CHAPTER 9
"Ladies and Gentleman I am pleased to announce this year's Hunger Games winner Kaleb Mellark!" I dropped the spear and watched the light leave the boy from District 10s eyes, he dropped the ground lifeless and losing a lot of blood. Wait, what do they mean winner? I turned around to see a 2 other bodies on the ground. I ran over and dropped to my knees besides Archer, an arrow in his chest. I scrunched up my face and let a tear drop for him before kissing my three middle fingers and sticking them in the air.
"Goodbye brother" I got up and walked away. The hovercraft appeared and dropped down a ladder, I placed my foot on the first step of the ladder, and the electric current froze me in place stopping me from moving. When I got up there Doctors in white clothes swarmed me, checking to make sure I was safe and not dying, I had a few deep cuts along my body from the fight, an especially big one on my arm.
"This won't hurt a bit" They placed a mask on my face that I am guessing is supposed to put me to sleep.
"Please welcome this year's winner Kaleb Mellark!" I walked on stage fixing my suit one last time before walking out in front of the big crowd. I put on a fake smile and waved to everyone. I wasn't in the mood for interviews, I just want to go home and curl up in bed just so I can forget this ever happened. So I can be with Annabella in my head at least. "Wow, it is great to see you again Kaleb, I knew you would make it! Your history supports you" Caesar laughed and got the audience to agree with him, they were cheering and screaming for me.
"Thank you but I didn't think I would win, I had my money on Anna" I choked on her name, I haven't said it since she died; I haven't spoken it out loud.
"Ahh yes, Annabella Hawthorne, the girl who caught your heart… we will get to her later. In the arena with this alliance you had with the other tributes are you aware of how they all passed and what happened? Let's show some highlights of that group please" it started with the countdown how we were all looking at each other and giving the signals to run into the forest. Then us all meeting and Raven finding the cave, then Terra, how she saved Annabella and how Terra died. It showed Anna listening in on our conversation and frowning then leaving; it showed all the deaths but saved Anna's for last so it could show the whole scene and not just the death.
She only saw one tribute and thought her no threat and tried to keep moving but they got her, that boy got on top of her and tried to have his way with her, I watched with pride as she got away from that boy by killing him then cringed when the arrow hit her in the back and she fell to the ground. It wouldn't have been a fatal wound so I was scared of what I would see next. She was rolled over and a girl was slicing her cheek open. "You will pay for that" She said. I stood in anger I didn't want to watch this anymore, I didn't want to see this. The girl grabbed a rock and held it above Anna's head
"I love you Kaleb" Anna whispered before the girl bring down the rock. I screamed out and threw the table that was in front of the couches into the screen smashing it to pieces; I felt satisfaction in seeing all those shards fall to the ground.
"Oh young love, don't we just love it!" Caesar shouted to the crowd laughing "But you see Kaleb, we have a big surprise for you waiting back at your district so we decided to skip all the procrastination and send you straight home. The train is waiting and trust me Kaleb, you don't want to miss this surprise" What the hell is he talking about? What surprise? It's not like anything can make my life any better right now. Nothing will be better until I am with my Annabella.
"Well you know what Caesar, you and the Capitol can take the 'surprise' and shove it up" I froze as something sharp hit my neck and the stage went dark; probably because I passed out from someone shooting a dart full of drugs at me.
My dreams were invaded by thoughts of Annabella, her fabulous smile, her beautiful eyes, her hair flowing in the wind as she ran away from me giggling. We were in a meadow and we were together, just us, she had her bow and arrow and I was just there, following her as she ran. I caught up to her and caught her around the waist spinning her around. Annabella giggled and squealed dropping her bow and arrow.
"Kaleb put me down!" I put her down but kept her close to me staring into her eyes. Her beautiful brown hair had fallen out of her messy ponytail so I brushed it back behind her ear "That is such a cliché move" She giggled and pushed me away running again. I rolled my eyes and ran after her again.
"Slow down! Anna" I lost sight of her and started panicking "Anna!" a loud scream pierced the air, I know that scream, and it was Anna's scream. I bolted off in the direction of the scream coming to a sight I wish I never did. She was on the ground, her brown hair now blonde but covered in blood four people standing over her laughing and pointing at her. As they saw me they ran off laughing their heads off. I skidded to my knees besides her body and cradled her to me; she was so lifeless and dead I growled and punched the ground with my other hand. Her body started getting lighter and fainter. I tried to grab her tighter but she kept fading away and eventually there was nothing to hold onto. She was gone.
I shot up sweating and breathing heavily the train just stopped at the station in District 12. Not that I cared, I don't want the surprise, whatever it was I didn't want it. Mum came into the room and gave me a sympathetic smile.
"Things can only get better from here honey" Mum came over and hugged me. It was one of those hugs that only a mother can give, one that makes me feel safe and secure like nothing can hurt me. My mum gives the best hugs. I clutched onto her for dear life sobbing quietly.
"I don't want to go back, I love her mum, I just can't do it" Mum shushed me and pet my back.
"You will get through this, trust me" Of course I can't not trust my mum; she is my mother she knows what's best even when she doesn't really know. I sniffed and wiped my eyes, there will be cameras out there waiting to take my picture. I don't want them to see that I had been crying. Mum grabbed my hand and walked me towards the exit. Dad had left while I was still in the games, I don't know why yet, no one will tell me.
We stepped out and the people with their cameras were non-existent but that wasn't what mattered. The girl standing far away with her dad is what mattered. For a second I thought I was hallucinating, this couldn't be happening. No way was this actually happening. She died! The moment she smiled at me something inside me snapped. I leapt out of the train and ran toward her but paused a metre away. I looked to Gale for confirmation. He stared at me and nodded. That's all the confirmation I need. I sprinted the extra metre and picked her up in my arms spinning her around.
She giggled, just like in my dream and cradled my head in her hands. I refused to let her go, I kept her off the ground and in my arms afraid she would fade away. She looked normal, like the Annabella I spoke to before the games except she still had the blonde hair which looked recently dyed again and she had scars all over her body. Especially one big one running from her temple to her jaw bone, it was slightly curved but didn't make her any less beautiful.
"What, how? I mean…" I was at a loss for words, how was this possible? "How?"
"You know me, I don't stay dead, it's against my rules" she joked.
"I'm serious Anna, I thought I lost you, I thought you were dead"
"I was, but I just woke up. I don't know how and I don't know why but I did. I was bought back to you" Anna leaned up on her tippy toes and leaned in toward me "I love you Kaleb Mellark"
"I love you too Annabella Hawthorne" I closed the distance between us and crushed my lips to hers. Mum was right. Things can only get better from here.
THE END!
THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING!
I HOPE YOU LIKE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONTINUE IT SO THAT IS THE END!
