The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

5

The waiting was the worst part. I stood for many hours over the following days, my forehead pressed against the cold glass, never taking my eyes off Antonia. I couldn't stop staring at the place her arm was meant to be. I could hear Antonia's low moans, her body too weary to cry out properly. The Capitol delivery was late, and though they didn't say it, the surgeons were worried. They wouldn't allow anyone in to speak to her, and they spoke in hushed voices, glancing occasionally at me. 

I was trying to stay awake by drinking coffee. I hadn't slept since her amputation began several days before. I was on my fourth cup of the day when a Capitol woman arrived, her golden eyelashes blinking rapidly as she toddled towards me in a very silly manner. 

"The delivery has arrived," she informed me "There is a surgeon bringing it as I speak." 

"Thank you," I said with a relieved sigh "How much will this cost?" 

"An extravagant amount, I assume. I'm sure you can afford it," she said snootily. 

"As could you, I assume," I retorted, mimicking her tone. She looked down her nose at me, before turning on her heel and tottering off again.  

"Good riddance," I muttered under my breath. I knew, had Antonia heard, she'd have laughed. I missed her laugh, her smile. It was killing me seeing her so weak, crumpled like paper as she lay helplessly on the hard iron bed. I longed to pick her up and carry her home, where she belonged. My eyes drooped as a Capitol surgeon breezed past and into the operation room, speaking quickly as they began work on Antonia's new arm. A young trainee surgeon came out, smiling reassuringly at me. 

"She's in good hands now. The Capitol may be despised by many, but they have the best surgeons in the world. She's in no danger," she promised. I nodded, barely able to listen to her I was so tired. She placed a hand on my arm with a warm smile. 

"Why not have some rest? When you wake, it will all be over. There is a room just down the corridor I can offer you." 

"Thank you," I said, succumbing to the idea of sleep. She led me to a room with a bed and a shower room, but I simply took off my clothes and crawled under the sheets. As sleep captured my mind, I dreamed of a day just under a year before... 

I sat alone in my Capitol chambers, thinking about the next day. It was the day I'd be sending Antonia into the arena, and I was dreading it. I knew she could hold up in the arena, but what worried me was how it would change her. She'd always been a bubbly girl, full of life and enthusiasm, but all I could envision in her future was unhappiness and despair. Wrapping my dressing gown around my body, I headed out to the dining room. 

Antonia sat alone at the table, stabbing at a hearty meal with a fork with a determined expression. I smiled sadly and went to see her. 

"Hey," I whispered, taking the seat opposite her. 

"Hey," she croaked.  

"Antonia...are you OK? Answer me honestly." 

She laughed, but it turned into a choke "No. I'm not OK. Of course I'm not." 

"Stupid question?" 

"Stupid question. You're famous for them." 

I chuckled, glad to see she'd at least hung on to her sense of humour, even if at my expense. Her fork clattered to her plate, and she put her fingers to her temples, massaging them carefully. 

"I've got one of my funny headaches again," she mumbled. 

"It's stress. Why don't you try and relax? Get some tea-" 

"Arrian, stop. It isn't helping. We just have to accept it's going to be a rough night." 

"Then allow me to help the night pass a little easier." 

"If you think yourself capable, bring it on," Antonia said dryly. I stood up and took her hand, leading her back to my room and sitting her on my bed. She raised an eyebrow sceptically. 

"Wow, Arrian. You know I like you, but not like that..." 

I rolled my eyes "Don't flatter yourself. I have something to show you." 

I fished around in my trunk of clothes, right to the bottom where I kept my box of treasures. Antonia watched as I pulled out a wooden doll, made of fine mahogany. It even had a small face carved into it. I held it in front of Antonia's face. 

"On my fifth birthday, your father carved this as a gift from you to me. You told me it's name was Antonia, so you'd never forget me." 

I pulled out another trinket from the box, a crumpled and aged piece of paper, which I handed to Antonia for her to read. 

"When I was ten and you were eight, you wrote an essay on why I was your best friend in the whole world." 

She scanned over it, her hand covering her mouth as she suppressed an embarrassed smile. 

"I'm pretty sure I must have been illiterate. This is awful!" she sniggered. 

"Hey, I'm not about to argue." 

We spent the next few hours, searching through the box. Laughing at old memories and cherishing them, not knowing how many more we'd have time to make. Morning approached, our eyes heavy and our chests sore from laughing too much. It was time for Antonia to leave. Her eyes were panic stricken and desperate, pleading with me to save her. But there was nothing I could do. With a sigh, I pulled one last item from the box. 

"Close your eyes," I told her. Her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing heavy as she tried not to cry. I held her arms gently, and made them make a swinging motion. 

"You're chopping down a tree. Your axe is in your hand, and one last chop will topple the tree. That's all it is, Tonia. When you have to fight just close your eyes and chop the tree." 

"I can't." 

"You can," I whispered. I brushed her hair of her shoulders lightly, attaching the last piece of our memories around her neck. 

"You gave me this wooden necklace the day I went into the arena. And now I'm giving it to you. It will bring you luck. You're coming home to me, Antonia, you understand?"  

Antonia's fingers brushed mine and she laced them in my hair. I didn't protest. It could be the last moment we ever shared together, and I wasn't going to ruin it. After a few moments, she turned to hug me hard, her face buried in my shoulder. I fought back tears as I pressed my lips to her temple. 

"I believe in you." 

I rolled over in my half asleep state, my fingers fumbling for the wooden necklace that rested on my chest. 

"I believe in you. Get better, Antonia. I believe in you..."