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chapter sixteen !
└─── °∘❉∘° ───┘
June stayed in the back, far away from the action, but she could hear the murmuring of the crowd.
She found it hard to believe what was going on.
It had to be a joke because Coriolanus couldn't have done something like that. He would never just given up his best friend just like that.
June turned from looking at the throng to looking at Coriolanus. His eyes seemed haunted, even though he appeared at ease.
The girl tried to look away and maintained her distance, but her eyes seemed to resist.
Silently, she gazed at the execution. The audience also fell silent.
The only sound was Sejanus struggling in his restraints as the rope grew tighter and tighter around his neck, his arms flailing in futile resistance.
"Coryo! Help me, please!" Sejanus cried out to his best friend whose expression didn't change.
Her eyes followed Coriolanus, his gaze fixed forward and his lips pursed in a straight line. June was terrified and confused.
She wanted to scream at him and ask him why he wasn't trying to save Sejanus, but even if she could she was afraid of the answer.
June sat in the crowd like a statue, not moving and hardly breathing as she watched the scene unfold.
Her eyes were fixed on Coriolanus, taking in his calm demeanor and expressionless face.
Nevertheless trying to keep a neutral expression, her body shook with growing fear.
And in that moment, she knew that her feelings for Coriolanus were over and that if he were ever to look her way, she wasn't sure she could hold her fear back.
Sejanus's struggles against the noose seemed to drag on for what felt like hours. "Coryo!" He screamed but Coriolanus didn't budge.
June could feel her heart rate starting to rise as the man's struggles grew more frantic and his face began to turn blue.
The crowd seemed to hold their breath along with her, nobody having the faintest idea of what to do or say during such a situation.
Willow stood behind her sister's shoulders, not being able to look away at the scene. "Willow. Don't look." June noticed coving her eyes.
June's heart skipped a beat as watched Sejanus fall unconscious and the noose began to tighten and tighten even more.
The mocking birds began to copy his screams, crying out Ma! Ma! It was a sound Juniper couldn't get out of her head.
She knew his voice would haunt her. It would haunt Coriolanus.
It was hard for June to contain her emotions. She didn't want to let her mask slip. But then again, she was human.
A few tears began to trickle down her cheeks, she held herself back from having a breakdown like she did in the arena.
She shook her head as she saw Sejanus's lifeless body hang from the rope. June threw her head down so she didn't have to cause a seen.
𓆙
Juniper sat on the edge of her bed, trying to erase the memories of the hanging tree but his voices echoed in her thoughts.
She had never gone through this type of pain before — only during the games but this time it felt different.
June felt a weight holding her down, and she just couldn't figure out what it was. Maybe it was Coriolanus.
She slipped into a flowing yellow sundress, it had ruffled sleeves and a beautiful fabric with musical notes stitched in the front of the corset.
Juniper walked to the main centre of District twelve til she saw Coriolanus standing near the hanging tree with his head lowered to the ground.
"Coryo." She breathed as she stood next to him, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Coriolanus lifted his head, but he didn't speak or even look up to face June.
Instead he kept his gaze on the ground as though he was mourning.
His expression seemed unchanged from the one he had when he was standing guard at Sejanus's execution.
June felt a lump in her throat as she watched the boy she liked try to bury his emotions.
It hurt her to see him this way. She wanted to reach out and comfort him but she didn't know how.
Juniper slowly wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly but not pressing too hard.
She was silent for a moment just embracing him. Coriolanus still didn't say anything, his body was tense and he was rigid with his head facing the ground.
It seemed like he would never look up at her, like he was ashamed of something. "Did you bring your bag?" June spoke.
"Yes." His tone was deep but you could hear the sadness still lingering. "Are you ready?" She asks holding out her hand for him to take.
He nods, taking her hand. The two leave the hanging tree and plan their way to leave. For the better.
The two carefully walked along the track through the woods — making sure not to be caught. Juniper walks beside him and notices his gaze.
"Are you thinking about Sejanus." She worriedly asks, half scared to even ask. "I just wish I could've done something." He sighs looking down at the ground.
"But, I am sorry that you'll have to leave that place." He mentions as they brush past a large tree. Juniper looks up at it, admiring the beauty.
"I'll miss Willow, and Lucy Gray." June says as she looks up at the woods. "You know what I won't miss? The people." He smirks lightening the mood.
"Thank you." Coriolanus says once more. "For what?" June asks as the two stop walking.
"For saving me." He calmly says, June actually believed him from the way he spoke.
She stood on her tippy toes and planted him a kiss on his lips, pulling his face towards him, "You're welcome."
