a hero to all (Xylan Hertz Standalone)

Stars shine brightly from the sky passing down upon the earth little by little as the moon lights the way. My own family kicked me out of the house because I managed to get in trouble, but they don't understand I was tricked. I'll never forget the girl's face as she led me through the fence. It was completely stupid of me, but I went along with it. My own punishment wasn't nothing compared to the punishment of the guy trapped in the same cell as me. I only hope he's still alive, and I hope he's alright, but nobody is alright after being released from that place. Nothing will ever be the same. Light didn't exist in that horrible hole, and it's dark now, but at least I can see the stars, and I know that I'm still alive. But I don't care for the Capitol or anyone in it. They can die, and I will personally make sure they die.

I drag my feet through the grass as a breeze flies through the air. It's cold, very cold, and I want to leave. My family doesn't accept me anymore. I have nowhere to run. Maybe if I could just run away, I'd make it far enough out of the grasp of the Capitol. Maybe I could take them with me as I fight my way through. My hands draw the tiny worn jacket tighter around my arms. I stole it. I took it from a store, but I had no choice. It was either take the jacket or freeze to death, and now that it rests upon my shoulders, I may freeze to death anyway. Winter is around the corner. I have got to do something. I need to get out of here while I'm still alive. Maybe there's some warmth waiting outside the fence that I could never find here at home. Maybe I could take a thicker jacket from someone who has more money, but even that doesn't seem possible.

The leaves crunch beneath my feet with every step I take. The sound of small children jumping in the leaves playing around one another brings a grim smile upon my face. I never had anyone like that growing up. Nobody wanted to be my friend because I can't speak. I can't make any sounds really, and people doesn't understand. All my life people have made fun of me over and over again because of who I am, and I can't stand it anymore. I was once full of innocence, but that all went away the moment I decided to break the law landing myself in the detention center. Starvation was worse there than it ever could be here. Barely enough food and water was pushed through the door, but I managed to survive. I managed to make it home without any problems in the world, and I am no longer the innocent boy I was. Things have truly changed.

My eyes focus on the children playing around without any worries in the world. Parents stand next to them cherishing the moments of love they had. Parents are meant to be there for their children, but mine weren't there for me. Father completely disowned me as he announced to those around that I am not a son of his. He has my mother wrapped around his fingers, and since she's terrified of him leaving her, she does exactly what he says. My siblings. I long to see them again, but that'll never happen because it would mean defying their authority meaning that once again I in fact broke a law that's been placed before me. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, my life will never be the same again, and somewhere deep inside me I enjoy it. I enjoy being away from my family because I have nothing in the world to worry about.

But it makes me angry. I hate everything about my father. It's beyond my wildest imagination why I even call him Father because he's not my father. So many years were spent living in his house as he tortured me every second of every single day. Favoritism was placed upon my brothers and sisters because of how amazing they are, but I am just a screw up. I messed it all up, and he wasn't afraid to let me know it, and now it's time I show him because if it wasn't for him, I would still have a roof over my head instead of sleeping underneath a tree hoping no wild animal finds me. It's a terrible way of life, but anything is much better than being trapped at home with a family that doesn't care.

I'll show him. I'll show him what I'm capable of. I'll show him how I survived the detention center. I'll show him that I am not a mess up because every little lie he's spread just bounces off the inside of my skull before flying into the deep abyss lurking within my mind.

I move towards the trees lining the end of the district offering a place to escape. I'll march right to the Capitol and slaughter the president myself because nothing matters anymore. Every single citizen that sits high on the thrones in places I'll never see doesn't deserve the chance of living. Every bit of freedom has been taken away from me, and I can only hope I can find some innocent souls to follow. Maybe I can become a leader of a gang that marches straight through, and if I die in the process so be it. Death is better than being left alive only to starve to death. Death is better than becoming a servant of those who rule over me. I'm not a slave, and I will never be the same. They changed me, and it's time someone makes them pay. It's time that the nation is set straight no matter the cause. I am not afraid.

My hand wraps around the paper and the tiny pencil sitting inside my pocket, and I scribble on the paper.

(Follow me to the Capitol. Help me take down those who lie every single day. Help find those in charge allowing us the chance to take them where they belong. Let's murder them all because none of them deserve to live. None of them at all. We'll slit their throats and laugh as they bleed out. If you're with me, join me. It's a life or death situation, and if we stay here nothing will ever be done! WE MUST STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT! WE CAN'T LET THEM CONTROL OUR LIVES ANYMORE! Follow me, and we can end what others have failed to begin. IT'S TIME WE STAND UP FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE! WE CAN'T LET ANYMORE OF US DIE!

If we die in the process, so be it. But someone has to stand up, and for the first time in my entire life, that someone is me.

Who's with me?

Meet me by the fence, and we'll start our journey to the Capitol to take back what we rightfully deserve!

LET'S DO THIS!)

I copy the message down onto several pieces of paper. I march through the district square tossing them around allowing everyone within distance to see me. I don't care what happens because this is all that needs to happen. I'm not afraid of dying anymore. I'm tired of letting people control my life, and I will no longer stand for it. Today I'm speaking my mind. If it kills me tonight, I am ready to die. I just hope people join with me. Within hours I'm standing near the fence where I always stand waiting for people to join. Most are too afraid, and I personally don't blame them, but after what I witnessed in the detention center before, it's time to take a stand. Someone needs that hero, and tonight, that hero will be me.

When I realize that nobody is showing, I roll under the fence careful not to touch any of the wires.

My journey begins tonight.