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∂αмєη
Capitol Resident

1,550 POSTS
last seen Feb 25, 2016 23:49:47 GMT -5

awesome title [gage fic] Jul 23, 2011 20:10:24 GMT -5

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Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 23, 2011 20:10:24 GMT -5

So, Gage had a plot set up...but then he got reaped. I had a lot of muse for it though so I decided I'd try and write some parts of it to get rid of all the muse. So, some points that need to be known.

Pilot [cameron], has an invention that he made and was granted permission to bring it to the Capitol to present. In need of a 'mechanic' of sorts to fix it, he ended up meeting with Gage and then invited him to go along. And Gage had invited Dashica [shrimp]. They boarded a train headed to the Capitol and yeah. But the train crashed and they were stranded with the other survivors, having to still make their way to the Capitol. After a treacherous journey, they finally get there after many people die and then they go their separate ways. Pilot goes to present the invention and Gage goes to find his family, in hopes of finding out why they left. AND SO YEAH.

This is what I had hoped the main points would be like (:

THE CRASH

I awoke in a comfortable bed as soon as the bumping became too much. I could barely keep my mouth from chattering as we went over a rocky patch. I pushed myself out of bed carefully, being careful not to hit my head on the low ceiling, I made my way over to the wardrobe that held my clothing, picking out a simple outfit consisting of a basic t-shirt and some loose sweat pants. Then I exited my room, entering the main hallway. I could hear the wheels spinning round and round, staying at a steady and quick speed. I was still groggy from just waking up so my movements were slow and lazy. The smell of breakfast was what motivated me to continue on to the cafeteria. The train was actually pretty big. The bedrooms were fairly small but who actually spends a lot of time in their bedroom when you had a train filled with plenty of things to do as a playground, kind of.

My feet stopped moving once I stepped into the room. The odors of all the different foods were so tempting. I felt like grabbing a plate and filling it with as much as I could and just stuff my face with it. But instead, I took a small bit, hoping to enjoy the better things first and then moving onto other things that looked delicious. I filled my plate an egg, cooked vegetables and a small slice of toasted bread. It tasted remarkable and reminded me of being home. I was definitely getting home sick. However, it was great to have a bit of time away from everything. A time to clear my mind and think about myself and not others. I didn't need to worry about Katie or the Games or work or anything like that. I could just relax. And I'd get to see what the Capitol looked like. For the first time in my life and probably the last.

I heard a door swinging open but I ignored it. I didn't want to stop eating. That was until I felt the large hand wrap around my shoulder. "What's up Gage?" Pilot's deep voice rang out. He took a seat across from me, a huge smile on his face. His hand approached my plate and he took a cooked carrot, placing it in his mouth carefully. "Nothing. Glad to be gone." I quietly say, picking at the egg with my fork. "We've been going for a while. Should be a few more days until we get there though." He stated, scratching his neck. Lifting the egg onto the toast gave me more room on the plate, which made me want more food. "So, there's this room I want to show you. It has a giant window so we can go see a nice view. Want to go check it out after breakfast?" I was about to answer but the opening of a door interrupted me.

I looked up towards the door behind Pilot, only to see another friend of mine step through the door. Her blonde hair was pulled back quickly, her eyes searching the room. They locked onto mine, but I immediately looked away. I felt awkward staring at her. It was a little weird, I had to admit that. But it was well deserved. I wasn't attracted to girls for the longest time. I wasn't attracted to anybody. I didn't know what having a crush meant. I was just starting to feel the attraction when other teenagers started having sex. But now, I couldn't help it. I was seventeen after all. It was part of life. And Dashica Starr was the girl that I was attracted to. I couldn't deny it. I scanned her frame as she walked closer and I continued watching as she sat down beside Pilot. "Good morning." She said with a small smile.

"Took you long enough to join us." Pilot muttered, looking away. Him and Dash seemed to have a tense relationship. They didn't seem to like each other. Which made sense. Pilot had more of a louder personality than Dashica. He wasn't afraid to be himself. Dashica wasn't either, but it was different. "Good morning Dash." I said quietly, trying to avoid her gaze. She was a great friend but I could definitely feel some sort of tension. Was she feeling the same way as I was? There was no way to tell unless I asked her straight out. And that could possibly ruin our friendship if I scared her away by coming on to strong or something. I didn't want to lose my best friend because I was starting to feel something that I think was stronger. I could ignore the feelings and just have a best friend. That was completely fine with me.

I finally finished the piece of toast and vegetables, pushing my plate over to the side. Pilot shook his head slowly. "What am I supposed to eat now?" He asked with a laugh, lifting his hands in a gesture of question. Dash and I laughed too. "Get your own stuff. I wanted to enjoy my own breakfast without having my food stolen, thanks." But I was used to it. We had only been on the train for three days so far but I already knew Pilot completely. I knew how he acted in each and every situation. And of course I knew Dashica. We were friends even before we came on this trip. Pilot promised that it would be a trip of a lifetime but really, we were just going to the place where the people who put us in an arena with twenty-three others to die lived. How was that a trip of a lifetime?

But things were going good so far. Nothing bad had really happened. Pilot's game broke down once though, so I had to screw around with it for a bit and after giving up twice, I finally finished all the fixes and headed off to get some rest. The train was moving fast and smoothly, thanks to Harris. I had introduced myself to him earlier on the second day when he came back to eat dinner with all the others as the co-conductor took over. Everybody was so nice here. Even the two Peacekeepers that stood guard near the door and the Capitol citizen who was on a 'vacation' were nice. They were supposed to be sick and vicious dogs. But everybody was fairly nice. Things were going pretty good and it could only get better really. That's how it all seemed at least. "So, let's head off to the room shall w-"

The sudden jerking movement sent my plate flying down to the table and to the other side. I fell out of my seat, only to have a tray of stew to fall off the food table and splash all over myself and Pilot. "What the fuck was that?!" Pilot shouted, regaining his balance and standing up straight. But then the jerk came again, this time twice as hard. I fell over to the other side of the room, hitting my shoulder against the wall. What the hell? Pushing myself to my feet, I grabbed Dashica by the hand, running towards the captain's room. "Let's go Pilot!" The cabin was shaking as we left it, entering a long hallway with many small windows. And just as I looked out one, I saw the ground coming to it fast. The window shattered as the train tipped onto its side. I felt a piece of glass scratch against my face, drawing blood immediately.

"Did we crash?" Dashica asked quietly as the hallway became calm. Nobody made another noise after that and we all just stood quietly. What the hell just happened? And that's when the fire burst through the door at the opposite end of the hallway. A man was running towards us, fire engulfing his body. I didn't recognize him at all as he ran by us and down towards one of the other rooms. The train was completely on its side, so we ran on where the wall should've been to escape the fire. "Go!" Pilot yelled as we made our way to one of the doors. I helped Dashica through the door before going in as well, trying to find an exit. And that's when I saw the large window that Pilot was talking about a bit further down, through the lunch room. The burning man must have opened that door as he ran for his life. The image of his charred flesh was imprinted in my mind. It helped me run faster.

I made my way into the room, looking around for anything that could break the glass. "Let me." Pilot muttered, fairly quiet considering the alarm had gone off and there were many screams echoing through the train. But he threw his body at the glass, only to land without breaking it. I turned away from the other two and then saw the fire extinguisher attached to a wall. Pulling it away from it's holder, I threw it through the window, stepping in front of Dashica to make sure that she didn't get hit by any stray glass. Pilot had already stood up and that's when I saw the bloody wound on his arm. I could see the white of a bone and it nearly made me empty my breakfast all over the ground. Had he snapped it when falling? I did hear a scream from him earlier.

I jumped down into the small crevice between the ground and the train's wall. Thanks to a nearby rock, there was just enough room for me to push my way through and away from the crashed train. I stayed around, helping Dashica through and then Pilot, being cautious of his arm. Then we all stepped back, surveying the destruction the crash had caused. We were out in some area between districts, a desert wasteland by the looks of it. It reminded me of pictures I had seen in a book of a place called Nevada. It looked lifeless. Except for the small group that had gathered closer to the captain's cabin. I wrapped my hand around Dashica's and motioned for Pilot to follow as I made my way towards the group. So there were other survivors. We could make it out alive then. One of them probably had a way to contact the Capitol to send in some help or another train. I had luckily escaped with only a few scratches on my face but Pilot couldn't last long with his arm.

We slowed down as we neared the group. One of them looked up from a map and towards us. "Ah, Mr. Cooper."
It was Harris, our conductor. He has a long scratch down the side of his face that had nearly crossed over his eye. I only recognized two others around him. Jacks and Forrest were the only officers on board and they had both evidently survived. The other five were people that I didn't know by name but had seen around the train. The co-conductor must have died as he wasn't with us yet. He would've followed Harris out, surely. "Is there anyway to get help. Pilot's arm..." I pointed back to him, hoping they saw the bloody wound. It was hard to miss after all. But he stepped forward, clearing his throat and preparing to speak. "I'll be fine. Let's just worry about getting out of here." He spoke with such confidence that it surprised me. We had just crashed and he spoke with no worries. It baffled me. He took a step back, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the small electronic device that he was going to present to the Capitol. It was safe. And for now, so were we. We just needed to get somewhere safely. I didn't want to die out in the desert.

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

∂αмєη
Capitol Resident

1,550 POSTS
last seen Feb 25, 2016 23:49:47 GMT -5

awesome title [gage fic] Jul 23, 2011 20:58:29 GMT -5

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Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 23, 2011 20:58:29 GMT -5

THE CAPITOL

My hand is lightly wrapped around Dashica's. It has been for most of this nightmare. I didn't want her getting hurt even it meant the worst for me. Others had already died violent deaths, expiring to things like exhaustion, thirst, hunger or thanks to a wild animal that had no issue competing with a group of train crash survivors. Now, only the three of us remained. Pilot walked closely behind me, cradling his arm in the other and trying to ignore the pain that he was obviously feeling. He had received the most painful injury from the actual crash, his bone pushing its way through the skin of his arm and leaving both a deep wound and a broken arm. Any movement that he made sent an antagonizing pain through his whole arm. I could tell because he'd yelp out and the expression on his face said it all. I was surprised he had made it this far but oh so glad. I didn't want to lose him in this horrible wasteland.

Dashica hadn't really been injured but she was surely suffering from thirst. We all were. The last bit of water we had had been from the small spring a couple of miles back and we had finished it within the first hour of having it. The train's supply had run out early on and we could only rely on finding some lakes and pools of water to cover our needs. I gave Dashica most of my water, only drinking what I needed to survive but we both knew it wasn't enough. I had been suffering from dehydration for the past half hour and the others would surely follow. But there was nothing we could do to stop it really. We just needed to find the Capitol. Had we stopped at one of the Districts like Eren suggested before she passed away, we wouldn't have had to deal with all these hardships. We could have sent out a message to the Capitol and requested another train.

But no. Everybody voted against her and she didn't even live long enough to pout. She was the first of us survivors to die. The berries she had grabbed from a small tree had killed her in an instant. It was sickening to watch as the juice dripped down her chin, burning through her skin like acid. It had burned its way through her throat, leaving a fresh trail of muscle and torn skin down her neck and along the top bit of her chest. But that was in no way the most violent death that had occurred. No. Not even close. When we found ourselves faced against a pack of wolves, we had no other option but to let the only two with guns to take them on. Some of us had salvaged makeshift weapons from the train and a few of us received knives that were stashed in the Captain's cabin, but against a bunch of wolves with sharp teeth, we were no match.

And neither was Jacks as he was violently torn to shreds by one of the wolves. We came back for his gun and water a bit later but the only thing left was a pool of blood and limbs that were almost unrecognizable. The smell was terrible and his partner Forrest had run in the other direction when he saw his friend. We didn't see him afterwards. I hoped that he had lived. All of us doubted it though. It was hard enough to survive as a group out here, let alone as a solo man with no reason to live. We had all seen such terrible things that we'd never really be the same. It would take some sort of psychiatrist to fix us because the bloody images would forever be burned in our minds. And every time I tried to smell anything, the horrid stench of blood and gore was all that my nose could smell.

There was Sexticus's death too. He had been a Capitol game show host, having used the name Sexticus because his fan's loved it. His real name was Shawn Jacobs but he didn't last long enough for us to be able to use it. He had drowned in one of the lakes we decided to cool off in. He told us about his job and name but neglected to say that he couldn't swim and would need help. He was dead before any of us had noticed him struggling in the water. Each and every one of us had felt guilty afterwards, not speaking for at least another two or three miles. Nobody wanted to admit to being the main one who was guilty. There was a common understand between us that none of us meant for it to happen and we couldn't have stopped it.

We couldn't have stopped any of this from happening. Nobody could have predicted that the train would derail and smash against the rough ground. It was impossible to know that all of this would happen. And it seemed like there would be no way to end all of it unless we could find the Capitol soon. If not, each and every one of us would die from exhaustion or thirst, like Mikalec had. The poor Avox had offered every single scrap of food and every sip of water he had to everybody else so that we could live. He had offered his life for us to live and we barely knew anything about him. Just that his name was Mikalec and he had belonged to Harris. They had been best friends and weren't what you think a master and slave relationship would be like. No, they were the complete opposite. And Mikalec had died after Harris had, joining him in wherever you go after death.

"Pilot. How's the arm?" I ask, my voice slightly scratchy. I peer over my shoulder carefully, hearing a crack in my neck because my limbs had been so stiff. He just mumbled quietly, not giving a straight answer. We would all die soon if we didn't get help as soon as possible. We would all die and nobody would know that the twelve survivors from the train crash had all passed away. Maybe nobody knew that a train crashed. The route was one of the less traveled ones and maybe the derailed train hadn't been found yet. That was what added a whole new level of fear. The idea of nobody knowing where we were. It scared me. All of this. I didn't want to die yet. I mean, it was better than the Games because I was with the ones I cared about but I just didn't want to die.

And thankfully, I wouldn't have to. I could see the large building far in the distance. A building that would never be in a District because of its sparkling outside and enormous height. Not even District One would have buildings that were that amazing. I raised my hand quickly, pointing towards the building. My other hand had let go of Dashica's as I picked up speed, running towards the area in hopes of getting there. I could hear the others pick up speed behind me as well as a shout of joy from Pilot. The dirt was perfect to run on, no obstacles getting in my way of barreling towards the large building. As we got closer, more buildings were visible and eventually, a large gate. "The Capitol!" I yelled out, so glad that we had finally found it. And as we neared the large gate, the only thing that crossed my mind was that we were alive.

Alive, but with at least fourteen guns pointing at us. Each Peacekeeper at the gate had their rifles pointed towards our group, shouting for us to step back. "Wait! Please! We were on a train and it crashed! We have proof!" I yelled out, throwing my hands up. Pilot and Dashica did the same. I stepped in front of Dashica, making sure that they didn't take a shot at her. I wouldn't be able to see her die. It would kill me inside. I slowly reached towards my pocket, putting my hand in and then pulling out the ticket. "He's got a weapon!" The ticket leaves my pants as I raise it a bit higher. But that person must have really thought a ticket was violent as he took one shot towards me. The bullet planted itself into my shoulder, tossing me back into Dashica's arms. I yelped out, regaining my balance and pushing against the wound.

"Weapons down!" One of the officers shouted out, making his way towards us. He must have seen my ticket. His steps were very loud and solid as he came much closer, stopping in front of me. He pulled the ticket from my hands, reading all the details. "You, boy, are lucky you have this. Let's get you in." He stated as he lead me up towards the gate. Dashica and Pilot then showed their passes to other officers as we were all brought through. That's when I could finally see the true beauty of the Capitol up close. Considering they did such sick things to us, they really did know what beauty was. The buildings were tall and colorful, the architecture being very detailed and complex. And the few people that walked by looked so quirky and odd that I couldn't help but want to smile. However, the bullet in my shoulder kind of prevented me from doing anything but grimace.

We were lead down a long road by the main officer. I peered over at his badge, noting that his name was Jacks. The shock hit me right away. He had a brother? I immediately want to speak but know that it might not be the right time. I didn't know how much longer I could stand up with a bullet in my shoulder. I was already feeling the pain and wanting to lay down. My eyes had been droopy from the exhaustion of walking so much already but the pain was threatening to bring them closed tightly. Plus my throat ached, begging for some sort of water. Once we arrived where we were going, I was sure I could get some water. That's all I wanted. I just wanted to taste the cold liquid and know that I was alright. And I wanted to know that Pilot's arm would be alright and that Dashica would be alright. I only wanted that. I just wanted to live. That's all I wanted.

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

∂αмєη
Capitol Resident

1,550 POSTS
last seen Feb 25, 2016 23:49:47 GMT -5

awesome title [gage fic] Jul 23, 2011 23:00:18 GMT -5

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Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 23, 2011 23:00:18 GMT -5

HIS FAMILY

I had followed Pilot until he got to the front of the large building in the Capitol. It was supposed to be where the officials who listened to propositions for new things would work. They'd sit in a chair all day and wait as different people walked through the building and presented their many ideas. Most would be declined. Couldn't blame the officials. Most ideas sucked. But I was sure Pilot would do well. It was a great idea. I was confident that it would be accepted. "Is everything all good? It's working?" I asked, turning the device around and looking it over. It was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand and it could do so many things. It was a game sort of things. I really didn't bother to listen to those details to be honest though. Just the mechanical specs.

I left him at the front. Dashica had decided to do something else for the day so I had already said bye to her and promised to meet up somewhere so we could be with each other. I was just so glad to be somewhere where I didn't have to worry about dying every second of the day. No, I could be safe here in the Capitol. Except there was one thing that scared me. My family was somewhere here in the Capitol. They were living in this place and they had no idea that I was here. And if they happened to see me and recognize my face for some reason, I'd have a lot of explaining to do. But part of me was wanting for them to actually see me. Part of me wanted to see them so I could figure out why they left me when I was young. And part of me wanted to know if they still did care about me. Who knew, maybe they did and it killed them to know they left me when I was a kid. Maybe.

So, I turned back around and made my way up the stairs of the building, following where Pilot would have gone. Maybe they'd know where the Cooper's lived. I pushed open the door to reveal a very clean room. The floor was spotless and very clean. I could basically see my reflection in the checkered black and white ground. The walls were completely white and large, holding many paintings and lights. There were a few white couches along the walls, fake plants being on either end with a few tables dotting the front hall. There was a reception desk close by, also colored a bright white with a girl sitting behind it. She was tapping away a keyboard, obviously busy on some site. But I'd have to interrupt her anyways. She was the only one around.

And she was also a prime example of Capitolites. Her hair was colored white like the room, matching with everything in the room. As were her eyes and clothing and even her skin. She seemed to almost blend in with the things around her, except for her teeth. They were a disgusting yellow. So bad that I wondered why she didn't try surgery or something. I mean, it was easy to do it probably. Capitol technology could do anything if I heard right from the gossip mill back in District Three. But the only gossip I used to hear was from the coworkers when they spoke too loud. But it was probably true. How did she have white eyes? That was something that only Capitol technology could do. I mean, contacts existed but they weren't really that good. You'd still see a small hue of color through them.

And her name was Snow. Snow McGrip, according to the name plate. I moved forward, approaching the desk. I could hear her jaw smashing against the gum in her mouth as she chewed. It was a little gross but I ignored it as best as I could. "Ah, excuse me Ms. McGrip? Can you help me with something?" I asked, hoping I wouldn't bother her. And it seemed like I had because she momentarily stopped talking to shoot me a glare. But then she continued, letting out a little laugh. I side stepped to the left a tiny bit to see what was on the computer, only to see some sort of message box on it. "You're quite annoying, boy." She said, her voice high and like a shriek. I stepped back to the right, moving behind the computer to give her privacy again.

"Miss, I just need a few moments of your time." I say, trying to convince her. She leaned her head to the side as she looked towards me, obviously bored out of her mind. She was probably talking to some guy in another room, thinking she was so popular because people bothered to talk to her. Or maybe not. Who knew. She could actually be really popular for all I knew. "You have one minute. Speak." She muttered. "I need you to find some people for me. Under a reference thing. I need their address. Cooper is their last name." I said quickly, watching as she started tapping away on the keyboard into some search bar. Then four names came up. And each one were family members of mine. Both my siblings and both my parents.

I looked at the address, memorizing it right away. "That's them! Thank you." I shouted out, pushing my way through the door and out into the street. My running has never been the greatest. I've never been the fastest or most coordinated, but I could still handle running through streets that weren't very crowded. It was midday, most people were working and not wandering the Capitol streets. So, I didn't have to worry about tripping over people's legs or running into them. Instead, I was able to make my way to the address with ease, only tripping and scraping my knees once. It was kind of embarrassing but luckily nobody was around. Thankfully cause it would have been funny to see somebody trip on a flat surface.

And then I was in front of the home. Making way up the front steps and up to the door. My brother and sister would be twenty now, so it made sense that they'd live in the same place. And if my timing was great, they'd be home. I slowly lifted my hand and then tapped on the door lightly. The loud sound of running then followed and I knew somebody was home. And when the door swung open in front of me, I saw a girl in the doorway. "Hello, may I help you?" She asked, not really recognizing me. I could tell that she knew that she knew me from somewhere. There was a look in her eye that said that. And there was also the purple bruise around her eye that was hard not to notice. "Georgia?"

And then she figured it out, throwing herself into my arms. "Gage! Is it really you?" She asked, tears pouring from her eyes. I could tell by the sound of her voice. She held me tightly and I did the same. I had missed her, I really did. And then I heard somebody making their way down the stairs. And I soon saw Victor, who was basically the spitting image of me. He stopped in the hall, staring right at me with awe. "Oh my god, Gage. How did you get here?" He asked, his mouth wide open. And so, I followed as I was guided into the home to tell them everything that had happened. And for once, I was happy. And I liked it.

Last Edit: Jul 23, 2011 23:36:30 GMT -5 by ∂αмєη

all I need's a whisper in a world that only shouts

∂αмєη
Capitol Resident

1,550 POSTS
last seen Feb 25, 2016 23:49:47 GMT -5

awesome title [gage fic] Jul 23, 2011 23:00:50 GMT -5

Quote

Post by ∂αмєη on Jul 23, 2011 23:00:50 GMT -5

MEETING WITH HIS SIBLINGS

They lead me into the quiet home. It was amazing. Better than the building I was in earlier. The floor was made of a smooth ceramic material, similar to what my kitchen floor was made from. It was colored a dark grey, looking good with the dark red walls that formed each and every room. The furniture was also colored a dark grey color, matching with everything. There was a fireplace in between two couches, holding a few picture frames. I made my way over to them, looking at the various pictures of my family. One was of Victor and Georgia, both of them smiling in front of a Christmas tree. That would have been a year or two after they left, based on how old they looked. They aged in each picture, ending with one that looked like it could have been taken seconds ago. Georgia had a dark black eye, and the smile on her face was evidently fake. And the long scratch down his face was still on it today.

But there was one last photo on the fireplace. A photo of a young boy in my mother's arms. "This photo..." I mutter quietly. Victor approaches from behind, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Yeah, that's you Gage." He said. His voice was deep yet comforting. It was soothing, like the type of voice you heard in...I don't even know. Either way, it was calming and it made me comfortable. And to hear that my parents still had a picture of me on their fireplace seemed to make me so much more happier. "Do all of you remember me?" I asked quietly, staring at the picture of me as a child. This was all so much. I was so glad that all of this was happening. "Yes. Every night we pray for you to be alright."

And the thought of that makes my legs feel like jello. I drop down in the nearby chair, placing my head in my hands. "I know it's a lot to take in. We've missed you Gage." Georgia whispered, taking a seat in the couch nearby. All of this is exactly what I wanted to hear. But I still didn't forgive them. I had no reason to forgive them. They still did leave me, even if it bothered them. I lift my head from my hands to wipe away the tears, taking a look around the room at everything. "Where are they?" I ask. And that's when the mood changes. There was something going on with my parents, I knew that much. And I wanted to figure it out. "At work. But they don't live here. They live down the street a bit."

So why were their names registered in the same home. What was going on? And that's when they began explaining everything. It was all too much now. Truly too much. My parents moved out a while ago, never bothering to officially change their address. That way, they'd receive money for taking care of their kids. Some Capitol law. And it's not like they wanted to move out. My brother and sister kicked them out. You see, the bruise and cut were from them. "They beat you?" I ask, clearing whatever was stuck in my throat. The solemn nod from Georgia confirmed that. "So why are all the pictures here if they treat you badly?" I ask, looking at the fireplace again. And then Victor speaks, explaining how they put them there. So, my parents didn't remember me then?

"They are sick people Gage. The Capitol has gotten to them. They cheered when people died in the Games last year. They actually cheered to see blood." Georgia muttered, looking down so as to not look at me. They proceeded to explain a few moments, almost making me sick to my stomach as I replayed last year's games in my mind. "And what about Katie Morven?" They look away right away. There was something they weren't sharing yet. I wanted to know what. And nothing would stop me from finding out. "The girl from three? They had a party afterwards. Because she killed herself. They like seeing the tributes go crazy." And that's when my heart began to hurt. I remembered every moment of her death.

And each time her suicide played back in my mind, it felt as if another piece of me was torn apart. Like it was ripped off my body with ease. "You knew her, didn't you?" Georgia asked, trying to get my attention back. I nodded, feeling the tears begin to ball up in my eyes. "She was a close friend. Really close." And the silence that followed allowed me time to try and regain myself. To try and forget about Katie and focus on my siblings. Eventually, I was able to clear my mind and focus on the two in front of me only. "So how'd you get here?" Victor asked, obviously trying to change the subject. Which was a good thing. I didn't want to linger on the subject of the Games. And it would be good to tell somebody about what happened.

"We were on a train. My friends Pilot and Dashica and I. I'm the mechanic for Pilot's game that he is presenting in the appeal building." I explained, remembering when the train ride was actually calm. Victor let out a quiet laugh, rolling his eyes a bit. "It better be a good game. They accept nothing usually. Stubborn goats." He glared at something in the distance, obviously remembering something. "They denied Victor's horrible idea for a tv show." Georgia added, also rolling her eyes. I couldn't help but laugh to at how they acted. It reminded me of when we used to all live together. It reminded of the good times before they left me to fend for myself. It reminded me of the best times of my life. When I had a family who loved me. Even if the other two were treated better, it still felt good.

"And then the train crashed." I said between their laughing. They both looked at me in shock, stopping their laughter immediately. I watched as both of their mouths dropped open. "Yeah. It derailed and set on fire. Only about twelve of us made it out alive. And then we had to walk here. Most of them died." I muttered, remembering all the horrible deaths I witnessed. All of it was tragic. Every last minute of it. And it ended with such a good thing. Getting to see my brother and sister. "Are you alright then?" Victor asked, looking really worried. I nodded my head before answering. "I barely got injured. It was getting here that was the worse."

I pulled down the collar of my shirt, showing off the bandages over my shoulder. "I didn't know that the officers at the gate thought that tickets were weapons. My bad." I said with a smile, and both of them relaxed a bit more. All was good for now. "How bad is it at home? I heard that the pollution has been getting bad too." Georgia asked, scratching her forehead. I couldn't help but let out a loud chuckle. "Oh yeah, it's bad. And everybody is trying to recover from last Games. They think the tributes this year will be great. Winners maybe. Everybody is excited." I said, smiling. If everybody is right, then maybe we might have a victor for these Games. That would be such an amazing thing to see. I haven't been able to see a District Three tribute win since I've been born. It would be amazing.

"Are you worried about the Reapings?" Georgia was looking at me, sadness in her eyes. It felt good to know that they were worrying about me. That my siblings still loved me. "A bit. But this is my last year really. I won't have to worry about it next year. And I haven't taken tesserae ever." I say with a smile. That was enough to calm my brother and sister down. Until there was a knock on the door. Victor's eyes immediately shot to the clock hanging on the wall and his expression changed completely. "Shit, they're home early. Bring him out the back." He muttered, pushing himself out of the couch and towards me. He pulled me into a tight hug. "Come back and see us tomorrow if you are still here. Please. They will probably hurt us and you if they know you're here." He whispered into my ear, finally letting me go.

Georgia grabbed me by the hand and then lead me through the kitchen and to a screen door. She pushed it open and walked with me down the stairs. She also gave me a hug and quickly gave me directions to the town square. "I love you Gage." And that's how she left me. She ran back inside the home, closing up a solid wood door behind the screen. And that's when I set off in a run, hoping over the small fence that separated their backyard with the neighbors. I followed her instructions until I made it back to the appeal building. Running up the stairs, I mentally counted the time I had been there. Two hours. Pilot would be done any moment now unless they denied him right away. And my two hours were so well spent.

I pushed through the doors of the appeal hall. The white inside was welcoming again and Snow was still sitting at her desk. I made my way up to her, a smile covering the whole bottom have of my face. "Miss, I'd like to thank you for giving me that address. They are...close friends of mine." I muttered, wanting to say something. She just nodded, still not turning away from the chatting window. And that's when I hear the deep clearing of a throat. I turned around to see Pilot with a big smile on his face and a paper in his hands. "So?" I said, eagerly wanting to know the news. He made his way over to me, pulling me into a brotherly hug. "Nailed it like a bitch." He laughed his loud laugh, showing me the paper.

So maybe this trip wasn't too bad. Sure, the train had crashed. Yes, there were many tragic deaths that I would never be able to forget. All of that was horrible. But Pilot's game succeeded. And he was happy. And I got to see my family. And no matter what, we stuck together. Now, things are getting cheesy, but it really is true. But one thing still bothered me a bit. My parents were Capitolites. True Capitolites. And my siblings were in danger. And I couldn't have that. I wasn't done in the Capitol. I'd have to find something to do to help. It was just who I was as a person. So, we weren't leaving yet. Not until I helped my brother and sister.