Elemental Games

Two

Our mother was sitting quietly on a chair at the table, dressed in one of her dresses save for special occasions, and nursing a chipped cup between her hands. A cloud of mist swirled up from the cup as she looked up. Aragog set the bag on the table in front of her. She took the bag and turned it upside down, the bread falling out, and picked the loaf up.

"Is this all you've got?" she asked quietly. I nodded silently, pushing past Aragog to one of two small tubs of warm water on the floor. I could tell it was warm; steam was rising from both tubs. I tore my scarf off, relief to be able to freely breathe again. Aragog turned away as I stripped, taking the clothes quickly off of me and draping the jacket on a chair. I stepped into the tub, rinsing dirt from my nails and using a folded up cloth, dip it into the water and wash myself over, taking care not to get my hair wet. Aragog was in the other tub. He had already washed himself and was putting his clothes on. I turned away as I dried myself and got out. Mother had lay out an old dress of hers for me. I stare at it hatefully and reluctantly put it on, smoothing it down. I looked at the table where the bread still lay and scowled, jerking to face my mother. "Why didn't you prepare any food to eat?" I demanded. "You can't keep being useless like this!" Ever since my other brother and my father had disappeared and never came back, she, assuming them dead, had mourned over them, never doing anything but sitting and moping around, staring into space. Now, she only looked blankly at me and started to get up slowly, like it took effort. "Forget it," I muttered, sweeping over and grabbing the bread. Aragog looked pointly at me but I ignored him.

Taking a short knife from the counter, I wiped it on the hem of the dress and then sliced the bread. Aragog appeared next to me, some holly berries in his hand. I took the berries without looking at him and squeezed them over a cup he had placed on the table. The juice of the berry dripped down like blood into the cup. Aragog took the knife from me and stirred the juice. "I can do it myself, you know," I snapped. "You have to stop being so harsh to her, Hollis," he told me, ignoring my comment.

"She should stop sitting around blankly everyday and actually do things," I returned. Aragog stopped stirring and placed the knife, the hilt now red, down and looked at me hardly. "Father and Fergus are gone, remember? She has every right to grieve." I resisted the urge to scream. "We don't even know if they're actually dead! They've only been gone 2 years and perhaps they're trying to find a way back!" Aragog opened his mouth as if to say something, then decided against it, closing his mouth and sighed, turning away. He brought the cup over to Mother and set a few slices of bread in front of her. "Eat, Mother," I heard him say softly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her slowly pick up a piece. I scowled and grabbed a piece of bread, stuffing it in my mouth. I swallowed without chewing even though I knew I might choke. Then I heard the loud pattering of feet out on the street and knew it was time to head to the square. It was the day where the mayor of each five elemental Districts had to give a speech. It happens every year and then the Game would be announced. It wasn't any ordinary Game either. It was like this. Every year, after the speech and announcing of the Game, the people that the government decide seem to be the strongest of their District would be announced. They would be thrown in the Place. No food and no water. No weapons, no nothing. But we were not to kill each other. The Place would be completely empty, except whatever would be given to you by your mentor that would be assigned to you by the mayor of your District. Each chosen person would have to live in the Place for as long as anyone is still alive. It was up to you to decide how you would survive. The government would make sure that the Place would be difficult to live in. Wild animals would be let loose. Traps and anything they think deadly and dangerous. But you have to play by the rules, the government's rules. And every year, there is always one person who outlasts the others and he or she is allowed to come home. He or she would be known as the winner, or victor, of that year's Game and they would be showered with riches of money and would be given a special house in Victory's City, which was right next to Government City. Nobody likes the government's Game though, even though they would've like to have some money, but what could we do? If you spoke out against them, you would be putting you and your family in danger. Officials from the government would have orders to go to your home and have you taken away, then the president would have you killed on live television and make everyone watch. That's what a lot of people thought was unfair. President Trumpkin never thought about the people, just like he didn't bother to help us when the sickness struck. It spreaded toward the Government City but that was the only place he was willing to give help to. Perhaps he didn't want to die, was my bitter thought.