The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

7

A.N: Ughh. I know this story is a bit pants at the moment, but it will get better, I hope. Anyways I hope you like it...

The three of us were hidden behind a tree, staring with our mouths gaping at the Peacekeepers. 

"Of course...it's reaping day tomorrow. They must have increased security," I said. Grandmother didn't reply, and Antonia continued to breathe rapidly, so I didn't expect her to respond. 

"Grandmother, what do we do?" I asked with childish desperation in my voice. I was scared. I wanted Grandmother to comfort me, to let me know everything was going to be OK. But she wasn't that sort of a woman. She distanced herself emotionally, so in these situations, the only thing she could do was think rationally. And I could see her forming a plan in her head. She closed her eyes, frown lines setting into her wrinkled forehead as though she was in pain. 

"I have an idea. But it's risky. And dangerous. And it might not work." 

"It's better than nothing," I whispered. Grandmother sighed. 

"Give me your rucksack." 

I obeyed her and she began to pull items out. I wasn't sure what she was looking for, until she came across a pair of gloves and a box of matches. She pulled the gloves on, looking rather like an arsonist, and prepared a match. 

"I'm going to set that house alight," she said, pointing to a small wooden hut just inside the District's walls. It would be easy for her to slip a hand through the fence and put the lit match to the straw roof "It might distract them for a while. Run for the train station. Antonia, you need to go straight home. Arrian...you need to act the hero. Run to the hut and try to help out." 

"But Grandmother...people live there. They could get hurt." 

Grandmother's nostrils flared "You don't think I know that? Arrian, listen to me. If you get caught out here, the whole of District 13 is going to suffer. If the Capitol knew you've been going to thirteen, do you think they'd hesitate to wipe out the population? Raven will die. Pandora will die. All those people planning to rebel will die. You have to put it in perspective, Arrian." 

"But-" 

"No, Arrian. There is no choice this time," she said solemnly. Biting my lip, I nodded. 

"OK. OK." 

"Good. Are you ready?" 

"As I'll ever be." 

"On the count of three. One." 

Please don't let anyone die. 

"Two." 

God forgive me. 

"Three!" 

Grandmother set off at a run, and I was reminded that the Games are never truly over. Not for victors. I hoisted Antonia over my shoulder, and ran unnoticed to the station. I heard the yells of the Peacekeepers at the station as they ran towards the blaze a few hundred metres away. Grandmother was nowhere to be seen. 

"Can you walk?" I whispered to Antonia. She nodded, and hugged me to her as I set her on the floor. 

"Don't get hurt," she warned, before running across the platform and heading for the safety of home. I made sure no one was around and headed for the trees where the citizens were chopping trees. They paid me no interests as I swerved around and ran for the burning hut, making it look like I'd come from work. The blaze had spread so quickly. Not just one house burned, but three. The Peacekeepers were in the process of trying to extinguish the flames with a long hose leading from the Justice Building. Though they were clearly very quick and efficient, it wasn't enough. Flames roared, tendrils of smoke wrapping around the Peacekeepers and making them cough. I reached the first house and covering my face with my shirt, I ran inside. 

I heard the crying of a young child inside and ran towards the sound, trying not to breathe in the grey smoke. Despite my efforts, I wasn't moving quickly enough, the fumes creating a fog in my head. My eyes watered and I had to stop to cough. 

I finally found the child, a young girl of about three years. She cowered in the centre of what once was probably a bedroom, her mother unconscious beside her. I knew I couldn't carry them both. I knew I had to prioritise. With a feeling of loathing in the pit of my stomach, I picked up the girl and left the helpless woman to die. And just like that, I'd severed a family. 

I made it outside, collapsing to my knees with the girl still in my arms. Her face was streaked with tears and her nose ran. I cleaned her up with my sleeve, watching as the Peacekeepers finally quenched the fire. 

"Where's my mummy?" she asked. I bit my tongue and fought back tears and answered her as truthfully as I could. 

"Somewhere better than this."