"Run, Laney! Run!" I scream and throw rocks at the dog. Screaming. Blood. Howling. It's too late. I sit up in my bed, panting, my face soaked with sweat. I touch the large cut on my arm. Laney had it worse. It should have been me. I get out of bed to hear my brother moaning. I rush to his bed. "Shh, be quiet Callee. I'm so sorry." I stroke his golden hair as he asks me, "Did you have the nightmare again?" I nod. "I'm so sorry." He quiets down. "Rye? Can you sing the song?" I shake my head yes. "Of course. Anything for you, Callee."
I take a deep breath and wipe the tears off my eyes.
Deep in the meadow, under the willow, a bed of grass, a soft green pillow, lay down your head, close your sleepy eyes. And when again they open, the sun will rise. Here it's safe, here it's warm. Here the daisies guard you from every harm. Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, here is the place where I love you.
Callee smiles. I tell him, "Mom taught us that, remember? Now it's very early, so you have to go to sleep. It's not good for a 9 year old to be up right now." He nods and closes his grey eyes. Such a good brother. I kiss his forehead and lay in my bed, watching him sleep. I try to sleep myself, but I don't want another nightmare about my best friend dying. I decide to head for the Meadow. Where Laney is buried. It was her favorite place. I still see her dancing around with flowers in her hair.
I tiptoe past my parent's room, knowing they won't worry. I've always gone to the Meadow at dawn ever since⦠oh, never mind. I notice that my brown hair is still soaked with sweat. I guess that's what happens when nightmares almost scare you to death. I splash some water on my face, take Laney's jacket, and go outside. The warm summer breeze blows, and the sun is rising. I put on the jacket and head for the Meadow. Barely anybody is up, just some workers opening up shops. Classic District 12 lifestyle. When I reach the Meadow, I run to her grave and lay down. She was my best friend. She was only 14. She had so much to live for. I bury my head in the grass and start to cry. This goes on for a long time, then I raise my head.
Maybe I should go back to the woods. Where the beast killed her. Should I go back there again? Maybe. I don't want to go back there, because it surfaces so many awful memories. But I hunt for sport. Without hunting, I basically have nothing to do but cry all day. I slowly raise to my feet and walk towards the haunting place. Once I'm in, I find the tree trunk where my mom always put her bow and arrow. I grab my spear and look for game.
My mom taught me how to hunt. I tried the bow and arrow, but I handle the spear better than anyone. Mom forgot about the woods as she got older. She doesn't have the time, and she has Callee and my dad to handle. So I hunt now. Once I brought Laney here. Biggest mistake of my life. I spot a rabbit and aim. Just as I am about to throw, a rope ties around my feet and I am lifted up.
