turning stone cold {Johannes}

[10th retro gm | paxton hayes]

Johannes

A young boy stares at his father as they walk through the streets. Cries of broken soldiers fill the air, and Johannes isn't sure where to turn, yet a smile spreads across the face of the commanding officers as they talk back and forth. Some of the words echo through Johannes' ears, but others are lost.

Treacherous.

Rebellion.

Scandal.

Prisoner of war.

Catching a solder and holding him hostage seemed cruel to the young boy, however, Johannes never once questioned his father because he's a man who knows best. One time he tried friending one, yet it quickly became an obstacle when the soldiers dragged him into the middle of the streets. Profanities thrown at him. People spitting calling for him to surrender, but the man never did.

The young boy watched as his father placed the traitor on the stand before pushing him to his knees. A wide-eyed boy watches as his father raises a gun into the air -

"Do you have any last words?"

Silence erupt through the crowd as the man spit on the ground. A trigger is pulled, and the gunshot echoes through Johannes ears.

This day is the first of many.

[10th retro gm | paxton hayes]

Johannes

"It's a good day today, son." A huge grin spread across the face of his father, but it leaves him curious until his father hands him a gun. The wide eyed boy looks at his father wondering what's going on, and yet at the same time, the bullet flying through the air ringing through his ears just a few days before comes to mind.

"I...I don't know how to use this -" Before he could even finish the sentence, his father is bearing down over top of him offering an explanation. Johannes listens taking in every word little by little;

"You hold it in your hand like so, and then you aim, and when you're ready, you pull the trigger."

What is the purpose of such a thing, and Johannes can't ignore the words his father is teaching him because it's important to do exactly as he says.

"Take a practice shot."

A single tear runs down the side of his face as he takes the gun in his hand holding it exactly like his father showed him. It's a scary thing, and Johannes wants nothing to do with it. Why would someone want something like this? It hurts people. It can kill people.

"Aim at the stump."

But his father is so demanding, and fighting against him only ended in pain a fate Johannes learned the hard way. A heavy sigh leaves his chest as he aims the gun at the stump. It's heavy and awkward, and he's afraid of what will happen.

"Pull the trigger."

It takes a moment, but soon the bullet flies from the gun leaving his ears ringing -

"I want you to practice this over and over and over again. I have more ammo sitting on the table. You will learn to load it, and when I think you're ready, you will come with me."

The young boy nods his head in agreement.

"I understand father. I will make you proud."

[10th retro gm | paxton hayes]

Johannes

"Johannes, front and center!" His father's voice echoes through his mind as he marches from the back of formation to the front of the line. Today's a test. A day to see if he's more than capable of standing tall in the midst of the war. Many hours were spent shooting the target over and over again, and many times he's watched his father pull the trigger ending the life of a prisoner of war.

He stops in front of his father stands at attention and awaits the order. Every fiber of his being trembles in fear as he fights to contain the emotions running through his mind.

"Bring him out!"

He does an about face and watches a struggling man fighting against the binds the rebels have him in. A heavy heart slams against the ground with a deafening thud.

Today's the day, and Johannes understands.

It's hard containing the emotions echoing through his mind. Killing is wrong. It solves nothing, but telling that to those gathered around would only end bad, and Johannes isn't willing to take measures into his own hands.

His father hands him the gun, and the fourteen year old boy glares at the man kneeling down before him. He's not one of them. He's a Capitol soldier. Someone fighting against all Johannes knows, but what makes him any different? Everyone is fighting for what they believe in, and so many lives have been lost.

A lump forms in the back of his throat making it hard to swallow as his eyes dart from his father to the helpless man.

I'm not ready for this.

But he has no choice.

The crowd goes quiet, and it's his time to shine, but it doesn't stop his hands from shaking -

"It has to happen, son."

His father's whisper crawls across the back of his neck, every hair stands on end, and Johannes simply nods.

"Do you have any last words?" It takes every ounce of strength to keep his voice from breaking, but the man on the ground must've sensed the fear radiating inside the youth.

"I don't think you can do it." He taunts, and Johannes turns to his father -

"Ready."

He gulps positioning the gun perfectly like his father showed him many times.

"Aim.

I don't want to do this, but I have no choice.

"Fire!"

He pulls the trigger, and the shot rings through the air, and Johannes stands in place watching the man fall lifeless to the ground. Tears pool in the corner of his eyes, but he refuses to let them fall.

"You became a man today."

The crowd cheers, but what they don't realize is Johannes is completely broken inside.