Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 23

“So, why are we here?” River looked up at me with curious eyes. His eyes melted me; sometimes I forgot how old he was. He didn’t seem as young as he was.

“Well,” I paused. Should I tell him right now? “I wanted to get to know you.”

“Oh. Well, my name is River Lange and I am thirteen. You are Waterlily see, age seventeen. What now?”

“You have siblings?”

“Yeah, I have a little sister and a little brother. My sister is six and my brother is eleven.”

“So he might be in the games next year.”

“Yeah, I wanted to be there to keep him from it, but now I can’t. I will never be able to save my little brother.”

A tear slipped down my face. “Maybe he won’t be chosen. I really hope my sister isn’t chosen next year. Of course, she’s the only one left from my family.”

“Your parents gone?”

I nodded, “Yours?”

“Just my mom, but my dad just lies around in a housecoat watching TV and drinking,” River sighed.

“Really? Your family has enough money to get that much alcohol?”

“Yeah, but it’s the only thing he spends it on. Do you have much money?”

“Just enough to get our food,” I paused. Guess I should tell him now. “I guess I should tell you what I’ve been thinking.”

He looked surprised and put a smile on his face, an excited smile to be exact. “I think Ethelreda is just using us to guard her. She’s not trying to help us. I think we should leave.”

“Maybe, but I think we should stick with her. She may think we are her protection, but she really is ours. I’m going to stay with her. It’s my only chance at surviving.”

 A tear fought to roll out of my eye. “Okay. That’s fine.” I blinked rapidly, drawing in air. “I’d better get to bed; we have a big day tomorrow.” I walked out of the room, leaving behind the boy that I thought would understand. It’s not like I loved him, but something made me want to stay with him. Maybe it was just because we were district partners, or maybe it was something else. My mind really has a way of tricking its self.