63rd Reaping [D9]

For perhaps the first time in his life the reaping made him his stomach twist and his palms sweat. He was nervous. The very fact that his name might be called chilled him more then he would ever admit. It made his legs wobble and his heart quicken that little bit more. Barely less than a few months ago it was all he had ever wanted. His biggest wish was to fight in the games, his hands clamping around some child's throat, squeezing the life from them and smiling. Always the smile, always the smirk, the malicious grin, the need to show them that their death only made him happy. However, a month ago Indigo Soren walked into his life. For once he had cared. For once he had hesitated -he had not killed her, he had hurt her, yes, but he had helped her. He had tried to be nice. Patch had shown her his biggest secret, he had opened up more of himself then he had ever done to anyone else. And as he stood among the other boy’s his age he glared stiffly at most of them, but it lacked is usual ferocity.

In return most of them stood as far away as they could from Patch. They all knew who Patch Grey was, and they all feared him. He had beaten almost every single one of them, he had hurt and wounded so many. His eyes grazed the area around him, his cold demeaning stare daring any one of them to step up to him and challenge him. None of them did, none of them moved, they all looked down, avoiding his stare. His usual malice had escaped his glare, his normal blood thirst had fled and his glares weren’t as harsh… they were almost tinged with worry.

A boy standing beside him seemed to sense his unease a sneer escaping his lips. Patch turned a frosty glare onto him. The boy was obviously trying to be bold, trying to stand up to him, but Patch was a solo bully, he didn't need anyone to make him look scary, he already was. A smirk played across his lips as the boy cringed away from his fiery glare. He imprinted the boy’s face into his mind. He would have to pay a visit to the boy, teach him not to act like that again. However, even the thought of blood was not enough to make his smirk stay on his lips. They dropped back into a tight thin line as he turned once more to face the crowd. His eyes scanned the area, searching for her. When he spotted her he felt his heart beat faster. She stood beside her twin sister –both looked exactly the same. But he could tell it was her. To him she seemed to radiate a determination a fire that made her strong, that made her stubborn and bold. It was why he liked her, it was why he had saved her life. It was why he had kissed her. The odd sensation of pleasure tugged a scowl onto his face. He hated the fact that he was so vulnerable with his feelings. Indigo was the only girl that had ever made him feel the way he did.

Patch didn’t want to get reaped. Never had he felt such worry and even fear about the opportunity of becoming a tribute. Normally he would wait, confident and poised –even excited at the prospect of fighting all the other dim witted tributes. The idea of fighting for his life was a prospect that he had always wanted, it was a dream of his. He had trained every single day waiting for the moment when his name would be flicked into the air and called. He knew that no one would care, he had no one to care. All the other district kids would probably be relieved, happy and even hopeful that he would die some sickening, horrid death. He had trained all his life for the chance to prove who he was, to stand with the greatest and beat them all. He knew he was better than any district idiot. He could win the games and it had been his dream for so long. He had always wanted it, a chance to fight, to spill blood and kill. Now it all had changed. Now as everyone gathered in the square, as the people began talking, shattering and discussing what would happen he wished they would all go away. Was this how people normally felt? Was this what it was like every year for someone who had a person to lose? Patch hated it. He hated the idea of seeing and hearing Indigo’s name being called. Of watching her walk up to the stage unable to say or do anything because he couldn’t.

Some people can say that something so simple changed their lives. But they all lie, small view and words can't change the way you think. Nothing can change who you really are, nothing can make you stop being you. Patch believed that. He truly believed that he would always be a murder and a bully. Life was built for errors, mistakes and problems, most of them are never meant to change a person. It was a mistake, an error of judgement that had indeed changed his life. And the belief he had placed so much faith on shattered. One month of knowing Indigo did change (fix) him. One month of talking to her, seeing her and looking at her did change him. He still loved to hurt people, kill and maim, but he did it less so. Habits can be fixed, but it takes time. The biggest difference was the fact that he cared. Patch Grey no longer stood at the reaping worry about no one and nothing. For six years he had stood there all alone no family, friends or siblings. No one but himself. Now as he stood in the square and the crowd feel silent, the forbidding filling the air he had someone he didn’t want to lose. A girl he hoped would stay, maybe not with him, but stay in district nine. His stomach tightened and his jaw was clenched stiff. He waited with them all, the ominous silence as everyone held their breaths and waited. He could feel his own heart hammering inside of him.

”Ivy Soren.”

At first he could not think, the words balancing on the edge of his mind, tempting him, playing with him. Soren, Soren, Soren, Soren –Indigo. And he took a step forwards, a step towards her, towards Indigo. Then he halted as he heard her voice, her tortured, pain filled voice piercing the silence, piercing him. ”Ivy!” and he breathed. His racing heart faltered as he realised it wasn’t her, it wasn’t Indigo. She was safe. Indigo wasn't going to fight for her life. her sister was. Slowly he watched as Ivy Soren walked shakily up to the stage. But he watched for no more than a few seconds before turning his attention back to Indigo. Towards the girl he truly cared for. His heart twisted painfully -she ran forwards, tears running down her face, her voice filled with agony as she screamed out her sisters name as she cried and pleaded and begged for her sister; Indigo, crying, sobbing and calling out for her sister. She fought through the crowds until the peacekeepers came and pulled her away, yanking her painfully away from her sister, away from the only living thing that Indigo loved.

It hurt him. It hurt to see her in such pain, it hurt to watch as she was pulled away, torn from her own twin, the other half of her. Not waiting to even hear the next name to be called he pushed through all the people, shoving them out of his way. Running forwards he pushed through a group of Peacekeepers, Indigo’s cries echoing within him. He ran towards her, frail, fragile Indigo no longer looked like the girl he had brought to his house. She no longer held herself poised with confidence. The fire that had burned so bright and stubbornly within her seemed to flicker and fall. He didn’t know what to say or do. He had no clue, he had never been in this situation before, and he had never had to comfort anyone. He had never loved someone. Without thinking he grabbed her and gently pulled her in towards him, wrapping his arms around her. Patch hugged her, holding her close to his body.

That was all he could do.