Here is Chapter 10! I can't believe I'm already at chapter 10, but there you go. Thank's to everyone that's read from the start, and to any readers I picked up on the way, you guys are all awesome!
Don't forget to Favourite/Follow/Review
DFTBA
~MadcapScribbler x
When it's dark enough, Peeta and I set off for the district. It's silent and empty, which makes it easy to get to my mother's house unnoticed. The door isn't locked when we get there, but it never is so I knock quietly just to let them know I'm in.
When I get in the house, my mother is still doing some of prims washing for school. She looks up at me, somewhat surprised at my sudden appearance.
"Katniss, what are you doing here? Is Peeta with you?"
"No. He's gone to get his stuff. And I'm here to get mine"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm leaving. Not forever, but for a while at least. I've come to get my things."
"But, where will you go?"
"The forest house"
"Oh, Peeta gave you the letter?" she asks, getting up and drying her hands on a tea towel. I nod, trying not to think about the letter too much.
I run upstairs after explaining everything to my mother. She told me that she will get some things together for me, along with a bit of food; but I have to get my clothes and talk to prim.
When I get to the bedroom, I find prim lying wide awake on the bed. I wave at her before going straight to the cupboard. Whilst I gather my belongings, I watch from the corner of my eye as Prim sits up and looks at me.
"What are you doing?" She asks, rubbing her eyes.
"Getting my stuff Prim, try and get back to sleep."
"Why are you getting your stuff"
"Because I'm leaving"
"Where are you going?"
"Don't you worry about that." I say, standing up when I've collected my things, I place them in the bed before walking to the door and grabbing my bag. Prim stays quiet as I pack, but I can tell that she was definitely holding back. When I'm done I look up at her.
"When will you be back?"
"…I… I don't know" I answer. She looks confused and upset and disappointed; almost as if she's about to cry. I go and sit on the end of her bed.
"I'm going to miss you, little duck."
"Me too."
"I'll be back by summer though. I'll definitely be back before…" I can't bring myself to say it.
"The reaping?" She finishes my sentence for me.
"Right." I confirm. "I'll be back before then, I promise. And I'll visit. On birthdays and Christmas. Maybe not my birthday, but yours." Prim nods at all of the information I give her.
"You have to bring me presents" She jokes. I give a small half-hearted laugh and nod.
"Of course I will little duck. Now, get back to sleep. Peeta will be here soon and I have to say a proper goodbye to mum" I tell her, before giving her a hug and then leaving the room.
My mother had packed a bag full with a sheet and a blanket, two plates and some cutlery, a gas lamp, some matches, some medical equipment and herbs, some money and a bit of food. I thanked her and we said our goodbyes before I grabbed my father's old hunting jacket and left the house.
Sure enough, Peeta was waiting for me at the fence with a bag full of things.
"Hey" I whisper.
"Hey" he whisper's back, taking my hand in his. "Ready?"
"Yes" I exhale heavily as the words roll out from my lips.
"Then let's go"
The next morning, I wake up next to Peeta just as the sun is rising. I turn just slightly to see if Peeta is awake, before fully turning onto my side and slipping under his arm. I close my eyes and shut out the world. We did it. I think to myself. We really did.
"Hey" He whispers.
"Hi" I whisper back, not opening my eyes.
"Did you sleep well" he voice is just added proof that he's tired.
"Very" I confirm.
"Good." He says, tightening his grip around me. For once, though, it's comforting.
Whenever Gale did things, they used to be scary. If he tightened his grip around me or held my hand harder, it was to make sure I couldn't get away. To scare me into staying with him. To threaten me into not leaving. Peeta however, does it to show me he's there. To prove to me that he's got me and he's not going to let me fall away again. I won't need to worry about being carried away into an ocean of depression and hate. And do you know the best thing? Peeta doesn't even realise he's doing it.
Later on that morning, when we're both properly awake and the morning is ready to start, we get up. I get dressed and quickly braid my hair as Peeta goes to look through the food that we brought yesterday. I stare at my bow in the corner of the room. It's my first one, the one my father made for me; I picked it up on the way back to the house last night.
"Hey, Peeta!" I shout from the bedroom.
"Yeah?"
"I think I'm going to go hunting" I say grabbing my jacket from the table, fixing my bow on my back and picking up my arrows from by the fire place.
"Ok…" he says "Um, here…" He hands me a small bread roll "It should keep you going for the morning.
"Thanks" I smile before giving him a lingering hug. I'm just about to leave when he grabs my hand and spins me round.
"Katniss wait"
"Wha-"
He surprises me with a kiss. But it's not a bad surprise. It's a wonderful surprise. Like waking up on Christmas morning and finding that you've got everything you've ever wanted. The kind of kiss that creates fireworks and releases butterflies all at the same time. The kind of kiss that is slow and fast, perfect and imperfect. I open my eyes and look into his. Both our hearts are racing; I can feel his against mine.
"I love you" He whispers. I small smile breaks onto my face.
"I love you too"
Whilst hunting I notice how quiet it is. Not literally, but emotionally; everything has slowed down. There is no news of hunger and starvation, or death and illness, and certainly nothing terrible happening in my own life.
I hunt for a few hours and enjoy the fact that, for once, ignorance is bliss. But that's when I saw him. I saw Gale, I'm sure of it. When I looked back he was gone. And then he was there again, in another place. He appeared and disappeared over and over and I heard his voice slither through my ears and it repeated itself over and over and over and that's when everything went dark.
Dun Dun Duuuuun Cliffhanger. Sorry guys, I won't be able to post for a few days, because I won't be near a computer, but trust me; there'll be a good chapter up when I'm back!