The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

31

Raven stood on a wooden box before us all, her face hard as stone. Attached to her back, a bow and sheath of arrows. To her belt, an array of knives. To her chest, a self-constructed baby holder made of leather, Karissa and Elliot snuggled into her chest. Her hair was thick and matted, her brown trousers ripped at the knee, her face pale as she recovered from childbirth. But she stood tall, her chin up, her eyes defiant. By her side stood Eddie, on the other side Drew, and she nodded curtly to him, before beginning to motion. Drew was to be her interpreter at the meeting, her spokesman.

Around twenty of the most important people from the District were gathered to listen to what she had to say, including Pandora and Antonia, who stood at opposite ends of the room, and Alma Coin. Alma watched Raven steadily as she gestured, scrutinising her with beady little eyes, grey in colour. Her hair was tightly pulled into a knot on the back of her head, black as coal. I could see the resentment in her look. She was a woman hungry for power, and I think she hated Raven's position. Raven was the most influential and admired woman in the District, despite her inability to speak and her mental instability. She was admired as a tribute, a victor, a symbol of hope, and now as a mother. And Alma hated that.

"She says," Drew began "They're on their way. A scout has seen the hovercrafts coming over District 8. Preparations begin now. But another thing. We have a place of shelter to go to if we are overpowered. We must retreat if there is no hope of winning. They have more people than us and..." he paused while Raven made some more gestures "Losing people's lives isn't worth it."

Jumping down from the wooden box, Raven led us to the table in the centre of the room. Spread across it was a map, with a big red circle around the location of the sanctuary.

"We'll go here. Everyone memorise the spot, because the map will be burned after this meeting."

We all closely looked at the map. The sanctuary was a few miles out from the District and set in dense forest.

"No one else will be told about its location. We are the leaders, and if we get in trouble, we know where to go."

Raven's face turned even more solemn as she made several more gestures. Drew gulped. "Raven says that...that if anyone is captured by Snow...it is likely they will be tortured into giving away the location of the sanctuary. She says that if that happens...try and hold out as long as possible."

Everyone in the room fidgeted nervously. I thought of Valeria's horrific death, how she was tortured for years. I didn't want that to happen to me. I prayed it wouldn't.

"Any questions?" Drew asked. No one replied. I think everyone was still a little shocked by what had been said. Raven nodded curtly to the crowd then marched out the room. Drew made to follow her, patting my back as he walked past "May the odds be ever in your favour," he muttered dryly. Another hand poked my back.

"You. With me. We're going outside to keep watch," Alma told me. I raised an eyebrow.

"You're giving me orders? Raven's the leader."

"Yes, she is," Alma said coldly "But I hear you need some target practise. You can work on your shot while we're up there. It's not like it matters now. They know we're here."

I didn't want to go with her, but it made sense for me to get some practise in, knowing that Snow was on the way. Reluctantly, I followed her to the top level of District 13, stepping out into the light. After a few days under ground, the light burned my eyes. Alma strode out into the light confidently, a gun slung over her shoulder.

"You're close with Raven then?" Alma said, not even looking at me.

"I guess."

"Tell me. Is she planning on standing down as leader anytime soon?"

"Why would she?"

"She's weak," Alma said bluntly "She's only just given birth. She lost a child. She's unstable."

"And people support her. Respect her."

Alma made a disgruntled noise, sniffing pompously. I rolled my eyes.

"You want power?" I said quietly "You have to earn it."

"What did Raven do to earn it?"

"She got through the Games."

"So did you. And what do you have to show for it?"

I ignored her "She sacrificed her tongue for the cause."

"And Valeria's life."

"Valeria knew the costs of staying behind. She saved Drew, Eddie, her father. She offers hope with her children-"

"And now because of her, they'll all die. We'll die too, Arrian. Because she was too selfish to hand herself over."

I aimed my gun at her head, furious. She smiled a twisted smile.

"Save your bullets. I'm not the enemy. Think of this as a friendly debate. Besides. There's someone coming."

I looked sharply out at the stretch of land. She was right. A woman was approaching. A very odd looking woman. She wore an aqua coloured suit, torn and tattered, and pink boots that reached her knees. Her red hair was matted and untamed, but I recognized her, even from a distance.

"Shoot," Alma said.

"No," I replied "That's Venus Swift."

We both stared as Venus stumbled ever closer. When she got closer, I could see her face was streaked with black. She'd been crying. Her fake feather eyelashes were soaked and destroyed, her lips chapped, and she only had one earring. She was sporting a pale purple bruise on her cheek, like badly applied rouge. Forgetting Alma, I rushed forward to help Venus. She collapsed at my feet.

"Arrian," she said desperately "Help me."

I scooped her up and ran back to the building. She was brittle boned in my arms, as though she'd been starved. For all I knew, she could have been. She'd been replaced by a new host, Caesar Flickerman, when Otto won. They'd said she was ill and unable to present any more. It seemed there could be a different side to the story.

Alma stared at me as I pushed past her, tumbling down the stairs into the lower levels of District 13.

"Thank you," Venus said wearily as I headed for the hospital wing "I tried to escape the Capitol, but I was captured. It was only because President Snow was busy with plans for attack that I was able to escape. I've come to join the rebels."

"And you're a welcome addition to the forces. We'll need you. But you have to get back to health first," I said, laying her down on one of the beds in the infirmary. Pandora, on cleaning duty, rushed to find a nurse.

"I'm sorry about Riley," Venus said, touching my arm "She was a good girl. Everyone in the Capitol is devastated."

"I'll bet," I said sarcastically, then immediately feel guilty.

"I meant no harm," Venus said quickly "The people in the Capitol are different...I know that. But they're still human. They do feel sad. Just in a different way to you. And to me, I believe."

"Perhaps," I said, glad I hadn't offended Venus "And I suppose that's why this war is happening."

"I suppose it is," Venus said, her head sinking back into the pillow. She was asleep in seconds. I smiled sadly at the Capitol woman. Carefully, I peeled the remains of her false eyelashes off her eyes. They wouldn't be welcomed in District 13, where to have clothes at all is a luxury. I discarded them in the bin beside her bed and sat down, my head in my hands. War was on the way. And I hoped the odds might be in our favour. Just for once. I hoped.

AN: Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I updated, and this chapter is quite, short, but I hope it was OK. I'll have to postpone updates again for NaNoWriMo, but after that, this will be my priority, I promise.

Just to clarify, in this story, Raven is the leader of District 13, and Alma stands in for her while she's pregnant. This will be developed further in book 3, and Coin will still be the leader. It'll make more sense later on :)

Also, I am unable to enter Stripes into the Watty Awards because I got in the top 25 for SYTYCW (WOOOO!) so I'm entering Silence!! :D

Hayley xxx