Chapter 11
I wake up late the next morning and Damian is still sleeping. My head is on his shoulder and his cheek is resting on top of my head. The sun is shining outside and the birds are chirping too. It's as if it hadn't just stormed for two days and nights.
I snuggle up against Damian and sigh. I need to hunt, but I don't want to wake Damian so I have to wait. I lay there for a while just thinking. I think about my family and the pin they gave me. I hold my hand over and smile, knowing they'll always be with me.
Damian suddenly raises his head and stretches. He looks down at me and smiles. I smile back.
"Morning, Fire Girl," he smiles.
"Morning," I giggle. He holds me against him for a moment just smiling and I pull away. He looks almost hurt.
"I need to hunt," I say. "That way we'll have more food other than bread." Damian looks at me as I gather what I'll need to hunt.
"I'll come too," he tells me. I shake my head.
"Better not," I say. Damian knits his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" he questions. I sigh.
"It's just...you're too loud and you scare the game away. It'll just be quicker and easier if I go alone," I explain.
"And what if you run into someone else? Like the Careers?" Damian asks gravely.
"I won't go far," I assure him. "If anything does happen, I'll have my bow and arrows."
"But what if they overpower you? What if they take that away? Then what?" Damian asks. I can't believe how protective he's being.
"If that happens then I'll scream and try staying alive until you come help me," I tell him.
"Try..." Damian scoffs. "You have to stay alive, Prim."
"I'll try," I say.
"You will," Damian orders. "Promise me." I hold my hand up as if taking a pledge.
"I promise," I say. Damian nods.
"Now, go on, Might Huntress," he teases. I smile and leave the tent. The forest smells fresh and new like it always does after rain. I fill my lungs with the clean air and begin my search for game.
Small creatures scamper by all around me. There are birds, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, and others as well. I aim at an unsuspecting rabbit and hit it right in the eye. I retrieve my kill and tie it to my belt with a rope. This will be a great meal for Damian and I.
I continue walking through the woods, searching for more possible game. I figured that I should get as much as I can now so that I won't have to leave Damian so much. I shoot a squirrel and tie it to my belt along with the rabbit. The animals must have the same idea as I do, getting food after the storm. Chills run down my spine when I think that others, especially tributes, must be doing the same as well.
I decide to start heading back to camp. I walk through the woods with an arrow loaded in my bow. My senses are aware of every little thing around me.
Suddenly, I hear something moving behind me. I turn and see a medium sized figure behind a bush. I peer around the bush and see a plump turkey pecking food up off the ground. My heart leaps with excitement and I draw back my arrow. This is too good of a kill to pass up.
The turkey lifts its head and looks around. I stay as still as possible, hoping it won't see me. The bird rustles its feathers, looks to its right, and bolts away. It runs into some heavy brush so I can't shoot it on the run. I grunt in frustration and decide to start heading back to camp again. That's when I hear it...
I hear what sounds like a bunch of people crashing through the forest right towards me. Up the hill to my right is the Careers running down to me.
"Hey, Primrose!" Golden whoops. "Where're you going, baby?!" The fact that Golden called me 'baby' gives me chills and I start running.
"C'mon, Fire Girl, why don't ya fight us?!" they taunt.
"Watch out, Ms. Mellark!" they holler. I keep my focus ahead of me and tune out their taunts. My legs begin to grow tired and I realize how far I actually wandered from camp. I look behind me and only see Golden, and Wisteria. I can hear Thatcher (the boy from 2), Damian's fellow tribute Summer, and Chander running farther behind. I wonder why Jewel isn't chasing me along with them.
I run for a while longer when I hear something whizzing towards me. I feel a searing pain as a knife grazes my forehead. I fall down from the impact and hold my forehead. When I pull my hands away they're stained with red.
"Yeah!" Golden shouts as I see Jewel running towards me from the direction the knife came. My cut oozes down my face and my mouth is filled with the metallic taste of my own blood. I scream as I am picked up by the collar of my shirt and pinned to a tree. I'm looking Golden right in the eyes.
"Damian!" I scream. Golden laughs a cruel laugh as he pushes his forearm into my neck. I choke as I feel his arm blocking my windpipe.
"It's no use...that traitor won't help you," Golden tells me. "You're mine now." I make a pathetic squeaking noise in attempt to scream Damian's name again. Golden just laughs and Jewel smiles cruelly behind him. This is it...I think. This is where it ends.
"So, you think you could win, huh? Score a perfect twelve, win them over at the Parade and interview...you thought you had a chance didn't you?" Golden asks. I struggle for air and look at my bow and arrows laying on the ground a few feet away.
"Well, you're wrong!" Golden shouts. "I'm going home! Not you, not anyone! I'll kill anyone that gets in my way!" I look at Jewel who seems to not be phased by this.
"Everyone was betting on you, but now I'm gonna prove them wrong," he takes out a knife and holds the point to my neck and I stare at him with pure hatred. He smiles cruelly.
"Too bad Mommy and Daddy are gonna have to watch me tear you to shreds," he whispers. This sets me off. My legs begin thrashing like crazy and I squeal using what air I can get. My foot lands on Golden's shin and he winces. I grin in satisfaction, but he presses his arm against my throat harder. I feel like my neck is about to break and I'm gasping like a fish out of water.
"That's it!" Golden sneers through gritted teeth. He holds back his knife and gets ready to slash my throat. I stare him in the eyes and prepare to die.
Suddenly, a large rock sails towards us and hits Golden in the back of the head. He cries out and releases me. I fall to the ground coughing and gasping.
"What the-?!" Golden grunts as he turns. Chander runs through the trees.
"You said you wouldn't hurt her!" Chander screams. Golden shakes his head and laughs.
"Yeah, well, we lied, Lover Boy..." he tells him. Chander's face twists with anger. He picks up another rock and chucks it at Golden. It hits Golden in the face and he holds his nose. Blood squirts between his fingers.
"You're gonna get it, Twelve!" Golden rages as Chander takes off. Golden goes after him, and Jewel follows after him. I sit on the ground and watch them go in fear. Suddenly, I'm aware of Wisteria picking up the knife Golden dropped. I get to my feet and dodge the knife just as she throws it. I grab my bow and arrows and run in the opposite direction, but am grabbed by Thatcher. I struggle and frail my limbs while he restrains me.
"You ain't going anywhere!" Thatcher remarks cruelly. He restrains me and I squeal.
"Let go of me!" I scream. "Let go!" He drags me to Summer,and Wisteria, and they stare down on me. Wisteria looks satisfied, but Summer seems conflicted.
Thatcher holds me up in the air by the collar of my shirt. He looks me over and smiles meanly. I stare at him and blink as blood and nervous sweat flow into my eyes. His eyes go to my pin.
"Would ya look at that?" he taunts. "Is that a gift from your mother?" I try pulling free, but to no avail. He starts to reach for it.
"Mind if I borrow it?" he just about grabs it when the two of us are brought to the ground by an incredible impact. I fall the ground with a thud and hear Thatcher struggling with someone.
"Traitor!" Thatcher grunts as Damian starts pinning his arms down. Wisteria, Summer and I watch in shock. We snap out of it just as Thatcher kicks Damian off and punches him in the jaw. I shriek and Summer gasps.
I hear someone behind me and duck just as Wisteria tries slashing the back of my neck with a knife. She tackles me to the ground and we struggle for a moment. I push her off and crawl on all fours to my bow and arrows. Amidst all this, Summer simply watches.
I grab my bow and deflect a knife just as Wisteria throws it at me. The blade hits my bow with a clash and it ricochets off to my right. Wisteria charges me and I load an arrow into my bow. I aim it at her as she comes closer.
I don't care what you feel...Uncle Gale's words echo in my head. If they come, you shoot...
I look at Wisteria charging at me. She takes a knife out of her jacket and prepares to finish me. I know that if I don't shoot I'm a goner. Not only that, but I'll be breaking my promise to Damian and to my family.
I bite my lip and blink a few times. Wisteria is only a few feet away when I let the arrow go. Her face looks shocked and scared when the arrow goes through her throat. She makes a grunting noise and her knees buckle. A cannon fires and Wisteria lays dead at my feet.
"Wisty!" Thatcher screams. I lay on the ground staring at Wisteria's body in disbelief. Look what I've done...I think. I'm a monster...
I start trembling all over and breathing heavily as blood covers Wisteria's lips. Behind me, I hear someone running to me.
"Prim!" Damian shouts. I turn and see Thatcher running at me with a sword raised over his head. I gasp and scramble to my feet. Before I can run Thatcher is already a few feet away from me. His eyes are full of pain, anger, and hate. My eyes widen as he prepares to bring his sword down on me.
Suddenly, someone slams into me and I fall to the ground several feet away. Thatcher grunts as he brings down his sword and I hear Damian cry out. Tears spring to my eyes as I see Damian's knees buckle and he falls to the ground wincing.
"No!" I scream. Across from me, I can see the blood drain from Summer's face. Thatcher stands over Damian and starts coming at me again. Hot fury rises within me and I grab an arrow. I shoot Thatcher without hesitation. His cannon fires as he lays on the ground. Damian moans and I see Summer start to go to him.
"Prim," he gasps. Summer stops and bites her lip. Tears come to her eyes and she looks at me. I can see the hurt in her expression and she starts to back off.
"Prim," Damian begs. Summer takes a few steps backwards and runs off into the forest. I watch her go and run to Damian when she's gone.
I gasp when I see his side. There is a huge gash that has already left a pool of blood next to him. Tears roll down my cheeks and I shake my head.
"Stay with me," he begs. "You promised." I look at the gash and my hands shake.
"I know," I sob. He shakes his head and puts his hand on the side of my face.
"Don't," he whispers. "Please don't cry." I wipe my tears and look at him.
"You didn't have to do that for me," I whisper shakily. Damian laughs.
"Sure I did, Fire Girl...I had to," he wheezes. Tears spring to my eyes again.
"Why?" I ask. "Why?" Tears flow down my cheeks and I am crying again. Damian looks me in the eyes.
"I love you, Prim..." he whispers. I bite my lip and shake my head.
"No..." I say. "Damian, no-"
"I do," he says. "You're perfect. You're beautiful, kind, caring, funny, and you're my best friend." A sob escapes me and Damian wipes a tear away with his finger.
"Please...don't," he whispers. I wipe my eyes again.
"I'm sorry," I tell him. I feel warmth on my knee and see some of Damian's blood has soaked onto my pants. I scoot back and Damian looks at me.
"Promise me one more thing," he asks. I bite my lip and nod.
"Anything," I whisper.
"Promise me you'll survive. No matter what happens you won't give up...please, Prim. Promise you'll live for me," he begs. I nod and bite my lip as tears flow down my cheeks. Damian takes in a long slow breath.
"Promise you won't forget me either..." I take a shaky breath.
"How could I?" I manage to say. Damian wheezes and looks up at the treetops. I see tears fill his eyes and I know I'm losing him.
"Prim..." he whispers in a scared, distant voice. I take his hand, bend over and kiss his forehead. He smiles slightly and lightly squeezes my hand. Tears flow down my cheeks as Damian's breathing grows slower and slower. All I want is for him to stay with me, to never leave to we can live on the beach together like he said. To not play their game.
Damian takes a long, shaky, breath and suddenly stops. It was his last. His grip on my hand loosens and my heart breaks. I stare at him in disbelief.
A cannon fires and I hang my head. Anger rises within me and I scream in frustration. I begin sobbing uncontrollably over Damian's dead body and I throw a nearby knife at a tree.
I know that the entire nation is watching me have an emotional breakdown, but I don't care. Damian's gone and nothing seems to matter anymore. I'm all alone now. I'm alone, and devastated, and furious. I'm an emotional train wreck.
I wipe my eyes and look down at Damian. My thoughts go to Rue and what Mom did for her. Knowing they'll want me out so they can collect the bodies, I turn and walk away. Before I walk into the woods I turn, kiss my three middle fingers, and raise them to Damian, just like Mom did for Rue. It's my final goodbye.
As I walk away I can hear the hovercraft picking up the bodies. I think of the three families who are devastated by the loss of their children. I tremble as I realize two died at my hands. Six of us left.
I get to Damian and mine's camp and crawl into our tent. I curl up into a ball and hide under my thermal blanket. Tears flow steadily down my cheeks as I mourn the loss of my best friend.
I love you...he had said. I wonder why me. How could he have loved me of all people? He said I was perfect, but I'm anything but that. I just killed two people. How is that perfect?
I lay in the tent all day crying. My stomach growls, but I don't care. Soon my stomach starts hurting from hunger, but I ignore it. My cut burns like fire as well, but it's nothing compared to the agony I'm feeling in my heart...
A sponsor gift arrives for me that night after the anthem. I crawl out of my tent and see the gift sitting at the base of a nearby tree. I grab my bow and arrows and walk to it. I pick it up, look around, and retreat back to my tent.
Once inside, I open the container. There is a little slip of paper on top of a tiny container. I hold it in my hand and look at the printed note. It reads:
For your cut. Stay strong. Find Chander.
~Roshon~
I set the paper down and open the small container. The smell of medicine fills my nostrils and makes me want to gag. I overcome the smell and rub the ointment on my still oozing cut. The burning instantly stops and I sigh in relief. I screw the lid on and save the rest.
I lay back, grab a roll, and cuddle up into my blanket. I think of Roshon's note. Stay stong...it said. Find Chander.
I think hard about that last part. Chander is my fellow tribute and it makes sense to become allies, but I don't know if I should. He did help the Careers find me after all, even if it wasn't his intention for me or anyone else to get hurt. Then again, he did save my life by throwing that rock at Golden. I think about this for a long time as I nibble on my roll. By the time I finish, I've concluded that I'll pack up camp and start searching for Chander first thing in the morning.
Suddenly, I feel vulnerable sleeping in the tent alone. I climb up into a nearby tree and tie myself to a limb like I did before. Maybe someone will come by the camp thinking someone's here and I can shoot them from up in the tree...I think.
I feel ashamed for thinking of this and lay my head back against the tree. I close my eyes and soon fall asleep.