Author's Note; Here is another chapter for you! It's not as long but I wanted to give you an update before I started revising for my exams tomorrow! The end is fast approaching!
The amount of emotions and instincts racing around my head is uncontainable. The sensible thing to do would be to call for help or seek it out to help me disperse the group of five brutes but they wouldn't get here in time to stop the worst from happening as this place is practically abandoned at the moment. I look back and forth from the group of guys and the alleyway where I came from trying to decide what to do or to spot someone to aid me. My feet are arguing with each other about which way to turn, leaving me rooted to the ground not knowing what to do. It's not like in the films you see, or what people think that they would do in this situation, that you would instantly rush into the battle and protect the victim, not until something sets you off anyway. I looked once more to the fight, my breathing increasing in slight panic and my head still wheeling with conflicting ideas and for the first time I see the victims face clearly. Bright blue ocean eyes, one with the after effects of a punch visible, blood and bruises. A jaw clenching, stopping screams from coming out of his mouth and slightly wavy blonde hair. That's the thing that sets me off. Within a second my feet are cooperating and I am running towards the fight, all thought of fleeing erased from my mind and only the intention of keeping him from any harm in my mind.
"Stop it! Get the fuck away from him! Stop it!" I yell as loud as I can as I quickly approach them, my legs moving faster than they ever have before. Not knowing what the hell my plan is to fend this five brutes away, I push the first one I reach away and he goes crashing into the guy next to him, effectively leaving a gap in their circle for me to get through to Peeta. The other three guys, including Cato hadn't noticed their friends being pushed out of the way and were continuing trying to beat Peeta. I do the only thing I can think of doing that will stop Peeta getting hit anymore, I jump in front of him, intercepting the kicks and punches, each one a heavy blow and knocking the air out of me. It must have only lasted about five seconds before they realised they were now hitting someone else and ceased their attack but fuck did that hurt. I can hear Peeta mumbling something incoherent to me from behind as I stand above him, watching his attackers and trying not to show how much their blows had hurt.
"Ahh, Everdeen. How nice of you to join us." Cato was the first one to speak as his goons re-assembled themselves in their circle round Peeta and I. I can see that amused look flicker across his eyes before they darken as they watch me. There still isn't any sign that Peeta is getting up and I can't turn my back on Cato and check on him, so running away isn't an option. I can't see any escape from this and its obvious these guys aren't going to back off. Then Cato starts advancing towards me so I instinctively pull my arm back, clenching my hand into a fist and then send it flying as hard as possible into Cato's face. The punch makes a loud thud noise and Cato staggers backwards clutching onto his nose and I see red dripping through his fingers. Shit, I probably shouldn't have done that. Before I even have time to ready myself to defend Peeta, I'm lifted off of the ground from behind and sent crashing into the wall of the building on the right side of the alley and I'm held in place there.
"Get off of me! Get off you dick!" I yell as loud as I can, hoping to get some passer-by's attention. I look down to see a couple of the guy's starting on Peeta again and I just lose it.
"Peeta! Peeta! No! Please stop it! Leave him alone, I'll do anything you want!" I scream as I try to wriggle free from the grip that is pinning me to the wall.
"Shut the fuck up!" A loader voice booms and then a hand slams into the side of my face leaving it stinging and my eyes watering but effectively silencing me. I squeeze my eyes shut trying to cut off the noises of Peeta getting kicked in front of me and the groans emitting from him. I can feel it happening again. I can feel my mind shutting off just as it had done at my mother's house, blocking everything out. Just as I'm about to lose hope and give up trying, the weight pinning me down is lifted off of me and I fall down to the ground. In confusion, I look up to see some more men have turned up but they are attacking Cato and his friends. The one that was holding me to the wall is now being pinned down by an older looking guy who I've seen around town before. As I look around at the scene I see each one of Peeta's attackers become overwhelmed by our saviours and then my eyes fall back to Peeta, still lying curled up on the ground. I push myself off of the floor so quickly it makes me feel sick and that I'm going to pass out but that doesn't matter. I rush over to where Peeta is curled up and drop down beside him. His eyes are barely open now, his face is covered in bruises, cuts and blood and is swelling in areas. He is clutching to his stomach and I suspect he may have a broken rib or two. "Peeta? Peeta can you hear me?" I whisper as I cradle his face, tears now threatening to fall from my eyes. I only get a sort of grunt in response but that's better than anything.