Primrose Mellark

Chapter Five

   We left the house shortly after, and we were seated in the back row. I looked around anxiously for Rye to show up. But he didn't before the ceremony started. Our governor, James Undersee Jr., or Mr. Undersee, stood up and cleared his voice. I couldn't stop checking for Rye while he spoke.

   "District Twelve. I have some very... important news to tell you." His voice cracked. I knew something bad was going to happen. "The Districts leader, Paylor, has... passed." Gasps of shock flooded the area. I let out a gasp too. Our leader has gone! Who will take her place?

   "She had died from a horrible disease." he said. "The new leader is Jason Thorn. And he has a plan for District Twelve. Since we cannot find anymore coal in our mines, we are moving more south, where there is more coal.." 

   "We're moving?" somebody called out. "When?" 

   "Next month. Then, everybody is required to leave with us, and we will have some homes built. Others, you will have to build yourselves." I saw Rye come up to me and sit down. I leaned in towards him. 

   "Did you hear what they just said?" I whispered. 

   "Yeah." 

   "Where where you?" I asked. Rye waved his hand at me. 

   "Tell you later." he whispered back. I nodded and looked back at the stage where the mayor stood. He was talking to some person who came up to him, then looked back at the crowd. 

   "Any questions?" he asked. 

   One mad stood up. "What will we travel in?" 

   "Good question. We will be packing up and leaving inside the old Capital train.  I will tell you when we are leaving when we get more information." 

   "Will we be able to have cars and drive wherever we want in this new town?" my papa called. 

   "Indeed!" he said happily. "Every family will be able to travel to the new town, but you cannot move to any place other than our place." 

   Nobody had any more questions. I scanned the crowd for Evan, and I saw him at the edge of the crowd, away from me. 

   "In that case, the meeting is now over. Thank you for your participation." Mr. Undersee stood up and walked off the stage. The crowd murmured and stood up. I turned to my brother.  

   "Where were you?" I demanded. 

   "I was at the library." he said.

   "Doing what?" I asked. "Reading?"

   He frowned. "No. I was looking up something in the library. Something important." I didn't ask him why or what was so important. I knew he wouldn't reply anyways. I changed the conversation as we stood  up to leave.

   "So are we going to be a house or build one?" I asked. Truthfully, I was sort of scared of moving, actually. I wanted to stay in our old home, yet I wanted to leave and find something new. Then the moving side of me won. Yes, I wanted to live in this new District place. Yes, I wanted new places and a new home.

   "Building one." papa replied. "We can do it, can't we, Katniss?" He glanced over at my mother.

   "Of course we can." she smiled. "This.... this is going to be a good experience for us." Her face was happy, but in her eyes, I could detect sadness. I assumed it was about leaving her home she lived in for her whole life. 

   "Are we taking the animals?" Rye asked. My papa cast a glance at my mom, then looked down at Rye. So innocent, I thought.

   "I'm sorry son. We'll have to sell them in order to get the house supplies we need. Besides, animals cannot travel in the trains." Papa explained all of it to Rye. Rye looked sad, and I also felt a little sad.

   "Can we take Thrush?" he asked.

   "I think we can." Mom said. "She isn't that big to carry on the train."

   I thought for a second as we walked home through the forest path. "But... papa, won't that mean leaving your bakery?" I asked. I looked up at him. His face was emotionless, and his eyes gave away nothing. 

   "I guess so, cupcake." he said evenly. "But we have to learn to move on from things. Just like our animals. They will be in good hands, I am sure. And my bakery..."

    "If nobody's going to live here," I reasoned. "Then what's the use for a bakery? Won't they tear it down or something? Along with the other buildings?"

   "No. I talked to Mr. Undersee earlier and he said that this town will be used for a shelter, just in case we need it for battle or something." papa said to us. I nodded and looked down. As I put my hands in my jacket pocket, I felt something cold and hard. I peeked it out of my pocket just enough for me to see it. The thing was that object I'd found on the forest floor a few days ago. I quickly shoved it back in, so my parents wouldn't see. But Rye already saw.

   "What's that?" he said loudly. Mom looked back at us, but papa kept facing forward. I glared at Rye.

   "What?" I said causally. Mom turned around again. Rye pointed to my pocket.

   "That!" he said. He reached in my pocket, and I quickly drew away. "Show me."

   I glanced to see that mom wasn't looking, then took the thing out. I guarded it with my hands so mom wouldn't see. "I found it on the ground." I whispered. "I don't know what it is."

   Rye's eyes popped open. He opened his mouth, then remembered to be quiet. "I know what that thing is! It's a-"

   "What are you two looking at back there?" Mom called.

   "Only a flower I found, mom!" I called back. I slowed my pace, letting them walked farther ahead. I showed Rye.

   "It's a bullet." he whispered.

   "A what?"

   "A bullet case!" Rye said excitedly. "Its a thing that people used to shoot during battle. They shot it from their guns. I guess its from the Hunger Games times, I think. Where'd ya' find it again?" I let him hold the bullet.

   "This path, but a few yards down." I pointed to the way we came. "Here." I took it from him and put it back into my pocket. "We have to keep it a secret from papa and mom. They'll probably take it away if they found out we had one. Let's catch up." I ran up to my parents with Rye following loudly behind me. 

    Mom didn't ask any more questions until we reached the house. I felt for the bullet one more time before walking inside.

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i noticed how popular this story had become. its really nice of you guys to support me on one of my newer books!! i will continue it until chapter 20 or more. thanks for reading! i really appreciate it!!!

~katniss_on_fire13