Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 46: The Box

A loud chiming knocks me out of my staring contest with the blank wall. A loud banging follows after the chiming, making me confused. I force myself up, my weak legs hitting the cool of the hardwood floor below my bare feet. The banging comes again as I descend the stairs, heading straight for the door. Briar is nowhere in sight and the house seems to be quiet otherwise.

Another round of knocking comes before I throw open the door. A peacekeeper stands there with a solid white box under one arm. We stare at each other for a moment, neither of us saying anything.

"Can I help you?"

I finally break the silence, not breaking eye contact with the heartless helmet of the uniform. The peacekeeper clears their throat, holding up the box. Their movements remind me of a few guys I went to classes with before all of this. Stiff, yet erratic and uncertain.

"Yes, uh...this came for an Azalea Lantzmann? I'm guessing that's you considering you just won the games and your face is everywhere at the moment..."

"What is it?"

"Well...I don't know, Ma'am. All I know is it came from the Capitol."

They hold out the box, clearing their throat once more. My eyes study them for a moment before they fall onto the pure white container. I grab the box out of the outstretched hand, moving to shut the door.

"Thank you."

"Wait."

They grab the door, stopping me from closing it. I glare up at the helmet as the peacekeeper, steps back with their hands raised. It takes everything in me not to slam the door right then.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I was ordered to not leave until we know for sure what is in that box. It's nothing to do with you or anyone else, it's just rare for a box like that to be sent out here."

I glare, debating on arguing. It only takes a moment for me to sigh, stepping back from the door and letting the peacekeeper in. I'm too tired and drained to fight whatever this is.

"Fine. Let's make this quick."

The peacekeeper sighs, reaching up and slipping off their helmet. A smiling young man not much older than Atlas is revealed. He holds out his hand, clearly wanting to shake hands.

"I'm Marcellus Kwan. I was just transferred here from the academy."

I eye his hand, my eyes narrowed at his friendliness. I've never met a single peacekeeper to actually be friendly, especially one here in eleven. Ignoring his hand, I turn and continue inside with the package.

"Clearly."

"Right." He clears his throat, following me as he shuts the door behind him. "It's a scorcher out there anyways, you know?"

No. I haven't stepped outside in almost a week.

I don't say that. Instead I walk into my brand new kitchen that is at least twice the size of my old one. I set the box down on the counter before looking for a knife to open the seal. The first few drawers have nothing of use, or nothing at all. The fourth or fifth hold what I'm looking for, making me sigh while grabbing a large kitchen knife.

"You seem to not really know where anything is..."

"That happens when someone else organizes your kitchen. You have to actually look for things."

"Yeah..." his eyes scan the large ceiling and extraordinary counter space. "But this kitchen is killer. Scratch that, I'd actually kill for this kitchen."

I freeze, slowly looking up towards the male. He doesn't seem to notice what he said until his eyes find mine. He clears his throat as I stare him down, the familiar memories of me doing just that coming to mind.