Borderlines

Chapter Forty-Two

Travis tried to move his body, but nothing was responding. He was going numb, vision edged by black and growing dim.
"Travis!" Fawn cried again, he felt her sink down beside him. There were others with her, Willow and Claus, both looked equally horrified. Fawn placed a hand somewhere on his chest or so Travis thought.
"It's going to be okay." The girl said quickly, her other hand stroked his hair. Travis looked at Claus or the blurry mess of Claus. He wasn't going to be okay and he knew it.
"Don't lie to yourself." He managed to choke out. Fawn eyes were already shedding tears, they dripped onto Travis's face, mingling with his own.
"No, you'll be okay. Remember? We're getting out together." Fawn said frantically, her voice cracking. Travis swallowed, tasting his own blood.
"I don't think so Fawn, my luck ran out." He said with a small laugh. Fawn touched his face.
"Please, don't talk like that." She begged.
"I couldn't let him get away, I couldn't let him keep hurting you." He croaked, softly. Travis watched as her crystal blue eyes began to lose their shape, mingling into the blackness that was starting to cover his eyes.
"Fawn?" He said gasped quietly. She laid beside him and put her head against his chest.
"What is it?" She asked in a quivering voice.
"I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." Travis put his hand lightly on her back.
"You will, you will! I can't lose you, I've lost everyone." Fawn said desperately, hugging herself against his bleeding body. Travis couldn't see anymore, he couldn't feel anything. He couldn't feel the comfort of her embrace. He gasped for air, another round of tears flowing from his eyes, worsening the last bit of vision he had left.
"I-I love you, Fawn-I always loved you." He said gently before looking upward toward the ceiling. It was time to find his parents once again. Travis relaxed, letting the last bit of oxygen escape his lungs. Maybe he would find peace now.

~

Fawn felt Travis's hand relax on her back and straightened. His eyes were glossed over and no longer shining. Fawn grabbed his head in between her hands.
"Travis?" She asked in a small voice. He stared at the ceiling, unblinking. Fawn's chest tightened.
"Travis!" She cried, holding his face, "Wake up!" She begged him, shaking his shoulders.
"Fawn..." A quiet voice said behind her.
"Wake up!" Fawn screamed, pounding a fist against his chest. He couldn't be dead. Willow grabbed the back of her arm, trying to pull her away.
"Fawn, he's gone." Willow said carefully.
"Let go of me!" Fawn screamed at her, yanking away. Hot tears poured down her cheeks, washing away blood. This time Willow yanked her to her feet and spun her around.
"He's dead Fawn!" She shouted and pulled Fawn into an embrace,"He's gone." She said shakily. Fawn let out a cry and collapsed against her friend.
"No." She repeated over and over again. Fawn's stomach felt like it could spill its contents at any second. They were supposed to make it out alive together. They were supposed to go home together and live the rest of their lives together.
"He can't be." Fawn babbled hysterically. Claus was across the room and he called out to them.
"Hey, Sean is still breathing." He said. Fawn glanced at Claus who was bent down to the overseer's level. Willow's grip loosened on Fawn.
"Is he okay?" She asked somberly. Claus examined the boys body.
"That's to be determined." He said. Willow glanced at Fawn before slowly stepping away to help Claus. Fawn trembled, wrapping her arms around her midsection. She was so cold. Fawn eyes landed on Garth's dead body. It was a clean shot to the head, beside him lay his pistol. Fawn took a step forward, but a strong arm blocked her. Claus looked at her.
"Don't, he wouldn't want you to do that." Claus said. Fawn looked at him before dropping to the floor beside Travis's body and letting out a wail. She didn't care what they thought anymore, her best friend was dead and there was no way she could bring him back. Fawn laid on his chest and sobbed, barely aware of the shuffling going on around her as people came to help Sean and to carry away Garth's dead body. When someone did eventually come find her again, Fawn wasn't even aware what time it was. Willow placed her hand gently on Fawn's shoulder.
"It's time to go, Fawn." The girl said. Fawn shakily got to her feet, eyes swollen from the countless amount of tears that poured down her cheeks. Fawn looked at Willow.
"Why has the world been set against us?" She asked Willow. The girl's eyes watered.
"I don't know."

~

Willow led Fawn to her old room that had been untouched by the fighting. She looked at her friend.
"We need to get you clean clothes." The girl said. Fawn looked at her tattered body guard suit. It was stained with blood, so were her hands, and she could feel it dried on her face. Willow disappeared for a few minutes and Fawn lowered herself into a chair, pulling her knees to her chest. What would she do now? Where would she go? Travis had been her future and now he was snatched away. Willow returned with fresh clothing and helped Fawn pull off the suit she was wearing. Willow gave a small gasp when Fawn unbuckled the vest.
"You're injured!" The girl exclaimed. Fawn had forgotten Ruth's blade and it's mark left on her shoulder. It didn't even hurt.
"Let it go, maybe it will get infected." Fawn said, raking the dried blood off to reveal fresh blood underneath. Willow batted her arm away.
"Stop it!" She hissed, throwing down the new clothes.
"I know exactly how your feeling and you can't let grief or anger consume you. It will drive you insane." The girl said harshly, holding onto Fawn's shoulders.
"I don't know-Willow, I feel lost." Fawn said. Willow sighed.
"I did too. Try and rest, things won't look as bleak tomorrow." Fawn gave a long sigh, but changed clothes and climbed across the bed sheets. She curled around herself, protecting her body from any unknown enemies. Willow reassurances fell on deaf ears. Tomorrow would be worse.

~

Fawn blinked awake, finding it hard to open her eyes. They were horribly swollen and her shoulder ached from where Ruth had stabbed her. Almost robotically, Fawn climbed out of bed and walked into the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror. There was blood streaks on her face and arms and she thought there were splashes in her hair. When she took off her night shirt, Fawn looked at the wound by her shoulder. It needed stitches and she knew it. Before going anywhere, Fawn took a shower, standing still underneath the hot water. When she finally got dressed and left her room, Willow was there to meet her. The other girl tried to suppress her surprise at how ill Fawn looked, but Fawn could see right through it.
"I need to go see the medics." Fawn said solemnly. Willow looked at Fawn.
"Don't you need something to eat?" She asked.
"I'm not hungry." Fawn ground out. Willow gave a sigh.
"Okay." She responded and began walking beside Fawn. Fawn stayed quiet all the way down to the room and said nothing while her shoulder was stitched. People were explaining to her what had happened last night after the rebellious group had taken over the Capitol and how they suspected Travis died. Claus came down at the end.
"Fawn, they need you upstairs." He said quickly. Fawn stood up from the table.
"What's going on?" She demanded, finding herself irritable. Claus looked between her and Willow.
"It's better if you see for yourself." He said. Fawn brushed past him, pounding up the stairs from the basement floor. What she needed was time to grieve, not problems. When Fawn finally reached the staircase, she was greeted by a chaotic scene. There was a man, fighting against the guards.
"Are any of you listening?! I need to see Fawn Simmons!" The man yelled, brushing off a guard. Fawn stepped forward.
"I am Fawn Simmons." She said. The man shrugged off the guards, looking at Fawn with dark eyes. She stared back at him.
"Who are you?" Fawn asked. The man took a step forward.
"I am William Jones, Travis's brother."