CHAPTER 7 : THEIR FIGHT

"I knew I would find you here."

Erin jumped with surprise. Sitting near the lake, in front of the forest, she looked up and saw Nikolas. She ignored him and continued her occupation. She grabbed another piece of bread next to her and threw it into the lake. An entire family of ducks was enjoying the meal.

"You know people are starving in the districts ?" he asked her a little annoyed.

"Animals are starving too because of the winter," Erin answered coldly. "Why do you always have the need to compare everything ?"

A little more roughly, she threw another piece of bread. The force with which it touched the water slightly frightened the ducks. They immediately left.

"Did I do something wrong ?" he questioned her uncertainly.

Erin remained silent. There was obviously some discomfort that she could not talk about. Not because she did not trust Nikolas but because the issue directly concerned him.

"Is it because I asked you to run away with me ?"

She turned her head and looked at him. Her eyes showed him that he was right. Rubbing his forehead, Nikolas knelt down beside her. He stared at the grass for a moment, he was clearly nervous.

"You know you can't stay at the Hob forever."

"This is my home," the brunette described. "I grew up and met everyone at the Hob."

"A hatred is growing between the rebels and the peacekeepers," Nikolas continued. "It won't end well."

"Why did you start a war that you're afraid of losing ? You will lose if you let fear take over."

"It's easy to say that. People of district twelve are afraid and there is nothing more powerful than fear."

"Hope."

"Hope ?" Nikolas repeated, smiling slightly. "Coriolanus Snow killed our hope."

"You know she would have lost if he hadn't cheated ?"

Moving his head towards Erin, the boy stared at her intensely.

"Which side are you on ?"

Feeling sudden anger, Erin gritted her teeth and slammed her fist on the ground.

"You see, that's your problem ! It's not because I have a different opinion that I'm against you ! All you talk about these days is your thirst for revenge regarding the peacekeepers and Snow !"

"Anyone who sides with the Capitol is my enemy", Nikolas growled, frowning.

Erin, completely abandoning the conversation, raised her hands and rolled her eyes. She stood up and left the area. She could no longer stand the atmosphere at the Hob. Her friend, with whom she had spent most of her life, had become unbearable.

As evening approached, Erin paced around her house. She approached the window before spying on the Hob's entrance. A lot of people were there. Although her feelings towards Ash had been purely negative for a while, she could not thank him enough for giving her a home so close to her workplace. Sighing, she let her forehead rest against the glass. She had no desire to spend another evening like this. Her interactions with Nikolas had clearly diminished since the subsequent clashes between the peacekeepers and the rebels. He could not understand her point of view, which was more than understanding according to her : she did not want to be part of the plan.

Erin jumped when someone knocked on her door. Remaining still, she decided not to answer.

"I know you are home."

She rolled her eyes, perfectly recognizing the voice outside. Unwillingly, she opened the door and unsurprisingly she saw Ruby with her arms crossed. Erin did not say a word and instead walked away to look again at the window. She knew that her friend was only there to lecture her.

"I guess you know why I'm here," Ruby said nonchalantly, closing the door behind her.

Erin ignored her again, still focused on the Hob's entrance. Now that she thought about it, she had not seen any peacekeepers.

"Erin," she called her, sighing. "Let's talk."

Ruby sat down in the kitchen and then patted the table for Erin to come too. She knew she would not be able to escape it so Erin agreed. She was not particularly upset with Ruby. She was just irritated that Nikolas did not even have the courage to come and solve his problems himself.

"You came to defend him ?" she questioned her insolently.

"No but to understand better what's happening."

"And what do you think is happening ?"

"Nikolas is stubborn and closed-minded while you are selfish and don't realize how much we need everyone to fight to have any hope of victory in district twelve."

Erin gritted her teeth, Ruby was really annoying her. She, who had always seen her as a big sister, was unable to get support not even from her.

"I don't want to be a spy, I don't want to have to lie."

"I remind you that you're the one who informed us of his identity," Ruby answered with a mocking tone.

"Yes and I didn't imagine that you were going to repeat it to the whole Hob !"

Leaning back in her chair, Erin crossed her arms. She had no choice but to be defensive. Regaining a softer face, Ruby rested her forearms on the table while smiling slightly.

"You can trust me when I tell you that there is nothing good about peacekeepers," she explained calmly. "Do you know what they are ? They are the criminals of the Capitol and they would do anything to get back there. They take their frustration out on us because they have been rejected from their own people and estranged from their families."

"I know," Erin replied, avoiding her gaze.

"Nikolas is worried," Ruby explained, moving closer to Erin. "He really liked Juliet and she ran off with one of them."

"I just want to live in peace."

"There is no peace," Ruby cursed, clenching her fist on the table, "not after killing Lucy Gray."

Erin thought she was probably right about the nature of peacekeepers. Maybe Erin could help the rebels as long as she did not hurt anyone ? Then, almost reluctantly, she nodded slowly. Ruby, now smiling, got up from her chair then walked towards Erin's desk. It was a special desk, on which all her souvenirs were placed. Ruby observed photos, objects and even letters there. She noticed a gold necklace with a locket and decided to lift it in front of her.

"Put it down," Erin ordered.

"I'm surprised to see that you still have it. It would be worth a fortune if you agreed to sell it."

"I said put it down," she repeated coldly.

"There's something we want you to do," Ruby told her, putting the necklace down and turning back to Erin, "and you're not going to like it."

Good afternoon, I hope those who follow me still appreciate this story as much. It's very difficult for me to get an idea of how many people are reading me because the problem with the statistics showing zero views still persists on the website. So don't hesitate to fav the story, follow it or leave a comment !