these nights are long [sergio/xantiago]

these nights are long [sergio/xantiago] Sept 18, 2022 10:31:06 GMT -5

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Post by kap on Sept 18, 2022 10:31:06 GMT -5

546 words

SERGIO

Tonight, I decided to sneak out again. I did it often, and Whim still hadn't noticed. I just had to hope that he continued to be oblivious. If he caught me, it would not go over well. I couldn't just let the people suffer, though. Despite my brother's typically weak immune system, he was lucky enough not to come down with the rose plague. So, realistically, Whim, Brone and I were supposed to stay home since none of us ended up with the sickness.

I didn't listen, though. I wasn't much of a listener. I knew it was a bad idea to leave and potentially bring the rose plague home with me, since it could really, really hurt Brone, but he was really supportive of what I was doing, and told me that I should do it regardless, even if it meant it hurt he and I later on. I was hesitant at first, but eventually decided he was right. I needed to help people.

I was determined to help people. I wanted everyone who was sick to feel better. I wanted each and every one of them to survive. That's why I'd leave my home after raiding the medicine cabinet, and go out into the streets of the District, distributing any medications I thought would help to the people who were plagued with illness. The thing is, no one really told the general public what sort of treatments could alleviate the ailments, so I didn't know if I was actually doing any good. I just hoped I was.

I'd bring fever reducers, mostly, hoping it would help the people with their rosy red cheeks. Some people were very grateful for my help, while others would angrily reject it, insisting they were fine on their own. I imagine that that's just the irritability that comes along with the rose plague talking for them. I know that people with the rose plague also can develop violent tendencies, so I try to avoid letting them have reason to want to hurt me.

I just want to be helpful, after all.

The Peacekeepers haven't been too fond of what I've been doing, though, that's for sure. They've been patrolling the quarantine zone, and the last time a Peacekeeper saw me, I was trying to offer a fever reducing medication to a young woman and her daughter who'd been infected by the illness. The Peacekeeper wasn't too happy about it, to say the least. He insisted I wasn't helping, and that I needed to get home to keep myself safe. If he saw me again, he said, I'd be in big trouble.

So, I told him I'd comply, and went back home. In all reality, though, I had plans to go back out, such as when I went out tonight. I'd just be going to a different part of the quarantine zone, hoping to avoid where that particular Peacekeeper was patrolling.

As it turns out, though, they rotate posts, meaning the same Peacekeeper isn't always in the same area. That's how officer Ozlimario spotted me, and I knew it wasn't going to end well for me. As he shouted to me, I took a deep breath.

"Hey kid! What did I tell you about coming out here?" His voice boomed.

I turned around slowly.

"You said it was dangerous, sir."

Sergio/Xantiago

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these nights are long [sergio/xantiago] Sept 18, 2022 10:54:41 GMT -5

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Post by kap on Sept 18, 2022 10:54:41 GMT -5

[googlefont="Girassol:400"]Xantiago Ozlimario

Soldier keep on marchin' on
Head down 'til the work is done
Waiting on that morning sun
Soldier keep on marchin' on

I knew that when I took the job of being a Peacekeeper, things would eventually turn a bit more hellish than I wanted. Eventually, I'd probably have to whip someone, shoot someone, or maybe even execute someone in the District Square. I didn't look forward to those kinds of things. They weren't why I became a Peacekeeper. I became a Peacekeeper to keep the balance: to keep things in order and do my best to make sure the citizens of Panem were safe. So, when I was asked to help with the rose plague situation, at first, I was enthusiastic.

That's because, at first, I thought it just involved making sure people followed their quarantine guidelines and didn't make things worse for themselves. When I was told that we were trying to weed out the rebels, however, it made me a bit uneasy. I didn't want to be the one to find a rebel and have to hurt them or execute them, or whatever the consequences may be. I knew I'd have to do those kinds of things to someone eventually, but I certainly wasn't looking forward to it.

Nevertheless, I took the job. As a Peacekeeper, I had it in my own morals to help wherever I was needed, and that meant never turning down a task. Although, it wasn't like I usually had much of a choice in that matter. Typically, you're stationed somewhere and you do what they tell you to do.

I'm used to night patrol. Before the rose plague outbreak, I was typically one of the Peacekeepers who would walk around District Six at night, keeping an eye on things and making sure no one was causing trouble. It was a relatively easy job. Most people who I caught would get some sort of small punishment, like community service or whatever. If it was something worse, I'd never been the one who had to carry out the punishment. Usually, I just arrested them and brought them to the other Peacekeepers to do what needed to be done.

Still, I hated handing them over when I knew it wasn't going to go well for them. Maybe I'm not the best Peacekeeper in the eyes of the government, but I like to think that the people appreciate me.

-----

I still was put on a night patrol, even in the quarantine zone. They'd put me in a different section each night, rotating us guards through so that we had a fresh set of eyes on the area each night.

A couple nights ago, I came across a kid, probably no more than twelve or thirteen years old, out and about, trying to hand out medications to people to "help them feel better". Thing is, the kid knew nothing about the plague, really. He didn't know that there was practically nothing he could do to help these people. They needed professional treatment.

I didn't know if the kid was sick himself, but I would assume so. Otherwise, I don't see why he'd be out and about in the quarantine zone. At least, that's what I thought the first time I saw him. When I saw him again tonight, however, I had second thoughts. He wouldn't have been in such good condition if he had caught it. He wouldn't be seemingly completely okay health-wise if he'd caught the rose plague. He'd either be bedridden at home, or out on the streets causing trouble if he got into the violent phase that many people did.

So, there was only one conclusion I could draw. He wasn't sick, but he was trying to help those who were. While I appreciated the sentiment, I knew he shouldn't be out here. I'd told him it was dangerous before because people would get violent, but now, there was all the more danger for him now that I knew he didn't already have the terrible illness: he could catch it himself.

I shouted to him sternly, my voice booming a bit louder than I had intended as it echoed off the tall buildings in the mostly silent streets of Six. He turned around slowly, reiterating that I had informed him of the dangers of being out here.

"Exactly," I confirmed. "And from what I can tell, you're not sick. I don't want you catching it. I'd advise you go back home to your family and keep yourself and them safe. Being out here is more dangerous than you realize."

The kid was quiet for a moment, looking down at his feet before looking back up and making occasional eye contact with me as he spoke again.

"Ya know..." he started. "I don't think I really mind if I get sick. I just want to help these people. I want to make them feel better. They can't just keep dying."

I sighed.

"There's not a whole lot you can do to help them with stuff like that," I told him, gesturing to the bottle of acetaminophen in his hand.