A/N: THANK YOU DancingDP (I saw it first on 22nd. One day earlier in Germany and I just couldn't stand not taking advantage of that fact:P), maryclumsy (I'm sorry about the typos. I was just so glad I finally got it done and didn't want you to wait longer, so my proof-reading was...only for those REALLY stupid things {they happen though. Most of my typos are just my computer's fault, because it wants me to use other words...Microsoft:)}), Belle, Perfectly-Imperfect-14 (I think the cave was really good, actually. I don't know, I don't want more. The kiss was romantic and Gale's expression was hilarious xD But yeah, more Rue would've been nice. She was so cute! Her actress was amazing!:)), EZ11 (Yeah, the ending could've been longer, but I liked Cato's speech. It touched me:)), Aloha-Pinkly (Yeah, right. And the scene with District eleven...it was so depressing and touching and...I loved it:)), Kari (I know {about the OCs.} I thought really long and really hard about it and...you'll see, one of them isn't an OC, but the others are and must be. You have no idea how much I wanted a victor to find them, but in the end, it seemed too unreal. But I have good news for you, as these are the last OCs. I don't think three is too much:)), PeetaLuver1, FlamingArrows (I'm gonna watch it again in English, because especially Peeta's quotes were SO messed up. And I still hate the translation for Star Crossed Lovers:)), Sparksfly23, SWPeetaxKatnissAvatarTLA (me too. But only if it's fictional...), dgeeky23 (I could give you a whole rant about those minor details, but there were few things that really bothered me), mrspatrickdempsey (Lol, yeah, third time is the charm:D), KMloveya (A bit more fluff in this one:) For you;)), Emmy (A little dialogue for you:D But I would've done that anyway. In this chapter, I needed it:)), Mockingjay272 (Well...he's not his son...;)),kms96 (Watch it again and you'll notice it wasn't rushed. It seems like that the first time you watch it, because you're comparing to the book and the book was longer, but when you know what to expect, it doesn't seem rushed anymore:D), journey4eva, anon, DandelionOnFire (You reviewed, when isn't important:) I'm thankful for every review I get:D And btw, yes, I said something similar to you {about having a life outside FF, and believe me, I do}, but I feel bad when I don't manage to get a chapter out when I want it:)), Husky2014 and mspacman1

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games

Chapter 10:

"Wait!" I huff, unnerved. He was so close to telling me, so close to enlighten me and answer my questions, and this girl, who hasn't shown herself at her best and who has no, absolutely no right, to interfere right now, does exactly what she isn't supposed to.

She returns the icy glare I'm giving her with one that equals it, but when she speaks her voice sounds unaffected. "Why are we supposed to trust her when she clearly doesn't trust us? Let her give her answer first. That way we'll know. Tell us why you're here, what made you go, then we'll think about telling you where we're headed. Go on."

Now I regret the fact that I wasn't able to harm her earlier. At the moment I feel like lunging at her for wanting to test me. And for trying with my patience. But at the moment I'm able contain my anger.

"What does it matter to you? Why do you want to know the reason why we escaped?" Talking to her feels like talking to Prim's ugly cat, Buttercup. She's as annoying at him, although I slightly prefer the cat. It can't speak.

She grins, but her eyes show that it's not an good natured-grin. "I beg to differ. It's 'fled'. You fled. You haven't escaped yet. You may think you have, since your flight was successful so far, but you're not safe. So 'escape' isn't really the right word."

Her grin only grows wider when my glare gets harder. I don't have time for her childish game. "But, since I get you point, I shall give you an answer. I'm pretty sure you are just too stubborn to tell us anything, while we have a justified reason not to tell you. Why should we spill our secrets to some strangers who don't trust us with their minor story?"

"If you thought it was minor you wouldn't want to know," I counter. "There's a reason you want to know, and it's not that you don't think we trust you. It's that you don't trust us, and no matter what we tell you now, you'll say it's made up."

The grin vanishes from her face and is replaced by a frown. Then, she replies with a snarl: "You're right. I don't trust you. You haven't given me much reason to, have you? But I'm interested in your story. See if I am going to believe it. I wouldn't for a second if you didn't have the little one with you though."

Prim, who's supposed to be the little one, although I don't think Sylvia is a lot older, steps from behind my back. And, for the first time since we encountered them, she talks.

"So you may believe me? Then…I shall be the one to tell you. We run because of the changes in our home District." And she begins to tell the story of how the Hob burnt down, about the new head peacekeeper, and, what bothers me, about my hunting. My scowl deepens, because now they know for sure the bow on my back isn't just to scare people and animals away; they know I can use it as a deadly weapon.

When Prim finishes, Sylvia looks flabbergasted. "That was the reason why you fled?" She lets out an unbelieving laugh without real humor behind it. "Seriously? Just how spoiled has Twelve been all those years? Nice, forgiving peacekeepers? A fence unguarded, without electricity?"

Now it's my turn to look dumbfounded. She's making it seem so easy. She doesn't even acknowledge the fact that I put my life in danger by going out in the wild, behind the fence, every day. She doesn't waste on thought on those other people, those that didn't have the chance to do that and provide their families.

"That's pure heaven." It doesn't sound like it. Her voice is only a hiss now, her eyes are filled with hate. "Ha! That's nothing! Do you know what would have happened to us if we'd had dared to go behind the fence? No, wait, we wouldn't even have come this far. We would have been fried to a crisp as soon as we touched it! If we were lucky! And hunting! For my family! That would have a dream for me! You really have no idea!" She's shouting the last sentence and even though she's glaring at me, she has a far-away look in her eyes, as if remembering something. And there's something in her eyes besides hate, it's hidden deeply, but it's evident, although I can't make out what it is. But this something prevents me from replying.

"But it must be true." Her eyes are focused again, her voice somehow calmer, not with as much venom in it. Although the deprication that is evident now isn't exactly better. "No one would have come up with such a banal story to tell us. They would have taken something more…innovative."

Ignoring her offensive comment, I turn to Cann. "So. Will you answer now?" I look at him expectantly, and hold my gaze fixed there. I don't want to deal with Sylvia anymore.

"District thirteen." He pauses a moment before adding: "That's where we're going."

After that, for a moment, all that's to be heard is silence. Silence in which his words are sinking in, in which I get the meaning of them. District thirteen? District thirteen has been destroyed. By the Capitol. I've seen the pictures on TV. Going there…there is nothing to go to. It's suicide, actually. Venomous gases are still in the air, it makes one sick. At least I think so, since the reeporters are always wearing gas masks. What do Sylvia and Cann, two runaways, think they are going to find there?

"There is no District thirteen." Peeta, who seems to have gotten a grip on himself first, voices my thoughts. His voice is barely above a whisper when he says: "It's impossible."

"I used to think like that, too, when I was younger. But it really does exist. I've talked to the people living there. I haven't seen them, but they're there. The Capitol hasn't destroyed them. There was a deal. More like, Thirteen blackmailed the Capitol. Only…it was already weakened by then. They couldn't do more than protecting themselves." Cann's voice is serious, more serious than it's been during our whole talk.

I still can't quite believe what I'm hearing. My ears must be betraying me. But I also feel a kind of fury raising inside. If there are people in District thirteen, if he's really telling the truth, they have betrayed us. They haven't helped us in all those years, they have abandoned us. Haven't said a thing. If they were able to blackmail the Capitol into not harming them, why can't they do the same for the other districts?

"Why should we believe you?" It hasn't occurred to me that maybe this could be a trap until now. Maybe because it seems so unlikely. I'm not sure. Why should the Capitol want to catch us? But it could be. After all, Sylvia did say something about being innovative. Who says she isn't?

Now a smirk takes over her face. "You still don't get it, do you? You still don't trust us. But it's true. It's the only chance of escaping. We're safe there."

"You can come with us." Cann interferes, earning a glare from his companion. "It's probably safer than walking on your own. You may not be able to find it. It may be more dangerous with me but…well, if they catch us, they'll be likely to catch you as well. And other than that, if we're more, the odds of fighting possible enemies, human and animalistic, off are more likely to be in our favor."

For a moment, I'm left staring at him. Not for almost using the exact same words as Effie Trinket, no, but for his offer. He wants us to…what? Why should we come with them to a poisoned piece of abandoned land? If this wasn't a trick, it would mean they're both desperate enough to believe it themselves. A hallucination. Only…they don't seem this desperate.

And because of that, I raise my bow again, pointing directly at his skull. "Is this a trick? If it is, tell us now! That way I may spare you." I add the last part to scare them, and it seems to work. At least, their faces show shock.

"This isn't a trick, we…" But Cann doesn't get to finish what he wanted to say, because Peeta interrupts him.

"Stop. Katniss, lower your bow. Now." I turn to him, not quite believing what I'm hearing.

"Are you really that naïve? You can't possibly believe this. There is no District thirteen, you said so yourself. What do you think they're doing?" I hiss the words, so only he can hear them. For some reason, I don't want the two strangers to.

Peeta only sighs. "Can I talk to you? In private?" I look at him, curiously. In private? What does he want to tell me? And most importantly, what doesn't he want them to know?

Because of those questions, and because he still hasn't answered mine, I my reply is "Yes." My gaze falls on my little sister, still half hidden by my back. "But Prim will come, too." Slightly quieter I add: "I don't want them to be alone with her."

He nods, giving Sylvia and Cann an apologizing look, which I don't understand, to be honest. We don't have anything to be sorry for, do we?

"Katniss, what are you doing?" He asks, as soon as we're out of their earshot. I look at him as if he's lost his mind, the same way he's looking at me. He can't be serious, can he?

"What am I doing? I am only trying to protect us! We can't afford to trust them. He's far too calm for my liking and she…don't even ask!"

Peeta looks at me unbelievingly and snorts. "Yes, I've already noticed you aren't too fond of her. But Katniss, put your personal feelings aside, just for a moment, and tell me: What is their motive supposed to be in your opinion? Or the Capitol's, for that matter? Why would they want to capture us? We aren't special, they wouldn't waste time trying to find us, if they came across us, they would only take out their gun and kill us. Then they'd forget.

Plus, haven't you head Brains and Brawn? They've been talking about a boy, a boy with plans, and the description fits perfectly to Cann. He's from three, he knows about technology. Now think about what you're accusing them of. If they were spies, the whole conversation of those two men would have been staged, too. And that means they would have known we're there all along. But if that really had been the case, wouldn't they have tried to kill us? Wouldn't they have looked for us at least?

Do you see what I mean? The pieces don't fit together. The only version that does make sense is the version Sylvia and Cann told us. Or do you have an other idea? Or explantation?" His eyes are boring into mine while he's saying those words, begging me to understand.

And understand, I do. His words make sense. This would have to be a great stage play to prove my theory right. And more than just innovative. To come up with this would be…mad. Especially considering the circumstances. Who would spend so much time trying to come up with this just to catch us, some runaways from District twelve? What do we matter? Peeta's right, they would have tried to kill us immediately if they had known. Well, if they had cared enough. After all, why would they even waste time trying to find us?

I may not really want to admit it, but Peeta is right. I'm tempted to scowl. Again. He's right, again. Can he be wrong, just once? "But how can I be sure I can trust them?"

Because that's still the question, isn't it? Alright, they may not be working for the Capitol, but is that automatically a reason to trust them? Or is it just me, being the person shutting everyone out and wanting to only see the bad side?

Peeta's face, however, relaxed at my question and for some reason, he's smiling at me. "You can't be." He takes my hand in his and looks down at them. "How can you be sure you can trust me?"

While closing my hand around his, I reply: "You've proven it. You…you saved us." I'm talking about the bread as well as the incident two days ago.

He lifts his gaze from our intertwined hands and locks our eyes again. "But you can never be entirely sure, never one hundred percent, can you? You trust me, though. Just because you do."

His words have a strange effect on me. Instead of making me think about how trust can't really be enforced, I'm reminded of a time where I didn't trust Peeta. Or more like, didn't know if I should. It was the time in which I wasn't talking to Peeta. It was when he was talking to Gale, out in the woods, and I was eavesdropping. One minute he was crying, the next he was acting as though nothing happened. It was the first time I noticed how smooth he was able to lie. And I didn't know if he had been lying to me all along, especially since at that moment, I didn't know what to think of him at all. Didn't want to think of him. But then their conversation changed and I knew he hadn't been lying to me. Gale only made it more clear when he told me about it afterwards.

"But that's you. And even with you I've had my doubts." Peeta still doesn't know I know about his talk with Gale, and I intend to keep it that way. I don't think he would be horribly upset now, but I don't see how keeping it a little secret is wrong either.

All hardness has vanished from his eyes now, and when he speaks, I know it's the same with his voice. "Yeah, but you've overcome it. And how did you do it?"

I'm startled by his question and, not really knowing what to answer, just shake my head. After all, what am I supposed to say? I heard you telling Gale he was the lucky one because he had me? That way I would have to explain. And…alright, I think it sounds weird and I feel myself blushing just thinking those words.

"You've given my a chance to prove it, that's how." He's smiling at me. "Why can't you give them a chance, too?"

"It's different." Although I try to sound certain that my words are right, but they come out weak and unsure, doubtful. Maybe because they really aren't a strong argument.

"How? And don't give me the ' because you are you' again. You didn't know me when you met me either." I'm out of arguments as well as words now. There are no arguments left, or at least they don't come to me right now. And it upsets me.

"He's right Katniss, you know?" I groan inwardly. As if one of them wasn't enough, no, now Prim needed to turn against me, too. Those two, allied against me, with their innocent, bright blue eyes trying so hard to convince me, are too much. It isn't fair.

I huff. "Alright, we'll go. But if we end up dead, or in some kind of trap, don't you dare and blame me. It's your responsibility."

They both laugh, all tension gone, and even I have to surpress a smile, since my words sound so childish. Peeta pulls us to him. "Deal. But you know I'd never let anything happen to either of you. Right?" He ruffles Prim's hair.

I allow myself to lean against him for a moment, to whisper an "I know" I'm not sure he heard, before I take a few steps back. "So come on, we should tell them."

They both nod. When we get back to Sylvia and Cann, though, and she spats a "So?", I'm tempted to take my decision back, since I'm sure this girl is going to get the best of my patience soon if she keeps going like that.

Fortunately, I don't have to answer, anything I'd say now would come out as a hiss again either way, because Prim, who must be sensing this, does. "We're coming with you."

Sylvia scowls, which isn't surprising, but she scowls at Cann. He only nods and says: "We have to move now. And I'm just going to warn you. Sleep, or any kind of rest for that matter, isn't a priority. Survival is. We can sleep once we've reached Thirteen." For a moment, he frowns. "Well, you can."

Instead of asking what this is supposed to mean, because I have an idea, I pick up the only backpack we've left and say: "So let's not waste any time."

For this chapter, I really need some feedback, because I don't know how to feel about it at all. So...leave me a review?:)