*Author note- Sorry for the late post but the power went out yesterday so I couldn't really post this lol but hey its here now :) So I hope you guys enjoy it. As always please review, in hope you guys enjoy the read, and please forgive me for the errors I might have missed. -007twihunger

Chapter Fourteen: Bitter Ends.

For a while I don't hear anything but then I hear hard stomping behind me followed by Gale's voice "Madge! Madge would you just fucking stop already!" he shouts behind me and it sounds so much like he wants me to stay with him that my feet stop on there own and before I can decide if I should keep moving or stay here I'm bulldozed to the ground by Gale Hawthorne himself. We stare at each other and before I can get to my feet again to flee, Gale wraps his arms around my arm pulling me back towards him and as I am pulled closer to him he manages to get his arms wrapped around my waist pulling me closer to his body so I can't move, and I know who he is and that he'd never do anything to me like that but with that tracker jacker venom fucking with my head, making me remember somethings I'd have tried long and hard to forget about not to mention that Cato's looking to rape me I start to scream and wiggle until I manage to hit Gale in his jaw with my elbow making him instantly release his hold on me as we all growling "god damn it Undersee. What the fucks wrong with you?" I stare at Gale as I get to my feet, I rub the back of my neck before my fingers rub against something that I quickly pull off and see what looks like some chewed up leaves. I look at Gale with questioning eyes until I decide to give the leaves another look over since I did pretty well on that station when we were learning to survive in these games. The leaves have strange webby creases under each point and this alone tell me that there the precise leaf that can help suck out the tracker jacker poison. I want to scream and cry and be happy but be mad, why would Gale help me? He hates me. He wouldn't do this back home so why now?

I can't help myself before I blurt out similar questions that are almost identical like the ones swirling around in my head. "What the fuck are you doing trying to help me Hawthorne? How are we at all friends? Why are you doing this to me?" I try to sneer but my heart contorts with pain at him throwing my last name at me and though it isn't surprising it still stings like hell and makes me remember who I will always be to him, the girl with everything who he can throw his anger at so of course I have to throw his own name back at him. Gale looks taken back by my words as he rubs his jaw glaring at me, "Why the fuck can't you townies be grateful!" Gale sneers back making me flinch and for him to take a step towards me and out of reflex I smack him making him glare even harder but so do I. Even though my body slightly trembles with rage as I myself take a step towards Gale before I stop, realizing how I somehow stupidly let myself tell him how I actually feel even somewhat about him. But he doesn't seem to hear that at all, only choosing to hear the mean part of my words and this angers me "why am I always nothing to you?" I wonder a loud looking at him with what I know must be an ocean of sadness filled to the brim in my eyes, he looks at me with confusion until he opens his mouth but before he can utter anything I just shake my head "leave me alone Gale. It shouldn't be hard for you since you hate me so much" I snap then I quickly take off at a fast run not caring that my side and lungs burn slightly form going from zero to one hundred in an instant because the physical pain hurts less than the heart wrenching pain I feel over Gale Hawthorne.

I run for a while before I'm absolutely sure Gale isn't following me anymore then I start heading back to where I know where my allies had stay the night before or however long ago I was out, I know I told them to leave and not stay in the same place but there's a small part of my who silently wishes they sated for me so we could be together again and as I think about that I instantly start feeling stupid and horrible about leaving Gale. "It would have been a million times better trying to protect him if we were together idiot!" my subconscious barks making me feel even worse, "god I'm so stupid" I breath scrubbing my hands over my face letting out an irritated type of growl before subconsciously I breath out "I'm so sorry Gale" knowing no one but me and the cameras will here … well that and all the people watching the games. Because I'm so distracted with my thoughts until I come upon the very bloody patch of earth I know all too well is where Avery took her last breath and this alone is able to take my mind away from Gale.

The leaves crunch underneath my feet as I walk very slowly and very numb I might add, over to the cave tree we had found. My throat is thick with emotion and I find myself having to swallow down some saliva every ten seconds. I stand still for a little bit just looking at the tree cave before I let out a whoosh of air. My feet seem to carry on their own, leading me over to the tree cave and without a though about anything other than finding my allies I look inside the tree but find nothing and no one. I frown, my eyebrows furrowing then I blurt out "River Rue!" loudly not caring who will hear, I just know I need to find my allies. I spin around in a circle looking with wide eyes all around me as if maybe I had miss them standing somewhere off to the side but I know all too well that their not here, however it doesn't take away the fact that I still feel panicked that I'm not sure if my allies are okay as well as I wish I could find them so I can take care of them, "maybe its better this way, end my alliance with them before I care too much for them plus I don't want to see them get hurt" I think as I bite the inside of my cheek, my eyes trying to somehow find them out of thin air "you already care for them too much" my subconscious adds on making me want to feel sick knowing that's true and that I will eventually have to experience their deaths for Gale to win, however I'm not too sure if I'm going to be able to handle it when it is happening.

Aimlessly I start walking with my knife in my hand as I bite at my bottom lip not caring that I accidently bite too hard and draw blood instead I try to think of what to do know that I'm all alone again, my mind only coming up with nothingness as I let my feet do my thinking. It is still pretty early so not much light is up, but its enough for me to see my surroundings, wet blades of grass stick to my boots as I walk. The cold morning air is slightly hard to breath through since it hurts my throat. I can hear some mockingjays off in the distance and their singing is so beautiful I let myself get enraptured by it and because of this I don't pay any attention to my surroundings and the next thing I know I'm being pulled by the front of my jacket roughly towards a hard chest which makes me gasp in fear. My wide eyes look up and take in the very familiar face of Marvel who is glaring at me, "why the hell would you fucking come back here, do you want to die?" Marvel grits out as he lets go of my jacket but before I can be happy about it he grasps my shoulders tightly in his hands making my stomach turn not knowing whats to do since I'm not too sure about Marvel. His face has a few tracker jacker stings and I feel terrible and instantly I blurt out "look for a leaf with a strange webby creases under each point then you chew them up and place them over the sting and it will take out both the venom and make the swelling go down," Marvel lets out a irritated sigh before he drops his hands from my shoulders and steps back from me, scrubbing at his face with his hands then he's once again looking at me "why would you come back here Madge? You know Cato and the rest could have came back here and they could be the ones here instead of me" he starts "but you're here" I cut in making Marvel look away from me, he kicks at the ground sending some small rocks and nuts into the air and into a nearby bush.

He mutters something lowly to himself that I can't hear as he starts to pace then he turns around and stomps over to me "will you kill me if you had the chance?" Marvel demands, his eyes piercing into mine making me think he can see into my soul. I stare at him and I must take to long because Marvel glares at me then reach forward and gives me a little shake "Madge! Would you try to kill me if you had the chance?" Marvel repeats not looking away from my eyes as he does. I blink a few times then shake my head "I would never kill you … you helped me while I was with the careers" I mumble out unsurely, our eyes not leave each others. Then Marvel does something I don't expect he pulls me into his chest and hugs me, "I won't kill you if I see you … but if it comes down to the two of us then … then I'm going to kill you. I have to go home if I can Madge, my girlfriend Diamond is pregnant and I need to come back for them" I stare at Marvel and I feel sick because I don't want him to die, hell I don't want anyone to die but I know they all have to for Gale to win. River and Rue will have to die and so will Marvel, Clove, and Cato not to mention me, we'll all die while he gets to have a brighter future with his family and maybe he'll get with Katniss and he won't get sold at all "Like that will happen" I think and immediately I'm physically flinching making Marvel look at me strangely. I force a smile at Marvel, however I know without a doubt that it comes out as anything but that. "Your girlfriends really lucky to have such a nice guy like you" I say trying to turn any conversation away from me from my momentarily lapse of crazy. Marvel smiles at me then glances up at the sky as a fond smile takes over his face as he no doubt thought about his girlfriend. "Yeah, Diamond is a magnificent girl and I love her" I smile genuinely at Marvel then nod "I'm really glad I go to meet you Madge, your not at all like I would have thought you would be and I know if we met outside of here we could possibly be friends so I say this with all the affections I can but I hope one of us is dead before we meet again" Marvel adds on giving me a small smile then knocking his shoulder with mine as I smile goofily up at him "so do I Marvel" I reply taking a step back from him then turn and start to run away from him hoping I don't have to see Marvel again since it feels daunting, like something terrible and it could only be my most certain death.

I weave around trees and bushes as I keep up a decent jog, my hand grasped tightly around the handle of my knife as my eyes dart every which way trying to make sure no one sees me as well as trying to make sure I don't slip or trip over anything. When I decide to try and wade through the small river which is now somehow doubled I hear and almost uninteresting thing to catch your attention while your in here but it is to me since I know that tune that the mockingjays are playing back to someone and I know it has to be Rue, it has to be my little bird. Without a thought in the world I stoop then turn quickly on my heels and start running full speed towards where the tune is coming from. I can't help but smile as I run, my face getting scraped and smacked by low hanging branches as I make my own path towards the tune noticing its getting louder then I hear a sharp snap of "be quiet" from River's voice over on my left and because I don't want to scare them I stop running and pant happily, having an almost euphoric about getting reunited with my two allies who have very quickly became family to me. "Little bird … Mermaid man" I say loudly in a sing song voice knowing they'll hear me and I know I'm right when I hear the fast approach steps of my allies.

My little birds the first to get to me. She practically knocks me to the ground as she jumps on me squeezing me tightly in a small bear hug which makes me beam hugging her back then my eyes meet River's and he looks hesitant and I know he must feel guilty about leaving me for what he thought, probably death. I smile warmly at him and he looks shocked that I'm being nice to him and it breaks my heart so I quickly ask "what you've already decided you don't like me anymore?" he cokes out a laugh, his eyes twinkle with happiness then he rushes forward and hugs both little bird and me. We stay hugging each other for a bit until I hear River mumble "I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough to go back and look for you sooner" I stiffen then pull back from him and set Rue back on the ground. "Stop being dumb River you were so brave. It takes real courage to come looking for me and you did as soon as you could, huh?" I say crossing my arms over my chest narrowing my eyes at River who looks down at his slightly dirty boots as if they were the most amazing thing he's ever seen in his whole life and I know that isn't possible. I clear my throat trying to get his attention but still he doesn't look up so I roll my eyes and sigh loudly, "stop being so hard on yourself River. You made us go out looking for Madge right when you got back … not that I would have said no. I would have went looking for you goldilocks" Rue puts forth looking at River with big brown eyes, River peeks up and gives Rue a small smile not wanting to be the reason poor Rue gets upset because he got upset, "see I knew you did River. You'd always go back for someone you care about and I feel so honored that you care about me" River's cheeks tinge pink and I hear a weak "thanks Madge" and its so cute how he's embarrassed that I'm praising him.

I walk over to River and give him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug which he returns without a thought. I smile at him then motion for them to follow me back where I came form and they follow obediently, "I found Gale earlier … but … I have seemed to have misplaced him but we're going to look for him and then we can figure out where to go from there" I say trying to keep my voice down but to sound chipper because who knows maybe we can just make it to the end without any other tributes just Gale, River, Rue, and me and maybe even Thresh if he's as nice as his district partner. If we can all last that long then maybe we could just have a sit in or something "yeah and then they'd send in the mutts" my subconscious snaps making me frown because I know its true, no matter what I want or what anyone else here want only one person gets to get out of here alive and I'm just hoping since Gale has two people well really three counting Haymitch, who are all working to get him out alive.

I'm snapped out of my own head as River walks in front of me and stops "did you hear me Madge?" river demands, his voice laced with anger and hurt and I know it has to be about Gale no doubt. I release a loud whoosh of air then raise an eyebrow at him which makes him furrow his eyebrows in anger "so you don't even care to ask us if we want to team up with that jackass, just because you love him Madge? That so one sided. What about what Rue or I want, huh? What about that? All you ever talk about is that stupid guy who doesn't give a shit about you and still you're here pining over him like some stupid school girl when you know as well as us that he'd kill you if he had the chance!" River snaps loudly at me making me flinch and I didn't think someone I cared about could hurt me like that, I mean sure my fathers beaten me so hard that he broke my rib and on another occasion he broke my tailbone but that I expect because he has to do if to keep me safe even with how terrible that sounds its true. If father refused to punish me for not portraying my rightful image then I would get taken to the capital to be taught that lesson there and that would no doubt be way worse, so I honestly don't mind taking a beating or two. But my sweet charming River just threw things I already know into my face and it hurts so bad having my thoughts voiced, especially by someone other than me. I stare at River and don't notice I'm crying until I feel my tear trickle down my throat then absorb into the collar of my shirt. "If that's how you feel then you two don't have to come with me at all. I love you two I really do but your right I care about Gale I guess a little bit more and I can't not help him if I can River, its just not in me to deny Gale anything like that. He deserves to see Rory, Vick, and sweet little Posy to grow up. He deserves to marry…"I spit out then trail off not even being able to say Katniss's name I close my eyes and more tears rush down my cheeks, "Madge" River starts but I stop him "no" I snap opening my eyes to look at him, I didn't shout at him at all just said it but he looks at me like I screamed it at the top of my lungs at him.

I shake my head then glance at the sky letting out a watery chuckle as I see the beautiful sky that would give the impression of a lovely day but I know otherwise. "You don't think I know how much Gale hates me? I can't stop thinking about it River. How pathetic am I, the poor rich mayors daughter who has no friends and who loves the very boy who screams at her in an almost daily basis. My heart breaks every time I remember that I'm not good enough for him and no amount of me sitting around crying and praying will change that, because it won't and I know that. But that doesn't stop me from loving him and wanting to make sure I can protect him as much as I can while I'm alive in here. Maybe it would be a good idea if we decided to split up now … it would save the heart ach" my words although true it doesn't necessarily take the sting away any less. River looks at me with large green eyes as I hear small Rue start to choke on her sobs, "I don't want to leave you guys as much as you don't want to leave me but I don't want to watch you die also, and if I had to pick seeing you happy and dead as my last memory of you two then I want it to be of you tow happy" I state trying to blink away my tears as Rue cries harder and then very slowly River starts to tear up as well, "I didn't mean what I said I was just upset over Gale, its just you like him so much and I'm jealous of him Madge and its crazy that you love him so much and he's too blind to see what a catch you are. Please don't make us break up … at least not yet. Not because of some stupid fight we had … families always fight but then everything is alright afterwards so we have to be alright because you guys are my family in here. Don't make us go Madge" River sputters out looking at me as tears start to glide down his slightly dirty cheeks, leaving clean trails in there wake.

I'm quiet for a little bit just trying to stop crying then finally when my tears subside I nod licking my lips, "okay we ca stay together until the final five but then after that we have to go on our ways without any fuss okay" I say and River and Rue nod practically shouting out their agreements then we're all laughing stupidly, trying to dry our faces of any tears or the stains they left on our dirty faces. As we start off walking again I hold both Rive and Rue's hands and I silently soak up my small slice of normal bliss even if its just as small as being happy I have two people I care about to be with a little while longer while I'm in here, until I die.

It doesn't take us too much longer to be back on our way towards the river to cross back over it, to put even more distance between the careers and us. Once we reach the river we all stop and stare at it in amazement, not because it looks cool or that we're excited to cross it once again. No, we stare at it in amazement because the river has now grown in size and no doubt in the depth. "Well this shouldn't take too long ass long as we make sure to swim at an angle to we'll end up on the other band a small ways down" River puts forth as he takes his backpack off making sure its all secure then he puts it back on his back and turns his attention to Rue's backpack doing the same thing, "I can't swim River" Rue's little voice makes known as her wide scared eyes stare at the dangerous looking river in front of us. I swallow then clear my throat, looking over my shoulder at River who has moved on to check my backpack as well. "I can't swim either" I tell him, he looks at me then over at little bird, he looks lost in thought for a minute but that doesn't last for two long when we hear a loud explosion and it hits too close to home on when I was getting attacked with the fire the Gamemakers sent after me. I take an absentminded step towards the water, tugging little bird along with me by her hand as River stands in front of us blocking us as if he could take down anything heading our way even though we know he most likely can't since everyone left is way bigger and stronger than the three of us, unless its one of the girls that are left well apart from Clove as well as one of the mutts the Gamemakers could send our way.

A fire ball shoots from the tree behind us making us shriek and move closer into the water, getting our shoes and pants soaked. I grab a hold of River by his shirt and push him in front of me, "you take Rue across then we'll workout how I can make it over to you guys if swimming with me is too much … maybe I can find a few trees to climb through and somehow across this river" I put forth, River looks scared but he nods acting as if he isn't. "Come on little bird" River says holding his hand out towards Rue who looks close to tears, "your right behind us right Madge?" Rue questions, turning her big brown eyes towards me and all I can do is smile and nod even though I'm not sure, I just want them to not worry about something that could happen to any of us as we try to cross this river. Rue nods, tears brimming her eyes then rushes forward hugging me as if she might not see me again and who am I to say she's wrong. I hug Rue to me tightly then let her go and crouch down so I'm at her eye level "everything's going to be okay. We just need to stay calm and work on being as safe as we can" he nods at my words and out of the corner of my eye I see River do the same. I smile at her and place a kiss to her forehead then I flinch pulling away from her as another fire ball flies by us and practically splinters a small tree near us making Rue scream and fall almost but thankfully River catches her, "River go now" I demand turning to look at a large wall of fire moving closer to us and its almost comical because I know this might be the way I die. It makes me sick thinking about what the Gamemakers are doing, I want to laugh, the girl on fire who, was on fire in every sense of the word and its scares the hell out of me.

River looks at me worriedly then helps Rue back on to the bank we're standing on before he strides over to me then before I can react he grabs behind my head and pulls my face towards his until my lips touch his and it takes me by surprise so I just stand there letting River place a swift chaste kiss to my lips before he moves away form me some, his cheeks tinted almost completely red. I had to do that at least once … Sorry Madge. Come on Rue" River mutters embarrassedly rubbing the back of his neck and I can't help but laugh making both Rue and River smile even though we all know this is not the time or place to be laughing. "I'll be right back I promise" River makes known looking into my eyes deeply making him seem older than fourteen. I nod then motion for them to hurry as I glance behind me taking in the thick wall of fire that seems to be getting closer and closer. Both River and Rue take off their backpacks to make their trip through the water easily and I can't help but watch them as my breath catches in my throat, my eyes wide with fear that something will happen to them but when they make it across and I see a shivering Rue getting helped to the other side of the bank I can't help but fell relieved but that soon evaporates as a fire ball slams into my hip making me fly forward into the water making me make a large splash from my body and thankfully I'm close enough to the bank that I'm not swiftly taken out with the current.

I sputter and couch making my way back up onto the bank I fell from and I take in the two worried faces of my allies who are now looking at me with fright filled eyes and all I can think to do is lie to them "its fine. I just tripped" I shout the lie towards them which they grasp onto like it because they know I've never lied to them and this alone makes me feel guilty about even lying, but I already know they'd be panicked even further if they knew that the Gamemakers were solely going after me and it scares me because I must have done something huge for them to being going out of their way to try and kill me. I swallow then pick up one of the backpacks and toss it over at River and Rue and it lands near them that River easily yanks it free from the water then I toss the other two backpacks, one at a time and just as I toss the last one I feel an ungodly amount of heat on my back which makes me turn to look at it and almost immediately I feel sick seeing how close the wall of fire is to me and as I look back over at River and Rue I can tell their scared as well.

The fire crackles and some flames pop out at me causing me to move more into the water so it reaches my knees. My body trembles as I look at the dark looking water of the river, "just try to do your best and swim out some so we can try to meat further out" River calls to me and I nod mutely, hoping more than anything that I won't die. I take in a shaky breath before I dive forward and am instantly underwater where I start flailing my body trying to get to the surface and when I do I gasp for air and am met with a mouth full of water that leaves me couching and before I can actually pull in any air something latches onto my left leg and yanks me down into the water making me scream which is cut off by the water that forces its way into my mouth and throat. I try to keep my mouth closed as I try shaking my leg to free whatever has caught onto it until I realize that whatever has my leg feels all too hand like and I'm proven right as I see a large slimy looking black hand of some mutt that has my leg in its grasp, then it begins pulling me further down. Not knowing what else to do I reach down and start trying to hit as well as kick what has me and I do it a couple time before my left wrist is bite and an intense fiery pain flows through my whole arm then seem to quickly work its way up to my shoulder then filling out through my chest and then before I know it everything hurts and because I can't help it my mouth pops open on its own and I let loose a muffled scream then everything seems to be getting darker as my body starts to go slack. Just as I let my eyes close my arm is yanked up and to my surprise I go with it. I slowly rise up in the water until I'm once again above the water and though all I want to do is take in some air, my heavy chest doesn't allow me to.

Its like flashes everything happens first its all black then the next moment I see the sky before my eyes are met with more darkness. My eyes met green this time, probably from the trees and once again all I see is darkness before meeting the frighten face of my allies then everything goes dark once more. When my eyes open next, my head is lull dot the side and I see a very pale and bloody looking River who is laying on the bank next to me, looking as if he's trying harder than he should have to breath. His eyes arm brimmed with tears that flow openly down his face and then I see the deep cuts on his chest and I can't come to grips with what I'm seeing but before I can even try everything thing goes dark and the last thing I think of is that I hope Rue and River will be okay now that I'm gone.