Only one more chapter and an epilogue to go...

Chapter 34: Day 5, part 1.

I woke before Gale early the next morning. After pondering over whether I should leave or not I decide against it, knowing if he wakes up and I'm not there it'll will cause an unnecessary reaction. I do however take out the rest of the cooked boar-creature from yesterday, being sure to save a good sized portion for Gale along with a bottle of water.

To my utter relief the medicine Haymitch sent seems to be working because even though my side feels slightly numb it's better than the pain I had the day before. Settling back into our little nook in the trees next to Gale's sleeping form I continue to munch on the cooked game, occasionally sipping water, and keeping a close eye out if anyone were to stumble past us.

I'm not sure how long I sit, enjoying the finally cooling weather the Gamemakers have so kindly granted us but the sun is starting its ascend high above the tree tops when I feel a pair of arms wrap around my waist from the side. A grin tugs at my lips when a warm, fuzzy feeling spreads throughout my chest as Gale slowly sits up, taking a moment to lean his head against my shoulder. "Morning."

He hums in response. "Anything interesting happen while I was out?"

"A bird flew in front of me when I woke up."

He chuckles, his voice still groggy from sleep. "How badass of you. It must've been hard after. Traumatic experience and all."

"Super. I almost wanted to cry."

Gale's lips brush up against my arm as he grins slightly. "Whatever you say Catnip." Spotting his half of the meat laid out on top of the container of water he sits up fully, grabbing the breakfast and leaning back on the tree trunk next to me.

After a moment he speaks, "Do you think we should keep going?"

"Maybe." Shrugging, I take another bite of game before nodding over to the large land mass towering over all jungle life. "We could head towards the mountain. Try getting on higher ground."

Gale nods along, looking deep in thought. "There could be more game to catch and better places I could set my snares in."

An unspoken agreement passes between us.

After finish eating we gather our things, quickly making our way across the arena in hopes of getting to the mountain by noon or so. Luckily it isn't too far.

With only Gale and my brain to accompany me my mind zones out, finding itself drowning in thoughts about home.

The last time I was in the games it was a bit easier to imagine what everyone was doing. Prim was most likely in school or trying to sell cheese from her goat. My mother working on patients or going around asking for extra work. Then that afternoon they would walk to the Hawthorne's to have dinner using the meat Gale slaved around to catch that day. The portions of food were small but enough to survive on.

I'm not sure my mother and Prim stayed long after that, wanting to watch me run for my life in the peace of their own home and in the comfort of each other's arms, but I do know that, each time, Hazell would try to give my family things. From food to clothing to simply words of understanding while Gale would attempt to sneak some extra game for them to take home even though they both refused the gestures.

After that it hurts too much to imagine my mother and Prim going back to the house, not knowing whether I'm dead or alive. It hurts more though thinking about Gale sitting in front of that old beaten television as he watches me try not to be killed, do some of the killing myself, and see Peeta and I "fall in love".

But now it's different. Now Gale is here with me and my family is rich until the moment I die. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing because on one hand they don't have to worry about being feed. On the other they no longer have anything to strive for during the day since they already have all the means for survival. So what are they supposed to do? Sit around the house and witness family murdering family, friend murdering friend, Gale and I desperately trying not to give away our secret while suffering from injuries all the while trying to figure out which one of us is going to die first? At least they're not in here. That's what counts.

So consumed in my thoughts I almost don't catch the sound of Gale's voice. "Catnip?"

"Mmmm?"

"Catnip!"

"What?" Lifting my head I see we've made it to the base of the mountain. I turn to look to Gale beside me but suddenly find him not there. Instead, fear strikes down deep in my heart when my eyes don't find something I haven't laid eyes on since before the games started.

A wild, almost crazed girl stands in front of me. Her tribute suit lightly stained with blood in a few places, the over-sized t-shirt hanging off her slim body to the point where it almost swallows her. The side braid is out of place and messy. Her cheeks and chin are spotted with dirt and her grey orbs are laced with a stroke of fear and astonishment.

My own reflection.

My face turns to one of horror and I quickly spin around on the spot. My figure multiplies around me as mirrors appear out of nowhere, leaving my mind spinning. "Gale!" I call in a panic, not daring to move, not yet.

"Katniss!"

I let out a breath of relief, taking a small step forward. "Gale! Gale, where are you!?"

"I'm right here!" His voice suddenly travels up from behind and I whirl around coming face to face with my reflection once more, except this time it's so much closer, my nose practically touching the cool surface. "Katniss! Katniss!"

The glass hypnotizes me and Gale's calling is but a voice in the distance. I stare into a pair of silver eyes as my world begins to spin out of control. I don't move a muscle but all the mirrors seem to dance around me, shifting from place to place. New ones popping in places, old ones sinking into the ground.

It's like the control I have over my body is pushed to the back of my mind and locked away. All I can do is watch.

"Katniss!" Gale's voice shouts once more in a panic.

Suddenly the most beautiful piece of glass I've ever seen appears in front of me, beckoning me forward. I comply, slowly traveling towards with a stupid, sloppy smile on my face. "Katniss! Don't touch the gla-"

But it's too late. Because my hand gently reaches out, fingertips just grazing the smooth surface of the mirror, straight over my refection when everything begins to shatter.

Instantly it all falls apart as some of the glass rushes towards me. My mind bends and snaps. Control over my own self is granted just as shards come flying down from above. Forgetting every memorizing thing I just witnessed my body immediately pumps full adrenaline through my veins.

My feet take off, sprinting away like never before as the walls close in around me and glass descends, aiming for my head. From the corner of my eye I can see every move I make in the mirrors. They surround me, suffocate me. I can't tell which way is left or right, up or down. It all blurs into one massive glass…maze.

Out of nowhere a dark shadow darts past me in the reflections which most definitely does not belong to myself nor any human. I freeze. It zooms past me again, this time with a vicious growl. Finally, there's an ultimate moment of silence. A beat passes before I spot the same brown fur predator coming at me on all fours, this time not seeing it in the mirror but right in front of me.

It reels back as if to pounce but I don't give it the chance, instantly shooting an arrow in its direction and spinning on my heel, sprinting away through the glass maze.

I didn't hit it I know that for sure. It's following me. I can tell by the slight movement within the mirrors and tiny sounds of leaves crushing beneath its paws.

A scream rips through my throat as I come to a dead end, smacking my head right into a wall and watch it shatter to pieces upon my touch.

I'm cornered.

My breathing is labored as I quickly spin around, pressing myself as close to the mirror as possible without getting impaled by the falling shards. My eyes are wide with fear, heart pumping out of my chest.

The animal growls lowly, its lips pulling back into a snarl and revealing a wide set of canines. The creature narrows its evil yellow eyes as it slowly advances towards me, watching like prey, trying to figure out its next move.

I grip my bow tightly in hand, raising it towards the beast and reaching back for an arrow only to come back empty handed.

How the hell did that happen!? Just this morning I had twelve!

"Katniss!" My head snaps to the side at Gale's scream as does the creatures. It growls lowly before taking off in the direction of his voice.

"NO!" Without thinking I sprint after it, desperate enough to try to take it down with no weapon, only my bare hands, if that means it doesn't find him. "Gale!" I shriek. "Run! Run!"

"Katniss!?"

"Run! Ga-"

A cannon sounds.

My world collapses.

In an instant unimaginable pain spreads through my chest. It feels like my heart has been snatched from my body by steel hands. Reaching into the skin and tearing out my heart without a second thought. I feel dizzy as my brain tries to process what just happened. My stomach forms into knots, forcing onto me the sudden urge to puke.

No, it can't. It can't! Please don't like that cannon be for Gale!

The predator suddenly bounds around a corner and I stumble over my feet attempting to follow. My breaths come out quicker than they should. I have to clutch my chest as if that'll help my racing pulse.

We come to a clearing just as the mutt takes another sharp turn in another direction, but this time I don't follow. My muscles are tense as my gaze finds the blooded body lying just a few feet away.

It's male that's for sure. Already though I can tell it's not Gale but I pray this tribute's dead so that means the cannon didn't belong to my boyfriend. It's a horrible thought, one that earns me a shot of guilt through my system for thinking it.

A heart-wrenching minute passes of me just staring down at the body until his back arches causing crimson to spur from his mouth.

My instinct is to run but everything else is pulling me to him so I comply, rushing to bend down by the tributes side. My breath catches in my throat when I get a good look at his face. "Steel?"

He coughs again and I turn him to his side so he doesn't choke on his own blood. I see now that there's a large gash across his stomach, one not even the Capitol could heal in time.

"K-Katniss?" He chuckles darkly. "S-so we me-meet again."

"I guess so," I reply distractedly, rolling him onto his back once more. "Steel, I-I can't do-"

"I know. Gon-gonna die any-anyway, right?" he cuts in, his gaze holding mine with a twisted grin. He raises his hand and I grip it in mine. "J-just stay here w-with me. I-I can tell-tell you ab-about all the girl-girlfriends I've had." Steel grins as much as he can and it takes everything in me not to tell him it's all going to be okay when it's clearly not. Even he knows it.

Not trusting my voice I simply nod, grasping his hand even tighter.

Though I didn't know him for long he still was my ally. He still was the one that comforted me after I was convinced that arrow was Gale's. He kept me calm whenever all I wanted to do was run away screaming. He kept the humor alive, instead of being horribly morbid even after his cousin died. He was the one strong enough to speak of a rebellion out loud, the one to see through all my lies. I don't owe him much though and he doesn't owe me anything but I will stay here. Until the end of him.

He never gets the chance to tell me his stories because before I know it the color begins slowly fading from his eyes as his muscles slack. Blood comes pouring from his mouth but I don't have the heart to turn him to his side so he doesn't choke because if I did then I'd be the one to prolong his suffering and I will not be apart of that kind of evil.

Soon enough Steel's hand falls limp in mine and I sniffle, gently crossing his arms over his chest as the cannon sounds.

From the comer of my eye I see the mirror's around me fall, replaced by an open field with the mountain to my side.

I slowly look up, taking in my surroundings. A cry of relief almost escapes past my lips when I see Gale to my left some ways away, but the noise stops short as I spot a group of people gathered a good distance in front of us.

One of them turns to me, weapon in hand, clothes splattered with blood. Finnick grins. "Well, it's a pleasure to see you again, Everdeen."