.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana.

new

« Prev
1
Next »

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 9, 2011 19:59:01 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Mar 9, 2011 19:59:01 GMT -5

The girl drifted through the trees, leaves crunching underneath her feet, arms limp at her sides. There was no urgency in her step, no shortness of breath, nothing of the kind. She merely moved, aimless steps, meandering from side to side, a sort of drunken stumble through the forest. Shoulders slumped forward, eyelids sliding far over her down-turned eyes, she walked, not yet sure where she was going, but knowing, just knowing, she'd screwed up, big time.

Good one, Ariadne.

It still hadn't sunk in yet...what she'd done. It lay, quivering, at the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to destroy her. Gone was the Ariadne who was defiant towards that horrible Peacekeeper, and reappearing was the shivery, weak 15 year old she truly was. And she was about to turn 16 too, if she wasn't already a year older. Time had lost its importance, it was mere distraction, an explanation for the aging of humans the destruction of people. Ariadne could feel it on her skin, the time spent in the dark, damp cell rolling across it. It caused the deadened look in her face, the sunken cheeks, dull eyes. Time brought on the matted nest of hair she sported, tendrils falling to her shoulders, and the dry cracking of her lips and skin. She was the only dead-looking thing in the forest for miles. The woods she'd grown so familiar with were full of its usual life. Birds flew from their branches, singing cheerfully to each other as she approached. The morning mist still clung to the grass, swirling around her ankles, mixed in with her visible breath. Small furry creatures scurried past her, frightened by the sound of cracking sticks. And there was Ariadne, not even out of her teen years, and a horrible mess. Both inside and out.

She'd messed up. It was inevitable. She’d done something unforgivable, and now was forced to grapple with the guilt for the rest of her life. It had leeched onto her skin, sucking her blood out, draining her, only a spark of determination keeping her moving now. Her foot caught on a root, and she fell forward, flat on her face. Her elbows and knees stung, dirt flying up and coating her filthy face. For a moment, she lay there, overcome by it all, beating her down, her head aching. She watched an ant, a few inches from her face, make its way across the ground. The cold air caressed her skin, and she dwelled for a second on getting up or not. Easily, she could lie there, and let the cold wrap her up. Or she could get up. Getting up meant she must keep moving, towards an unclear goal. Back into the realm of self-denial, and uncertainty, shrouded in guilt. Staying down…well, that meant danger. And at the moment, thoughts muddled, she wasn’t sure which was worse. The ant had made its way to a leaf, and was slowly crawling across it, content upon itself, having made it to its destination. Birds stopped singing, wings stopped flapping. A squirell paused in breaking a nut open. Tension was in the air, decisions lying heavily across it. Then, slowly, but steadily, Ariadne pulled herself to her feet, clawing at a nearby tree to find her balance. She didn’t bother to wipe the mud from her clothes, or tie her shoe. It hardly mattered. She kept walking.

It wasn’t long before her feet found that familiar rhythm. Her eyes stared straight ahead, her arms hung loosely. Exactly how she’d been walking for the past few days. Just walking. The goal now was the move. Ever since she’d been released from the Detention Center, all she’d done was walk, move. She had no place else to go. Without weapons, she’d resorted to eat carcasses she’d found, occasionally killing a bird with a stone, or spearing a fish with the pointed end of a stick. Her health had lost value, and more than once, she’d find herself throwing up the water she hadn’t bothered to purify. It only added to the grime that caked her body and clothes. It was just a sliver of interpretation to the tumult she faced inside.

She’d tried and tried to ignore it over the passing days. She’d pushed it far from her mind, and when it tried to cloud her thoughts, she’d distract herself. However, when night fell, it all flooded back. Darkness was frightening, it held many secrets one is unable to see. It whispered to her all the awful things she’d done. It tore at her skin, tugged at her hair, widened her eyes. It told her the truth she had tried to run away from.

She’d cut out her friend’s tongue.

At that point, she’d already been fighting with the possibility that he hadn’t been her friend at all. Greg, whom had accompanied her on an adventure, to search for that impossible goal, had scorned her. He’d turned her away in the end, laughed at her, smirked at her. Perhaps it was revenge that made her slice down, severing his tongue, just as the Peacekeeper holding her had wanted. Or maybe it was fear. Either way, she’d done it. And chances are, she’d never see Greg again, never laugh with him, or talk to him. Or at least ask him why he’d done it! Why he had told her the thing she’d been trying to avoid for so long. That her parents hadn’t wanted her.

It was the horrible thought she’d banished for so long, but had resurfaced in that interrogation room, by her friend! Just another struggle for her. For so long, Asimila, the woman who had found her as a infant in the forest, had pushed those thoughts away. She’d never answered Ariadne’s questions about her family, saying she, Asimila, was her family. The only thing she’d ever said anything about Ariadne’s parents was, “all parents love their children.” Asimila had really meant herself, referring to herself as Ariadne’s parent, the women who named her and raised her, but Ariadne had taken it a different way. At the time, she always believed it must have to do with her real parents. That something must have happened that caused them to leave her behind. Years spent under the cover of the trees, sitting amongst grass and animals had created many ideas, many musings, that had now collapsed under the weight of denial. No parents would leave their children behind. She’d been left to die. And she should’ve died. Much rather than live with this…this thing on her chest. She’d lived on childhood fantasies, high on hope, and brought someone else into it. Her actions, her yearning to find the parents that didn’t want her, had caused someone to lose their tongue. It had thrust her back into the forest, without a goal, without anyone to turn to, and a young man off to the Capitol as a slave. She was on her own. Asimila had gone off, convinced there was more than Pamen. She was just as foolish as the child she’d raised. And Greg…he was gone now, into a life of slavery, one that she’d caused.

Ariadne stopped short, her feet removing to go any farther until her glazed over eyes took in the surroundings. The clearing was familiar. Horribly familiar, and her stomach lurched. It was where they’d been taken. Where the Peacekeepers had finally caught up with the fugitives, herself and Greg. Rain had washed away most of the remnants, the scuff marks on the ground, the blood, but the memories were still fresh. Trying desperately to run, but behind forced to the ground, knocked out, her javelin being released from her grasp…her javelin! The trusty weapon that had pulled her through much was nowhere to be found. In a fit of willpower, Ariadne walked forward, and began rummaging through the bushes. Her hands worked quickly, and when they came up without the weapon, she moved on to the next shrub. After ten minutes of this, she knew she’d scratched away at this clearing far too long, and it wasn’t here. None of it was. Not her packs. Not even the rest of her baby blanket.

Tears threatened to roll down her cheeks, as she reached into her back pocket and brought out the ratty fragment. It was the baby blanket she’d been swaddled and left in. The initials C.T. were stitched into this piece, the rest of it ripped away from her when she’d been arrested. For a moment, she held it in her hand. It had long since lost its softness, beauty and meaning. All it was now was a tattered piece of fabric that meant nothing. She stared at it, heart thumping loudly, stomach churning, before she let it slip through her fingers. It fell, lightly, to the ground. Licking her lips, Ariadne stepped down on it, grinding it into the dirt. It meant nothing to her, it was to be disposed of. Her limps trembled slightly, tears finding their way onto her face. A sob formed in her throat, and as she hastily swallowed it down, another bursting forward to take its place. Body shaking, her legs gave way under her. The birds took flight from the trees, leaves rustling with their flapping wings, and animals scurried away. Her sobs rebounded off of the bark, her tears streaming down her face, dirty, salty water curving onto her lips. Back arched, legs pulling themselves into her body, Ariadne formed a ball, bawling. She cried and cried, and when it seemed she’d settle down, her breathing slowing, the sobs came back, and she was forced back into the fetal position. She’d been so stupid! She’d screwed up! How could this have happened?! How?!

Finally, it all ended. The shudders stopped, the tears refused to continue flowing, and she could breath. She lay there, calming down, slowly and gently, until finally the strength came to stand up again. She didn’t glance around back at the brush, nor at the blanket. She set her eyes directly in front of her once more. That was the goal. Not what was behind her. What was in front of her. It wasn’t long before she’d reached a small pond. Reeds swirled around in the gently lapping water, and lilies floated above the surface. Stripping down to her undergarments, silently, Ariadne dipped her dirty clothes in the water, before leaving them on rocks to dry. Slowly, she walked into the water.

The first blast of cold water on her feet and ankles sent shivers up her spine, but Ariadne disregarded it. It wasn’t until she was fully submerged, did she relax. The icy water was the therapy she needed. She needed to wash it all away. The blood on her skin, the shadow on his hands on her body, the scraping of a knife on her neck. She left it all slip away into the water. It slid off of her skin, sinking into the water, and a sigh escaped her mouth. Toes scraping the muddy ground, Ariadne leaned back, breathing in deeply before sliding underneath the water. Her eyes opened, introducing themselves to a murky world. Green light mixed in with gray accents swirled before her. She watched as silvery fish darted past, as serenity came over her. Nothing could get in her way now. Not the fact of what she did. She wasn’t going to let it. She was safe…here…under the water…forever…

Bubbles escaped her mouth, and her lungs seared. For a moment, Ariadne fought to stay under, while her body’s instinctive response was the get back up. Her body won out, and her head broke the surface, water droplets flying, her wet hair slapping against her neck. Cold air shot sharply into her lung, and for a moment, she gagged. She leaned over in the water, her chest heaving, desperately trying to collect air. Slowly, she calmed, goose bumps rising along her arms. There was a moment where the only sound was her breathing and the rippling water around her. Sighing, Ariadne waded out of the water, dressed, and laid down in a nearby field, letting the sun’s rays pass over her, gently drying her, craving a quiet moment. Her fingers rhythmically combing out her tangled hair, her eyes closed, body slowly calming down. Her mind was off, thoughts sinking back down. The tears were gone. Yes, the regrets were still there, but the tears were gone. And that’s how she wanted it…

She knew she should move on, but still, she didn’t get up. The grass blew around her, rabbits hopping nearby. All was at ease, except her. Never her. Inside, she was still in turmoil, stomach churning, heart beating quick…

Because Ariadne was absolutely lost. She’d reached a wall. She had no where else to go now.

Last Edit: Jun 22, 2011 17:40:14 GMT -5 by Rosetta

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 10, 2011 20:27:50 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Mar 10, 2011 20:27:50 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

If someone had asked Redge how many days it had been since he had left District Ten, he would not have been able to tell them. The number of days was not important to him. All that mattered was getting home, eventually. But before he went home, he had to be certain the Peacekeepers weren't still looking for him. He'd been trying to start a rebellion, and he saw now that was a foolish thing to do. With both his parents dead, he was the only one left to take care of his younger sister, Savannah. He should have tried to stay out of trouble for her sake, if nothing else. But he'd been silent for so long. Year after year, he'd seen the injustices of the Capitol and had done nothing about it. And when he had tried to do something, he had been caught. Whipped for the whole District to see. And as if that wasn't enough, the Peacekeepers had also informed him they'd be taking him to the Detention Center. And there, he may have been killed. So Redge had done the only thing he could: he ran.

It still surprised him, that he'd managed to have the time to take what he could from his small house before the Peacekeepers arrived. He'd packed clothes, a small amount of food, some string for snares he didn't know how to set, and a pocketknife that had been his father's. He'd even had time to scrawl a note to Savannah. It didn't go too in-depth, it just stated that the Peacekeepers were after him and he'd be back for her one day, when it was safe. It had been fall when he'd left. He survived off edible plants he recognized from books at school, and taught himself how to set a snare. That first winter had been hard, but Redge had survived. He'd lost a substantial amount of weight, but he had lived.

The Spring and following Summer had been good. Redge had avoided all other humans. He didn't want to get involved in their problems. He wasn't looking to plot a rebellion with them, not now. He was just biding his time, waiting until it was safe for him to go back for Savannah. Savannah was all that had mattered. Rebellion could wait. And now, another Winter had passed, and Redge's second Spring of Wandering began. This season marked a year and half since leaving District Ten. It was time to go home.

Spring was evident all around him. Birds flew gracefully through the air, held polite conversation from the trees. Squirrels played their little games and rejoiced for another Spring. They'd get to gathering and storing food later, after they'd stretched out limbs that had gone too long with too little exercise. Creeks, streams, and rivers overflowed with the melting snow, causing these bodies to deviate from their natural courses. But Redge didn't notice any of this. He was thirsty, he was hungry, he was tired. His canteen banged against his hip with each step he took, reminding him it was empty. All this melt water, all the overflowing creeks, and he couldn't find a single one of them. Two days, he'd been wandering, trying to find water, too weak to hunt. He was afraid to stop, afraid he wouldn't be able to get up again. So he went on, searching, searching, half-dead already.

Sploosh! Sploosh? What sort of thing would make that sound? Redge looked don at his feet, which were suddenly cold, and-wet. A pond. He could see straight through the limpid water to the pebbly bottom, some five or six feet below. Redge scooped water up with his hands, brought it to his mouth. The dryness didn't go away at first, but after a few more mouthfuls, his mouth bean to moisten again. Getting the water with his hands was taking too long, and he was losing too much water as he did it, both dripping from his hands and dribbling down his chin. He stuck his face in the water and began to drink, much like a dog would. It didn't matter to him that his clothes were getting wet. He had water.

Water rushed up Redge's nose. He inhaled sharply, and water rushed down his throat into his lungs. Coughing hard, he pulled himself up from the shallows of the pond. He must have fallen asleep for a few seconds. The water burned in his lungs, seared him. He tried to cough it up, but it didn't work so well. The water rushed up his throat anyways, and he vomited the clear liquid onto the grass nearby. He needed food, something to help keep the water down. Something to fill his belly, if only a little. If he ate too much, he might vomit again. He had to eat little bits, get his stomach used to food again. It had only been two days since he had last eaten, but he was sure his stomach would protest to any amount of food.

A short distance away from the pond, Redge spied a bush. It was dotted with bright red berries. He slogged through the pond water to take a closer look at them. They were edible. He picked a small handful and ate them, trying desperately not to grab more berries, grab all of them, and shove them in his mouth. Back at the pond, he filled up his canteen, then drank two handfuls of water. Time to keep moving. It was the middle of the day, but he needed to sleep. There were plenty of places in the forest he could go and sleep without worry of being found. There were a few caves, he knew, and hollow logs. If need be, he could tie himself up in a tree and sleep there.

One would think that in a year and a half of solitude, Redge would have come across other humans. He had, occasionally, but always passed them by after a short conversation. Mostly he just asked them if anything important had happened in the Districts, and he told them what he knew from others. He would have doubted his ability to speak to those people, thinking he had gone as mute as his sister. But he often spoke aloud to himself, if only to chase away the loneliness, so he knew his voice still worked.

After a short walk, Redge came upon a meadow. He wouldn't normally have considered resting in a meadow, but this one was so beautiful, so green and fresh. The grass was fairly tall, too, and he was sure t would conceal him if he was laying down. The weak Spring sunlight was growing stronger as midday approached, and Redge thought he could take a nap while the sun dried his clothes. He plopped down in the grass, setting his backpack net to him. Leaning back against the cool earth, the sun beat down on his face and warmed his body. He put his hands behind his head and rested like that for a while.

There was a rustling in the grass very close by. Redge's eyes shot open. Human or beast? Friend or enemy? He turned his head slowly to one side, then to the other. He jumped in surprise when he saw a foot protruding from a thick patch of grass. Not his own foot, but someone else's. Someone else who was laying in the grass not two feet from him and probably didn't even know he was there. Redge fumbled for his pocket knife, ready to protect himself if this person proved to be a foe.

((ooc-That ended up being longer than I thought.))

Last Edit: Mar 10, 2011 20:47:13 GMT -5 by Morgana

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 13, 2011 14:00:54 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Mar 13, 2011 14:00:54 GMT -5

Ariadne

Ariadne reacted almost immediately, the second she heard a sound, a footstep, far louder than that of rabbits hopping. Eyes snapping open, she leapt to her feet, and instantly gasped. A boy stood nearby, taller and older than her, with a crop of black hair, and a knife in his hand. Her breathing became short and quick at the sight of the knife, memories flooding back of a scalpel…one in her hand, forcing her to sever her friend’s tongue. She stared at him for a moment, in horror, her eyes darting from his face to the knife. The skin on her neck tingled with the painful memories. Her hands flew up, her eyes widened, and she uttered one, fearful word. “Don’t.”

It had long since stopped sounding odd on her tongue. This was the Ariadne that begged and pleaded for mercy, not the one who shrugged it off, laughed at it. There was a time where she would sneak into districts, steal something, and run, laughing all the way. Peacekeepers never caught on, and if they did, well they could never catch them. She was too good, she thought she was too good. But the Detention Center had taught her how wrong she was. Fear was reverberating through her body, and she hastily swallowed, her hands still in the air. Although this kid seemed anxious, she could still never know. She was helpless; he could do anything to her right now. Rape her. Hurt her. Kill her. She was just a weaponless, shaking 15 year old girl. And the sad thing was: she knew no matter what he did, she wouldn’t find it in her to fight back. It just wouldn’t come. She’d become limp. She’d lost her faith in herself.

Tension hung heavily in the air, and Ariadne merely stared at him, contemplating running, but she wasn’t sure how far she’d get. Her knees knocked against each other, her chest heaved, and the birds slowly returned to the nearby trees to watch. Her moss-green eyes never left his face-he was almost handsome, but his looks weren’t going to matter if he hurt her. Finally, she dropped her arms, and took a small step back. She thought, instantly, of Greg, of him finding her in his backyard, and inviting her inside. He hadn’t thought twice about endangering himself, he merely wanted to help the hopeless looking girl. He had seen through her disguise, seen her only as the lost teenager she truly was.

“Who are you?” She asked, taking another small step backwards. A rabbit hopped nearby, and she felt a surprising urge to pick it up and hold it, squeeze it to her chest. She backed up further, but bumped into a tree, coming to the edge of the field, to the outskirts of the forest. The birds took off once more. Fear was boiling inside of her now, showing perfectly on her face. Her eyes were wide, mouth open, eyebrows knit. Her breath came short and quick, her hands tightened into fists. Suddenly, she was frightened of this boy. Frightened of the knife she held-no, he held it, not her, he had the knife this time. She had no protection, words had escaped her, she was vulnerable, an easy target to anyone who wanted to hurt her. Tears pooled in her eyes, wishing Greg were there, wishing so much they hadn’t been caught, they hadn’t been interrogated, she had turned him into an Avox. “Stay away from me,” she warned, her voice squeaking. “Please.”

Last Edit: Mar 13, 2011 14:03:40 GMT -5 by Rosetta

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 19, 2011 11:28:33 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Mar 19, 2011 11:28:33 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

Afraid. This girl that had appeared suddenly from the grass was afraid. Afraid of him. Redge wasn't a person to fear. He was the type of person people come to with their problems. He was one to help, not frighten. At least, he had been, back in District Ten. Now was the perfect time to remind himself that nothing was the same as it had been when he'd left that place. People out here, if he crossed their paths at all, had reason to be wary of him. They didn't know him, didn't know he meant them no harm. This girl, apparently, thought he would do something to her, for the first word she uttered was, "Don't." At her words, Redge lowered his pocket knife.

She looked so innocent, so afraid. Her straight brown was damp, and her green eyes were opened wide in terror. Perhaps she had taken a dip in the very same pond as Redge had. He touched his own wet hair, thinking for a moment that she'd see it and understand he meant no harm. But that didn't make any sense. Just because they'd both been to the same pool of water at some point in the same day did not mean they wouldn't hurt each other. The girl, certainly, wouldn't hurt Redge, for she didn't seem to have a weapon. He slipped his knife back into his satchel, hopefully showing the girl that he did not want to fight.

She backed up until she was against one of the trees that ringed the meadow. Her hands were held up still in surrender. Tears now flooded her eyes but did not spill over. as all of this just because of him and his knife? No, it could not be. He wanted to fix this. It wasn't right for someone to be so terrified of him. he didn't want to hurt her, didn't want her to be afraid of him anymore. She looked so young. She probably wasn't much older than Savannah. What was she doing out here all alone? Surely there was someone else here, someone protecting her.

Redge obeyed her wishes and did not step nearer to her. Rather, he stayed where he was, a good ten feet away, to answer her question. "My name is Redge. Redge Kemping. I don't want to hurt you. I was just surprised. I didn't expect to see anyone else here." He scratched at his arm awkwardly, wishing this whole situation could have just been avoided. He may have been good at talking to people once, but after a year and a half of speaking to no one but himself, those skills had seemed to disappear. "You're not all alone here, are you? I mean, there's someone...taking care of you or something, right? You seem kind of young to be out here all alone."

Last Edit: Mar 19, 2011 11:28:54 GMT -5 by Morgana

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 20, 2011 19:02:43 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Mar 20, 2011 19:02:43 GMT -5

"My name is Redge. Redge Kemping. I don't want to hurt you. I was just surprised. I didn't expect to see anyone else here."

It surprised her when he didn’t come any closer to her. The nature of people was physical contact. It was just the way things went. If he wasn’t going to hurt her, she half-expected him to come up to her. But, he didn’t. He stayed a safe distance away, that pocket knife disappearing from view. She gradually relaxed, taking a step away from the tree. Her hands fell to her sides, her breathing slowed, but her eyes remained fixated upon him. He appeared awkward, uncomfortable, as if he wished he weren’t here. Good, then he can leave, she thought, stubbornly. She was quite disappointed in herself for her reaction. The fear ebbed away completely now, replaced by self-aggravation. All she wanted to do was…appear fine…because she was fine, wasn’t she? All she looked like now was some sort of messed up teenager. But, she was fine! Fine! There was absolutely nothing wrong with her.

Her mind failed to convince her. Ariadne was holding on at the seams, trying to recollect herself after she’d fallen and shattered. The pieces had become so small, too small to pick up, some pricking her. As much as she didn’t want to, something was telling her it was time to give up. Time to put the past behind her, and stop thinking about it. She needed to forget about Greg, what she’d done to him, and move on. But, you can’t put guilt down. You can’t cut it away. It’s always there, eternally lingering…

"You're not all alone here, are you? I mean, there's someone...taking care of you or something, right? You seem kind of young to be out here all alone."

Someone to take care of her? She seemed young? She nearly snorted with laughter, almost relieved that he said this, as guilt disappeared from her mind, swapped with aggravation at this ignorant boy. “Of course I’m out here alone,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me.” She took a small step towards him, completely relaxing. “Your name is Hedge or something, right?” She remembered. “Redge, sorry,” she wasn’t entirely sorry as she would be for the boy who first pulled a knife on her, and then insisted she was too young to be out on her own. “I’m Ariadne, and no, I’m not too young,” she said, obstinately. “I’m-” She faltered. When she’d been in the Detention Center, she’d realized her birthday was soon. Soon she’d be 16, an age that seemed to decide so much. It would finally pull her out of her childhood, and young teen years, into a young woman. Well, close to anyway. 15, she was a young girl, scared, too young to be on her own. That’s how Greg had seen her anyway, as someone who needed help, who couldn’t take care of herself. But, 16, that changed things. 16 was much older, cleverer. 16 was someone who could take care of themselves. “I’m 16,” she decided on, with a tone of finality. She didn’t know for sure, but either way, she’d be 16 very soon. Might as well act like it now. “So, I can take perfect care of myself, thank you very much.”

She contemplated him, trying to keep her new composure up. He looked a few years older than her, but he had the look of someone who had no idea what they were doing in the wildness. Unlike her, who’d grown up here, amongst the trees, and the animals. “What are you doing here?” She demanded to know, cocking her hip to the side. A District kid, most likely, she realized. “Why aren’t you in your district?”

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Mar 22, 2011 19:01:47 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Mar 22, 2011 19:01:47 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

She was apparently older than he thought. Sixteen, but she could be lying about that. She had paused before answering, as if formulating a lie, or trying to decide if lying was worth it, at least. Savannah was only fourteen. No, she'd be fifteen now, he reminded himself. He'd been gone so long, he could only wonder how she'd changed. Was she taller now? Prettier? Did she even care about him anymore, or had she found others to care about?

Redge shook his head. Ariadne was probably fine out here. It was just that protective older brother in him coming out after so long. It had been such a long time since he'd had anyone to protect. And Ariadne, being a girl, and nearly the same age as Savannah made him automatically protective of her. This girl wasn't like Savannah, no, not at all. Savannah was so quiet, and not just because she didn't talk anymore. There was a softness that seemed to follow her around, casting a hush over all she passed. Savannah could make people relax by just looking at them. She was such an easygoing, relaxing person. Redge was always happy just being with her, and she could always make him smile without trying.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in your district?” Ariadne asked. Redge shifted from one foot to another, trying to decide how much to tell her. The whole story was too long, the reasons too complicated. He struggled with the words in his head, trying to force them into something that made sense, something she would understand. And why was he here, at this moment? Savannah. All of it was for Savannah. The running, the coming here. All of it was for her. For keeping her safe.

"I tried to start a rebellion in District Ten, where I come from. The Peacekeepers caught me and whipped me. They said they were going to take me to the Detention Center, so I ran. I'd heard rumors of the place, and I didn't want to go there. So I ran. And Savannah- I left her a note, but she probably worries all the same. It's been over a year since I left. I'm trying to get back to her, because I figure it's safe now. I'm going to take her out here with me. We'll be together, and we'll be safe."

He'd told her more than he'd planned. She didn't care about what he was going to do after he left this place. It was none of her concern. They'd most likely part ways when this conversation came to a close, and never see each other again. But perhaps, after he had Savannah, they'd run into each other again. But then, Redge wasn't sure he'd want to. He'd only just met this girl, and he didn't have a clue what she was like. He might end up hating her in a few minutes. So why not attempt to get to know her better? "Why are you here?"

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Apr 2, 2011 14:00:58 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Apr 2, 2011 14:00:58 GMT -5

"I tried to start a rebellion in District Ten, where I come from. The Peacekeepers caught me and whipped me. They said they were going to take me to the Detention Center, so I ran. I'd heard rumors of the place, and I didn't want to go there. So I ran. And Savannah- I left her a note, but she probably worries all the same. It's been over a year since I left. I'm trying to get back to her, because I figure it's safe now. I'm going to take her out here with me. We'll be together, and we'll be safe."

She squinted at him, almost warily, indignantly. She was aggravated more like it. How had this boy escaped the Detention Center? Suddenly, she hated him for it. How dare he run away! He dare he not face the horrors she had to look in the eye! Her fingers tensed around the hem of her shirt. Savannah was probably his friend or something…she wondered for a moment if she was alright. If the Peacekeepers had known about her, they would surely target her, right? Time in the Detention Center had taught her enough about how the sadistic minds worked. It all had to do with using someone else. She knew it. She had been used.

"Why are you here?"

She stared at him. Why was she here? Ariadne was here because her parents abandoned her. A tiny baby, left alone in the wilderness to die. She’d been left to die. That little plan had failed though. Asimila had found her, named her, raised her. Ariadne was here because one woman wanted to keep her alive. She tried to protect her, tried to shield her from the fact that her parents didn’t want her. But Ariadne held on to that sliver of hope. Then Asimila was gone. Gone to look for something more. That idiot woman. Gone, and probably dead. Then came Greg. But, just like every other person in her life, he disappeared too. Faded away behind harsh words, a severed tongue, a grimy cell, and a bloody interrogation room. Ariadne was here…well, she didn’t why she was here. How she could still stand here, carrying the weight of guilt on her back.

“I’m here…” She paused, contemplating her answer in her head. Was she really about to tell this boy all that? Sure, he’d poured his heart out to her-the sap-but she certainly wasn’t going to tell him anything. Because he would judge her. Judgment was what she feared. Asimila used to tell her that people would judge her. People judged, that’s just the way they were. But then, she’d been carefree, having nothing to fear. Now, her past was something she shied away from, grimaced at. She didn’t want it. She wanted to leave it behind, forget about it. But, it hung over her head, a dark cloud, determined to haunt her. Ariadne didn’t know why she was here. It was like she was groping around in some infernal darkness, reaching and reaching, but always coming up empty-handed. “Because I live out here, you got a problem with that?”

She spoke much harsher than she meant to. All her frustration evaporated from her at once, and she faltered, dropping her previous attitude. She hadn’t noticed her crossed arms until now, and she slowly dropped them. “Sorry,” she muttered, looking away from him. “I don’t have a home, really. I’m not from the districts. I’ve been out here since I was a baby. I‘m probably not supposed to be out in the woods.”

I’m not even supposed to be alive.

But, she rid herself of that thought, immediately.

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Apr 11, 2011 17:23:32 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Apr 11, 2011 17:23:32 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

Her story -what little of it Redge knew- was intriguing. He wanted to ask her more about growing up outside the Districts, but he guessed this wasn't the time. He hadn't missed the look in Ariadne's eyes when he mentioned the detention center. he could only assume that she'd been there herself, or known someone who had gone. Redge had heard rumors about the place, but as of yet he had never been there. If the rumors were true, he never wanted to go.

Redge shifted from one foot to the other, looking up at the sky. A bird twittered in a tree somewhere, a rather annoyingly bright sound. He glared of into the trees, as if that would silence it. What had happened to his relatively good mood? He stared up at blooming white clouds, his hands in his pockets, searching for an answer. Oh, yes. He was wasting time here. He had to get back to Savannah as soon as he could. He was tired of wandering. It was time to go.

He scratched at the back of his neck, then looked back at the girl. "Look..." He shoved his hands back in his pockets, stalling for time as he tried to find words. "I really need to start heading back to Savannah. I was just heading for District One, and if you'd like to join me, you're welcome to."

He dropped his gaze down to his feet, intently studying a blade of grass that was still brown from the winter. Maybe she wouldn't come. What reason did she have to trust him? But Redge knew he'd like it if she did. It had been so long since he'd had human company, and he wasn't ready to part with it so soon. But if he had to, for Savannah, he would.

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Apr 15, 2011 16:39:36 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Apr 15, 2011 16:39:36 GMT -5

Ariadne could feel the uneasiness tainting the sweet spring air. She could also sense the curiosity, and it made her anxious. She crossed and uncrossed her arms, waiting for him to speak, but eventually just decided to stand still. Yes, stand still and perhaps the discomfort level will drop a bit. But, it didn’t. It reminded high in the air, an awkward, tense silence between the two. She didn’t want him to ask. He couldn’t ask. And if he did, what, would he expect her story in return? No way. She’d just-

"Look..."

She stared at him, her heart beating slightly faster, waiting for him to speak. He didn’t for a moment, obviously weighing his words in his head. She glanced at her feet, before looking back at him. Then, he spoke. “I really need to start heading back to Savannah. I was just heading for District One, and if you'd like to join me, you're welcome to."

There he was mentioning that girl Savannah again. And he wanted her to come with him? “What?” The word had left her mouth before she could stop it, a word filled with bemusement. This kid had just met her. And now he wanted her to accompany him to another district? Was he mad? “You just met me. How do you know you can trust me?”

Once more, she spoke without thinking, almost mocking him. Instantly, she groaned. How stupid could she get? She was appalled at him, when really, she should be shocked at herself for saying something idiotic like that. How do you know you can trust me…

The truth was, Ariadne didn’t even know if she could trust herself at that point. If she could, what she had just said would’ve remained in her mind. But, her thoughts were running wild now, escaping from through her mouth. Something had broken in Ariadne, severing the trust she had with anything, including her own self. Growing up in the forest had taught her a thing or two about trust. Animals trusted one another, Asimila trusted Ariadne, and Ariadne had trusted Greg. Trust isn’t meant to be broken. But, once it is, you’re thrust out, shivery, and broken, left with nothing to hold onto. Left not wanting to hold onto anything. So, really, Ariadne was just being truthful to this boy.

Still, she was weirded out by his forwardness. He’d just met her. He had already seen her fear, known her weakness, and was probably itching to know why she was so frightened, so jittery, but then so rude. It was odd enough that he would ask her to go with him. As far as he knew, she could be a serial killer. That meant he was trusting her-

“Oh no, I can’t-” She stopped herself, suddenly, staring at him. There comes a time in every person’s life when something happens, they have a calling so great, that they will do anything to fulfill it. Ariadne knew that. She had dragged Greg into her impossible dream. She’d trusted a boy she’d just met. She was being a hypocrite in finding this boy odd. She’d been set on pulling Greg through various districts, he only wanted her to accompany him to District 1. She’d never been to the District, knowing how unsafe it was, being all close to…the Capitol!

“I’ll come with you,” she said, quickly, breathlessly. “Let me come with you. And…” She paused, set on choosing her words carefully from now on. She couldn‘t even believe she was asking this. He betrayed her. Mostly. Couldn‘t she get that through her head? Through that thick skull that took fifteen years to realize she was abandoned. It was the same thick skull that echoed the same sentences over and over again: I need closure. I need to know. I need to find him. “You…you don’t have to come with me, but you have to help me.” She leaned close to him, lowering his voice, as if afraid the Capitol would hear. “I need to get into the Capitol. I need…I need to find someone. You understand that, don't you? I’ll help you go to District 1, and you have to help me into the Capitol. Deal?”

Heart racing, she extended her hand forward, praying that he could take it, and agree on her deal.

I’m coming, she promised the boy she thought she knew in her head.

Last Edit: Apr 22, 2011 21:02:07 GMT -5 by Rosetta

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Apr 26, 2011 18:23:40 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Apr 26, 2011 18:23:40 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

She spoke far sooner than Redge expected she would. His head snapped up, away from the blade of grass he was staring at, and to her face. “You just met me. How do you know you can trust me?” She had a point, and a rather good one. But Redge didn't need to trust her. What he needed more than anything was to get back to Savannah. He'd left her for too long. He could have gone back sooner, he knew that in his heart. But he'd liked wandering, and didn't want to give it up. Couldn't he be selfish for once in his life? He'd always had to take care of Savannah before. Sure, he hadn't minded it then. But it was only after his escape that he noticed how much he'd been missing.

Redge loved Savannah, there was no mistaking that. But he was older now, and so was she. After he got her out of District Ten, they could both be free. He wouldn't have to always take care of her. Nearly two years without him would have taught her how to do that. But what if she didn't want him anymore? She didn't need him, and she could have been so wounded by his leaving that she wouldn't want him back in her life. It was possible, but Redge refused to allow himself to believe it was true. He had to concentrate on Ariadne's words right now, not on Savannah.

His heart thumped as she started to refuse. He didn't need her with, of course, but he didn't want to part from human company so soon. That was the only reason he wanted her with, anyways. Well, maybe not. Perhaps it was also because he wanted to get going, and this girl stood in his way. Asking her along would help him get moving faster. She cut herself off, choosing other words instead. “I’ll come with you. Let me come with you. And…You…you don’t have to come with me, but you have to help me. I need to get into the Capitol. I need…I need to find someone. You understand that, don't you? I’ll help you go to District 1, and you have to help me into the Capitol. Deal?”

Redge's eyes widened. The Capitol? Was this girl crazy, or did she just have some kind of a death wish? Redge wasn't even sure it was possible to get into the Capitol. But of course, there had to be some way in. How else would they get their precious supplies and Tributes? But the more Redge thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. Maybe he didn't like the Capitol, or what they stood for, but he was sure it was beautiful there. And wasn't the point of being a Wanderer to wander? So far all he'd done was stumble around in the forest. He'd made it to the ocean, once, but he'd never gone back. So why not go with her? It was only a short detour, after all.

"Alright," Redge said slowly. "I'll go with you to the Capitol. But I think it would be best if we went there before District One. The Capitol's closer, so it only makes sense. Then we'll go to District One, and after that..." What then? There was no saying they'd even make it to District One. They might get caught in the Capitol, or Ariadne might decide she'd like to stay there. She might decide she couldn't stand being with Redge and leave him before they left the Capitol. There were too many variables in the situation. But Redge had to do it. He'd risk it, if only for human company. But that was it.

"We can leave tomorrow," Redge decided. "I'm tired and hungry, and the day's half gone anyway. Do we have an agreement?" He stuck out his hand, waiting for Ariadne to shake it and seal the deal.

Last Edit: Apr 30, 2011 18:55:18 GMT -5 by Morgana

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Apr 30, 2011 18:46:16 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Apr 30, 2011 18:46:16 GMT -5

His shocked reaction had been just what she’d expected. He’d probably thought her suicidal. Perhaps that’s what she was. She knew the risks. But, she also needed to know would happen if she made it, if she found him. If she found him, of course. The Capitol was huge, she was sure of it. There were probably hundreds of Avoxes there, and compared to the Capitolites, they could be lost in the fray. She’d heard of what Capitol people looked like. A colorful array of deformed people, who thought it all to be beauty. Ariadne had never counted herself as pretty. The only thing she liked about herself were her green eyes that reminded her of moss growing on the side of a rock, or leaves dangling down from a branch. Other than that, she didn’t find herself a sight to behold, with her crooked teeth, with that awful gap in between her front two, and her straight, unbrushed hair that hung limply around her sharp-featured face. The days in the Detention Center had long since paled her olive skin, almost giving it a grayish tone. She’d lost a lot of weight, and if she wear to lift her shirt, she’d easily be able to count her ribs. The blooming girl she’d once been was dying, a plant without water. So, even if she were to somehow make it into the Capitol, she’d never fit in. They’d sniff her out so easily. And she’d be back in that dark, awful cell and-

I’m crazy, she thought, I’m nuts, I can’t do this. What was she doing? Retreating back into the hollow husk of her old self, and dragging another boy into her life, into her impossible dreams? Was Redge going to lose his tongue too? Was she going to live with guilt for another? Could she dare to do this to him?

I need closure.

Once more, those three words found their way into her head, glossing over everything else. And again, Ariadne’s selfish yearning for peace of mind forced down any other concerns she had. And there she was, a familiar place, waiting for him to agree.

"Alright," he spoke, and her heart skipped a beat. But, not exactly in a good way. "I'll go with you to the Capitol. But I think it would be best if we went there before District One. The Capitol's closer, so it only makes sense. Then we'll go to District One, and after that..."

And she saw his hand extended before her. She just needed to take it. Take it and the probability of seeing him again would rise. She’d know soon. She needn’t worry, right? Her own quivering hand rose, and gripped his, tightly. She shook it, swallowing hard, and as soon as she could, she let go, and stared at the invisible burn, the scar the handshake had left.

They were to leave tomorrow. Redge claimed he was hungry and tired, and Ariadne’s stomach growled too. But, perhaps the emptiness in her body couldn’t be filled with food. There was some other form satisfaction that needed to find her. Or she needed to find it. “So, uhm,” she kicked at a rock near her foot, awkwardly. “That’s that.” She glanced around, eyes falling upon a patch of berries nearby. Her stomach panged at her again, as well as a fear that the berries will just make a reappearance if she dares eat them. A sort of queasiness came along with accepting this boy into her mission to the Capitol. Still, she motioned for him to follow her as she approached the bush.

“Here, let’s eat.” Awkwardly, she began picking a few berries, cupping them in her hands, then pouring them into her mouth. The juicy insides splattered into her mouth, the sweetness of it making her scrunch her nose, but she ate anyway.

Possibilities rose up inside of her as she ate, and quite contrary to her previous beliefs, she found herself eating more and more as the horror of what could happen overwhelmed her. What if she managed to find Greg and he turned her away? What if she couldn’t find him? What if he was dead after all, they killed him anyway? What if the entire trip was a waste of time? What if they were caught? They could be killed, captured, Avoxed, anything really. If the Capitol got their hands on either of them, they’d be in major trouble. And she didn’t exactly have a clean record. And Redge…

He’d never see this Savannah again. One mess up, and he would never get back to District 1 to her. Why did Ariadne shake his hand? Why didn’t she not accept it and go herself? Would Savannah sit in District 1 her entire life, waiting for this boy to come for her? Would she wonder and sigh, waiting and waiting? Would Ariadne feel the guilt for another on her shoulders?

“Hey Redge,” she said, quickly, nearly spraying him with blue juice from the berries. “I think-” She stopped herself, staring at him, her own selfishness rising inside of her again, making her realize she was useless on her own. “Let’s stay here for the night. It seems safe.”

Oh gosh, she looked down, at her trembling hands, clutching the berries. Hastily, she crushed them, juice seeping through her fingers, her teeth grit, trying to staunch the remorse built up inside of her. What have I done?

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. May 8, 2011 13:52:44 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on May 8, 2011 13:52:44 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

Redge followed Ariadne to a bush of berries. He eyed them for a moment, trying to decide if they were poisonous. But then, why would this girl want to kill him? He'd just agreed to help her. While she did seem nervous, Redge didn't think it was because she was having regrets. More likely, she was nervous about their impending voyage. Redge was, too. He hadn't so much as stepped foot into another district since he'd left 10. And now he was going to the Capitol. Surely he'd be safe now? They couldn't still be searching, could they? They'd probably given up, assuming he'd died in the forest. Somehow, he didn't believe this. His stomach twisted into knots as he prayed this wasn't a mistake.

If he could go into the Capitol and not get caught, he'd be safe anywhere. It was more dangerous walking around the capitol than the Districts. If he could do this, he could get back to Savannah. Nothing would stop him.

Ariadne started eating the berries out of her cupped hands, so Redge decided they must be safe to eat. What person would willingly eat something poisonous? He picked a few off the bush, putting them in his mouth to taste them before gathering more. They were almost too sweet, but Redge ate them anyways. They were deliciously juicy, and he was almost certain he was getting them all over his face. He never had been a very tidy eater. Savannah had reprimanded him for it many times, trying to teach him to eat without half the food ending up on his face. She'd done a good job of it, but by the time the next meal rolled around, his bad habits were back, along with a ravenous appetite.

He reminded himself not to eat too much. His body wasn't used to a lot of food at once after his winter, when meals had been few and far between. He'd already vomited once today, and he wasn't terribly excited to repeat the experience. Looking up and wiping his mouth, Redge noticed that Ariadne was still eating, shoving the berries into her mouth, hardly leaving time to swallow before she ate more. She'd make herself sick, eating like that. He started to say something, but Ariadne beat him to it.

“I think-” She stopped herself, as if she was uncertain of the words she wanted to say. A moment of silence stretched between them before she spoke again. “Let’s stay here for the night. It seems safe.” "Redge had a feeling it wasn't what she was originally going to say, but he didn't push her for words. Wiping his hands on his pants, Redge stood up, looking over at the tall grass just beyond them. If anyone came this way and they were laying down, they wouldn't be seen. He doubted anyone would come their way, but it was better safe than sorry, right?

Berry juice streamed down through Ariadne's shaking fingers. Was she having regrets already? Or was there something else that Redge was just too blind to see? "There's a pond over there somewhere if you want to clean up," he said, pointing in the direction of the pond he'd nearly drowned in. He started heading back to where he'd left his pack. He found it and walked back to the berry bush, picking a few handfuls to save for later. You never knew if you'd find food where you were going. It would take a few days to get to the Capitol, Redge supposed, and even though it was spring now, food wasn't exactly plentiful. berries were just starting to ripen, and the wild spinach hadn't yet shown itself.

"Get some rest, Ariadne. We've got a lot of walking tomorrow." Settling himself down in the grass, Redge closed his eyes, preparing for sleep. After his meal, he found he wasn't terribly tired, but he knew sleep was best. Still, he felt like he should talk to Ariadne, or at least say good night. It would feel silly saying such a thing, though, as it was still the afternoon. Then a thought came to Redge. Even though they were almost certainly safe here, shouldn't they have a watch? He knew he'd feel more secure knowing that Ariadne would be watching. The fact would chase away the nightmares that seemed to find him often now, searing into his brain the images of Savannah, alone and needing him. He sat straight up, fast.

"We should have a watch. Just in case." He moved to get into a better position, where he'd be able to see people more easily if they were coming. "I'll take the first watch and wake you up in a few hours, alright? After we've both slept enough, we can start heading towards the Capitol." In truth, Redge didn't even know what direction the Capitol was. But that was a problem for later, after they'd slept for a while. He just hoped Ariadne would know. Otherwise, they'd really have a problem.

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. May 10, 2011 18:43:07 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on May 10, 2011 18:43:07 GMT -5

Ariadne could see the curiosity in his face, and she quickly turned her back on him, so he couldn’t see her burning cheeks, and watery eyes. "There's a pond over there somewhere if you want to clean up," he told her.

“I’m fine,” she said in a low voice, unwilling to relive those few moments where she’d pressed herself underwater, desperately awaiting her life to drift off, but her body having other plans and forcing her to the surface. She could feel her hair, which had grown down past her shoulders, was dry already, and straight, lank, and matted, as usual. Just as she liked it.

"Get some rest, Ariadne. We've got a lot of walking tomorrow."

She listened to him rustle behind her, but didn’t turn. Instead, she waded through the high grass further into the field. Animals scuttled around nearby, darting around her feet, but she ignored them, and slid down to the hard ground. She sat cross-legged for a moment, before sinking to her back, pushing rocks away from her body, and settling her head on the soil. Her eyes found the darkening sky, and the second she saw it, she knew she’d be unable to sleep. Darkness brought memories, fears, and horrors, things she didn’t want back.

Another night of counting stars, she thought. Asimila had once taught her that when you didn’t want to sleep, you weren’t ready to, then you should count stars. There were so many, so bright and tiny, that counting was tough, and Ariadne always became frustrated, continuously starting over to get a precise number of the amount of stars. Never quite understanding people’s obsession with stars, Ariadne saw them as lights, only lights. They were something to count. She didn’t want one, she didn’t want to be among them, up in that big sky with only the birds for company. Growing up, watching birds, she’d always wondered what flying felt like. Did you feel free, and alive, the wind rushing around you, things blending into a colorful blur? Or did you feel lonely, frightened and cold, in the big empty sky, that only housed the stars, sun and moon, which filled the sky up, yes, but were never to meet.

Perhaps, some things are best left unmet, no union between the two, Ariadne mused, never knowing each other…alone, by themselves.

"We should have a watch. Just in case. I'll take the first watch and wake you up in a few hours, alright? After we've both slept enough, we can start heading towards the Capitol."

His voice surprised her, and her heart skipped a beat, before she remembered Redge. She nodded in reply, and didn’t care that he couldn’t see her. She merely turned her sights back to the skies, and began to count. One…two…three…four…five…six…seven…

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Her feet carried her, her mind not set on walking, but set on what lay beyond the infernal darkness. She knew he was there. He had to be there. She was here, he was there. She was moving, running by now, but stumbling. She was staggering, knees to the ground, but her hands pushed her back up. She could hear his breathing. He was still breathing, he was alive. She just had to reach him.

Rain fell like bullets, sliding down her skin, making each step slippery, her feet refusing to get a firm grip on the ground. However, as she lurched, she realized that it wasn’t rain at all; it was blood. And she wasn’t in darkness, she was being scrutinized under dizzying bright lights. Disembodied hands held a scalpel in front of her, and she opened her mouth to scream, but no voice came out. None at all.

With a blur, she was holding that knife, and blood coated her hands like some sort of terrible glove. Forces coaxed her forward, now into horrifying light, searing her eyes. She knew what she was supposed to do. She didn’t want to. She couldn’t.

Someone was crying, pleading. It didn’t take long for Ariadne to realize that was her. But, it was too late. Something was coming for her, and it was just about to get her-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A gasp escaped her mouth as she awoke, spread across the hard ground, arm outstretched, hand groping at something she had been trying to reach, but couldn’t. Breathing heavily, Ariadne took a moment to recollect herself, reminding her shivering form it was just a dream, only a dream, nothing more.

She sat up to see Redge, to tell her it was her turn to keep watch, but she only spotted his form, huddled over, obviously sleeping. Sudden rage burst forth from deep within her at him, and she leapt up and stomped towards him. Her foot connected with his side. “Get up! Get up now!” She grabbed his arm, and dragged him to his feet, but then pushed him away from her. “Are you kidding me?!” She growled at him, hands on her hips. “How could you fall asleep?! You promised to stay awake! Honestly, what if someone had come?!” Fury was building up inside of her, escaping through her wide mouth, and reverberating over the trees and field. “We could’ve been caught because of your stupidity! We could’ve gotten into serious trouble because of you! Because you were stupid enough to neglect your duties and fall asleep! Is sleep more important than your safety? Than my safety? Than both of our safety?” She snapped at him, her chest heaving. She swallowed hard and tore on. “It just goes to show you only care about yourself! All you cared about was getting what you wanted: sleep, that you didn’t even think of anyone else! You’re selfish, you know that?! Selfish! And stupid!”

The tears in her eyes threatened to spill over, but Ariadne didn’t bother to wipe them. Her hands were clenched tightly into fists, her teeth grit. “You know what will happen to us if we’re caught?! Horrible things! They’ll do horrible things to us, and I don’t want that, and I don’t think you do either! Horrible terrible things they’ll do, you hear me? So, we can’t have you being selfish! We can’t have you doing stupid things just for yourself, so you can get what you want! Because you know what?!” Her voice broke, and quivered, choked sobs rising in her throat. “We’ll get captured, and they’ll hurt us! I don’t want to go back there! Don’t-don’t let me go back there!” Suddenly, the girl was bawling, her back arching, sobbing so hard she couldn’t stand and she crumbled to the ground. Her next few words barely came out a whisper, her voice too strained to go any louder, and her body to weak to submit any more anger. “Don’t make me go back there.”

[/blockquote][/size]

Last Edit: May 10, 2011 18:45:20 GMT -5 by Rosetta

^^Made by the excellent Shrimp!

Morgana
District Mayor

771 POSTS
last seen May 25, 2015 9:32:54 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Jun 9, 2011 16:37:12 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Morgana on Jun 9, 2011 16:37:12 GMT -5

Redge Kemping

Redge didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until the pain exploded in his side and he opened his eyes, finding Ariadne there, screaming at him. She grabbed at him and pulled him to his feet, then continued shouting at him. She was obviously worried that someone was going to come for them, or that something would happen to them. They were so alone out here that Redge seriously doubted they'd cross paths with anyone. But there had to be a reason why she was so worked up about this. Redge wondered about her past, and if something had happened to cause this.

“It just goes to show you only care about yourself! All you cared about was getting what you wanted: sleep, that you didn’t even think of anyone else! You’re selfish, you know that?! Selfish! And stupid! You know what will happen to us if we’re caught?! Horrible things! They’ll do horrible things to us, and I don’t want that, and I don’t think you do either! Horrible terrible things they’ll do, you hear me? So, we can’t have you being selfish! We can’t have you doing stupid things just for yourself, so you can get what you want! Because you know what?!” Ariadne continued, tears in her eyes, fists clenched. Her words should have made him feel bad. They should have made him want to apologize and promise he'd do better. But they just made him angry. How dare she call him selfish? She didn't even know him! Oh, he'd pitied her at first. What horrible things had happened to this girl to make her this way? But none of that mattered to him anymore. She'd spoken as if she thought she knew him. As if, from a short conversation, she could assume that she knew so much about him.

He barely registered her next words or the tears now streaming down her face. There was just rage, building up inside him, ready to boil over and burn someone. "Selfish?" he shouted. "You think I'm selfish? What do you know about me? Everything I've done for the past two years has been for her! It's all been for Savannah, because I promised her! I promised her I'd protect her, and I promised I'd come back! Two years, Ariadne!" He drew in a shaky breath. It was all coming out now. All his frustration from the past two years, and all the times he'd hated himself for leaving her. All the emotions he'd pushed down deep were surfacing, and he couldn't keep them bottled inside anymore.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be away from someone you love and have no idea how they're doing? Do you know what's it like to lay awake at night wondering if she's still alive, and to walk further away from every day, wondering if you made the right choice? She could be dead because of me, and I'd never know!" Redge felt hotness on his cheeks. He reached a hand up and was surprised to find tears there. He never cried. He was the strong one, the one that held everything together, not he one that fell apart. He looked down at his hands, which were shaking now, then shifted his eyes to Ariadne. she was on the ground, sobbing. He recalled the words she'd said just before he exploded. I don’t want to go back there! Don’t-don’t let me go back there!

He still didn't know what had happened to her before they'd met. Maybe he'd never really know. He wiped at the tears on his face, realizing that for all he'd done these last two years, and despite that fact that he'd raised his sister, he was still just a child. He put on a good act, pretending to be so grown up and strong. But he made foolish mistakes. He spoke without thinking and did things he regretted. He let his anger boil over and hurt someone when he didn't mean it.

Redge crouched beside Ariadne and pulled her into his arms, smoothing down her hair. His voice was soft when he spoke again. "I can't promise you anything, Ariadne. I can't say I'll always protect you. I've made promises in the past that I couldn't hold up. But I'll say this: If you've gotten the impression that I'm selfish, I apologize. But maybe people have to be selfish sometimes. Maybe it's just the only way we can survive." A few more tears slid down his face, catching in Ariadne's hair. He didn't want her to push him away. He wanted to be selfish for once. He wanted to comfort her and still have the comfort of being close to someone. Alone, there was no one to cling to. No one to promise you everything would be all right. There was no one to protect you. Redge had been alone for too long. And even when he'd been with Savannah, he had never let his guard down. He'd never allowed himself to be comforted. He was always promising and protecting, but never being protected.

"Just let me be selfish for a little while," he whispered. He wasn't really talking to Ariadne anymore, or to anyone. He was just sending out words to whatever unseen force out there controlled the world, if there was one at all. "Just let me be young for once, because I grew up too fast."

He stroked her hair again, brushing his tears from it. If she wanted to part ways with him after this, he would understand. It was a cruel world they lived in, and allowing someone to get close to you at all was a dangerous thing. So if she wanted to just cut off their agreement and leave him, he wouldn't protest. But he hoped she'd stay. He didn't want to be alone anymore. He wanted to be able to let down his guard, to have someone promise him something and not come through. All Redge wanted at that moment was to be young and naive, something he could never remember being. And he wanted to believe that Ariadne would understand, at least a little bit. he wanted to believe that with her, he wouldn't be alone.

Rosetta
Retired Staff

1,872 POSTS
last seen Aug 5, 2020 8:28:28 GMT -5

.:I'm Not Staying//I'm Just Saying:.Morgana. Jun 13, 2011 10:50:14 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Rosetta on Jun 13, 2011 10:50:14 GMT -5

It is fair to say that Ariadne wasn’t surprised when Redge screamed right back at her. It was only natural. The girl knew she’d completely lost it, felt her sanity slipping from between her fingers, sand trickling away too quickly for her.

"Selfish? You think I'm selfish? What do you know about me? Everything I've done for the past two years has been for her! It's all been for Savannah, because I promised her! I promised her I'd protect her, and I promised I'd come back! Two years, Ariadne!"

His words rung too true in her ears. She should’ve protected him. She should’ve been there. She’d dragged him into her life, and hadn’t offered anything in return. No protection, no help, nothing. She’d watch him get hurt, watched him disappear, and she’d hardly done a thing. In fact, she’d done it to him. A familiar ache was spreading over her body again, wrenching the memories forcefully back into her mind. Memories that would never leave her, remain attached to her mind forever, leering at her.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be away from someone you love and have no idea how they're doing? Do you know what's it like to lay awake at night wondering if she's still alive, and to walk further away from every day, wondering if you made the right choice? She could be dead because of me, and I'd never know!"

Oh gosh…was this boy kidding her? Did he stalk her? His words hit way too close to home. They were much more similar than the sixteen year old had realized. Still, her answer was lost. She lay there, crumbled on the ground, wrapped up in her own fears, regrets, and memories. They pasted themselves over her mouth, pulled tears from her eyes, and sent shivers down her spine. I can’t lose it again like this, she thought, not now, I can’t. On all fours, letting her hair fall around her to hide her red-face, Ariadne faced the ground, taking slow, deep breaths. Her tongue was bleeding from when she’d bit it in her sleep. She closed her eyes as blood dripped from her lips and onto the soil. She didn’t want to be reminded of it.

She felt the boy crouch down close to her, and his warm arms enveloped her, pulling her into him. She was surprisingly limp, and didn’t protest, even when he brushed her knotted hair away from her face.

"I can't promise you anything, Ariadne. I can't say I'll always protect you. I've made promises in the past that I couldn't hold up. But I'll say this: If you've gotten the impression that I'm selfish, I apologize. But maybe people have to be selfish sometimes. Maybe it's just the only way we can survive."

His actions shocked her, but she shocked herself more: she didn’t struggle against him. Something about his touch soothed her, and she remained there, contemplating his words. He’d apologized? She’d already come to the conclusion that she was the irrational one, not him. She should be apologizing. She’d made a disgrace of herself, acted inappropriately. She should be happy he was the only one to witness her breakdown. She tried to apologize herself, but her tongue wouldn’t form around the words, her throat dry. Something was holding her back, and she remained silent.

"Just let me be selfish for a little while. Just let me be young for once, because I grew up too fast."

She could sense the brotherly aura he set off. Whoever this Savannah girl was, whether younger or older, or a twin, he loved her a lot. He’d do anything for her. And for a moment, Ariadne hated him for it. He wasn’t selfish at all. He was selfless enough to love someone enough, he’d trust a scarred girl he’d met in the forest. He loved her enough, he’d set out with Ariadne to the Capitol, hoping that the same girl would accompany him back to Savannah. He would risk his own life for someone else. Why couldn’t she? Why hadn’t she stepped up to the line and pushed him back, knowing she deserved the punishment? Was she so selfish she’d watch her friend get hurt? She’d let him get hurt? She’d hurt him herself? Was she about to do the same to Redge? Would, if they got caught, she let him take the fall, and stand back and watch? Would she?

She felt the boy’s hand in her hair again. His fingers just scraped her neck. She instantly wrenched away from him, her heart racing. She scrambled around to face him, on her feet once more, her chest heaving. Then, slowly, realizing that it was, in fact, Redge, and not him…her breathing slowed, and her tense shoulders relaxed. Heat was rising into her face for once more making a fool of herself. She wheeled around, determined to look into the darkness rather than Redge’s face.

“I’ll keep watch now,” she said, slowly, her voice distant, and hoarse. “You get some sleep. We leave first thing tomorrow morning. Now go to sleep.”