After it all: Chapter 3


Hope's POV:

I eventually fell asleep, but I don't think Finnick did. When I woke up, his eyes were bloodshot and he had bags under his eyes. He was telling Prim a story when I woke up. "I'm going to take Prim and get breakfast. You try and get some sleep." I told him. I kissed his forehead and he sank beneath the blankets on the bed. I picked up Prim and took her downstairs. I could smell the biscuits, bacon, and eggs. I got a plate and filled it with everything. Then I got another plate and put everything but eggs on them. She is allergic to eggs. I took Prim and the plates to the table and sat down next to Tessa. "Would you like to watch Prim for the day?" I asked her. "Sure. Why?" She answered. "I have things to do." I told her. "Okay." She simply responded. Then I turned to Prim. "You're going to spend the day with aunt Tessa, okay?" I told her. She nodded and continued eating her food. After I was done, I filled a plate for Finnick, who was hopefully sleeping. I carried it upstairs and into our room. His back was facing the door, but his breathing was uneven. I set the plate down on the nightstand and walked over to the other side of the bed. "Something is bothering you." I said. He nodded, confirming it. "What's wrong?" I asked him. He just stared at me. "You can tell me." I told him. He sighed at said, "It's your dad. That was the second time he. . . changed, well, I'm afraid he is going to hurt Prim, or you." I climbed next to him and he wrapped his strong arms around me. I buried my head in the crook of his neck and breathed deeply. He smelled of salt, a scent that never really left him. I pulled away and noticed that his eyes were closed, and his breathing was even. He was asleep. I untangled myself from him and the sheets and walked out quietly shutting the door behind me. I went downstairs and almost ran into Tessa. She was carrying Prim. Prim poked my nose and I poked hers back. "Where are you going?" Tessa asked. I curtly answered "The woods." I walked out the front door and the heat blasted me in the face. I walked over the dry grass that covered the blackened earth made of ashes and stopped and the fence. I went through, just how my mom taught me and jogged into the shade of the trees. I looked up, to see if there were any birds worth shooting, and noticed the leaves. With the sun shining through them, there was always a dark spot.

Just like humans. We all have light and dark inside of us, it is the one we choose to act on that defines us. I walked over to a tree and felt inside an unused burrow for my bow and arrows. I snagged them and pulled them out. They weren't dusty. Someone, I think mom, had been using them. I threw my quiver over my shoulder and quickly moved to the river, where all the animals usually were, and today there were squirrels. I fired. I heard the arrow tip slice through the thin coating of eye I had just nailed. The squirrel went limp and slumped to the ground. I sat down on a fallen tree log and sang:

Down in the valley, the valley so low

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow

Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow;

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.

Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,

Angels in Heaven know I love you,

Know I love you, dear, know I love you,

Angels in Heaven know I love you.

If you don't love me, love whom you please,

Throw your arms 'round me, give my heart ease,

Give my heart ease, dear, give my heart ease,

Throw your arms 'round me, give my heart ease.

Build me a castle, forty feet high;

So I can see her as she rides by,

As she rides by, dear, as she rides by,

So I can see her as she rides by.

Write me a letter,'Send it by mail,

Send it in care of Birmingham Jail,

Birmingham Jail, love, Birmingham Jail,

Send it in care of Birmingham Jail

I don't know where I learned these songs. Mom never sang them to me. I heard a crunching noise. Someone else is in the woods today. I remember hearing that sound from those tapes we watched so long ago. It can't be. This can't be happening. He was miles away. Then something grabbed me from behind. I started thrashing around but it was no use. He was too strong. I stopped struggling and let my dad drag me away.


Cliffhanger! No I'm kidding cliffhangers are not fun. Sorry that this is a short chapter. We have been very busy. On a totally unrelated note thank you guys so much for inspiring us and reviewing our stories. It helps us so much to know that you like our stories and it inspires us to write more. So we just want to say thank you guys. Oh ya and we promise to have the next chapter up by next Friday. Have a nice weekend!