Chapter 11 – Don't you dare leaving me

For a second I allow myself to realize what is happening, but then I run. As fast as I can, I make my way through the bushes and between the large, seemingly never-ending threes. The high squealing sound the birds – little monsters – make, is deafening, the bright light that shines from their wings, blinding. With no other senses than my hands and feet give me, I try to find a place, anything, where I can be safe. But every minute I lose my balance and fall to the ground, giving a few of the tiny creatures the opportunity to bore their sharps beaks into my skin. And, with my large belly blocking the way, it every time is a fight trying to get up again.

But something doesn't add up. There were so many, where are the others? Why am I not suffering more pain? Maron. His name flashes through my mind, as I feel a sharp pain above my eye. Yet I have no choice, but to keep running, even though I want nothing more than turn around and search for him. For several minutes I keep going, waddling actually, until suddenly everything just stops. The sound, pain and blinding light all disappear as if someone just switched it off. Yet I decide not to stop for another minute, afraid it's just a trick to mislead us. When everything stays quiet, I stop and let myself feel the pain those little mutants have caused. Cautiously I rub my hand over my cheek and see how my blood paints my hand. Otherwise, I seem to be alright, a part from several little, but deep, wounds in my arms, back and a few in my neck. But nothing that can't heal, I think. Suddenly I remember the poisonous wasps they had placed in the arena a few times. Could this be the same? Will it only be a few minutes before I'm rolling on the ground shaking?

"Get yourself together Rose", I whisper to myself, "First you have to find-" Maron. I don't need to finish the sentence, before I'm filled with the intense fear that he's not okay. I panicky look around, but he's nowhere to be seen. Without even thinking about it, I'm running again, to the place where they started attacking us. Knowing that others tributes might hear us, I silently try yelling his name. But as time proceeds and there still is no sign of him, I start screaming louder and louder. He has to be okay. There was no canon-shot. Right? Because of those bloody things I couldn't hear a thing.

When I see our backpack and some other stuff laying on the ground, I know I'm at the spot where hell started, but no sign of Maron. Immediately my hearts starts beating faster again, while I keep fighting my tears, until suddenly everything stops for a second, when a sharp pain rushes through my stomach.

"Not now.", I whisper desperately to my belly, "We have to keep going, okay?" Slowly the pain fades again and my attention is drawn to the soft moaning noises of someone in pain. I cautiously work my way through the bushes, just to find and image that horrifies me more than anything. It's Maron, I'm sure. But his face is completely covered in blood and harshly injured, just like his arms and neck. Immediately I rush to him and kneel down by his side.

"Maron, can I hear me?", I ask softly, while I wrap my hands around one of his, "Please tell me you'll be okay."

"I'll be okay.", he mumbles painfully, after a few deep breaths.

I can't help but smile a little and notice how tears are making their way over my cheeks again. "You're just saying that because I told you to.", I say, with a weak smile.

"Correct.", he answers with a forced grin, after which he tries to sit up. I immediately support him and fortunately, it doesn't seem too hard on him. With some effort I help him stand up and let him lead me to a small cave with water running next to it, that I didn't notice before. That's why I'm sure he's going to win this, because he still sees those things, even when he's under the attack of some diamond mirror-looking birds –who now, have completely disappeared. The cave is too small to actually sleep in, but it'll have to do for now. I carefully try to make him sit down and rip of a piece of his shirt, which I softly moist in the small stream of water and use to rub away most of the blood.

"Awh..", he mumbles painfully with his eyes closed, when I start cleaning his forehead.

"Sorry." I try to wipe a bit softer, but it still seems to hurt him.

"Awh.", he again mumbles, "You really shouldn't become a nurse."

I smile a little, because those few words remind me that it's still Maron hiding behind all that blood. "Shut up."

He subtly grins, "Yes ma'am."

After many minutes, most of the blood has disappeared, though some wounds are still bleeding intensely. But fortunately, it know is clear that his eyes – or other vital things – are unharmed. When I'm about to start with the few wounds on his hand, another sharp pain paralyses me. I wrap my arms around my stomach again, begging in my mind that it will be over soon. And just like that, I feel how Maron protectively tries to wrap his arms around me as well. Even though it doesn't help a bit, it does me make me feel a little bit safer. I'm not alone. I have him to protect me.

"Are you alright?", he then asks worriedly, "Is it the baby?"

I softly nod and force him to sit against the wall again. "You're the patient. Not me."

"No. I'm not-"

"Don't move.", I know say a bit louder and he must see how serious I am, because he immediately does what I say. Without saying another word about the baby, I continue taking care of him, revealing all the small wounds on his skin. It isn't too bad though, only his face can barely be recognized, as some flaps of his skin are just hanging loose. But, know he's the one taking over, as he signals that I have to stop.

"Lay down a bit. I'm fine.", he says strictly and, because I'm really exhausted, I don't hesitate to do as he says. I make a pillow of my jacket – since it's not that cold – and allow myself to close my eyes for a few minutes, while rubbing my belly. But it doesn't take long, before I can no longer ignore my thirst and hunger.

When I open my eyes, Maron is looking at me and – mostly – my bulging belly again. He subtly frowns, as my eyes meet his.

"Is there something wrong?", he asks, while he slowly comes sit next to me.

I shake my head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. Just a bit hungry."

Within the seconds he stands up and grabs his jacket, which he, after having looked at it for a second, lays over me for warmth. "I'll go search our backpack, there's some food in there I think. And I'll look around for some eatable plants or stuff like that. Maybe I can catch a rabbit."

"You need to rest.", I say stubbornly, while unhandy trying to sit up.

"So do you. So lay down, I'll go get our stuff.", he looks at my stomach again and then sets foot outside our little hiding place.

"Don't you dare leaving me. Ok?", I say with a small frown, after which he looks at me with that same expression.

He sighs, "I'll be right back. Promise." I nod, though I don't hide my worries, and he disappears behind the bushes, while I lay down again. I close my eyes, but don't let myself fall asleep, because I need to see him return.

Several minutes pass and when it must have been more than half an hour, I start to get undeniably worried. I sit up against the wall, one hand over my belly, and look outside our little cave where it starts getting darker and darker.

"He'll return. He promised.", I whisper to myself.

But then I hear the canon-shot and, for a second, my heart stops.

AN: So sorry for the delay, I've been busy with studying – and celebrating my birthday. Here is chapter 11 of Fallen Roses. Hope you like it. Another cliffhanger, I know. But I promise I'll update sooner this time. Thank you guys so much for your support, it really flatters me that you've like it so far. (God, I hope I haven't ruined it by now.) I hope I'll get to a 100 reviews this time.

Love, Emmeken.