A Valley of Shattered Hearts

Chapter 14

Chapter song - Constellations by The Oh Hellos

I can see the boldness in her yellow eyes striking back at me. Something is whispered then soon forgotten.

I keep my stance, my feet firmly planted on the floor, my gaze ahead.

"What's your story, April Wren?" She asked me.

"I'm guarded when it comes to information," I responded.

"Then go ahead and lie to me," she turns to the Council, "it doesn't matter anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"Everyone has a story to tell."

My body shivers, the back of her hand striking my cheek, "like I said- just like your friend."

"I take it she's the one that talked you into this?"

"That's one way to look at it- she gave me inspiration."

"Inspiration?" She questioned.

"Yes, they all did- it's not fair what you are doing to this world."

"What you did to her." I said, sternly. "You made her disappear."

"Mmmh, fair is just not my game."

She wraps his arm around the Council, pulling her closer towards her.

"What have you done with her?" I ask, my hands turning white from the harsh grip on my weapon.

"Her?" The Council whispers.

"Such a strong statement- all is well at the Capitol."

All is not well. Nothing has been well for a very long time. Not just with me, not just with the world, but with the many things I haven't yet had a chance to experience.

She hits my back. Hard.

"It was supposed to be a job."

Supposed. Supposed. Supposed.

Only a word, I tell myself.

"Then we discovered you and we knew- we knew what you could do."

"The wonders!" The Council exclaimed.

I wouldn't call it wonderful.

"But there was one thing we couldn't figure out," The President sighs.

"What are you doing here?" They both ask.

"You could go home, yet you choose to be here and fight," she cringes at the last word.

"There's nothing for you here."

"I'll be the judge of that," I say, pulling my hunting knife from under my robes.

The Council laughs aloud, nearly falling to the ground.

"You never learned the lesson," she states.

"This is the last place you should be!"

She gasps for air, "it's been a long time coming- didn't think it would happen so soon!"

I walked towards her once more, "I came here to fight."

"I'm so relieved," she says, sarcastically.

I press my knife up to her neck, "Don't be silly, girl."

"If you keep up with that, you're going to get your tongue cut out."

"So be it," I say, my wand digging deeper into her skin.

"Not so nice now," she jokes to the other Madam President.

President Grey circles me like a shark, grabbing onto my ponytail and yanking me backwards.