District Three-Ferra and Kai

[Rαccooη]

Glancing through the gray-blue eyes of Ferra Lanx...

I shoved my electronically nimbled hands into my pocket, searching for the tiny explosives stashed inside. There had been ten at a previous occasion, but after a few shots at a Peacekeeper taunting a young child with promises of food and luxury, I was down to six. No matter, though, as I still had my secret weapon stashed in a better place than my pocket. An explosive that would erupt in a noxious cloud of gas that would eat away at his clothes! The humiliation he'd feel after I was done with them made me chuckle darkly. I saw the mayor talking with a group of the Peacekeepers, being the traitorous overlord, selling out my district. He stepped onto the platform, the crowd of Peacekeepers swarming like ants around him, keeping their guns handy in case someone like me attacked them. Someone like me; a rebel who just wanted to save her District from the horrors of the Hunger Games. I hid in a corner, behind some overly-fragrant roses in a fake-looking bush. I was just about to throw the bombs into the swarm of Peacekeepers when something caught my eye.

Kai Serverson. An eighteen year old who still tinkered with toys. He had tried to be my friend for ages, but I was always too busy for friendship. Besides, he couldn't handle the intense trouble I'd be in if the Peacekeepers found me out. I turned my eyes away from his, but not before we locked gazes for a split second. He knew I was there, and I prayed that he wouldn't report me. By now, the 'speech' that the mayor was giving was nearly over, and I launched the bombs into his podium. The mayor looked uncertainly at the tiny device, and then his eyes went wide. I watched as the bomb went off, and the gas made the Peacekeepers cough under their uniforms. It seemed like it hadn't done anything, and for a moment, my breath caught in my throat. The mayor resumed his speech, and then the magic I had created activated. The mayor's expensive-looking suit started to dissolve, and the Peacekeepers' uniforms as well. The Peacekeepers ran around like bees trying to return to a squashed home. They started tearing off their clothes, like it would dissolve their skin as well, and it was downright hilarious. Then, at the end of it all, the mayor finished his speech, cameras rolling, with no clothing on his body! The entirety of Panem must have seen it, and it was all I could take to not reveal myself and laugh it out behind that bush. But no, I had to run away, so as not to reveal myself, and I was sure that the rest of the square would follow as well, probably fearing blame.

I slowed my run to a walk as I neared my nearly empty home. I looked around, making sure I wasn't followed, and noticed Kai was nearby. I realized that I desperately needed to ask him why he didn't give me away and let me rot in a prison or worse-I touched my neck protectively-be executed. It would have been better for District 3, according to everyone. No more problems. I walked behind him, my light feet dancing on the ground below as I neared him. A chirp of a mockingjay; a cry of alarm; distracted my sprint for a moment, and I slammed into Kai, sending myself crashing to the earth below.

"Sorry," I said briskly, picking myself off the ground and dusting the dirt off of my clothes, "I needed to ask you something. Don't lie to me; I'll know. Why didn't you rat me out back there? I know you saw me before I launched the bombs. And it would have been so much better for the District." My words danced in the realm of sarcasm, and only after I said them did I know what I had just said. I had revealed that I had thrown the bombs! Now I had to be doomed. But, at least District 3 would be 'better off.'

[fαllεη •]

note: I hate first person, but let's give it a shot XD

The morning hadn't been so great, I suppose. Iaron decided that I didn't wake up fast enough and brutally suffocated me with a pillow, while mum's been on edge since the reaping started looming overhead again. 'Don't forget to brush your teeth, Kai! Say 'good morning' nicely to the Peacekeepers, Kai.' As if I'm three again. As if she thinks that politeness will change my odds. Maybe if I thought it would help, I'd be a little more in tune with her melody- but as it is, who really cares?
I know she's nervous. I do. But Iaron managed to get past the reaping, so now she's only got me to fuss over. Iaron'll be moving out soon, and that'll double the pressure. But if I make it past this year, I'll be OK- none of her worrying, none of Iaron's crashing around the house at all hours. Maybe I'll even be able to skip these awful meetings and spend my time with ACE instead of the Capitol.Ha, and devote some of my time to cracking some of those kids who don't seem to understand that we need to stick together. Friendship, comradery: these are the things that will get us all out of this mess.

Then someone jabbed me in the ribs, the familiar prod of a barrel breaking any concentration in half. There was a moment of terror, but then I came to my senses. I was back in the square, not locked inside my own head.
"Pay attention, kid," the Peacekeeper growled in my ear. 'Kid'? Who was he calling 'kid'? No, stay calm. Don't move. Look cowed.' But of course, he's already walked away-- just turned on his heel and kept walking as if nothing had happened. Thank God for that. I sighed, glancing at the mass of people on either side. They wouldn't be any help in a beating, of course. I don't know what I'd tell my mother if I came home with more bruises. Mind you, the smart Peacekeepers can beat you up without leaving a mark... Or so I've heard.

I was just about to take another glance at the mayor in his finery, when the glint of something metallic caught my eye. That wasn't unusual in District Three, not normally. But this particular glint happened to come from behind a rosebush. And, nestled behind those thorny flowers, some ten metres away was the unmistakable, black-and-white-streaked-hair of Ferra Lanx. A slow tingle crept up my spine as her hard, blue eyes locked onto mine, but hers quickly flickered away. This was the girl who, depite being fourteen, was one inch taller than me and liked to use her acid tongue at a moment's notice. She wasn't exactly known for her cheerful disposition, not that I could really blame her. I'd heard enough about Ferra's life to date to know about her parents, her sister. I wouldn't wish that childhood on anyone. Now, she was the one who was driving the Peacekeepers mad with those explosives, the one terrifying the older members of the District that retribution would be swift and unpleasant. Whatever they or I thought, though, I had to hand it to her: she was right handy with a bomb. Knowing this, it wasn't hard to guess what the small, shiny something in her hand was. I almost walked over to her, before the obvious clicked into place and reminded me that she didn't want to be seen- what other reason could someone have for hiding under a shrub? I guessed I'd have to play along. It seemed as good a way to get on her side as any.
As the mayor seemed ready to round his speech on frugality (or whatever it was he liked to tell us about), the silver ball carved an arc across the grey sky. It let loose a low boom, expelling clouds of dense gas. Why were the stupid polititians just standing there? Any number of things could be hidden there- nanobots, toxins, a high-concentration of anaesthetic. But no, the idiot just stood there as the Peackeepers coughed around him, then resumed his speech. I risked another pointed glance in Ferra's direction -what the heck was the girl doing?- but she seemed fixed on what was going on on stage. And then I heard them. The chuckles and the giggles, the belly laughs and the whispered comments that brought on still more laughter. On stage, Peacekeeper clothes and expensive suits alike began to dissolve like salt in water. It was ridiculous! The Peacekeepers looked terrified, all the blood draining from their faces as they ripped clothing from their bodies and then watched as it fell apart in their hands. And then -and this will make me laugh for the rest of my life, I swear to you now- the mayor, stark-naked, continued delivering his speech. The laughter abruptly finished once the Peacekeepers started glaring: a naked authoritarian with a gun is still a person with a gun. But one look at the new light in the eyes of District Three, and it was obvious that Ferra's attack had had more than one effect.

Speaking of which... I risked another glance back at the rosebush, just in time to watch her dart into another stret and take off running. She'd been right to run-- another quick look at the rest of the square showed that others were trying to get out as subtly as they could, probably to return to their families, while others remained steadfast. I sincerely doubted that I'd be able to stand up in a questioning from one of those burly guards... Especially if that Peacekeeper from earlier came back. It was a small miracle that he hadn't seen Ferra as well.
The square had five streets branching off in every direction. Ferra had taken one, two were on the other side of the square and blocked by the stage -I risked a small chuckle- but there was one behind me that I could take. All I had to do was slip past the few Peacekeepers who remained. Easy, right?

My heart thrummed like an overworked processor as I walked towards them. 'Eyes ahead. Look nonchalant.' Of course, I'd never been good at hiding my emotions... Maybe concern was the best mask I could wear. The Peacekeepers were five meters away now, and of course they'd spotted me. Fortunately, I was just one of a crowd. 'One of a crowd.' ACE's flashdrive thumped out a matching beat against my skin. It wasn't just to avoid interrogation-- carrying her with me resulted in pretty much the same amount of terror that leaving her home alone did. At least if she was close by, I'd be able to defend her.
The Peacekeepers were asking questions (of course they were!) and as long as no-one else had spotted the infamous white streak, Ferra should be OK. Nevertheless, I couldn't suppress a shiver. As others began to seep through the thin white line, one of the Peacekeepers finally caught my eye. Now it was my turn.
"Name?" Her voice was cold and crisp, the same District Two accent that crackled like static.
"Kai Serverson."
"Did you see anything suspicious today, Serverson?"
The moment. I swallowed thickly, trying to remember to breathe. "No. No, Peacekeeper."
She stared at me for a while, and I knew she could read the lies written all over my face. "Hm. Could you stand over there for a moment, please?"
She was unusually polite for a District Two, but that only made me more nervous. That perfect copper skin, the perfect brown hair that framed her pretty face, just made me feel sick. I had no choice. Walked to the alley she'd indicated. Listened to the click of her boots as she followed me. Studded? Surely not-- they'd been banned except in the mining districts themselves. As soon as the dark alleyway hid us from view, her boot slammed into the back of my knees. Pain electrified every nerve as I fell, couldn't think as she stood over me, dreading the power she held. I was trapped-- fleeing was no longer an option. And then my hair was almost pulled out by the roots as she yanked me back to my feet. Tears stung my eyes, but her face held only hunger. She was inches from mine, pressed me against the wall. I had no-where to run. Nowhere. I couldn't fight those cold brown eyes. She pressed her lips against mine, demanding. And something inside me responded, disgusted as I was. She bit me; I bit back and she slammed me back to my knees, sending another burst of pain through my legs. Mercilessly she slammed her face against mine again, mugging me for kisses. I couldn't resist her arms, couldn't fight the pain that sent more tears streaking down my face.
"You're weak," she whispered in gasping breaths, before grabbing me by the shirt. Some sick reflex made me lean forward again, and she slapped me so hard that something seemed to explode on the side of my face. "You're nothing, kid. And you will tell me what you saw."
I couldn't give her anything-- she'd already taken it. In a dark alley, I really was nothing to her. Nothing to the Capitol. Every part of me ached, every inch aflame with the beatings. Hadn't someone heard? Couldn't they help me? Would they?

She threw me to the ground.
Stood over me like a giant.
"Tell me, rat."

I whispered something through bleeding lips. She yanked me back up by the back of my shirt. "What did you say, my little man?"
I spat bloody saliva into her eye. She screamed with shock and dropped me with a thump that felt like it broke a rib. Somehow I staggered to my feet and took off running, hearing her cries for help fade into the distance. Blinded with pain and shock, I couldn't manage much more than a shambling run, only thinking of getting out of that hellhole. What else could a rat like me do? "Rat. Nothing. Tell me." She made me feel sick to my stomach. She'd taken something that wasn't hers, and now my thoughts were spinning out of control like a record without a needle. I had to get home before she caught me, before she made me want her and also despise her. Because, God almighty, what right did she have to do that to me? I just felt ill, as if she'd infected me. My whole world was spinning and control was about as far away as the moon. The moon... I'd like to be there. Cool, pale white; nothing ever disturbed that smiling face. There I would be safe. There... Then I felt her collide with me, take me down in a flying tackle, and I had to fight the urge to scream. This was going to be the rest of my life, I was sure-- just when she was out of sight, she'd be back: who did this? answer me, rat. kiss and tell, rat. Bruises all over, but thank God nothing was broken-- nothing yet, that is. ACE, by the decree of some blessed deity, was still intact. And then I heard her. Not the deep voice of the Peacekeeper-- not even close. The girlish voice of Ferra Lanx.

"I needed to ask you something."
Now, I know it's wicked of me to say this, but right in that second I hated her. Hated her for the fear she'd sent flaming through my system, hated her for tackling me to the ground and adding to my bruises.
"Don't lie to me; I'll know. Why didn't you rat me out back there? I know you saw me before I launched the bombs. And it would have been so much better for the District."
So cocky! I picked myself up, trying to brush away the fury. 'Come on, you know it's not her fault.' She can be however she likes: don't take it personally. Basic rules, basic facts that I liked by. And yet all basic constructs felt like they'd been turned inside out...
I had to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and pause for a moment to run my hands through my hair before I could respond. And even while I did, I remember my gaze flickering whenever I paused, flickering behind her and into the alley ways that branched off like spider-webs.
"I wouldn't rat you out, Ferra." That's right, keep your tone cool; she can live with a bit of exasperation.
"We're all District Three here. Do you see any Peacekeeper threads on me?" I held out my arms to her with a fragile grin, letting her examine them. But part of me was worried that she'd actually find something-- that somehow physical contact with a Peacekeeper was as obvious as crimson hair or golden tattoos. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was crumbling from the inside out, and I didn't care if she read me like a book-- anything was better than letting her catch up with me again.