The Simpson's Hunger Games

Chapter 11

Lisa:

Clancy catches her breath, and me and Millhouse wait impatiently for what she is about to say. Finally, she straightens her hairdo, and smooths down her dress. She even checks her reflection in a compact mirror, and Millhouse snaps, "What is it?!", and Clancy replies, "What?! Can a woman do her make-up in peace?!", and I huff impatiently. Millhouse taps his foot, and I drum my nails on a near-by table. After what seems like years, Clancy gestures for us to follow her. She leads us down numerous amounts of corridors, but we eventually come to a door, with the paint peeling on it, and the lock looks rusty and old. Me and Millhouse exchange a look, while Clancy takes out an old key from her pocket. She turns the key in the lock, and shakes the door handle for a few minutes. She sighs, frustrated, and Millhouse impatiently offers his help. He shakes the door, and then tries to break it down. He thumps it for a few minutes, until I finally speak up, "Why don't I give it a go?", but Millhouse and Clancy snort. "You can try, Lis", Millhouse says, gesturing to the door. I smile, and put my hand on the doorknob. With one flick of the wrist, the door swings open. 

Millhouse and Clancy gape at me, and I grin. "It's all about the technique," is my reply. I had to help Dad with the rusty shed door back at home countless times. I take a look inside the room. "A closet?", asks Millhouse, doubtful. Clancy sniffs, and says, "It may not look like it, but it's the safest place we have to talk to you", she says, and makes some kind of signal, and Diana comes out from behind a corner. "I thought I would offer my support", is Diana's explanation. A sick feeling comes to my stomach, and Millhouse goes pale. Clancy steps into the small closet, and Diana follows her. Millhouse goes in next, and I'm left outside, watching them. Will there even be enough room for me? "Shut the door after you, please", says Clancy curtly, and I sigh, and step into the over-crowded closet. I shut the door, but make sure we can get out again. "We do apologise, for these...circumstances, but, no where else is safe.", begins Diana, and Clancy continues, "We aren't supposed to tell you this, you see, we were forbidden, in fact, by the Capitol." Me and Millhouse look at each other, slightly shocked and slightly curious. 

"You said something about our District?", asks Millhouse, diverting Clancy and Diana from their doubts about telling us this 'secret' the Capitol wants to keep from us. Clancy nods, and Diana tells us all that they know. "Well, yesterday, some reports came in, and it was from your District. I was in a meeting at the time with all the other stylists and mentors and escorts. Akira had joined us, and at some point, a Peacekeeper stepped in and said something in Akira's ear. He gestured for me, Clancy and Snake to step outside for a moment with him. He informed us that your District had protested against the Capitol, and tried to attack the Justice Building. Apparently, it had started with a group of women showing some support to you Lisa, but some people got the wrong idea, and...riots started. The Justice Building was burnt down, and power was temporally suspended.", Diana finished, out of breath. "Why didn't you tell us this yesterday, when you first found out?", questions Millhouse, slightly annoyed. You can easily see the look of distress in his eyes though. We both know our District will be punished for this. "We didn't have time", Clancy answers Millhouse's question, "We would've told you immediately, but there were too many Peacekeepers, and we weren't letting Snake in on our secret that we would tell you, and he was always around. We took the opportunity tonight when he started drinking after the Capitol Interviews were over to speak to you".

"But...Why did you tell us if it was forbidden?", I ask them, slightly confused. "We both agree this shouldn't be kept from you. Even if you do win, and go back home, but still didn't know anything about the riots, your lives would be so much harder to live. If you knew, and prepared for what might happen, it might be more easier to bear. We're both on your side, you know", says Clancy, smiling. I look from one  to the other, then hug both of them. Millhouse stands next to us, awkwardly. I grin at him, and he shyly smiles back. I release Clancy and Diana, both looking embarrassed. "Thank You", says Millhouse, "By the way, you mentioned something about a group of women starting the protests, who were they?", and my blood runs cold. There's only one person who would stand right in the town square and shout her support for me. "Lisa.", Diana says gently, "It was your mother's idea. She was the one who started the riots."