killing two birds with one stone| jay family blitz

I watch as Jabber is escorted back into the justice building. I want to run after him, but I know it's not the best. I need to be calm for all of us even though I feel like falling to the ground running after him. I want this to be a dream. I can't believe it's actually happening. I feel numb inside. I never dreamed he would be reaped. I didn't think it was possible, but I guess is anything is possible. Right now the forest fairies are crying. They aren't dancing anymore.

Finally, we are allowed to walk back to say goodbye to him. I don't want to say goodbye forever. I want him to come back. I want him to stay alive. I don't want him to die. I just want him to be here. Why oh why did he have to be reaped. Why? It just doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore. I want to be back at home in bed just waking up and this being a nightmare, but I know it isn't. This is a nightmare that just came true.

I walk through the justice center. My heart breaks when I hear him sobbing loudly. I know nothing will make him happy now. He's going away. He's leaving Fawn, and he may never come back. I can't read a story to him to calm him down. I can't do anything except be there for him. I can feel the tears forming in my eyes threatening to drip down my face at any moment, and I don't stop them. I allow myself to cry. I allow myself to feel this emotion. I just wish I didn't have to.

I walk through the door and into the small room he's in. I immediately walk up to him and place my hand on his shoulder as gently as I can. "Jabber..." That's the only words I can say. I don't have any other word to say. I feel so lost like my whole world is falling apart. I'm lost for words as I know nothing can change what is happening. "You have to win. You have to." I can feel my heart pounding under my chest. I just hope he can win.

Narration 4C4361
Thoughts A091AE
Hearing 80779B
Speech A3A3D0
Other DECDD1

Jabber was numb to all touch, and it was becoming increasingly impossible to fight back any more tears. They were just spilling out, like the dam behind his eyes had crumbled into a million and one pieces. Storm and Red were at his side, and the rest of the family was milling around. Their words overlapped his thoughts, and his brain seemed about ready to explode. There was too much going on, and there was so much to take in at once. His vision was blurred, and he dabbed wearily at his puffy red eyes. It was like he was a criminal, being sentenced to death by fire squad. There used to be an anchor here in District Nine, one that kept Jabber grounded, but now the chains had snapped and he was drifting away into the ocean. It was only a matter of time before he joined his mother and father in that world beyond; did heaven really exist in a world as dysfunctional as this?

He knew Storm's hand was on his shoulder. He thought he could almost hear the hearts of everyone in the room leaping out of their chests, and shattering on the floor like priceless porcelain. "You have to win," Storm was choking out. "You have to."

Jabber was the kind of guy to fill people with false hope. He was rather childish, and always tried to make everything a joke. But at the moment, he didn't have the heart or the mind to do so. "Storm," Jabber started, wrapping his arm around his cousin and bringing him close. He lowered his voice, not wanting Violet or Red to hear. "You and I both know..."

Another traitorous tear forced its way out of his distended eyelids. "I can't promise a thing. But I will try my best," he whispered. He then stood up and turned towards Red. He extended his arms, sniffling. "Alright, Red. Bring it in. I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to hug you again."

Jabber's eyes became more and more weary as his family members came and gone. Violet swiped Red's chance to embrace him, and he clung to his almost-sister like a vice. Her loud sobs echoed through his mind like a bad song, causing the tears to flow faster. The group vanished quickly, escorted out (or rather, forced out) by Peacekeepers. Fawn entered alone, leaving a lingering kiss on his lips and a glass bottle in his hands. Her voice was rough, and his broken whisper paled in comparison. "I will never forget you."
Mist arrived next, seizing him by the shoulders and shaking him wildly. "You better win, do you hear me?" she snapped, causing Jabber to flinch. He recovered from her sudden ferocity, meeting her gaze calmly. "I can't make promises, but I will try," he repeated sternly. He would not fill the Jays with any more apocryphal faith today. He would just have to prove himself to them.
The face that appeared next was unfamiliar, but then a mundane voice reached his ears. "You probably don't remember me," she said, sitting down next to him. Jabber's eyes widened slightly in recognition. It couldn't possibly be. She had disappeared with Persia (had she shown up too?) years ago. "Juliette?" Jabber croaked, reaching out towards her. "Is it really you?"
Juliette ignored his question, continuing on. "I don't expect you to remember me, but I want to ask you to do something. I shut myself out of your family, Jabber, because I was angry. I felt betrayed and I didn't want anything to do with them. Regain my faith in this family, Jabber. Make me proud to say I am a Jay."
Jabber's mouth opened and closed as he processed Juliette's words. "Jule-," he began, stopping when she got up and walked away from him. Mouth agape, his mind began to flood with everything his family had said. Stellar's light humor was thrown into the fray; "Keep any promises you make, and get back to the house as soon as you can. Otherwise who else is going to talk me to sleep?" He forced a small laugh as Stellar left the room, leaving him to contemplate his thoughts.

Everyone was counting on him.

And Jabber would either soar like the Jay he was or crumble under pressure.