Summer's Intention(Open)

It hadn't taken too much effort for Darrien to give her older brother the slip for about the third time that day. It wasn't that she didn't love her brother. No- Daniel was her closest and only friend. But sometimes Darrien needed space. She could take care of herself. After all, she was twelve years old now. That meant if she wanted to, she could volunteer to go live in the Capitol all by herself when the ceremony came to town.

But for now, it was enough to escape Daniel for a little while, and take off giggly madly for the fence. When she reached the metal barricade that separated them from the danger of the woods, Darrien stopped. It was near nighttime now, and she knew she ought to be getting back. Trouble was, she'd forgotten which direction to take. She often got too distracted to be bothered with directions, and Daniel barely ever took her out of the community home anyway except to stroll through the town square.

She nervously smoothed the skirt of her green dress and looked around for any clue as to which way to go. She was lost, yes, but not scared. It took a lot to scare Darrien. She was a brave girl and she knew it. A shadow caught her eye in the dimming light, and she moved closer. A boy sat there. Maybe he knew how to get home. She was sure he would help. The back of the boy's head did look awfully nice. She came up behind him just as he stood.

Darrien chuckled inside her head. Maybe she could make a game of this! She'd follow the boy until he led her back to town. She fancied she was an excellent, very stealthy spy. She could track anyone without them knowing. Unfortunately, before she'd taken three steps a pesky branch ruined her plans by crackling underfoot.

The boy wanted to know who she was. Darrien couldn't stop giggling at the euphoria of being caught and her game ended.

"My name's Darrien. I 'scaped my brother and ran out here. What's your name?"

She wouldn't ask him how to get home. Not just yet, anyway. She didn't want anyone knowing she was lost. That would ruin absolutely everything.

Darrien's small whisper of warning had barely passed her lips before she found herself five feet off the ground.

Not to mention, that word that Vincent had used. The word he said was even worse than the word Peacekeeper. It wasn't a scary word, the same way invoking the name of the law enforcement sent shivers through her body. No, Vincent had used a bad word. Daniel said that if she ever used a word like that, the Peacekeepers would come and take her away. Maybe that's why the man was coming for them. Maybe her kind companion had used the word more than once.

But, the word hadn't been directed at her, Darrien was sure. The hands that held her felt more protective that threatening, and to be honest, Darrien was much more worried about a man with a gun who took people away forever than a boy who used forbidden language. She didn't even bother to scold him, she just tightened her grip and hoped Vincent didn't drop her as they took off away from the forest.

She could hear the Peacekeeper calling after them, demanding that they stop. Maybe he would give up. Maybe they would get away. All Darrien knew was that if they got caught, Daniel would kill her. That is, if the Peacekeeper didn't take care of her first...

And then she was on her feet again, but Vincent still had her hand. They were in town now, but not a part that Darrien recognized. She hadn't ever been out in the dark before. At least, not without her brother to guide her. She did her best to keep up as Vincent weaved in and out of crowds of people. It wasn't too difficult to keep his pace. Darrien was pretty fast and light on her feet. But at the same time, the crowds made it disconcerting and hard to make her way through the square without hitting people. After several squeaked out "Sorry's" and "'Scuse me's" from Darrien, the fugitive pair slowed their pace.

Vincent addressed her, asking if she knew where her house was. Darrien blushed and looked down at the ground.

"I don't have a house. Daniel and me, we live in the community home."

It was nothing to be ashamed of, Daniel had told her. Plenty of kids lived in the home. But nobody at school seemed to agree with Daniel. Living in the community home made her less than the others, and she knew it. What she didn't know, is whether she could find the place on her own in the dark.

"I think I can find it. Maybe."

Darrien wasn't always the most observant, but even she saw the small wince when she mentioned the place she had to call home. A lump rose in her throat. Vincent was going to leave her here or make fun of her. Nobody ever wanted to talk to kids who didn't have families. But before she could start crying, Vincent had her hand, and they were running again. Darrien's panic faded. He hadn't left her. He hadn't so much as said a word about her shelter situation. The thought made the smallest of smiles rise onto her face.

She was panting when they reached their destination. She saw a long street of houses that were obviously much nicer than anything else in the district. But she had never seen this part of the District before. She wondered what kind of money you had to have to live in a place so huge. These houses looked like even the mayor couldn't afford them.

"So you live here?" Darrien gasped. A sudden longing filled her body. She wanted to live here one day. She wanted a beautiful home.

Vincent didn't answer, but instead pulled her to the bushes. Darrien blushed, remembering that they were supposed to be quiet. And obviously, if they were hiding in the bushes, Vincent didn't live in one of the spectacular houses. In fact, the one they were hiding next to seemed to have nobody living in it at all.

Vincent told her quietly to stay where she was while he went to spy on the Peacekeeper. Then he was gone.

For awhile, Darrein sat in the dark, obscured by bushes. She was trying to rub the dirt out of the skirt of her pale green dress. Daniel was going to let her have it for sure when she got back home. She didn't need to have her dress all dirty too. But before long, Darrien got bored. She crawled out of the clump of bushes and wandered down the path she thought Vincent had taken.

A few steps into town she was rewarded. She could see her companion across the main square of the District, but he was distracted. Her eyes followed to where Vincent seemed to be staring. And she saw as the Peacekeeper turned toward him, and took a step forward in obvious recognition.

"No!" she cried. It was more of a squeak, but it was enough to make some of the people in the square turn to look at her. Darrien realized what she had done. Now they'd get her too. She froze in the square, not sure what to do next. She wanted to help Vincent, of course. But he was much more able to take on a Peacekeeper than she was. All she really could do was look from Vincent to the law enforcement, afraid of what would happen next.

Maybe she should have stayed in the bushes.