The Hunters - The Test

II

'Let's call it a night.'

Minho looked at his boss, Mr. Kim from District 7 and exhaustedly let down his hoe spud. He had just finished another day of working on the field and so had his little brother on another farm. Walking over to his boss to collect his money, he felt a tap on his left shouder.

'You look like crap dude.'

Every damn time the boy surprises him with his deep voice. 'Speak for yourself freckles.'
Felix smiled and swung his arm over Minho, giggling.

'It's because I don't have any sunscreen mate. I can't help it.'

Minho nodded and the two boys walked over to the row of people collecting their salary, which was three units. They have been working their asses of for eight hours nonstop and they earned enough money to buy one good meal. Minho's sisters left the house to marry two men from a higher district, supporting their family through their husband's money. The other sibling who was old enough to work, had to work on another farm. He also had two little sisters, siamese twins. They were too young so they couldn't work on the field just yet, they first had to turn ten. His other brother, who was twelve years old looked up to him and mimicked his movements and actions. He loved his brother and sisters but he always worried about them. Being the, now, oldest sibling in the house, he had the responsibility to look after them and care for them. His parents, whom he also loved, were working almost every day. His father only came home late at night just on time to eat dinner and in the mornings he was already gone, working all day at a huge farm or industry. His mother stayed home to look after the two youngest and sewed clothes. They didn't have a lot of money, but his friend who was walking next to him had it even worse. Felix, whose parents died during the rebellion, was an orphan and from what he knew, Felix was regularly bullied. He really wanted to help him and even convinced his parents to adopt his friend, but it wasn't financially possible.

After the two boys received their money they walked home. The streets were broken and dirty, garbage laying here and there. It was normal for the boys to see random bones on the streets, they didn't know if it were animal or human bones however. Gangs were quite popular in District 7 and most certainly in District 8, and if one got in trouble with a gang, it was almost certain that they will be hunted down and killed by the them. So the two teenagers always looked over their shouldes, ready to run away if a gang decided to show up. Minho's mother always picked up his younger brother from the farm where he worked. He was too young to fight or outrun the gangs. Him and Felix however, had to walk down the dark alleyways on their own.

'I want to pass you know.' He saw Felix visibly stiffen. Minho has never been one to ease into things, he said what he wanted to say. 'I want to help my family out. Every time I see my dad at dinner, he looks so worn out. I worry about him, he works too hard.'

'You want to be of use,' Felix stated, to which he nodded.
Silence began to fill the air. Both boys were deep in thought but were startled when they saw a figure running down the street in front of them. Felix grabbed Minho and pushed him as close to the wall as possible, standing in front of him protectively. But the figure didn't see them and kept walking away. It as definitely a boy, a wealthy one too. He could see his thick winter coat and clean shoes in the light of the moon. This boy wasn't from District 7 and definitely not from District 8. What on earth was he doing here? Minho felt Felix's hand on his arm, giving him goosebumps on his arm. He looked at the boy whose body was protecting him. Felix's eyes were squinted and followed the moving figure down the street. The brown orbs reflected the yellow lantern lights and his freckles were visible. Minho adored the freckles, even if he teased the boy about them.
When the figure turned a corner into another street Felix stepped away from him. 'Well, that was unusual.'
Minho made a humming sound and he stared at the street where the boy went.