Sorry it took so long to update. I've been having as one writers block. Thank you for being patient.
Ch. 12
The next couple days are the same. I head down the hill in the early morning to fill my two water bottles and then make the journey back up to check my nets. So far nothing. It isn't until the third day that any action happens. Right as I'm making my way back up the hill I hear a snap of a branch and then some rustling and a shriek. I've caught someone. I peek through the bushes into the opening to see a girl struggling to get out of the net. Without stopping to think about it my trident goes flying through the air. Another scream and then a cannon not long after. I go over to her and remove my trident from her chest and then let the net down releasing her body from the trap and moving her so the hovercraft can pick her up to take her home.
I reset the trap and use some leaves to wipe off my trident. I've killed three children in a week. There are only eight if us left. Which means they will be interviewing our families and friends. I wonder what my mother thinks of me now. Does she think I'm a monster? She did tell me to do whatever I needed in order to get back home. I'm almost there. Just a few more children and then I can go home. I think about who is left. The girls from 1 and 2. I won't have trouble killing them if they cross my path. Aerona, she seemed ok. I hope it doesn't come down to just the two of us. I'm not sure I would be able to end her life. And then there is her, the girl from district 12. I'm surprised she made it this far but at the same time I'm not. I knew she would be a contender and if I don't win I hope she does. I should hope that Aerona wins but our district is well off where as district 12 needs it, and I can't help but think that the girl has a family, maybe a little brother and sister and a mother that need her there. The thought kills me and I can't even stand, I have to lean against a tree for support but even that doesn't last long and slide to a sitting position. I love my mother, I can't imagine her not being able to afford to take care of me.
I'm so deep in my thoughts that I almost don't hear the rustle in the bushes.
I am on my feet and my trident is ready to fly through the trees. The sound stops and I know that whoever it is heard me get up. Then there is a snap five feet over to the left, then another six feet from that on the right. They are trying to throw me off. Smart. Then a knife flies through the bushes and I move just in time as it gets caught in the tree right beside my chest. That would have hit my chest. Fatal.
I don't know where they are, they move so fast and so quietly. Just as I think I have them and throw my trident she steps out of the bushes ten feet left if where I'm aimed. I would have missed, and I'm frozen in my tracks.
It's her.
She stares me straight. Unafraid as though she knows I won't throw it. Or hoping I won't. But she is right. I lower my trident to my side and give a small smile. She looks confused for a moment then realizes that I'm being sincere.
"Hey there" I say
"Hey" her voice sounds the same as it did in the interview but she doesn't look the same. She's lost weight again but her eyes are alive. She is still beautiful. Her hair is tied back behind her head with some loose hairs hanging in her face.
"I think this is yours," I tell her as I pull the knife out if the tree, "good aim."
"Thanks." She replies without moving forward.
"So I'm Finnick, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."
She just stares at me with those eyes. They seem to bore into my soul trying to figure out my motive.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Just want to know your name. I thought maybe we could be allies. You got a really good arm with this knife" I explain as I turn the knife over in my hands. I look at the ground embarrassed.
When I look up at her she continues to stare at me for a moment but seems to notice that I'm being sincere and gives a slight smile.
"Gemma."
"That's pretty." And with that her smile grows, but only slightly. She walks up to me to grab her knife. "So you wanna be my ally?"
She just nods in reply. I can already tell she isn't much of a talker. I decide to tell her about the nets. With two of us now it will be easier if we catch two people.
We move into the bushes and find a place to rest while still being close enough to the nets but being out of sight. We spend the rest of the day talking. Well I do most of the talking but it's nice. I haven't had anyone to talk to in a week. I tell her about my home and my mother and my friends and the ocean. She seems to love hearing about the ocean. It's hard to imagine that someone how their whole life without getting to see something so beautiful. It's sad really. But I describe it to her in as much detail as I can and she smiles the whole time. I even notice that she closes her eyes, I think she might be trying to picture it in her mind.
After I'm done talking I ask her about her home.
"We don't have a very big house but it's enough. My dad past away a couple years ago in a mining accident, they happen quite a bit but you never think it will happen to someone you love. My mom has been really strong through the whole thing taking care of me and my little brother and sister. She does the best she can. I had to get tesserae for me and my younger siblings so my name was in there quite a bit. Guess the odds weren't in my favour," she says with a bit of a laugh. "Anyway it's been hard but we were surviving. My brother is only ten so he won't be able to get the tesserae for two more years. But I guess if I don't make it back to help then they won't have to worry about feeding me. I just hope they will be ok." I look over at her and see the tears gathering in her eyes. Glistening in the early moonlight. By instinct I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her closer to try and comfort her. At first she is a little stiff but then she relaxes and accepts my gesture. Sobbing quietly beside me. I know there is nothing I can say to make her feel better so I just let her let it out. Just as her sobs subside the seal appears in the sky and the anthem begins. The only face is the girl I killed earlier today from district 9.
We sit there in silence for a while before she asks me to talk about the ocean some more. So I do. I tell her about the waves and my dads boat and the different types of fish and how it looks under the water. I talk about it until she falls asleep still leaning on my shoulder. I just sit there for a while not wanting to disturb her and listen to her soft breathing. She is so small I could just pick her up in my arms and carry her away. I push a stray hair out of her face and notice that she has the slightest of smiles on her face. I wonder what she is dreaming about. Probably her family. And with that thought I am over taken by emotion. I can help it. I put on the night goggles to hide the tears gathering in my eyes. I close my eyes and imagine her playing with her brother and sister and helping her mom with the dishes. Then I remember my mom. And how much I miss her. Then I drift off to sleep.
hope you guys liked it. I'm working on making the chapters longer. Please review and let me know what you think!
