My whole life changed when the bombs started to fall. Fires blazed. Houses fell. My home in District Twelve was being destroyed right before my eyes.
I ran as the house I had lived in forever burned to the ground. Screams of terror filled the City Square as people fled. Capitol hovercrafts filled the sky.
The Capitol was ending thousands of lives with no hesitation. And there was nothing we could do about it.
I caught I glimpse of a group of people near the fence. I knew immediately that it was him. Gale Hawthorne, the boy who brought me strawberries. He met my eyes and gestured for me to come.
I ran to him. He embraced me and started talking in a frantic tone. "Madge, we have to get out of here. I'm taking my family into the woods. You have to come with us or you'll be killed."
I shook my head. "I don't deserve to go, Gale. You won't need another mouth to feed. Just tell Katniss that I don't blame her for this."
I hugged him again and ran in the other direction. Gale watched me as I left, then herded his family into the woods. I would never see him again.
I soft meow coming from under me made me jump. A small grey cat with bright yellow eyes stood at my feet. I scooped him up and snuggled him against my chest. Something cold pressed against my neck and I realized it was a tag.
Buttercup Everdeen, Property of Primrose Everdeen.
I gasped. This was Prim's cat! I dashed after Gale who was lifting his little brother, Rory, over the fence.
"Gale! Wait!" I screamed.
He turned around and sighed with relief. "Prim was trying to go back and find him. Thank you so much, Madge." He handed Buttercup to Prim, who had tears streaming down her face. "Please come, Madge." She whispered.
"I can't, Prim. My father worked for the Capitol. I feel responsible for this. If I survive I will blame myself forever." I said.
At that moment another wave of bombs rained down. Gale slid under the fence and ran away with his group, not bothering to look back.
The whole Square erupted in flames. I readied myself for the heat. I didn't scream. I didn't run. I accepted it my death.
There was no escape.