Courage, Compassion, and Capital

Chapter 5

Hazel

I heard a knock on my door. "Hazel...?"

I walked over, wondering who would be at my door. I grabbed the knob, and twisted, pulling open the door. To my surprise, it was the kind rebel.

"Oh, hi!" I said, smiling. I released the mask that was hiding my emotions. He wouldn't care.

"Can I come in? You wanted to know my name." He said, looking down at his feet.

"Yup." I stepped aside, letting him get in. He stepped inside, sitting at my desk. I plopped down on my bed.

There was a silence, but it wasn't awkward at all. It was comfortable, an expected silence. After about a minute, he muttered something. I couldn't hear it. He repeated, this time saying it loud enough for me to hear.

"My name is...Peeta. Peeta Mellark."

I looked at him, wide eyed. "Wha...why are you helping me? You should be helping Katniss! You're engaged!"

"I never voted yes. For these Games." He muttered, this time, loud enough for me to hear.

"Oh..." There was nothing else to say.

"Well...I'll leave you now, I have to go see Katniss."

I nodded. "Bye." My voice sounded so small.

"Bye..." He glanced my way, but then walked out.

I flopped down fully onto my bed, letting the springy mattress bounce me up and down. I missed Jax. I recalled happy memories, before my dad died, and before my mom. I watched them all in my mind's eye, and I barely registered that I was crying. I shook my head, spraying my salty tears around me. I grabbed my locket, opening it. There was my whole family, smiling up at me. My tears slowly stopped, not because I was calming down, but because I couldn't form anymore. I just laid there, feeling sorry for myself, when I heard another knock at the door.

I didn't say anything. I hadn't locked the door, whoever it was could come in if they wanted to. I saw the doorknob twist, and I looked, seeing who it was. To my surprise, it wasn't Peeta. It was Beatrice. Beatrice Snow.

She looked at me, her eyebrows raised. Of course, I must've looked a complete mess, with tears on my face, my hair wild, my eyes bloodshot, my face flushed. She looked perfectly fine herself, but I knew she was a mess of emotions inside. We all were, but some chose to hide them.

She sat down, next to me, on the bed. We looked at each other, neither of us saying anything. She pulled out a white rose from her hair, and started plucking the petals off, one by one. She continued plucking, mouthing words. I was never good at reading lips, but I eventually found it out.

"I will die. I won't die. I will. I won't. I will. I won't."

I watched her, as she reached the last petal.

"I will." She sighed, ripping up the stem of the rose.

I don't know what came over me, but I broke the silence. "Allies?"

She looked at me, her eyebrows raised. "Okay." She said.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

She looked back at the ripped up stem, and me the locket. I don't know how long we sat there, both of us staring at something that meant something for us.

I don't know when I dozed off, but I was woken up by Katniss knocking on my door, saying it was time for dinner. I looked over, Beatrice was gone. She was probably already at the table. I quickly washed my face, and threw on a teal top, with some jeans. I stood by the shower, and let the machine untangle my hair, and add some volume. I rushed out of my room, to see the rebels setting the table, and placing down food. It was rationed out, I could see that immediately. I sat down next to Beatrice, who had two empty seats on either side of her. Peeta sat on the other side. I noticed he sat on the opposite side of Katniss, who was staring daggers at him. He wouldn't meet her gaze.

Katniss picked up a fork, and started eating. We all followed suit. Around halfway through the meal, Katniss spoke.

"The reaping should be broadcast in a few minutes."

Nobody spoke. But we all knew we were going to watch it. We all finished our meal around the same time. The older kids stood behind the couch, letting the younger kids sit. I plopped down on the side of the couch, not wanting to be squished in between kids.

Katniss grabbed the TV remote, and pressed the power button. Just on time too, they were starting the broadcast. It started with the words I knew too well, from all of the previous Games.

"War, terrible war..." It showed the rebels fighting through the streets. I saw Katniss, who was fighting for her life, and Peeta, who looked horrible. This must have been after Snow tortured him.

"Widows, orphans, and motherless child." It showed District 12, fleeing from the bombs. And dead bodies lining the streets, and children crying, sitting by a grave.

"Panem was said to be founded on war. This was true." It showed bombs being dropped on 13, and the people in the bunkers, hiding.

"They said they had peace. They were lying." It showed riots, Peacekeepers killing people in the squares. The man from District 11, who whistled Rue's song. The bullet through his skull. I shuddered, and most of the kids looked away.

"They said the Hunger Games was made to punish the districts, but for the person who won, they would be bathed in riches, and be shown the mercy of the Capitol. But, the victors were never shown that so called mercy. Finnick, who was sold to the highest bidder. The Victory Tour, taking the Victor, and showing them to the families of the grieving, just to rub salt in the still healing wound. The cameras never left the Victors alone. As for the dead tributes, they were innocent. They should have never been killed." I looked away, looking down. I was one of those tributes, and I was about to be killed.

"This is why we are having one last Game. For the Capitol. To show them what it was like, for us, the Districts. The pain of losing their family." I looked up, just in time to see me, pushing away from the rebels, trying to get to Jack. I shut my eyes tight, and felt everyone's eyes on me.

The four whistle notes, and the TV was turned off.

"Alright everyone," Katniss said, putting the remote back, "time for bed. You'll meet your prep team tomorrow." Everyone started to file out from the couch, back to their rooms. I entered mine, and sat by my diary. I heard footsteps, and a click. They had locked the door.