Shoreline [Ali/babydoll/imgnblckwngs][closed]

No warning sign, no alibi
We faded faster than the speed of light
Took our chance, crashed and burned
No we'll never ever learn

The sun was going down slowly in the east, painting the sky in receding shades of orange, peach, pink and the occasional blood red. Chasing all those colors was the deep indigo blue of the night sky, and already a few stars could be seen in the east. It wouldn't be more than an hour now, until the final bell tolled, the signal for everyone to get inside for the night, a signal that was as familiar to all the citizens of District 4 as their own names. All of the boats had docked for the night, all of the workers were heading home, the feet barely clearing the ground as they trudged along the familiar paths, breaking away at the forks that lead home. Out in the distance, on the water, you could see some of the orange and white buoys that held the nets in place bobbing on the ocean swells. Sea gulls broke the silence of the air with their garish cries as they rode the drafts of the salty breeze. Over the water the birds seemed very docile, but closer to land, when the nets were hauled onto the boats the things could become vicious.

I fell apart, but got back up again
And then I fell apart, but got back up again yeah

He'd walked this way a thousand times before, on his way to and from the docks, or on all those days and nights he'd stood on this beach, staring out at the water, willing his father to come home. There storm had been vicious, the one that had all but destroyed the vessel his father had been out to sea on. Only three men had been missing when that ship had come in, three men he'd grown up around. Three men who'd always shared the same desire. How could you leave us? How could you? He'd wanted to scream it into the wind, beat his fists in the sand, but his ruthless self control wouldn't allow it. He couldn't show such weakness, not to anybody or anything. He had to be strong now, for his family - they were counting on him. Roth sighed as he dropped into the sand, sighing as he raked his finger through his dark hair. These were the only private moments he would have tonight, the only time he'd have to let his feelings seep into his face. Then it would be back home to the hungry faces of his family, his brothers and little Lilly...he could never let himself be anything but strong in her eyes.

We both could see crystal clear
That the inevitable end was near
Made our choice, a trial by fire
To battle is the only way we feel... alive

He could remember just this morning how she'd looked at him with those big hungry eyes, he'd wanted so badly to erase that look, wanted so badly to be able to give her everything she deserved and more. It wasn't in his power, not yet anyways. He'd smiled down at her slightly, broken his roll of bread in half, and quietly passed it to the little girl. Each day he gave up some of his food to one of his siblings, Lilly almost always got something from him, and it was tough to split rations between six kids. But Burke and Dylon were old enough that they didn't need shared food from him, though sometimes he gave them each a little extra, it was Louis and Gregory who needed more. They were thinner than they should be. They'd always been a little sickly, and he'd always been afraid for them. But, it was Lilly who he doted on, Lilly who he adored, Lilly who he'd go hungry for just to take that look out of her eyes.

So here we are, the witching hour
The quickest tongue to divide and devour
Divide and devour

I'd give the world for her, but what good would it do if I fell in the meantime? He spent day after day after day in their training center, pushing his himself to do things harder and faster, to push his muscles until they burned with a fire that told him that just maybe he'd be strong enough. Just maybe. The training was so hard that he knew he could never get it done on an empty stomach - even though there was sometimes a little extra food in the center for the careers, like him. Even though he longed to wipe the looks of hunger from his family's eyes, but he couldn't do that if he was starving. He needed to be strong for them, he needed to hold them up, protect them. It had become his job, since their father's abandonment...

If I could end the quest for fire,
For truth, for love and my desire
Myself

He watched as the sun sank lower, the sand in his fingers as he absently traced patterns into the grainy surface. His mind thought to the months ahead. It wouldn't be long now, not long at all, then he'd have his shot. If his name wasn't pulled out of that ball, he'd get in that arena one way or another. There were only a hand full of games left, a handful that he'd be eligible for, anyways. He wanted it, he wanted to the taste of blood in his mouth, he wanted to give his family and his entire district, what no one else could. "Now you're thinking like a career." He could almost hear his father's voice in his own when he said the words...