}Night{ [Open!]

[Sydney ^.^]

Night was the only time Ember could escape from the reality she was living in.

She was tired of the screams that filled her home. As much as Ember tried to understand her mother's schizophrenia, she couldn't bare the long nights and confusing days that brought with it. She had to leave the house, as she does every night.

Ember walked around the eerie square that was usually filled with the richer people of the district during the day. Now, at the height of night, there wasn't a sound. The only sound that could be heard was Ember's breath and the small taps that her foot made when she took another step forward.

It was below freezing, no doubt about it, but Ember didn't seem to mind the cold. Yes, she wore a light jacket and a pair of cargo pants that were slightly to big on her, but frankly she walked on the icy pavement barefoot. Her feet were immune to almost anything now, as she has always walked around barefoot since she was eight. Now, the sixteen year old doesn't feel any pain when her feet scrape.

Ember finally came face to face with the Justice Building. She has seen so many desperate faces on the stage filled with rage, hope, but most of all, sadness. Most of the tributes felt sad when they were called up to the stage during the time of the reaping. She could read their faces and point out how sad they were to what extent. She could see it in their eyes, their facial gestures, and their body movement.

She didn't know how she would honestly feel if she were chosen to participate in the horrid games. Yes, on the outside she would hide her emotions . She was almost a perfect at hiding her feelings and reading other. She would stay strong, as it would be easier for her family to see. But on the inside, she didn't know how she would feel. Would she feel the rage of the Capitol? The nervousness of dying? The anxiety of killing? Or would she feel so shocked that she would feel nothing? She couldn't say, as she never knows if she'll ever get picked for the games.

Ember sat down in front of the Justice Building and closed her eyes. She focused on everything her senses told her to feel. She felt the icy wind up against her cheek. She heard the rocks scrambling on the ground from the wind tossing them around. She smelt the snow that would come soon to District 5.

But she kept thinking. She was waiting. Ember felt that she was waiting for something. As it may not be a person, but a thought. She didn't exactly know what she was waiting for, but she kept her eyes closed in hopes that whatever she was waiting for, it would arrive soon.

[peremanmaunder]

Pereman Maunder walked the streets, the cool breeze nipping at his nose. He rubbed some warmth back into it, feeling the icy sting as it slowly came back to life. He slid the hood of his brown jacket over his head, the warm fur lining on the inside was probably illegal, he wasn't sure. His dad had bought him the present a year or two ago. It was well broken in, and he hoped it'd be warm enough for the night.

Pereman was looking for a place to crash while his mother either road of the morphling withdrawals, or simply got someone to yield and give her more. Pereman was done feeding her, he didn't want anything to do with it. He knew if he stayed around while she was suffering from withdrawals, he would surely yield.

He heard he slap of bare feet against pavement, and saw a girl sitting on the Justice Building steps. He wondered who she was, and why she was out walking so late. It wasn't any of his business, but he was curious, and he had to admit, she was a pretty girl. He mustered up his nerve and sat on the steps beside her.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

Something had to be wrong. Why else would they look like they felt so similar?

[Sydney ^.^]

Ember heard him coming, but she acted surprised when she saw the boy next to her. She opened her eyes and tried to get a good glimpse of his emotions in the darkness, but it was nearly impossible.

"Wrong?" She said confused. "There is nothing wrong." Ember said smiling a little. "It's just a little midnight stroll, that's all." She commented and looked back towards the Justice Building.

Nobody ever really talked to her, so this was a fairly rare opportunity. Every night she waited here. She always thought it was a something. A memory or an idea. But was it a someone? She didn't know. She kept her eyes open and kept looking at the justice building.

[peremanmaunder]

"Cool. It's just I usually only go on midnight strolls when I'm up past midnight." Pereman said. He tried to glimpse her face without her noticing. Her hair was a deep brown, the cut looked messy, for some reason that made him relax. He just wished he could see her eyes. For a single instant they flashed in the pale moonlight, icy blue and illustrious, so full of life. But she looked exhausted.

"I don't think I've met you before. My name's Pereman. What's yours?" He asked. He caught himself sliding closer, then he stopped. He hardly knew her. The only reason he was so interested in her was because for one single instant, they might be the same in some way.

But they weren't.

She was fine, he wasn't.

[Sydney ^.^]

She didn't look at him, and just kept staring ahead.

"My father said once that you shouldn't reveal anything about yourself unless you're positive you can trust them," Ember said in a monotone voice. "Even the emotions you feel or the words you surpass."

She pushed her bangs back off of her face. She exhaled, and folded her legs together.

"Ember," she said. She didn't want him, nor if anyone else were around, to know any more. She would've been surprised if anyone at her school knew her name, as she never told anyone.

"Secrets are the only thing keeping this world together. You better keep them close to you, or your world can spiral apart. Trust me," Ember didn't blink, nor make any sudden moves. She kept everything together. Didn't show any signs of fear or awkwardness, sadness or delight.

She was just a girl with no emotions it seemed like. And she thought she would always be safe if she kept it like that.

[peremanmaunder]

"Secrets? No, secrets aren't what's holding this place together. I think it's trust. Trust among the people. If we didn't trust each other, how could we afford to keep secrets?" Pereman asked, trying to read the strange girl. He folded in hands in his lap and leaned back against the cold, smooth stone.

"What do you think it's like, living in the Capitol? Do you think it would be wonderful, or do you think it would be like living a lie? Or would we even feel guilt? Guilt is a learned emotion, I think. I don't think you can feel guilt unless you know what it's like to be in trouble, and no one in the Capitol really knows." Pereman realized he was rambling, he looked to Ember.

"I'm sorry, I have a tendency to say too much, but I guess you already know that. Need a walk home? I don't want you to get in trouble with the Peacekeepers." How would he keep her out of trouble? He'd just get in trouble too. But, he wanted to walk her home because he wanted a better chance to talk to her. In truth, he wanted a better chance to learn more about himself.

[Sydney ^.^]

Ember nodded. "Sure. I don't see why not." The girl got up and tucked her hair back. "And the Peacekeepers are a joke. Even if we did get in trouble, they wouldn't do anything. Maybe threaten us. But I'm not scared of any Peacekeepers. They're just Capitol citizens trying to make us feel like crap." Ember got up. She's always felt this way, she's just never told anyone about it. Letting it all out, she felt relieved.

"And if I did live in the Capitol? I wouldn't feel bad for anyone. The only thing I would worry about is the color of my hair or the food brought to me. I would maybe run the games. Maybe even become a senator or what not. The only reason the Capitol runs us is out of fear. Everyone fears the Capitol and what they would do to us. We outnumber them at least 100 to 1. Maybe even more. But everyone is too scared. Of course, I would never rebel. Not really my type of thing. Nobody would join either. I'm the type of person who sits back and watches everything unravel. I find amusement in unfortunate things." She said without any emotion in her voice. No emotions except power. She wasn't scared, nor was she pitful of anyone or anything.

"It's okay, I rant too. I apologize." She said. She meant it too.

Maybe she felt this way because she never needed a reason to care. She never really thought about it before, but now that she does she never had a reason to feel or not feel this way.