Chapter 4

Risk

Garrett's View

It's eight-o-clock. All of us are at the Oak tree, going through supplies. Everything is in order and we are leaving. I'm terrified of losing my life or the life of my friends. Even when we get past the gate we are not home free. Even when we are deep in the woods, mountains, or whatever lies ahead we will be in danger. Never in my life have I been as cautious as I was throughout today.

"Garrett, it's time," Sammie whispers in my ear. She is right; it is just dark enough to see a few feet in front of us. However you would have to be in close range to see us running. We will be fine, if we get a head start. For some reason though I have a sneaking suspicion that we are being watched. I tell myself that it is just my imagination; it's time to be a big boy and grow up. I cautiously follow the others running to the gate. Still, I feel someone behind me. Quickly I glance, but see no one. Pushing the thought back in my mind, I raise my speed. The fence is in sight!

We begin throwing our valuables, everything we will survive off of over the fence. It is always electrified here in District Four; the capitol knows we are strong. They do not doubt our strength here. Alex nods to Laney and I know what they are ready to get out of here. They cup their hands as Keegan helps Sammie into them. The three quickly, I don't know what's the word, cradle, her over the fence. "Whoa," I whisper yelled. They all giggled. Sammie hit the ground on her knees, but seemed to be okay. Then Torrence was flung over in the same manor. This confused me though, wouldn't two people be left behind. Alex and Keegan switched places, flinging Alex over as I thought about this. "Guys, how is this going to get all of us over," I murmured.

"It's not," Keegan answered quickly, "but don't worry we have it figured out." I just stared at her and then glanced around. Jarred and Damien stepped up to fling the girls over, though it was not near as smooth. Keegan hit the ground with a thud and let out a scream. A peacekeeper was heading this way; we could hear the footsteps and see the light of a torch. The girls ducked in the grass on the other side of the fence. We kicked our remaining supplies away that had not been thrown, just as the peacekeeper came up. "Boys," he questioned in a severely harsh way.

"We were playing catch and I fell," Damien answered a bit too quickly. He nodded to the mud stain on his pants.

"I suppose that's why the scream sounded like that of a girl, and a ball is absent of the scene?" We had no answer. The peacekeeper looked us up and down. "I let you go once today with the fish. I see that I shouldn't have Damien. You know you really will scare your parents if you run off boys. It will only make things worse for them," he said. Whoa, the peacekeeper was Damien's uncle. He had us all figured out to. We could be killed right now. Millions of thoughts flashed in my mind. Damien was going to be separated from Alex. He wouldn't be able to stand it. For once I was glad that I had no one. It had always bothered me that I had no one. People always thought of me as a friend, nothing more. At least that's what I believed. This was the first time I was ever glad about that. Of course I did have feelings for a certain girl over that fence, but I had never taken a chance with them. The Peacekeeper began to speak again, "I see you do not care. Go, boys. Save Panem and take care of the one who fell. I know your plans, and I'ts dangerous, but you are the chosen ones." The peacekeeper then pulled some device out of his pocket. With the touch of a button the fence let out a huge shock, and then went dead. He stepped forward to open the gate for us. "Get out. Go save Panem." We all hit the ground running to the vast, tall sea of grass. Was this forgotten territory of district five?

I heard more whispers as we ran, more footsteps, but still believed that I was being paranoid. No one around here would be following us. Sammie came beside me interrupting my thoughts. I smiled down at her. "We're out," I whispered. She nodded, obviously still worrying about her young brother. Jarred and her probably had a huge discussion over that, but it just had to be let go. We, the seven of us, have to save Panem. Chaos is taking control of everything our country knows.

Torrence's View

I ran as fast as my short legs would carry me, a bit behind most of my friends. Sammie and Garrett were running silently behind everyone. I smiled at the thought.

Suddenly Keegan went crashing to the ground. She was screaming a stream of words I would normally hit her for, but I could see why even from yards away. An arrow was sticking out of her thigh. Kids all over our district had begun secretly learning to use them, but not outside of the gates. It was too much trouble. This was someone skilled, someone who wanted to slow us down. Everyone went running to her, but I took a detour. I ran through the tall grasses, where I could not be seen, in the direction from which the arrow had flown. Before I knew it a hand was over my mouth and I was being held from behind. I could smell alcohol. Not the kind you would drink, but rubbing alcohol, as if it were of District Two. From the smell I knew they were most likely going to try and knock me out. Who were they? What did they want? There was no time to think. I threw my head back along with the force of my entire body. I now had just enough time to punch the person.

Apparently enough commotion had been caused to bring everyone else our way. Jarred and Damien went zipping behind me. A large crash and muffled scream was all I could hear. "Okay, okay you win," moaned a pained voice. Immediately I recognized the voice. I jumped around faster than you can say turn. Why the heck was Malcolm out here? Malcolm is the Head Peacekeeper of our district! I looked at hid bloodied face and bruising eyes. We did this? Awesome, I hated Malcolm. I wondered if I did that to his eye. After a harsh questioning we found out that all head peacekeepers were living on the outside of each district, with some amazing food shipped daily, in search of run a ways. The arrow had been removed from Keegan's leg but, we forced him to get us medicine for Keegan, before going any further. The man agreed to whatever we said; he had a complete fear of us!

We went through all of his food, stashing up on anything that would keep. We robbed his weapons (which consisted of about three knives and a bow that had about 4 arrows). As all of this went on I kept feeling watched. Something was amiss. Things were going a bit too smoothly.

(A.N/ sorry it's kind of short everyone. Updates will be more frequent soon, but it's becoming hard between school and swim team)