the shores of a new world {kiah}

Darkness swallowed me, dragging me away from the world of the living. Death was not what I had expected. I had expected to be thrown into the fiery pits of hell, I had expected to feel cold and hot cold and hot. But I didn’t feel as though I was in the pits of hell- well if I was, for sure it was much better, much more comfortable than what all the stories have told me. When the darkness had taken me, I had felt warm, as though I was a baby again in my mother’s arms. I had felt so warm, so happy. And then one of the most wonderful things had happened to me, my sister came. She came for me, taking me in her arms she pulled me away from the destruction of the capitol, she pulled me away from my body which was broken and butchered. I followed her, happiness flowering in my chest, before spreading though out my whole body.

she had been there, right there when I needed her the most… Just like I should have been, For a moment my happiness dampens and regret and guilt filters into its place. But then my sister throws her arms around me once more and all my thoughts fly away. She was here, that’s all that mattered. My sister was here, after all these months of grief, she was finally here. “Elena, Elena, Elena,” I whispered into her hair. “You’re really here, you are really- I missed you so much, I- I am so s-sorry.” A sob begins to rise in my throat as I hold my sister tightly. she was here, she was with me, she was here.

“Mik- Mik look at me.” Elena’s hand gentle pushed my chin up so that I my eyes meet her own. “Hush, what’s done is done, but we are together now, okay? Don’t worry, I won’t- we won’t hurt each other again- okay? We are together now.” She pulls me close to her, hugging me tightly. “I am so proud of you, brother, I am so prod. You have been through so much, but yet you are still so strong.” For a moment we just stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms. “But for now, for now you have to let me go- there is someone else who you need to see, someone who is missing you so much.” She whispered into my ear before pulling away. She grabs my hand and leads me towards a ship- a ship- that floats in the surface of the ocean.

She tugged me aboard. As soon as my toes touch the deck of the ship it takes off, a nice steady speed down the oceans current. “Elena? Where are we going?” I ask, but my question is only met with a secret smile. Sitting down on the deck I let my mind wander. My thoughts drag me to the last few days of being in the arena, to Andy, to Locust, to Yaa- Andy! Andy, where was he? Was I going to see him again? I had to see him again. Scrambling to my feet I rush to my sister’s side- but before I can say a word the ship comes to a halt.

“we’re here,” Elena sings, showing me to the exit. “I will see you soon, okay?” She says, pulling me, once again, into a tight hug. “goodbye for now,” she says and pushes me to shore.

“Elena, wait, I Elena-“ But suddenly I am hit with a flying mass of human flesh. Humff. “what the- Andy?”

“MIK!”

“Andy! Andy, is that- are you? You’re really here.” I stumble over words my arms flying around his body. I pull him close, drawing comfort from the others boy’s body. “I thought- I had thoughts that I would never see you again! I had thought that we- that the last time I would see you as- you know- dying.” I cry, pulling him even closer- if that was even possible. Tears filled my eyes, but they weren’t tears of grief for a change, but tears of joy. “Andy, I missed you so much.”

My arms closed around the warm comforting body of my best friend. It had felt like a million years, a million years to long. The tears that fall down my cheeks fall into the soft fabric of the other boys shirt and I feel my body begin to shake, shake as the tears came more forcibly. He was here, really here. He wasn’t dying, there was no blood, it was him. Healthy, flesh and bone. In front of me now. I fight back the urge to pinch myself, as though I was in a dream. This was no dream. This was reality- well this was my new reality. First my sister, now Andy. I felt as though life was suddenly taking a turn for the good. Let’s just hope this journey I am walking keeps going towards the light, not towards the darkness.

I hold onto him so tightly, never wanting to let him go. It was at this moment I realised just how much I had missed the boy. He had been dead, and all I had wanted to do was kill the boy who had killed him. But I had never gotten that chance, so instead I had tried to kill Yaa. Yaa who I had once called a friend, Yaa who I- not her- But I, had turned against. It was me who had broken that unspoken promise, that promise that I would never hurt her. I hadn’t been thinking straight when I plunged my sword into her skin, I had only wanted her dead. Well. That turned out well. I died instead. Pushing the thoughts into the back of my mind I try and concentrate on Andy. I didn’t need to think of that, not now. I was happy, just like I had the right to be.

In the arena I hadn’t thought that there was a place beyond death. I had thought that I would be left floating endlessly through darkness, in pain. alone. But I had been wrong, so so so wrong. Death had lead me to a place that I dare say, was better than living its self. I was happy. Actually happy.

”I told you I’d see you again, didn’t I? We’re in the place behind the sky; it doesn’t keep people apart, that’d be far too cruel.” His voice sent thrills of warmth through me. I just wanted to hold him tighter and listen to his voice. But he pulled away, his hands clutching my shirt tightly, almost as if he couldn’t bare letting me go again. With one shaky hand I wipe the tears away from my eyes and smile down at him. Andy, I missed you so much. You have no idea what I went through when you died. I thought to myself, not able to bring the words to my lips. ”I really missed you.” His voice came out soft, I had to lean down slightly to hear the words. Words that were on my mind too. ”I do love you, Mik.” His next words made my stomach flip. He loved me.

My mind flew back to when Andy was on his death bed, to when I had managed to say that I had loved him. I had been confused at the time, unsure to. But now I knew, I knew that I loved him too. I wasn’t confused any longer, no. He was the reason why I fought on to my last breathe, he was the reason why I had made it so far in those games. Yes at times I had wanted to kill him, but it was out of love, I had wanted to kill him to help him. Messed up, I know right.

I wanted to say that I loved him too, that he meant everything to me…But the words wouldn’t come. I just stared at him, my mouth slightly open. Then- without thinking- I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, hoping that he would understand that I felt the same way.