Dreams of the Lost {Katelyn/Rade}

Katelyn Persimmon stood in front of Wilson, like a reminder of the lives that once had been there, but no gone to the world. Families had been destroyed by Katelyn. Wilson should hate her with all of his might, but at the same time he couldn't. Hate only got a man so far and even with hate, it was useless to hate someone who was forced to fight for their life. Katelyn was a survivor of the fight. A reminder of what she had to do to live. A reminder of all the people she was forced to kill to survive the end of a life ending game. Wilson Izar-Krane tried to remember this, but couldn't always remember it. Grief and knowledge mix as well together as oil and water.

Ktelyn Persimmon spoke to Wilson, eyes focused onto him. “Interesting to finally get ahold of an Izar. What's your name?” We aren't that hard to get ahold of? Izars were actually rather hard to get ahold of if Wilson had to think about it. There were so little of them left after the games had taken three of their family members and sent them to their doom in the games. Wilson let his name slip out into the open for Katelyn to hear. "Wilson. Wilson Izar-Krane. I'm Levi's younger brother." The words felt like a chain attached to his ankle holding the weight of his sorrows at the opposite end. A chain holding Wilson down to the nightmare known as reality. A throbbing pain in his chest changing into a sharp stab of grief. The once smiling man, letting it fall for a rather blank face trying to hide the sadness that wanted to show.

Katelyn's words begin and the onslaught of the words wanting to break Wilson from the inside out, “He was braver than me.” Bravery was only a cover for something more. Stupidity, determination, or a cause. Those were the only reasons a person was brave. Levi had followed one of those and Wilson knew which of them it was. A determination to win for his mother's sake. Determination to get the money to get the medicine that was needed to say their mother's life, but that didn't go as planned for the rather brave brother. Wilson had watched the determination shatter like Levi's skull from the ice pick. Life and death were the only factors in the Games. Levi was brave, but only because their mother was at home dying, he was brave for her.

Katelyn continues her words about Wilson's brother, “Volunteering like that for a stranger. I had no choice in the matter. Hell, I was scared of everything. I was scared of him.” A snicker comes from her and she shakes her head. Wilson just feels his hands shake slightly. Katelyn Persimmon had been afraid of his brother. The brother that worked with their mother in the garden planting spices and herbs. The brother that offered to help everyone he could. The brother that was sweet to everyone that they had known. Levi Izar-Krane wasn't scary. A laugh comes out of Wilson's lips, being afraid of Levi Izar-Krane was a joke. Katelyn's words continued to show how human the woman actually was, “Yeah, they leave that part out of the articles they write about me. Can’t have a victor sounding too human I suppose.” Katelyn was as human as they all were, yet Wilson still felt on edge around her.

A firecracker goes off and Wilson's eyes follow the bright firecracker. Eyes focus back on Katelyn. His face still showing small signs of the sorrows hidden within. The frown beginning to form on his face, yet he pushes it back within himself. Katelyn's last words filter through Wilson's ears, “Look, I... I know the Izar's have been avoiding me. I know you must hate me. I’m a living reminder of what you’ve lost. But if your family ever needs anything, all you have to do is ask.” That would have been nice earlier. If Wilson had known about that, he would have asked Katelyn to buy the medicine that Levi had gone in the games for. It was too late. Their mother had died, just like Levi had. Death haunted their family just waiting to take another life when the chance arose.

Levi looked at Katelyn, studying her. A sigh falls from his lips as he pushes a hand through his hair. The truth was about to come out. If someone had to tell Katelyn why he volunteered, it should be him and not someone else. Wilson took a deep breath and spoke, "T-That would have been nice to know earlier." A frown takes place n his face for only a second before it goes blank again. Wilson speaks again, his voice staggering a bit, "Katelyn, Levi was brave, in a way I guess. Do you know the real reason Levi volunteered?" Obviously, Katelyn wouldn't know about their mother, almost no one did, but Wilson and his father. The sadness of it was a weight on both, him and his father's hearts. Wilson continues, "Levi volunteered, not for that stranger, but for his mother. We didn't lose just Levi during the Sixty Ninth Games, we also lost our mother. She was very sick and needed medicine that we couldn't afford. She passed shortly after your victory tour." The tears that wanted to fall, were withheld from making an appearance. Wilson continued, "Levi volunteered for the money. He didn't want to be brave. He didn't do it to save a stranger's life. He did it to save his mother's life. Sure it was a bit selfish, but that's all he had. My father and I left when I was really young. Our mother was the only person he had. He sacrificed his life to save the one person he loved the most."

Wilson felt his gut twist in pain from his own words. A tear fell softly on his face. Tears weren't something you should show in public. Wilson quickly reached up and wiped the tear away. More words stumbled out of his mouth, "You know, I should really hate you Katelyn, but I can't. Levi wouldn't want that. Levi wouldn't want me to hold it against you." Wilson felt his hands shake slightly more and tears want to come pouring down, but he pushes them to stay inside. His insides burnt with the stinging pain of grief, yet all of it is held back inside. The frown only showing a small amount of sorrow that sits inside. Broken men don't cry in public.