Chapter 10

Gale

Both of us were feeling pretty crappy with hangovers the next morning but we still managed to stumble downstairs where Hazelle had fresh coffee waiting for us, I gave my mom a big hug thanking her for watching Stormy and the coffee. "Your quite all right son, I hate to rush but my train is due in an hour so I'd better get moving." She then went to finish packing and to give Vic and Posy last minute instructions.

Jo was starting to come to life after her second cup of coffee, Posy came in and sat next to her asking questions as to why Aunt Johanna didn't feel so good, " Posy dear, Aunt Jo isn't feeling very good at the moment would you please go do something in the other room for awhile," muttered Johanna. Posy took the hint and ran off to find Vic, I sat down next to Jo and forced a weak smile, " There's always a price to pay isn't there babe?" She looked at me and frowned but didn't say anything.

Soon my mom was ready to go so I called a transport to take her to the train station, we hugged and I kissed her on the cheek, " Now you kids mind your brother and especially your Aunt Johanna, do what they say, I'll be back in a few days so stay safe." With that, she headed out to the waiting transport. I suggested a walk to help clear our heads so all four of us followed a path we used into the woods, at one point I heard a jabber jay and told the children the story behind it, Vic then asked a question about mocking jays and didn't Katniss have something to do with that? Jo and I looked at each other not saying anything but feeling pangs of guilt. I hated to brush off Vic's question but I really didn't feel in the mood to answer it.

We returned to the house about an hour later feeling much better, Jo even did a little wood splitting showing Vic how to properly handle an axe, later, while the kids were outside playing Jo and I relaxed on the couch, "do you still want to go into town with me tomorrow babe?" "Yeah probably better, I need to get food because the kids being here, plus I've been meaning to see about getting somebody to watch the baby when we're gone, I'll probably be over at the labor office for quite awhile." "Are you going to bring Stormy?" I questioned, "No, the kids can watch her, Posy's been watching me change her and get her to take her nap, there shouldn't be any problem,," I simply nodded and drifted off into a nap.

Johanna

I remember waking out of a sound sleep with sweat covering my body, I couldn't identify the nameless terror that woke me other than I was filled with fear for Stormy's safety. Gale was still sound asleep beside me so it couldn't have been a nightmare about the games, or what they had done to me after I had been captured. In my groggy state of mind, I finally understood Finnick was sending me a message, something to do with my child, as much as I hated to admit it the message was something I could not ignore. I looked around the darkened room trying to detect a presence but could find none; eventually I lay back down and thought about what he was trying to tell me until I drifted off to sleep.

When morning came and we awoke, I still had this feeling of dread, Gale could also sense it and asked me what was wrong, "What's the matter babe, what's wrong?" "I-I-I don't know darling, I woke up last night with this horrible dread about Stormy," "What! She's not sick or anything is she?" "No, but just to be on the safe side I'm going to take her with me today, the kids will be all right here by themselves." "Yeah…I guess they'll be O.K." replied Gale, "I'll tell them to stay inside and lock the doors, although I don't know how much good it will do."

I could see that I had him worried as well, but long ago, I learned to trust my "hunches" and gut feelings, so we got dressed and I announced to Vic and Posy I would be taking Stormy with me after all. Posy seemed disappointed that she wouldn't be able to prove what a big girl she was by being entrusted to take care of Stormy but I explained that there would be other times. Gale told them to remain in the house with the doors locked and not to admit strangers; we finally left for town with Stormy riding in her carrier on my back.

Gale

I said goodbye and gave my girls a kiss before heading off to the office, later on that morning I called the house with Vic telling me everything was fine and that they were inside. I met Jo for lunch and told her what Vic had reported, she seemed visibly relieved but still concerned.

I decided to leave work a little early and found Jo at the little café we liked and together we walked home.

Approaching the house Both of us could sense that something was wrong, in fact Jo pulled out her knife as we cautiously approached the house, I then notice that the front door had been forced open, "VIC, POSY!" I yelled, I could see a mask of dread on Jo's face as she grabbed a splitting axe from the nearby woodpile. "VIC, POSY!" I yelled louder this time, suddenly Vic came running from around the house "They got Posy," he cried as he ran up to us.

I don't usually go in for soundtracks for my stories, but this chapter was written with the song "The Ruler and the Killer" from The Hunger Games, songs from District 12 and Beyond.

Gale

"Vic what happened?" I grabbed him to calm him down while Jo continued to survey the area. "T-T-T-There were three men Vic gasped, they broke in I ran upstairs and went out a window and just ran they grabbed Posy and headed that way," pointing towards an old slough that headed towards the river. "How long ago Vic?" I stared him straight in the eye about ten minutes ago, Vic started sobbing, "Listen Son, listen up, your Aunt and I have to go find her I need you to be brave and watch Stormy, can you do that Vic?" He looked at me with tears in his eyes and slowly nodded. "Take Stormy and go upstairs and lock yourselves in the bathroom, it's the safest room in the house they won't be able to get you in there, do you understand Vic?"

Vic composed himself and took Stormy from Jo and headed into the house, I then turned to Jo, "Babe we've gotta move fast go grab those canteens from the closet and fill them I'll grab our pistols and my bow, hurry let's move!" While she was doing that I ran upstairs to check on Vic and the baby, he had already locked himself in the bathroom, I yelled through the door, "Vic I'm going to call some people to come here I'm going to give them a code word to give you, don't open this door for any reason unless they give you that word. The word is Mockingjay, did you get that Vic?" He indicated that he did from behind the door, we're leaving now Vic be on the alert."

I grabbed our pistols and spare clips from the gun safe and stopped long enough to call a man I could trust, "Henry! Gale here, they got my sister, Jo and I are going after them I think they're headed for the river, my brother and my daughter are locked in the upstairs bath room, tell Vic the word Mocking jay and he'll open up, hurry please!"

With that I hung up and grabbed my bow and arrows from the wall, "Jo we have to move fast I think they're headed for the river, probably have a boat there," Jo looked very worried now but said nothing. I pointed to the old slough and the high ground between it. "Here's what we'll do I'll take that ridgeline on the left, you stay to the right, swing wide but move fast, try to get ahead of them, they will be moving slower because they have a child with them, watch for animals spooked by them moving across your path, and listen for birds If I hear any mocking jay's I'll whistle they'll pick up the tune it will mean I've spotted them. Remember, stay low and try and cut them off before they get to their boat, let's go!"

Johanna armed with her pistol and a splitting axe took off at a dead run towards the high ground on the right while I headed for the left side, I didn't even want to think of what they would do to Posy if they got away. I also started moving slightly away from the slough staying towards the center of the high ground watching, scanning, listening; suddenly memories of another place and time came flooding back, along with thoughts of someone I used to love.

Again, listen to "The Ruler and the Killer" as well as "Abraham's Daughter" for these next two chapters

Johanna

I was still almost in a state of shock as Gale and I prepared to go after the men who took Posy, I checked my knives and grabbed the small splitting axe "Just like old times eh Jo" I mused. Once outside Gale handed me my pistol which I strapped on while listening to our plan of action. Both of us took off on opposite sides of the slough swinging slightly away from the edge. It's a good thing I had been getting in a lot of physical exercise; I doubted the men who had Posy were in all that great shape so I continued to run watching off to my left and for animals as well.

At one point I thought I saw something and dropped to a crouch, a deer ran across my line of travel well ahead of me indicating something was down there that spooked them, I also thought I heard a voice cry out, Posy. I continued to run avoiding stumps and downed trees. Soon memories I had been trying to forget started flooding my mind, instead of the hunted this time, I was the "career" looking for my prey, well I would find them, there would be Hell to pay when I did.

Gale

I continued to travel at a dead run always searching, looking for that patch of color or outline that didn't fit in with nature, suddenly I spotted what looked like someone move behind a large tree, I went to a crouch and knocked an arrow, drawing it ready for a fast shot. I slowly moved a little farther ahead spotting a man who apparently thought I would be foolish enough to follow them down that slough. He was waiting with a pistol in his hand ready to shoot me but since I was up here on high ground, he hadn't spotted me yet.

I carefully worked my way closer to the edge and let fly my arrow, it took him right between the shoulder blades; he let out a short yelp and dropped. I could not afford to go down there and check him out so I took off again making a mental note as to where he lay. Soon I could hear shouting up ahead and what sounded like Posy screaming, I picked up my speed and could now see the river through the trees. It was then I spotted them, one man holding Posy and the other holding a pistol and watching their back trail, I drew another arrow and crouched down all the while moving towards the men.

As I got closer I could see their small boat tied up at the small dock , I scanned the terrain ahead of me for an approach down to the river, I found a well used deer trail and started making my way down staying low to avoid being spotted. I could now hear them more clearly apparently arguing about where somebody named Arno was; well if Arno was the guy I shot they wouldn't be seeing him anymore. I could now see they had stopped in front of the rickety dock with the first man struggling with Posy, it was now clear I had to act quickly, but where was Jo?