Baird's girl

Chapter 18

May 6, 2018 
District 12

Maude and Joana were swimming in the lake, while Amber and Thomas discussed next year. Thomas said, "How many volunteers do you think there will be at the reaping next year? 4? 7?"
"Why are you saying that?" Amber asked, a smile on her lips.
"Well, it's District 1. From what I've heard, it's an honor for them to participate in the Games. I'm betting on 10. Maybe 9, but not less."
Amber retorted
"You're way too ambitious. 10 volunteers are impossible, even for the Careers. There might be 6, but no more."
"For people who can fight and are sure they can win, I don't think I'm too ambitious, honestly."
"I still wonder how you can willingly go there. You must really want to die to do it."
"I don't know, all I know is that participating in this... this thing is an honor for them."
"I wouldn't bet on that. Maybe I would have before, but not anymore."
"Things aren't better, I suppose."
"No."

Ethan and Alicia had just arrived in District 12. The change was brutal for Ethan, even though he half-expected something like what he was seeing now. Alicia, on the other hand, wasn't surprised: Josh had warned her; it was the poorest of the 12 districts.
They walked forward and encountered the mayor, who asked why Capitol residents were in District 12. Alicia lied, saying:
"We were told to talk to this year's winners. Do you know where the girl is? Amber Baird, I believe?"
"I don't know where she is currently, but maybe check her home. It's not far from the lake, I think."
"Alright, thank you," Alicia replied.
Once the mayor left, Ethan approached his sister and said :
"You're quite the actress."
"Perhaps. Shall we go?"
Alicia and Ethan headed in the direction the mayor had indicated, where they found a house. They heard laughter a little further away, directly coming from the lake. They decided to go there and found Thomas, Joana, Maude, and Amber. All four were sitting by the lake, enjoying themselves. Joana was the first to notice their presence. With childlike innocence, she said to Amber, pointing at Alicia and Ethan :
"Look, Amber."
Amber turned around, surprised to see Ethan. She vaguely remembered this girl; she had given her the message from Ethan. She assumed this was his sister. She said to Joana:
"Joana, my dear, take them to the house, and I'll join you later."
"Okay,"Joana replied.
Joana approached Ethan and Alicia, took Alicia's hand, and motioned for Ethan to follow. They headed toward the Baird house. Along the way, Joana started a conversation:
"You're not from here; that's obvious. Where are you from? District 1? You're too well-dressed to be from anywhere else. Or maybe you're from the Capitol, but in that case, I doubt you have the right to be here"
Alicia and Ethan were surprised by Joana's insight. Alicia hesitated before responding:
"No, we're not from District 1, we come from the Capitol."
"Then you must have come across my cousin Amber, she was taken there this year and last year."
Ethan replied:
"Yes, I saw her, in fact, I was her mentor."
"Amber didn't like the Capitol. People tried to kill her there. She has changed a lot since she went there. Sometimes at night, she wakes up screaming."
Ethan felt a twinge of pain at this revelation; he knew the games could be traumatic but he didn't realize to what extent. Joana continued:
"You're Ethan, right? Amber said you were the only person who tried to help her."
"I did what I could, indeed."
"I think she likes you. You're lucky, generally, she hates the people from the Capitol, like all of us, in fact"
Alicia intervened:
"So, you hate us then?"
"No, not you. Amber seems to trust you, so I trust you too," Joana naively answered.
This revelation made Alicia and Ethan smile.