𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄; The Hunger Games

𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 (𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏)

My mother sat the grilled catfish on the table, along with green beans and cabbage as the sides, and the beverages (water and tea) were placed carefully in the middle of the table.

The fish was displayed on a shimmering silver plate, the tea and water in crystal clear glasses, the sides placed in two dazzling pearl white bowls.

She's tired, sweating from the hot, greasy smoke beaming on her face.

She attempts to pass out plates as I stand up, taking them out of her hands and placing them on the table, along with cups.

"Thank you, son". Mother says as she kisses me on the cheek.

"Amen!" My uncle shouts in glee, eyeballing the catfish.

My father grabs a large piece of fish, "Thank you." He says to me, trying his best to seem grateful, but I know he's not.

"You're welcome," I smirked, grabbing a piece as well; my mother sat at the end of the table, and everyone was digging in as if we hadn't eaten in days.

"Don't eat too fast; you'll swallow your tongue," Mother says before sipping her homemade tea.

I get a smaller piece of fish and a small scoop of green beans. I look over at Malic's plate, which is pilled up like a mini-mountain of food.

"Dude, have you not eaten in days?" I question him as my uncle laughs.

"That boy needs a box!" Uncle jokes, laughing with his mouth full, kind of making me lose my appetite.

"What, a man gots to eat?" He says, shoving a fork full of cabbage in his mouth.

I roll my eyes, slowly eating the fish. My mother is a fantastic cook, at least with the ingredients she has. She would be a wonderful chief in the Capitol.

As we finish dinner, I pile all the plates up, carrying them to the dishes.

"Whew, well, y'all, I am stuff; I'm about to lie down."  My uncle says, walking into the living room.

"It was delicious, sweetheart, thank you," my father says to my mother, kissing her forehead before exiting upstairs to his room.

Malic grabs the cups and silverware. I turn on the water, washing the dishes alongside Malic.

My mother revealed one single sugar cookie, a celebration of my birthday. "You never know what tomorrow may hold," a tear drops from her face. Her hands shake, giving me the cookie.

"I'm too full right now, but I appreciate this so much; I love you," I tell her.

"You will always be my silver fin." My mother says she hasn't called me that since I was ten. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me as she hugs me tightly.

I place my hands on her back, folding into her nurturing hug. She releases me as she dries her tears. She looks over at Malic.

She wraps her motherly hands around him, and he places his chin on the top of her head, holding her tightly as she releases him.

"Would your family like food, Malic?". My mother asks abruptly. "No, thank you, Mrs.Nereus, we have plenty to eat." Malic states in a loving tone.

"In that case, I'm headed off to bed; get home safe, Malic; you boys must wake up early tomorrow." My mother walks out of the dining room and enters her room, closing the door behind her.

Malic and I finish off the dishes. I take a cloth to dry my hands, placing it on the bar. I turn off the kitchen lights. As I'm walking toward my room, Malic grabs my wrist.

I turn and look at him. "Uh, could I stay here tonight?". Malic asks me, the worry in his eyes like a little boy wanting to sleep in his parent's room.

"You can, you okay?". As he releases my wrist, I ask him, his face shifts from worried to calm. "Yeah, of course, dude". He says like he's hiding something.

I shrug my shoulders, heading to my room as Malic follows behind. As we enter my room, I close the door, turning my lamp on.

"Your room is always so cool to look at," Malic says as I chuckle. "What, this old rope?". I say, pointing at my wall draped in fishnets. And the symbol of a silver trident above my grey sheeted bed.

We sit on my bed. Malic sits hunched over, his hands between his legs, softly rocking back and forth.

I touch his leg. "What's wrong?". I ask him, hoping he'll open up more now that we're more isolated.

He looks at me as his face drops; he lifts his shirt, revealing bruises. My eyes widen with concern.

"Was that from the swamp?". I question him. He shakes his head.

"My father has been drinking a lot lately; he tried to hit my mother, but-." he pauses, trying not to cry. "I got in the way of him, which made him hit me instead." He says as anger fuels my eyes, showing on my face.

"Malic, I am so sorry; that sick man doesn't need to be placing his hands on you or your mother," I say to him.

Malic places his head on my shoulder, crying. I turn him towards me. I lay us down on my bed against my soft pillows, his head on my muscled chest, unfelt, giving him a soft surface to lie on.

"You will always have me, Malic, and you can always stay here if needed; you and your mother are welcome here.

I rub my hand across his back.

He nods his head, letting me know he heard me.

"Do you want clothes to sleep in or just want to lie here? I'm fine with either." I ask him.

"C-can we just lay here." He says as he places his hand on my chest, cuddling onto me.

"That's fine with me". I say to him, running my fingers through his thick brown hair.

Malic always been the emotionally strong one, even as kids he'd always stick up for me.

As we lay here, I think how he told me to defend myself from those fishermen. It was almost like he was projecting his home life at that very moment. I don't joke about abusiveness. If my father even thought of hurting my mother, I would-

Malic began to snore slightly, drooling on my chest. I softly smile as I approach my lamp, turning off my light.

The thunder and lightning slowly soften, the once-piercing rain turning into pencil-thin raindrops as the moonlight glimmers through my window.

With Malic lying on me. I feel his precious breathing against my chest. I will do anything for Malic. He's always been there for me. I'm unsure what tomorrow may hold, but I know I will stay true to my word. Although Malic and I are the same age, I still see him as younger.

I reach on the side of my bed, grab my blanket, and wrap it around Malic, and I

I close my eyes and wish myself goodnight's rest.

Tomorrow, the games begin for Panem...