louie krane | district eleven | fin

”Oi kid, stop right there!”

It is the exact same voice as last week and the week before. There is so much happening in Panem, but the peacekeepers still find time to chase down a runaway kid and drag him back home to mommy and daddy by his ear. They did start putting him down the priority list after the tenth missing report from his parents but when they sprinkled in thievery crimes and even mentioned the rebel word (all lies), they started taking a thirteen-year-old kid seriously again.

It is starting to feel like a game to Louie, especially now that the same peacekeeper keeps getting assigned to him. He doesn’t know his chaser by name, but he likes to think that he knows him personally.

”Must be a boring night for you P-K,” Louie taunts as he hops a stone wall into a cabbage crop field. ”On my case again?” He chuckles behind him, he has a head start in this five acre field chase. He dodges the divots in the ploughed soil, but the peacekeeper is hot on his heels. He will keep this up for a few minutes the thrill of it is worth it, but he knows he will never get away. It is the same old story every time, nobody ever seems to learn. His parents will have the same talk. They’ll promise to add another lock to his door, but Louie will always find a way.

”It won’t be for long. You will be alright without me for a few weeks, right?”

”I will have to be.”

Louie is doing alright; he didn’t lie to Elise the last time he spoke to her. This is him doing alright. Flying through crop fields. Hiding out in haybarns. Blending in with the other street kids. Dodging peacekeepers like it is a passionate hobby of his. Anything but being stuck in that house. The checkers board has been left untouched since before the 94th reaping. It is meant to be like that. It is not a game that can be played by one person. Living with his parents is not a challenge that can be handled by one person.

The peacekeeper behind him is not so careful at avoiding the divots. There is a big thump on the dirt, and it distracts Louie from running. He stops just to see the man faceplant the floor, he is not wearing a helmet either which makes it even funnier. ”Haha, eat dirt!” But Louie is doesn’t get the last laugh, he is too distracted to notice the other peacekeeper come hurtling towards him from the left. A sports style tackle has Louie pinned to the dirt too. ”Haha, eat dirt kid!” The other fallen keeper imitates him.

Louie is escorted out of the field, they pass the land owner who throws a bunch of complaints about ruined crops.

”This isn’t the way to my house.” It’s the first thing Louie says after being caught, they’re going in the completely wrong direction to that hellscape that he must call home. ”You’re spending five nights in the slammer kid, it’s about time you learnt a lesson.” At least it is anywhere but home, District Eleven’s holding facility versus the prison where his parents reside. It is time to compare the two. ” ’bout time.” The peacekeepers shake their heads, they’re a little more rough with him as they head towards the grey concrete building.

Elise is never coming back, he accepted that when he watched the gravestone get erected. Life is never going back to normal either. His parents have got to accept that. Something neds to change. He will go live with his grandparents for all he cares. Or one of those children’s homes. Or if the worse comes to it, he has practiced his climbing. He has climbed higher than the fences that surround the District. He will make it.

”Where am I going after the five days?” He asks the keepers as they start processing him for his cell.

”Back to your home.”

”Just so I can end up back here in a week?”

”You won’t be coming back here kid, you will end up somewhere much worse!”

”I can’t wait!”

The peacekeeper grabs him back the scruff of his hair, pulling him closer to the skanky coffee breath and wrinkled lips. ”You’re going to straighten up kid, or you’re going to regret it.”

The only thing Louie regrets is not hopping that fence already. Maybe that is what he will do next. There are not enough locks in the world to keep Louie Krane contained. He will never be alright. Not while he is stuck here.