For Round One of the Writer/Cover Hunger Games by Llamapowersactivate

Cover by Emily-Owl

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Relaxed.

That word means different things to different people. It could mean scrubbing dirt out from under your nails after a long day, or having your mother soothe your blistered palms, sore from splitting rock.

To me, relaxed is sitting at the very top of the quarry, smiling as I stare out at the sunset. Most people are home for dinner, meaning I have even a small amount of time to be me.

Scraps of fabric were woven around my chest like mummy wrappings, the dirty light blue denim contrasting greatly with my skin, which was the colour of hot cocoa (I'd only had hot cocoa a few times, it was expensive- even for District Two). I hadn't had the chance to cut my ebony hair yet. It was damp from the sprinkling of rain that was falling, curling close to the nape of my neck and in front of my ears. My glasses were foggy, and I rubbed them with my sleeve.

I jumped when I felt hands on my shoulders, frozen and on edge as someone spoke. "Why are you out here so late, young lady?"

I turned a bit, Peacekeeper gloves in my vision (one of them had red stitches on the base of the thumb) as the words slipped out of my mouth, gone before I could call them back. "I'm not a fucking girl."

The Peacekeeper was quiet for a few seconds. The silence stretched out like a rubber band, tense and waiting to snap. I was still, but my chest was tight with panic. It was just one sentence but I just swore at a Peacekeeper! I was gonna get killed in the square at seventeen! Oh no, oh God...

"I understand that."

I blinked, shuffling over a bit as the Peacekeeper sat on the dirt next to me. They reached up and took off their helmet, and I couldn't help my little gasp of surprise. He was so young. Seriously, he couldn't be any older than me.

He gave me a smile. "Yeah, um, sorry about that. I'm Tally."

I stared at his gloved hand, unsure whether or not to take it. "I'm... Um... I'm Karo."

Tally smiled at me, revealing a gap between his two top teeth. I smiled back hesitantly, jerking away in surprise when he moved my jacket out of the way to show the scraps around my chest. "That isn't safe," he commented. "How about I get you a proper one?"

My mouth fell open, and he chuckled. "I have a few friends in the Capitol, Karo. Okay? You could break your ribs without one."

I considered his offer, smiling a bit. "That sounds good to me," I murmured.

That night I slept peacefully for the first time in a very, very long while. While I slept, I didn't dream. I was at peace. I was relaxed.

Until there was a thudding at the door and my mother was screaming at me to wake up.

The house was swarming with Peacekeepers, two of them dragging me out into the square in my pyjamas. I was confused and screaming to be let go, struggling as I was locked into cold shackles, my back rigid against the pole. I was trembling and shaking.

A crowd was gathered around, hate in their expressions as my mother screamed and cried, struggling against the Peacekeepers. One had red stitches in the gloves.

I was trembling as the Head Peacekeeper read out my crime and punishment. "Karo Sylvan, you are of no use to the district due to your mental disorder. You are sentenced to death by firing squad."

I watched the Peacekeepers line up, staring at the gloves holding one particular rifle. I glared up at the reflective helmet, the click of the guns loading echoing in my ears.

"I trusted you, Tally."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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Author's note: I do not believe being transgender is a disorder or disease in any way, shape, or form.