Chapter 14 Caythin Spinner

An empty water gallon, neon rope, dry fruit mix, and a medical kit, that is what I had inside the backpack. Without water or "real" food, I'm not going to last very long in this damn arena. Beside water and food, I constantly think of Henrietta. Is she eating ok? Is she drinking water? Did she find Mila?

So far today there has been 5 cannon shots, 3 dead at the cornucopia and the other 2 somewhere else. Tonight I will find out who the other two are, I really hope one of those two aren't Henrietta.

Night isn't long, so finding water and shelter is my top priorities. Rivers run south, I've learned that moss on trees always grows on the south side, after finding some trees with the stuff on it, I'm on track. I hear splashing, and then currents, I run to the sound of it and before long, I find a river. I almost cried at the site of it, so big, so powerful, I quickly filed up my gallon and just dunk my entire face in the refreshing water.

Soon After I had my drink, I notice a bridge connecting to the other side. Something tells me it's a trap, but I can't find anything wrong with it, it's made out of concrete so it won't break as easily of one made of wood. Before crossing it, I look on the banks of the river for shellfish, a skill I learn in the training arena. On the other side there's a path, I follow it till it led me to a faint red, wooden building.

I looked closer at the building, it seems to be a barn, I go around it to find its doors open. I suspect someone is inside, but the doors are only open by a bit, It could be the wind that opened it. I need shelter, so I have no choice, I open the doors to find a little girl with her sword drawn. She must have heard my loud footsteps via dead leaves, she lunges at me with great force but I quickly dodged it. She lands on the floor with a thud and drops her sword, as fast as I could, I grab her sword before she can even recover from her fall, I pointed the tip on her nose before she got up.

I expected her to retaliate but, with her wide eyes open, she dropped down like a rock and began to cry.

"Ple, please! Don't kill me!" She begged me.

"You tried to kill me! Why shouldn't I?"

"Please!" she kept on crying

I quickly inspect the barn with one eye on her, there is empty packets of the dry fruit mix and water gallons everywhere, a set of bows and arrows, bloody bandages and a ripped sleeping bag. I inspect her, her cloths are torn and bloody from her stomach and down, she has silver-blue hair with a little curl on top, and she has white eyes

"Your hurt aren't you?" I asked.

She nods. I lower the weapon, and then i walked to the end of the barn and sit.

"Come over here, let me check you."

She walks and lies down next to me. I lifted her shirt to find barley closed wounds on her stomach.

"What happened?"

"The boy from my district attacked me and left me in here." She said with a hollow voice.

"If you don't mine me asking, what is his name?"

"Ottis."

"And what is your name?"

"My name is Bell, but people call me Bell Ann."

After I patched her up, she apologized about attacking me. I told her to find firewood before I can "fully" accept her apology. Soon after she came back with wood, I made a fire outside the barn and cooked the shellfish. I shared half of it with Bell Ann then I gave her my water gallon, she hasn't eaten because Ottis ate what little food they had with a man named Connor. The night sky was brighten by the Capitol seal and pictures of the deceased were showed with the Anthem playing along, Ottis and Connor was among them. A huge weight has been lifted when I didn't she Henrietta's face. Bell Ann's lays down next to me, she said softy

"He's dead"

She fell asleep after that. As I'm stroking her hair, something has occurred about Bell Ann, she is weak, frail, and needs someone like me to protect her. As much as I want to deny it, as much as I hate thinking about it, Henrietta . . . is every bit like her, frail and weak.