𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝑒𝑒𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌

Chapter One

Part One
- The Reaping

A game, life is just one big game. And the rolling dice is always pushing me to the very edge, making me feel as if I was always walking one step forward, then three steps back.

A gentle breeze has picked up, adding some life to the trees above me, a sway to them. The willow tree beneath me started to rock back and forth in a rhythm. One that I could fall asleep to many, many times.

I've always found trees to be interesting, how they can withstand dry seasons at their worst and still act as if they're not withering up from the inside.
Sometimes I wonder why I can't do the same.

Locks of my hair start twirling and flailing in the wind. Rays of orange and pink light start streaming across the sky, slowly creeping down the trunks of the trees as the sun sets.

Hours can so easily go by when I'm up here. Hours that always feel like seconds. I push my feet against the branch and shove myself up a little further to watch the last of the sun setting.
Tracing the outer edge of the heavily guarded concrete wall that surrounds District Eleven, the orange light finally fades, causing the warmth that was there to dissipate. Now the air is cold, there is no light, and a depressing eerie feeling is left behind.

Shivers begin creeping up on me, goosebumps following close behind. It's not as nice now.
And curfew will begin in an hour or two, and I certainly don't want to tempt fate, not today.

I grab branches and slowly crawl my way down, taking my time in choosing which limbs will mean a quick and painless fall down if they break. The last branch was reasonably close to the ground and with a quick leap, I was back on solid earth again.

It takes me a second to adjust to the dimming light and walk on my two feet again, but I soon find a pace and start slowly walking towards the town circle. Ajax should be waiting for me there.

Making my way down the hill was peaceful enough until a voice called out from behind me."Willow, wait up!"

I spin on my heels to meet them, finding a tall familiar stance.
"Hi," I greet him.
"What are you doing up here so late?" He smiles, my eyes meeting his. Those eyes; I never understood how the colour in his eyes never seemed to be diluted by the bland surroundings we lived in.

His name is Braytz, my best friend, and about the only person I trust inside these oppressive walls. He can occasionally cause more trouble than he does help, but he proves to be a keeper otherwise.

"Just processing stuff, that's all" I reply tearing my gaze away from him. If I look any longer, I'm not gonna sleep tonight. His stupid face will be imprinted in my mind like ink, stopping me from finding sleep.

"I don't believe you." Raising an eyebrow, he's digging when there's nothing to uncover. I feel his eyes scanning me for any hint I may give to whatever he thinks is wrong. I should know by now, that hiding things from him never works.

I want to tell him I'm scared. Scared that I'll be taken away one day. Scared that I might not come home again. I start thinking like this, especially around this time of the year.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking. If anything I'm just tired." My mouth gave me away. I can't lie to him no matter what I say. But I refuse to talk about this any further.

"Fine, be that way. When you're ready to tell me you will. I'm gonna walk you back home either way." he insists, wrapping his arm across my shoulders.

I ease into his side and take in his warmth and assurance. He can probably tell I feel upside down.

"So what do you feel like talking about?" He questions.

"Well, I have tree picking tomorrow, so would you wanna work together?" I reply, casually slipping my arm around his waist to try and get closer to the heat he was giving.