SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE, I HAVE EXAMS AND THEY ARE DOING MY HEAD IN, TOMORROW I HAVE A 3 HOUR LONG EXAM BUT THOUGHT THAT MAKING SURE THIS WAS UP WAS MORE IMPORTANT.

WISH ME LUCK!

CHAPTER 3

"What are you talking about? Where am I going? Kaleb?! Kaleb!"

"Quickly. You must get out of here, they will be here for you. Climb onto the roof, you can get down from there without being detected" Katniss rushed us. Ryder slung the packs over his shoulder grabbing my arm and dragging me away.

"Kaleb!" When we got on the roof we had a chance to listen in on the conversation down below. There were Peacekeepers everywhere, they had my dad bent at his knees with blood dripping from his face while Mrs Everdeen was being restrained with a bruise forming on her cheek.

"Where is she? She is a criminal and is to be taken to the Capitol and Gale as well. They refused to abide by the law and Gale threatened the Peacekeepers" Someone said with a gruff voice "Come on Mr Mellark, no need for that language, just cooperate with us and everything will work out fine for you"

"I told you we haven't seen her" Peeta growled "She isn't here; we only just got back and were going to go see her once we had settled"

"Where is your wife?"

"Showering" Peeta spat.

"Ryder, Anna?" we turned to see Katniss and Kaleb "You have to go now; they won't hesitate to take you in, just climb down there and make for the fence. Run" Kaleb ran over to me and embraced me in a hug

"I will come with you" he rubbed his thumb over my cheek staring into my eyes "I won't let you leave me again" I shook my head removing his hand from my cheek and placing it back on his, I gave him a quick short kiss on his mouth and started climbing down the side of the house behind Ryder. I looked up at Kaleb's face and mouthed 'I love you'. We landed with a loud thump and waited a few seconds to hear if anyone heard us. It seems luck isn't with us today because seconds later Peacekeepers rounded the corner charging at us. Ryder grabbed my arm and sprinted in the direction of the fence. I was panicking, why were we being chased down for something so stupid? Usually they would let us off with this kind of stuff. What was so different about now? Was it because the Capitol was angry at me for living?

"Annabella come on!" Ryder pulled me through the fence and into the woods with the Peacekeepers hot on our tale.

"Wait! I need to get something"

"This is not the time!" Ryder tried to drag me off but failed miserably, I ran in the other direction.

"Meet me at the pond, I will be there soon, we need to shake them!" I called while running off. Ryder nodded and ran; the Peacekeepers seemed to notice our split so half of them went after Ryder and half came up behind me. I ran quickly avoiding the pain in my back. I knew these woods better than them. I can win this. I needed to make a sharp turn so I skidded a bit leaving a trail of dust and took off again. I soon reached my hiding spot where all my weapons were. I reached in grabbing the first thing that I came into contact with and jerked my arm backwards plunging the sword into the Peacekeeper that advanced on me. I gasped and reached back grabbing the bow and arrow setting up kneeling down on one knee and poising to shoot the arrow. 2 Peacekeepers came into view I quickly reached back and put another arrow in the bow, I turned it to the side and aimed carefully before firing hitting them both in the chest.

"Bullseye" I pulled out my spear and aimed it at the intruder. Roddick was standing there, pointing a gun at my head "You never miss. Never"

"Roddick, think carefully about what you're doing. I never miss." I reached my hand behind me grabbing a throwing star. I never miss. I threw the star landing it in his chest then throwing my spear at him. The spear pierced him through the stomach, lodging him into a tree "I never miss Roddick. And you pissed me off" I walked up wrenching my spear from his body. I stood there for a minute just looking at the bodies. At what I had done in anger. I had killed people with families and friends, people with lives. Yeah, they may have been Peacekeepers but they were people, innocent people. They couldn't help what they were. I wiped away my tears and said a silent prayer for the fallen men.

I picked up all my weapons, wrenching them from the bodies of the men and walking away. I would clean them at the pond. I promised myself I would never kill again, not after the games.

When I got to the pond Ryder wasn't there yet, so I used the spare time to clean off the bloodied spear, arrows and sword. It was hard rubbing off the blood; I was trying to use leaves, careful not to touch their blood. When I was finished there still wasn't any sign of Ryder so I decided to change and strap my weapons to my body. I stripped down and shuffled through some of Katniss' old clothes that she quickly shoved in the bag. I tipped all the clothes out discovering the training suit she had gotten during the Hunger Games; I know it was her training outfit because I had one just like it.

I pulled it on knowing I could pull them on and off easy and move around like I was naked; I pulled on a jacket on over it and some tight pants. I shoved my feet through the shoes and tied them up all the way to the bottom of my knees. I stood up straight tying my hair in a messy ponytail and putting the bow and arrows on my back, I strapped a dagger to my thigh and my spear would stay in my hands. But for now I placed my spear on the ground, stretching out my back. I bent down touching my toes when I heard a twig snap.

I picked up my spear and turned ready to throw it.

"Whoa! Hold on, I'm not going to kill you. I'm just enjoying the show" Ryder smirked at me winking. I was so angry at him! Why would no one tell me what was happening? I charged him shoving him into the tree with my dagger on his throat. "What was that back there? Where are we going? What's happening?"

"Relax Anna, the Peacekeepers just took your dad and were coming for you, relax. We handled it!"

"By running and letting them have my dad? What about Kaleb?" I yelled. Oh no, what if they got him and his family? I would never forgive myself, this is my entire fault. I shouldn't have gone hunting, everyone else survives without hunting. Why can't I?

I gripped my spear tighter and let him go, turning in the direction of District 12.

"Where are you going?"

"To save my dad and Kaleb and his family, I can't just run from my problems, that's not the answer Ryder. You may think that's the answer because that's all you do but not me!" Ryder frowned at me before opening his mouth to speak.

"I didn't think you were into gossip… there was no baby, she lied and people found out and she left on her own. I didn't run, I didn't hide, I faced the rumours and whispers" Ryder strided towards me and snatched my spear from my hands. What he did next surprised me; he bent down and lifted me over his shoulder so my head was directly at his ass and the bag on my back pulled all the weight to the top of my body "Even though you just hurt my feelings, which you still haven't apologised for, I am not going to let you commit suicide by going back there"

"Ryder put me down" I tried to struggle but he had a good grip on my legs.

"Nah, I think I like the view when I turn sideways" he said referring to my ass "Don't tell me you don't like your view" I scoffed; he was so cocky, even at the worst of times. In a way I was grateful for his good mood but if he can't be serious then we are screwed. Ryder started walking in some direction which I'm guessing isn't towards District 12 and keeps letting his hand travel a little too far up my thigh.

"You'd better not fart or I will have to kill you" I growled propping my elbows just above his butt and putting my head in my hands "You know this isn't exactly the most comfortable position"

"I don't care, if I let you down you will run away, or fight me or something and frankly I am too happy to fight you" I groaned and struggled a bit more. Surely he will get tired soon.

We had been walking for ours, and by me I mean Ryder, he still wouldn't let me down, I don't blame him though. I won't run away though, which I have tried to convince him considering I don't even know where we are or where we're going or if we're even close to anything. I couldn't feel my stomach anymore, his hard shoulder dug into it so much that it numbed itself to get rid of the pain, I can guarantee I will have a bruise tomorrow.

"Do you want to play a game?" Ryder offered.

"No" I grumbled, I really needed to pee but Ryder was convinced that I was just saying that to get away. I think he knows I won't run but he is enjoying it all too much.

"I spy with my little eye, something beginning with….. L"

"Loser"

"No"

"Lame game"

"No"

"Looney"

"No"

"Lard ass"

"Hey!" Ryder chucked my legs back making me face plant in the dirt. I groaned and rubbed my head glaring up at him "My ass is perfect the way it is!" he pouted. I huffed and stood up; I wouldn't actually know what his butt looked like because I wasn't looking at it, I swear I kept my eyes on the ground "And by the way, it was lion" Ryder pointed off into the distance where a big mountain was staring at us "And I am not a loser or a lame per-" I jumped at him shushing him and covering his mouth, the lion was snarling and looking at us as if we were its lunch.

"Don't talk, don't make any sudden movements" I whispered staring the Lion down, they say you should stay still and keep eye contact, or was that wild dogs? Oh god I can't remember! What if I get us killed because it sees me as a threat, trying to prove my dominance or something crazy that I am just rambling to myself over. I sighed and moved to grab the closest weapon I could reach. As soon as I twitched my hand the lion pounced.

"No!" Ryder swiftly grabbed his axe and swung at the pouncing lion taking its head clean off. I gasped as it fell to the ground without a head "Ew" Ryder squeaked like a little girl dropping his axe, shaking his hands and hopping from foot to foot "ew, ew, ew, ewww" I couldn't help but laugh at Ryder, he reminded me of a child, of Kaleb's sister when she saw Kaleb and I kiss in front of her. My small chuckles turned into hysterical laughter and soon I was on the ground clutching my stomach and crying from laughter. Ryder stopped his fussing and watched me with concern as my laughter turned to sobs and I was crying. He didn't look like he knew what to do with a crying girl.

Ryder leant over to me as he were leaning over to the head, he was hesitating and patted me slowly on the back with his fingers as if I were a rabid dog.

"I can't believe what's happening, it's my entire fault. If I just died then none of this would have happened, everyone would be safe, you would be home with your family and not out here. My dad would be safe and Kaleb… I have put everyone in danger by living. Sometimes I just wish, I just wish that bitch was better at killing someone then none of this would have happened. I would be dead and everyone would be better off" I sobbed, by now Ryder had come to the ground with me and wrapped his arms around me.

"I don't have family. That's why I was at the fence when you were sneaking back in. my sister died, my only reason to live died because I couldn't provide for her, she was so fragile and sick, I didn't even realise she was dead at first, I have always had trouble waking her up and I just thought it was one of those days… I was at the fence because I was hoping it was on, I prayed that I could just throw myself on it because I had nothing left. But then I saw you trying so hard not to touch it so you could get back to your family and I thought 'maybe she is different from everyone else, maybe she will give me a chance' but you were like the rest of them, you judged me on the stories before you got to know me, you didn't even want to get to know me. Even when I helped you, you just stared at me like you hated me" Ryder's hand was tight around my shoulder and he looked about to join me while I was still crying.

"I'm sorry" I whispered to him, squeezing his hand.

"No you're not!" he ripped his hand from mine and stood in anger "You're only saying that because you're stuck with me. Even when I do something like save your life you still don't appreciate it. You and everyone else treat me like dirt and I'm sick of it… Now, I am leaving and it's your choice to follow me or not" I wiped my tears following him as he stalked away and tip toed around the lion. I didn't know what to say to him, he obviously wasn't accepting an apology. I really was sorry, I didn't know any of that was going on and I certainly didn't know I was acting that way towards him.

All I knew was that this was going to be a long trip.

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT

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