strangled by life {arrows}

A rope hung around his neck as he journeyed from the shack of a house. Dead grass crunching beneath the crippled boy's feet. It was a miracle he could still walk after the mess he ended up in. Ikaia wouldn't forget the moment he landed from the tree. The earth shattering pain that shot through his legs still echo throug his mind. It was Kirito that saved him. Nursed the injured boy back to health. He taught him in just a few seconds how to care for Ma, but the twin brother never shared how to mend a broken heart. How to make the heart better when all that's worth living for was taken away in the blink of an eye. Ikaia was dead. A robot. Movements controlled by some sort of monster with a remote control. That was all that happened.

Humming to himself, he walks forward heading straight for the orchards. His favorite trees hung in the distance, and throwing the noose around it would hang him high in the sky for all the birds to pluck him. For them to tear him to pieces like the games were doing to his family. First Pa died a horrible death, and now Kirito was a killer. A murderer for the joy of the Capitol. It was like a bullet pierced his heart. It was crying, begging for someone to save it, but helping a heart heal was impossible. Death was the only answer. Living without his brother had become more painful even if it hasn't been that long. Every minute took the hope further and further away. His mind raced as the sun bared down on his frail body. Living was impossible.

Red stained eyes turn from place to place. Sleep hasn't found him in many days. His hair stood in every direction. His eyes filled with grief, sorrow, pain, and not a single person in the district understood, or even cared. Nobody else was witnessing the pain he had right now. Everyone else was safe, but Ikaia was forced to watch his lover fight in a war raging on before him. The same pain lurked through his veins. Ikaia didn't want to live alone. Not after the pain that's come so far. Tears slid down the side of his face. Shaggy hair plastered against his face, and for once he wasn't sure what to do. Why should he live? Everything he worked for was gone. His family falling apart. Ma was dying, and he couldn't save her. Nothing he did worked anymore. She was a shell on the ragged couch. Perhaps he should kill her and just end her suffering because it's never going to get better.

The devil took hold of the family, and tore them to pieces. Shredded the hope that was left. Kirito was still alive, but it wasn't the Kirito he knew. Kirito cried when killing a tiny critter, but he just killed someone. He murdered an innocent soul, yet it had to be done in order for him to become on step closer to returning home. Violent sobs fled from the boy's mouth filling the air as he came closer and closer to the tree. Fragile fingers still tying the rope into a noose as it grew tighter and tighter around his neck strangling the life from him. A life that he didn't deserve to live. Staying home safe from the harsh reality of the world while his brother was forced to kill. Ikaia would rather die than witness anymore of this pain. Yet he could win. He could return home alive like Katelyn did. He could become a victor. Was it possible? Could his brother win the game?

He stopped at the apple tree. His eyes scanned the area making sure that he was alone. Once the noose was tied, he threw removed the rope from his neck. Tossed the knotted end over one of the branches, and tied the other end of the rope around the base of the tree. Sitting beneath it his howls grew louder and louder. Next time he returned, a stool would come with him, and Ikaia would hang from the tree. His life ended just like his brother, but for now he had to stay alive. He had to keep Ma alive because Kirito had a chance to win. He could bring home the prize, but if his body was sent back in a box, Ikaia would join him in the afterlife. Without him, happiness didn't exist, but the thought of being with him forever was one that ran through his mind. One he wanted because right now he was walking through a living hell. Slowly he looked up as tears saturated the ground below him while turning the fire into a lake. One that burnt straight through his body. One that would never allow anyone to see him again.