Like A Caged Animal [Open]

~Jana Hale~

Jana watched as boy scooted frantically away from them, roaring,
"I'm going to break my skull if it means you'll be quiet! SHUT THE HELL UP!" Then he went and bashed his head against the tree trunk rendering himself motionless. "He's Schizophrenic to the point he's willing to hurt himself to escape." Well this was just about as far from what she'd expected happening tonight as you could possibly get. Inching toward the insane one she reached out and checked his pulse, sighing in relief when it was confirmed he was still alive. Grabbing her water flask and a cloth from her bag she began wiping the blood from the cuts the fence had left on the boy's body. She felt awful for him, to see such a sad existence broke her heart. "He's in rough shape."


Her eyes flickered to the other guy and his daughter. She didn't know what they had been up to on the edge of the District but good thing they were here or the crazy one might not have been found. She murmured comforting words as she finished cleaning out the cuts. It wasn't much but it was all she could really do. Perphenazine was often used to help get rid of he voices in peoples head but she was sure you could only get it in District 2 or the Capitol. "Your daughter is beautiful. If you don't mine me asking, how old is she?" Jana commented at the little one's father in an attempt to make the situation at hand a little less awkward. Her people skills weren't perfect, she'd always grown up as one of the guys and never really bothered to learn how to properly acquaint someone.


The stars were becoming a lot more brilliant and noticeable as the sun was almost set. Yes her father would be worried but she didn't care. She didn't really want to go home right now anyway. Not that she didn't love her father, it's just sometimes he was a little over protective since her mother had died. The forest had eerie stillness to it, or maybe it was just because the suspense of this boy knocking himself out was getting to her. She gently gave the boy a shake to see if he'd being regaining conscience anytime soon. Though she couldn't help but feel a little bit like a stalker after watching him from a tree, but there was really nothing wrong with it. She didn't know what he was up to, she didn't even expect to see anyone out here except maybe a fox or something. She wondered what the other two must think of her, appearing from a tree with a hatchet in plain sight on her belt, no matter though, this was District 7, it wasn't that much out of the norm. Only being 5' 2" Jana loved to climb as high as possible in trees, it made her feel on equal ground with taller people. Come to think of it the father of the little girl was towering above her, it was rather unnerving. Even her father wasn't that tall and she'd always thought he was huge. Apparently she was just destined to be tiny like her mother. She looked down at the crazy boy running her hand over his forehead with a frown, what terrible things he must have gone through. Jana had never ever met him before but her nature was to care for others. It also made her wonder where the little girl's mother was, but it was none of her business. After all she didn't have a mother and knew it could be a touchy subject.

You've got nothing to lose.... why not attack them? They've come to get you; they want to punish you for what you did. That boy and his daughter..... if you get the little girl, he'd most likely do anything you'd want him to do. And that other girl... did you see her hatchet? You could disable it, and then take her out. Why else would they be here if it weren't to exterminate you?

~Jana Hale~

Jana tensed up when she saw the boy smirk. A moment after he'd launched himself at Ayane, her hand instantly grab the handle of her hatchet. Then much to her surprise he stopped mid-attack and collapsed to the ground. Jana was horrified with herself for a moment, she had been ready to bury her hatchet in the boy's chest mere moments ago. Granted it was for the safety if a little girl but she'd still had the intent to make sure he'd never get the chance to hurt her. When did she turn from an innocent carpenter who wanted to help, to some so dangerous? She was snapped from her morbid thoughts when she heard the boy's trembling voice, "Everyone who's ever tried to help me..... they've -- .... they've always ended up dying....."

Jana knelt down near him as he bashed his head again, this time though he remained conscience. "Shh. It's ok, your going to be alright. Just calm down. None of us are going to die. And don't feel like your cursed or something, my mom died when I was 5. She'd have done anything for me, and she's gone. We all lose people who are important to us. It never gets any easier, but we have to just keep pushing ahead." She had no idea where these words of wisedom were coming from, but she was thankful she was able to say anything of remote usefulness at a time like this.

She looked over at Ayane and her father with some relief, but still not entirely trusting the crazy boy. Jana smiled at the little girl, hoping to reassure her a little that she was ok, even though this person had just almost attacked her. But he didn't finish the attack. Mosters don't feel regret, people do. He's still a person who needs help. She began softly singing some of the lullabies her mother used to sing to her in an attempt to soothe the insane youth. her hand tentitively rubbed his back for a moment. Still she didn't trust him not to go off on her again, but she'd risk it, if it meant she could help him. She also wanted to keep Ayane and her father safe. Her father didn't look to be much older than herself, but they were still a family. She wanted to see them stay safe and together. She didn't want to see them end up like her family, broken into pieces. Only her and her dad left. Everyone else was dead.

Jana offered her water flask to the boy. Hot, humid, summer nights had always made her thirsty, and who know's who far he'd run without stopping to drink or rest. Dehydration could very easily be deadly. No more death, Jana never wanted to watch another person die like she did with her mother. So that's why you almost killed him with you hatchet? Rang the voice of her conscience. I was protecting Ayane. Her and her father remind me too much of myself and my father. Even though my father was much older when I was born. I never actually took it off my belt either. I'm not a psycho, just over protective. She justified. It was a perfectly resonable explaination. Speaking of her father, he'd be worried sick. But he'd have to get over it, she was 15 years old now. She was not young and helpless. He's the one who raised her to be strong and independent, but then he freaked out when she wasn't home on time. Go figure...