What Can't Be Healed [Chase]

gxk
Retired Staff

[M:-3145]

1,181 POSTS
last seen Oct 28, 2012 17:49:11 GMT -5

When in doubt flail it out

What Can't Be Healed [Chase] Aug 13, 2010 20:00:35 GMT -5

Post by gxk on Aug 13, 2010 20:00:35 GMT -5

~Naida~ ~Ilayda~ ~Raviv~

"Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk." ~Susan Scarf Merrell

Jerking away from Raviv's grasp, Nadia screamed again. She was having another one of her terrible day dreams. They were impossible to escape from once they began. Swords, blood, spear tip, blood, murder, Hunger Games, blood, death, alone. So many hated thoughts that wouldn't leave her alone. They taunted her, the capitol had done more damage then anyone would have thought possible to this family. Raiden, her beloved big brother dead in the Fifty-First games, her friend, Alba, dead in the Fifty-Fifth games. The memories of one death was painful enough, the two put together drove Naida mad. And her poor younger brother and sister were trying desperately to get at least part of their older sister's sanity back.

And their attempts seemed so far in vain. When they tried to touch her or talk to her when she was like this, she'd scream and flinched away. Naida didn't want to be like this, she wanted to be normal, her old self. She felt she owed it to her younger siblings, but apparently she'd always be in debt to them because somethings just can't be healed. Some damage can never be taken back. Some things leave a scar that even time won't make disappear. With a choked sob the oldest of the remaining Gardez children, dropped to her knees on the sandy beach. Wrenched sounds and sobs were the only thing she was able to speak right now. And red was all she could see right now, red dripping in a sea of black, the sobs, the screams of those she loved replayed over and over to add to the torture that was the depths of Naida's mind.

~~~

Raviv struggled to hold onto Naida as she failed about crying and screaming. But his older sister was strong, and managed to break free, before collapsing onto the sand. It broke him inside to see the once strong girl she knew as his sister, suffer and struggle like this. Day time, night time, it made no difference, all around the clock the torture continued in her mind. But Raviv refused to give up. There had to be some way to reach her, some way to break through the insanity that has built a wall around her. "Naida, please!" Four years since Raiden was killed, just when they thought Naida was recovering and moving on with her life, her friend was reaped and killed. It seemed the odd were never in their family's favor. Their parents worried about Naida, but they seemed to have given up on her after the night she told them they were killing her, of course it wasn't true, she had been in one of her illusions, but it hurt their mom and dad, just the same.

Then Raviv had to worry about Ilayda too. His sweet younger sister. Naida was in no condition to look after her, so he'd taken on the responsibility. Ilayda had always been the wild one of all of them. She's run around like a bat out of hell, and just keep on going and going. But that abundance of energy came in handy at the family fish shop, the eight year old girl could keep up with the best of them. Even though he was the middle child, Raviv felt he had to watch over both of his sister. This stress, this feeling of obligation, it must have been what Raiden felt when he was alive.

~~~

When Naida continued to fling herself about on the sand, Ilayda jumped on her older sister, a tear streaming down her face. "Naida! Wake up, wake up!" Little Ilayda was starting to get angry. Did Naida not love her enough to try and fight the insanity, to try and bring her mind home to her family, where it belongs? But it wasn't her sister she was truly mad at, it was the Capitol. They ruined her happy family, they turned their lives upside down and left them to battle with the consequences and pain of the loses they experienced. Still clinging to Naida, Ilayda began to cry and her grip became tighter, she was trying so very hard to get her sister back.

Even if it was all for nothing, at least she'd be able to say, that they lost Naida to insanity, but only after battling against it every step of the way. But she had to come around. She had to. She was the one she was supposed to be able to look up to and depend on. The one to dry her tears, and answer her questions. It was all so unfair.

Last Edit: Aug 13, 2010 20:01:08 GMT -5 by gxk

chaseee
Career Tribute

[M:-2610]

552 POSTS
last seen Dec 2, 2013 20:53:00 GMT -5

kiss me hard before you go

What Can't Be Healed [Chase] Aug 13, 2010 20:36:52 GMT -5

Post by chaseee on Aug 13, 2010 20:36:52 GMT -5

Annalise Chambers

The sun began it's slow ascent through the sky, bathing my glorious home in Victor's Village in a dull, gray light. I had seen this sight a countless number of times, finding myself out here all those nights my beautiful dreams of winning the Games seemed to mix in with the horrible nightmares of killing and blood and gore and terror, which for some reason, seamed to happen every time I rested my head on a pillow.
The marble fountain's endless tinkling made me have to pee, but I made myself hold it in. I refused to risk waking Mommy Dearest up. I smirked at that clever thought. Ant it fit her too. It seemed now we were suddenly at the top of the foodchain, she decided to turn into a complete and total bitch. Go figure. Like mother, like daughter... or, like daughter like mother?
Anyway, I was stuck outside, in the dullest hours of the morning, my stomach rumbling for a breakfast, and my bladder was full of urine. Great. A clap of thunder and a flash of lightning did nothing to improve my mood.
I felt a drop of rain fall on my head. More followed. A second later it was pouring. It was funny how life worked out that way. I got out of my first-class lawn chair, and strolled across the lawn. I had no idea where I was going, but anywhere was better than here. Anywhere. I unlatched the gate, and stepped onto the dirt road.
A spark of rebellion flared up inside me. Mother would never let me do this. That made it even more fun. I thought about going to the river, but surely the tides would be strong enough to sweep me off my feet. And my guess was that the Capitol would not be too pleased if one of their oh-so-famous Victors died of natural causes and missed the Quarter Quell. I shivered at the thought of entering the Games again. Well at least then it wouldn't be that hard. No other Careers and plenty of old people to weed down. This idea brought a smirk to my lips. Old people? In the Arena? How stupid. I thought of President Snow. How glorious it would be to run a spear through him.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the screaming.

Rosetta: Why do you think you have so many friends?
Rosetta: My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard!

gxk
Retired Staff

[M:-3145]

1,181 POSTS
last seen Oct 28, 2012 17:49:11 GMT -5

When in doubt flail it out

What Can't Be Healed [Chase] Aug 13, 2010 21:07:47 GMT -5

Post by gxk on Aug 13, 2010 21:07:47 GMT -5

Naida's voice was growing hoarse a from the sobbing and shrieking she'd been keeping up. Raiden's death, then Alba's, played through her mind, only with even more blood than there was really. Her imagination had dramatized the deaths. And left out the most important parts. Raiden's last words, addressed directly to her, before dying with a smile on his face. And Alba, putting the rose she had given her, over her heart before passing away. Those moments that could provide a little comfort, were not included in the hell that was the mental movie playing out. She could feel Raviv and Ilayda touching her, trying to talk to her. But it was no use, she was so lost, so hurt, it would take more than anyone had to offer to repair her. At Raiden's reaping the Peacekeepers had had to wrench her from Raiden, she had clung to him so tight, that her fingernails drew blood from his skin. At Alba's reaping she was braver, she had forced herself to be, but it wasn't enough to save Alba. She still felt guilty, she could have volunteered.

And then what? Leave the responsibility of the family to Raviv? That wasn't fair either, nothing was fair, the Capitol had made sure of that. The hate Naida harbored for the Capitol and the people living there, was dangerously strong. Someday, many who knew her feared it would boil over. How much suffering could one girl endure before the need for vengeance is too much. The answer, as much as the wanted to force on her. Naida knew she was one girl, and her family needed her. Why hurt them more so that she could say she tried to avenge her brother and friend, when any fool could see, she couldn't do anything. Except mourn what was lost, and try to make it through the rest of her life.

~~~

Raviv wished he had Raiden's skills for calming Naida right about now. Raiden seemed to be able to soothe any of them, he'd sing to them, or weave beautiful; designs from dried seaweed. And Naida was the closest to him in age, which was part of why his death took the greatest toll on her. Though it was an enormous lose for everyone in the family. And now they were losing Naida too. When he reached out to rub Naida's back she lashed out and smacked his arm away, wailing for Raiden to protect her. This brought tears to Raviv's eyes. She was so out of her mind, as to think he was going to hurt her, and that her dead older brother could save her.

Perfect, now the three of us are crying and flailing around on the beach... Anyone passing by would think they were completely and totally crazy. But they all looked a lot like Raiden, so most people recognized them as his siblings and left them alone to 'grieve' in their unique ways.

~~~

Ilayda knew things were bad when she saw Raviv begin to cry. This was awful. Why couldn't anything in their life be easy? Why couldn't they be a big happy family still? The Capitol were bloody thieves, they'd stolen so much from her family the day Raiden's name was drawn from the reaping ball. It began hell on earth for the Gardez family. How could they get a chance to heal when every time things started to mend, another devastating blow was dealt.

"Naida, Raviv? Please guys, I just want to go home as a family. Nada why are you making us wrestle you to come home? Are we really that bad?" Her voice was raised in agony. She was only eight, how was she supposed to know what to do, or think or say, it was all too much for her to handle. How could Raviv stay so calm with their older sister. Ilayda was getting more and more upset. It hurt, one minute they were a whole family, and one slip of paper, pulled the rug out from under them. Raiden Gardez... He had made it to the final two, seemed to have the edge over his opponent, then with a sick twist from Gamemakers the other boy had been given the opportunity to slash Raiden's chest open with his sword. So close to coming home, only to have the hope they'd built up be shattered. "Your not doing Raiden or Alba a favor by being this way Naida! We need you, and they would've wanted you to be happy. You're so selfish! Do you think your the only one who loved them!?"

~~~

Her younger sister's words stung, but Naida felt she was being unfair. How did she know anything about the living hell going on inside Naida's head. "Don't you ever call me selfish... Not when the reason I'm still here is for you!" Her voice was a crazed whisper as she curled herself up like a wounded animal.

Last Edit: Aug 22, 2010 14:39:16 GMT -5 by gxk

chaseee
Career Tribute

[M:-2610]

552 POSTS
last seen Dec 2, 2013 20:53:00 GMT -5

kiss me hard before you go

What Can't Be Healed [Chase] Aug 22, 2010 11:58:09 GMT -5

Post by chaseee on Aug 22, 2010 11:58:09 GMT -5

Annalise Chambers

I ran towards where the noises were coming from. I had no idea what was going on, but it sounded horrible. Torture? Mad dog attack? That seemed unlikely seeing as though where I stood was aproximately ten miles away from the open forest and the animals would have to go through the electrified gates, and the Peacekeepers? It had happened a few times, some time ago, when I was a small child, but the possibility still seemed unlikely.

A thought struck me. Why was I running to the scene instead of away from it. Well maybe I wanna help? The thought made me feel sick to my stomach. That was so unlike me. I had never helped anyone in my life. Not even that small boy that had begged me for forgiveness in the Games...

I forced the thought away. Right now I needed to focus on whatever was going on on the beach. More gut-wrenching screams. Than, voices. It sounded like there were three of them there. Young ones? I couldn't tell by the voices. And I defenitly could not tell by the screaming. From where I was it sounded like a deranged wolf howling at the moon.

Finally, I could see them. I was right. There were three people in all standing on the dry, sandy beach. Two girls and a boy. The oldest one, a girl, seemed to be the one screaming. The younger one, the boy and the other girl, seemed to be trying to comfort her. That seemed odd. What could have caused this girl to scream in pain/terror/agony here, in this deserted hell? As I looked around, I saw no one. If someone had hurt the girl, the person couldn't have gotten far. The screams had only started a few seconds ago.

I cautiously approached the three kids. The girl obviously was not in her right mind, and I had no idea what the other two were like. The youngest one seemed level-headed enough, the boy brought to tears by his sister's (?) strange behavior. I walked up behind the young one, tapping her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

Rosetta: Why do you think you have so many friends?
Rosetta: My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard!

gxk
Retired Staff

[M:-3145]

1,181 POSTS
last seen Oct 28, 2012 17:49:11 GMT -5

When in doubt flail it out

What Can't Be Healed [Chase] Aug 22, 2010 15:39:32 GMT -5

Post by gxk on Aug 22, 2010 15:39:32 GMT -5

~Ilayda~

Ilayda tried once more to calm her sister down with reason. "Naida, please calm down. We just want to get you home safe and sound." She was answered with only more screams of agony, but it was easy to tell her older sister was losing her voice from all the shrieking, and crying.

She turned and jumped when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Ilayda recognized the person as one of Four's Victors. She must have heard Naida's carrying on and came to see what the hell was going on. "My sister..." Ilayda sighed. "She's not right anymore. Ever since our older brother was killed in the final two of his Games, and then to make it worse, her best friend died in these past Games. She's gone completed off the deep end. Every time we try to help her she curls up into a ball and cries." Ilayda was trying not to cry herself, the last thing they need was all three of them broken down on the beach.
~~~

~Raviv~

Raviv dried his tears when the person he vaguely recognized as a victor appeared, wondering what was wrong. But he found himself not really sure if he could trust her. She was a victor, which meant she was a murderer. And he knew many people were afraid or angered by Naida's behavior, while those who really knew anything about her, felt awful. Ilayda on the other hand gave the woman, basically, a brief run down of what was wrong. Which was fine until she said Naida was completely crazy. "She's not completely gone Ilayda. She's just hurt and you of all people should know that." Ilayda had respond to him with a choked up, "I know, but she's not getting better, I want my sister back!" He sighed, the all wanted her back, their parents were worried sick that one day Naida wouldn't be able to take it anymore.

Raviv looked over at the woman again and shook his head, this really must be an eventful day for her. Three children on the beach, with screaming, crying, and flailing around. Why a victor would even bother with them he didn't know, they were just a bunch of kids with a screwed up life, nothing special really. Sometimes he wished he was more like his big brother had been. Raiden always was able to help, even when no one else could. And here Raviv was struggling to deal with one of Naida's frequent break downs. Cupping his hand, he bent down, and splashed some sea water on the back of his neck. Why wasn't anything they did working? One day they splashed Naida with cold water to try and wake her from a nightmare and she just screamed that they'd tried to drown her.

~~~

~Naida~

Despite the hell swirling around in her mind, Naida could hear her siblings talking to a strange. Stranger... Tucking her head down under her arm, she wailed something about Raiden losing unfairly, and she should have volunteered for Alba. Ilayda was getting frustrated with her, while Raviv was, as always, trying to play the peace maker. Why? Why aren't I strong enough to keep it together for them. Naida already knew the answer, because she wasn't like Raiden. She wasn't that strong. He died with a grace you'd think unachievable for anyone, never mind a fifteen year old. And his one last stab at the Capitol, the smile on his face. But that had always been like Raiden, he took everything in stride, and somehow always managed to respond easily to anything thrown at him.

Then the image of a swinging sword, drenched in blood, flashed through her mind. Another terrible scream escaped her trembling form. The sword looked identical to the sword that killed Raiden on one side, but when her mind showed it from the other direction, it looked exactly like the sword that killed Alba. The Capitol must be thrilled, they ruined more lives than just those in the Games. One can only bend so far before they break. The force of everything hitting her at once, had slammed into Naida like a ton of bricks, it was too much to try and take in, so she broke. And all the kings horses, and all the kings men, may not be able to put her back together again. If only things could have done differently. If only Raiden and Alba had won each their Games, or better yet not have been reaped at all.