give me a sign {kraygon one-shot}

Shattered dreams crashed around him in the shards of a broken glass scurry across the dirt floor. Downcast eyes bounced from corner to corner blinking the moment the sun reflected into his lifeless eyes, yet Kraygon forced himself into the living room where his family set awaiting the news. Evelyn sat in the corner bouncing around with the wooden birds her and Pa carved together. Sometimes she flapped her wings before singing the song of freedom. It was the innocence Kraygon longed for. A chance to make it right, to undo his past, yet every second of every single day the broken man was reminded of the pain. An empty chair locked at the table when the entire family gathered around to eat, and a name nobody dared speak lingered in the back of his mind. Five long years had gone by since Esme was sentenced to death - he still didn't forgive himself for almost rotting in a cell instead of appearing at the cemetery when she returned.

Yet he was alive, and he had to find a purpose to live. Something to look forward to, but there wasn't anything. He thought his life was falling back into place. The pieces were coming together, and his happiness was growing larger as the moons set behind the horizon for the night. Kraygon had found what he was looking for. He let her go since he had to live for himself. But it was cut short the moment another was taken. Bailey was chosen to die for the sins he committed.

It wasn't right. Every single year people mourn the loss of a loved one unless they find the strength inside to win. Yet watching Bailey march through the arena matching the one Esme was in only brought shattered nightmares into his life once again. During the darkest hours his eyes remained closed as he rocked himself back and forth gripping the thin sheet on his bed using anything as a tether. Many tears fell from his sorrow-filled eyes. His life turned into a world of broken glass. A house of cards he built so many years ago was once standing strong until a bolt of lightning and a heavy gust of wind knocked it down. Flames burnt around him and through him. Every hair stood on end as he focused his eyes onto the screen counting the number of cannons until the third day came to an end.

Kizzy was dead. Weaver Rhodes was dead. Iona Holbrook was dead. All his cousin cared about fell victim to the same fate Esme met five years ago. Memories were broken apart by those who didn't care. A thrill ride turned into the worst attraction anyone had to offer, yet Kraygon forced himself to stare at the tiny projector screen in the house. Ma made him promise he wouldn't leave because the last time he was thrown into the depths of hell. The scars still cover his fragile bod. He swore he was fixed, but in all reality he worked like the hands on a broken clock stuck on twelve o'clock.

Kraygon was the protector of the family. He swore he wouldn't allow anyone he cared about to die in the game. That he would keep them all safe. He failed with Esme, and now he was failing once more. Power didn't exist. His mind was torn in half as his hands tried to ball into fists to destroy those he hated.

But the morning of the fourth day, Kraygon found himself at a complete loss of words. Several gathered around fighting for the prize of survival, yet instead of attacking the creature standing before them, they took it out on her. Bailey didn't deserve it. Yeah she had killed, and that girl didn't deserve to die. Esme Truus didn't deserve to die in the sixty-eight games. Kirk Marshall didn't deserve to die. Crusader Rhodes didn't deserve to die. Nobody in the past arenas deserved to die, however, fate didn't work in the timing anyone cared about. It worked in the moments. Fate chose them to die, and there had to be a reason the victors survived. Still, it didn't make it right. Though, in the world of Panem right was wrong, and wrong was right except the lines toed by those who didn't care.

"Come on, Bailey." He muttered silently watching as the fighting went on. A career had it out for her for an unknown reason, but in the games they were fighting to survive, and instead of killing the mutt, she struck his cousin again and again forcing other people to do his bidding. Evelyn turned for a moment, her eyes locked on the screen, yet no words fell from her lips as she turned once more. She didn't understand Esme wasn't going to return, and after Bailey was called, Kraygon watched as she became more and more withdrawn. The words she once spoken never fell from her lips. The tantrums became more frequent - it was hard to deal with, but he wasn't going to push her away because she was his world, and without Evelyn, he was nothing more than a drop in the rain lost in the middle of the storm.

His eyes flicked to the screen just in time to watch them run leaving her behind, and his hand wrapped around a glass filled with water.

"Get up, Bailey. Get up." He begged. Kraygon watched as Ma and Pa stood from the couch. High pitched shrieks buzzed through his ears. He opened his mouth, but no words fell from his lips as he dropped to his knees. Not again. Please.

It had happened before, and it was happening again. As much as he wanted it all to go away, he knew it was real. Bailey was dying before his eyes, and he couldn't do anything to save her. He couldn't protect her. He couldn't hold her in his arms. He couldn't take away all the years he missed after the death of Esme.

Time froze.

A crystal smashed.

A cannon sound.

His mind stood still as silent sobs flew past his lips. Ma and Pa screamed at the top of their lungs. Maddy ran from the room. Evelyn's hands protected her tiny ears from the terrible sounds. No. No. Please. No.

A broken heart crashed against the floor shattering into thousands of pieces as the glass filled with water left his hands. Tears poured from his eyes for the first time since he returned home from the detention center. Muffled sounds roared through his ears. His cheeks burned bright red. Every hair stood on end. His heart pranced against his ribs trying to escape.

"Bailey..." His words were barely audible as Evelyn moved from the corner locking her tiny, blue eyes on the screen. Kraygon wrapped his arms around her drawing his sister into the tightest embrace he had ever given anyone. A waterfall fell from his eyes turning the dirt beneath his body into mud. His chin rest on Evelyn's shoulder as he tried to look her in the eye. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"She's gone, Evelyn. Bailey's gone."

The rest was blocked away as animal like sounds erupt past his lips only to be carried away with the ghost of a girl he would always care for.