Chapter 27: Hostage

Thanks for reading. Thanks for the feedback, constructive criticism, and support. The devil's got no hold on me! "Look for your future, not mine." (Future Charles Xavier v.)

"They're going to kill us faster if you keep praying like that, while they're watching." Gale noted, as Katniss joined him by a fire he had going.

"What's the point of believing in something, if you have to hide it at the first sign of danger?" Katniss grumbled.

"You already know the answer to that, so I don't know why you even bother asking." Gale snapped, irritated.

"I'm sorry I can't hide it as easily as you hide that cross around your neck." Katniss whispered heatedly, getting up and stomping off.

Gale sighed heavily, and continued watching the flames, as darkness seemed to close in on him.

Katniss was sobbing. She was trying hard not to. Gale was being an insensitive jerk. Rue was gone. She needed hope now more than ever. Her nor Gale's willpower was going to cut it. She slumped against a tree and looked up at the projected night sky. She considered leaving Gale to his own fate. It would be easier than facing her feelings about him. She wanted to believe that they were just friends, but friends didn't hug the hug the way she hugged him. Was the risk of death so alarming that she somehow began to live in the present? What if Gale didn't feel the same way? Could she live with that? She made her way back to the fire. Gale was no longer there.

"Looking for your boyfriend?" a thin girl with blond hair stepped out from the shadows.

"Where is he?" Katniss growled.

"He's out of the way." a short girl with a spear said, coming out from another direction.

Katniss smirked and crossed her arms.

"Where's your third?" she asked.

With a shrieking howl another girl dropped onto Katniss from the trees, and stabbed her in the shoulder twice. They rolled around for a bit, until Katniss kicked her repeatedly in the head. Katniss grabbed her bow and aimed. The girl looked frightened at first, and then began snickering. Katniss' arrow struck her in the throat. She gagged and breathed her last.

One of the girls hit Katniss in the back of the head with a rock. Katniss went tumbling down the hill of uneven ground. She gained consciousness, and saw the light from the two torches, the two remaining girls now had. She slowed down her breathing the way her dad taught her, when he first took her hunting.

"It's okay Katniss," he said, softly. "If you keep completely still, he won't see you. Keep your eye fixed on him. Keep your eye fixed on him. Don't let him out of your sight. You can do this."

Footsteps approached her location. She closed her eyes.