theboywiththebook | Second Tale: The Red Room [Action/Video] (Spoilers for s2ep6 those not up to date)

[Henry has gotten settled in his room in the first community housing building on floor 2. But, the thing is he hasn't been sleeping well lately. Ever since he woke up from the sleeping curse he'd been put under he'd been having horrible nightmares.

Tonight was no exception.

He was in a red room. There were no windows or doors, so he was locked in. But there were these red curtains, on fire. The whole room was on fire in fact. All he could do was try and avoid the flames and from being burned. But when he looked off into a corner he saw a woman. Her back was faced away from him and all he could do was try and call out to her. Try and get her attention.

But, it was getting too frightening. He lunged awake quickly and let out a terrified yell. He knocked over his journal turning the feed on. Rubbing his face to try and get the pictures of that room from his mind, he turned only to see he'd knocked his journal open. Hopefully he didn't wake anyone. But just in case he'll apologize but sound a bit fearful as he does.]

Sorry, about that...

[After that, he can't get back to sleep. He's gone to the kitchen for his floor and has made some coffee. He wants to stay awake, to try and avoid going back to those horrible dreams.

Opening the journal again he'll try and occupy himself with talking to anyone that's awake.]

Is there anyone up right now...?

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All right...

[So he begins his tale.]

I was in a red room. But there were no windows or doors, so I was trapped.

[As he begins retelling his dream he becomes visibly more disturbed by it.]

And there were these curtains that were on fire. I couldn't get out and the fire, it was just spreading. But in the corner there was this woman and she was staring at me. I tried calling out to her but she wouldn't answer me. She just kept looking.

[She watches through the journal as the boy's tale seems to frighten him the more he talks. She wants to reach out and hug him, wrap him in her arms as she would Prim or Rue. Reassure him that it was nothing more than a bad dream. That it would be okay. That fire - dream fire - can't burn. Not like real fire can.

But without knowing the boy's location, she can do none of that. All she can do is nod and look as every bit sympathetic as she feels.]

Fire's a scary thing.

[~~Oh Katniss...if only you knew how wrong you were.~~]

It is...I know I shouldn't be afraid since it's a dream...but...

~~[Burns are the worst kind of pain. How she knows that all too well.]~~

But?

It seems too real.

[She remembers how each and every one of her own nightmares would feel so real. Almost too real. A bedtime horror from which she sometimes felt as if she'd never escape.]

Dreams can feel like that sometimes. Especially the bad ones.

[He pauses for a moment unsure of what to say next. The only thing that comes to mind is that he hasn't told this girl his name.]

My name's Henry.

[She gives a small smile at that.]

I'm Katniss.

It's good to meet you, Katniss.

[If it weren't for the fact that he was having a nightmare brought him on the feed.]

[She nods in agreement, letting the smile tease her lips for a few seconds longer. Sometimes that reminder was good, that she wasn't the only one here plagued by nightmares. Even if she simultaneously felt guilty for thinking such. Especially in regards to a young boy.

Silence passes for a few seconds longer before she finally says:] Are you going to try to go back to sleep?

Yeah, I will try.

[Translation: No, I'm going to stay and drink coffee to avoid that place.]

[She lingers on the page. There's something in the way he says that which makes her doubt his words. And she remembers all the nights where she had lied in much a similar fashion, telling Peeta that she would go back to sleep and then, instead, spending her time staring at the ceiling while held tight by his arms.

If she could, she'd offer to sing. But the Malnosso took that away from her. And the guitar is still too new for her to have made any real proficiency.

So gently, she hints at her doubt.] Going back to sleep is not always easy, is it?

[He nods a little, as it seems she's caught on.]

I'll go try...thanks for listening, Katniss. I'll talk to you soon, okay?

[She offers another soft smile. There's not much more she can do right now, aside from perhaps listening to her own advice. It's hard to go back to sleep but unless she wants an unsuccessful hunt in the morning, she has to.]

Sleep well, Henry.

Second Tale: The Red Room [Action/Video] (Spoilers for s2ep6 those not up to date)

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Re: [video] sorry for being late

[video] it's ok