Chapter 18: The Road Ahead
Thanks for the support, the feedback, the constructive criticism, and for your patience. Sorry for the
wait! I didn't have enough time to post the past few Saturdays, so I had to make some sacrifices. "If
you can take it, you can make it." (Louis Zamperini v.) There's a kind of love that God only knows!
Katnis took off her heels and threw them into the fire. Gale took her by the hand and led her into the
woods. They walked past a trail of bodies, on the way deeper into the woods. Most of the girls were
laying there, at least four. Someone had taken them out, or something… They looked as if they had just
dropped dead.
Gale saw it first, a green mist headed their way. He noticed nocturnal animals falling out of the trees.
The smoke was poisonous. It was what had taken the lives of the girls. Gale led Katniss through a maze
of trees. The light from the fire was fading. Soon they were running through a pitch black forest. The
smell of the poisonous mist was still thick in the air. Soon they were choking on it. Just when all seemed
lost, the pale moonlight lit up the forest, providing a path for the two to run along a bridge.
Katniss and Gale hurried along the bridge. If they fell, it was a long way down to the river underneath
the bridge. The green mist stopped at the bridge, as if it had meant to guide them there all along. The
bridge creaked and groaned as they made their way across. Gale made a joke about Katniss' weight,
earning a punch in the arm. Halfway across, the bridge came undone from the side they were trying to
get to. Katniss and Gale fell into the river below.
Peeta held his breath, as he watched with Prim, and her mom. He wasn't sure of what to think of the
outcome, but he would keep his promise. Prim showed him to the door. Mrs. Everdeen stayed glue to
the screen.
"Thanks for the bread." Prim said, smiling.
"If only I could hunt… Gale would be more help." Peeta said, laughing nervously.
"You're doing what you can. That's what Katniss would do." Prim said, hopefully.
Peeta frowned.
"They're in danger, Prim."
"I know."
"How can you remain so hopeful?"
Prim looked down, as she opened the door and Peeta stepped out.
"She said she would come back. Katniss never breaks her promises." Prim said, looking up at Peeta.
Peeta smiled.
"She was praying. That's not a good sign, Prim."
"Why not?"
"It was banned."
"It reminds me of our father. I vaguely remember him, but my mom says he sang, and he also prayed."