6. Run, run, run.
I go to lunge forward when a tight grip encircles my wrist.
"Gale!" I screech out, the grip on my wrist tightens and begins to pull me back. I struggle against the force pulling me, tears stinging my eyes. The whip strikes his back again and his head drops. Time slows, I fall to my knees, the pressure on my wrist disappears. The whip is raised again.
That's when I see her. Katniss. She runs across to Gale in slow motion. The whip flicks toward Gale again, but she lunges infront of it. The impact instantly cutting the flesh on her cheek.
The blood trickles down her face, then drips to the ground into a pool of Gale's. It's overwhelming. My vision blurs and my hands find the ground.
Katniss' sacrifice and Haymitch's partially drunken slurs force the whipping to stop.
Time speeds up again and I find myself hurriedly crawling to Gale. His bounds are cut. He slumps on the ground.
When I reach him, I'm covered in his blood.
"Gale." I breathe, "Gale, I love you. You're going to be okay."
"Take him to the Everdeen's" a voice interrupts.
Katniss places her hand on my shoulder. I look up at her, tears streaming down my face.
"Madge, I need you to run to my mother. Tell her what happened and that we are on our way."
I nod in response; no time to talk. Then my feet are taking me to Victor's Village.