Hi, everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was music and soda filled and without much sleep. XD But I wrote this for you! So..yay! heehee:3
I have a couple people I'd like to thanks -
Norbert's Mom and Texas-Devil-Or-Angel for being such amazing reviewers! Thank you, guys! Really!
And also - firefox157 for being such an amazing friend and beta for the the last two chapters! She helps me sound un-stupid ;)
Where were we? Oh yeah!
FI-YAH!
Enjoy!
Fire. Burning. Flames. Hot. Ashes. Smoke.
The forest. The damn, bone-dry forest. The one with the trees so dry the bark flakes off.
It just so happens that it's the perfect setting for a raging forest fire.
I wish I could say that it was an accident. That some imbecile of a tribute left their fire going deep in the woods. But it's not. This is Gamemaker manufactured. Because last time I checked, most normal forest fires didn't shoot canon balls of flames.
One whizzes by my head, singeing off a few hairs– a slight burn on my scalp. The stinging makes me pick up the pace. Cato is on my heels – dragging Clove by the hand. She's dead on her feet, though, so he's doing most of the work. I can't see Marvel and Glimmer. I just hope they're alright. I'm sure they're fine. They were the first to run.
I can hear shrieks from behind me. I turn around to see Rue dodging multiple fire balls as they zoom at her head. They're coming fast and from every angle.
That's not even fair! She's twelve! Take a shot at me!
Why've they stopped shooting at me?
Because they're targeting her.
In a fit of panic, she stumbles over a fallen tree. Her foot catches on one of the roots still attached to the ground and she collapses, twisting her ankle before falling on top of it. My heart stops.
She's done. It's probably sprained. And you can't run with a sprain.
She screams out in terror and pain, tears running down her cheeks.
And suddenly – I don't see Rue anymore. My vision splits in two and in one picture – it's the dark haired angel in front of me. In the other, it's Prim laying on the ground, clutching her ankle – sobbing.
I run back, brushing arms with Cato. I can hear him shouting at me to stop and run, but I ignore him. Rue sees me coming at her and she recoils – probably scared I'm going to take a cheap shot at her. She curls into a ball facing away from me.
I place a hand on her shoulder and shake her. "We have to keep moving!"
She looks up at me, doe eyes wide and confused. I help her up off the ground. "Get on my back," I command, bending down at the knees. I feel a slight weight pull me down – but she's hardly anything. I feel like I'm running home from school with a backpack on.
The fire's growing. And fast. It's spreading out and around, caving in on us. I see Cato ahead. He turns around briefly – just long enough to scream my name before a blazing tree falls between us. Our path is gone.
"Hang on," I tell Rue. I take a sharp turn left. The fire isn't as thick this way and there are fewer obstacles on the ground. But the smoke is thicker here – the wind is blowing it this direction – my sight limited.
The tree to my right, one that is in touching distance, is struck with a ball of fire. Ear-shattering loud. And for a minute – the world goes quiet. A high pitched ringing the only thing I can hear.
Am I deaf?
The flames from the tree quickly spread along the entire right side of the path. The left catching fire quickly as well. Pretty soon, the woods transformed into a runway from Hell.
The Gamemakers take one last shot at me – not necessarily to hit me – but to scare me witless.
The ball of flame coils out like fingers and forms pictures.
A woman is a dress, twirling. And she smiles.
You've got to be kidding me.
The girl on fire. Just for me.
She suddenly flies towards me and I duck in an attempt to protect Rue, but I guess her "hand" brushes gently along my calf because suddenly my entire leg is searing with pain.
Where do I go?
I can make out a large rock structure ahead of us through the smoky haze. It isn't a cave – but more like a crevice that goes all the way through to the other side. It's slim – but we just might be able to squeeze through.
"Rue," I call over the roar of the fire. My voice cracks with pain. "You're going to have to trust me. Okay?" I feel her chin brush my shoulder in a nod. Good enough for me. I pull her off my back and push her in first. She's small enough that she can fit through fairly effortlessly. Her limp is bad, though. She stumbles often; and I can hear her whimpers when she puts weight on her bad foot. I follow closely behind her, having to shimmy side ways to get by. The rocks are sharp and cut and tear at my clothes and skin. I catch my bad leg and just about bite through my tongue.
This isn't fair.
I guess it's better than fighting fire.
When Rue breaks through the end of the pathway, she drops to the ground instantly, pulling up her pant leg to inspect herself. She winces as she takes off her boot. I clamber out of the crevice and fall beside her, pulling up my pant leg as well – or try to. Blood and burnt flesh stick to the fabric and I grit my teeth. This is worst pain I've ever felt and an embarrassing grunt passes through my lips.
Rue notices.
"Are you okay?"
I can't form words – the burn is too agonizing. I just nod.
"No you're not," she says, sitting up on her knees and crawling my way. "Let me look."
Rue seems sweet and knowledgeable, so I let her. She prods it gingerly with her fingers, trying to remove the sticking fabric so she can fully get to the wound. Thankfully, her hands are chilled, her touch feels soothing. As she works on my leg, I notice how normal her coloring is. She wasn't thirsty –
"I have just the thing for this," Rue tells me, smiling. She unties the belt from around her waist – a small pouch. Inside, I manage to catch a glimpse of her belongings – a small knife and a silver canister.
She pulls out the sparkling container and pops off the lid, revealing a chunky, clear cream. "This may sting a little," she warns before smearing some on her fingers and pressing it to my calf.
I hiss. It's freezing. I wouldn't say it stings – but it's a shocking cold. She gently spreads it around, apologizing whenever she hits a tender spot that makes me flinch. All in all, after a few minutes – my leg goes numb. And it feels beautiful.
"Better?"
"Much better," I confirm. "Thank you."
She shakes her head. "I should be thanking you. You saved my life. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't stopped for me."
"It was nothing," I dismiss. "Where did you get that by the way?" I nod towards the canister in her hand.
"Sponsors, I guess. I got a nasty cut from Clove on my first day," she points to her ribs cage. I'm surprised she's still alive. "And I when I woke up the next morning, there it was – sitting by my feet. It didn't have a parachute or anything…"
It seemed fishy. District 11 wasn't rich and Rue wasn't a likely champion – so how did she obtain such an expensive donation?
"It's lucky you have it, though. You never know when you are going to need it." Rue tries to stand up, but she's wobbly on her feet due to the sprain.
"Too bad it doesn't work on twisted angles," she mumbles dejectedly.
"You'll be okay," I reassure – even though I don't know if she actually will. "Just take it easy. The only thing you can do is rest it."
She nods at my words, taking a few steps as if testing out her foot and looks back at me.
"Thank you again, Peeta," she whispers. "And may the odds be in your favor." She walks away without another word.
What are the chances that the Careers are dead?
I have good feeling about Cato and Clove – but Marvel and Glimmer? I haven't seen any signs of them since the fire wall descended. And if Glimmer didn't die from the fire, then she's probably dead from dehydration. Marvel and Clove are a close second.
I decide that before I try to find the Careers again, I should get another drink of water. It's been a while. And I can't wait around for them forever. Right now, I come first.
It's for the best. Let them die this way. It's easier. No blood on your hands.
Would that be true? If I let them wander off on their own and die would it really not be my fault? I wouldn't have to witness it. They'd do it on their own out in the woods somewhere.
And after they're gone – the Games would be easy…
Do it.
I – I – I can't…
"Where you going?" I hear someone sneer. "Don't you want to play a Game?"
I turn around frantically, assuming the words were meant for me. But I'm alone. No one is here.
"I'm not really a sports person I'm afraid."
"That's okay. We can make an exception."
The taunting conversation is going on somewhere nearby – and I recognize two female voices: Glimmer's – and….
No.
No. No. No.
It can't be.
I sprint, ignoring the sharp sting that remains in my leg.
Please be okay. Please be okay.
This is what I promised myself I wouldn't let happen. This is what I promised Haymitch. This is what I promised her.
God, damn it.
And through the thicket of bushes only yards away is what I feared most. For a moment, I almost wish I was dehydrated and hallucinating.
Because through that thicket of bushes only yards away is a laughing girl, perched up in a tree as Glimmer attempts to shoot arrows at her.
And that girl is Katniss Everdeen.
Oh! Why hello, Katniss! It's lovely to see you again!
I heart reviews, favorites, and follows. A LOT.
And on an additonal note - I've had a couple people message me asking if I was planning on doing a continuation to INL and writing up a version of Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
My answer - I have no idea.
After this is finished - my main project focus will be getting WTCTM revised and written - which might take a while. I've got 20 chapters in the bank at the moment (only have about a quarter of them are completely revised) and the story is sitll not finished. To be honest- this story could end up being over fifty chapters. It's ridiculous. I have the outline done. But...wow. It's LONG. I'm excited for you guys to read it.
But here! I have a deal for you.
I will do CF and MJ rewrites if...I get... 200 REVIEWS. DUN. DUN. DUN.
We shall see :D
Thanks everyone for the support!
