The Dark Days - Chapter Six

Chapter Six

At the sight of the grey little bird, my heart freezes.
Jabberjays. Muttations created by the Capitol. We've learned about these in school, and the jabberjay is one of the more famous creations of the Capitol, out of thousands of mutts. Out of all those evolved wasps, cats, wolves, fish, and more, the bird muttation isn't the attack type; it eavesdrops on enemies' conversations. They record them, and fly back to be listened to by the Capitol. Treachery. Having a bird do all their spywork.
But there's also some relief in there. The birds only listen for voice. Remember how I said that Amy and Holly should be twins? Well, they sound so much alike it's possible that the jabberjay misinterpreted Amy's voice for Holly's, which is why the Peacekeepers weren't crawling the streets looking for us. Yesterday, I was so tired and foggy I didn't realize that any talk of rebellion will mean instant death. I've been so stupid.
"I'm an idiot," says Amy softly, which is exactly what I was thinking. "Of course! Rebellion is a death sentence. How can the Peacekeepers sleep in? I..."
"They thought we were Holly," I tell her quietly. Maybelle gives me what seems to be an approving nod. I continue. "When she stormed out, the Peacekeepers must thought she was going to gather more people." I turn to Maybelle. Although the jabberjay had left, who knows if there's more lurking around? So I speak quietly but not quiet enough to aruse suspicion, and I keep off the real subject. "Did Chime tell you?"
She must know that I'm talking about the Underground. Her eyes sparkle. "Yes," she says. I've been expecting a snob, what with a mayor's niece and all, but she doesn't act all snobby and... spoiled. She seems like one of us, only with a full stomach and better dressed. More, smart, too.
"The Peacekeepers," says Chime hurriedly. She glances behind her shoulder, but no one's coming. Just the weave of the farmers heading out to work early. No crisp, silver uniforms among the ragged yellow cloth of the villagers, worn with age.
"I've told you already," says Maybelle. "The Peacekeepers aren't after Amy and Aryn. They're after Holly's family."
"Why didn't they just kill them yesterday?" I ask. It's puzzling. Last night would be the perfect opportunity.
"The Peacekeeper who found Holly shot her in the arm to stop her, and went for reinforcements. They want a public hanging."
Public hanging. My heart lurches at the thought. My best friend. I can't do it. Briefly, I remember the Peacekeeper gun Sage had last night... what happened to it?
"We have to save her," I say.
"I know," says Maybelle. Beside her, Chime is bouncing, trying to get her attention, but the smart girl doesn't notice.
"May. Maybelle," she says. "We have to go!"
"If the Peacekeepers wanted them, they would've been here last night," says Maybelle calmly. Chime seems to realize that it's useless, and sighs in defeatance. Maybelle continues talking.
"Yes, we do have to save your friend Holly Millson," she says. "Can you use a weapon?"
"Only a knife," I say grimly. "Unless if you count chucking rocks."
"Rocks are all but extinct in the village," Chime reminds me. "They only exist in the woods, and they're closed off today."
Right. Today's Sunday. Sunday!
"Sundays are hanging days!" I burst out, tears welling in my eyes. "I... what time is it?"
"Five fifty-nine," says Maybelle calmly. I gasp.
A clock tolls somewhere. Six strokes. "Six o'clock," says Maybelle unneccesarily. She puts her pocket watch back inside her pocket.
Six o'clock is the hanging hour. As if by cue, a horn blows. The note for all residents to come to the square, either for a whipping or for a hanging. I know who's the victim, and I have to hurry.
I dash back into the house and grab the bread Amy used to slice the bread yesterday. Just yesterday. It seems so long ago. I stare at the knife for what seems like ages, but Amy's snapping at me and I slip it in my pocket. On my way out I toss Amy her harvesting sickle. Arrogant Capitol; they even give District Eleven sickles to play around with. Shiny and pretty, sparkling dangerously in the Capitol's face.
The air's still damp from the rain yesterday; the pavement wet. Puddles of water are still everywhere, and the leaves from trees above splash water onto our heads. I don't care.
I join the fray of villagers heading to the square. There's so many of them, but even those who live too far away have to walk. I sprint towards the square, Amy hot on my heels. Chime is lagging somewhat behind but Maybelle's walking calmly. Does the girl ever run?
My house is one of the farthest away from the square. I run up, but eventually the crowd gets too thick and I don't want to push around. Me, a puny fourteen-year-old, will only get crushed in the queue.
Chime has caught up with me now, pulling an uncooperating Maybelle. In the din of the crowd, I hope that my words are masked.
"Do you know where the Underground door is?" I ask.
She nods. "I thought it just led to the cellar. When I asked my uncle he said he didn't know. I never thought it led to the Underground."
"How big is it?" I ask, while on my mind thinking how we'll get masses of people through the mayor's house.
"It's like a maze down there," Maybelle says. "I've drawn a map, but from the little I've drawn it's still quite big."
"Big enough to host as headquarters?" I ask. "Jabberjays die without twelve hours of sunlight, right?"
"Yes," says Maybelle. "And yes, to the jabberjay question. I... I do not think that my uncle will agree, although my mother surely will. She ran for the spot of mayor, too. She lost because she was female, and her brother, my uncle, got it instead. She hates the Capitol."
Her last few words were breathed into my ear. Amy glares at me, but she must know that I'll fill her in later.
We try to break through the crowd as soon as possible; talking is just another gift. But soon we must get to the hanging.
They never start until everyone's here, and we're among the last ones. I rush into the square, and try to see above the citizen's heads. Not one of them give way. It's not that they don't want to give up their spot; they do. It's just that the people of District Eleven think that hanging will give nightmares to children.
But I'm not a child anymore, especially not if I'm inciting a rebellion.
"Here we act on an offense of Holly Millson, age fourteen, of District Eleven. Accused of talking about rebellion..." the mayor reads. I don't have to turn around to know that Maybelle can't go on. The sound of her uncle's voice...
At the word rebellion, the people of District Eleven stirs. But one glare of the mayor sends them away. I can't see it, but I know that it's happening.
Finally, I burst through the worst ones and look up at the stage right below the Justice Building. Holly's wrists are bound, she's gagged, and tears have obviously been streaming down her face. Beside her, her parents await.
The Peacekeepers must've taken her away from Dr. Perils, sometime this morning after Chime left. If Chime had known, surely she would tell me. The Peacekeepers she saw this morning were probably heading for Holly's house for the adults.
But I don't have time for thoughts like this. My feet have just started to run, not caring where I step, when the Head Peacekeeper slips the noose around my best friend's neck.


I just loooove cliffhangers...