Hunger Games (DNF)

Part 2, Chapter 39: a suspecting sister

Clay POV.

Nick and I both paced back and forth impatiently in the common room on the train. Fundy, Charlie, Karl, and Alex were all gone, leaving us with the avoxes and Karl’s family. The train had stopped at the station for District 4.

Our 4 friends were all in their peacekeeper uniforms and were trying to find our family. They had been gone for half an hour, and we were starting to get worried. There was always the possibility that they got caught by actual peacekeepers and were taken back to the Capitol.

Suddenly the door slipped open, causing us to spin around and look at the door. In walked Nick’s parents along with 2 peacekeepers. They seemed surprised and when they saw Nick they immediately ran to him and engulfed him in a hug.

“We thought you were dead,” Nick’s mother said when they stopped hugging and crying. She looked over at me, “...and Clay. You’re here too? How did you two even get here?”
My best friend gave them both a smile. “We managed to escape the Capitol. Now we are going to get our families out and head to District 12.”

I nodded in agreement and watched as the pair of peacekeepers pulled off their uniforms, revealing that it was Fundy and Alex. They put the uniforms down and brushed down their shirts for a moment before walking over to us.

Fundy spoke first. “Look, we are sorry for how we were acting but we didn’t want anyone to get suspicious of us. It was the safest way to get you both out of the District.”
Nick’s parents nodded. His mother smiled “It’s okay. You did what you had to do to get us out of there safely. Thank you.”

“Where are my mother and sister?” I asked the pair, “and where are Karl and Charlie?”
“Your mother wasn’t home.” Alex explained. “So Karl and Charlie went with your sister to victor’s village, because she apparently went to visit Techno. She figured out we weren’t peacekeepers pretty soon after we turned up.”

I nodded, “she is quite smart. But she is also annoying, so it balances out.”
They laughed and then I watched as Fundy walked into the control room, probably to plan out where we were going next. I decided to follow him while Nick had his reunion with his family and introduced them to Alex, and Karl’s family.

“How far away are Karl and Charlie?” I asked when I sat next to him in the control room and he began pressing buttons on the control panel.
The redhead shrugged. “We went to your house first, only your sister was there and she realised we weren’t actual peacekeepers so she took Karl and Charlie up to victor's village straight away to get your mother.”

I nodded at his explanation and looked over to the avoxes who were sitting quietly in the corner of the room, having a sign language conversation with each other. After another glance at Fundy I went to sit next to them. Maybe they could teach me some sign language while I waited impatiently for my family to get here.

Karl POV.

“This is apparently where Clay’s family lives.” I stated as I looked at the sign hanging over the front of the boat shop. It was covered in faded blue paint covering the door and around the window frame.

The sign said in yellow letters ‘Smith Brothers repair shop. The best shop for boat repairs, cleaning, and painting.’
“Well it makes sense,” Alex stated, “after all, Clay’s last name is Smith.”

We knocked on the door, trying to seem relatively polite even though we were meant to be peacekeepers who were taking them. Nobody answered so Charlie knocked on the door again, making it seem more demanding.

A blond girl who looked a lot like a younger female Clay appeared and just stared at us through the window. She seemed unsure of what to do but when Charlie knocked on the door again she ran over to open the door.