Avery watched as a Militia Rover-Craft passed above the outskirts of the town. There were no more than 20 minutes left on the countdown clock until the family name was drawn for this years Quell. Two reapers wearing plain uniform with one sleeve decorated in a golden art deco print, walked through the centre of the small village, with their lances by their sides. One of them noticed Avery sat on the porch before stopping and nudging the second officer. the second officer whistled over to Avery but he was unphased by the attempt to grasp his attention.
"Hey boy." The first officer shouted. Avery's eyes never averted from the sngle rock on the floor, the rock he'd been focusing on for the majority of the previous night and this morning. "Shouldn't you be setting off to the Metro Building?" The officer said manner of factly. This time Avery reached for the rock and picked it up. It stood out against every other rock and stone on the ground, as their dull colour matched the colours of the village. This rock, though, seemed to shine a transfixing teal. It's a very cliché sentiment that one simplistic object can captivate a persons mind so easily. But this person has grown up in a tragic world, where everything around him is grey. Province 8, and every other province in the republic for that matter, was a connotation of grim despair. Whereas this teal stone represented beauty, power and hope.
Avery stood up, shot a piercing glance towards the reapers and spat just in front of where they stood. "You little shit." The first officer spoke through gritted teeth, un-fastening the lance by his side. As he pressed the trigger the transparent coils on the end came alive, cracking and fizzing as ice coloured blue rays jumped from coil to coil. The man began to walk in Avery's direction but Avery remained unphased and stood his ground.
"Cool it." The second officer, obviously the higher ranked one, ordered whilst grabbing onto the other mans sleeve. "Lets see if he survives the Quell." He smiled a sickening smile whilst the first officer laughed and hoisted his lance. Then they both continued down the path.
Avery opened the door to the hut. Inside his mother was making some weak tea. "Where's Paloma?" Avery enquired in a calm, tired voice.
"She's in her room." Irina answered, her voice almost cracking, but sounding tired and weary to match Avery's. Avery gave a sad smile before heading down the hall.
Irina clenched the side of the worktop and took a deep yet staggered breath. A single tear strayed down her frail cheek before she quickly brushed it away.
It's never easy for any parent in the republic on the day of the Quell.
They either lose a child. Or their child loses a parent.
