Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 14

My eyes flew up, immediately landing on another pair. I jump as I see the face. “Oh good, you’re awake.” I give Jared’s mother a weak smile. “Sorry to say but you have a broken arm. You are not going to be able to help with the construction anymore. I went ahead and tied up your arm so that it will heal better and faster.”

“Why can’t I help? It’s bandaged up!”

“Mist, just do what my mother tells you to do. She is a good healer and rarely does she get things wrong.”

I nod. His mother has helped Waterlily and me many times even though we had no money to pay her.

“How about I walk you home? I’m sure you can find something to do. They may have something about the games on. Maybe you will see your sister!”

“Okay. I would love to see my sister again.”

Jared went to do the door and opened it for me. “After you ma’am.” He swung his arm against his body parallel to the door, motioning me to go before him.

I had to smile. The grin he gave me was so cute. “Thank you sir.” As the door closed behind him, I heard his mother giggle. Jared walked beside my swinging his arms. I swung my arm out and a jolt of pain ran through it. I stopped walking for a moment to recover.

“Are you okay Mist?” Concern masked Jared’s eyes.

“Just a little pain. It’s fine.” I smiled again and we continued to walk. When we got to my house, he stayed at the bottom of the porch steps and watched as I opened the door. “You can come in, I won’t hurt you and neither will…” I trailed off. How could I forget that Waterlily wasn’t here?

“Thanks, but I can’t stay too long, I still need to get out and work.”

“It’s all good. You can have a drink. We, er I, may have some bread too.”

“You need that bread for yourself if you do have any.” He closed the door behind him as he entered the house. I stepped into the kitchen and opened the bread box. Empty. Oh well. I grabbed two cups and ran them both under the water until they filled. I handed one to Jared and went to sit in front of the TV on the old brown couch. Jared sat down to my left, almost touching me. I pressed the in button on the remote, but it didn’t work. I rose to my feet to go press the button on the TV, but Jared pushed me back down, gently, and did it himself. As the TV came to life, I saw the image of the girl from district two. The reporter talked about her life going from the capitol to the districts. A man, said to be her father, was interviewed. He, along with his brother, were Gamemakers, but because Ethelreda was in the games, they were taken out for the year. Next, they did a very brief summary of all the tributes. When Waterlily’s picture came up, Jared’s arm wrapped around me causing me to relax. “Waterlily See is the seventeen year old tribute from District Four is highly known for her leadership. During this morning’s training she was declared a survivor and was said to be one of the top three careers, the other two being Ethelreda and her district partner River.” The reporter went on the describe River, but I had stopped listening. They said she was a survivor. She might actually come home! There was some hope left. Not much, but enough.

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A/N:

As you can see in the dedication, Mist now has a Facebook account. Hers is the only one planned for right now, but maybe if this story gets popular, I may make more for the sequel.

Happy Reading!

Ella