Deathbeds, Death Games, Screaming Galore! [Open]

I am rpobably the only one in the house on their feet. Amity is laying halfway on mom's bed, while Meredith is trying to hug her. Dad is across from them, holding my mom's hand. She is dead. We woke up this morning, all of us hungry as could be. My stomach still aches. Mom's left foot is still half way off the bed. We've been in this same position all day, with me just staring down at her dead body. None of us dare get the peacekeepers, because we know they will take her away. Take away my mother! Bury her, where I will never see her again. All day I've felt the scream in my throat, trying to glide it's way out. I know now Amity will be dead to the world, almost like what would happen if she, Meredith, or I died. The other two would be dead to the world. What if she loses her mind, like the girl we saw begging a few days ago? What about Meredith? She was stronger, but she loved mom too. Losing her relationship with Amity might just snap her in two. Me? Oh I'm just that emotionless girl. The emotionless girl no one talks to.

Could that change? No. It's too late for that to change. I'm the awkward girl. The one people try to ignore, and poke fun at when they are bored, but thne go right bak to ignoring her once they are bored. I will never be like Meredith, with all her friends and the boys at school having young crushes on her. I will never be like Amity, who can seem to find her one special friend - Othal - and can shame people into giving her a blanket late at night. I will always be the nobody, that phantom. You know what I am? I am part of a moving crowd. Someone you can't pick out, nor find, nor distinguish in any way. Mom said I'm unique because of my hair, and it could be preidcted only a few other people in this district - maybe none - have my hair color. So what? I'm still the phantom.

I back up, and my dad's eyes lift a bit. His hunger is greater than mine, I know. Why must my mother die? I turn abruptly, and can hear my feet pound on the ground as I run out of the house. "Fornax!" The weakening voice of Meredith yells. No. This time I won't stick to my sisters. Let Meredith yell all she wants. Let my dad's sad eyes penetrate my soul. Let Amity cry and scream, and kick in greif. I won't care. No, I will never care. Not tonight. Maybe tommarow, but not tonight. The sun has gone down and I am done. Done with this mess. My mother was dead! I trip and land on my face, but don't get up. Let me die! Let me die! Let me be with my mother! But my sisters need me, and my dad as well. Lifting myself from the ground, I keep running. At least it wasn't one of my sisters. At least?! Was I mad?!

I can hear my feet hitting the gravel and rocks hard. I hear the quiet moans of starving children. Then, I can see my mother sitting up o get out of bed, then collapsing back down, her eyes eternally closed. I stop and yell. I yell load, but not loud enough to wake everyone. I must stay secret. I suddenly see a person, and my fear causes me to back up quickly. "Who are you?" I yell, my tears almost stiffling my voice. Then I realize, it was just my reflection in a store window. Looking around, I see I'm in the square. A few bodies lay ont he ground, either dead or dying. Just moer bodies, like my mother. I lean against the store, and pound my head against the window. Let the person wake up. A light goes on, and I look upwards.

"Fornax?" I hear, muffled though the glass. It's my cousin, Common. Strange name. I turn and run away from the store. I wasn't allowed near Common anymore. I had to get away from her before shegot to me. The curious girl would tell her parents I was lurking nearby. I run smack into someone, and fall on the ground, hearing the thump of a second person falling. Dazed, I try to focus my eyes on the person I ran into. Then I stand up, and put my hand out. "Sorry" I say, but my throat is tight and it comes out weak and watery.