leela began to make her way up. But then Pluto heard those fateful words again.
"I volunteer"
There was no mistaking whose voice it was, but it couldn't be. Why would she? No, no, no… it's just someone who happens to sound a lot like her.
It has to be.
But then the volunteer emerged. It was Cassia.
"Two volunteers. How exciting!" The Alycone exclaimed. "And what is your name, brave young woman?"
"Cassia Quick" she replied
Of course, she would volunteer along with him. They had always been there for each other in the dark moments to carry each other forward into the light.
—
There was a knock on the classroom door. The teacher gestures that it was they could enter. A woman walked into the classroom and shared a few whispers with each other.
"Pluto Fang, this lady needs to have a world with" The teacher announced
"What, what for? He asked
"The lady will tell you what it's about."
Pluto slowly got up and left and classroom, following behind the lady. She led him into the small empty room in the classroom. She introduced herself as a nurse from the hospital.
"It's about your mother," the nurse said.
"What is it?" Pluto asked, fearing the worst but hoping for the best.
"You know she has been battling with late-stage cancer well-
"No… It cant'" Pluto said, his voice quivering and eyes beginning to fill with tears
"It isn't one that she fighting any longer, she passed away just this morning. I'm sorry for your loss."
Pluto ran from the room tears streaming down his face. He fled to the library. Curling himself amongst a pile of cushions.
Cassia came to him shortly after laying down with him and holding him close, wiping the tears from his eyes. For a time they did not say anything to each other for Cassia knew it was not the comfort that Pluto needed, not in this moment.
—
The mayor finishes reading the Treaty of Treason and motions for Pluto and Cassia to shake hands. The national anthem plays and Pluto and Cassia turn to face the crown once more. As the anthem ends a group of Peacekeepers begin to march the District Five pair through the front door of the Justice Building. Once inside Pluto found himself left in a room alone. It is the lushest room Pluto had ever seen it was deep carpets designed with elaborate patterns, velvet couches and chairs.
Pluto spent a few moments taking it all in. The luxury of the room and what had just happened or rather what he had just done. Parts of him still did not want to accept what was happening and had not volunteered just a few moments earlier and that poor reaped soul was to be sent off to the Games. But the other parts of his mind reminded him of why he was here, why he had volunteered - it was the only means of escape. A desperate and foolish venture, but ultimately Pluto had no other choice
Pluto waited nervously, tugging on the sleeves of shirts, to see who would come and say goodbye. Cassia couldn't since she had volunteered with him. Damien would, of course. But what if his father came? What would his father say to him? What would he say his father, the very reason Pluto was here?
Damien is led into the room by the Peacekeepers. There are few moments of silence as neither is unsure of what to say first or does not necessarily want to speak first, wasting some of the precious few minutes that they have.
Finally, Damien spoke first. "You'll find a way to come back, I know it". Seemingly wanting to avoid mentioning the matter of volunteering.
"That's just a distant hope," Pluto replied solemnly.
"I'm not going to make an answer exactly your reasoning for volunteering, I know you had good reasoning."
"There was no other choice, I had to."
"You have a kind soul don't let the Games change that."
"I-I don't think that people with kind souls tend to pair well in the Games."
"Then you must prove them wrong," Damien replied
The Peacekeeper at the door signals that time is up. Damien gives Pluto. one last hug before being led away by the Peacekeeper.
"Goodbye," He says just as he is at the threshold of the room.
"Goodbye," Pluto replies
He suspects the Peacekeeper will return shortly to lead him to the train that would take him to the Capitol. But instead, he only returns to allow someone else to enter the room.
Pluto's father.
It seems that even a dark day could grow darker.
Pluto immediately averted his gaze from his father's, planting his in the familiar direction of the floor.
"Perhaps I misjudged you, perhaps there could be a place in the Blood Pack for you after all, but that remains to be seen if you return that perhaps you would have proved yourself," he said coldly
Pluto tugged on his sleeves harder, pulling on his at the buttons on his cuffs. He wanted to tell him all this was for the purpose of getting away from him. Pluto wanted nothing to do with his father his Blood Pack. He would have thought that his running away with Cassia would have told him that.
Pluto recalled the day when he had found out who his father was and how he did not want to believe it. After all, how could his father be such a cruel man when his mother and uncle had shown him to be capable how so much kindness?
—
"Did you know what's up with Reuben, he has been acting a bit odd recently and like he wants to avoid me?" Pluto asked Kabel. He had been with Reuben when they first approached him and Cassia about the club and he often hung out together so surely he would know what was up with Reuben.
"I don't up, why don't you go and ask him directly?" Kabel replied
"But that's a problem, he does seem to want me to come to him but it's almost like he has something to tell me and is putting off doing so"
"Then wait for him to come to you. If he had something that he wants to tell you, he will in his own time"
"B-But what if is waiting for me to come to him, that could be only to get him to tell me. But if he avoids me then- "
"Pluto, Pluto" Kabel interrupted "You overthinking this, just give it some more time. Go and train."
Pluto nodded in agreement and went off the train with Cassia. Although he tried to focus, he could help but keep an eye out for Rueben.
"It's probably nothing, Pluto" Cassia tried to reassure him.
He wanted to believe but he could not. He just couldn't shake Reuben's odd behaviour from his mind
Nearing the end of the day Rueben approached him requesting to speak with Pltuo alone. The offer seemed to be an ominous proclamation as if Rueben was preparing to drop a huge revelation on him.
Everyone else had left, leaving just him and Rueben.
"Pluto to tell you something," Ruben said. He took a moment to take a deep breath. "I- I- how does one put this." he continued struggling to find the right words. "I haven't been completely honest with you."
"About what?" Pluto inquired
"Let me speak and you will find out," he replied. "The head trainer, Max. That's not his real name, his real name is Jupiter. Jupiter Fang. And as you might guess from his surname he is yer dad. But there more," Reuben took another deep breath. "The club is not a well it's not just a club, it's a secret organisation, called the Blood Pack. Merceranies. Taking contracts on people's heads"
Pluto was stunted. "W-what, what… I-I-I don't understand." He stammered
"It's the truth, Pluto. We've lied to you Me, Kabel, Lukas, your Jupiter, everyone. But now you the whole truth"
"Why are you telling me this?" Pluto asked, desperately hoping what he had just been told was the exact opposite of the truth.
"Because you deserve to know the truth. I couldn't keep lying to you and keep my conscience."
"This some kind of sick joke, who put you up to this?" Pluto exclaimed.
"I know it's a lot but it's the truth!" Reuben insisted. He reached out for Pluto's hand, hoping to reassure him.
"Get off me!" Pluto said pulling away. He turned and began to run towards the door
"Where are you going?"
"Away from here!"
"You can run from the truth! You'll have to accept it and return eventually!"
Returning was something that Pluto had no intention of doing and he closed the door to the club behind him. Cassia was waiting outside
"What's wrong?" she asked
"We're leaving this place. We're leaving and we're not coming back." Pluto declared
—
His father waited for a moment, expecting a response.
He did not get one. He would not get one.
Realising this his father left the room without another word.
—
As they walked onto the train the Capitol's opulence became clear. Grand crystal chandeliers lit the carriage, the curtains were made of intricately embroidered silk and the table was filled with the most indulgent dishes Pluto had seen.
He waited for a moment, taking everything in. Pluto felt the reassuring grip of Cassia's hand and they sat down next to each other. Neither seemed ready to speak to the other about the events of the Reaping Ray. Pluto was still processing his decision to volunteer and was sure Cassia felt the same. He had not thought that he would have the confidence to do so. He was not someone who had confidence in many things. But it did seem to be the only choice. Threw was Pluto's answer; a decision of necessity, not confidence or bravery and even then doughnuts lingered about the necessity.
Silence continued to captivate the train carriage as they began to leave the station.
"I'm sure Cosmo will be with us shortly considering that Fice produced two volunteers this year. The District Five escort stated "Even after all these years" she added under her breath
Pluto was sure that she had not intended for anyone else to hear that.
Though the escort was right the wait to meet their mentor was not a long one, as just a few moments later Cosmo emerged from the next carriage.
"Ah, so your my two tributes, for this year?" he said as he walked down to the table they were both sitting at.
"What else would they be, Cosmo?" Alycone teased.
"So you've been working on your wit, making good progress"
"Remind me, that I need to give you a lesson of flattery."
"Well if I fit it into my busy schedule of mentoring then I will" Cosmo replied. "Now back to the matter in hand, mentoring, tributes, two volunteers no less," he added
Cosmo sat down at the table opposite Pluto and Cassia. He reached back and grabbed a mug from the side and poured it full of coffee. His head reached for sugar and promptly grabbed around five or six cubes with his other hand and dropped them into his coffee. Something that made Alycone let out a soft gasp. "Two volunteers, eh, that's not something that is expected for an outer district."
Pluto looked at Cassia, unsure of how to react. They had heard that Cosmo was eccentric and a little strange but up till now, Pluto had only seen him at Reapings on appearing on Capitol TV. He had thought he would be a little different when it came to actually meet him.
"Ah, you two know each other. Not only two volunteers but two volunteers who know each other. But how? Brother and sister-"
"We're-" Cassia attempted two interrupt
"No, no, no. Let me guess" Cosmo let out a wry smile. "Not brother and sister. Boyfriend and girlfriend. No, I don't think so. That leaves childhood friends. Well, you are just friends since you are still in your childhood. Close friends since you were small. Smaller."
Cassia and Pluto looked at each other once again and then stared at the mentor. After a few brief seconds, both of them gave a soft nod.
"Stop tormenting them, Cosmo." Alycone chastised
"Yes of course," he replied. He turned back to Pluto and Cassia. "So I'll assume you two will be allying with each other then.
"We will," Cassia replied.
"And will you be wanting to ally with anyone else?" Cosmo asked.
"We-we would like to if others will have us," Pluto answers
"Excellent. We shall discuss more on this matter in a few days once you have gotten the chance to meet your fellow tributes. But now on to another matter. I shall wish to each of you privately. I shall be in the next carriage. Decided amongst yourselves with one of you his go first." With that, he got up from the chair and returned to the next carriage along.
"So now you've Cosmo. He's well, he's himself You don't get used, you become numb to it." Alycone.
Cassia turned to Pluto "Do you want to go first or shall I?"
"You can go first. I need time to prepare myself" Pluto replied.
"So you're throwing me in the deep end."
"Well, you're the one that offered to go first."
Cassia stood up and left the carriage. Pluto was left alone with Alcyone.
"What's your reason for volunteering?" Alcyone asked
He did particularly want to entertain conversation with her. He wanted a moment of peace to be left alone with his thoughts before he would have to go and talk to Cosmo. But it would be too rude to completely ignore someone's questions. "There… there was no other choice. It was the only way" he replied.
"The only way to…."
"I-I don't wish to explain anything more. I'm sorry."
"Well, your reasons for volunteering is something that Cosmo is undoubtedly going to take an interest and you're going to have to say more than how you had no other choice."
"Perhaps I will tell him." Pluto just managed to stutter out.
After a while, Cassia emerged and signalled for Pluto to go into the next carriage. Pluto got up from his chair, nervous and uneasy. He slowly made his way to the door to the next carriage. Where he stopped a moment. Taking a deep breath. "Just go in, Pluto" he muttered to himself. A moment passes and Pluto opens the door.
"Just take a seat across from me." Cosmo offers.
Pluto moved in the chair that Cosmo was pointing to.
"Why did you request to each of us alone?" Pluto asked.
"Ah, I aksing questions. I like that. Even if they are rather obvious ones. But the answer is the quite straightforward answer. There are two angles to mentoring, the district pair and each tribute in the pair." Cosmo answered.
Pluto could help but the answer was a little cryptic answering the question at the same time "Even if the pair know each other."
"Especially if the pair know each other" Cosmo replied. "But that's enough about that let's get on with the matter in hand. I have an obvious question of my own to ask: Why did you volunteer, Pluto?"
Pluto paused for a moment, trying to get his mind and words in order. He wanted to be able to give an answer clearly, fearing that scrambled and stumbled words would deter his mentor from giving his full attention. Although he did not strike that he would, Pluto partly imagined that he would find it interesting, but that idea also seemed unsettling.
"I had no choice. I had no other means to escapism him." Pluto answered, after some consideration.
"Escape from who?" Cosmo inquired.
"I had to escape from my father," Pluto answered.
"Why? Tell me what was so terrible about him, that volunteering was the only conceivable choice."
"I- I don't think you'd believe me. You wouldn't understand," replied Pluto, stumbling slightly other than his words at the beginning.
"I can try to believe and understand. I have many a strange tale other years."
"There was this club… well it wasn't exactly club… it, it just appeared to like that and." Pluto paused to gather his thoughts. It turned out that father ran it… the person who recruited me told, me Reuben his name was. The was actually...actually some kind of mercenary group. After finding this all out I tried to run away but he sent his people after me-
"I understand. You couldn't bear running for the rest of your life.
"I didn't think that I would have the bravery to do it. I believe that I much bravery at all." Pluto said in a half-whisper.
"You great deal of bravery you wouldn't volunteer if you didn't"
"W-wouldn't, wouldn't volunteering just be another way of just counting? Continuing running?."
"The first step towards not running anymore. I shall try my first to guide you to the next. Did you have any skills that might help you in the Games?" Cosmo said, hastily jumping to the next topic.
"Well. I- I have been told that I can think outside the box and the club. No the mercenary camp. I did pick a bit of self-defence. But
"You don't feel you have the courage to use it? But I say just your volunteering is proof of your courage. Try to tap into that once more. As for imagination, can be a truly formidable weapon truly unpredictable." Cosmo replied. "Now there is one more final unpleasant matter I under that you and Cassia but a very close you must know how it ends though If wish to-
"If wish to come home. Cassia will die." Pluto replied, answering Cosmo's question before he had finished answering it.
"Not just that. Let says that it came down to just the two of you-"
"It won't come that. It won't. I'm not, I'm not. I am just optimistic to say-"
Pluto had found a smaller slither of confidence growing within him over the course of his conversation with Cosmo. But with this question…
"Yes, of course, someone kind-hearted like you wouldn't even let such a thought cross your mind.
"Kind-hearted people don't tend to fare well in the Games." Pluto mumbled
"Then we shall change that."