Chapter 52 – Cat and Mouse
AN: My deepest apologies for only having updated twice last month. I've been very busy helping my sister through her radiation treatments, promoting my brother's book, and trying to get all my work done before the holidays. Thanks for my faithful reviewers [Trude, Lillian, Manaliac, Matainer, Yepperz and LACR] Your comments are always appreciated. Hunger Games and characters belong to Suzanne Collins. Any mistakes found are mine. Now, on with the show.
Alec POV ––
The concussion from the blast propelled me backwards causing me to hit the ground. My head, shoulders and back ached from the impact. "Arghh, that hurts." I haven't felt this kind of pain since the rebellion. Memories of those months flitted in my mind.
Recovering from my injuries was slow and painful but I had survived it all. Then, I went and volunteered for this. 'I'm an idiot,' my inner monologue chastised me. I thought I stars in my eyes as the radius of blast blinded me for a few seconds. Why am I here again instead of helping rebuild Peeta's bakery. 'I volunteered, remember?'
I hoped that both Rory and Johanna are okay. Damn I hate Hawthorne. I mean Gale Hawthorne. Rory was unfortunate enough to be related to him. Poor kid. I knew what I was getting myself into when I received a call from Haymitch Abernathy yesterday. It was memorable and an honor when he requested for my help. Why would I volunteer to help? I couldn't really tell you without revealing my true intentions.
Flashback ––
The smell of sawdust and plaster filled my nostril. I leaned over the floor plan while I made tiny adjustment for Peeta to approve. I was surprised and honored that he had chosen me to help him with the building of his bakery. For the past few weeks Peeta had given me the responsibility of overseeing the construction as well as picking out the equipment, with his approval, of course. It was an overwhelming task since I had never had this kind of responsibility or experience. I'm a baker not a builder.
"You're going to work here, Alec," Peeta reminded me. "You might as well get familiar with the plans of the building and the equipment. And think of it this way, if this was yours what would you want, to make it workable and a place that people would visit and buy your bread." He trusted my instincts and since we were both bakers he knew what was expected to rebuild it.
"I really am thankful for giving me this opportunity, Peeta," I responded back over the phone line. "I wasn't sure if your offer was real." I heard rumors of his generous nature and sweet disposition. That once you meet Peeta Mellark, you either wanted to fuck him or be his best friend. Or as other women have stated, they'd do both.
"I mean what I say, Alec. Besides, I hope that I could leave the bakery in your capable hands every once in a while."
"You'll never regret hiring me, Peeta," I promised him.
For several weeks since their departure I had worked every day checking equipment, taking inventory and overseeing the construction. It was far more difficult than I realized. I didn't want to disappoint Peeta. I mean we're talking about Peeta Mellark, the 74th Hunger Game Victor and the other half of the Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12. Many of the citizens of Panem had written him off as a traitor to the Districts and most of all, Katniss Everdeen. But after watching him during his interviews I knew there was more than what was televised as I watched him physically disintegrated before my eyes.
He was abused and tortured in the Capitol. No amount of makeup and flashy clothes could hide his skinny frame and bruises. They were slowly killing him. Panem loved him for his devotion to Katniss. Then the rampant rumors that he tried to kill her after his recue due to his hijacking made him feared as well. I never would have thought of him a hero type, but after surviving what he endured and had to live with his episodes, you can't help but admire him. What historian will write about in years to come only time will tell. He's both hero and villain in some eyes. Both he and Katniss never set out in the world to change it. They just wanted to survive the games and not make history for all of Panem to remember.
So, imagine my surprise when he approached me after the baking competition asking if I was willing to work for him. I took his offer with no reservation or ill will since I lost to him. I knew I lost after seeing his beautiful decorated cake and eating his cheese buns. There was no doubt that the best man won. I still have yet to perfect the scrumptious bread myself.
"Hey, Alec," Thom called out to me holding a receiver in his hand. "Can you stop for a moment? I need to talk to you." Since living in District 12, I have built a new life for myself in the new district. There was no going back to the life I left as a former rebel during the war against the Capitol. I had hoped to come back to my family business only to return home and find that my father sold the bakery. They didn't expect me to come after the war. It stung that they thought that, but what else could I do. I was homeless, out of job and directionless. Then the baking competition happened. It was blessing in disguise for it would led to the most kindest and warmest people I have ever known. District 12 citizen called them the Victor Circle. It consisted of Haymitch Abernathy, Effie Trinket, Delly Cartwright, Bron Masters, Johanna Mason, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. They were a close-knit family that loved and protected each other. You could see it in the way they interacted and spoke to one another. If you saw one, you saw another next to them. They never walked or appeared alone in public. They were fierce in their protection and support with one another. I long to have that kind of kinship or relationship. I envied them.
"I'm sorry to pull you away from work but there is someone who's been looking for you." He extended his mobile receiver to me. I accepted it with great trepidation.
"Hello."
"Hello, Alec. This is Haymitch Abernathy," he announced himself. His tone was dull and serious. I knew that there had to be something wrong and it had something to do with Peeta.
"Mr. Abernathy?" I voiced into the phone. "Is something wrong?"
"Call me Haymitch. Listen, I know that Peeta wanted you to oversee his bakery but I need your help." Surprised and honored, I was silent for a few seconds. Haymitch Abernathy needed my help? Wow. It must be really important for him to seek out a complete stranger.
"I have to believe that there's a reason why Peeta would let you even get near his bakery let alone want to hire you. So, I'm going against my instinct. He trusts you for some reason and if he can then I'm not going to question it. The kid has been good in judging people's character so…"
"Okay, how can I help you, Haymitch?" I asked him. "Does this have anything to do with Peeta?" Excitement and fear bubbled inside me.
"Peeta and Katniss are in trouble and I need you help." That was all he had to say and I was committed to help him.
End of flashback ––
Once he finished his explanation, I called Mara, packed my bags and took the first train to District 4. The fact that he also said that Johanna was alone with Rory motivated me. Since my arrival at District 12, I had become good friends with Thom and Greasy Sae. The weeks during the constructing of the bakery helped me developed a friendship with Thom. Twice a week we would meet up at the local bar and have a drink. He would regale me stories of Peeta, Katniss and surprisingly Gale. Between shots and mugs of beer he told stories of all their lives back in the District before it was bombed. Then, one night of too much beer and whiskey, he drunkenly admitted watching and reporting to Gale of Katniss' activities and relationship with Peeta. I didn't understand at first what he was talking about. I thought that Katniss was with Peeta. And who the hell was Gale Hawthorne to Katniss?
After his confession, I learned of Gale's obsession with Peeta. How he had assumed that he was taking advantage of Katniss' vulnerability in losing her sister, Prim. Gale convinced Thom that Peeta would hurt her because of his hijacking. Then, he broke down and confessed that Gale lied to him and had hurt Peeta. It was more revelation and confession I could handle since I had admired Gale Hawthorne from afar.
My admiration for him turned to disgust after learning of his duplicitous and monstrous behavior towards my soon-to-be boss. However, it made me look up to Peeta more even if he was younger than me by four years. I couldn't help but admire him for watching over people he loved and cared for.
It was actually Peeta who asked me to watch over Sae and Tamryn while he was away. How could I not returned the favor since had pretty much given me a new lease in life? He said that it was important to him that I watch over them. I didn't ask why. So, I introduced myself to Sae in hope to develop a friendship with her and her granddaughter, Tamryn.
After a couple of visits, Sae saw through my deception and called me on it.
"You know, Alec. I know that Peeta sent you. To watch over my granddaughter and me," she said one morning when I visited them with my batch of Cheese Buns. "It's not necessary but I do appreciate it." I laughed and touched the back of my neck knowing I was caught.
"Peeta was worried and I wanted to help him in any way I can."
"I can take care of Tamryn and myself, Alec," she stated.
"He said you would say that to me once you found out," I said in a sheepish manner.
"He also said that he would rest easy knowing that you were being looked after."
"It's okay, young man. I expected it from him." She chuckled at my uneasiness of being caught. "I don't mind as long as you keep bringing the Cheese Buns."
I'm on my back and feeling the hard ground beneath me, I clenched my teeth. "I fucking hate you, Hawthorne." Then, after gathering my bearing I remembered Johanna and Rory. I sat up on my forearms and lifted my aching body off the ground. I shook my head and raised myself onto my feet feeling wobbly and light-headed. "Johanna. Rory," I called out.
I shook my head. There was dust floating in the air making it difficult to see what's in front of me. "Johanna?" I cried out. My voice was hoarse as I tried not to inhale the dust around me.
Suddenly, a knife appeared across my throat. Shit. It was Hawthorne. "I don't know who you are, but since you're with that bitch Mason, I assume you're a friend of Mellark." He wrapped a long arm across my chest. Gale Hawthorne is a tall man. His height played to his advantage using me as a shield as his brother Rory came into view.
He had his rifle cocked and aimed at us. I didn't know if I should be relieved or worried. After all, it was his brother who has held me hostage. I could see the family resemblance. They had the same eyes, hair and eye color. They even had he same hairstyle. It was as if I was seeing Gale's twin.
"Put the knife down, Gale," Rory said to his older brother, his voice cracked. I could see fear and insecurity in his young eyes. He looked small despite his height, which matched the older Hawthorne.
"I can't believe you'd do this to me, Rory" he seethed in anger. The sight of his younger brother only made him angrier as Gale's grip tightened his arm around my chest and his knife knick my skin. I felt a trail of blood run down my neck. My head felt fuzzy and body sore so the reality of the situation had stunned me for a bit. Damnit, this was not what I wanted to do but I knew the risks when I volunteered to help Haymitch.
"I'm going to get you for this Rory," Gale promised. "After everything I've done for you, after sacrificing and taking care of you back in 12, this…" The knife pressed harder into my skin. "…is how you repay me?"
I could see Rory's Adam's apple moved up and down his throat. The comment hurt him as pain and sadness etched his young face. "You lied to me about your relationship with Katniss. You're hurt Peeta."
"Why would you care?" Gale roared in return.
"He's done anything to you." He lowered his rifle and stepped forward.
"That fucking prick took everything from me," Gale answered back. "He took the only thing I ever wanted. He stole Katniss from me."
"She was never yours to begin with." Rory sighed in frustration. "You need to face the facts she never wanted you that way. She loved you, but she's in love with Peeta."
"He brainwashed her. She wanted me in 13."
"Prim said that she needed Peeta and not you. She said that Katniss was lost in 13 without him."
"No, she felt guilty for leaving him behind. She told me," Gale said.
"She told herself that, but she didn't even realize that she loved him," Rory continued. "Prim said that even Katniss never knew she loved him until she thought she lost him in the arena."
"No, she was mine. She's confused and vulnerable. And now he tainted her. It sickens me knowing that he touched her." His hand gripped my shoulder as his fingernails dug through my shirt. Sweat poured down my forehead. It didn't help that the sun was beating on top of us making the air thick and warm.
"From what I can tell she enjoyed every minute of it," I wheezed as his knife dug deeper on my throat." 'Shut the hell up,' my mind scolded me. 'Good move, Baylor.'
"You shut the fuck up or I'll cut your throat out!" he screamed into my ear.
"You need to stop this, Gale. Please. Think of mom, Vic and Posy," he started. "Think of how they will feel when they find out what you've done. What you having been doing to Peeta."
"Why would they care? I'm your brother. You should be helping me instead of Peeta. He doesn't even know you."
"No, he's doesn't, but since I've known him he's been nothing but kind to me. Unlike you, Gale."
"Well then. I guess since he's been so 'kind' to you, I'll step aside," he mimicked Rory. "Fuck you, little brother. When I get my hands on him, he's dead and Katniss will be mind forever," he roared. I couldn't believe that Gale Hawthorne would end up like some obsessed, rejected lover. I mean I heard the rumors of all the women he bed in the Capitol and Districts 1 and 2. Sheesh, the guy had everything, good looks; a penthouse suite in District 2 and a great job awarded by President Paylor herself. So what more could he ask for?
"Please stop, Gale. You're sick and need help," Rory said back. "I know that you're using and it changed you. You're addiction changed you. How do you think Dad will feel learning how you turned out?"
"Shut up and stop talking about Dad," he returned.
"He'd be so ashamed of you––"
"No, he'd be proud of me. I'm a somebody in Panem. Everyone knows who I am."
Distracted with Rory, I elbowed Gale sharp onto his stomach knowing that the black uniform he wore was reinforced with metallic mesh. It was a risky move but I had to try.
The move startled him causing him to stumble back. I tucked and rolled from him. It gave me ample time to distance myself. I stood up fast and faced him. Gale recovered as he held the knife in front of him.
"Shoot him, Rory," I demanded as I unsheathed a knife from my ankle holster.
Rory faced his brother, his rifle aimed at him. "You'll never shoot me," Gale returned with a big smile on his face. "I'm still your brother and you'd never hurt me."
"Like the way you didn't hurt me at the hospital?" Rory answered back. "You are my brother and I looked up to you. But I'm not going to let you hurt anyone anymore. Put the knife down and––"
Gale pulled his arm back and threw the knife at Rory. Rory fired missing him as the knife lodge on his upper left arm. The hit caused him to release the rifle from his grasp. The rifle fell on the ground in front of him. I ran towards Rory fast. When I picked up the rifle, Gale sprinted behind the building. I was faced with three options. Go help Rory. Find Johanna and see if she was badly hurt or chase after Gale. My heart decided for me.
"Rory are you okay?" I asked as I turned to him. Rory pulled the knife off his upper arm. Blood seeped through his clothes.
"I can't believe he threw the knife at me?" There was disbelief and shock on his face. His lips trembled as tears ran down his cheeks. "He hit me with his knife." I looked at his wound ripping the sleeve. It wasn't a deep cut since the mesh took most of the impact, but it was enough to leave a one-inch wound. He looked past me probably watching his brother leave the scene.
"Here, hold onto his," I instructed as I grabbed his right hand. Quickly and without thought, I cleaned and dressed his wound wrapping it as best I could. "We need to get you to a hospital." I tied the cloth making sure I applied pressure.
"No, I'm okay." Rory wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. After the shock wore off, he was quiet and sad realizing that his own brother almost killed him. It was a reality he couldn't comprehend. "My own brother tried to kill me."
"For what it's worth, Rory. I don't think he realizes what he's doing. There's pain behind his anger." I knew what kind of pain and anger Gale felt. I felt it too. The war was devastating but necessary. We were free to live our own lives and not under Snow's tyranny. No one ruled us anymore. No more children were sacrificed and used as entertainment. "You had to have realized that who you saw before you isn't your brother anymore. The guy that threw the knife at you wasn't your brother anymore." I looked at Rory for a moment. "You're right though, he does need help."
"I don't understand what happened to him," Rory continued. "He wasn't the only one that lost someone during the war. I lost someone special too." There was bitterness and resentment in his words. I wondered whom he lost.
"People handle loss and grief differently. Gale turned to drugs to ease his pain." I wasn't making excuses for Gale. I wanted Rory to understand his brother's pain and anger.
"Peeta lost more than most. He lost a leg from the first game. The Capitol captured and tortured him. He was hijacked too. Then he didn't have a home anymore and he also lost his entire family when the Capitol bombed District 12," he listed. "But you don't see him turning to drugs. You don't see him turning away from people who love him. I can't understand what happened to him." Rory was lost, angry and frustrated. "I just want my brother back." I didn't know what else to say to him. Words were meaningless coming from me. I'm a complete stranger to him.
"You're fine now but once the adrenaline wears off you're going to feel pain. A lot of pain," I told him. His wound wasn't serious but he needed stitches to close it and get proper medication. Then, I remembered Johanna. "Oh my God, where's Johanna?"
"I don't know." Rory looked mournful and confused. I couldn't stay and hold his hand any longer.
I stood up and looked around me. About 25 yards near the track, I saw Johanna's prone body on the ground. I ran ignoring the pain radiating from my lower right leg. Once I reached her, she was still. Her hair was singed from the blast as well as her duffel bag. I turned her body over carefully since I don't what kind of injuries she sustained from the explosion. I unbuttoned the first top three buttons on her shirt and I pressed my ear to her chest finding her heartbeat. She wore a black tank top underneath her shirt.
"Ouch," I exclaimed as I'm propelled backwards from her inert body. With her tiny hands she pushed me back hard against my chest.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Johanna shouted as she sat up and button her shirt close. She looked around for her rifle. Her eyes were wide from surprise and anger.
"I'm sorry. I was just checking for your heartbeat."
"Take a pulse on my wrist next time. I don't ever want you placing your hand or anything part of your body on me, ever," she seethed in anger. She reached into her ankle and pulled out a knife from her ankle holster. The knife was sharp with a long thick blade.
"Sorry." I stood up and stepped back. She had dirt and debris on her angry face. Her eyes were cold and menacing. She looked beautiful to me with dirt on her dark clothes and her hair in disarray. Johanna walked a few feet away from me. Her reaction stung but I should have expected it. She doesn't know me. She replaced her knife back into her ankle.
"Damnit," she shouted as she reached to the back of her head. "It took me forever to grow my hair back." She pulled out the band of her ponytail. Her hair cascaded on her face framing her delicate features. Removing her backpack, she dropped it onto the ground and reached inside it. With one hand she placed a cap between her knees then she reached up and pulled the remains of her long hair back into a ponytail. She looked young wearing it up like that. Once she was done, she placed a cap on her head hiding her short burnt locks. She looked adorable to me. 'Sheesh, Baylor, keep it together,' I reminded myself. No need for her to realize that you're was crushing on her.
"Did you get Hawthorne?" she asked me, startling me from my daydream.
"What?" I said like some love-struck schoolboy.
"I'm sorry, Commander," Rory spoke out breaking the tension between us. I had forgotten about him as he stood beside me. "I couldn't…"
"God damnit. Where the hell did he go?" She picked up her backpack and walked passed me. "What happened?"
I explained the situation to her. She wasn't pleased of the outcome. "So in other words, he's out there…looking…hunting for Peeta and Katniss while we're…" She stopped and took a deep breath and muttered to herself.
"What is she doing?" Rory asked, perplexed at Johanna's behavior. She had her eyes closed and her lips were moving while she continued to breath through her nose.
"I think she's counting…or praying." I dared not interrupt her.
When she was done, she took another cleansing breath and opened her eyes. She looked passed Rory and me. "What direction did Gale go?" she asked in a resigned manner. The tone was unnerving. For a moment she was manic and loud then the next she was calm and quiet.
"He went that way." Rory pointed towards the open field next to the terminal. "He got on a hover bike and went that way." She adjusted her pack and rifle onto herself.
"Let's go. If you can't catch up, you're on your own."
"Johanna, wait," I insisted. "I need to call for an emergency evac for Rory." She looked at the young teen. "He needs medical attention."
"Are you in pain?" she asked. Rory shook his head. "Is the cut deep enough that you can't continue?" He shook his head again as he lay a hand over his bandaged arm. "Then you're fine and good to go."
"No but––" I started.
"He'll live," Johanna added as she stepped forward. I blocked her way to get her attention. I knew she focused and was driven to find her friends but Rory still needed to be looked after.
"Johanna––"
"You listen to me, Baylor." I winced as she said my last name with icy formality. She was back to her cool and standoffish behavior. 'What was I thinking,' I said inside my head; that I would rescue her and sweep her of her feet like some big hero who needed to save a damsel in distress. This is Johanna Mason after all. I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up saving me.
"He's a big boy. He knew what he was getting himself into. I'd rather have him with me then leave him out here for Gale to influence him. I don't know any of you nor do I trust you. Keep up or get left behind. The longer you delay me the further Gale gets closer to finding Peeta and Katniss."
Johanna bumped my shoulder to get past me. I flinched from the impact. She was a radiant angel with a sword in her hand and fire in her veins. I felt heat rise from my face admiring her as she walked away. Such passion was alluring and I was drawn to it. If given a chance she would consume me body and soul. Is this love or lust? Rory stared at me wondering what to do as I ogled after Johanna.
"Alec?"
"Huh, sorry, Come on, Rory," I started. "You heard her. Let's go." I have never met a woman like Johanna Mason. Her tough exterior intrigued me. But despite that I couldn't help but admire and be attracted by her personality and demeanor. I followed her like a lost and eager puppy with my tail between my legs. How pathetic.
We had been walking for three hours straight when I felt a tinged of pain on my lower right calf. It had been mild at first until we were walking nonstop causing my leg muscle to ache and flutter. We stopped twice for a water and bio break.
"Johanna, we need to take a break," I panted. Rory looked relieved at my request and waited for a response, but Johanna kept walking.
"Johanna?"
"I heard you, Baylor," she answered back. "We'll take a break during lunch."
"And when will that be?"
"In another hour," she returned.
"Johanna, we passed lunch an hour ago," I explained as I looked at the sun floating above us. Since leaving the terminal our walk was quiet and fast paced. I didn't know where we were heading and never questioned the direction she led us. I had assumed she knew where we were going. "We need to take a break. We're no good to Peeta and Katniss if we drive ourselves to the ground."
"Just another hour," she insisted.
"No, we need to stop now." I raised my hand and placed it on her shoulder. She shook it off. 'Okay, don't touch,' I reminded myself. 'Why not? Peeta touches her all the time? Well, maybe it's because you're not Peeta, idiot.' The conversation in my head ran rampant. 'She doesn't know you or trust you, remember?'
"Please?" I begged her. I wasn't about to admit to her that my leg hurt from all the walking. "Ten minutes at least. It won't hurt to stop for ten minutes." I hoped the tone in my voice didn't make me sound desperate.
"Fine." She stopped and leaned against a wide tree trunk. "For ten minutes and not a minute longer." I sat down on a fallen log across her. She looked uneasy at our proximity during the walk that I kept my distance behind her. Rory sat down next to me and reached for his water container.
"Don't drink all of that, Rory. We don't know if we'll find water anytime soon. So ration it," she instructed him. Rory took a couple of sips and closed his canteen.
"Do you know where we are?" he asked as water dripped from his lips.
"Yes," she answered but didn't elaborate.
"How do you even know where they're heading?" I finally asked, as my curiosity was peaked.
"Since you're never been in the arena, let me tell you the first rule you learn in the games," she informed me. "One, you need to find water. You can catch game in the woods or gather berries but water is critical. Katniss and Peeta will be looking for a body of water whether it's a lake or river. Preferably a river."
"Why a river?" Rory asked. I knew the answer.
"Most towns in the districts are power by water. If you walk along a river, it might lead you to civilization."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"It's the first thing you need to find if you want to survive in woods," Johanna added. She looked uneasy and troubled. I have never seen that look of…fear in her eyes before.
"Johanna, are you okay?" I asked her. "You know, Peeta and Katniss are going to be okay. I mean, they been in worse situations." Yeah, like two Hunger Games to be exact. "Just like Haymitch said, if they're together, they'll be fine." I wanted to comfort her. She appeared lost for a few minutes. I didn't understand her relationship with Peeta. They were close and anyone who saw them together could see it. It was his close relationship to Johanna and Delly Cartwright that started the gossip of his infidelity and for betraying Katniss.
When Peeta came back to District 12, the rumor was that Johanna took Peeta as her lover. He betrayed Katniss after the last arena. It explained why he was in the Capitol while Katniss hid with the rebels. It was all untrue because anyone can see that the bond and relationship between Peeta and Katniss was stronger than ever. It was obvious in the way they gravitated towards each other in public. There was love there between them. It was apparent in the way they held each other's hand or a look that passed between them. I envied them since I longed to have that kind of connection with the woman I love.
"I just want to find Peeta and Katniss. And, I have to…" She looked at Rory. "I need to find Gale and finish this once and for all." Rory looked down on the ground avoiding Johanna's stare.
I remembered Haymitch's parting words before I left.
"Those people out there, Johanna, Peeta and Katniss, they mean the world to me. You damn sure better get them home to me safe and sound. And…if you have to…do what is necessary to ensure their safety, you will do anything…I mean anything to keep them alive. Do you understand me, Alec?" he said.
I swore and promised Haymitch to do whatever it took to get them home safe and alive.
"I'm expecting to attend a toasting in the near future," he continued. "They deserve to have a happy ending after all this." I nodded my head understanding to whom he was referring to. "And if by chance if Johanna…finds happiness with a guy who's willing to love her like Peeta loves Katniss. He will have both Peeta's and my blessing." My throat felt dry and words failed me.
I blushed at his assumption but didn't deny it. I was attracted to Johanna and I always had been since watching her during the games. She mesmerized me. And after meeting her, she was more than I ever expected.
"Come on, it's ten minutes already," she announced. Then out of nowhere, a booming sound pierced the air. It sounded like an explosion. "What the hell…" We stopped, paralyzed and listened. Another explosion came two minutes later. "Shit." Johanna ran to the direction of the sound that was east of us.
"Johanna, stop," I shouted. She ignored my plea. "Damnit, wait up." For a small woman she was quick on her feet. She ran with the grace of a forest animal, her steps barely touching the ground. My calf burned from pain as I tried to keep up with her. Suddenly, she disappeared from my view. She screamed.
"Johanna!"
I stopped abruptly realizing that the ground below me disappeared as I was standing next to a cliff. I looked down to find Johanna clutching onto a vine, her feet dangling with a drop that estimated about 20 yards deep. Below her was a lake. The edges of the water streamed down to a river. Johanna's eyes were closed as she clung to the vine for her life. "Johanna?" I yelled at her. Placing my backpack down, I looked around. There wasn't anything to use for a rope for her to climb onto. "Johanna?"
She looked up. Fear and something else I didn't recognize was etched on her face. On my hands and knees I looked passed her at the water below. "Johanna, I think the water is deep. It's not too far for you to hurt yourself. You'll be okay––"
"No, no, no," she chanted to herself. "Not water, please. Get me…before I fall."
"Johanna. I don't have anything…there's no rope that I can throw down to you––" The vine she clung on to grew out of the cliff side. Otherwise, she would have easily climbed up on her own. At her position, she was a good 10 to 12 feet below us. She could easily drop down and swim to safety.
"Please Alec," she sobbed into tears. "I can't…I…don't make me fall into the water. I can't…I just can't." It broke my heart to see her in pain.
"Just let go and you'll be fine." She shook her head.
"I don't understand," I cried out to her. During the Quarter Quell, she swam like a fish with Finnick and the other tributes. Rory knelt next to me looking down the cliff.
"Oh shit," he cursed.
"Please Alec," she wailed in despair. Johanna gripped the vine tighter and closed her eyes. "Please…please…please."
"Alec, she's afraid of water," Rory explained.
"What?"
"Snow tortured her with water. Gale told me," he added. I knew she was held captive and tortured in the Capitol. But it never dawned on me the method they used to torture her. "We have to do something fast or she's going to get tired and fall." I knew of Johanna's physical strength, it was her mental state I was concerned with.
I racked my brain for a few seconds. "Take off your belt," I told Rory as I stood up and removed my own. He handed me his belt. "Now give me your extra shirt and pants."
"What?"
"Just do as I say, Rory." I was losing patience. "Just hold on, Johanna." I tied our clothes together to make a rope for her to climb on. It wasn't enough. I took the shirt off my back and my pants joined it. There I stood with my boxers and t-shirt in the middle of District 3 forest.
"Shit," I exclaimed. In my haste, I had forgotten to remove my shoes causing me to struggle and land on my sorry ass. Had the situation not been dire, I would have laughed at my clumsiness. I placed my shoes back on knowing that I would need traction to secure my feet onto dirt floor. The last thing we needed was for me to join her if I slipped on the ground.
At the end of my make shift rope, I looped the belts for her to slip into. I lowered it to her, "Johanna, grab onto the belt and see if you can loop it around you under your armpits," I instructed her.
When I knew she was secure, both Rory and I pulled the rope up. She appeared from the edge with tears in her eyes. "Johanna, you're okay now," I comforted her. She wrapped her arms around her waist as she trembled in place. I wanted to reach out and hold her, but she quickly walked over the trees behind us.
She sat by a large tree trunk. Johanna curled into a ball with her head resting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs. There were scratches all over her hands from clutching onto the thorny vines.
"Johanna," I called out to her again.
"Just leave me alone, I'm fine." Her words muffled as she mumbled onto to her legs. "Just give me a minute," she said, her voice was soft and strained. She cried to herself hiding her fear and eyes from us. Seeing her like this…vulnerable and inconsolable. I felt helpless wanting to go to her but I was afraid she wouldn't react well to my gesture of comfort. I envied Peeta's easy relationship with her. He would have easily taken her into his arms and she would have accepted his comfort and his embrace.
I redressed myself feeling uncomfortable standing in my boxer short and t-shirt. In the short amount of time it took me to dress myself, Johanna had calmed herself as she took deep breaths while she played with her necklace between her fingers. I wondered if it was a gift from Peeta. It was a stainless steel medallion with an etching of a flower. I couldn't tell what kind. But she held onto it like it was a lifeline.
After a few minutes, she swiped her face with the back of hands. Clearing her throat she said, "Let's go." Her demeanor was back to business. With wobbly legs, she stood up and adjusted her backpack. "We wasted enough time." She sniffled once then walked onward as if nothing had happened.
During the rest of the journey, I spied on her gauging her mood and disposition. There was heaviness in her steps. The mishap at the cliff shook her. She was far ahead of us so she couldn't hear my conversation with Rory. I made sure she was never from my sight.
"…Thom told me horrors stories of what they…the Capitol did to Peeta, Johanna and Annie Cresta," he shivered at the thought. "I mean, it was horrible; starvation, sleep depravation and being tied up while they tased them for information about the rebels." I winced at the images that flashed in my head. "They held Johanna underwater or waterboarded her by placing a cloth on her face and gagging her mouth while they poured buckets of water on her. They basically were drowning her."
"How long were they held captive?"
"Months….they were held for months before Coin approved for their rescue. It was miracle that all three of them survived," Rory continued. "So I can understand her fear of water. Thom said she can't handle being around large bodies of water, like a pond or lake. You should see her freaking out when she's near a tub full of water." Rory looked at Johanna with sadness. He's a good kid. It's a good thing he didn't turn out like his brother.
"Then, I'm glad she had Peeta with her for comfort." I couldn't fathom the idea of their abuse and torture. Would I have had survived if I was in their shoes? Suddenly, Johanna sprinted forward. "Johanna, wait up."
She ignored me and took off. Then, she stopped and dropped on her knees searching the ground. "What's wrong?"
On the ground was a metallic water canteen. The metal was mangled and twisted. I looked around to find evidence of an explosion as trees and plants were affected by the blast. "Look around," she commanded us fearing the worse. "They were just here."
"How do you know? This could have been here for months."
"I just know, okay," she hissed between clenched teeth. Here eyes looked wild with fright and anger. "They're in trouble. I can feel it." I didn't know whether to trust her intuition. Johanna was manic in her search for her friends. Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part. She continued to look around looking for clues or signs.
"Johanna, calm down."
"Calm down, my friends are in trouble and you want me to calm down?"
"I know you're worried and––"
"You know nothing about me, so fuck the lay off me," she said, her eyes narrowed hard as she breathed through her mouth. "I lost too many people in my life…I…I can't lose him too. I'm not going to lose him." She ranted. "He's all I have left."
"It's going to be all right, Johanna. Just stop for a few minutes and gather our thoughts, okay?" Her eyes kept searching our surroundings. Once again I wished there was something I could do to comfort her. "Where do you think they'll be heading?"
She thought for a moment. "Katniss and Peeta will be looking for high ground after looking water at the end of the day. They'll want to see what's around them. See if they can find a train in transit. It would give them a sense of direction. Where to go."
I looked at the horizon before me. There was a hillside, not to high to climb but one can manage to reach the top. "Gale might be thinking of that too. So…" Rory warned us. "He's familiar with these woods. It's basically his training grounds."
"So the explosions––" I asked.
"He designed an area with explosives. Not enough to kill anyone, but enough to scare the shit out of you and cause some damage," Rory added. "They're usually marked…we would be running down a course and they would detonate them to make us feel like we're in the middle of combat."
"That's…dangerous. Someone could get seriously hurt."
"Gale had complete control on how he trained us." He shrugged his shoulders. "He could do whatever he wanted."
"I just hope that Peeta and Katniss are okay," Johanna sighed.
"I bet you that he didn't plant explosives to scare Peeta and Katniss. He meant to kill them," I suggested. "Look at the radius of the explosion." Several trees were down and foliage obliterated. If what Johanna's assumption rang true then Peeta and Katniss was here not to long ago.
"Hey, look," Rory pointed to the landscape before us. "Is that smoke?"
"A forest fire?" I added. In the middle of the forest was smoke rising from a patch of trees.
"Whatever it is, let's take a look," Johanna said as she adjusted her pack and pulled out short length machete. It was sharp and deadly. "Just be on a lookout incase we encounter Gale." I swallowed the bile that rose from my throat. I had a bad feeling about this. I just hoped that my gut was wrong and we weren't walking right into a trap.
Katniss POV ––
I woke up feeling achy all over from lying on the cold, hard ground. Peeta was lightly snoring as I felt his chest rise and fall beneath my hand. My head was still lying on top of his chest as I realized that we had not budged an inch from last night. Even though we were in dire straits, this was the first time in days I felt at peace. Staying in the cave for safety brought back memories of the time we spent during the first games. It was in a cave similar to this one that had initiated my awareness of Peeta Mellark's attraction to me, that his feelings for me were real and true. No one could make up a story of a boy crushing on a girl since they were five unless it was true, and to admit it in front of the world to boot. It was incredulous.
However, I was not receptive or prepared for his affection as something real. My drive and motivation was to win the games and return to Prim, even if it meant using Peeta to achieve that goal. How I wished I could turn back time and responded differently. I sighed and smiled to myself enjoying the feel of Peeta's body next to mine.
The air turned chilly, as the fire had extinguished hours before. Beneath me Peeta whimpered in his sleep, his brows were furrowed and his mouth in a thin line. Suddenly, his head twisted from side to side. I knew he was having a nightmare. There were nights that he had them but he never woke me. He continued to keep this side of himself from me. It hurt that he hid them. Whenever I had a nightmare, he would gather me into his arms and hold me, whispering words of comfort and love until I fell back to sleep.
"Peeta, honey, wake up," I said to him while I rubbed my hand up and down his chest. "Peeta, you're having a bad dream." He opened his eyes as tears dripped down his cheeks. "Shh, hey, I'm right here. You're okay, Peeta." I kissed his forehead. His body was stiff and rigid as he blinked his eyes several times. "Peeta?"
"We're in a cave, hiding from Gale. Real or not real?" he asked.
"Real, Peeta, real." I placed my head on his chest listening to the rapid cadence of his heartbeat. He trembled as he wrapped both arms around me tight. "We're okay, Peeta." For now, for who knew what was in stored for us once we left the cave.
"I'm sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't. I was already up." I nestled deeper into his side straddling a leg over his. "I slept really good. I'm just sorry that you had a nightmare. Do you want to talk about it?"
He shook his head. I felt disappointed at his unwillingness to share his nightmares with me. "You know, you can tell me anything, Peeta. I'm willing to listen."
"I don't think I can, Katniss."
"Why? I tell you mine."
"There are things that happened to me at the Capitol that I can never tell you," he muttered, low and soft as if he was afraid to tell me. "I know you, Katniss. Once I tell you, you'll blame yourself for what happened to me. What they did to me…I just can't. They're too painful to talk about. And I don't want you to have those kind of images in your head."
"Okay," I responded with resignation and defeat. I wouldn't push him until he was ready or willing to share the horrors he endured. I raised my head and leaned down to kiss him, chaste and sweet. "I love you, Peeta. Don't ever doubt that." He gave me a sad smile as his eyes looked back at me with adoration and love. "You and me…together, it's all I'll ever want."
"I dreamt about this cave over and over after the first arena," he admitted as I hovered over him. "After the first session…late at night, I tried to remember the first time you kissed me. I was starting to doubt what was real…all the times we were together. Being here back in this cave…I was certain that I wasn't going to make. That's why I told you…I finally took a chance to tell you because it was bubbling inside of me. My telling you of my feelings…I never had the guts before the reaping. But, it was stupid of me to have done that to you. It was cowardly and manipulative of me as if I expected you to return my feelings, you know?"
"Peeta––"
"Please, I need to say this." He grabbed my hand that lay on his chest. "I should have told you back in District 12, not when we were fighting for our lives."
"The timing may have not been a smart move, but…I'm very glad that you did."
"Still… I wished I had told you sooner," he sighed.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I think we have run full circle, you know. Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that we found ourselves here? In this cave?"
"I don't understand."
I sat up and propped my arm on the ground. "Fate brought us here. This…this cave…being hunted down by Gale. It's like fate was giving us another chance to do this right. To bring us here…in a place where it began for us…to your confession and my first inkling of my feelings for you."
"You think so?" I nodded my head.
"This time…I know we're going to make it. I don't know how I can explain it to you but when I woke up…I felt at peace. We're more in danger now than we have ever been but…this time, I'm not scared."
"You're not?"
"No, and do you know why?" Peeta shook his head.
"Because here…in this cave, we're stronger than ever. I know how I feel about you. My reason for survival is to love you and protect you, as you will do the same for me. And this time, I know who we're up against."
"But Katniss…we're up against your best friend."
"No, you're my best friend. The Gale I knew is long gone. He has been the moment he joined the rebellion," I explained. "He hurt you, Peeta because of me and I can never forgive him for his participation in killing Prim."
"I'm sorry that you lost your best friend."
"Let me finish…because if I don't I'll never be able to say this again," I stated. He sat up and kissed my forehead.
"I lost Prim because of him. That is one thing I will never get over. I thought losing her was the worse thing he has ever done to me, but I was wrong. What he did to you…torturing you because I chose you, I can never ever forgive him. If anything happened to you, I will never recover."
"You're stronger than you think, Katniss," he complimented me. I loved that he had so much confidence in me but he was wrong.
"I'm not. You told me once that you admired me for my strength and my courage. And you're right. Losing Prim almost killed me and I learned to move on without her, but if I lost you, Peeta. There's no turning back. I won't recover from losing you." I held his hand onto my chest hoping he could feel my heartbeat. "You're my strength and my reason to find goodness in the world and to continue living. I strive to see through your eyes. When I was with Gale, I saw nothing but bitterness and resentment…so much anger. I could never love anyone with lived with such hatred and vindictiveness inside him."
"I'm still sorry that you lost your friendship with him. He meant something to you."
"He did. Past tense." I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes. "Being back in this cave gave me the closure I needed. We're starting over, Peeta. I'm not confused, scared and angry anymore."
"I'm glad you found that here. Even if you're ex-best friend is trying to kill us," he teased me.
"So you thought about our time in the cave from our first arena?"
"Yes, I thought about it a lot. I ashamed to admit that my daydreams of our time together weren't..."
"Weren't what?"
"Purely innocent…there you were the girl of my dreams taking care of me. It was a dream come true. You can't imagine the dirty thoughts I had…fantasizing about what you looked like underneath your clothes…what you would taste like when I took you with my mouth."
I inhaled in lust as I was surprised and turned on by his confession. "You had sex dreams while we were in the cave?"
"I was a sixteen year old teenager, Katniss," he scoffed. "You starred in every sex dream I ever had when I first started having them." I blushed at his admission. However, it was not the time or place to act upon my raging libido no matter how much I wanted it. Peeta agreed as well.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" he asked as he caressed the end of my braid. It was gestures like touching my hair that sent tinkles down my spin. The look he had in his eyes whenever I caught him staring at me is another example that sent me blushing from head to toe. It felt good to loved and adored. "I think it's time that I invested myself a watch. I can't tell if it's early morning or close to noon time." We held onto each other for a while, relishing the closeness and comfort our arms provided. It was as if the world stood still with no one hunting us down or our past haunting us.
Breakfast was cheese bun and a cup of tea for Peeta and coffee for me. As we prepared to leave our temporary sanctuary, I spied on my boyfriend. He extinguished the fire and looked around to make sure we didn't leave anything behind. Peeta was preoccupied that when I addressed him it took me a few seconds to catch his attention. "Peeta?"
"Huh, what? Did you say something?"
"Peeta, I was asking if you're ready to leave?"
"Yeah…um…let me make sure we didn't leave anything behind," he answered back. He was distracted all morning. His behavior worried me.
After two hours of walking and scrounging around for berries and game, I was able to snare a rabbit along the way. Peeta turned his eyes as I trapped the creature and broke its' neck. He winced as I tied my game onto my belt. For a few minutes he was quiet beside me eyeing the rabbit. He looked sick and pale. "Are you okay?" He nodded his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that….with you watching me." He grimaced. I looked into his eyes for signs of being triggered.
"No, we need to eat and I'm acting like some big baby––" He looked away feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
"Hey, you're not a hunter, Peeta. It's expected for you to be squeamish." I reached out and grabbed his hand. "I hunt, you bake. It works out great between us." My Boy with the Bread was not a hunter. He killed to protect those he loved. I loved him because of his kind heart and generous nature. Hunting was something out of necessity for me. I haven't picked up my bow since saving Tamryn from the wild dogs that passed the Victor's Village months ago. I haven't touched it since. Now, I wished I had it with me.
"So you don't think that I'm…some sissy boy that can't kill for my dinner?" he asked. His words reminded me of Gale spewing his vitriol and disgust of choosing Peeta over him. That I chose a baker and not a hunter like myself.
"Peeta, I don't ever want you to do something or be someone that you're not." I stopped and stood in front of him. Was this because of Gale, my former hunting partner? "Peeta, I don't need a hunting partner like 'him'…I need a life partner, someone like you who puts me first and takes care of me."
He wasn't convinced. I can see it in his eyes doubting that I would chose him. "I didn't choose you because of what you could do, what job you have. Though you making my favorite Cheese Buns is an incentive," I teased him as I placed a hand on top of his heart.
"I chose you because of what's underneath this." I caressed his chest. "I chose your heart." He smiled, that big goofy smile that ran from ear to ear causing his eyes to twinkle. My boyfriend is a sap. "And the sex is pretty awesome. Mind-blowing too if I may add." He was a perfect lover for me. Peeta was gentle and sweet at times as he drove me to distraction begging him to make me cum, but he also wild and possessive taking me so hard that I would yell out his name and experience the hardest and longest orgasms. They were times I almost blacked out from sheer pleasure.
Peeta blushed. It was adorable watching his face and ears turned pink. As inexperienced as we were when we started our physical relationship, what we already shared with each other was nothing short of mind blowing and earth shattering. However, I knew there were things we still have yet to learn about each other. I look forward to making those discoveries with Peeta.
We walked for another two hours. After our short conversation Peeta was uneasy for some reason, as he was startled with each noise or sound coming from the forest. He was also quiet walking behind me taking tentative steps as we passed each mile. At times, he lagged behind as I stopped and waited for him to catch up to me.
"Peeta, are you okay?" He kept walking as if he didn't hear me. "Peeta?" I grabbed his elbow.
"Do you hear that?" He looked above him. By the position of the sun, it was past noon.
"What? I don't hear anything?" I stopped and listened. We stayed in proximity to the railroad tracks hoping that it would lead us to a town or settlement. Then from behind us I heard a noise that sounded like a howl of some kind of animal that I didn't recognize.
"What the hell was that?"
"You don't remember?" Peeta said his face was etched with worry and fear.
"Remember what?"
"When we were in the first games…" Peeta gulped several times as if he was having a hard time speaking. "Don't you remember before Cato found us––" Again, the noise startled us. It sounded closer this time. "Katniss?" Peeta touched my arm and looked past my shoulder. I turned my head and looked back.
"Oh shit," I whispered. Ten yards behind us was a mutt dog from the arena. It was large with his teeth glistening with blood. I could never forget that animal since it starred in my nightmares when I first came back from the arena. It was transfixed on us; it's eyes blood red. Peeta reached behind him and pulled out a long knife from his backpack. I reached into my mine and pulled out the same. He took a step forward and placed me behind him using himself as a shield.
"Walk back slowly. Don't make any sudden moves," he instructed me. My heart was in my throat as sweat dripped from my forehead. I felt the wind passed us cooling my sweaty skin. The only sound I heard was Peeta's soft voice and the low growl emitting from the mutt dog. Instinctively I grabbed Peeta's hand. "When I tell you to run, just run, okay? I'll be right behind you."
"Peeta––"
"Just do as I say and run," he said staring down the mutt. "Hey, boy." He reached down and picked up a long branch. "Want to play fetch?" Peeta reached back and yanked the rabbit from my waist. He speared the rabbit like a skewer on to the branch. "You look…kinda hungry. You're a good boy. Just stay where you are." He waved the rabbit in front of him. "Ready to play fetch with the rabbit? He looks yummy, right?" Peeta was calm as he spoke. "Get ready to run, Katniss."
I took a step back and turned my head. The forest was clear behind me. "One, two, three, run Katniss." Peeta flung the stick ten yards to the left of the mutt dog distracting it. The mutt took the bait and ran after the stick. I grabbed Peeta's hand and ran. My legs pounded on the ground. Peeta stumbled but righted himself keeping up with my pace. An ear-piercing howl echoed behind us. We ran through the forest with no direction in mind but hoping that we gained some distance from the mutt dog. This felt like the arena all over again. We ran for at least 5 minutes but it felt like an hour.
Suddenly, it appeared in front of us on its four legs ready to bounce with blood on its' teeth. I gasped in horror. We didn't have anything to defend ourselves but with our knives in our hands. Peeta, my Boy with the Bread stood in front of me pushing me back.
"Peeta, what are you doing?" I said through clenched teeth. He was prepared to sacrifice himself, again.
"Run, Katniss." He waved his knife at the mutt dog.
"No!" I exclaimed. He was out of his fucking mind if he thought I would leave him. The mutt dog looked about a good 100 pounds heavier than Peeta. "I'm not leaving you."
"Go, damnit."
"I said no," I fired back at him as I clutched onto the back of his shirt. If this was the end, I wanted to be with Peeta. I couldn't leave him again.
"I love you, Katniss," he said looking straight at the mutt dog. Before I could respond, the dog leaped towards us. Peeta pushed me aside as it land right on top of him.
"Peeta," I screamed. The dog yelped loud. I couldn't see him as the dog straddled Peeta covering his whole body. I could only see his legs jutting out from beneath the dog. It was snapping his mouth downward while Peeta's left hand was holding his head away from his jaws. "Peeta!" I ran towards them and lunged my knife into its back. It yelled out another painful howl. The mutt then snapped around and butted its' head flinging me backwards. I landed on my back.
The knife was lodged so deep I didn't' have enough time to pull it out of its' back. I was defenseless as it got off of Peeta and prowled towards me. It growled with anger, snarling with bloody teeth.
With what energy I had left, I crawled backwards waiting for it to lunge towards me. Then, Peeta appeared from behind it straddling its' back and wrapping his other around the hairy neck. The momentum caused it to land on its' knees in surprise. The next second, Peeta's arm arced and planted the knife onto the neck. As it lodged deeper into its' throat, the mutt dog made a sickening guttural sound. The mutt however, was not done. Peeta held onto it as it tried to buck him of his back. With his strong grip still wrapped around the dog's thick neck, he continued to stab it once, twice. I lost count as he jabbed it several more times.
The mutt dog finally went down onto its' side bringing Peeta with it. It yelped loud in pain. Then, Peeta held on straddling the dog until with one final swing, he lunged his knife again into the ribs. "Stay down, damnit," he screamed.
I didn't know if the dog was dead. All I knew was that Peeta was alive. "Peeta," I screamed as I sat next to him checking to see if got hurt or sustained any injuries while he fought with the dog. "Oh my God, are you okay? Did it bite you?" I felt around his chest, arms, neck and head. Tears ran down my face, as I couldn't control the feelings of fear, anger, relief and love for him. I cradled his face onto my chest, holding onto him. "Oh God, oh God, oh God. Don't ever do that again."
"Katniss, we're okay." His voice was soft and strained, but it as music to my ears.
"Because of you. You killed it, Peeta. I was so scared," I whispered in his ear. I had flashes of my future, a life without Peeta had he died today. It was empty and desolate. I was certain that I would not survive losing him, again.
"I love you, damnit," I said as I crushed my mouth to his quivering lips. He breathed life into me. Hunger, lust, joy and every happy emotion filled me. After a few minutes of us making out in the middle of the forest with a dead mutt dog next to us, I placed my forehead against his sweaty one.
"Katniss?"
"Peeta?" I peppered his sweaty, grimy face with sloppy kisses.
"When we get back to 12, I want to get a dog," he requested. I smiled and laughed from relief and joy. 'What the fuck.'
"Why would you want––"
"I don't want this experience…I don't want it to haunt me. I love dogs and this…if I don't get over it. I'll never be able to be near one ever again." I kissed him again.
"My brave Peeta," I complimented him. "You can have any fucking dog you want." He had just endured one of the most terrifying and traumatic events in his life and he wanted to get a dog? However, our moment of celebration and joy was short-lived as several howls echoed in the air. What made me think that this mutt dog only existed? They traveled in packs but hunted alone.
"We need to get out of here?" I stood up and shook dirt and debris off my clothes.
"Katniss, I can't…I'm pinned down," he said looking up to me. I looked down at dog. He was literally lying on top of Peeta's legs. "He's too heavy to move."
"Shit," I cursed to myself. I knelt behind Peeta and looped my arms from underneath his armpits clasping my hands together on his upper chest. He couldn't move, not even an inch. "Can you reach down and see if you can slip off your leg?"
He reached underneath the furry haired dog. Another howl echoed into the air. "I can't reach it without cutting my pants off me." Maybe in another time, I would find this situation hilarious as I reached over and unbuckled his belt. "Katniss? What are you doing?"
"Lift up," I instructed him as I pulled his pants down as far as it could go. Once the shell of his prosthetic leg was revealed I unlatched his fake leg. Peeta squirmed and pulled his left leg from the dog leaving his right leg trapped. He remained on the ground wearing his black boxer short. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of sorrow, guilt and love for him as he sat on the ground massaging his left stump. As for me, I reached from behind him, looped my arms around his chest and pulled. I was able to pull Peeta free leaving his prosthetic leg underneath the dog.
"I can't go anywhere without my leg, Katniss." He tried to stand on his right leg.
"Don't move, Peeta. I don't want you to fall," I berated him. But being strong will and stubborn like me he stood up balancing on his good leg. I walked over to him and grabbed him around the waist. In return he wrapped his arms around my waist for balance. I could feel his heart beating against my chest. For a moment, I savored the comfort and love I felt radiating from him as I lay my head on his shoulder. He was alive and that was all that matter for now.
Another howl startled us from our moment of peace. "I need my leg, Katniss." He reminded me. There was no way we could go further without it. I hunched down onto the ground and pulled his pants over his leg. While was I redressing him, Peeta looked around us. "Help me over to the dog."
I helped him hopped over to the fallen animal. He knelt beside it from behind its' back. For a few seconds he stared at the dog. "Take out your water canteen," he said a minute later. I reached back into my pack and handed it to him. "No." He shook his head as he reached for his own. "Water the ground near his belly on the other side."
"What?" I walked the opposite side of the dog.
"He's too heavy. We need to slide his body off my fake leg." I stared at him dumbfounded. "We need to create mud, something slippery underneath him." I looked at the ground and found leaves, plants and dirt around me. I didn't argue since I couldn't think of anything else. By the time my canteen was empty, we created of a pool of mud around the dog. "On the count of three, pull his leg towards you while I push from here."
"One, two, three." He pushed while I pulled. Again and again we worked until his leg was no longer buried from underneath it.
Peeta quickly lifted his pant leg and fasten his fake leg onto his stump. When he stood up, I kissed him. "You're a genius."
"No, just a baker," he returned.
"You're my baker." I grabbed his hand.
Adrenaline and fear fueled us as we ran deeper into the forest. We didn't want to encounter another mutt dog or worse, its' pack looking for him. Now our odds were stacked with Gale hunting us down, and a pack of mutt dogs roaming in the forest.
We had decided to avoid the train tracks. Peeta didn't want innocent bystanders getting hurt if Gale caught us trying to hail the train down to rescue us. We didn't want another mishap like Bron who was shot down in a hovercraft.
"We're lost, I'm sick and tired of being hunted down and feeling defenseless," Peeta stated once we gained enough distance from the mutt dog. "I want this to be over." He grabbed me around the waist surprising me.
He held me tight in his arms. "I'm not going to lose you to anyone or anything." The excitement, fear and the adrenaline wore off leaving us exhausted. I nodded my head in agreement as we took a moment of quiet and rest.
Peeta and I survived two hunger games, a rebellion, his hijacking and my losing Prim. Nothing, not even Gale's obsession over us could ever tear us apart. I won't lose Peeta again; I won't run and hide anymore. I am a hunter and Peeta is a fighter. As long as Peeta is by my side, we too will survive this.
For safety, I made Peeta climbed up a tree for a short break. I didn't want to encounter another mutt dog while we ate our lunch. Peeta was good at rationing the cheese buns but since this was our second day, we were running out. He broke off one bun in half and shared his water canteen since I emptied mine.
He held my right hand with his left while I wolfed down the cheese bun. "We need to get more food for dinner," I told him.
"Let wait for an hour," he suggested as he reached into his pack and handed an apple to me. "This should hold us up until dinner."
Suddenly, a sound of animals running surrounded us. "Peeta?" It was loud and close by. Below a pack of mutt dogs ran past us. I counted five large adult dogs. "Shit."
"It's a good things we're up here," Peeta exclaimed, relief evident on his face. I nodded my head speechless as another dog appeared below us. It was limping as it ran past our tree. On its' left back leg was a metallic ring attached to it foot. The devise looked familiar.
"What's on its' leg?" Peeta wondered as I looked down. The dog limped away far from us when suddenly it exploded.
"Peeta, it was a metallic trap rigged with explosives," I answered him.
"Oh my God, they're probably placed all over the forest. We've been walking around and I never notice them?"
I was about to tell Peeta it was time to move on when I gasped in shock and horror as suddenly, Gale appeared. He was looking on the ground where the dog exploded. I held me breath and looked at Peeta. His eyes were wide like saucers as he watched Gale walked around the ground below us.
A mutt dog emerged ten yard in front of him. It was growling and baring its' teeth at Gale. Quietly, he reached behind him and pulled out a compound bow from his backpack. Then, he pulled out a long thick arrow from his quiver. The arrow had large heavy tip. For a second he aimed at the mutt then fired. The arrow lodge onto the dog's neck then exploded.
"Oh, fuck," Peeta whispered next to me.
Gale waited and stood around for a few seconds. Then, he headed east. I exhaled the breath I've been holding. "Katniss? What do you want to do?"
"We stay up here. We're safe for now," I said to Peeta as I grabbed his hand for comfort. Half an hour later, we climbed down off the tree hoping that both the dogs and Gale was far away from us. With some advantage of our side, I suggested to Peeta that we follow Gale. Without a single word or argument, he agreed.
"As long as we stick together, I'll follow you anywhere," he said. His faith in me was encouraging. "This is what we do, we protect each other, real or not real?"
"Real, Peeta," I said back to him as I clasped his hand into mine. "Real."
AN: Thank you for reading this chapter and for sticking around, especially for those who had alerted, favored or reviewed my story. Have great week.
