Authors Note: sorry for posting this chapter late today but I had to tweak it a little, thank you for the support and for your patience that you guys did it really helped me a lot as I have mentioned before in the other chapters. I hope you enjoy this one and to be continued next week! And as always feel free to tell me how you feel about this chapter.
Disclaimer - I do not own any of the hunger games characters or story, all of the credit goes to Suzanne Collins.
I move my shoulders back, I hear the bones crack as I take another deep breath. My hand raises up to my back and my fingers trace along the last arrow. My heart dropped to my stomach.
My breath hitches as my shaking hand laces around it. I slide it out and I position it on the bow, I slowly pull back the rough string as the huge horde picks up in speed, my eyes fall in full focus.
'If I am going to die then at least I'll go down fighting' I think as I watch their every move.
As I am about to release the string and plunge the arrow it into someone's flesh, my ears focus on the shuffling behind me.
"Ohm please… don't tell me that your planning on killing them with that, sweetheart?"
I slowly blink my eyes as my mind tries to snatch back my memory. I gently loosen the string with my fingers as I close my eyes.
'There's only one person in this entire world that calls me like that'
I relax my tensed shoulders a little even though the crowd in front of me makes its way closer and closer by every minute. My eyes open a little as I look behind me.
"Haymitch" I breathe out.
My eyes scan the tall slim figure in front of me. As from as far as I can remember it has not been a long time since I saw him but the old man had aged. His long blonde hair had turned into light stripes of white and gold. The short stubble on his face had grown in length. He stares at me in annoyance and maybe even a little bit of amusement, his stone grey eyes connecting with my own. My eyes focus on his wrinkles as he scrunches up his crooked nose.
"Ohm so were on first name basis now?" He bluntly states as he looks behind me.
I scoff as my eyes follow his. I crease my brows as I look behind me, my eyes scan the huge crowd that is stumbling and pushing each other to get to us.
"Making new friends huh?"
My head shoots back towards him.
'Why is he finding this so amusing' I question myself as irritation grows within me.
As I am about to open my mouth another voice disrupts me.
"Hey sorry to interrupt but I think we should go"
My head snaps to the right as I take in the worried couple. My eyes scan over a very tall broad figure. His bronze wavy hair standing out the most, and his huge green eyes. His light stubble is barely visible and he has a frown plastered on his features which is weirdly charming to the eye. I look to the left and I take in the other small slim figure. She has long ginger hair that hangs in waves past her shoulders, with shiny emerald green eyes. I gaze down a little and I stop on the huge bump on her stomach.
'Pregnant perhaps?' I think.
"You heard the kid let's go!" Haymitch states as he turns around.
With confusion wiping my gaze, I look as the three of them turn in union and head into the green dense forest. I feel my dazzled mind process everything, a wave of relief gushes through my body to see the old man but then again I have quite a lot of questions to ask.
"Hey sweetheart you going to move or do you want to be their next meal!"
I shake my head a little as I lift up my head only to be met with Haymitches face, he readjusts his bag on his shoulder as he stares at me with worry and I would be lying if I didn't see a hint of amusement.
"Don't call me that" I say bluntly towards him as I begin to step forward, one foot after the other crushing leaves underneath the soles of my shoes. I take one more glance backwards towards the heard of walkers. I can't help but to wonder about that little poor girl that I could not get to in time. Before I let my thoughts crush me again I shake my head side to side as I follow Haymitch and the other two forward.
As we climb over a huge tree that had lost its balance and toppled down, my mind begins to fill with more questions. I look up and I see Haymitche's greasy hair shine from the suns light. I nod my head side to side as I bend my legs up to pass through some big boulders. I scan my surroundings. Nothing but a bunch of trees and moss. I wonder where we are actually heading to because it is definitely not towards my little sister Prim. I stop in my tracks, stepping into a pile of brown mud.
"Where are we going?" I ask no one in specific.
I watch as they all stop and snap their heads back towards me. I lean on one foot and my right hand rests on my hip. I let out a long sigh as I give them the biggest scowl I can muster up, when I hear Haymitch chuckle a little.
"Ahh I was wondering when you'd ask" He slurs.
I tense my jaw a little, 'He's drunk, I cannot believe this man, even in situations like this he drinks, he is unbelievable' I lower my eyes towards him as my scowl grows.
"Ohm come on cheer up a little" I watch as his hand flies towards his back pocket. He swings out a bottle with some yellow liquid inside it and takes a huge swig.
'Cheer up? Cheer up!' is this guy serious. My mouth is about to open when he interrupts me.
"Oh and about that question of yours?" he whips his head around quickly.
"That I don't know" He bluntly speaks out with amusement, taking another swig.
"Tsk!" is all I manage to utter before the bronze haired man snatches the bottle away from Haymitche's hand, causing him to groan a little.
"What did I tell you about that bottle of yours?"
I watch as Haymitch mumbles some incoherent words under his breath as looks up at the other man with disgust. He launches his hands towards the bottle, and snatches it back without the other man realising and quickly pops the lid back onto it.
The bronze haired man shakes his head in defeat as he looks towards me. His huge green eyes boring straight into mine, he rolls he rolls them a little.
"We're getting some supplies for our group, apparently there's some not far from here" He says as he turns and wraps his hand around the other woman's shoulders.
I crease my brow in confusion, 'group? What group?' I think.
"Hey! What group?"
He shrugs his shoulders and carries on walking with a very annoyed Haymitch behind them.
"You'll see when we get there" The man speaks up as he treks forward.
My eye twitches in annoyance as I place one foot after the other behind them.
We walk for a couple of more minutes, with me ducking and crouching under a bunch of bushes and trees, when I hear a faint noise a couple of steps to our right. The couple must've heard it too since they go and hide beind a huge brown tree. I hear more leaves crunch behind me and I realize that Haymitch is still walking forward minding his own business. Without thinking I launch forward and I grab his greasy old shirt and I push him against the tree. I look behind it.
I notice two cold blooded walkers heading our way.
"Shut up and stay here" I command towards Haymitch, earning me as slight nod.
I step away from the tree silently as I raise my bow, I pull out my arrow from the back and I place it lightly on the string. I pull it back past my cheek as I take in a deep breath. Seconds later I release the arrow, making it soar through the air straight into the walkers head. I watch as its lifeless body tumbles down onto the floor, creating another loud thud with echoes inside my dazzled mind.
My eyes shoot to my right as the other walker turns around and stumbles my way, the blood from his mouth dripping down onto his white shirt, creating huge bloody prints on it.
'White shirt' I think as my mind rolls back to Peeta. 'He used to wear a white shirt in the bakery' my mind drifts of for a second as the painful flashback of Peeta pop into my mind.
The sudden loud snap of a twig grabs my attention, I shoot my eyes forwards as I am met with terrifyingly devilish ones. I swing my hand to my back to reach for another arrow but all I am met with is emptiness.
I roll my eyes in frustration, 'last arrow, right' I state in my head.
With irritation gushing through me I grab the bow with both of my hands and I raise it up in a fight position, just like I had when I was at the warehouse.
As I am about to swing, the painful gurgle of the walker in front of me startles me, I watch as its bloodshot devilish eyes turn white as it collapses in front of me, I slightly open my mouth as the shock settles in. I look to my right only to see the brown haired man wipe his bloody hunting knife on his cargo pants, causing load red angry smears on them.
He looks at me and raises the cleaned hunting knife towards me.
"You should use this for now, since you're out of those" He points towards the empty set on my back, I nod lightly.
The sudden disturbing scream makes us both jump. My eyes snap towards the right and I see another one of those walkers making its way towards the woman, she tries to push him away with her hands.
"Annie!" The man beside me screams.
Without thinking I snatch the knife from his hand and I sprint towards the two. As I am about to get there, the abrupt sound of crashing glass forces me to stop in my tracks. I look up only to find the walker on the ground and a very annoyed Haymitch beside it.
"And that was my last glass bottle too" he says irritated as he looks at his bloody hand.
I run up to the very angry walker as it grabs Annie's leg causing her to scream once more, without another thought I plunge the knife into its brain, spluttering some blood my pants. I rip its hand away that was enclosed around Annie's foot and I stand up.
"Annie!"
"Finnick!" I watch as they both crash into each other, with Finnick moving a back a little for the pregnancy bump on Annies stomach.
It was as if everything went silent, all I can manage to hear is some muffled voices. I can hear my heart thud loud as I take a step back. I look at the now dead walker on the ground.
"Thank you" I manage to register.
I look forward, as my head spins a little, the sudden touch of someone's hands on my shoulders makes me jump as little. I soon come to the realization that I am being wrapped up in a tight hug, with my hands by my side my eyes widen for a second.
"Thank you" this time I hear it clearly as Finnick lets go of me.
He glues his eyes onto mine as they fill with tears, I raise the side of my lip slightly to accept his thanks, and so that he could compose himself.
"Where the hell am I going to find another one of those?" Haymitch almost shouts.
I scowl his way as I take a step back from Finnick.
"Thanks Haymitch" Finnick says as he steps to the side to give him a side hug.
I find myself cringing their way as I focus my eyes down towards the muddy ground. I really do not like embraces.
"Well Haymitch were at our destination so feel free to look" Finnick speaks out.
I shoot my eyes up, and indeed we are at an old tiny abandoned hut. I start walking towards it with the rest of them following after me. I hold the knife steady in my hand as I swing the door open, the familiar creaking sound sends shivers down my spine as I look inside. There's a chair in the bottom right corner with a guitar propped on it and another close to it. Looking to my left I see a small metal fridge which has been placed on a stool, and another room to my right.
We all step inside the area as Finnick shuts the door. I limp forward towards the closed door on my right and I twist the handle. I look inside and I find nothing but the toilet seat on my left, a bath in front of me and a small sink with a cabinet placed underneath it. I walk forwards towards the cupboard and I crouch down, wincing at the shot of pain that ran through my leg. I swing the cabinet open, I scan through a bunch of toothpastes and other useless things until I stop on a large white bottle reading: ALCOHOL in bold letters.
"Why does everyone have alcohol stored in their bathrooms?" I mumble under my breath, slightly confused.
I decide to grab it anyway, and I stand up. I look down at the tap and I twist it open with my fingers. Splashing water on my face, I feel relief run through my body.
As I close the running tap I wipe my face into my shirt and I walk out the door.
"Haymitch!" I call out.
"What do you want?" he shouts.
I follow the sound of his voice and I spot him sitting down miserably on the old chair on my left. I roll my eyes as I limp my way towards him. As I reach him I bend down a little.
"Give me your hand" I demand.
"No"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"I have alcohol, I can clean it for you" I state as I watch him in disgust.
"Oh okay, sure" he smiles almost immediately.
He moves his bloody hand forward, and I manage not to gag. His hand has bits of glass stuck inside his flesh, with it gushing blood. I scrunch up my nose as I pop open the liquor bottle, since he is already half drunk I am sure that he is not going to feel any pain. I tilt the bottle over his wound, winning me a loud painful shriek. With my other hand I pull out the bits of glass. I pour more of the liquor on his wound as he groans in pain.
After I'm done with that I look around for some type of bandage, but I can't seem to find anything. Without any idea about what I am doing I place the bottle down beside my foot and I look down at my shirt. With both of my hands I grab the end of it and I rip a piece off, after I have managed that I reach down for the glass again, only to find that it's not there. My eyes snap towards Haymitch as I see him take a huge swig.
"What the hell are you doing?" I state irritated with him.
"Refreshing myself" he says arrogantly.
I give him the biggest scowl that I could muster up, and I stand up. I wrap the dry bandage on his hand and I Spin around in my track. I limp forward towards the left side of the room near the guitar. I grab it by the neck and I place it beside the chair as I sit down, winning me a soft thud, as I close my eyes.
"Katniss right?"
I peek though one eye to see Finnick and Annie standing in front of me. I nod slightly.
"I'm Finnick, Finnick Odair by the way as you have probably heard before" he says as he reaches his hand out towards me. I take it and he gives me a good shake.
"And this is Annie Cresta… well soon to be Odair" He grins widely as he lifts up Annies hand showing me the beautiful shiny ring on her finger.
I smile a little to their response, "so what are we doing?"
"Well I and Annie managed to find some bottles and canned food back in the kitchen, but that's about it really" Finnick states as he takes a seat on the floor. Annie soon follows him and bends down holding her bloated stomach.
My eyes widen a little as I shoot up of the chair, she looks at me with confusion and I just gesture towards the seat, she gives me a small smile and sits down while I take a seat on the freezing floor.
"I swear that gale said that there was more here" Finnick says a little irritated.
Annie bends back into the chair and sighs loudly.
"Well I guess that this is all we get"
"Who's gale?" I say a little too loudly. They both look towards me and Finnick shrugs.
"Ohm well we have this camp out in the east, and gale pretty much controls everything there" he says.
"Right" I mumble, but I can't help the fact that the word 'east' stirred something inside of me.
"So what where you doing in front of all those flesh eaters anyway?" he asks.
My head rolls back through everything that has happened and causes my heart to thud a little faster, I take a deep breath as I look at Finnick.
"I was just trying to help a bunch of people but then I kind of got lost" I lie, trying to make my voice sound as normal as possible.
"And what happened to 'those' people? If I can ask?" Annie asks while she leans forward.
I breathe out loudly as I look down at my shaking hands, "They're err… they umm didn't make it" I breathe in quickly as Finnick lays his hand on top of mine. I look up at him.
His eyes grow big with worry as he lightly taps my hand, "it's okay we lost people to" he whispers as he looks at Annie with sorrow.
I nod lightly as I look down again.
"Do you play guitar?" Finnick asks a couple of minutes later.
I look up at him and nod side to side, "no I don't" I lie.
"Well then I guess I got to take matters in my own hands" he states as he grabs the guitar.
"Finnick what are you doing? you don't even play that?" Annie chuckles softly as she motions towards the guitar that is now sitting awkwardly in Finnicks lap.
He laughs loudly and strums a little, I shut my eyes as the horrible sound passes through my ears, sending shivers down my spine.
I remember how my dad taught me how to play before his death, and how his guitar did not sound anything like that, he played beautifully, in fact so beautifully that I can almost still hear it.
"Oh you don't like it?" Finnick asks me all of a sudden.
I raise my brow a little as I look at him, "I didn't say that"
"Well you sure look it" he says as he grins.
I turn my eyes away from his and I stare at the floor 'maybe I do' I think.
I hear a soft thud as the guitar was placed on the wooden floor, followed by a long sigh. I turn my eyes towards Annie, she smiles lovingly as she looks at Finnick.
"How long?" I ask Annie, as I try to keep myself distracted.
She creases her brow as she turns her head towards me, I nod towards her stomach and her face relaxes a little as she acknowledges what I had meant.
"Six months now, it's a boy" she sighs and grins towards a very overjoyed Finnick.
I smile at them, "congratulations, even though I'm a little late" I mumble towards them.
They both chuckle a little.
"So have you got any brothers or sisters?" Finnick asks out of curiosity.
'Prim' I wonder. Where is she now, what she is doing, if she's safe and alive? She has to be I mean she is a strong lady, I love her with all my life and I'm going to find her.
"Well I have a sister, but I don't know where she is" I say as my voice cracks a little.
Finnick and Annie crease their brows, "what do you mean that you don't know where she is? What does she looks like?" Annie asks.
"Well she's the complete opposite from how I look like, blonde, blue eyes very kind, very young in fact you would hardly think that we are sisters at all-" I get interrupted by Annie.
"Primrose?" she blurts out.
Silence.
My heart suddenly stops, I could hardly catch my breath.
"Primrose Everdeen?" Annie repeats.
My eyes blur from my tears as I launch up from the floor, 'wait they know who she is, they know where she is, she's alive?' all these questions scream inside my mind as I stare back at Annie.
"Yeah…I mean yes she's my sister I'm Katniss Everdeen" I blurt out loud.
Finnick grins widely, "I should have known it was you, I mean she keeps talking about you"
"Where is she?" I ask suddenly determined to go.
"She's back at the camp, we can go now" Finnick says as he rises from his spot, he walks up to Annie and grabs her hands to help her up off the chair.
All I do is nod from my own adrenaline gushing within me, I turn around and I see Haymitch get up from his seat. I limp towards him.
"You knew?" I ask irritated that he didn't tell me.
"Knew what?"
"That prim is back at the camp asking for me" I blurt out
He looks a little taken a back, "well it didn't come up plus to my own defence I completely forgot" he shakes his head a little.
As I am about to speak Finnicks voice interrupts me.
"Alright were all good, let's go"
I give Haymitch an angry glare as I turn around to limp towards the door, my excitement demolishing my anger for Haymitch in seconds.
I hear as the old man sigs behind me as I get to the door, I swing it open and I wait for the others to pass through. I close the door and I walk out to them.
"So where to?" I ask sternly.
Finnick turns his head to the right side and grins a little, he makes eye contact with me for a split second and points to the right.
"We're about ten minutes away from it actually, we must've just make a huge pointless circle the first time" he says as he look to his left at Haymitch who nods while he sniffs up his liquor.
Without thinking I start trekking to my right, 'I got to get to her, to tell her that everything is okay, to say that we're going to be okay' I think as my shoes sink beneath the wet ground.
"Hey not to fast" I hear Finnick call out, making me stop abruptly in my tracks.
I spin around in my spot and I look towards Finnick, I watch as he takes something out of his bag, my eyes scan over the object and I soon realise that it's a water bottle. I take a few limps forward and I take it.
'Thanks' I mouth out to him as I pop open the lid from the bottle with my fingers
"So where did you hurt your leg?" Annie asks as we slowly begin walking.
I scrunch up my nose as the guilt within me engulfs in flames again, 'oh rue' I think as my eyes go a little blurry. I take a long swig from my bottle, causing the long cold liquid to run down my throat.
"I err burnt it" I blurt out as I keep my eyes forward.
I hear a soft 'oh' from Annie as we step on a few of the rocks that had popped up in front of us.
A Couple of Minutes Later…
As we walk through the cold forest, the sound of another man's voice jolts me from my day dream. My eyes snap up and I notice a metal green fence about ten yards away from us. My breath hitches as I raise my eyebrow. Looking for answers I snap my eyes to my left towards Finnick who gives me a reassuring smile.
We make it to the gate a couple of minutes later and Finnick creaks it open. I look to my left and right and I wearily step through it.
"Well this is the place" I hear Finnick mumble.
I look around the area, it's out in the open with a couple of old ripped tents dotted around the area surrounded by the green fence which I am guessing is electric, nothing big or anything. I turn my head around to Finnick and Annie who are staring behind me with grins plastered on their faces, I raise my brow at them.
'What are they looking at' I think.
My question is answered almost immediately when I hear someone utter softly.
"Katniss…?"