long way home [rose plague] flynn&dorothy

FLYNN GARNER

It is so cold this evening.

Today has been rammed with non-stop back-to-back, fully scheduled events for the science fair. It is a blessing and a curse this whole fair hosted by my home District. I actually get to participate in the competitions and have fun but at the same time I am expected to carry out my victor duties. Even while dissecting frogs and peering through telescopes, there is the same expectation being dropped on me like there is while I am in the Capitol.

I have never seen so many Capitol folks in my District before, not even during victory tours.

Most of the daytime events have shut down, there are just a few bodies stood on the grass verge where the astronomy demonstration is being held. Dorothy has been with me all day and the moment I need to bring her home; she is out of my sight.

”Dorothy!” I pass her name amongst the aspiring astronomers, all filled with blank looks as they just answer me with shrugs and shakes of their heads. Damn it, she is giving me a headache! Hopefully she is already making her way home.

I follow the departing crowds to the exit, keeping an eye out for anyone that looks identical to my sister in the darkness. Maybe I should be a little more worried than I am right now but I know exactly how she is, she probably already at home with her feet up and keeping warm with one of dad’s hot cocoas! Damn it, it really is cold right now! I rub my palms against my forearms, regretting not bringing any kind of jacket with me (yet I was boiling hot just this morning!)

”They are turning us back.” The retiring crowd starts to turn the wrong way, heading back towards the convention centre. Perhaps there has been an accident or something, a clash against competitors. I ignore the folk that repeat the same sentence ”There are peacekeepers blocking the road.” I have still not even found my sister yet, if there has been an accident...then I need to know where she is!

The crowd quickly becomes less relaxed than those that gave the warnings, an unrest builds at a blockade manned by peacekeepers…and people wearing hazmat suits. There is a break in the crowd between a pavement and a building, I grab the chance to push my way to the front.

”What is going on?”

”This area is now under quarantine, please make your way back to the convention centre.” One of the peacekeepers says, they are stood so far away from us...

” Quarantining from what?”

”Further information will be shared shortly, please make your way back to the convention centre!”

”Do you know who I am?” Yeah, I have never pulled that card before. Never really ever wanted to pull their card before but the frustration in this moment quickly plucks it out of my pocket. ”My sister is missing and I need to go home!”

”Nobody is exempt from quarantine. Please make your way back to the convention centre, Mr Garner.”

The fucker! Someone grabs the back of my shirt and drags me from the boiling crowd that quickly begins to clash with the peacekeepers and their riot shields. I am sat on the cold cobbled floor, looking up at the face that dragged me, barely lit by the dull streetlights. It is one of the college professors that has saved my skin tonight.

”Don’t go back to the centre Flynn, there has been an outbreak. I have only heard rumours of what it could be but just try and stay away from people…” The professor says, a handkerchief covers his mouth as he stands at least three foot away from me.

All I can do is scramble to my feet, calling out my sister’s name while trying my damn hardest to keep warm. My whole body is swarmed with chills and my forehead feels so heavy. Today has been long day. I just want to get home. I just want to find my sister.