Back of the Mind Fears (Open Please Join <3-Becca)

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

Shane looked around his district, baren and desolate as it was, trying to fnid something to do during the hot summer months. He could go swimming, but alas, he had forgotten his weapons in the forest and didn't want to go retrieve them until he had someone covering him. They were in no danger to be stolen, so he wasn't all that worried about them. He was more worried aboout the 90 degree temperatures that were hanging around the District. He could watch the Games, like he was supposed to, but that never really suited him, so he ran into the woods and stayed away from watching them most years.

Wondering what to do, he thought about his friend Kale who had died on the first day. Kale was a nice enough guy, who had volunteered when the reaped was not actually at the reaping. He has signed in and ran far away, but whether it was bad luck, or too much Terrasse, he had been called. Then, after he didn't immediately step forward, Kale jumped up. He admired Kale, for doing what he didn't have the guts to do.

Reflecting on the games had led him to walk into the Seam. The Seam, he thought scornfully, the dump where all the best people live. Hands deep in his pockets to quiet the rustling of the coins that he knew others in this area did not have, he watched the baron streets. His closest friends were from the Seam, but they were all either at the Square, with all of the Peace Keepers making sure that they watched the Games, which was a place he stayed careful to avoid, or in their homes, trying to block the visions from their heads.

Ten people were dead, Shane muttered, and thirteen were still left to die before the kiling spree would end. The girl tribute for Twelve was still alive, but that didn't mean anything to Shane. He, unlike most people, did not want anyone to die, and would rather the other girl to die. Though he didn't want her death, he didn't want her to win and have to celebrate the other's death.

Just then, Shane picked his head up to realize he had just slammed into someone. Quickly stepping back, Shane muttered he was sorry and hoped to god he hadn't just body checked a Peace Keeper while he was breaking the law. Not that it was a huge offense to not watch the Games, but he didn't want to tempt the fate that he was breaking the laws. A whipping was a pain in the neck, rare but still occuring, and painful. Shane didn't want to look up to see who he had crashed into. Instead he thought about the time he was ten, and had recieved lashes for the dumbest thing.

He had been walking at the forest edge, on the 'safe' side of the fence when it happened. He was collecting nuts and things, trying to run errands so that he had money to but a piece of candy. His father had promised to give him chores to do, but since he hadn't, he was determined to get money. So he was going to get money, if he had to gather a million chesnuts to sell for it. So when he noticed a guy coming out of the woods, he was amazed to see multiple deaad rabbits and squirrels that would buy alot more candy than his bucket of nuts. In his amazement, the guy with all the splendor had gven him the lesser of the kills which was bad meat, but still edible. He took the meat to the butcher, and sold it for more money than Shane had ever held. He ran down, cash in hand, to the Candy Shoppe, bumping into a Peace Keeper. When asked where he got the money, he said a squirrel that ws shot in the woods. . .big mistake. Since he did not know the name of the person who had actually killed the squirrel, the Peace Keeper puished him by taking the money, calling his father, and whipping him in the Square. The punishment for a child who was a first time poaching offender, even at such a young age, was fifty lashes. It took thirtyfive for him to be knocked out unconcious as people watched in horror. At forty-five it was said that his eyes started pouring blood like tears and fifty supposedly caused his body to convulse in a seizure. Once he came to, his father had screamed, not believing his story.

Shocked out of his thoughts, he remembered that he had bumped into someone and that they were standing right in front of him. He slowly lifted his eyes up and prayed that it wasn't a Peace Keeper. He didn't think that lashes would hurt him any more but that fear always stayed in the back of his mind. Ever so slowly, his eyes were lifting and then he looked the other person in the face. His face stoic and emotionless as he saw the other person for the first time.

[Bane]

Jackson-
I had walked through the woods all day, trying to reach District 12. I had found berries and had snare a couple of rabbits and wanted to trade them to the people here. I also wanted to see who had gotten put in the Games. I hadn't been in a District in so long. As I slipped under the fence, I tried to remember where the Seam was. I watched my pet squirrel run towards one of my debated directions, and I followed him, smiling for the first time in a year. I loved that squirrel. As I walked into the Seam, I bumped into a boy who seemed distracted. He said sorry, then just stood there, finally looking up at me. "Hey there. Do you know where everyone is?" I asked as he looked up at me, realizing the normally bustling Seam was empty. My squirrel suddenly jumped on my shoulder, and I fed him a berry, waiting for a response.

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

Thank god! Shane thought to himeself as he saw someone who obviously was a part of his district, but more importantly, he wasn't a peace keeper. Shane stairred at the man, maybe 19 or 20 years old. He was alot like those from the District, but there were a few differences, along with his lack of knowledge about the Games.

He was obviously taller than the other man, even though he was much younger by his guess, but he always had looked older than he was so that wasn't new to him. What surprised him was the similarity in how they were dressed. Both were in jeans and black tee-shirts, though the man in front of him had the sybol of Panem, desicraed on his Tee-shirt.

His facial features were more what had impressed Shane. His hair was brown, and flattened, probably about the length Shane's own hair was when he didn't spike the front of it, but his eyes and pale skin. Thinking back to seeing the Games, and members of other Districts, this one seemed like District Eleven or Ten. His eyes were green, with small flecks of brown in them. Looking the man over, he realized he had a run away standing in front of him, and a strong one at that.

"I'm Shane," Shane said as he put out his hand, acting both older than he was, and being sure to show hunting scars to let the man know he too broke the law on a daily basis. Then Shane noticed the squirrel, a pet perhaps, and fed it a berry out of his sack because it was kind of cute, and reminded him fo the peace in the forest.

"Been out lately I guess, huh?" Shane said with a bit of a smile, flashed his knives and resistance badge, and flicked it away again. He was sure that this man was a runaway, so he didn't mind sharing. "It's mandatory viewing time for the Games, sick twisted things. . . . " Shane started to rant but bit his toungue, not wanting to get into it but the anger and disdain was evident on his face.

Shane wanted to take this man back to his house, learn from him, but he couldn't with that shirt on him, "Come on, you can cook them up, but put this on first please! Your going to get us shot!" Shane said throwing a spare tee-shirt at him, which was a little big for him but it was cover the whole symbol, "We should talk."

[Bane]

Jackson-
He was intently inspecting me, and he gave me a shirt as he spotted where I had crossed out the symbol of Panem on my shirt. I take his hand slowly and shake, saying "I'm Jackson. Call me Jay." I pull the other shirt on over mine, careful to hide the sword at my belt. "Sure, we can talk. When do the Games end for today? I haven't been in a District in a while, and they change it frequently." I feed my squirrel another berry and pop one in my own mouth. I love these blueberries. "How do you know the Resistance? I want to meet them and see what they are doing. Like, is anything actually working."

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

"Okay Jay," Shane said as he watched the runaway put on the shirt. They walked through the Seam, until they reached an abandoned hut. "Here we can talk, but hushed voices always."

Shane pulled over a pair of chairs and then pulled the shades on the windows closed. "Here it is," Shane began, "Take off your weapons, and yes I mean the sword you have so artfully hidden."

Shane smirked then took of his own shirt to show a collectioin of knives, and a curved sword hooked on a belt. "Here, I'll ditch mine too," he said as he removed the belt and threw it on the counter across the room. He then pulled out the small badge that signified the resistance, and placed it on the table, proving it was real.

"Okay, here it is," Shane began slowly, making sure to keep his voice down, "The resistance is growing, but not fast enough. We need help, and fast. The only problem is, getting the word out to the right people. As you can tell, many people hunt here, but upstaging the government is nothing like hunting. However, we do have the weaponry required to supply most of the District. We have a blacksmith on our side. So tell me what you know about the other District's resistance."

Shane knew he was a little young to be in the resistance, but he did well in it and was one of the high ranking members. He knew that the District had to change, not to mention the country of Panem, and he would die trying to change it. "We have a few hours til the Games are over for the night, and 13 are now dead for the record."

[Bane]

This guy knew a lot. It made me look small time. I took my sword out of its sheath and put it on the counter. "The other Districts, for one, have much higher security. They have bigger operations, but they are more tight-lipped then is good for them." I sighed, remembering how I had been whipped twice back in District 11.

"They have the most people in District 11, but no weapons and no way to get any without outside help. Everywhere else is also under-maned or under geared. I managed to take out the most violent Peacekeeper in District 11 before I left home though. I haven't really done much myself but get food to the right people. I came here to help as many people here as I can." I glanced towards the window, thinking I had heard something, but nothing was there.

"Districts 1 and 2 have almost no interest. District 3 is there, but not in numbers. District 4 has weapons, but they don't have many people there willing. Districts 5 and 6 I have no clue. Never been near there and heard no gossip. Districts 7 and 9 have numbers and weapons, but way too many Peacekeepers." I took a breath, as I had said everything quickly. "District 8 is ready to rebel but has no weapons, District 10 I don't know. You know about 11 and obviously 12. That's all I know. I can get you guys food for a while until I need to move on. My sword I need to keep for myself, so no extra weapon. Now, what do you need. Less Peacekeepers? I can arrange that just before I leave."

I glance outside again. Still no one, but we should either move or wrap up soon. I also realized I knew more than I thought. I had just given the resistance here a good idea of the situation everywhere, and this was the first District I had direct contact with a high ranking member of the resistance. I fed my squirrel another berry. I probably spoiled him, but he got plenty of exercise.

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

"We have enough weapons to fuel basically the entire lower districts," Shane said takiing in everything he had just heard. "But though our peace keepers are slightly more lax, they do have their limits. And you are more than welcome to kill peace keepers on your way out, but I ask that you leave the head peace keeper and the mayor alone. A full scale change in in government could totally destroy all chance of the resistance taking place." Shane looked at the man standing in front of him that jst honestly wanted to help people.

"Also, I try to feed as many people as physically possible, because my family is well off enough. I am the son of the doctor of this District. I have the money and the time to hunt, but I always could use some help in feeding the District for a little while." Shane partially smiled and then whipped the smirk from his face. He then spoke with urgency, "Someone has heard us!" Shane whipped around and grabbed for his knives. Remembering that he had moved his knife belt he grabbed the sword that Jay had put on the table and threw it. It pierced the person through the throat, it was a peace keeper.

Shane grabbed the sword, whipped it off, and handed it back to Jay. "Sorry about that, I didn't want him getting way," Shane said as he grabbed the dead body, it was somebody named Conway Craig. Shane then plled back a few of the ply floor boards and threw the body down there. He then kicked the dirt outside to cover the blood, and turned back to Jay, "In a few days, when he doesn't turn up they will presume that he is a run away."

Grabbing his sword belt, Shane clipped it back closed and walked to the door way. "Again, follow me and I will show you the other place we meet." Then at the last minute Shane grabbed the badge for the resistance and put it in ihs pocket. He planned to take Jay to the forest, where he had his prctice range and his fire arm weapons. It was how he had bows, and even, in a stash that no one outside of the top level resistance members knew about, guns. No one had these, out side of peace keepers, and he had collected about 23 of them. "And maybe I'll even get you a badge so everyone can trut you in the Districts."

He knew Jay would probably like that.

[Bane]

I take my sword back and place it in its sheath as I follow the kid. This kid just threw a sword and hit his target. That was impressive. I smiled again as he offered me a badge of the resistance. I could finally be trusted to bring food and information to the resistance. Plus this kid has given me the okay to kill minions of the Capitol. This day just got better and better. I whistle softly and my squirrel jumps on my shoulder, ready to follow. "Thanks for trusting me. Most hear about me and think I'm a spy. They never give me a chance to say anything before I have to sell all my food in the Seam. At least I hear gossip that way though." I realize if I want to have a hope after taking out even more Peacekeepers and leaving few signs it was me I needed more weapons. "When we get to the other meeting place could you give me a knife or two? It's obvious by now if it's me killing Peacekeepers with my sword style. I don't want to have the Capitol go out of its way to get me. By the way, I can't kill the mayor. The only people in the Districts I will kill are Peacekeepers. I'll stay away from the head Peacekeeper though."

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

"I apprieciate that, and weapons are always available to someone out there to help," Shane said as he lead Jay to a break in the fence, closest to the meeting place. It was really a training ground that was hidden deeply in the forest behind enough roughage that it couldn't be detected from the outside even if you were just inches away from it.

Once at the hole, Shane held the fence high enough for Jay then himself to slide under, then returned it back to its original position. That way, any passers by, such as peace keepers, wouldn't see anything wrong.

While they were walking, Shane pulled one of his knives and took the lead, quickly navagating the root infested forests like he had done thousands of times. He made sure that Jay was still behind him, which he kept up quickly. Soomehow, Shane wasn't surprised by his ease of motion in the forest.

Finally arriving, Shane pocketed his knife and pulled back the bright green foliage and showed his pride and joy. "This is a place of my own creation and camoflaging," Shane said, proud to show off his work. It was a remarkable hidaway.

Shane surveyed his handiwork. There were targets that were different distances from the center circle, which was drawn in chalk. Then, as Shane walked to the farthest tree, where he immediately climbed it. From there, he pulled down a huge bag, filled with almost 50 knives, a few bows, the appropriate arrows, and a group of guns, some of which were hand guns while others were rifles.

The bag was the then opened and spread on the ground. "This is the extra materials we have, while the rest of the memers of the resistance members has a belt of knives with ten knives of various varieties and a bow. This is where we go to train." Shane then pawed through the items. He pulled out a medium sized bow, a sheath of arrows, tens knives on a belt, and one semi-automatic hand gun with a fresh box of ammunition.

"Here is the official set up for the District Twelve resistance," Shane said throwing the gear to Jay. Then he continued, "Anything you aren't good with or don't know how to use I will be happy to help you with. So what do you think?"

Shane knew the answer to that question, this was pretty impressive for a small scale resistance but most District Twelve people hunted anyway so heavy fire arms wasn't really a big step.

[Bane]

It was an impressive hideaway. He tossed me the weapons. As I looked at them I frowned. How did they get guns? They would actually part with one? "Here's the gun back." I say as I hand him the gun. "I won't touch anything that has the filth of a Peacekeeper around it. Plus, I like to fight an even match. They wouldn't stand a chance with me holding a gun." I also think how my parents died, and how I found bullet shells near their corpses. No guns for me. "Thanks for the knives and bow though. They'll never know what hit 'em. Nice set up you have here."

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

"If your sure," Shane said as he took the gun back. He understood not wanting to touch something a Peace Keeper touched. "I get that. . . " Shane said, partially to himself, partially to Jay, "But then I think about when I was ten, and was whipped for not breaking the law." Shane nodded in remembrance but he figured he could trust Jay, "Did you know, if you have money and tell the truth about how you get it, you deserve 50 lashes. Enough to knock out a young boy, and cause him to be in the hospital for weeks."

Shane was getting annoyed now, saying this outloud, and needed to get his anger out. He grabbed for the nearest knife, which was one that was one with a smooth handle and blade. He threw it, landing his target, just like he landed the Peace Keeper's throat. "What does it matter anyway!"

Shane was mad now, like furious, and he knew that he was about to go on one of his infamous rants bout how Panem is totally corrupt. He took a deep breath and started, "I just don't get how they can let us starve, let us die, and not care! It makes no sense how the world is so horrible an no one does anything about it! We try and try, would it make that much of a different to feed the hungry?!?"

On and on Shane rampaged until he was out of breathe, and he continued to throw knives and hit targets all the while. He only made one effort, keep from hitting Jay. He was probably scaring the poor guy now, but he was too angry to care.

[Bane]

My face got hard as I listened to another person's story. It sounded a lot like mine, just one step behind. "I know how you feel. I was lashed for stealing something I had never seen in my life. Peacekeepers are filthy pigs who deserve to die in most cases. I enjoy making that deserved death painful." I take a knife and throw it, nailing one of many targets.

"I've been lashed twice. The second time was for stealing for real from Peacekeepers. They didn't know I stole a sword and knife. The only Peacekeeper to find them found the knife in his stomach and the sword tearing his back to shreds." I smile at the memory. "The Peacekeeper who found them had lashed me both times. I think he almost learned his lesson. He died to quick for me." I take another knife and throw it, nailing the target furthest from me.

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

Shane watched as Jay had a similar experience, and similar habits. He didn't understand why he wanted to take on the Capitol now, wait you he did. He finally knew someone who had to deal with the same fears, the same mental trials, as he did. He knew they could probably kill all the Peace Keepers in the District if they wanted to before the alarm would sound. It could work. . . but it would be dumb to try, they needed a full Panem attack, otherwise the Capitol woud have them shot and down before they had time to celebrate.

Shane's mind got side tracked though in his conversation, "I can't remember the Peace Keeper that whipped me," He said glancing down, a cross between embarrassed and angry, "I was too young, too priveledged, I didn't know how to take on pain. I ended up being knocked out and I only remember getting the money from the butcher, and waking up in the hospital the next morning in extreme pain and having a foggy remembrance of what happened. Then. . . the pain . . . it kept me in the hospital for weeks, and I wasn't allowed to leave bed for two months. . ." Shane cringed at the thought that he was weak.

"That's why I spend so much time training now. . . I want them all dead, one by one!" Shane threw the last knife on his belt, slamming into the target. "Sorry to burden you with this, but the woods and evil bring out my bad side," Shane said glancing at all the targets, realizing that not all the knive in the center targets were his.

"Nice shots," Shane said about the targets. "Priveledged is something I wish I never was, but at least now I have the money to kill Peace Keepers. That's how we get weapons, a few of us pay for them. Merchant's kids, my father is the doctor and basically he gives me money to get out of his hair."

Shane started to move around and remove the knives for another round of shots, throwing the bunch that he had given to Jay to his feet again. As he worked his way around the targets, removing one knife from each, he tried to calm his emotions, which wasn't really working out for him.

[Bane]

"I don't remember who whipped me the first time either, I was just told his name afterward. The second time I stayed awake and read his name tag. You have no idea how hard it is to be whipped and read something that's moving and in very small print. The second time I was 15." About this guy's age I thought from the way facial hair seemed to be lacking. I lean over and pick up my knives this kid through back to me. I can smell lingering traces of blood on them as I stand slowly, and I realize these have been used before, and weren't cleaned correctly. "Is there a stream near by? A cloth works to clean my sword of blood but the smell lingers."

I take the sword out of its sheath and walk casually towards the edge of the clearing then jump out and slaughter a Peacekeeper listening there. It feels good, and I can feel blood on my face. I continue with my bloody work, sticking my sword in his stomach and twisting, making him scream. I then run my sword through his throat, killing him as his jugular is ripped apart. I walk back in the clearing with a cloth out wiping the sword clean.

"Now, which way is the stream? Sorry about that, we had company" I sheath my sword and pull the Peacekeeper out of the bush and show my bloody prize.

[BeccaIsBack FromInternationals]

"Yah there's a stream about. . . " Shane began to say, his breathing calming down a bit, when Jay unsheathed his sword and slowly murdered a Peace Keeper. Shane hadn't even noticed someone watching in his rage. He wasn't good at controlling his temper, but this was dangerous. It was ruely lucky that Jay had a bit of a better temper than he himself had, otherwise that could have been catastrophic.

That's when it finaly registered, Jay had been whipped at his age, and that was the second time. He wasn't alone in his hatred, but he knew someone actually felt his deep seated pain. This was a new connection that he didn't share with anyone else, because he never shared his story with anyone else. He didn't like loosing his temper.

"There is a stream about to minutes from here," Shane said, pushing his emotions out of his mind for the time being. "By the way, nice job!" Shane said as he nodded toward the body of the Peace Keeper. He didn't recognize this Peace Keeper. But that didn't mean anything, and after taking the gun, and searching the body for a resistance badge, when none was there, he started toward the stream.

After a few moments they reached the stream and Shane started to dip the knives in the stream and let the water cover them, "Like this?" He looked over at Jay, and pet his squirrel because he had the urge to do that all day. Then finding a small mint patch, began chewing on the green leaves.

"I should hunt, I am getting kind of hungry. . ." Shane thought out loud, grabbing his bow and waiting til a slightly large bird flew over head and piercing it through the eye. It was enough for a small meal for two and maybe some entrails for the squirrel.

"How about some lunch?" Shane said as he began to gut the bird on a rock.