I Breathe Fire Like You Breathe Air(Open!)

I finish up the show with another round of torch-juggling, this time with six torches, then snatch them all up in my hand and take a bow. A few people have the generosity to clap, and when I look down at my hat, I count exactly five coins. I'd say that's enough for to meals. I smile and begin putting my things away, leaving out the hat for any last coins. Nothing. At least, not until most of the crowd has left. When they do, however, I see a teenager, a boy, coming towards me. He's wearing sunglasses. I don't like that. I can't tell what people are thinking when I can't see their eyes. But, two can play at the same game, so I pull up my hood, shadowing my face. I see him bring out a coin and dangle it over the hat. For a minute, I look at it longingly, then tell myself to stop. Of course he won't drop it in. Anyone who actually wants to give me money will just put it in the hat, no questions asked. This boy, on the other hand, obviously has no intention of offering me the coin. He's teasing me.

But why? What did I do wrong? Could he see through my tricks? Questions fly through my head, and I pretend not to notice him until he speaks. "That's quite an act you've got there, miss." He says. Miss? Why call me that, of all things? I turn back to look at him, and I see a smirk on his face. He snatches up the coin, puts it away, and crosses his arms. Of course he was going to do that. "Though I think you'd have to do better than that to get a coin out of my wallet." I stay silent for a minute, slinging my bag over my shoulder, taking the five coins out of the hat and putting the hat and the coins in my pocket. "I wasn't looking to impress you." I say in a bored tone. And I'm not lying. "I was looking to impress the crowd. I got enough money for my next meal. That's all I want." With my head turned to the ground, I start to walk away. I don't have time for people like him. Scoffers. People who want to dampen my spirits and anger me. It doesn't work, so he can just quit his stupid game.

Something registers in my mind as I walk away. He's obviously realized I tricked the audience. What if he tells people that it's not real? That I use things to keep myself safe? My steps slow for a minute. That fire eating is what gives me money. I need it to survive. If my tricks got out, the show wouldn't be worth money anymore. But I shake my head, and return to a brisk walk. How could have figured out the tricks? You can barely see any of what Im doing.

Everything's happening so fast. I'm suddenly surrounded, and somer kid is holding a knife, ready to throw it at me. Only one emotion runs through my veins: fear. I can't consentrate. I can't register what's happening around me. All I can see is the knife, the sharp point, the boy's hand, ready to throw it if I try to run. I feel dizzy, and the edges of my vision are getting fuzzy. Is this it? Have I finally been caught? Has someone discovered my secrets? A sound like a choke escapes my throat, and I feel sick. I can't even hear what people are saying.

But suddenly, there's an arm around my shoulder. A steady one, too. I look up, and I am able to recognize the person's face. It's the boy who was making fun of me only seconds ago. The one who wouldn't give me a coin, and laughed at me just for the fun of it. Now...now, he's helping me? No, he's probably working with this other kid. But I'm too scared to resist, so I just stand there, rigid as a stone. Then I hear him say something. "Sorry mate, 'fraid you got the wrong girl. This here's my sister. She's always out and about causing trouble of some kind. Sorry for disturbing ya." That's funny. Why is he using an accent now? Or maybe that's his real voice, and I just here it before. All the same, I realize that yes, he is in fact helping me, and I decide to play along.

I see a coin fly through the air. The coin that was meant to be mine, swatted out of the air by the other kid's hand. "Sincerly sorry." I'm still stunned, but the boy who teased me is now leading me away from danger. After a few seconds, he says quietly, "So, sis, your name really Gwin? Or did I just save an unsuspecting victim from an untimely death? It's not everyday I get to be a hero, you know." I almost smile. I nod. "Yeah, I'm Gwin." I pause, not sure I want to say the words trembling on my lips. Then I decide to do it anyway. "...Thanks. I really needed some help."

My voice is interupted by the sharp words of the kid with the knife. "I know who she is and that she definitely doesn't have a brother. I just want to talk to her, not you. But if you two are 'together' you can wait nearby. Oh, and by the way, where do you buy your cigarettes? I thought I was the only one who had tobacco in District 12."

I turn around abruptly, glaring at him. I'm acting now. This is just like one of those little skits I sometimes perform along with my fiery tricks. "It's none of your business where he gets his cigarettes, sir. And why do you think I'm Gwin? I look nothing like that thief of a girl on the poster. I should think you would have noticed that by now. Now, would you please let my brother and I pass? We really need to get home. Mum will be getting worried."

OOC: Sorry for the late reply!

I clench my fists, trying to stop myself from trembling in fear. Up until now, the boy has at least been quiet when he talks. Now, he's yelling at my face, advancing, and I don't do a thing about it. Like a rabbit caught in a car's headlights. I take a step back, almost knocking into the boy who helped me earlier. Why is this kid suddenly yelling at me? I hadn't so much as raised my voice! His words aren't entering my ears, until the last part.

"Gwin, how would you like your family to never go hungry again?" I actually laugh. It's a sharp, mocking laugh, much like the other boy's laugh when he was teasing me. "I have no family." I say, my voice quiet and angry. I'm terrified, really, as I glance up at his hand ready to strike at me. I step out of it's range, next to the other boy. "If you've really been tracking me for so many years, you would know that. They died long ago, idiot." I almost wish I hadn't added on that last part. I look over his shoulder, and frown. I'm looking at the corner of a building. This trick has worked many times, and I'm very good at it. I just hope he'll fall for it, and look over his shoulder. Then, I change my plan.

I reach into my pocket, lighting a match and pulling out one of the bottles of liquid. I hold them about a foot apart. "You know what's in this bottle?" I ask threateningly. A smile is toying at my lips. "Gasoline. I have only to throw these two things at you're feet, and you'll go up in flames. Can you tame a fire, boy? No. You can't. But I can, as you know. I can make it do what I want it to. Do you really want to risk being burned alive, or would you rather let us go?" Some of that was a bluff, but most of it was true. I can make this kid go up in flames. I can escape it, too. But he can't. I'm sure he can't.

Despite this, I'm still wrapped in my little blanket of fear. What if something goes wrong? What if the match goes out? What if the boy who tried to rescue me cant escape? And I don't want to hurt anyone either. I want to get out of here peacefully. I just want to be back by the fountain, performing for a crowd of children. Without realizing it, I reach out my hand to grasp the hand of the boy standing beside me. It brought some comfort to have his arm around my shoulder, so I don't stop myself.