End of a Beginning (Book 4)

Chapter Three - Forgotten Faces

When I was little, I was taught that Wallho, Kane, and Noel were all pretty similar. Not only are they all the lowest ranking provinces in Floriea, they all have similar landscapes as well. Looking down at the border of Kane and Noel, I can already tell the differences. Kane, though having major forests, is mostly large farming fields. Noel is full of forests but much thinner than in Wallho. Noel is the fishing capital for Floriea and doesn't need to use their space for large farming areas. Even from the border, we're able to just see the water on the horizon.

Derek gestures for us to keep moving and I reluctantly do so. It's been a full month since Derek said those words to me. In that time, we've entirely skipped Valcrest and Elaine's request to meet her there. Even though Derek was dying to see a familiar face again, it was too much of a risk to go. So since then, we've travelled from the western border to the eastern border. Initially I didn't think we were that close to Ryrn after the bunker, but that would explain the gunshots we heard that one morning. Ryrn, the Traitor State, loves their militia and their stupid firepower. But now heading into Noel, I feel more at peace than in Kane. It might be because I've met so many people from Noel that I've truly liked including the one boy I was willing to give my own life over for. Will. I wonder what life would have been like if I never survived the games and Will took my place. Would it be a better place without me?

Derek keeps a relentless pace as we head towards the Eastern Lake, the second largest lake to surround Floriea. I've never seen the Eastern Lake before with my own eyes. Even in Bok – which touches the lake – I never got to see the massive body of water. The city held back the true beauty of what mother nature can offer.

After another exhausting day of trekking, by morning we arrive at the cliffs of Noel and I'm elated to see the waves. Being at the Northern Lake in winter was extremely daunting but now at the Eastern Lake, I'm able to see how magnificent it is. The water expands out in front of us and to the sides of us for miles and miles. How beautiful. Pointing to the south, Derek directs my attention to a distractingly ugly dark spot in the farthest point in the horizon. "That's Bok and their pollution," he says. "It can be seen even from here." I furrow my brows. How disgusting. How could anyone let it get to that point? It's honestly disgusting. Sometimes I can still feel the dirty air in my lungs. It still haunts my dreams.

We spend the whole morning just admiring the lake and even though I want to climb down the cliffs to walk on the beach, I refrain from doing so. It would be foolish to do that. But instead, I shed off my jacket and wave my arms in the air. For the first time in a long time, I've been happy and feel free. Even Derek lays in the grass and lets the strong breeze cool us down. We give ourselves a deserved break for most of the day by sitting underneath trees on the cliff or the tall grass that wave constantly. The whole time I feel rejuvenated.

While we're eating lunch, I embellish on how much Derek has opened up in the month since he told me he loved me. It's as if the simple act alone opened a locked chest. I've probably learned more in the past month than the other seven or so months prior. It's mostly small things, but I'm most interested in the small things anyways. He tells me how much he loves sweets and used to sneak in the middle of the night to stuff his face with them. He tells me of times in Lim and how kids in summer would spend all day at the Eastern Lake to catch fish. He tells me how much he hates holidays. He tells me how he loves the smell of smoke. He tells me of how he dislikes when people shake their leg.

Most importantly, he talks of his mother. He speaks of kind she was to everyone. Even to people she didn't necessarily like, she always made sure people felt included. He says that she always had a calming presence to her even when she fell ill. She passed away three years ago, when Derek was sixteen. They were on a vague trip in Yally when she collapsed on the ground suddenly. After taking her to receive treatment, they found out she had very aggressive cancer. It took only two short months from initial diagnosis to her passing. He talks of how hard it was to see her fade away from him and how much it changed their family. Xavier was alone in Bok already when it happened but it led Cassie to leave as well which left Derek alone with his father. He said he was his father's least favorite child and his father felt spiteful that he was left with him. I told him he was insane for thinking this way, but I knew deep down that Derek knew it to be true.