Alone, Forgotten, and Afraid(Jack Lex)

[Anna Banana]

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How long had she been out here, how long had she been wandering around...alone. It felt like an eternity that she had been out here, but she knew better than to actually believe that. She wasn't even really alone out here, she was tormented by the memories of her family who were now all gone. Taken away by the Peacekeepers, suicide, or starvation. They were all gone and she was alone. She looked at her arm which bore scars up to her shoulder, but most of them were pale from age. Some of the ones on her back and wrists were more visible, but she kept them covered. Each cut represented a sad time in her life, they were in essence the scars of her life. She wanted to forget what had happened, and yet, it felt good to cut herself, to remind herself of the pain. Wandering farther into the forest she looked at the shadows cast by the almost bear trees. They were haunting in a way, and yet beautiful. She could have stayed there staring at them for hours, but she knew better than to do that, she was on the run. A fugitive from her own district, on the run, hoping she wouldn't be caught and brought back.

She tore her eyes away from the trees and walked forward. The sound of the birds in the trees, infact everything, seemed magnified. She had never noticed it when she was stuck in the confines of the district, but now she was free, and could enjoy it more. It wasn't always so bad to be alone, she didn't have anyone to boss her around, but she missed having someone to talk to. There were just nature around her, and though it was a good listener it couldn't answer her questions. She would ask why her life had become what it was, but she never got an answer. She never had, her parents were afraid that the Peacekeepers would hear if they said anything against the Capital. She walked a little deeper in and leaned against a tree. The rough bark dug into her back through her thin shirt opening some of the newer cuts. She didn't mind though, she did her best thinking when she was in pain. She began talking to the trees and the birds around her as she had come to do since she left. Her voice was coming out in choking sobs, and she tried to get control of herself.

Why have I been reduced to this? Why was everything taken away from me. My family didn't have to die, my sisters and brothers didn't have to die. Everything went wrong when the Peacekeepers killed dad, than my mom's health deteriorated until she killed herself. Than my siblings and I slowly starved. I'm the only one left to keep the families memory alive. The one to blame for all of this is the Capital, they are responsible for taking everything away from me.

The last part came out louder than she wanted it to. It echoed around the woods until it slowly faded away into the distance. The words rebounded around her repeating over and over. She drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face into her arms trying to escape the sound. Now it was silent and dark, she was locked into her own mind. The memories became images in her head, terrible to see. Tears began streaming down her cheeks, but she didn't bother to stop them. After all it was just her here, and she could cry all she wanted.

[Jack Lexington]

Staring at the fence I just stand there for a while studying its patterns, the few holes, where somebody could slide underneath it. I haven't been beyond this fence for almost a year until recently, which was a mistake. I was happy here in district 4, finally got my life sorted out and had a real job instead of roaming around aimlessly. But then I took that step out in the woods just like I always used to and got that taste of freedom again.
Despite the fact that I stepped into Cameo's trap out there, which was admittedly a very unpleasant experience, that one time in the forest had sparked a desire in me.
So now I find myself staring at the sweet freedom beyond the fence, wondering whether I should cross into the forest even though I could be caught and punished.

After endless glances around me I finally slide underneath it and then make a run for the nearest trees. My desire gets fulfilled when I walk through the forest looking up at the magificent crowns of old oak trees, hear birds chirp and smell the moss. It's wonderful and no human around.
For at least half an hour I enjoy the solitude when I hear a strange sound...crying? Is that what it is? Has somebody else stepped into Cameos traps? I must have sounded pretty similar. Or could this be a trap for me?
Carefully I sneak closer when I spot a girl in between bark and leaves who seems to be talking the trees. Her words don't make much sense to me and there's nobody else out here so I step out of the brush and adress her. "Are you nuts? Who are you talking to?" I guess I've never been a man with good manners.

[Anna Banana]

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She could have stayed there forever, crying her life away, but she knew better than that. Staying this close to the district fence was dangerous and she had to get as far away as possible. The only problem was she had no idea where to go from here, the world was a dangerous place, and as vile as the Peacekeepers were they did protect the people of the district...most of the time. Out here she only had herself to rely on, and even though she felt more than capable of survival with her training, she was afraid of meeting something she couldn't contend with. She slowly lifted her face from her arms and looked around. Her vision was still blurred from the tears and she tried to focus so she could get moving. The forest seemed louder now than it had before, something or someone was coming. Sliding a knife out of her boot she tensed her muscles ready to attack.

Are you nuts? Who are you talking to?

She jumped forwards in fear and ran forward a few steps to put distance between herself and the voice. Slowly turning around she saw it was a boy, or a young man, either one would do for a description, standing next to the tree she had been leaning against. She cut several knicks into her wrist with the knife and began cursing under her breath. She had let her guard down and now this guy had sneaked up on her. She continued to cut further up her arm and cursing but looked the boy over making sure he wasn't a threat. When she felt more satisfied she finally put the knife back into her boot and walked closer. She still felt uneasy, but the cuts had made her feel better, definitely more calm. Looking over the boy once more, she moved within arms reach of him and jutting out her hip placed her hands on them.

No, I'm not crazy, I'm perfectly sane thank you, and it's none of your business who I was talking to. Better question though, what are you doing sneaking around the woods outside of the district? Also, don't you know it's not nice to surprise a girl like that, especially one that is armed. I could have killed you, and that would have been terrible.

She neglected to mention that if he had been a Peacekeeper she probably would have killed him. No sense in raising any alarms for him to react to, she didn't want him getting aggresive because she probably wouldn't be able to fight him head on.

[Jack Lexington]

The girl steps uncomfortably close with that knife in her hand so I brace myself for an attack. The one she does is only verbal though. She doesn't sound all that crazy now but maybe she's just hiding it well.
"Perfectly sane, my ass." I snarl at her.
My eyes are cold without any compassion because she doesn't make sense and comes off as anything but helpless, bitchy would be more adequat.
"Never said I was nice. You know what?"
I lift my hands up to show her that I'm not armed, which would have been a good idea out here since I stepped into a trap last time and now I'm facing a girl with a weapon.
"Don't worry about me. I'll leave you to talking to your friend, the trees."
Slowly I retreat with my eyes still on her because I'm worried that the crazy woman will attack me and eat me for dinner. If she takes another step toward me I will take that knife from her tiny little bloody hands, that's for sure. This girl doesn't even reach up to my chin and weighs maybe half of what I do. She might scratch me but there's no way I'm turning my back on her so she can stab me.

The forest around us seems rather unimpressed with our argument. The birds keep singing, trees keep swaying slowly and the odd howl sounds from somewhere far away.

[Anna Banana]

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The strange guy was now backing away from her. Apparently the sight of the knife alone was enough to get him to back off a little. This was good, if this overblown idiot had sense to back away than everyone else should to. For the first time in a while she allowed a smile to cross her face, it felt good to know that she had a little bit of control over things. She was brought back to reality by his harsh words

"Perfectly sane, my ass. Never said I was nice. You know what? Don't worry about me. I'll leave you to talking to your friend, the trees."

At his words her face turned a deep shade of red. She broke her gaze from the guy and looked away shamefully. She was on edge, she couldn't help how she was out here. Being afraid that the Peacekeepers would find you at any minute and drag you back to the district, it was a tough life. Walking over to a tree across from him she slumped down to the ground and sighed. She couldn't just let him go now, he might tell the Peacekeepers about her, and she felt bad about the impression she had made on him. Once upon a time she was alot nicer than she was now, but the harsh reality of the world had changed her. She took the dagger from her boot and threw it into the ground between them informally showing she wouldn't hurt him. She could feel tears beginning to form in her eyes, but she couldn't break down again, especially not infront of him.

The sounds of the forest were still clear, nothing had gone silent while the two of them had talked to eachother. It was apparent none of the creatures were interested in what was going on, which led her to believe they had seen it all before. She began to scour her mind for a way to keep the boy around here, anything to make sure he didn't return to the district. She wasn't good with words, never really was, but it was her only shot at keeping him here.

I'm sorry, I'm just...scared is all. I wasn't expecting someone to be out here, least of all a brute like you. I thought you were the muscle of the distict sent out to collect any runaways. I don't want to go back there, not after everything that happened to me. I've lost everything, my family, my friends, all dead, all I have are the trees and the animals to talk to. Maybe I'm not perfectly sane, but if you knew what I've gone through you would know why I'm this way. My name is Elizabeth by the way, Elizabeth Verdain, don't go yet please. It's been a while since I had someone to talk to.

She probably seemed pathetic to him, and completely mental. Infact she was mental, her sanity had come into question when she had seen her father's mangled body. She had seen so much, and it had impacted her badly, haunting her every move. She brought her knees up to her chest again and rested her head on her knee caps. She felt ready to explode emotionally, but she kept it all building up inside of her, waiting till she was alone once more.