CHAPTER 7

"So that's it?" It's been a little over a week since the last broadcasting and nothing great has happened. The Peacekeepers came for everyone but were disappointed that no one was there; we had all quickly left and started on our way towards where the arena would be, well where we assumed it would be. Jessup swore he knew where it was and he had been waiting for this day since he was a little boy while Daniel just stood there not really doing anything. We had all agreed to stick together and not split up, and then Abaigael and Ryder decided to go off ahead and be scouts so they could warn us of any danger, they were scratching the trees where they were heading. Jessup was filling us in on all he knew about the arena. He had apparently worked in that room before but he quit when his brother went into the games, he refused to be a part of the games anymore.

"Yes, that's it, were you expecting something more?" Jessup said frustrated at Kaleb. We had been going over the same ideas for the past month and we still don't understand them very well. I was riding on Kaleb's back because I wasn't feeling very well, I have been feeling off lately and have been sick in a lot of bushes, I was leaning my head on his shoulder trying to rest. Kaleb was very comfortable and warm and made it easy to get comfortable on him.

"I was just wondering how it could be so easy! Wouldn't they have more security?"

"No genius, they are stupid and think that an electrified shield around the whole thing is enough to keep people in and out, but they are oblivious to the faulty entries we can use to get in that I set up in the shield. Katniss was smart enough to realise but the Capitol were dumb enough not to fix it"

"So, we can get in undetected?" I mumbled, I was so tired and sick, it wasn't fair. Why did I just get sick now?

"Yes, one of my inside sources has informed me of the arena this year" Johanna piped up, she was excited that she was useful "And he has also said that they are making the 'prisoners' train non-stop, they are looking for a big show, a lot of sponsors"

"You won't be doing anything if you don't get better young lady" Peeta said handing me a drink, I gave him a small smile, and drank the water. I felt like my stomach was turning and my head was pounding.

"Yes I will. I'm not leaving my dad" I jumped off of Kaleb's back steadying myself; I need to earn my part in this mission. 2 months can pass quickly when you are trying to reach the Arena on foot, but I have a feeling that we won't have the pleasure of time flying by "Kaleb?" I intertwined our fingers and rested my head on his shoulders, I was so tired.

"Yes?" he kissed my head and squeezed my hand.

"I love you"

"I love you too"

"Young love, I remember when I was young and in love" Peeta looked off into the sky probably reminiscing on the old days.

"Yeah, you almost died, you almost killed mum, then you almost died again" Kaleb joked. Peeta scoffed and shoved Kaleb a little, I let go of Kaleb's hand so he could play around with Peeta for a bit. They deserved their play time, they never get to muck around anymore and everything lately was so hectic that they needed a bit of time off from the seriousness.

"You okay?" I nodded at Annie, I was okay but I was tired and sick, it was probably just a cold that would pass sooner or later. Preferably sooner but as long as it goes away I'm okay. She gave me a small smile and grabbed my spear carrying it for me as if she knew something I didn't.

"Want to play a game?" I suggested to her and Johanna, they both laughed at my childishness but nodded. Ryder was rubbing off on me "Okay… anyone have any games?"

"I have one" Jessup growled "It's called the quiet game; let's see who can be quietest the longest?" Well someone was a bit grumpy today. He was a very grumpy person, he never cracked any jokes, he was mainly all about the mission.

"Hey! It's all clear up a head, we found these trees that are really close together and are in a circle so there's a bit of space in between them and we thought we might stay there for the night?" Abaigael and Ryder walked up to us smiling. It seems they have had a good time.

"Alright you take the sick one a head while we hunt for food, the boy will show us the way" Jessup said to Abaigael, I was offended to be known as the 'sick one' I wasn't that sick! I could hunt better than him if I was dying, I was the best hunter here and everyone knew it. I have been hunting all my life, literally. Abaigael grabbed my bag seeing me struggle with it and started leading me off.

"So, you and Ryder are getting pretty close" I nudged Abaigael in the shoulder.

"What are you talking about?"

"You two are always together"

"So?" I was so confused, I swear they like each other. If only they just saw it through someone else's eyes, Ryder was always sticking up for her and her him; they were always together and talking. I know they like each other even if they don't know it "Besides, I think he likes you" She said with bitterness.

"Well I highly doubt that, I'm with Kaleb" I stopped and leant on a tree, nausea was overcoming me and I felt like I was going to puke. I just want this sickness to hurry up and end. I bent over grabbing my stomach and dry reaching, I had nothing left to throw up, I had already thrown up breakfast and lunch. I wonder if I could at least keep down dinner because I was starving.

"Are you okay?" Abaigael placed a hand on my back rubbing circles, "come on, it's not far now" she grabbed my arm helping me walk "Can I ask you something?" She had parted the thin trees and helped me into the small clear area, it was like a few metres of fresh grass in the middle of tall bamboo trees which was weird.

"Go ahead" I grabbed some sharp rocks and tried to start a fire with them on the wood that Ryder and Abaigael had lay here.

"What's it like, having a dad?" I gave Abaigael a sad look.

"I could ask you the same about having a mum"

"My dad left us, he couldn't handle two of us, his loss mum says"

"Well I agree"

"Who's there?" We both stood holding out some weapons, me wavering a bit.

"I am who I am, I am who I was and I am who I will always be"

"Ryder" I stated, he is the only one who would ever say something so bloody stupid.

Ryder came into the little open area with his axe in hand.

"His loss" he said. Abaigael and Ryder shared a moment; they stared at each other, Abaigael going a bit red.

"Yeah well, I am pretty great" she flipped her hair over her shoulder and smirked at me.

"Having a dad is great" I smiled remembering all our good times together.

"Look at that Bell" I turned my head and watched the doe walk into view with a fawn following behind on wobbly legs.

"Please don't kill it daddy" I looked up at him with the most innocent face I could conjure.

"No, we don't kill the deer; we can't get them back without suspicion, deer's are lucky" dad tucked a small white flower behind my ear "Beautiful"

"Daddy?"

"Yes baby?"

"Am I as beautiful as mummy was?"

"Even more"

That was the first time I ever asked about my mum, it was my birthday and I just turned 8.

I was standing in the meadow with my dad; he had the day off so he decided to take me out to hunt. We hadn't done much hunting, more mucking about. I was holding my spear pointing it towards the river trying to aim for a fish while dad was dangling a bit of straw hay in my face, he would pull away every time I looked at him pretending to be watching me fish. I threw my spear and tackled dad with full strength.

"Whoa, whoa hold on there. Look" dad threw my small body off of him and pointed to the water. I looked down and squealed, I had caught a fish, unintentionally but still, I caught one! I squealed and jumped on dad, he swung me around then went to pick up my spear for me "I think we have found your specialty" Dad 'wooped' and handed me the spear.

That was my first successful hunt, I was 10 years old.

"Having a mum is good too, I'm lucky I had her when weird things started happening to my body"

"Would you care to explain?" Ryder winked placing an arm around her.

"No. but it was great, my mum is as good as a mum and dad put together, she is tough, protective and is also caring and motherly. She's great" I couldn't even imagine what she was talking about. You don't even want to know about the conversation I had with my dad when I got my first period.

"Who's hungry?" Kaleb and the others walked in with skinned rabbits and squirrels. I felt my stomach churn, I was starving but I couldn't even look at that.

"I'm going to be sick" this was just getting ridiculous now. I closed my eyes and covered my mouth breathing heavily trying to stop the smell of the flesh getting to me "This stupid bug better disappear soon before I starve to death"

"Suck it up" Jessup growled. Daniel rolled his eyes at his brother and sat next to Abaigael, they had been talking a lot. Well Abaigael had been talking to him while he just listened and showed acknowledgement.

"Hey! You'd better cut the attitude towards her" Peeta defended me. Ever since we had met up he has been like a father to me, he looks out for me and we have become very close. It was weird considering my dad tried to steal Katniss from him when they were my age, you'd think we would have some sort of tension but no, it's okay between us, unless dad is around.

"Whatever, I just remembered that I have something that could help us when we get to the arena. We will be going in blind but because I am a genius with the technology, I have tampered with one of my devices so that we can watch the Hunger Games and figure out where your friends are" I snatched the device from him and pressed the big red button. Nothing happened so I shoved it back into Jessup's chest.

"Well it doesn't work" I growled. I just wanted to get my dad back. Is that too much to ask?

"Of course it doesn't, we don't have any connection to the games out here when we get close it will pick up the transmissions and allow us to see everything the game makers see, we can see where the cameras are and how far they go. But I can guarantee that as soon as we get in there we will be seen. But we will not be moving until tomorrow so everyone had better get there good night's sleep"

I sat down next to Kaleb on the ground in front of the fire. I snuggled into his side and lay my head on his shoulder, I still felt sick but when I was still it helped a little. Kaleb rubbed circles on my back while keeping his lips against my forehead and kissing it.

"Abaigael, why don't you sing us a tune?" Johanna sat in-between Abaigael and Ryder, pushing Ryder away a little bit. Abaigael looked hesitant; she went red and shook her head.

"Come on freckles" Ryder got up and sat on the other side of her placing his arm around her shoulders "Do it for us, take our minds off of everything" we all egged her on, begging for her to sing. Abaigael took a deep breath and hummed a little bit before singing.

"Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where the dead man called out for his love to flee.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where I told you to run so we'd both be free.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

"Wow, you have a beautiful voice" Ryder whispered, it wasn't much of a whisper considering everyone heard it. Abaigael went red but gave him a weird look "You know, for a man" He quickly covered himself. The only thing that we laughed at was Ryder getting punched in the shoulder. I yawned widely and shut my eyes. Everyone was still chatting aimlessly while I just sat there listening to them all, they were talking about how Ryder was a useless hunter and how he didn't know what he was doing. I could feel Kaleb's chest vibrating with his chuckles, it felt nice to hear his heartbeat and know that he is safe besides me, that he won't let me go and that I am safe.

Everyone's voices drifted as I became more and more un aware of the world around me.

ABAIGAEL POV

"Mum!" I ran through the forest trying to find my mum and the others that were captured. I knew the captured would all stick together; they had to so we could find them. I had been separated from the others when we ran into another tribute. We all scattered, now I'm thinking of it that was a terrible idea.

"Abby!"

"Ryder?" I knew it was him, it had to be. No one else sounded that angelic. I screamed his name again and he screamed mine until we were a few metres away from each other. I went to run to him but something held me back in a vice grip. I looked behind me to see the Peacekeeper that had trapped me in the forest, he still had blood on his face, I screamed and turned back to Ryder. He would protect me, he would never let this man hurt me.

But Ryder wasn't the only one there and we weren't in the arena anymore. We were on a stage in front of everyone being held by Peacekeepers. Plutarch Heavensbee was holding my mum back, and various other peacekeepers I have seen before were holding back my other loved ones. I screamed as President Plutarch Heavensbee pointed a gun to mums head. BANG!

I shot up from the ground hyperventilating. Where was everybody? Why weren't they here? Why was I left here alone? I scrambled to my feet and felt the fire; it was freezing cold so no one had cooked breakfast on it before they left. There were no weapons left; they must have taken them all but why didn't they leave someone behind to make sure I didn't freak out? Unless something was wrong? I pulled back the trees and ran through them trying to find one person at least.

No one was close so maybe they were hunting for breakfast. I dearly hope so because if they left me I will be very upset and angry and I will hunt them down and skin them alive.

I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, they gripped tightly. They were trying to take me! I turned quickly swinging my arm around, whoever it was I was not going to let them get the upper hand on me. The person ducked and swung out there legs taking me down and restraining me by getting on top of me.

"Let go of me!" I struggled against them and looked into their eyes. It was Daniel. I mentally swore to myself and gave up, I nodded to let him know that I was okay and won't fight him anymore. Daniel got off of me and picked up his rabbit and wood he had dropped while fighting me "I'm sorry Daniel, I didn't know it was you" he gave me a small smile "Are the others close by?" He shook his head and dusted his pants.

I wonder why he chose never to speak again, did something so terrible happen in the games that it would cause him to stay mute? Perhaps he had to kill somebody he had known, a friend or lover? All these questions that I will never have answered.

ANNABELLA POV

I returned back to our little area after having to go pee for the millionth time this morning. I was feeling relatively better, no sickness feeling today which was great. I looked around the area panicking a little bit, where did Abaigael go? I left her right here while I went to pee. She must have gone to hunt with the others I guess.

"Let go of me!" I darted in the direction of the voice, it was Abaigael, and she sounded in trouble. I sprinted where I thought I heard the voice but I didn't find anything, maybe I went the wrong way? I can't hear her anymore, what if she's dead? I have failed her! I was breathing heavily from my running, I wasn't as fit as I should be and not to mention I am panicking!

I bent over in agony; my stomach had sharp pains running through it, it felt like I was being stabbed. I leant all my weight on a nearby tree, what was wrong with me? I felt like I was being put through torture.

"Hey? Anna, are you okay?" I straightened up my face, hiding my agonising pain from Ryder; I breathed deeply and stood slowly.

"Yeah I'm okay" he looked concerned and held my arm as I straightened myself up trying not to double over in pain; the pain was subsiding but it was still there. For once I let Ryder place his arm around me, it was comforting.

"So, when were you planning on telling everyone you were pregnant?"

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