Shattered (A Hunger Games Fan-fiction) (Wattys2015) (#feels)

Chapter 5

I walk further into the shack to see that an old worn-out suitcase is sitting on the floor and it seems to be filled with clothes. More shocked then ever, I sit down at the table, opposite my mother.

Rosie bounces off my mother's lap and walks over to me. Her cheeks are tinged pink and she pulls on my trouser leg gently. I smile down at her and she extends her tiny arms up towards me, waiting to be lifted. I easily pick her up and she settles onto my lap, fiddling with the fabric of my shirt. Her blonde hair is in two braids and today she is wearing a pink dress.

I pinch her cheek gently before turning back to my mother. She is looking at us with an expression filled with sadness.

"So what is it, mum?" I ask her. I don't exactly know how, but I somehow know that is not going to be good. Whatever she wants to tell me is going to be bad news. After all, there is a suitcase full of clothes on the floor. Someone has to be going somewhere.

"Finnick," says my mom, her voice cracking. "You know your father and I love Rosie and you very much, right?"

I have no idea where this is going so I simply nod and say, "Yeah, of course I do."

My mom smiles and the skin around her eyes crinkles a little. But then the smile melts and she becomes serious again.

"And you know that whatever we so is to keep you safe and happy."

I know that. I really do. Everything my parents do or have ever done is for Rosie and I. Like when dad hit someone because he called Rosie a child being raised for slaughter and Rosie started to cry because of that. My father had to endure a whip lash for that because apparently he had started a fight. Or when my mother had to stay out and weave twenty fish-nets to earn the money to buy baby food for Rosie when she was one.

"Of course I know that, mom," I say, placing my hand on top of hers and squeezing it gently. She looks down and her lower lip starts to tremble. "What's wrong?" She looks back up at me and her eyes her are brimming with unshed tears.

"Honey, your father and I....have to leave for a while," she said, her voice trembling.

"Leave?" I ask, aghast. "Leave where?" I am so shocked. My parents never leave district four, mainly because it's forbidden to leave your district.

"They assigned your father a new place to fish in. It's in the Gorge. " The Gorge is just on the edge of District Four and it is where the beach is too. The open sea has to be the best place to fish in. But I have only gone there once in the past two years. I used to go there a lot when I was little though. District Four has to be the largest district and the Gorge is practically miles away from where we live so going there in the morning and coming back in the evening is simply not possible.

"But why did they assign him there, mom?" I ask. "The lake still has plenty of fish."

My mom glances at Rosie who is now playing with her hair, and answers. "Because someone saw you two the other day. They saw that you weren't doing your share of the work and they thought your father was the reason. They said that you had to do your own share and that this way, they got less fish. "

I feel ashamed of myself now. "But that was only one day." That is not true at all.

"Finnick, you know that's not true," my mother says. "So they changed his area so you two would both catch your own share of fish. And obviously, your father can't come back home everyday. They...they have living quarters there."

"Mom, I...I.." I honestly don't know what to say. This is my fault. I know it is. My father is going away simply because he cared about me enough to let me have fun while I was supposed to be working. My mind flashes back to all those times by the lake where I would go after school. He'd see my tired face and say that I could relax in the water while he fished. I always ignored the fact that like me, he was tired top. While I was in school, he was at the lake, working for hours nonstop. "I'm so sorry. I.. This is my fault."

My mother looks at me sadly and continues. "Your father's not the only one leaving. I have to go too."

"What!?" I exclaim. "Why? You can't go. It's too far away. What if something...." But she puts up a hand to shut me up.

"Finnick, don't ever repeat this in public, but...the Capitol is cruel and President Snow is...a cold-hearted lunatic." She exhales once before continuing. "They want to make an example out of this. Other fathers do the same thing your father does for you, but they haven't actually managed to catch them in the act. So by taking me away from you, they, the Peacekeepers and President Snow, are setting an example of what'll happen to anyone else who continues doing their children's work. Their families will be torn apart."

I look down in shame. I am embarrassed and ashamed beyond belief. My family...is being ripped apart because of me. My mother has tears streaming down her face in rivulets now. I go over to her and pull her into my arms and stroke her hair.

"So, does this mean you...are leaving...forever?" I ask, my own voice trembling.

"Not forever, honey," she answers. "Just for a year or two if we do what we're told. You two can come visit us once a month."

Rosie stops giggling and just stares at us. I think she has sensed that there is something wrong here. Her face is a mask of seriousness now.

"It's not thar bad," my mom sobs. Her whole body begins to shake and I start rubbing soothing circles into her back. We stand there for about five minutes. Eventually, my mom's sobs turn into loud bawling and Rosie starts to cry too. I look at her and try to tell her to calm down but it doesn't work. She hops out of her chair and starts walking towards us on her tiny feet.

"Finn, mommy," she chants. Her face is filled with pain too. "F..." But she doesn't get to finish. Her foot gets caught on something on the floor and she trips, falling face-first on the ground. There is silence for a moment and then everything happens at once.

I let go of my mother to get to Rosie. My mother just stands there, still sobbing silently. While I am turning Rosie over and murmuring soothing words so she doesn't cry too much, something else occurs to me and my blood runs cold: My father is supposed to be home for lunch today. The fishermen get a free hour once a week. But he isn't here.

There is loud hammering on the door and my mother goes rigid for a second. Then words start tumbling from her lips.

"Oh God, no.... Finnick, honey, I love you so much. Rosie.. I love you. Take care of her, Finnick. Don't cry. You'll be fine. Eat every day....Annie's mom will..... I'll be back. Your father loves you. We'll be back. This isn't your fault, Finnick...."

And then the door is blasted off it's hinges and five uniformed Peacekeepers stride in. They are carrying whips and...pistols.

"You need to leave now, ma'am," one of them says with not an ounce of respect or care. When my mother doesn't move, he motions to two guards to lift the suitcase that is still lying on the floor. My mother is coughing now and I move towards her, carrying Rosie in my arms.

I take her hand and squeeze it. She looks at Rosie and I with so much love and sadness in her eyes and says, "You'll be fine." We all just gaze at each other for a minute. Suddenly, my mother's hand is wrenched away from mine and she is being pulled towards the door. I am yelling incoherently now and Rosie's face is buried in my chest.

"Goodbye. I love you. Your father..." But she is yanked out of the door. I turn to the last Peacekeeper who is holding the suitcase.

"Where the hell is my dad? What happened to him? " i scream.

He looks back at me with an icy glare. "He refused to leave when we told him to. He said he wanted to see his kids for a moment. "

"Where is he?" I yell out again. My head is throbbing with pain and my eyes are prickling. Anger is spreading through me like wildfire.

The Peacekeeper lifts his right hand and points upwards. "He is dead."

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A/N

I am honestly really sorry for updating so late. I'll try to update really fast now. Please vote and comment on this chapter. Thanks for reading! XD