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Ryan

Chapter 19

I feel a sharp and burning sensation on the back of my neck. It jolts me awake in a panic. All I hear are screams. I look around to see Tracker Jackers swarming around myself and the group. Tracker Jackers are big wasps. When stung, it emits fear hallucinations. They can be deadly if exposed to too much. It is one of the most painful and horrifying ways to die. And they are swarming all around us.

I quickly get to my feet and sprint as fast as I can away. My neck is burning. I already feel my movement slowing down. But it isn't. My head is just working slower than my movement.

After a minute or so of running, I'm alone. I lean against a tree. The tracker jackers gone. I was stung 3 times. Soon enough, the hallucinations are going to hit, of my worst fears. Suddenly, I'm surprised by the canon firing. Someone died.

Without much thought, I run back towards the scene. The tracker jackers are now gone. A few still around, but trying to escape. I look around the area for a body. Next to the tree lays a body mutated and swollen from the stings. Blonde hair. Glimmer.

I approach the body and take a closer look. As soon as I see her face I look away. My breaths shorten. I don't know how I am supposed to feel. She may have been a Career, but she was still just a person, a kid. I think back to last night, the conversation we had. It hurts. I turn back to her and close her eyes. It is a terrible way to go. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies. Let alone my friends. I think that is what Glimmer became, my friend. If it weren't for her, I'd be dead.

"I'm going to kill that bitch!" Cato yells. He isn't too far away. I turn and look in his direction before stumbling. I better not be here when he gets here. Glimmer was the only thing keeping me alive. With her gone, there will be no one to convince him to keep me around. When I turn around I see Katniss, leaning against a tree. Staring blankly at me.

"What are you still doing here?" I shout at her. She doesn't move. I hear the others getting closer. I won't be able to outrun them. My ankle is too numb, and my body is in too much pain. The least I can do is buy Katniss time. Hopefully redeem myself to the district. To Katniss. My time is coming. "Are you mad? Get up! Get up!" I shout at her, prodding at her to leave. I push her away from the sound of Cato. "Run!" I push her again. "Run!"

She finally begins running off. Shortly after Cato arrives on the scene. No one has ever looked at me the way he is looking at me. Like a predator looming over its prey. I draw my knife and face him. If I am going to die, I'm going to die with dignity.

Cato grows larger and larger. His muscles grow twice the size. Growling at me. His teeth as sharp as razor blades. In three strides he meets me. I fall backwards over myself, he falls on top of me. His razor sharp claws dig deep into my leg. I shriek loudly. But I cannot hear anything. Cato howls to the sky. A loud yell coming from the distance. Cato scurries into the darkness of the trees.

I return to my feet, my leg burning. A black goo covers my leg. It burns. My head pounding. My leg feels like it is on fire. I look up, and to my horror see Portia hanging from a tree. The black goo pouring from her eyes and mouth. I scream at the sight and run away. I hear the girl I killed crying in my ears. It gets louder and louder, until it becomes a deafening shriek.

I look down to see spiders crawling up my legs. I try to brush them off. They are coming from the black ooze in my leg. I look up quickly to find my mother. Driving a rolling pin into my forehead. I fly to my back, and into the sky. Flailing in the clouds. My body numb, but the sky is so beautiful. I close my eyes hard. Trying to ignore the pain, the agony. I hear my father. Shhhh. Shhhhh. My sweet boy. It's time to sleep. It's time to sleep.

I awaken to the worst pain I have ever experienced. I am lying next to a steady stream, somewhat covered in mud. My thigh is burning. I look down and see a deep cut. Cato was able to strike my leg with his sword. I try to rise from my position, but instead shriek in agony and give up. I lie down and try to catch my breath.

How long have I been out? It is impossible to know. I find myself breathing heavily. Wheezing, even. I am in terrible shape. I have no feeling in my injured leg. I am not going anywhere. Luckily, the venom is completely out of my system. There have been many cases of tracker jacker venom never leaving a person's system. Changing them forever. Thankfully, I am still me. As far as I know. Hopefully that isn't something I will ever have to worry about.

A couple hour pass. I still lie in the same place. My body as sore as it was before. I think I am ready. While I sit here, in the most agonizing pain in my life, I am ready to die. I was able to buy Katniss enough time to escape. I stood up to Cato. Hell, I've made it much farther than I ever thought I would. I just want to close my eyes, and rest. Let all the pain go away.

The next couple hours I fade in and out. I keep feeling like I have died. But I wake up again. My body grows more and more numb. As if I have become one with the dirt and ground. I look up to the night sky. The anthem begins to play, to announce who have died today. None. I'm not sure how many days I have been out, so more may have died when I passed out. I choose to believe that Katniss is still alive. Living up in the trees right now.

I don't think I am going to fade out so easily. The last thing I need is one of the careers finding me. Cato would make me suffer before I pass. I remember the girl I killed. Cato would make it much worse for me. I need to find a way to hide myself.

I play around with the mud and dirt and begin camouflaging myself. I can't believe this has actually come in handy. After about an hour or so, I am completely disguised. Not so bad considering what I had to work with.

My throat is dry. Very dry. As much as I have been trying to avoid it, I'm going to have to drink the water in the stream. It is dirty, and gross, but it will have to do for now. I try not to move too much. I don't want to ruin the disguise.

I close my eyes and see Glimmer. She is standing in a dark void. Looking not at me, but into me. I'm not sure how to explain it. She motions for me to join her. I want to. My body is in so much pain. And her presence relieve all of the pain.

I feel nothing. Weightless. My thoughts fading. My body becoming weightless. Peace.

And then, I hear Katniss. Singing. My pain returns. The agony. I feel the mud on my skin. My heart beating. I take a few deep breaths.

I jolt awake. Looking around. Still alone. I must have been dreaming it all. I don't know how long I have been here. How many days. I drift in and out so much, it is hard to tell. I liked that dream. It felt good.

I would give anything to have that relief again.