Watching (open)

[Jess C.]

Zantedeschia sat in her room holding her head in the palms of her hands. Her body curled over as she could her Mya's screams from the next room. She hated this the most because when she heard Mya she could hear the screams from the day the "accident" took place. Sitting there she tried to hold her composure. The healers were already there trying to help Mya as much as they could. She knew that Mya would not be here much longer but would fight till she no longer could for her. The thought made her sick and she could not stand just sitting in the house any longer.

Pulling on her boots she left the house with out a good bye or anything to anyone. Walking down the streets of the District it was just a normal day for everyone around her, no one knew what horrors were taking place inside of her home or for that matter inside of her mind. Her pace quickened as she headed into the outskirts of the city. Few traveled this was and she was aware of that. Typically the only ones she would have to worry about was the workers.

Trailing off the path into the woods she found a nice place to hide. Climbing up the tree as far as she could she sat down her back to the trunk of the tree and her legs hanging on either side of the branch. Sitting there the tears rolled down her face at the horrors of her day. She could still hear Mya's screams and hated herself for leaving but she could not take it any longer.

Dusk was setting on the land and she knew she should head home, she knew that Mya would worry but she figured a few more hours would not hurt. She needed an escape she needed to fight for something. She wanted to fight the anger from her past and from the day coursed through her veins. She hated this so called life. She hated being here. Thats when she made the decision she would take Tesserae. Anything to help her get out of here, to leave her nightmare. Death to her was no longer something she feared no it was something she welcomed with open arms.

Sitting there taking in her new decision she thought about Mya. Mya would never allow her to do this, but she decided it would be best not to tell her about her decision if she trully planned on following through with it. Night was not creeping up on her as she sat high in her tree, she could hear the world around her coming alive and decided to stay a while longer.

[killz4food]

Joseph Russel of District 7 [/color] [/size] [/i]

It was night. He pulled on his boots and sheathed his knife. He ran through the places to mug. But then it was also midnight.

Could he mug the bakery.
Negative. It closed hours ago.

How bout the sweets shop.
No. They didn't have anything benificial.

It was pathetic. He opened the door and headed out for the woods. Every once and a while he got a late night straggler just going out for a stroll. He ususally went home with a few coins. But after one event he tried begging first. And if things didn't go his way then it became a mugging. As he sat there the night became dark and he heard the light footsteps come through the woods. It was female. He scurried into a tree and perched on a limb that extrude from the top brush and looked out.

She was drop dead gorgeous.

Joseph felt his heart lurch and his mind wandered elsewhere. He didn't want to mug her. He wanted to sit next to her. Talk to her. Kiss her. He couldn't beg from this woman. What would she think of him? Pathetic? Most likely. But it was worth it. She didn't stop walking for quite some time. And Jospeh tried to keep up with her. As she sat down and dusk came along he climbed down from his tree.

"Hey." He said as he gave her a quick nod. It. Was. On.

[unorc01]

Uno Verren, District Seven
Uno stirs in his sleep. "The hell?" He turns around from his tree branch, way up high in the tree, and sees the other people down there.

Great, He thinks. Everyone comes to my tree. He sighs in exasperation and descends a couple of limbs down the tree.

"What are you-Oh, crap" he says, seeing the sad looking girl. "What's with you?" he asks as he tries not to get annoyed at her. She is crying after all. And she's pretty good-looking.

Then there's the guy over there. He looks kinda shady, but he decides not to dwell on it too much. "So, what are you two doing in my tree?", Uno asks casually.

[Jess C.]

Z stands looking at the two beside her now. Looking between them she quickly wipes her face. She had not heard them and she should have. She was upset with herself. Quickly realizing she was staying silent for to long she swallowed hard.

"Hi, I am sorry I did not realize this tree was taken."

She says looking over to the one who has said this was his tree. Looking back to the who had simply bid her a hello she smiled as much as she could.

"Hi"

She said to him in return. Realizing the she had not said to much she cleared her throat. There were few secrets in District 7 and any that there were it did not take long for others to discover them. Sighing she looked between the two again as she spoke.

"My Grandmother so to speek, is dying."

Her tone was flat as her eyes found a few leaves on the ground to stare at. They way they were brittle and it would only take a light amount of weight to crush them made her think of the woman who she had just abandoned.

[unorc01]

Uno Verren, District 7

I silence myself.
"I'm, uh.. sorry." I say. "Uh...I mean, you can stay." My face heats up a little. "I'm just a little...on edge."
I give a half-hearted smile and turn to look at the other guy. Brother? Boyfriend? I dunno.
Whatever he is, I should probably shut up and find another tree. Seems like they don't realize I'm pretty much the son of the town drunk. Something, though, makes me wanna stay. I don't know if it's the girl or the guy who looks kind of shady. I decide to sit on the branch I'm on for a minute or two.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"

[killz4food]

Joseph Russel of District 7 [/color] [/size] [/i]

Joseph was shocked. So suddenly the words had flowed from her mouth to such udder strangers. Although it was District 7. If it wasn't heard by mouth, it would be heard by rumor.

"I'm sorry." Joseph checked his pockets for anything that could help the girl but to no surprise, there was nothing. He looked at the kid who had claimed the tree as his. He looked a little off, but who didn't in district 7.

"The girl who you called gorgeous", his conscious replied.

[Jess C.]

Zantedeschia

Looking between the two guys Z grew nervous but held her demeanor as she stood there before the two of them. Shaking her head she looked to the one who asked if he could do anything.

"No I came here to escape the screams."

She said in a matter of fact way. The tears completely gone from her eyes and face now. Then looking to the other she shrugged softly.

"It is a fact of life here people die. Most of the time for reasons that can not be explained."

She said to the both of them as they all were there talking now. Shaking her head she forced herself to smile.

"Forgive me for being so rude my name is Zantedeschia.."

She said to the both of them as she looked back and forth between them.

[killz4food]

Joseph Russel of District 7 [/color] [/size] [/i]

"Joseph." he replied. His secret bugged at him, pressing for him to reveal it to the girl. And the stranger in the tree. But she seemed nervous. And the knife in his boot was bugging at him, rubbing against his pant leg. He jerked his foot and put the knife back in place and scratched at the hilt of the knife.

[unorc01]

Uno Verren, District 7


I listen to both of them. They tell me their names. They look at me now. I sigh on the inside. "Uno", I reply. I give a half-hearted smile."I came here to escape too. Jer- I mean my dad- is acting up again." I sigh out loud. "He's the fat drunk guy over there.". I jerk a thumb in the direction of my house.

[Jess C.]

Zantedeschia

Z looked between the two. The both of them seeming a bit on edge. Standing there she smiled and as Uno pointed to where his dad was she understood and nodded. The whole town pretty much knew who that man was but then again that did not change who he was or anyone else around him was. Then looking over to Joseph she nodded to him as well. Just to be nice.

"Well it is nice to meet the both of you, Joseph and Uno."

She said to the both of them. Looking up at the night sky she took a deep breath relaxing herself.

"So it seems as if fate has bought us all together this evening."[/b]

She said looking between the two of them softly smiling at both. Sticking her hands into her hoodie pocket she leaned her back up against the tree pulling one of her feet up and propping it up against the tree as well.

"It seems quiet around her lately."[/color]

She said out loud, not to any one particular just speaking her thoughts. Standing there she breathed in the night air taking all of the scents inside of her and placing them to memory.

[killz4food]

Joseph Russel of District 7 [/color] [/size] [/i]

Joseph nodded. He looked down the trail that was becoming more like a forest again and simply nodded.

"Indeed it is. Not much goes on around here in District 7." He said with a hint of adventure in his tone. It wasn't long ago that he had been chased through those woods with a group of kids that he tried to mug (and failed), beat the crap out of a peacekeeper, and lead them on a five day chase before they gave up.

"Indeed it has," He said once more.

[unorc01]

Uno Verren, District 7
I sigh and nod. Zoning out, I stare at my home.
"It just sucks I can't escape forever." I sigh again and stare longingly at the trees beyond the fence.

[Jess C.]

Z stood there listening to them. She shrugged her shoulders as she stood up. Looking around she hated this feeling, feeling like she was being watched. She had never been one to cause trouble but she had been in her fair share of fights.

"I don't know its just getting to quiet here, nothing has happened lately."

She said as her eyes stared off in the distance the same direction of the fence. She had never been close enough to ever see the fence but she was getting more and more curious now.

[unorc01]

Uno Verren, District 7
I look at the fence. Suddenly, a weird idea pops into my head. "How often is the fence electrified?" I ask. I scan up and down the fence to see if there are any openings.

"I just think maybe..." My voice trails off. What I'm saying is clear. It's technically illegal to go into the wilderness, but maybe, just maybe. I wouldn't be missed, I know that. I have supplies. Should be easy enough to get an axe or something. Maybe. Maybe.

[grayshade]

"It's not your damn decision!" I shout while glaring at my father. His face is beet red as he lifts his hand up. My body reacts before I can even process the moment. As my legs begin to move I feel myself fading from the world. I become lost in my mind, allowing my body to take care of itself. Within a few minutes I'm already outside of my door. The moonlight shines on the nearby path and my body knows to take it. I've gotten so used to walking the outskirts of this town, that I don't even need to consciously think about it. Water begins to obscure my vision, and my lips begin to crumble. The constant nagging and manipulation of my goals leave me feeling lost and without control. My hand swats at my face as I quickly wipe away the tears. Not even in solitude may I shed a tear. Strength is what keeps me going. No time to give up.

By the time I come back to reality, I can feel the bumpy ground dig cuts into my bare feet. Did I really forget my shoes, again? My legs slow down as I try to gather my thoughts. I know what's in store for me when I get home. I regret leaving, but I'm no rag doll. I don't deserve to be beaten just because I dissent from my parents' desires. My hand slides into my pocket, revealing the knife I use for carving. Pressure from my hands allow the dagger to dig into my own palm as my legs pick up the pace. I feel the wind blow my black hair away from my forehead and the fresh air feels wonderful against my face. Before I can even make further distance, my body freezes at the sound of people talking. My legs suddenly stop and I feel the air escape my lungs. Too bad I didn't stop earlier, because I see them, and they can probably see me. Barefoot and eyes wet with tears, I must look crazy. No words come to mind as I glance towards the three standing in front of me, but my mouth widen and a slight cut appears in the middle of my chapped lips. Do I look awkward? I hope not.

--Aleksander Dobschwinn