Author's Note: Each time someone follows this story I get so happy, and when people give me reviews it gets me motivated to write more of the story. I take what people say and try to make this story so you will all like it. It helps me overcome some writers block and really makes me look forward to writing future chapters. I hope you like this chapter. I tried something a little new to show you the different sides of the characters. Enjoy!
Trees flew past me as my arms and legs pumped as fast as they could, hopping over the tree roots sticking out of the ground. The sound of his footsteps behind me only caused me to push myself further. However, instead of reaching the cornucopia, my foot got caught on a vine coming out of the dirt. I flipped on my back to prepare for his attack, but his actions were quicker than mine. His hand grabbed my neck, blocking any air from getting in. He pushed me hard against the ground while he pulled out his knife. My hands pulled at his to release it from my throat, but the lack of oxygen made me too weak. I looked at the glint of the knife as he raised it over his head. Life flashing before my eyes as it plunged into my heart.
The screams that came out of my mouth caused my eyes to jolt open. My body was trembling from the fear that the nightmare gave me and my mind shut down. There was fear running throughout my entire body and nothing I could do to stop it.
I threw the covers off me and made my way to my bathroom. The light blinding me for a moment before my eyes adjusted to it. I stared at myself in the mirror, moving my hair to look at the spot where the stab wound would have been only to find nothing there. My eyes were bloodshot and their were bags forming beneath them. My face was pale, almost green, and my skin was crawling with a mixture of goosebumps and a cool sweat.
Deep breaths ran in and out of my throat as my hands gripped the sink for stability. My head fell down to face the floor and I focused on my breathing. I figured the more I breathed, the less likely it would be to throw up. There was no logic behind it, yet somehow it was working.
After my slight mental breakdown, I went back to sit on my bed. I would try to go back to sleep, but the thought of having the same nightmare was too much for me to bear. The thought of reliving anything that had to do with the Hunger Games caused an unsettling feeling that would churn in my stomach. I turned to the clock to see that it was probably early enough for the breakfast hall to be open. No one would be there, but I could hang out and try and forget about my fears until I find something else I could use to distract myself with.
I slid on my slippers and pulled a baggy beige cardigan over my red v-neck before making my way out the door and down the halls. The place I am staying at has three different halls. One for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for dinner. All of the people living in this building will go to each one at the appropriate time and converse with one another. It is like having three get togethers everyday, except you have no choice but to go. Thankfully the food is free or else it would not be worth it to show up.
The smell of pancakes made my mouth water, and to my luck only one other person was in the breakfast hall. She was an older woman, yet she appeared younger. The capital probably has some sort of shot to make your skin tighter, because it looked as though her skin was clipped behind her neck and up the back of her head.
"Kathleen, come join me," she smiled and motioned towards the chair across from her, "How are you, darling?"
"Hi, I'm good. How about you?" I said with another one of my fake smiles, sitting in the chair.
"I'm lovely," she laughed, "I can tell you are feeling just as good as me." She winked at me, causing my eyebrows to knit together.
"I'm sorry, but what are you hinting at?" If curiosity killed the cat, it would rip me into pieces. I alway needed to know what was going on, and this was no exception.
"Don't act innocent," she laughed again, "I heard you screaming out Finnick's name. Why do you think I'm up so early? I couldn't sleep with the noise." Her smile widened farther than anyone I have ever seen, "I can't blame you, though. I probably woke you up the same way yesterday."
I tried to keep my composure, but it was no use. My face reddened from everything I learned in a matter of seconds. This woman was the client Finnick was with when I was awoken by the banging of her headboard hitting against my wall. I also learned that during my nightmare I had been screaming loud enough to wake up my neighbor. Not only was it loud, I was yelling for Finnick. Even when I have a day free from him, I still could not get rid of him.
"It's fine, really. No need to be shy about it. We all get one of those days, unless it's supposed to be a secret." The woman continues to talk even though I am only half listening now. From what I hear she seems excited to come up with a scandal between two victors.
"I'm sorry, but can you excuse me. I forgot something in my room," I pardon myself as I got up from my chair.
"Go ahead. Have fun, and don't worry I won't tell a soul." She winked, as I walked away, probably assuming I excused myself to go have another secret love affair with Finnick. I do not even try and plead my case, my mind is thinking about too many more important topics at once to focus on a stupid little rumor.
My arms pushed open the doors to exit the breakfast hall and my legs started moving, but I stopped in my place at the concerned face looking down at me. What perfect timing he had. I pushed pass him, unable to even look at him after what I heard. My mind panicked. Did he hear the conversation? Will he confront me for the reason why I was calling out for him? Probably.
I picked up the pace of my walking and took a sharp turn, stopping to catch my breath. My hand clutched my beating heart and somehow tried to stabilize it. Vision became blurry and the room spun around me. I was a wreck that could never be fixed. There was no antidote for insanity and no matter what I tried to tell myself, there was no getting better. I was never going to live the same life I had before I won the games.
When I managed to control myself, I walked the rest of the way to my room. My stomach growled uncontrollably; the smell of pancakes was still lingering in my nose. I clutched my hungry stomach as I leaned against the door to my room. A groan rolled in my throat from frustration. The scent of fresh pancakes only grew stronger the more I thought about them. It was so strong that I could almost taste them, and the scent felt like it was following me.
"Hey," my eyes focused on the figure holding a plate in front of me, "I know I'm supposed to leave you alone, but I thought you might want these." Finnick held out the plate so I could take it. On it there was pancakes with syrup, eggs, and sausage. The look of them all made my mouth water more than usual.
"Thanks," I said, really appreciating the thought.
"It's no problem," he said before looking at the ground and then back at me, "I guess I'll see you tonight, when my time's up."
"Yeah, I guess so." I said while opening my door, watching him walk away before going into my room and closing the door behind me. Just from everything that had already happened, I could tell this was going to be a long day.