Bertie doesn’t look up when his name is called but he can feel people moving away from him like he is all of a sudden poisonous. The huge sigh encompasses him as he processes the fact he has been chosen. Chosen to die. To die in front of everyone, on TV, for their entertainment.

An arm reaches out and a hand brushes against his shoulder, perhaps the last moment of comfort before he meets his death.

Bertie raises his head as his mother pulls him in close to her chest. Her heart drums against his ear to the beat of utter shock.

“What will you do when I’m gone?”

“Hush, now, don’t talk like that.” His mother’s words don’t sound like her own.

“I can’t do this. I can’t leave you.”

“You have no choice, son. Be braver than Leonard.”

“Leonard was brave.” Bertie hung his head, his shoulders dropped an inch. “He was brave but didn’t see them coming. It’s been four years.”

“I know, I know. But I won’t lose you too.” His mother retrieved a tattered shoelace from her pocket and placed it in Bertie’s hand, closing his fist around it. She nodded her head.

Bertie ran his fingers round the shoelace and squeezed it tight. This was Leonard’s undoing and area 5.3 will pay for what they did to his brother - he had their murder weapon in his possession. He knew what he had to do.