Chapter 55 – Escape and Reprieve
AN: Thank you to all the readers who alerted, favored and reviewed the last chapter [mar071, B Dizzy, LACR, kelmikmag, Twink21, Aqua Rules, baldcoder, , and guest] Your comments are always appreciated and welcomed. This chapter contains Maddy and Katniss POVs and is rated M for sex between two main characters. The Hunger Games belong to Suzanne Collins. Any mistakes found are mine.
Maddy POV ––
The smell of smoke and burnt wood tickled my nose. 'Shit, shit,' my mind repeated. Even a day later the forest fire smoke permeated the air. Shane and I had thought that we evaded the peacekeepers but by mid morning we were surrounded and handcuffed. We barely slept the night before as we both took turns taking watch. So we were exhausted by the time they caught up to us. There were five peacekeepers against two. The odds were not in our favor.
"Keep walking," the peacekeeper leader directed at us. Shane walked beside me, our hands bound in front and our legs shackled as well. He placed himself between me and a Capitol soldier. He too noticed the soldier giving me a lecherous look that made my skin crawl. He was obvious about it that Shane would step between us whenever he tried to approach me. One thing about Shane, we have been in odds with each other, angry with me for my treatment of him but he would protect me, as I would do the same for him. I tripped and fell. Shane immediately was at my feet.
"You know if you expect us to walk any further you need to remove the cuffs on our legs," Shane elaborated as he helped picked me off the ground. "It's not like we're going to try to escape. There are five of you with guns and two of us."
"Shut up," the leader shouted back. "Or I stuff your mouth with my shirt."
"Are you that scared of us escaping that you don't trust your men to guard us," Shane taunted. "Listen, we're your prisoners, just remove the shackles on our legs. We can barely keep up with your pace."
The head peacekeeper stared Shane down. "He's right, sir," a soldier responded. "We could probably get to our destination faster if we removed the cuffs on their legs." All the men agreed.
"Remove their leg restraints," he complied with great reluctance. Unfortunately, it was the soldier who had been eyeing me all day that walked toward me. He knelt down and removed the bindings but as he stood up, he stood up so close that I felt his breath on my face. Had I not leaned back his lips would have contacted my face.
Shane quickly responded as he pushed the soldier back. "Hey, stay away from her," he growled. The soldier smiled and licked his lips as he kept his eyes on me.
"No need to be so violent, kid," he leered. "You should learn to share with your toys––"
"Shut up, asshole," Shane interject. "She is not a toy to be shared with."
"Quite messing around, Lee," his captain ordered him. "Remove his shackles and don't cause any trouble."
"Yes, sir," Lee answered back with a mock salute and released Shane. We both sighed in relief.
The shackles on my wrists bit into my skin. Underneath I could see a bluish color bruise forming. I could imagine how my ankles looked since the bindings were tight on my legs. I'm scared and angry. Before we were caught, the peacekeepers and their drones chased after Shane and me for four miles. In mid run Shane shot a drone as it persistently chased after us but our chance to escape was futile. We were surrounded long before we knew it. I sighed as I hoped that Peeta and Katniss got away when they saw the forest on fire.
I felt completely despondent. Our job was to ensure Peeta and Katniss's safety and now they are alone to fend for themselves. I hope that Mockingjay finds them before the peacekeepers do.
Shane sat next to me; his face was grim and eyes forward. He hadn't spoken a word nor has he looked at me, not that we had any opportunity to. I love the sound of his voice, the low timber that was both smooth and sexy. Was it only yesterday that he held me in his arms as we slept? I didn't know what was going to happen to us and why we were not moving. Maybe they were waiting for a transport to take us to…I shuddered the thought––the Capitol and President Snow.
I turned my head to look at Shane his eyes meeting mine for the first time in hours. Then I remembered the night he held me up in a tree, just a day ago.
Flashback ––
Once we climbed up tree. Shane looked at Peeta and Katniss making sure they were secure and safe for the night. I waited for him like I have been for months now. Surely, I made horrible and unforgiveable mistakes with Shane, but as soldiers we had to work together and keep our 'shit' separate from our professional life. But I wasn't giving up. No matter how long it took because he was worth it. He was no longer that little boy that looked up to me, but a man I wanted in my life not just a friend. I wanted more and I was willing to wait. When he was shot I thought I lost him forever. It was a feeling I never wanted to experience again.
He loved me through all my bullshit. Maybe he'll move on but as long as he was single I wasn't going to let him go. A few minutes later he was tying rope around the tree. "That looks complicated," I observed as he tied an intricate knot I've never seen before.
"I watched Finnick O'Dair once," Shane started. "He had one of those 'How To' programs." Finnick was our celebrity Victor from the 65
th Hunger Games. He was one of youngest to win at the age of 14. He was handsome and charming––to charming for my taste as he thought he was god's gift to women. Everyone––men and women in District 4 loved him. I had met him once as he visited my family's restaurant and market. With his bronze hair, perfect tan and green eyes, he mesmerized everyone with his charm and effervescent personality. He was okay, I guess for a victor. I was attracted to quiet men that had an inner strength about them. That was the one quality I admired in Shane.
There were rumors that Finnick, the Capitol darling was in love with one of our other victor, Annie Cresta, but it was difficult to see sexy O'Dair with mentally unstable Cresta. Two victors falling in love, it was make great love story for the Capitol just like the Star Crossed Lovers of District 12. It made sense now, why Mockingjay chose Peeta in his video. He was his daughter's boyfriend who was unjustly accused and punished for a crime he didn't commit. What better message to use in his propo; an incident close to his heart?
Once Shane was happy with his knot he secured us to the tree, with him leaning back and me in front of him. This proximity––this is the closest we have been together physically. For Shane had kept me at arms length physically and emotionally for months. He had no choice now. I tried not to smile triumphantly as he wrapped both around my waist with me cradled between his legs. I missed this; I missed him holding me wrapped around his long muscular arms. Did he feel the heat between us? The attraction that sizzled between when we were within each other's proximity––the attraction that I more than once denied as I chose Seamus over him.
My biggest concern was our age difference. Four years made a difference at 16 and 20, but now two years later. It didn't make a difference to me. Within the two years, Shane grew tall and muscular. His dark brown hair no longer flopped over his eyes as he had worn it clean and short––a five o clock shadow painted on his chiseled jaw that made him appear sexy and desirable. I missed the two dimples on his face whenever he smiled. As of late, Shane hardly ever smiled. The only few times he did was with Prim.
Shane grunted behind me. "Oh, Shane. I'm sorry," I gasped remembering his injury as I pushed forward.
"I'm okay, Maddy," he persisted.
"But I'm pressing on your injury. You're still healing and––" I admonished myself when suddenly I felt his…length on the small of my back. "Oh!"
He had his eyes closed and his teeth clenched. "Just don't move so much, okay?" Shane was embarrassed. I bit both my upper and lower lips as I was overcome with surprise and…joy. Shane was still clearly attracted to me if his body's reaction was any indication of our close proximity.
"Shane?" I called out to him, soft and low.
"Don't,' he wheezed between his teeth. "Just don't say anything." I turned my back and looked forward wondering what I could say to ease his mind and his discomfort.
"Don't be…embarrassed. It's not like we've never…that I never seen you like this." I thought about the last time we were together how he made love to me against––
"Just stop," he begged.
"Okay," I returned not wanting to aggravate or anger him. I lay back onto his chest. He was rigid against me. "I know…that you don't want to talk about it." I stopped and waited for him to get comfortable and calm down. "It is probably the most inappropriate time but I…you've been avoiding me and refusing to talk to me."
"There is nothing we need to talk about," he countered. Shane didn't look angry but sad. It broke my heart seeing like this and I knew I was the cause.
"You may not want to talk, but I do," I pressed. "I need to. And you can't run away or stop me. So you're going to listen." I grabbed his arms and wrapped them around me. He was slack and unresponsive but I held on tight. "Prim told me about her sister and Peeta. How their relationship started…how Katniss denied and broke his heart twice. Or more like several times but he persisted to love her even when she didn't. Or not admit that she cared about him."
Shane sighed. He was tired and worn out. The past few months had been stressful and me acting like some jealous girlfriend didn't help. A friendship grew between him and Prim––like brother and sister, but couldn't see it. I was not his to be jealous over his newfound friendship with Prim Everdeen. But emotions like jealous made people irrational.
"I know I've said it before…that I was sorry for hurting you." He moved and groaned in displeasure and irritation. "No, no more evasion," I insisted. "Those times you forgave me…it hurt because even when you did forgive I know you never forgot and my hurting you again…I'm not proud of what I did with Seamus knowing how you felt about me but…"
Do I really tell him my fear and the secret I held for a long time? Would he believe me or would he think I'm just desperate and fickle? "The thing is that there is something I should tell you…something I'm not proud of and should have told you. I hid behind my insecurity and––"
"Stop, Maddy," he choked. "We really don't need to do this now––"
"We do––I do," I determined. "Just please let me explain." I felt him nod and leaned back. "The truth is…I was ashamed of how horribly I behaved and used the excuse of our age difference, but the truth is was that…I was attracted to you. And have been since you turned 15."
I remembered that moment when I no longer thought of him as the little boy that I babysat. He returned from fishing trip one summer as he had been gone for nearly three months. He walked off the boat with his skin golden tan, his hair longer than usual and he had grown six inches. He left a young boy and came back a man. I remembered how my heart skipped a beat when he hugged me hello, feeling all the muscles on his chest, stomach and arms.
"You came back that one summer different. I couldn't reconcile the boy who left to the man who came home." There was silence between us. I waited for him to respond and what he said next blew me away.
"I almost died that summer," he confessed.
"What?" I gasped in shock and horror. "What do you mean you almost died? You never said––" He shrugged his shoulders.
"It was a week after we left. We caught a storm that nearly toppled the boat and I was thrown off. I hit my head and I nearly drowned if it weren't for the net that I got tangled with. The guys hauled me in and I was unconscious."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was no big deal. I was going to tell you but you announced your engagement to Shane that summer. What was the point? It wasn't as if we were friends. You barely acknowledged my existence outside the social settings."
It was true, I was so happy to finally get a commitment from Seamus and I all but ignored him afterwards. "Anyway, even though I had gotten engaged you were always on my mind. I mean, for the better part of my life all I wanted was Seamus and no one else." I knew this part would hurt Shane but I had to continue. "And you were four years younger than me…so it felt wrong to have a crush on you. Like I was being untrue and unfaithful to Seamus."
"I was devastated that day. I was happy for you but…" I nodded my head completely understanding him. "So I tried to move on and get over you. Then…"
"You turned 17 and I…" I'm not proud of what I did with Shane. It was only until later when I looked at the pain I caused that made me realize and admitted my attraction to him. "I know that it's horrible of me to have done what I did to you. But, there was something about you. Something I felt and denied because…I was with Seamus. It's no excuse but I really fought this pull I had for you. I mean you were 15, 16 and I was having…"
"What?" Shane asked his curiosity peaked. I turned my head and noticed that Peeta and Katniss were both relaxed and happy. She looked peaceful and secure in his arms. She felt safe with Peeta. I wanted that with Shane. I swallowed my pride and embarrassment.
"I had dreams about you…dreams I shouldn't have when I was already committed to another man."
"Oh?" That's all Shane had to say. I waited for a moment for him to continue or clarify. 'Say something.'
"Oh?" I repeated. "I just admitted to having sex dreams about you and all you can say is 'oh?' "
"I've been having dreams about you since I turned 13," he confessed. "I may not have been attracted to you like Peeta was with Katniss, but…I still care about you even when you…"
"I really am very sorry, Shane," I professed. "I was callous and treated you abominably. I was angry with Seamus and I used you. You didn't deserve my treatment of you when my anger was directed at him. I was selfish and cruel. I wish I could take it all back and…handled it better. Made better decisions that didn't hurt you in the end."
"It's all water under the bridge," he said. "I'm not going to rehash this over again with you. It's done."
"Do you think…think you can forgive me––?"
"I already have…I had to."
"No, what is mean is do you think you can forgive me enough to try to see if we can work out?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "When I think of how I've been infatuated and attracted to you since I was 12, and you admitted that you wanted Seamus for a long time. I don't think you're really over him. You and he also have a connection that keeps bringing you back to together despite––"
"No, Shane," I interjected. "He was my first love and I admit that…but he ended up being a person I made up in my head, some dream fantasy guy overlooking his faults and flaws, but I'm finally over him. He's not the man I thought he was."
"Like the way you turned out to be something I also created in my head." I felt a pain in my chest, like as if he stabbed me with a knife. My feelings for Seamus were dead and over. I could never go back to him. If Shane felt the same, then he too was truly over me as well. His admission crushed me, but I had to ask one question
"Shane, I understand that so much has happened between us. Things I can't take back, but you have always been truthful and honest with me," I conceded. "I'm going to ask you a question, and I'll accept your answer."
"Okay, what?" he huffed, as he blew air through his mouth, the warm draft hitting my neck.
"Do you still…how do you feel about me?" I closed my eyes. His response would hurt and I would accept it.
"Honestly, I have never met anyone who confuses, saddens, angers and hurts so much," he remarked. "But at the same time, you're the only person, woman who makes me feel alive, happy and…I still want you. I shouldn't because you've hurt…intentionally. But I'm an idiot. All my friends and family tell me so." He dropped his head on my shoulder. "And I hate you for hurting me but…I still love you. I still do." He rocked back and forth. "And I would be stupid to think of having any future with you knowing your relationship with Seamus. I don't trust you."
His comment stung but at the same time, I had hope. He still loved me even as he rejected me. "I not only broke your heart but broke your trust in me as a friend and potential lover. I know that." It was good thing I was facing forward. If I looked into eyes, broken and in pain, I wouldn't have the nerve to say the next words.
"I have feelings for you, deep and true. I know you don't believe me but if you give me a chance. Not now but in the near future. We can start over as friends. That is all I ask now because I know it's all you can take." I wanted more, something concrete to hold onto that he would still love me as I…court him. I would be patient as he was patient with me all those years. "Can we start over?"
He shook his head, "No, there is not point in starting over because we had no beginning to begin with." He was right. We never really started off as friends but family acquaintances. But I was persistent and not going to give up.
"I need you in my life, Shane," I emphasized. "I want you, point of fact. I'm not going to lie about how I feel about you. I'll…take friendship over losing you." I was close to begging now. I wanted him and I would do anything knowing that he still loved me but was afraid to take a chance of me hurting him again.
"Maddy," he sighed as if he was tired. We were physically tired but emotionally I was willing to fight for him.
"Be my friend and I'll prove to you…that if you give 'us' time to really get to know each other. We might…" I'm teary eyed and exhausted, so close to tears.
"Hey, don't…don't cry. Please, I can't handle it when you…" I wasn't trying to emotionally black mail him. I wasn't. "Okay, okay. I don't want to lose you too, Maddy. But you have to give me time. Can you give me that?"
"Yes, yes. I can. If it means that you will give us a chance." He squeezed my hands in reply. For the first time in months I felt happy and relieved. That night I slept with the comfort of knowing that he hadn't given up on me completely. We had time.
End of Flashback ––
'We had time,' I told myself. 'Or so I thought.' I gritted my teeth, as my bladder needed relief. "Excuse me," I said. "I need to relieve myself."
The all-male peacekeepers looked at each other. Lee smirked as he stepped forward. "I'll take you to 'relieve' yourself." I didn't like the look on his face neither did Shane.
"Hey, you're not going anywhere with her,' he said as he stood up.
"What are you going to do about it with your hands shackled?" the slimy soldier replied. "Red needs to take a leak and I volunteer." The soldiers cackled at his joke.
"You're a big man with all your buddies and I'm cuffed," he challenged. "At least have some decency and let 'Maddy' have some privacy."
"You and Maddy need to be guarded and watched at all times," Peacekeeper Lee stated.
"Well, you're not going to 'watch' her while she does her business. And while she also handcuffed," Shane stated. "I'll take her and you can guard us at a proper distance."
"And why should you get to go with her?" the soldier sneered.
"Because I happen to be her boyfriend," he returned. I gasped inwardly. He was claiming me for the sake of not having some pervert stand guard. "So I am not going to let you near her."
The peacekeeper grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. He proceeded to drag me into the woods as the others watched. I pulled back to resist but he was too strong. "Let go of me," I persisted. This could not be happening.
"I'll help our relieve yourself since your hands are tied and all and no one is going to stop––" Before the peacekeeper could finish his sentence Shane ran towards him like a ram and knocked him off his feet.
"Shane!" I cried out in despair. He was still recovering from his injury. "Stop." Instead of the men stopping the fight, they rallied around them.
"Beat the shit of him, Lee," a peacekeeper shouted.
"I bet 5 gold coins that rebel boy beats Lee," another soldier shouted in glee.
"10 pieces, he loses," a stout peacekeeper countered his bet. The peacekeepers were nothing but pigs in uniform having no regard for decency or honor. Everything was a competition. "This is just as good as the arena games."
"May the odds be in your favor, rebel boy," another soldier joked at Shane's expense.
Shane managed to avoid Lee's fists as he swayed left and right. He was quick on his feet, but I could tell he was tiring. Peacekeeper Lee struggled to land a hit on Shane as the soldier was cumbersome. It was obvious the peacekeeper lacked hand-to-hand combat as he only knew how to shoot people with a rifle. Though Shane was a sharp shooter, he trained to fight as he had months of combat training before I arrived. I flinched when Peacekeeper Lee got the upper hand and punched Shane in the stomach. The hit only fazed Shane for a second as he recovered quickly and furiously. As soldier tried to punch Shane again, he grabbed him with both hand and with the momentum Shane threw him over his shoulder. Lee landed on his back with a loud crunch.
"Ouch, that gotta hurt."
"Oww…who knew rebel boy can fight," a soldier guffawed.
"Come on, Lee. End this already!" To my dismay, the fight continued between Shane and Peacekeeper Lee.
A few minutes later, the odds were in our favor. "All of you drop your weapons or I will break his neck," Shane threatened as he wrapped his cuffed arms around Lee's neck. My heart beat hard and fast in my chest. "Release Maddy first," he ordered. No one moved for a few seconds. Shane tightened his arms. "I'm going to count to three and if no one releases Maddy I will squeeze––"
"Do as he says," Lee wheezed his fingers tried to pry Shane's arm from around his neck. "Do it, now!" They dropped their weapons on the ground.
A soldier uncuffed me. I quickly picked up all their rifles and two back packs.
"Take off all your communication gear and transmitters." Equipment dropped on the ground in a neat pile. "Get two sets, Maddy." I packed the receivers and mics into a backpack.
"Now everyone is going to stay still. We're leaving and taking 'asshole' with us." 'What, why?' He stepped back. "And don't follow us. Maddy wouldn't give you a second thought and shoot you dead." I followed Shane and asshole stepping back. "We'll let him go at a safe distance. And in the meantime, start walking. Don't follow us."
"You're not going to get away with this?" the commanding officer spat. "You let him go right now."
"Oh, why? You guys were willing to let asshole…violate Maddy without a second thought," Shane said with fury.
"I was just having some fun," Lee wheezed as he struggled to breath.
"I should kill you right here, right now," Shane threatened as his arms tightened around Lee's neck. His face was red as sweat beaded on his forehead. "You are never going to touch Maddy, I'll kill you first."
"You won't get away with this, you're surrounded," the commanding officers repeated.
"Oh, really. Seeing that we have all your guns. I'd say we are getting away with this," I muttered in relief. "Get going." For emphasis I fired at their feet startling them. They walked off and once they were out of our sight I turned to Shane.
"Hand the keys to asshole," he instructed. Lee freed him but Shane still had his arm around his neck. Shane was furious at the soldier. I had never seen such fury in his eyes and demeanor. "You and I have unfinished business." He pushed Lee forward. Shane landed on punch on his Lee's face the moment he turned around. "Now the odds are even." Next, he pulled his hand back and slammed his fist into his stomach. Shane didn't give Lee any time to recover as his left hand swung an upper cut to the jaw. The force was so strong he lifted off the ground with both feet. Lee landed on the floor on his back with his eyes closed. But Shane didn't stop as he straddled the man and punched again and again.
"Shane, stop, stop," I shouted at him. A large vein protruded from Shane's temple, his face red from exertion. "Please stop." Lee groaned, his face a bloody mess. "Please."
My plea broke his furious rage as tears brimmed my eyes. "Don't…I'm okay. He didn't…" Shane quickly stood up and wrapped his strong muscular arms around me rocking us side to side. I melted into his form remember how he…
"Maddy, Maddy!" He sounded angry and scared. We stayed like that for a few minutes then he let me go. "Come on, let's go," he said in an abrupt manner as he picked up the rifles and backpacks. He aimed the rifle at Lee's inert form. I held my breath.
"Shane," I said his name as I placed a hand on his forearm. I didn't recognize this man in front of me because my Shane wasn't a killer. "Shane? Let's get out of here."
Once he had the presence of mind, he turned to look at the pile of equipment on the ground and fired setting them ablaze. We walked in furious pace to get out of the area. Drones flew above us as we dodged them. I tried to get Shane to give us a break but he shook his head. "No, we need to get away from this area."
"Shane, please just for a few minutes," I pleaded. My mind and body finally caught up to the stress and trauma. I was literally shaking as I looked at my hands before me. Everything happened so fast that both my mind and body tried to catch up. I thought of what could of happened to me had it not been for Shane.
"Sorry, sorry," Shane repeated as he hugged me close. His heart beat so hard I could feel it against my own. "I'm so sorry."
"What, why?" I was puzzled by his behavior.
"He…that asshole was going to…" My mind raced with the memory and remembered the feeling of panic and sheer terror of what Lee's had attempted. "They just stood there and would of let it happen. I know guys like Lee. He wasn't just going to watch you…"
"But it didn't happen and I'm okay. You saved me, you saved us," I emphasized.
"That was too close. We need to find Peeta and Katniss," he mentioned. Suddenly, a drone hovered above us. Shane lifted his rifle and aimed it.
"Wait, Shane. Look?" I pointed at the drone. It wasn't white like the Capital drone. It was quiet and not loud. "It's smaller than the Capitol ones we've seen." Shane kept his eye at the drone not trusting it. "Mockingjay?" The drone bounced up and down as if it answered me. "I think it's belong to Mockingjay."
"Can we trust it?" he asked me. "How do you know if it belongs to the rebels?"
"Well, it hasn't shot at us if you haven't noticed," I snickered. So I tested it again to convince Shane it wasn't a Capitol drone. "Mockingjay?" It shot upward then down edging closer to us. "Peeta and Katniss? You know where they are?" I expected it to bounce again but the front of the drone moved northward?
"What's it doing?" Shane asked. "You've seen Peeta and Katniss?" Again the face of the drone turned north. "But I thought we were supposed to had to District 3? District 3 is northeast." He turned to me. The drone shook its head back and forth. Then it flew towards the northern direction and flew back to us facing north. "Are you sure we can trust this thing?"
"We don't have a choice. And like I said, it hasn't shot at us. And it's a drone I've never seen before."
"I guess we head north." I didn't argue with him or the drone.
"It must have been following them but went back for us, why?" I asked. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Maybe it was heading towards us to help." Shane answered.
"We didn't need help because you saved us." Then it dawned on Shane why the drone came for us.
"Katniss and Peeta are in trouble," Shane guessed.
"We don't know that," I argued.
"Don't you think it would be helping Peeta and Katniss right now? They're in trouble that's why it's looked for us. Damnit, this is my fault. We shouldn't have split up, it was my idea."
"Don't do that," I berated him. "We don't know what would have happened. We got caught, remember; then they would have been caught too. And, Snow would have sent a hovercraft to retrieve and take us all back to the Capitol." I had visions of torture and abuse swimming in my head.
"You're right," he admitted. "Who knows what Snow had planned for us." I sighed. That is one thing about Shane; he listens. He listens to me, as I am his equal unlike Seamus who dictated and expected that his thoughts only mattered. Moments like this made me wished I listened to my heart. That even if Shane was younger and less experienced than me, he was kind and sweet never thinking that he was superior to me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded my head in gratitude and smiled. "Thank you for saving me."
"I…I wasn't going to let that…animal near you, Maddy," he promised. "No one should treat any woman like that." His thoughts grew dark as I watched Shane's facial expression changed from calm to fury. "If I ever see him again…"
"Come on, let's go," I said as I adjusted my backpack. "I think the drone is waiting for us." I pointed at our little metallic friend. "I think its getting impatient waiting for us to stop our break."
The drone hovered above us. "I wonder if it can hear what we're saying," Shane pondered. "To bad it can't tell us where Peeta and Katniss are."
"Well, it's telling us to follow it so that's what will do."
I extended my head out to Shane. He stared at for a second, just as I was about to pull it back from feeling rejected and humiliated. He grabbed my hand. My heart beat in my chest with a surge of joy and relief. It wasn't a declaration of any kind, but I knew that Shane was giving me…us a chance.
'Friends first,' I said in my head. Any romantic relationship developing between us was too soon. I'd wait forever for Shane because as I said––he was worth it. Before heading out I had one more thing to say, "Um…Shane? I need to do something before we head out."
"Yes, what is it, Maddy?" he asked.
"I really need to go the bathroom, bad," I flinched. Shane laughed hard and loud.
Katniss POV ––
Tears brimmed my eyes. My heart broke for Peeta because he had to kill Cato. Had he not, he would come after us until the both of us were dead. Peeta had no choice. I recalled the wretched feeling of helplessness and heartbreak as he screamed while he choked the life out of Cato. Peeta's eyes were closed, his nosed flared and cheeks red.
When Cato's body went slack, Peeta fell back on the ground.
"Peeta, Peeta?" I crawled towards him on my hands and knees. "Peeta," I sobbed, trying to contain my tears.
He opened his eyes and smiled. "Katniss?"
"It's okay, Peet. You're going to be okay," I comforted me.
"Congratulations…"
"What?" I asked, startled and confused.
"…to the victors of the 74th Hunger Games," he said as he as grabbed my hand like a lifeline. I held his hand tight and placed it on top of my chest. "Can we rest now, Katniss?"
"Not yet, baby. Not yet." I spoke in a calm manner. My dirty fingers caressed his grimy, oil slick hair.
Peeta didn't complained as I lifted him off the ground after a few minutes of rest. "Come on, sweetie," I coaxed him to his feet. "We need to get moving." I let me sleep for fifteen minutes before I awoke him. It was not safe where we were out in the open. I tried not to look at Cato's inert form as he lay not 5 yards away from us. If you just looked at him, he looked as though he was sleeping, but I knew better. He was dead.
"Okay, Katniss," Peeta responded. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Why are you sorry?" He looked dazed, like as if he confused. I wondered if the knock on his head was more serious than I realized.
"I'm not a very good…reliable hunting partner," he commented. 'Huh?' "You know like Gale." I frowned. "I don't know how to snare game or walk quiet so you can hunt. I make too much noise. You would…survive…you would have been better off with not having to have me as a burden ––"
"Peeta?" I gasped in surprise and horror. "How can you think that you would have been a burden to me?"
"I haven't been doing a good job in protecting you or taking care of you since we left the arena, not since the games started."
"What? Peeta, we're not in the games or the arena," I explained.
"We're not?" I sucked in a breath out of concern. Peeta was confused and he was scaring me. "Honey, remember Shane and Maddy blew up the cornucopia and freed us from the arena. Don't you remember all that?"
"Sorry, yes you are right," he said as he rubbed his forehead. "I'm just…I'm just so tired, my head hurts and I ache all over. I'm…my mind is jumbled."
"Oh Peeta," I exclaimed as I wrapped both arms around him. "You're tired and it's has been rough couple of days."
"You're tired too, Katniss," he pressed. "Don't hide that from me."
"Yes, I'm tired too, but not like you," I admitted. "You fought a bear. Then you had to…fight Cato."
"Cato? Oh yeah. I thought I dreamt that." He turned around to face him. "I didn't mean to…I didn't have a choice."
"I know Peeta. It was him or you. And, I would kill Cato myself if I had to…protect you," I assured him. "He wouldn't stop and you know it."
"So should we bury him?" Peeta suggested. I didn't want to seem heartless but we were running out of daylight and we needed to find shelter. I didn't care what happened to his corpse.
"No, Peeta," I said. "We don't have time and…what would we use to bury him?"
"Can we at least cover him with something like branches and stuff? I don't like leaving him like…like that." My patience was running thin but to appease Peeta, we strung Cato up and suspended him 15 feet off the ground. Me, I would have left where he was to be mauled by wild animals. Cato didn't deserve his compassion and sympathy.
With my arm around Peeta's waist, we stumbled together walking through the forest at a slow pace. My Boy with the Bread wasn't seriously injured, but exhausted from all the stress of the day. I didn't blame him wanting to rest but we couldn't. We were exposed with all the drones that were flying around; we couldn't take any chances. We walked until the sun set on the horizon. We fell upon a lake with a waterfall. In a different circumstance I would have appreciated its beauty with the fall and lush greenery surrounding it, but my priority was Peeta. He didn't utter a word but knew that we would be forced to sleep up in the trees once again. He rubbed the small of his back.
"Peeta, you have to eat," I told him. He shook his head. His hair was disheveled with dirt covering his blond locks and his face filthy with grime. There was a change of clothes in the backpack but avoided wearing them. I wanted a bath before wearing clean clothing.
"I'm tired, Katniss," he admitted. "I could sleep right here sitting up. I'm too tired to eat."
"Peeta, please. You need to maintain your strength." Just then as I looked past him and towards the waterfall, I noticed an opening near the base of the fall.
"Peeta, look." I pointed to the crevice. "There's an opening behind the fall." With all the strength we could muster, Peeta and I walked towards the crack. To our relief, it led to a cave. We found the space large enough to walk into and to settle in for the night. But first, we checked to make sure there weren't animals sharing our space.
Once it was deemed safe and clear, we dropped the backpacks and our weapons on the ground and sat down as we were too exhausted to make a fire or bedding for the night. My stomach grumbled reminding me that we still had yet to eat our dinner. I reached into my backpack.
"Peeta, I know you're tired but you barely eaten all day," I said as I unwrapped the last of the meat we saved. The sound of Peeta's light snore answered me back. "My poor baby," I swiped a lock off of Peeta's forehead. "You were so strong and brave today. I wouldn't change a single moment since we got together. I wouldn't want anyone but you here with me. I love, Peeta, even if you can't hear me say it right now." He whimpered in his sleep.
"Shh, you're okay. You're safe, Peeta," I said to his still form as his eyes moved behind his eyelids. He was dreaming. "No one is ever going to hurt you again. I promise."
The next thing I knew I awakened next to Peeta who was still asleep. He didn't look stressed or uncomfortable––he was at peace for the first time in weeks. With his arms around me, I didn't want to move but remembered that we skipped dinner the night before. Checking on Peeta, he was relaxed that I loathed to waking him. He needed rest but we needed food.
I promised Peeta that we would never separate since my incident with Marvel. I didn't want to wake him. But a promise was a promise. So I nudge his shoulder, "Peeta, honey. Wake up," I said. He opened his eyes; he blinked twice and sat up right. He looked so adorable with his hair askew, eyes sleepy and face relaxed.
"What time is it?" he asked, his voice groggy. "I feel like I slept for hours."
"I'm not sure, but I think it's morning," I answered. "Are you hungry?" 'Of course, he is.'
"I could eat," he responded. We shared what was left of our food and water.
We both agreed to hunt together so we left the cave and carefully treaded through the forest. Normally, Peeta's heavy threaded feet annoyed me as he scared game but these were dire circumstance and the thought of separating was not an option.
"Wait right here. I won't go far and I'll make sure you can see m at all times," I ordered. Peeta looked worried but nodded his head. We needed to find food desperately so he complied. I took off leaving a distance of about 10 yards away from him. However I made sure I was in his sight as he was in mine. I thought back to the first time I took him to the forest when we both were attacked by the peacekeepers. We both took lives that day. A memory that Peeta and I would never forget.
By midday, we came with two rabbits and a squirrel. I debated to hunt for more game but thought against since I didn't want any food to waste. Meantime, Peeta scrounged around for edible berries and roots. I was satisfied with our haul as we returned to the cave.
Peeta looked around the cave and built a small fire while I skinned the rabbits and squirrel. For a few seconds my mind drifted back to my family-––Prim, Dad and Mom. I wondered if they are okay. I wondered if they were safe. What were they doing? Peeta came back with an arm full of wood disrupting my thoughts.
"I wish we had some bread," Peeta voiced, his tone wistful and melancholy. I could tell he was thinking about his family just as I thought of my own.
"You can make us a whole batch of cheese buns we get to the camp," I suggested.
"Do you think you're dad will let you…stay with me once we get to the camp?" Peeta asked. He was already thinking about our sleeping arrangements. I thought about his almost proposal. I smiled.
"I've been sleeping beside you for a two weeks, Peeta," I stated. "I'm old enough to sleep where and with whom I want. He can't stop me."
We wolfed down our meal in record time leaving some to pack for our journey north. I rubbed my belly in satisfaction. Peeta looked better after a meal. "Hey, I want to show you something," he said after we cleaned after ourselves at the lake. He took my hand and led me back to the cave but instead of heading inside he led us to the other side of the fall where there was another opening. "I found this place while I was looking around for some wood."
I gasped in surprise.
"Wow, Peeta. This place is amazing," I blurted. Inside opening was larger cavern with a pool. On the walls were iridescent stone as if the sun was shining through––the walls were covered with yellow and bright orange hues.
"Come on, the water inside this cave is warmer than the outside," he informed me as he headed towards a placid pool. Without any hesitation he removed his clothing until he was naked as the day he was born. I noticed the markings on his back. The scars were prominent reminding that he bore those scars because of me. With the artificial light illuminating the cave, Peeta looked unearthly handsome and strong despite the weight he lost for the past four months since his encounter with Ivan––the person and incident that changed everyone's lives forever––not just our own but Panem as well.
He tiptoed to the end of the pool dipping his big toe in the water. He smiled so wide his cheeks dimpled. "What are you waiting for?" he yelled as his voice echoed in the spacious cavern.
An idea formulated in my head, I wanted to strip for him, like any girlfriend would for her boyfriend. I love him and he made me feel loved and sexy so I slowly removed my clothes one piece at a time. I pulled my shirt off. Step. Shoes removed first one then the other. Step. My hands gripped the side of my pants easing it down my legs. Step. At this point, Peeta stood still mesmerized by my strip tease when the unthinkable happened. I was so focused on his face that I missed a step and tripped.
"Ouch," I cried when my bare knees connected with the rough stoned floor. Peeta was immediately at my side. "Damnit." 'Oh hell, this was embarrassing.'
"Katniss, babe," he said his voice etched with concern as he examined my knees. I'm on my back with him between my legs. I gulped in anticipation waiting for him to finish looking at my injury. "You only bruised your knees. You didn't cut yourself." He lightly touched my knees but it was enough. Goose pimples pebbled my skin; my mouth dry and my body ached for him.
His blue eyes met grey. No words were spoken between us as he crawled over and kissed me. I missed his kisses. I missed him––the Boy with the Bread who made love to me days ago. I grabbed the side of his head forcing my tongue into his mouth. He greedily swallowed my tongue stealing my breath away. I cried out in pain when my back hit the stony ground. "Shit!"
"Katniss?"
"Sorry," I said. "My back…I think…" Peeta searched behind me and of course, a piece of rock embedded into my back. My mission to seduce Peeta was not going well.
"You have a rock size bruise on your back now too. This isn't going to work," he announced as he pulled back and sat on his heels.
'What happened to spontaneity and romance?' I'm obviously incapable since nothing has gone right, as Peeta seemed to have agreed. Angry with myself, I bit back my disappointment as I waited for him to stand up and walk away. I'm on my back wearing panties, bra and socks lying on the ground with bruises on my knees and back. I'm dirty and I probably smell. 'How romantic?' It's no wonder he stopped. Anyway, Peeta was probably too tired to––
"Eep," I shrieked as Peeta picked me up and carried me to the pool of water.
"This is better," he whispered so close that his lips grazed my earlobe. "I want you Katniss. Don't ever think that I don't because I want you all the time." Then he kissed the side of my head. He knew my insecurities and lack of experience. He was as inexperienced as me but had more patience.
"Peeta?" I voiced in raspy and low tone. "I'm sorry––"
"You're fucking sexy," he implied. "God, you made me so hard I would have taken you right on that spot but I have other plans."
"Huh?" 'I'm sexy and he would made love to me…but why did he stopped?' My mind swirled with the emotions of surprised and anticipation. He dropped me on my feet then reached around and undid my bra causing it to puddle on the floor. The next second he tugged my panties down slow and deliberate. Once it's off he crouched down and removed my socks. My skin pebbled some more as I waited for him to make the next move––lick, kiss me all over. I wanted it all.
But instead, he took my hand and led me to the edge of water. "I think it's not that deep or I hope it isn't," he said in a nervous tone. I had forgotten that he didn't know how to swim or at least swim well. The water was warm to touch and wondered how it was heated but shoved the thought to the back of mind.
Once we were knee deep he stopped. "Stay still and don't move," he ordered. He situated us against a wall that had a small ledged with a soft mossy overgrowth. The next few minutes I closed my eyes as he proceeded to bathe with his hands.
He'd cupped his hands, filled it and let the warm water run down my body. From front to back he bathed me but he avoided and not touched certain parts of my body. 'Bastard!' Just as I started to complain, he rubbed my arms and neck. "I wish I had a hand towel or something," he mentioned. I shook my head.
"No, you're doing fine," I muttered in a breathy and low tone. An ached formed between my legs. Speaking of legs, Peeta washed my right then left leg. He hand washed my body but avoided certain areas again. I knew what he was doing––seducing me and making me ache for him. He didn't have to try very hard at all.
Bracing my hands behind me, my knees almost buckled at the sight of him. Through all this time I watched his face, his bottom lip tucked under his teeth, eyes focused while his cock jutted in front of him. He was hard.
I reached out to touch him–– "No, don't," he said between clenched teeth. "You touch me and I'll…give a few seconds to clean myself."
"Peeta, I want to wash and take care of you the way you took care of me," I whined. His plan worked. I wanted him so bad my whole body tingled and ached.
"Please Katniss, I won't last if you touch me now," he pleaded. "I…I want to be inside you so bad, but––" He shook his head violently. "Please, give me a minute."
I nodded my head in frustration and impatience. He walked into the edge of the pool and washed himself. My throat and my mouth were dry. My hands shook in anticipation. 'When did it get so hot inside the cave.' Or was it?
When Peeta was done, he practically ran to my side, crushed his body into mine and latched his mouth upon my open lips. His wet, hard chest pressed into my breasts trapping my hard nipples between us. I moaned in pleasure as he cupped one butt cheek grinding his hard length onto my stomach. It wasn't enough so wrapped one leg around his waist wanting more of him. I wanted to devour him. After a few minutes of kissing, stealing air from each other and our tongues battling, he spoke, "I want you. Will you let me take you?" Not sure of what he wanted, I nodded my head because for some reason, words failed me as I couldn't formulate a sentence let alone any thoughts but him taking me.
"Turn around," he whispered in my ear, biting a lobe. I moaned again.
He twisted my body as his hands landed on my waist. One hand slipped between my legs. "You're so wet. I want to fuck you so bad," he rasped, his breath hot and heavy against my neck. "Tell me if I'm hurting you. I don't…don't want to hurt you." I nodded my head.
"Please, Peeta," I begged. I didn't recognize my voice. I didn't recognized these new feelings he instilled in me––like I wanted to die. I wanted him and I ached wanting him. Maybe because it's been days since he touched me, days in which we encountered Marvel, the bear and Cato. Those feelings of fear, anxiety and relief replaced by want, longing and lust. Nothing mattered at the moment but he and I together in this cave. We were alone for the first time in weeks with no one to watch us and no games or arena to survive from. There wasn't a rebellion hovering us but just me and Peeta.
He parted my legs with his knees. "Hold onto something," he stated so matter of fact. He sounded so calm and in control and I was a mess…emotions ranging from impatience to anger––not at Peeta, but for everything that has happened since leaving the arena.
I braced my hands on the mossy ledge. "Ready?" I nodded my head. 'Oh, god hurry,' my mind begged him. Two fingers parted my wet nether lips. 'Yes, yes, yes,' I chanted. His fingers were gentle but insistent as he played with the kernel of flesh. Something hard, yet silky grazed me. "Oh, please Peeta, now, now." I pushed my ass towards him bending over waiting.
He teased me for a few seconds, rubbing his cock on my wet opening. "Feel this? I've been like this every fucking time we've been sleeping up those damn trees. Every time I wanted to…push myself inside you. You make me hard just thinking about you."
Every morning I felt him, his cock pressed on my backside, but I ignored him. It wasn't the right time or place especially with Shane and Maddy in our presence. One hand played with my clit as the other anchored on my hip "Tell me you want me," he muttered, the timber of his voice low and harsh. "Tell me you want this. To take you like this."
"Yes! Please do it."
"Naw uh, not yet," he twisted me around as he kissed my cheeks, lips and neck. "I'm still hungry." 'Hungry?' He worked his way down licking my skin until he enveloped a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard.
'Oh, that hungry!' "Peeta, I need you." My body hummed with desire as his hands explored every part of me.
"I need you too," he mumbled with mouthful of my breast licking and teasing my erect nipple.
"I.." I was too dazed to voice my need. "Pee..ta, please I want more!"
"Sorry, kinda busy right now," he quipped as he licked further down my body. Peeta puckered his lips and blew into my…belly button. It tickled causing me to laugh in return. Who knew that sex was also fun and not serious all the time. I mewled in impatience.
"Get on with it," I said in mock annoyance as he bit my hipbone. "Damnit, Peeta!"
"Nope, sorry. We're alone for the first time in days and I'm...lick…going...lick…to take ...lick…my time," he sputtered. On his knees, he reached my sopping, quivering center. My legs shook from anticipation as he raised one leg over his shoulder.
"Peeta?" He stared at me…down there. It had been days since I shaved. Was he disappointed? My insecurity resurfaced. When suddenly, he used his fingers and peeled back my lips. "Fuck!" I yelped in surprised as his mouth latched inside me. He licked and nibbled not stopping, forcing me to arch my back from sheer pleasure. Tingling sensations streamed through my body and limbs. My eyes rolled to the back of my head. "Hmm….more." A few seconds later, my knee collapsed when he inserted his skillful finger inside me rubbing that spot that he discovered one night.
"I love watching you like this," he complimented. "Your skin warm and flushed. Your eyes dazed from desire." He curled his finger and I whimpered. I struggled to stay upright but it was difficult to have any semblance of control of my body.
"Peeta, Peeta," I mewled. I looked down to find his blue eyes watching me, his glare intense and focused. "Please Peeta, I need…I need…"
He abruptly stood releasing me from his ministration. I sobbed in desperation and emptiness. He kissed me full on the lips, forcing his tongue in my mouth. "Love you, love you so much," his words peppered my mouth.
"I love you to––" He pushed inside, one hard thrust and I came. "Fuck!" My orgasm was short but pleasurable. It was too fast. I wanted more as my center throbbed and pulsed. "Again," I demanded as I wrapped both my legs around his waist. I felt short-changed and slightly disappointed that I came too early. "I…want to you to make me come again."
"Anything you desire, Katniss." He pistoned in and out––long and hard then in short bursts, feeling him lose control as each moment passed. There wasn't a pattern or rhythm as he thrusted again and again. He pushed and I pushed back until seconds later we both found a rhythm that satisfied us both. "Yes, yes, harder, harder." My hand anchored on his neck while the other on the ledge to prevent me from falling. It was exhilarating to feel him again inside me––like a piece of myself I didn't realizing I was missing.
One hand held my ass while the other clutched around my waist. He leaned over and engulfed my breast into his mouth, feeling his teeth gnawing and sucking my nipple. I felt nothing but pleasure as he took me hard. I came again, but this time it was long as the sensation shot up my spine and down my legs. "Yes, Peeta. Peeta. Peeta!"
Peeta stopped waiting for me to come back from my high. "You're so beautiful. Sexy, broody and gorgeous." I giggled between my sobs of pleasure, hiccupping in response.
"You haven't…you haven't come yet,' I pouted. It was all about me. Peeta was a generous lover, taking his time making sure I came first and sometimes twice before seeking his own pleasure. He pulled back and twisted me around with me facing the wall.
"I want to hear you scream, Katniss," he ordered as he started again as both his hands grabbed at my waist. He pushed back inside me––slow but firm thrusts creating a delicious friction in my center. I arched my back to accept his thrusts. I couldn't feel my legs or my feet.
"I don't think I can anymore," I huffed as I felt him swell inside me. "Fuck, I…"
"One more, Katniss. Just one more time." I nodded my head as the feeling returned ––the tingling in my center that spread to my stomach and legs. 'Oh, god, again?' I didn't think I could orgasm again but I was wrong.
"Faster, harder," I screamed my voice echoing and bouncing on the walls. "Fuck, fuck." I hardly swore but this…this was more than I could bear. "I can't, Peeta."
"Yes, you can. Please baby. Tell me when you're close." I nodded. He changed thrusts from slow to fast, rutting into me with abandon. "You feel so good, Katniss. So fucking good." 'Almost, almost there.' The feeling of pleasure formed in my pussy. "Are you close? I can feel you––" In this positions, the penetration was deep and hard. I felt all of him.
"Now, Peeta," I warned him as desire nearly blinded and choked me. Before I could protest, he stopped, twisted me around again. "Peeta?"
"Shh," he hissed. Then he smashed his mouth into mine, crashing his teeth against my own. With a long and hard thrust, he entered me again. I wrapped both my arms around his neck and hitched my legs around his waist. We almost lost balanced as Peeta grabbed both my butt cheeks and lifted onto the ledge and placed my ass on the mossy surface. "Oh God!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Peeta!" I screamed loud and long as he continued to thrust inside me hard. "Peeta!" I came one more time, the sting of pleasure and pain rooted to my center like a starburst. He thrusted a few more times then, his body arched and stiffened as I felt him cum inside me. With my eyes closed, I nearly toppled from pleasure and euphoria. Peeta still had the presence of mind to catch me before I fell on the ground.
"Fuck, fuck," he repeated as he pressed his forehead on my sweaty chest. "Oh my God, Katniss. I didn't hurt you, did I?" His breath warmed my heated skin as cool air whirled around us.
"Geez, what was that?" I giggled. Orgasms made me loopy. "I can't feel my legs." 'Or my arms for that matter.' My heart beat fast in my chest, my breath hard and raspy. Making love with Peeta made me feel like a woman––not that girl from the Seam who fought to survive against starvation and poverty. But, a woman in love who was loved, adored and desired by a boy who didn't see my dark hair and gray eyes though those were the reasons why he fell for me.
"You and me, Katniss. That's what that was. You and me together like skyrockets and fireworks," he chortled. "You're the Girl on Fire." I slapped his glistening skin. "What? Am I lying? I thought you were going to burn me alive." I smothered a laugh in my throat. "Woah. I can't feel my legs as well." He swayed on his feet for a few seconds. "Stay right here and don't move."
"I couldn't even if wanted to" I admitted. Peeta looked around us before he let go of me. I felt bereft, missing the comfort of his arms as he searched around the cavern.
"Peeta, what are you looking for?" I inquired but he ignored me. A few minutes later he returned with large tufts of mossy grass, arranging it onto the floor. I realized that he was fashioned a make shift bed for us to lie on. I was about to take a step towards me when he berated me.
"Hey! What did I tell you about not moving?" I pouted in response. "Stay there." I did as he asked and as he reached me he picked me into his arms. He carried me to our grassy bed placing me gently onto the floor.
"I need another bath," I mentioned as I waited for him to lie next to me. He sat on his hind legs and gawked. "What!"
"I wish I had a pad of paper and my pencils," he said in wistful manner.
I shook my head. "Don't think so. You're not drawing me naked," I teased as I spread my legs apart. I wanted him again as my center throbbed with need. Was that normal? Peeta's eyes grew wide, his lower body reacted as his cock jutted towards me. It looked...funny pointing at me so I giggled. "It's got a life of its own."
Peeta's scrunched his brows and harrumphed, his breath flipping his banks on his forehead. "Are you complaining?"
"Get over here," I demanded. For a few hours I wanted this…just me and Peeta alone without anyone trying to kill us. This was all we had before reaching the rebel camp because we both knew that privacy was limited. Dad would certainly object to me sleeping with Peeta in his room or what ever accommodations they had. Prim would expect me to sleep with her as we always shared a bed.
But neither Prim nor Dad could comfort me when I had my nightmares. Only Peeta could provide me the safety I felt when I was with him. Forehead to forehead, we relished the quiet and private time we had before going back to the real world. This was our…paradise, a piece of heaven that would soon be shattered once we left and headed north. I was determined to make it to our new home but in the meantime…
I reached down between us and grasped his long, hard cock with both hands. I was ready for round two and so was Peeta. "Fuck, Katniss," he wheezed. "I need you…always." My heart skipped a beat.
"You have me…always." And that was promise.
AN: Whew, I'm…exhausted. I need a drink! I hoped that you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. Please review at your leisure. There is no update this upcoming weekend because of the holiday. The next chapter will have Peeta's POV. Until then have a great week and weekend.
