Before the Ember

Screams at midnight

Coal and I sit on the couch talking while sipping at our hot cocoa. I curl up in my blanket and rest my eyes.
"What are you doing?" Coal asks.
"Resting." I answer.
"You can't do that!"
"Why not? It's 11:30 p.m.!"
"We are teens! We need to be wild, be crazy!"
I glare at Coal and respond to him," I am wild and crazy.... I'm just also lazy!"
"C'mon Ember! Remember when we were younger we always got in trouble!"

I smile and remember our old, childish memories. We got in so much trouble and we had so much fun.
"Ok, fine. What do you suggest?" I ask.
Coal smiles devilishly," let's sneak out at midnight!"
"Dude, where would we go? District 12 is practically 50 feet by 50 feet."
"We'll go in the Southern woods, where no one goes."

I roll my eyes but agree. I grab a backpack and fill it with flashlights, water bottles, small snares, and small knifes just in case. We scamper out the door giggling in the process. We run towards the woods the cool air blowing threw my brown hair. Goosebumps run up my arms and I cling to Coal's arm for warmth.

The smell of the lush, green woods fills my nose. I unzip my backpack and take out our flashlights I brought. Bugs fly to the light and swat them away. Coal finds a near tree and starts to climb. He gets the 6th limb when we hear deafening high pitched scream. I look to Coal as he looks to me. Coal jumps off the tree and we head back to the main District square. We run down allies and many curvy roads until I trip.

I open my eyes and the air is sucked out of my lugs. I collapse into Coal's as horrified of this sight.
"What's wrong?" Coal questions.
"D-d-d-d-d-d" I mumble.
"C'mon, hurry! Spit it out!" I point to the ground and he gasps.

A lifeless body is laying in the ground drowning in blood. I turn the body over to see the corpses face. It was a girl around 17. She had blonde hair that was now stained from her blood. She had multiple stab wounds that ran deep through her body. Tears run down my face," who would do this?" I ask.
"Someone who has no soul." Coal growls. I sob into my hands that are covered in this teenage girls blood. She had a life. She had a future ahead of her.

"Ember, come here." Coal says quietly. I look his way and see him holding a rose. It wasn't any rose, it was a white rose with droplets of blood. I gasp. I remember learning about white roses in History class. Someone used them but who was it? Then it hit me. The old President, President Snow. He's dead though, and that's a fact. His body was cremated in front of her eyes. His ashes are locked up in a jar in the Justice Building.

"Someone's trying to start another revolution. Someone's trying to bring back the Hunger Games. Someone's trying to bring back the dictatorship." I say in disbelief.
"But who would do that? Why would the districts want the Hunger Games again?" Coal asks in confusion.
"The districts don't, it's the Capitol."
"But still, why?"
"I'm not sure, I'll have to research more about the Capitol, the parts they don't teach us in school."
"Ok but we have to tell our parents, we need to let people know about this."
"Ok. Go tell our parents and I'll go tell the mayor. I'll have him warn the others."
I turn to run but Coal grabs my wrist,"No I can't let you do that. There's a murderer out here Ember, and if they find you they'll know you're the child of Katniss and they'll surely kill you."
"No. I'll be fine." I turn around sharply, trying to break his hold.
Coal pulls me back towards me and whispers harshly,"Stop it, Ember! Your not leaving my side!"
I yank my wrist out if his grasp and put one finger over his lips,"trust me."
"No! I can't take that chance!"

I bolt away from him running threw ally ways and other small spots, losing Coal. I slip into the back of my fathers bakery and tip toe into the pantry where I hid my bow. I sling it across my chest and head for the door. I was about to touch the knob when I hear the faint sound of sharpening knifes. I walk to the door leading to the front room and sure enough it was cracked open. I hide my body on the wall next to the door frame and peak into the front room. I then see a dark skinned woman dressed in all black.

I pull my body back to the wall and take a deep breath. I sneak back to the door when I hear footsteps heading my way. My heartbeat quickens I feet move faster. I get to the door and rush out of it. I slam the door shut and spin the knob and crazed motions making it come loose. I pull out the knob and jam the door. The woman bangs on the door and I run to the mayors house, knowing I don't have much time.

I bang on the Mayors door loud and hard. The mayor's son, Dawn, opens the door. His brown hair and blue eyes magnetizing. I jump into his house and stares at me with confusion.
"I must talk to your father!" I say quickly. I am led to a dark room and I meet with the mayor in secret. I tell him about the the woman. His face grows a deathly pale. He has me lay down in Dawn's bed and promises me he'll warn everyone. As soon as I close my eyes I drift off to sleep.

~~~~~~authors note~~~~~~~
I'm so sorry I updated late!!! I totally forgot about posting! And I started it last night really late but I fell asleep so hopefully this exciting update makes up for being late!
                           -Lavenderluv