Say Something Already! Oh wait...(Ems)

[Arrows]

Try to run little girl

There is no point now

You can't escape your fate

    The day had begun just as every other day had back in nine. June had awoken from her long aimless slumber filled with images of the past locked deep in the crevices of her mind. As usual her sister April was gone without a trace, not even a single inch of her nurturing warmth left for June to find. She had then gotten herself out of bed and shivered at the wicked wind of winter the chilled her bones. She then made her way over to the closet that held her very limited amount of clothing. As usual she winced at the sight of May's old clothes still lingering untouched by anything other than dust lain neatly on the floor boards. However, this was a sight that she was use to seeing so all she could muster out was a sigh as she changed into a white shirt, jeans, boots, and a thin green sweater. The rest of the morning followed suit as well as she moved in the motions of a robot programmed for only one thing, to live.

    It was then at breakfast that she felt as though something seemed astray in the district of various things and utter pollution. Her heart trembled at the realization that her dear friend Sammy had yet to walk up the spindled and weed covered path to her front door. For many moments more she waited in the silence of her existence as her ears strained desperately for grace of his knock at the door. But it never came. At first she tried to convince herself that he was simply stuck at home by the fortitude of his Mother. Yet if that were true she should be the one to save him from the misery he must be feeling. So with a nod to confirm her thoughts she rose from the table and left her house locking the door behind her.

    Now in late November she could truly see and feel the effects of winter all around her. The ground was laced in ever lasting and slick ice. The winds carried an undeniable freeze on their wings as they danced across the planet. The vibrant red and orange leaves of the trees now laid scuttled and brown across the deserted paths. Every step towards Sammy's house that she took she heard the crunch of the leaves beneath her. To many this weather was hellish and meant only to be a pain in the ass to world, but not to June. To her it was the best time of the year where she could curl up by a fire with her sister and talk about times of the past and times to come. To June this time of bitter cold and frost bitten people was a time of great delight and happiness.

    Finally she had reached Sammy's front porch and smiled at its familiarity. She had been here plenty of times to fetch Sammy to go for walks with her or to go and sit on the bench where they had first met. However, Sammy always insisted she never set foot in the house, why she still was left in the dark about. Yet she imagined it must have something to do with Sammy's family, but she wouldn't dare ask for that was his business. So with a smile and a balled hand she knocked gently on the wooden door and awaited him eagerly. That was when it all went wrong and she was plunged back into a world of fear and despair. Foot steps sounded rapidly behind her and she whipped around to see the masks of peace keepers racing towards her. Her heart launched into her throat as she screamed in fear. Her fists banged against Sammy's door as she begged him to open it. She knew that whatever happened if these peace keepers took her she would never see him again. Then just as the door handle turned to open and hope found her heart the peace keepers grabbed her. Their arms wrapped around her and began yanking her away and towards some unknown destination. Amidst the struggle her eyes locked on Sammy and she screamed his name to save her and that was when they put the bag over her head.

    Her entire world was thrown into darkness as she felt the peace keepers continue to yank on her limbs. Questions raced through her head as she thought about what was happening to her. What had she done wrong? Where were they taking her? What happened to April? Then she body was slammed against freezing metal as she was thrown to the ground like a piece of trash never meant to have existed. Her hands scrambled for the bag but a hand suddenly struck her across the face and she barked in agony. Then she heard a deep rusty voice say to put her under and by her she knew he meant herself. She began to struggle frantically but hands held her firmly down and she could feel her warm tears begin streaking down her face. That was when the club smashed into the back of her head plunging her into true darkness.

    The next thing her mind begins to register is the sound of wheels screeching and her being thrown painfully onto what feels like hard cement. Hands once again wickedly wrap around her arms as they viciously tug her forward. Her mind is now reeling as her disorientation sets into affect. She officially had no clue where she was going, surely if they were planning on killing her wouldn't they have done that by now? Then she heard the sound of high security doors sliding open as she was dragged inside. She couldn't begin to comprehend where she was or what they planned to do to her but one thing she did know is that she could not escape.

    Suddenly painful light exploded into her eyes as the bag was swung off her and she was thrown into some sort of shitty cell in a massive white facility. The cell's door locked behind her as a peace keeper laughed then said firmly, "Welcome to the Detention Center Ms. June Rhodes. This will be your home for awhile for attacking a peace keeper, hope you find it cozy." Then with another twisted laugh he left. June's body shook with uncontrollable fright as her memories of the day she attacked the peace keepers cause of what the Capital did to May returned to her. So now finally over a year later she was dealing with the repercussions of her actions. Tears threatened to fall from her face as her emotional and physical pain hit her heavily but she stopped herself as she shrieked at the sight of a boy also in her cell. She stood silently for a moment staring at him with her eyes wide and her heart racing.

    Shakily she said softly to this mysterious boy, "I... Um...Hi, I.. I... I'm June, June Rhodes and I guess... I guess you must be my cell mate?" Her voice trembled with unease as she spoke but at least the sound of her voice broke the never ending silence of fear that surrounded her.

[Knuckles]

Narration 998877
Thoughts 779966
"Hearing ddcc99"

Was I really that stupid to think I could escape from the Capitol? It was fun trying to run away navigating through the underground tunnels in the sewer below the buildings where I work. My owner only wanted me for the hard heavy labor the younger children or the elderly couldn't perform. Each day I thought of ways to escape. I tried getting away, yet never once was the time right. For the first time, I figured my chances were better than none. I waited until everyone was asleep, yet I failed to realize peacekeepers remained on duty all hours of the day. I waited until the halls of the mansion turned off for the night, and when I heard my master snoring, I knew the time was right. Grabbing only a jacket from the closet, I moved leaving behind my life I had known and held onto for the past three years.

And I almost made it.

A group of peacekeepers stood at the end of the underground tunnels, and I knew I was caught. I forced myself against the wall as I tried to go unnoticed, but the pen I was holding onto slid out of my hand before falling on the ground. My heart jumped into my throat as they turned in my direction. My breathing picked up as they turned in every direction. I was almost there. I only needed a few more steps, and I would be free of their grasps, but there wasn't anything. I begged for them not to see me, but one started moving my way. Here I was, an avox running away from my fate they handed to me three years ago. I just wanted to go home to see my family, but they probably forgot about me like the rest of the world. I took a deep breath trying to remain calm, but the peacekeeper grew closer and closer, and I knew I was found. I knew in a matter of seconds all hell would break lose, and once again my fate will rest in their hands.

But I didn't run.

I stood there hoping with everything inside me they wouldn't notice I was there. I took another deep breath holding on to that small amount of hope lurking inside, but it wasn't enough. They saw me, and everyone of them was moving towards me. My head dropped towards the ground as guilt rose inside my chest. I had done wrong. I was given a second chance by the Capitol, and this was how I was dealing with it. All I wanted was to go home to my family, but now that's not possible because in a matter of seconds my life could be over. I could die a death only the sinners deserved. I was one of them, but maybe they would let me go for the third time, but even then a third chance would never compare to all I had to do the first time.

One of the peacekeepers stood in front of me ordering me around, but my eyes never moved from the ground. I counted in my head waiting for the right moment. Maybe I could run for it and get away. Maybe I'm faster than them, but they have weapons, and all I have is myself. I keep my eyes pointed towards the ground as they talk. Nothing mattered anymore. If I was going to die, I wanted to die on my terms. I didn't want to be tortured by the peacekeepers as I begged for my life. It didn't matter anymore. I took a deep breath fighting to hold the fear that slowly crept through my veins. Six against one. The odds were they would capture me, but little did they know I had a plan, and I faced all of them a grim smile spreading across my face, and I took off running.

Yet it didn't last long.

Soon they had me cuffed, and they were dragging me behind them like I was an animal on it's way to a slaughter house. Pain moved throughout my entire body as they threw me into a tiny box on wheels. I wanted to scream, but even that wouldn't save me from the horrors lurking beside me. If they wanted to kill me, they could because I had nothing else to live for. My own family was gone from my life. A gaping hold grew larger inside my chest as a silent tear fell from my eyes. I never meant to ruin my life, but it was in the past. I had nothing left to do. Maybe I could show the world it's alright to be afraid because every single day of my life fear rests behind my chest changing me. Death shouldn't be feared, but the fear of the pain scares me.

They threw me into a cell before moving away. I was there alone trapped in the silence of my own thoughts. Even if I wanted to speak, I couldn't because I was missing a part I needed. Carefully, I lowered myself down onto the metal shelf pressed neatly against the cement wall. It was cold, and hard, but it was better than sleeping on the floor for the rest of my life. My eyes slid shut as I tried blocking out the rest of the world. I turned so my back faced the door because I didn't want anyone staring at my face. An avox charged with another crime, another crime I was guilty of. I was stupid, but I tried. I took a deep breath as the sound of footsteps moved through the hall stopping in front of the door.

My heart leaped into my chest as the door swung open. Were they hear to torture me already? Were they here to end my life like I deserved? I turned towards the door as a girl was shoved inside. My heart dropped into my stomach. I wondered if she realized what would happen in the next few days to come, and I wondered why she was here, but it was a question I would never ask. The door slammed shut behind her, and I got to my feet. It was rude of me not to stand before someone who was held at a higher standard than myself. "I... Um...Hi, I.. I... I'm June, June Rhodes and I guess... I guess you must be my cell mate?" I wasn't allowed to look at anyone unless I was given an order, but what did it matter here?

I would die.

She would die.

I turned towards her and nodded my head allowing her to know I heard her, but when I thought about the question she asked, I shrugged my shoulders.

I can't talk to you.

I'm sorry.

I hope you understand.

[Arrows]

are you, are you

coming to the tree

where they strung up a man

they say who murdered three

    The moment June's voice cut off and the cell went quiet she turned to him anxiously waiting for some sort of sound to save her from the silence. Yet all the boy did was nod in response to her question. He let her stay locked in the silence sending her straight towards insanity. He could have at least introduced himself to try to her but no instead he is keeping everything to himself. Doesn't this man realize that they were going to be rotting here together for while, that they would both probably die here together. All she wanted was to hear his damn voice. To have a simply short conversation to keep the quiet away and her insanity at bay. Was that too much to ask any more, were people so afraid of others they never speak to each other. Is this the true way of Panem.

    As expected June's body began to shake again as she pulled her knees to her chest. Her sobs began to echo throughout this hollowed place and tears began cascading down her cheeks. She wanted Sammy to be here with her. She wanted him to comfort her again and to tell her it would be okay. He promised both May and herself that her would always be here for her and protect her from anything. But now just look where she was. A house of horrors where she would most likely draw her final breaths in silence without him. She always believed they would grow older together and have children that May could be proud of. However, now that would all end because of her actions and since he couldn't stop the peace keepers from stealing her from him.

    She loved him. She never had the chance to tell him before today how she really felt. She would never be able to explain to him they way her stomach tosses and turns when he is around. Or the way she can never help but smile when she sees his angelic face. She would never be able to experience the warmth of the first time their lips would. She would never see Sammy Gustav again. He was lost to her, so far away that she couldn't try to find his presence around her if he tried. She couldn't help but wonder if he would notice the moment when her presence ended. Or if he would be able to feel every time they hurt her or hear her sobs at night. She knew that she would be dreaming of him but would he dream of her. Or would be let her go like a broken apart leaf into the wind?

    With her eyes over flooded with tears she wearily looked across to the boy with her. He didn't look anything like Sammy and surely didn't act like him either. However, she knew she needed a friend, someone to talk to her pain about. No matter what it took she would get him to talk and break down whatever barriers he had built against her. They needed each other whether he knew it or not. So with a wobbly sign she wiped her tears of her cheeks then said softly to him trying as hard as she could not to stumble on her words. "We are going to need each other you know? They are going to hurt and probably kill us you do realize this right? If we are in anyway shape or form going to survive this hell storm we need each other. Which means we need to be able to talk openly with one another okay?" June's voice faded off again as she thought about the heaviness of her words. For all she knows this guy could be a murderer and she could be his next victim. Yet he didn't seem that way to her, but who knows because she sure as hell didn't.

[Knuckles]

Narration 998877
Thoughts 779966
"Hearing ddcc99"

My entire body shakes with the thought of what the Capitol would do to me. Here I was a criminal already, yet I tried my luck again looking for the escape from the depths of a place I wasn't ever wanted. Jobs thrown on me like I was a mule. The workload wasn't fair compared to the rest of the world, but I had no choice. I'm a traitor. I broke the law because I wanted to, but that kid made me. Each day he taunted me about how horrible of person I was, and I couldn't let him get away with it. One day I had enough. The thread of sanity holding me together ripped in half, and I killed him. Took the life of an innocent man because I wasn't willing to wait for justice to be served.

Here I am again in a cell waiting for the peacekeepers to torture me like I was once before, and right now this girl in front of me doesn't understand. I want to talk to her. I long to hear the sound of my voice. It's been three long years. Three years since words came out of my mouth. It took a while for me to realize I would never talk again. I tried. I tried for so long, but I couldn't do it. They took away my dignity, and forced me into slavery. I deserve the punishment lurking before me. I deserve the torture I'm about to out myself through. I should've died three years ago, but they were nice enough to give me a second chance of life. Truth be told I was best off dead buried six feet under the ground.

I turn towards the girl as tears stream down her face. It's terrifying being trapped here not knowing what would happen. And I want to help her. To offer her encouraging words, but I can't speak to her. I can't offer those kind words. I can't tell her I'm sorry she's here; that as long as I'm here I won't let anything happen to her, but that would be a lie. I can't promise her any protection from the wrath of the Capitol. I don't know why she's here. I don't know what she did. I just wish there was a way I could make this right. "We are going to need each other you know? They are going to hurt and probably kill us you do realize this right? If we are in anyway shape or form going to survive this hell storm we need each other. Which means we need to be able to talk openly with each other okay?

My blood boiled inside my veins. My heart raced inside my chest growing faster with each passing second. I want to talk to you! I want to tell you who I am. I want you to know what I've done. I want you to know I've been through this before. I want to talk to you! You don't understand. I can't. In a quick movement I walk over to her. Tears well up in my eyes. I open my mouth wide pointing inside showing her I have no tongue, that I'm an Avox, and she should just leave me alone. My hand balls into a fist as I move away from her. The next thing I know my fist connects hard with the concrete wall. Pain vibrates up my arm, but I don't make a sound.

[Arrows]

strange things did happen here,

no stranger would it be,

if we met at midnight

in the hanging tree

    A never ending storm of hail, lighting, and rain thrashed rampantly throughout June's entire entity. Her hands shook with the harsh earthquakes of her emotions. Her eyes swelled and rained with the over flowing water of the rain. Even her breaths faltered with the fright of what the future could hold for her. However, these storms of her emotions were ones she had been weathering all her life. She had gone through so much pain and fear that the convulsions that raked her body seemed almost natural to her. Even her wavering breath felt like a familiarity since she was and still is prone to severe panic attacks. Which she must surely be having one how as she sits rocking slowly back and forth on her metal slab of a bed. Reality itself seemed to be fusing with the room as spots of blinding white scattered her vision. Then it all began just as she expected it to, just as it always did.

    Her mind and sight were viciously slingshotted back into the past. Her memories of fear and worry scratched at her as she flew through each one. Her heart beat like a violent bass drum in her chest threatening to burst at any moment finally ending the pain of what she was facing. It was then just as her heart was about to burst in a bloody explosion that she was thrown to the ground. No, no, not again, Ripred please stop... Her widen eyes now rested upon a young baby version of herself completely covered in blood that wasn't even her own. Close by her Mother lay dead as blood spewed from her slit throat. Her Father stood above her Mother laughing wickedly sending shrills of fear down June's back with ever gruesome laugh. Then she started wailing, both her future self and past self wailed in sheer agony and pain. June jumped as the doors  her parent's bedroom crashed open and peacekeepers flooded the room. Her nails dug deeply into the floor as they beat her Father until he was knocked out and dragged his bloody body away. Streaks of his blood followed him with every inch he was dragged.

    Suddenly her vision swirled as she was teleported to another scene of terror. There she was curled into a ball on the floor of her school's hallway as she screamed during a panic attack and other kids formed a deadly circle around her. Their laughs echoing deep into the hallows of her bones as her past self's tears once again sprang forth. June's stomach dropped in agony at what happened next. May and April burst through the crowd and valiantly saved her from the fear as her past self now lay unconscious in their arms. With all her might she tried to reach out to May she tried calling out to her but she couldn't reach her, she never could. As she expected the next scene was the worst of them all.

    Shrieking bats flew above as blood littered the floor around June. Two children already lie murdered on the floor of the mine as the charming by from district eight approached May with a knife in his hand. Even though June knew this was a memory she couldn't help but try and scream for May to watch out. Yet it didn't work as to be expected and the boys knife took the life of May in front of June's very eyes once more. June's body now hung heavy and weak as her return to reality began to take shape. Her head spun in never ending loops as she was shot back into her beaten body in the detention center cell.

    For a moment she was completely detached from what was occurring but once she regained control she hopped back in surprise at the boy's mouth open in front of her. Instantly she thought he was trying to eat her but then she say him point inside. So cautiously she gazed into the empty chasm that was this boy's mouth. It took her a few seconds until it all finally clicked, he was missing his tongue, he was an avox. Red swiftly flushed her cheeks at the thought of how she was trying to make him speak. She was so mean to this poor soul, surely all he wanted to do was talk but alas he couldn't. Then she had to come along and just shove it even more down his face. Nervously she tried to form an apology but gasped as he punched his hand very powerfully into the wall.

 Imminently June was to her feet and by his side. Her heart beat quickened as a thought came across her mind. Then taking a deep breath she gently touched her hand to his cheek. "I'm so sorry, not necessarily for not knowing you were an avox but because of what the Capitol did to you. I can see now that they hurt you in unimaginable ways. Yet you see they hurt me too. Not exactly like yours but they emotionally destroyed me. They took my older sister who I just found again after so many years and they put her in the games. Needless to say she didn't survive them, so naturally it devastated me to the point I didn't want to go on. So in a way we are one in the same, both hurt by the Capitol just by different methods. What I want you to know is I won't hurt you, and no matter what happens here I have your back." She smiled softly at him in hopes they could be friends somehow in a place as dark as this.

[Knuckles]

Narration 998877
Thoughts 779966
"Hearing ddcc99"

Would this time be the last time I would see the outside world? At least at the Capitol I was able to look out the window and see the sun shining brightly in the sky, or the stars dancing in the night, but here there's nothing. Just darkness with the dim light of the halls shining in the dark room. The white walls did nothing for the regret lurking inside my brain. It serves as a constant reminder I don't belong anywhere. I'm an outcast known as a traitor to the Capitol. Perhaps the things I said, the things I did, made my life this way. They turned me into something I never wanted. My family watched as I ran from them. They must think I'm dead now. How long has it been since my world crashed down upon my shoulders? I don't know. I lost track of time. No need for time when I'm sentenced to serve the Capitol for the rest of my life.

I look down at my hand wondering what the wall possibly did to deserve this. The walls didn't hurt me. This girl didn't hurt me at all, yet she didn't understand why I wouldn't talk to her. I'm going to be trapped with her in this god forsaken cell for nobody knows how long, and this might be the last normal human I see. The thought of death always lurks on my mind, but death is so much better than being stuck as an Avox serving the Capitol forever. When I first became an Avox, I thought my world was over. I had no reason left to live. The world crashed around me as I was placed inside the mansions serving a master who only wanted me for the heavy lifting the elderly and young couldn't do. Each night I stood outside the house staring into the sky wishing I was free like the stars. Maybe that'll happen now. Maybe I'll be set free, but I doubt the freedom would be anything other than pain free. The monsters have a horrible method of torture, and I'm sure it'll be the last thing I ever remember.

Part of me wants to comfort this girl, June. I don't know what she did to deserve the punishment lurking before us, and I don't need to know. I can't imagine the feelings she must have not knowing what will happen, and I wish I could tell her I was here for her because I am. Someone has to have her back when nobody else in this living hell doesn't. It's us against them, and there's so much of them we don't stand much of a chance. Will they kill her? Turn her into an Avox? Torture her? Who am I kidding. I know the torture will take place. I know she won't leave here the same. I know I won't be the same because they took part of me away. I just want to turn around and tell them what's lurking on my mind constantly, but I can't. I can't tell them anything. Each day is a challenge knowing that I can't speak, yet I struggle to show any emotion. The world crashes around me every time I open my mouth to speak, but that's nothing new. It took a few months, but I grew use to it. I can't blame this girl for anything because she didn't know. It's not often someone sees an Avox and live to speak about it.

I hope they don't turn her into a creature like myself.

I rub my hand against my fist trying to wipe away the pain. In a matter of seconds she's on her feet beside me. Her cheeks burning bright red. My eyes turn towards the ground waiting for a command that never comes. Instead she apologizes and places a hand on my face. I want to push her away, but she doesn't deserve that. She needs me and I need her more then I care to admit to myself. Tears stream down my face as she talks about hoe the Capitol hurt her by taking her sister away. I can't imagine how she feels. I can't imagine the pain of watching a loved one die in the games, but in a way I did that to someone's family. I took the life of their beloved son, brother, cousin. I didn't think twice about it, and even to this day it haunts me. I turn towards her before wiping my tears away. Yes, they hurt me. Yes, they changed me, but it was my own fault. The pain they put on her wasn't her fault, and I don't know how I can comfort her. After all I am a low life nothing.

Why should she trust me? My gaze shifts back to the ground. It's a horrible feeling knowing she watched her sister murdered. All of Panem watched, and I took a life freely. I wasn't in the games. I didn't have to, but I chose to. It was my choice. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Tears roll down my face silently falling to the ground as I beg for forgiveness. Not from the girl, but from Taric, and his family. I don't deserve it, and I don't deserve the friendship of this girl standing here, but I turn to her once again before gently placing my hand on her shoulder. I can't speak to her, but maybe I can show kindness through gestures. I'm sorry for what they've done to you. You don't deserve it. I deserved the pain brought to me, but you didn't, and you don't deserve the pain lurking in the future. But I'm here for you. No matter what. Please know that.

I inhale sharply before lowering my gaze to the cement floor once again.