Just Another Fasting

[seafeather]

Finair Levian

I can't see, 'cause it's burning deep inside
Like gasoline, a fire running wild
No more fear 'cause I'm getting closer now
So unreal, but I like it anyhow

Faster-Within Temptation

I look out towards the sea. It’s lapping waves surging its foam on the shores. My home.

From my vantage point, a high cliff over the ocean, I can see just about anything that’s below me. The fish factories where we clean, cut, and package our fish. The shell fish farm, where shell fish like oysters, clams, urchins, are bred for food, pearls, and jewelry. Also, the sediment is changed weekly. The waste that the ocean creatures put out are apparently really fertile so we trade that to District 11 for vegetables and fruits. Of course, even with the fish, veggies and fruits, we’re still hungry. Being a career district everyone expects us to get fed more and just be more healthy in general. Not true. We have people dropping everyday from starvation. It may not be in mass amounts like in 12, but it’s enough to know that starvation isn’t far off.

I won’t let my family starve…I promise myself. I don’t mean Linne and Binley. They aren’t my family. I mean my father and my…what is she to me? My crush? My lover? She doesn’t even know I exist. I scolded myself. I have my way of protecting her. But she wants in the Games herself. If I go in, I can protect her to ensure she wins. But I can’t make her protect my father and keep him in food. But if I go in, there’s a possibility that I win, to ensure my father will be safe but she‘ll be dead. You can’t kill her. You can’t even lead her into a trap.

I hung my head. The raw power and entertainment the Capitol will get out of that one. Instead of dwelling on the soon to be inevitable. I focused on the present. The taste of salt on the soupy breeze, the sounds of the crashing waves, the birds chirping into the distance, and the several hundred foot drop before me. I can already feel the adrenaline coursing through me for this next Fasting trip. So much adrenaline…

I stand a dozen feet before the drop, mentally preparing myself. And I run. Once I reach the edge of the cliff, I push up on my toes and fly. Arms spread wide, muscles rippling in the sun, blonde hair fluttering in the wind. I’m loving it. The adrenaline coursing through me like morphling. I know where I stand, where my place is in my life. Before I hit the water, I straighten out feet first cross my arms over my chest and pencil dive. The bubbles rush over me like a waterfall. Pretty good reason too. They’re in water. I laugh internally at my cheesy comment. I swim to the surface as my air runs low, lungs bursting for air. The blue sky over my head holds puffy clouds.

I swim around a bit before I head to the shore. Swimming is almost as free as jumping a cliff, or running from a band of peacekeepers. So fun. I give a light laugh before I completely walk out of the waves. The sun sets low on the horizon. It’s getting close to the shutdown of the District. Everyone heads to bed or home before the sun goes fully down. Because you know who comes out at night. The peacekeepers. And their all-time favorite enemies. The Fasters. Of course I’ll be heading out tonight too. But only to look and watch. I have no interest in getting myself killed tonight, wouldn’t be to caring for my father. I have to keep him in bread and food! How am I supposed to do that when I’m dead? In the city, I climb the latter that reaches the top of my look-out post. I find my long black trench coat with a hood on it, put it on and flip up the hood. I could be anyone in this. Anything.

I look at the people below me, wreaking havoc on the peacekeepers. Shoving their guns, taking their helmets and running away. Just taunting them. This is a rebellion in itself. All Fasters hate the Capitol. If we weren’t mistreated and not so starved (Food sense and entertainment sense) we wouldn’t have to risk our lives everyday to figure out what we’re living for. I scoff as I see a band of Fasters nod as they pass by me. Why am I so known to them? I know. Of course I know. But I hate to admit it. They know me and consider me as a higher rank of Faster. I was created by the “creator” of Fasting. Of course I have to be treated like royalty now…great.

I take off in the general direction of the closest peacekeeper, preparing to make them to never forget this night.

Word count;; 797 Oh yes! XD
Muse;; Being difficult.
Notes;;Gotta go to work in 5 minutes! Working a 4-5 hour shift. -.-'

[fαllεη •]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true][bg=black] † Deep in the bowels of District 4, a young man smoothed his hands against his long coat. It wasn't that he was particularly conscientious by nature, although he did spend a lot of time giving the Peacekeepers all the respect they deserved; more like there was something on them, something that he glanced at with distaste before slipping the gleaming blade back into his pocket. A small smile graced his sharp features. 'Three... two...' As if on cue, there was the howl of a gang of Peacekeepers, a wet squelch, and... ooh. He winced in the most fake display of sympathy yet. That had to hurt. And now, time to vacate the area. Within moments, the alleyway was vacant of everything save the slowly-pervading scent of rotting seafood, under which wafted the cries of the Peacekeepers, poor souls, covered head to toe in fish guts. Sabre's eyes gleamed like knives in the night. The streets of District Four could be a labyrinth if you knew how to use them. It would not be exaggeration to say that he knew these streets better than his own mother. Anyway, cold concrete was dearer to him than that woman, who he'd left behind years ago. Instead, he luxuriated in the scent of salt and the cool night air against his skin as he stalked the pavements. Aside from the distinct clank of machinery, far away, there was the unmistakeable sound of a plan coming to fruition in the distance. Seriah had done him proud again, no doubt-- and was that...? Ah, Leon. The way he could crack Peacekeeper heads together was one of his more useful traits, his loyalty being another. That just left Hanna, who was elsewhere in the city and no doubt benefiting from the distraction they had going. He would have gone with her, but sometimes... Well, Leon knew how to set a good example. He was about to hang a right, the quickest route to the action, when something made him stop. There had been a fair number of Fasters who'd been willing to help pull this night off, but there was the feeling of a change in the wind somewhere. It was almost as if someone had suddenly decided to interrupt his plans. Someone... Sabre frowned, taking an abrupt left into an alley and, in pitch black, climbing up the ladder he knew was there. From the rooftops (which would have been inaccessable, if it hadn't been for the hole in the barbed wire) he had an excellent view of the carnage below. Between them he could see Seriah's bright hair as she let loose the pepperspray. Leon had volunteered his can for this, saying he didn't need it-- and, true to form, was giving the Peacekeepers a run for their money. So, if those two were accounted for, as well as the other four whose names he could have dropped if he'd needed to (as well as where they lived and what they'd had for breakfast), then who was the-- ah. Finair's confident walk -almost, if he were feeling uncharitable, a strut- marked him immediately, and Sabre seethed quietly. 'I can't have you here, Finair. Not now.' Ah well. The Fasters weren't a trained organisation by any stretch of the imagination: they had shared interests. Occasionally, Sabre exploited these for the good of his Fasters in general; occasionally, for things that seemed to benefit no-one. But a good not-at-all-leader always had contingency plans; in this case, Finair's arrival should co-incide with the last push. He checked his watch, feeling the breeze billow in his cape. The sun finally fell a moment ago; if things went according to plan, then they were almost finished here. Brave his Fasters might be, but they could never hold up against the Peacekeepers forever. Finair's presence complicated things, but not too badly. The first wave was already slipping away, and he was pleased to note the lack of serious injury among them. The second wave would follow soon and, if he could... Ah. A slow smile spread across his face. Suddenly, he had a use for this Faster of his. Slipping down the alleyway, he slipped into place soundlessly behind Finair, just as the boy passed his alley. He tailed him for a few metres as they came closer to Leon and Seriah, who were handling things with their group. The second and third waves were all too busy to notice Finair or the shadowy figure who sauntered casually about five meters behind him. Only two meters to the next alley now. One. Silent as death, the cloaked figure swept up behind him, clamped a hand over his mouth and the other around his arms to prevent struggle, before frogmarching him into the alleyway. "Finair." His voice was cool but amused, giving no sign of how braced he was against any struggling. As soon as he felt the boy begin to calm down, then he would let go and raise a finger to his lips, the dark mischief still dancing in his eyes. He could always use another set of hands... and with any luck, his little errand would be just up Finair's alley.

[seafeather]

Finair Levian

I can't see, 'cause it's burning deep inside
Like gasoline, a fire running wild
No more fear 'cause I'm getting closer now
So unreal, but I like it anyhow

Faster-Within Temptation

Walking down my alley, the one where the closest peacekeeper is, I see few things. Walls, rodents, some left over and rotten fish guts lying on the pavement. I take a few steps and hear faint footsteps behind myself. I am being followed. I don't look back, knowing that this will only make them go faster in their pursuit. So, instead, I walk to my destination but on the way the follower runs a few paces and gives a small jump. Clamping their hand over my mouth and dragging me into an even smaller alley.

The only thing I really notice is how warm the hand is, and how much it smells...weird. I can't place the scent. It smells sort of bad, but then again not. Like he -I can tell it's a he by the roughness of his palm, most women in District 4 don't do rough work- tried to wash them after gutting a fish or two.

"Finair." A cool voice says. I can't recall it. But it has some strange thoughts connected to it. I try to open my mouth to bite his hand, but he's got his bottom two fingers under my jaw. I'm trapped. I wiggle around and look about trying to find my way of escape. As I'm doing this, without success I might add, I notice that the stalker isn't very bright. Not bright in the sense of light, but in his head. My arms are free. Well, from the middle of the top half of my arm and down I am. As hard as I can, I elbow him right where his kidney should be. I shove him with my back and step away.

This is when I get my first good look at my attacker. And what I see is, I should have known. The slightly yellow skin, the hazel eyes, and the short strawberry hair. This is Sabre.

"Ananai," I spit through clenched teeth. The idiot! He didn't have to attack me from behind! "What was all that for huh?!" I yell at him. He's not my father, or anyone that I love so I don't bother being kind with him. He can't kill me, I'm his beloved as they say. I scoff internally as I stare him down. Man to man. This guy, -I think- Is getting on my last nerve.

Mwaha! I god-moded! XD But that's only because you did it first. XP So now we're even. lol

[fαllεη •]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true][bg=black] † The jab to his kidney almost doubled the Faster over and he hissed through his teeth. 'Finair, you son of a misbegotten toad, you are very lucky that I have a proposal for you.' The pain was wiped smoothly from his expression, evidenced only as the tightening in his jaw and the anger that seemed to sit, smoldering, around his eyes. That hurt like blazes, and he was willing to risk another year in the Reaping that the kid had enjoyed it. Nevertheless, he drew one finger to his lips and gestured for silence Finair spoke his name, and received a tight smile and a nod for his troubles. The Faster added to that a tip of an imaginary hat, smirking as he did so. So, the smart little kitten was able to throw a hit or two, he would give him that: there was always something special about his favourite recruits. But when he started yelling, it was all he could do not to clamp his hand over Finair's mouth again and drag him deeper into the alleyway. 'Stupid fool!' he raged. 'Do the Peacekeepers you just passed mean nothing?' If Finair was caught up in this, if one of the Peacekeepers captured him (slightly less likely with Leon around, but still entirely possible) then it wouldn't take much to trace him back to his father. While Finair might not care much for that stepmother and stepbrother of his, Sabre was perfectly aware of every tidbit of information that might prove useful on his recruits. Surely Finair didn't want his father to become another painful topic in his oh-so-dark-and-mysterious past? The Peacekeepers of District 4 could be brutal; Finair was no stranger to this. Sabre glanced quickly over his shoulder, eyes narrowed in the light of the flickering streetlamps. One of the Peacekeepers had seen them, and even as Sabre watched, he called out an alarm. "There, in the alley! There's more of the scum-suckers, quickly!" Under his breath, the man muttered something that polite conversation would not allow. A true blue seaman's oath, if ever one was needed. "Come on, Levian," he muttered as four of the Peacekeepers took leave of Leon's huge fists. He took off at a jog towards the opposite edge of the alleyway; already escape routes were being mapped out in his head. Hanna would have to wait; Finair had managed to screw up this part of the plan, so he'd have to lead them away from her. That meant going back to the housing area of the District, and hopefully leading the Peacekeepers as far away as he could from their safe little nest. Of course, he couldn't speak for Levian at this point, but keeping the kid safe was in his best interests. Clearly, there was no loyalty here, although perhaps breaking him out of the jail might solve that... No: he couldn't risk him spilling the beans. Tight-knit the Fasters were not, and clueless Finair might be, but it was better not to get his head bashed in and dragged off to the cells. Although he was considering that possibility quite thoroughly. "You two!" he yelled; Leon and Seriah turned to him. "Scram!" Obediently, every Faster scattered, but none of the Peacekeepers tried to give chase; they had no names, but now they had someone in command to follow. 'Let them try.' He glanced at Finair, then continued in a lower voice. "Cell life intrigue you?" he growled, eyebrow raised. "If not, follow." The nearest Peacekeepers only a few steps from reaching Finair, who surely wouldn't be stupid enough to stick around. Everyone was guilty unless they wore the Capitol seal. Sabre took off to the east, black cloak billowing behind him. He knew there was an alley further down that they could use, and beyond that a perfect labyrinth of further passages, littered with garbage and other exciting obstacles, that they could use to shake the Peacekeepers. He just hoped that Finair's hatred of him wasn't going to make this harder than it had to be.

[seafeather]

Finair Levian

I can't see, 'cause it's burning deep inside
Like gasoline, a fire running wild
No more fear 'cause I'm getting closer now
So unreal, but I like it anyhow

Faster-Within Temptation

After I finished yelling at Sabre, with a sickening smile he gave a tip of an imaginary hat. Stupid. I say to myself as I watch him. I look back down the alley and see that Leon's fist connected with a peacekeepers chest. I wince as he flies through a set of trashcans and rams into a wall. The loud clang of the metal cans could hurt my ears if I were up close to it. Hanna is nit-picking at a peacekeeper, poking and shoving but turning away quickly before he can do anything about it. Seriah was spraying a peacekeeper in the eyes with a can of pepper spray, he let out a loud wail. Must have been painful.

"There, in the alley! There's more of the scum-suckers, quickly!" A white uniformed person yells from the opposite alley. My heart lurches as they run directly toward us before Leon punches them, sending them too flying into the wall.

"You two!" Sabre shouted; Leon and Seriah turned their heads to him. "Scram!" I notice that he didn't use their names. But now he's marked himself as the leader of us all. And better yet, he has someone following him. His sharp hazel eyes flicker to me. He glanced at Finair, then continued in a lower voice. "Cell life intrigue you?" His eyebrow raised. "If not, follow." I grudge him for this, this automatic leadership thing. He uses it too often. But he did give you a choice. Follow or living in a cell. It actually takes me a second to decide, I know that I don't really wanna live in a cell for a while. But it's nice to think about how this is mentally affecting Sabre.

Sabre took a path east, and I followed. I know these streets... I think to myself. These are the same passages I take home from a cliff dive. No one knows these streets better than myself. Except for maybe Sabre. I follow him down the alleyway, keeping apace with him. Not following, but right next to him. Step for step. My hood has fallen down and I quickly hitch it back up for fear of them recognizing me by my hair or facial features.

When will I ever lead a normal life?

[fαllεη •]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true][bg=black] † Much as he hated to admit anything, Sabre hadn't grown up knowing the back alleys. As the two of them careened down one alley, he actually had to remember where this one came out. But he hadn't stayed leader of the Fasters out of pure luck; oh no. Sabre, to tell the truth, quite enjoyed having what little power he did. And if he could use it to disrupt the Capitol's happy plans, well, then that was an added bonus. As he came to the end of the alley, he swung left and headed up the wide street, narrowly dodging a dishevelled pedestrian as he fled. They seemed to be making good their escape, but Peacekeepers in Four were no less complacent than anywhere else-- even if they were used to the sweet little families who trained their children for the bloodbath. Apparently other districts had names for kids like that, and it was unlikely that they were pretty. At least he'd escaped the Reaping. Now, he had to run from the Peacekeepers as if each one of them was a slip with his name on it. If it hadn't been for the blood pounding in his ears, the night would almost have been peaceful. If it hadn't been for the approaching sound of a siren, he might have deluded himself that they could get away. Under his breath, the Faster cursed another oath that would make a stone blush. The Peacekeepers' car braked right in front of them, releasing four more of the beetle-like soldiers onto the street. He turned, but the four who had followed them from the scene of the crime were already closing off their other escape. Apart from trash that littered the street, there seemed to be no way out.

[seafeather]

Finair Levian

I can't see, 'cause it's burning deep inside
Like gasoline, a fire running wild
No more fear 'cause I'm getting closer now
So unreal, but I like it anyhow

Faster-Within Temptation

I turned on my heel to the left as we reached the end of the alley. Sabre had almost run over an innocent bystander. I muttered an apology as we ran, seemingly making good progress. I heard the sirens blare through the city. The sleek cars could move faster than any other car or cart I had ever seen. Sabre, with his seaman way let out such a strong swear that I turned around to see if he was serious. I never liked swearing, it never took. I would rather be silent and mad than loud and mad. Causes to much attention.

From in front of us, I see the car that made the sirens. Four Peacekeepers pour out from the car in an almost comical way. I swish my head around to look behind us, trapped. Four more Peacekeepers are trooping in from the same alleyway that we took to get here. Great, Ananai. Thanks for getting us trapped. I think. Each of the bug like Peacekeepers hold a stocky automatic gun. They're thick, black and shiny. I automatically want to touch it. To feel it's smooth curves on my fingers. And to rake down every last bullet upon the 8 men and women standing in front of me. But of course, to do this, I need to get my hand on a weapon. And how am I to do this but-

"Alright!" I yell. I throw my hands in the air in defeat. Not looking Sabre in the eye, knowing that I would find shock, hate, disappointment. I don't know why this bothers me. Why should I care about what he thinks? But he's my leader, and he'll think I let him down. "I'm yours." I say. I look directly out into the street and notice a glint of red hair, the shine of green eyes under the moonlight. Run. I think. Run away before you see what happens! I wish with all of my heart that she runs away, and she does. The nearest Peacekeeper starts to walk forward. Now is the time to plan ahead.

[fαllεη •]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,4,true][bg=black] † Sabre Anani was not good at tight places. Mostly, they involved getting someone punched in the face. As such, standing on a street lit only by paltry lamps and filled with Peacekeepers was less than ideal. He had to think quickly. There was another side street twenty metres away from the Peacekeepers ahead. And then Finair had to go and give himself up. His thoughts were correct; all variations of shock and disappointment were apparent on his features; he even curled a lip. If, perhaps, the adrenaline hadn't been pounding through his veins, he might have thought more clearly. Instead, he just shook his head at Levian and watched as one of the Peacekeepers approached while the other three of the new arrivals drew their weapons. 'Coward.' He seethed inwardly, taking in the situation through guarded eyes. 'Filthy bilge-rat son of a mange-eaten seagull.' While looking at the approaching Peacekeeper, he caught a glimpse of a shock of red hair, turned dull by the moonlight. His start alerted one of the Peacekeepers, who turned to look over his (at least, Sabre assumed the beetle was a male) shouder. The street was empty. As the Peacekeeper gestured for Finair to lower his arms and turn around, realisation hit him. Automatic weapons be cursed; if the Peacekeepers got Levian in irons, then they stood so little chance of getting away that breathing wouldn't be worth the effort. He didn't like eight on one odds, not when eight of them had firearms. So, before he could rethink the plan, Sabre closed the paltry distance between himself and the Peacekeeper, and ripped the nightstick out of the Peacekeeper's holster. With all his fury, he raised the black stick and prepared to bring it down right on that thick, insect skull. OOC: If you want to play the Peacekeeper in the next post and if you need to get Sabre following along with your plans, feel free :D

[seafeather]

Finair Levian

I can't see, 'cause it's burning deep inside
Like gasoline, a fire running wild
No more fear 'cause I'm getting closer now
So unreal, but I like it anyhow

Faster-Within Temptation

The Peacekeeper drew near, irons in one hand, the sleek and shiny weapon in the other. A nice looking nightstick on his right hip, well, before Ananai ripped it off and beat the day-lights out of the guys head. Blood pounding in my ears, adrenaline coursing through me, I felt a high coming on. And I wasn't about to let it stop. I shove the peacekeeper with my back, whip around and grab his gun. Oh how I longed to touch such a weapon! I lean down and whisper into his ear as fast as I can, "I said I was yours. I didn't say that I would go down without a fight." His eyes enlarge before he's overcome by darkness.

"Duck!" I yell to Ananai. My finger finds the trigger and I let loose. It has no sound. No backfire. It was as if we were in one of those silent and epic parts of these things called "movies" that the Capitol citizens watch when they aren't watching teenagers kill each other. The bullets hit every peacekeeper, whether it just grazed them or shattered their shin bones. I wasn't about to be held accountable for murder but a few injuries wouldn't hurt anybody. Well, besides those getting hurt. "Follow me." I command Ananai. He's in no position to argue with me at this point. He knows I was faking it now, and in fact he helped me out my knocking the brains out of that peacekeeper.

I turn back the way we came. There's a chance that the peacekeepers will be piling in my the hundreds soon, and we don't want to be caught up in that. So if they're going to be coming in by the hundreds, they need to take streets, not alleys. I run on the brick pavement, checking our surroundings, hearing sirens not to far away just sends me running harder. I make a sharp left down the smallest alley yet and lead Sabre down a ladder. Our shoes make sharp clunks on the metal rungs. My goal is to get to the sewage drain that's at the very back of the alley. Eventually, when the sirens of the cars begin to wane we come upon the drain. A metal slit cover lies over a two foot hole in the ground. I shove it off and lay it close to the hole so we can seal it up when we get down.

"Coming?" I say. "Or would you like to submit yourselves to the peacekeepers for real?"

OOC: Okie dokie! XP Same goes for you if you need Finair to do anything. lol! He's a stubborn fella though, so if he doesn't like it; he doesn't like it. XD But he'll go if his life depends on it. lol