A Valley of Shattered Hearts

Chapter 15

Chapter song - Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos

I opened my eyes, the brightness from above hitting me in the face.

I am shaken awake, "come on," Jade says.

Is she here to rescue me?

"We have to go now."

I try to listen to her, but I can't. The background noise is too loud and I'm worried I'm not in great shape for fleeing. I sat there anxiously, debating the very decisions I had become too familiar with. My head fell into my hands and my shoulders tensed.

I took a deep breath, "now?"

"Now," she repeated, "what's wrong?"

I faze out her words, tripping on my laces, I fall to the ground.

Perhaps I could get out of this. Maybe I wouldn't fall into the dimension of utter darkness. I began to forget everything about yesterday, it was dead to me. My insides churned, turning over, I clutch onto her hands, my head dropping back.

"April?"

"April," Jade shouts before everything goes black.

*

The Court waited before me, the voices in the rooms murmuring and chattering despite the loud words over the intercom.

"Hello!" The intercom says.

"We are the Capitol- the future," the intercom says, "I know most of you are very confused about what is going to happen, but stay with us."

"I have been aware that many of you are trying to interfere with our operation."

"And that is fine, but I must ask you to keep this information to yourself."

"Remember that the Capitol is a safe and open government organization that's main goal is to productively contain the ideas of fear and neglect from modern society, which is most used to perfect and alter relationships."

"The Capitol does all of these things by protecting young adolescents in the rough times of the newest generations."

The voice repeats the news over and over again until it sinks in.

It finally clears up, everyone stops talking and turns to face me.

And the fact that the room had multiplied in size offered the opportunity for more townspeople to join in on my 'punishment'.

And when I was finally ready enough to speak, my heart nearly fell out of my chest. It was soul crushing.

It wasn't just me. It was everyone. Everyone I had ever loved was in the room with me. I thought I'd see Ruby, but somehow that'd make it ten times worse.

The lights shone down on me, burning my skin. Turning away from the heat, drops of sweat settle on my neck. My throat begins to scratch and my gaze changes. Looking in all different directions before looking back at the board members.

What is this?

They seem to be looking at me, but not properly. More just kind of witnessing.

They were smiling, smug smirks placed across their faces.

Never before had I felt so concentrated, the pressure was on me. Every time I looked over, their eyes were always watching, enhanced by the sparkles that looked like daggers shooting at me. My fingertips become slippery, the power becoming almost relentless. I belonged with the truth, I wasn't going to settle for anything different.

The truth brought me together. It comforted me when I was away and at my darkest times. It had frustrated me that I didn't understand anymore, it changed me, it was my true calling.