The Simpson's Hunger Games

Chapter 20

Bart:

I storm out of the house, unaware of my surroundings, and no longer caring. All I knew was that my Mother was in more trouble than she tells us, and the Capitol will make her pay for that. Desperately, I start to walk towards the woods beyond the District Boundary, replaying what has just happened in my head over and over again. A few minutes ago, I was alone in the house; Mom, Dad and Maggie had gone out shopping. The phone rang, but I ignored it. When the phone stopped ringing, there was an answerphone message. I played the message; "Beware. The Capitol will get you. There is not enough time to reach you. I must go now. Take your family and hide. Now. Good luck, Marge." Stunned, I listened to the dull sound of the line being cut off for what seemed like years. I dropped the phone, not stopping to wonder who sent Mom the message in the first place, but ran outside instead.

So, here I am, heading for the only place where I can find salvation. The Woods. I know I will find my most trusted ally there, as he lives there. In fact, he is the only one who can help me. Him, and his friends. Not wanting to waste any time, I sprint the rest of the way to the District Boundary, only stopping to jump over the fence that separates District 5 from wilderness. I dodge past branches from trees, and keep to the thin, almost transparent path that no one who had never been to the Woods would've known had been there. Eventually, I come to my destination. I have never been here before, but I have been told to go here, if I ever needed help. I stay in the trees, and look at where the path has taken me. There is a high, temporary wall, and a huge gate blocking my view of what is inside the wall. There are two men guarding the entrance, both with guns in their hands. Their appearance sickeningly reminds me of Peacekeepers, and I shudder. Nevertheless, I emerge from the trees, where they can see me. Instantly, the two men stand up, pointing the barrels of the guns towards me. I put my hands up, and explain why I am here. "I need to see Bill.", I say. The two guards look puzzled, and talk to each other in whispers, before looking to me. The taller of the two men grunts at me to follow him. I walk behind the man through the entrance, and I am lead into what will be my safe haven- I hope. 

I look around; there are tents all around me. I suppose this is where everyone lives. There are small groups of people huddled in groups, all looking suspiciously at me. I ignore the looks though, and concentrate on the man in front of me, and where he is going. Eventually, we come to two huge tents, and the man goes into one of them. I am about to follow him, when the man puts his head out, and tells me to wait outside in a gruff voice. Shrugging, I wait outside. Something out the corner of my eye catches my attention. A small boy is playing in the dirt with a stick. He seems to be bored out of his mind. He is dressed in scruffy clothes, and looks like he hasn't had a haircut in years. He looks about eight or nine, and no one is with him. He looks up, and catches me watching him. The boy smiles, and waves. I wave shortly at him. He starts to walk forward, but a cry from one of the women in a small group nearby stops him. The other people with the women scold her in being so stupid, and the boy starts to walk towards me again. "Don't talk to him Charlie! You're not allowed!", shouts the woman, instantly shushed by her friends. 

Charlie, the boy, looks at me one last time, then starts to play in the mud again. Suddenly, the tent flap opens, and Bill steps out. I smile at him, but Bill doesn't smile back. This is the person I need to see. Bill and I were cellmates in the Justice Building. We didn't say much when I was in prison, but when it was time for me to be released, I persuaded Chief Wiggum to let Bill go free as well. Bill was so grateful, and he knew of my Mom and her trouble with the Capitol, so he offered for me to come here whenever I needed help, or needed to get away. He told me about this place, and described it as a place to hide away from the Capitol. This community has built up over the years, ever since the first Rebellion, living in the Woods outside the Districts, moving place-to-place every season. Bill made me swear I would never tell anyone about this place, and I haven't. I didn't even mention this place to Mom, and decided to tell her when we really did need this place, and now seems that time. Bill asks me, "Why are you here?! You aren't supposed to be here unless you really need to permanently move into our community, hiding from the Capitol!". I reply, "But, Bill, I really do need this place now." Bill pulls me around the corner of the tent we're standing outside, so none of the people who are gathered together can hear. 

Bill makes me tell him everything. When I'm finished, he shouts, "Why haven't you come here with your family, then?!". Oh. I don't say anything, and Bill shakes me. "Bart, you just can't come here and demand that we take you in. You have to be useful!", he says. I think for a moment. "I worked at one of the factories, so I can do work", I say. I never thought I would willingly ask to work. Bill looks thoughtful. "I think I can persuade the Shadow Seekers to let you in, and your family with any luck.", he says, "But, you have to earn your keep! You have to show you can work, or you'll have no chance of staying here, Bart.". I nod rapidly, silently wondering who the 'Shadow Seekers' are, and Bill laughs. I follow him back to the tent entrance. This time, Bill says I can go in.

When I step inside the tent, nothing could've prepared me for what I saw inside. There seems to be a circle of people gathered around, all arguing. "We can't possibly let another family in!", screams a middle-aged woman, pointing accusingly at the tall man who first showed me in here, who seems to be still in here. "Maude! I'm only telling you what Bill said to me! That he might allow this family in this one time! Apparently, they're special!", the man shoots back. Bill frowns, and stops what the woman is about to say by interrupting, "Sean, I never said that this family was special, I only said that I owe Bart...", he gestures to me, "...a favour. It was him who helped me get out of the Justice Building in the first place! If he hadn't helped, I would be sitting in a cell right now, counting down the days for the Games to end, so I can be tried in court and get away from District 5 altogether. Come to think of it, even if I did have a trial, the Capitol would've found out about us, and then we'd be done for. So, I think we should help Bart when he needs it, as we have him to thank for saving our necks from the Capitol.", he finishes his small speech, and silence descends the room like a thick fog.

Bill sits down, and gestures for me to do the same. When I am seated, the woman, Maude, that was arguing before, speaks up. "The Shadow Seekers will never allow it. They have enough mouths to feed, and people to protect as much as it is! Not to mention their mission!", she says. Bill sighs, and replies, "I can persuade them, Maude, you know that." Sean, the man that showed me here, says, "What can he do anyway? Can he hunt? Can he build?". Bill looks at me, as if to say, what can you do, Bart? I reply to Sean's question, "I worked in the factories in District 5, repairing machines, and building electrical appliances for the Capitol. I know a lot about electricity, so I could help you with that.". Maude looks interested when I mention electricity. "We have no power here; would you be able to set up some...I don't know, lights? In the tents?", she asks. I smile, "Maybe.", I reply. "It's up to the Shadow Seekers to decide.", huffs Sean, and Maude glares at him. 

I suddenly notice no one else in the tent has spoken up yet. I look around, and see the faces of young and old, mothers and children, tough-looking men, and even an old man, leaning on a stick, with a broach with the symbol of District 4 pinned to his shirt. There is all sorts of types of people here. This is the only community in Simpnem where all the Districts are joined together. In fact, here there are no Districts at all.

And that comforts me.