:| A New Chapter |: {frankel}

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

She crept around the corner, quiet as a mouse, her feet making no more sound than her mouth could. It was bright out, the streets bustling with people, yet Arianna remained invisible as her eyes darted back and forth. What did they know about her? She was 15 years young and truly alone. The Capitol had taken her sister, her only family, and they killed her with no mercy, leaving Arianna to fend for herself and to truly feel alone for the first time in her life. Even when her parents had been abusing her, she still wasn’t alone.

It only took a few months after Annora’s death before she had to move out, no longer able to afford the small place she and her sister had called home. Arianna still had her job, but they could only pay her small amounts as she was underage and thus working illegally. It was income enough that she could feed herself but little else. Every night, as she found a new place to sleep, she expected the Peacekeepers to be standing over her, taking her to be arrested or worse, for a bullet in her head.

There really wasn’t much else she could do except survive. Perhaps the Capitol would be kind to her and reap her so she could finally join the rest of her family. Perhaps nature would claim her body for its own and she could finally sleep. Not even the loss of her sister could bring back her voice, so she was to remain mute and alone for the rest of her life.

It had been easier for her to peruse through the streets when she learned how to become truly silent. No citizen’s eyes would stare at her with disgust, wondering what the little beggar girl was trying to do from them. No Peacekeeper would follow her through every twist and turn until she squeezed herself into a hiding place. Being invisible meant she could go about her day without having to converse with anyone.

But it was lonely and she was starting to feel it. It had been more than a year since she lost her sister and it was starting to take a toll on her mind, already scarred by her childhood. It was a craving, the sensation of human touch, one that she couldn’t fulfill without drawing attention to herself. She had spent some nights curled up in discarded sheets, imagining her sister’s full body enveloping her on the rare nights they shared a bed. A hug, an invisible hug, but a hug nonetheless.

Arianna nearly turned away when she spotted the strangest sight. A girl with no shoes was walking down the street. She looked like she had a kind face, and that yearning that pulled Arianna’s body drew her toward the girl, becoming visible once again. Not knowing what to do, she reached for the girl’s hand, begging the girl to not let go. Just for a minute, please.

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

Z I T A

Pinching at her skin, the growing heat of the summer’s sun was slowly colouring the surface of her body. It all came so quick, the warmth and Zita is blessed. Despite the droughts and the unpleasant sticky humidity, it was better than freezing to death, in her opinion. Everything came to life during the summer. Fields bustled with new crops, all the animals that had disappeared into hibernation in their full bloom after waking up during the spring. It was the favourite time of the year and she couldn’t wait to spend the very few three months relishing in it.

Moving through the centre of the market, a wicker basket held tightly in both hands, Zita’s eyes were planted on the variety of different stalls. Fruits, flowers, grains, materials, every object that people had grown and woven together themselves. She had been instructed in the morning by her mother to pick up certain fruits and a loaf of bread from the bakery. A thick brown loaf lies in the middle of the basket, waiting to be accompanied by the sweet gems that her eyes are currently locating on the vendor’s tables. Should I go for the small red sweet ones or the big green juicy ones? A simple dilemma that she faced.

Picking up a large green apple from a selection, she’d allow her eyes to observe it. Just a small bruise sat on its surface but it was still edible. Adding five more to collection, her basket would grow with items as she handed the coins over to the woman selling the fruits.

Padding across the ground, the soles of her feet remain resistant to the hard concrete surface of the street. Prying eyes still stare at her due to the lack of shoes or socks that she wears on her feet. Occasionally she gets the odd question thrown at her and sometimes she can hear mutters of those talking to others about her lack of footwear. But she has grown used to it. So many of the poor wander around shoeless, why must she be an exception? It’s her choice. If it wasn’t for the colourful garments that she wore and the various flowers that she laced as accessories, she could pass herself as poor person but it was hard to accomplish.

Growing on the sole of her feet, the callouses help protect the skin from any rough objects that may lie on the ground. Despite the floor being scorching hot from the sun’s flares, it seems she has picked up the trait of a reptilian beast and her feet have somewhat become heat resistant.

Heading back towards her home, she fights the urge to take a bite out of one of the apples. Wait until you get back home Zita! While being mesmerised by the juicy food that leads her home, she is at first oblivious to the girl that approaches her until she takes Zita by the hand. Being kicked back into reality by the touch of another human, her eyes meet a girl similar to her age. She looks like a beggar. Concern marches across her mind, as her charitable side begins to take control. ”Are you okay? Do you need help?” Keeping hold of her hand while she asks the questions.

546

[ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ]

Was there any way she could see the tears welling up in Arianna’s eyes? Was there any way that she could understand that even asking if she was okay meant the world to the dirty, little girl? The warmth of the girl’s hand started to radiate as Arianna could see only concern in her eyes. There was no disgust, no utterance of preconceived notions, only friendliness. Arianna opened her mouth as if to speak before remembering that she had lost her words years ago. Fervently, she nodded her head, hoping that the girl could see her plea for help.

And without warning, Arianna started crying, all while holding that girl’s hand. An anchor, a point of reference, something to tether her to the real world once again. Was this how she had felt when Annora was still around, holding her small body as they slept in their small bed? Was this how she had felt when her brother told her to stay where she was and not come outside no matter what? Everything about her life started to weigh heavily on her chest as she tried to squeeze it all out with the water falling down her face.

“Home. Gone,” Arianna mouthed, hoping that the barefooted girl would understand her. Arianna wasn’t asking for much, but just for someone to listen to her for just another five minutes, to feel like there was a reason to continue walking this earth. Motions had started to become automatic, and she knew it was only a matter of time that she disappeared into nothingness. She knew that this girl who was minding her own business would one day forget her, but for the next five minutes, she just wanted someone else there.

It was pointless to keep hoping, though, and Arianna’s hand started to slip from the girl’s. She will forget me by tomorrow. She had had her five minutes and it was time for her to become invisible again, lost in the crowd as she tried to survive for one more day. And as her fingers slipped past the other’s girl, whatever warmth she had felt was gone just like that.