lost in the silence // laneyxtati day 1. fight.

laney redd.

She was supposed to be in her room.

She was never meant to be wandering the halls so late.

But Laney had never been one for rules.

That’s why if someone went looking for her looking for her that night, they would have found her silently picking the lock to the kitchen and stuffing her hands and bag with as many delicacies she could handle. Her mentors would have been ashamed, her escort would have gasped in rule-breaking horror. But the girl from Four could give two shits because after all, there was a high likelihood this was her last meal.

The silence of the dining hall was cathartic as it perfectly mirrored her fears of the upcoming days, her fears of death. Her fears of loneliness and what the other side might hold. The silence was deafening.

Until it wasn’t.

The footsteps could be heard nearly a mile away. Instinctively, she wanted to clear the table and hide her crimes, but then she realized. What was the worst they could do, kill her? A laugh escaped her lips as an oh so familiar face entered the dining hall.

A smile crossed her face as Jackson appeared. She was unsure what he was doing out of his suite so late, but she dared not to ask. Everyone has their reasons to hide, and sometimes it was better to stay naïve. He looked at her quizzically and the array of food in front of her.

”I was planning on eating it all myself, but I suppose I can share,” she said with a smirk. She quickly ran back into the kitchen to secure a white dining cloth, which she then meticulously laid out on the table before placing the food atop it. ”There, now it looks more official,” she motioned to his seat and the two sat down to enjoy what they didn’t know would be their last (mostly) worry free meal.

They barely had a chance to finish when Peacekeepers stormed in, demanding they return their suites. Their arguments were futile and they began to gather their things as the Peacekeepers exited to find any remaining stragglers.

”You go ahead, I’m going to grab some extra snacks to sneak into the arena. Never been good at catching my own food,” she said with a wink and then was nothing more than a whisper in the night.

That was the last thing she could remember as she came to, dazed and confused with bruises covering her body and an announcement blaring overhead.

20.
A countdown.

No, it couldn’t be.

She shot straight up, the room spun.

3.2.1.

"In order to remind the Districts that our fragile peace can be broken at any moment, without warning, the 95th Hunger Games will begin... now."

No.

A moment of silence.

Followed by another announcement, more like demand really.

Laney forced herself out of bed and to the training room, her feet dragging and stomach turning the entire time. She put on a brave face, she couldn’t dare let her enemies see her sweat. Not yet, not when the Games have just begun.

The Gamemakers began to speak. A tournament of sorts? Cage match? She couldn’t force herself to listen to their words as her eyes scanned the crowd in search of her allies. Each of them stood there without a moment of looking like they dared to run.

Good.

She picked right.

The other matches went by swiftly, until she was finally faced with her opponent, her District partner.

”Well,” she said while cracking her knuckles. Intimidation? Nerves? She wasn’t sure. ”This isn’t exactly how I planned to meet. Though, I suppose District Four won’t care as long as it’s one of us who comes back, right?”

And she swings.

( laney attacks tati ; unarmed )
KUyJjdd3Ununarmed
( broken foot - 6.5 )