world turned upside down. jb - lock&six

[bailee]

lock o'malley.

They said keep your eyes open
And we'll teach you to dream while you are awake
Well, they haven't spoken
Since their branches were broken for the fire that they told me to

Necessary evil.

My parents words played over and over in my head, a walkman stuck on replay in my brain that would not turn off.

Necessary evil. Six O'Malley.

Reaping Day usually came and went like the wind, stress filling the morning with getting the young ones ready while making the rest of us look presentable. The floorboards creaked with the chaos of 11 eligible children running around the old O'Malley farmhouse. The younger ones usually cried, the older ones begged Dad to tie their ties. Our fingers would cross that the O'Malley name would live to see another day, and Mom and Dad would treat the whole family to lunch at the fancy diner near the town square to celebrate another year narrowly avoiding the deathly fate that came with the Games.

This year Four stood by my side, squeezing my hand. I just needed to get through the ceremony. I could almost smell the diner pancakes in the air as the brutal imagery of the opening ceremony played. I even swore I saw Katelyn Persimmon's head turn into a delicious, syrupy plate of french toast for a brief second.

But then my stomach dropped the idea of diner food all together as soon as the escorts hand dipped into the bowl and drew his name.

Six O'Malley. Necessary evil.

I guess no diner pancakes this year.

The texture of the velvet chairs in the Justice Building sent shivers down my spine as my fingers ran against it, my body shaking reflecting the nervousness I felt at the thought of my brother fighting in an arena.

Six was the type of person to trap the spiders in the girl's room and set it free in nature instead of letting it become the victim of his heel. He never fought back when I wrestled him to the floor, allowing himself to be pinned and lose to avoid accidentally hurting someone.

But he could change. He could win.

Right?

Then the familiar flamed complexion strut through the door, pure terror seeping through his pores as he approached me. Two peacekeepers followed, blocking the only exit in the room. The room was windowless, and although it was decorated to feel homely and alive, the dark of the room added to its feeling of being on the edge of life.

I immediately hopped from my seated position and sauntered to Six, embracing him in my arms.

"Six," I say as I release him, my hands still positioned on his shoulders, "how are you feeling?" I asked him, despite already knowing the answer.

[Deleted]

  

𝑊𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚.

Saying six was scared would be the understatement of the year. People were scared when someone snuck up behind them and yelled 'boo'. People were scared when watching horror movies or when a bee was nearby. Six was not scared. He was terrified. He felt almost certain he was going to die in the coming months. He never felt more like a helpless child than he did right now. There was nothing he could do. His death was barreling towards him at 100 miles an hour and he was a turtle stuck on his back, unable to move out of the way.

Trapped. He felt trapped. Trapped by his circumstances. Because of his circumstances he was going to die. Because of his circumstances he was going to commit what in his mind was the ultimate sin - murder. Because of his circumstances he could picture an eternity in Hell. He had always heard his parents talk about Hell growing up and it terrified him. Even after he started doubting an existence in God he kept believing in Hell - just in case. In his mind even if there was a God, if you were a good person even if you didn't believe in him he would still let you into Heaven. But now Six wouldn't be able to do that. Because he knew once he got into that arena no matter how hard it would be he would have to kill. He would have to kill so his siblings would have hope of him returning home.

Right now the thoughts of his siblings were the only things keeping him going. He wanted them to be okay. He wanted to make sure they were safe and would be able to sleep at night. And he wanted to make sure the little ones didn't have nightmares or didn't have to go back to  having nightlights. Honestly if he didn't have his siblings to go back to he probably would've given up on winning before it ever started. If he killed it was for them. If he hurt people or betrayed people if was for them. And if he burned in Hell, it was for them. He hoped God would understand.

Before he was allowed to join Lock he did something he hadn't done in a long time. He prayed. When he was alone with just the peacekeepers he got on his knees and he prayed. He prayed for protection for him and his family. But mostly, he asked for forgiveness. He asked for forgiveness for any sins he had committed up to this point and the ones he knew he was going to commit. Yes he said grace with his family everyday, but he didn't count that as praying. When his family did their religious stuff he just closed his eyes and pretended to pray. He just didn't believe it. But now he was desperate and he'd take all the help he could get.

Then he saw Lock, his first visitor. As soon as he saw Lock he ran over and hugged him, shaking like a leaf. He was ready to be weak right now. When he was with his older siblings like this he didn't feel like he had to be strong or brave. They understood. But he knew when he said goodbye, maybe for the last time, to his little brothers and sisters that he couldn't cry or shake or appear scared. If he was scared it would only make them even more scared. He could get out all of that now with Lock, his big brother. As Lock pulled away there were a few stray tears going down his face. Six wanted to talk first before his sobbing consumed him.

"Lock... I'm scared. I'm really scared. I-I don't wanna die, Lock. I don't want to ki-kill anyone either. But... I won't just give up. I can't just give up... you think I can do it, r-right Lock? You think I can win?"

Even if Lock didn't believe it right now he needed to hear his brother say yes. He needed to hear him say he could win. He needed reassurance he wasn't just destined to die. That he wouldn't be a repeat of Winger O'Malley. Besides, things had changed so much since Winger was a tribute. Back then the Hunger Games were a one day event and he didn't think they even trained you. Now they had training and sponsorships and alliances and all of this other stuff. He wouldn't be a repeat. He wouldn't.

table by Kaplan

[bailee]

lock o'malley.

They said keep your eyes open
And we'll teach you to dream while you are awake
Well, they haven't spoken
Since their branches were broken for the fire that they told me to

"You think I can win?"

The question was not one that Lock knew the answer to. He doubted Six's ability to kill. The thought of him striking a sword upon someone's skull and drawing blood sent a sickly feeling to his stomach. The queasiness reflected in his pale, white features, a light dusting of rosacea covering his freckled skin. He slowly returned his arms back to his sides as he pondered Six's question.

Six was one of the nicest people he knew. Even more so than himself. Six lacked the confidence in himself that Lock had. In their childhood, Lock was often the one dragging Six on adventures that he begrudgingly agreed to. He was timid, always questioning the why and not the why not. Opposite to him, Six was antisocial. Could Six even make allies? Maybe he could find a nice career or something to protect him. After all, Flynn Garner was able to and he was thought to never stand a chance at winning.

Nothing was impossible, Lock thought. Miracles happen every day. God could make a blind man see, surely he could give Six the strength to fight and live another day. He nodded with affirmation as he reached out for Six's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Heck yeah!" he said, his voice breaking as he forced the optimism that usually came naturally to him, "you're Six O'Malley. Have you seen yourself? Man, I bet you all those kids don't stand a chance against you."

He released Six's hand and stanced up, throwing a couple of pretend punches with a 'bap' and a 'wap'. "All you have to do is go like this," he then proceeded to put Six in a headlock, a familiar position Six often found himself in Lock's presence. He let out an obnoxious giggle, despite the seriousness of the situation. He was never that good at reading the room.

Lock let go of Six as his smile faded. A single teardrop fell from the corner of his eye as he took in his brother, possibly for one of the last times ever.

"Seriously though, I think you can do it," he stated, although he wasn't too sure if he was being honest even with himself. "You just have to think of us. Think of God. He can take you home."

Everything happened for a reason, Lock supposed. Somethings were often more unfair than others.

[Deleted]

  

𝑊𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚.

Lock actually did something that Six thought was impossible. Six thought there was one thing he might not do for a long time, if he ever did it again. And that was smile. But because of Lock, he got to smile one last time. Here he was - staring death right in the face, but smiling and giggling. Lock just had that strange power over people. He had the power to comfort them and make them feel happy even in the worst of times. He was going to miss that about him. Well, he was going to miss everything about him - but that was going to be towards the top of the list.

Then Lock brought up God and his mood darkened. Should he tell him he was starting to lose faith in God? Should he bring up that God wouldn't want to do anything to help him after he murdered someone? No. No he wouldn't do that. Even if he questioned God and whether or not God would be on his side, it gave Lock comfort. He wasn't going to take that comfort away from Lock, especially not in a time like this. Sure he wanted to talk about he was starting to question God before all of this, but now with only minutes left before they would be ripped away was not the time or the place. Maybe he would soon find out for sure whether or not God existed.

Instead, he just gripped his brother tightly. He held onto his shirt, not wanting to let go. It was as if he let go then Lock would vanish into thin air. And he kind of would. He would just be gone from Six's life. Maybe forever. He started to cry again as he held onto Lock. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to kill. He didn't want any of this. He always saw Lock as someone who could always protect him. But now no one could protect him. Not even God.

"Lock... I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go, Lock. They're gonna take me but I don't wanna go."

He sounded terrified. Like a child who was terrified of going to the doctor. He had a whimper in his voice. If anyone saw this they would probably say it was a bit pathetic. He was basically begging for his life right now. The question was, who was he begging. Lock couldn't save him. Maybe he was begging the peacekeepers to let him escape. Maybe he was begging the capitol to pick someone else, anyone else. Maybe he was begging God.

table by Kaplan

[bailee]

lock o'malley.

They said keep your eyes open
And we'll teach you to dream while you are awake
Well, they haven't spoken
Since their branches were broken for the fire that they told me to

Hearing his little brother let out a small giggle brought joy to him, but his heart instantly shattered when he held onto Lock and burst into tears. Lock embraced the boy back as the fabric of his button-down began to dampen, leaving tear streaks on the white cotton.

"Lock... I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go, Lock. They're gonna take me but I don't wanna go."

The boy's grip tightened on Lock's sleeves. The Peacekeepers would need to tear the two boys apart to get them to separate. Lock was Six's anchor - the only piece of home left, and if he were to let go, the last few fragments of District Eleven would disintegrate, leaving the O'Malley family to grieve a death that hadn't happened yet. Although he tried to be strong, Lock couldn't help but join Six in his tears, pressing his cheek to his little brother's curly red locks.

"I don't want you to go either," Lock admitted, his voice cracking as more tears fell down his cheeks. The thought of Six stepping on a train, leaving his family behind for the Capitol... it was the first time Six would have ever truly left home. He wasn't as headstrong as Four - he couldn't just up and leave the rest of them. His loyalty to his family, to his home...

The more Lock thought about it, the more devastated he became. The Capitol would eat the strongest of the O'Malley's alive. Six was too young. He didn't have the luxury of time.

"You gotta make the best of it," he said as he pulled himself together, pulling away from Six's embrace and staring at him in the eyes. This was Lock's thing. Making others feel better. "I've heard Capitol food is to die for. You can make new friends... learn some new things. See the city." Fight to the death amongst the strongest of Panem, he thought.

Lock sighed as he wiped the tears forming in the corner of his eye. He sniffled before continuing, "I love you, kid. We all do. We'll be cheering you on for every second. Don't doubt yourself for a second that you can't do this. You're just as good as those career guys down in District One."

He took a peek at the Peacekeepers, who were beginning to look antsy. Lock knew they didn't have much time left together. "You can win this," he repeated, with his signature half-smile that he could muster with his limited emotions left.

[Deleted]

  

𝑊𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑑𝑜𝑔 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑚.

After his brother finished talking he pulled him close once again. He was shaking more and more every second. Six didn't think he could do this. He couldn't leave his brother, his family. Four just living with a friend was hard enough on him. He wasn't sure how long he could last in the capitol without his family. Then he had an idea. A stupid idea. But he was scared and his fight or flight instinct kicked in. He knew he was running out of time. But what if he didn't have to be. He just... wasn't confident enough to do this idea without Lock's consent. He wanted his opinion on it.

He leaned into Lock's ear and whispered. His voice was almost silent, he couldn't risk the peacekeepers overhearing him. It might look to them he was just hugging his brother and burying in his face. But he wasn't. He was telling him his plan. His stupid, stupid plan. Normally Six was smarter than that. Normally he'd really think things through and not do anything too risky. But right now he just wanted to live. That's all he wanted.

"They aren't prepared for me to just start sprinting through those doors. I remember all of the turns I took to get into here. I'm probably not the type they expect to run. If they catch me, what are they gonna do? If they kill me the capitol doesn't get two tributes from here. If they send me to the detention center then again, no second tribute. They can't do anything to me. And I might not get caught. But I'll only do it if you say I can."

table by Kaplan

[bailee]

lock o'malley.

They said keep your eyes open
And we'll teach you to dream while you are awake
Well, they haven't spoken
Since their branches were broken for the fire that they told me to

Lock stepped back from his brother's embrace, his mouth slightly agape. He thought about Six's plan. The O'Malley's were taught to be submissive, abide by the law, stay out of trouble. Surely it couldn't work. He had never heard of anyone escaping the Capitol's death grip.

He shook his head in disapproval. He was not the rulebreaker in the family. "No-"

Lock was cut off by a Peacekeeper as he stepped in between the two boys. "It's time," he announced as he roughly grabbed Six, restraining him as he began to take him away.

"No!" Lock cried as he reached for his brother, attempting to grab him from the Peacekeeper. He was immediately ripped apart and thrown to the ground by the other Peacekeeper, his cheek hitting the carpeted floor with a thud. He struggled under the Peacekeeper's hold as he watched the other take Six away.

Just like that, he watched as his brother was taken away as sheer panic began to set in. His body began to convulse, as much as he could while restrained by the second Peacekeeper. "Six!" he cried again, looking at the terror in his eye for one of the last times ever.

Tears began to flow down his face as Six disappeared from his view. He collapsed onto the floor in defeat, pressing his wet cheek down onto the carpet and allowing his body to release its tension.

The Peacekeeper released his hold on Lock and stood him back up. He wiped his tear-stained cheek once again as his gaze relaxed on the door Six was taken from.

He never even got to officially say goodbye.