I remember that I stood there, not moving a single muscle observing my situation.

There was no way for me to run past him and get to the clearing. He would catch me in a seconds. The thought alone made me shiver. The only way I could escape was running away from him, deeper into the forest.

Cato's words flashed though my mind. Maybe I will get killed after all.

Now when the trees were whizzing past me, my feet thundering on the forest floor, twigs crunching under the soles I don't know why I didn't scream for help. I wasn't that far from the Cornucopia. Too late for that now.

I risked a glance behind me, my eyes widening at the small distance between our bodies. I tried to push my legs faster but I hit my limit and now I was gradually slowing down. Tears of desperation were stinging in my eyes, blurring my vision. I wanted to escape but my body wasn't strong enough to run faster and longer.

With each leap, my thighs and calves burned more and more, making me unable to lift them properly. I moved my arms faster hoping that it will help, my hands reaching out to keep branches slapping me in the face.

I had a stitch in my side, my lungs burning with each hurried breath that I took.

My mind wasn't focusing on what I was supposed to do. What I should do. The only thing I could think of where how longer I'll be able to last and that I have to keep running. So don't chastise me for being caught of guard when Vale lunged at me, his hands grasping my shoulder, the other one sneaking around my throat. His whole weight was put on me. We fell down on the grass in a pile of limbs. We rolled and then we came to a stop.

My head was spinning and I was aware of how everything hurts. I closed my eyes for a moment, the picture of trees dancing in front of my eyes.

I lay there, my legs numb and muscles frozen from the torture I put them through. My hand blindly reached to my side, feeling the leaves and grass blades tickling my palm.

I opened my eyes again and was met with a canopy of tree crowns above us...us...

In that moment I realized a dead weight on my chest and neck. Vale's hand stayed in the same spot when we fell, clinging to my throat in panic. I scrambled away from his form on my four's.

After I was a few meters away from him, I stopped and turned around to look at him.

His jacket was ripped in places, leaves and dirt in his orange hair. He was pale in the face, his forehead waxy, but smeared with blood.

I rubbed the spot on my neck, my eyes darting back and forth. That's when I noticed the small hill we tumbled from. I half expected to see a blonde head coming down after me but I saw no one.

Stupid. I chastised myself in my head. Why did I told Cato to give me more time?

I pushed myself up, standing shakily on my legs. My hand reached to my belt, hoping to find ridiculously small, almost tiny blade that Clove gave me when I returned with Marvel. She took the big knife from my hands and pushed this toothpick in them instead. I think I'll have to thank her. I would have impaled myself on it. I slowly walked closer to Vale's body, curious to see if he was alive. I couldn't see his chest rising or falling so I came even closer.

I reached my hand and held it above his mouth to feel if he was breathing or not. After holding it there for a couple of seconds I let out a sigh of relief, the muscle in my arm relaxing from it's tense state.

The person I was so afraid of, was lying dead in front of me, because we fell down the hill.

I let my hand fall on the grass next to my boots as I was crouching next to his body. So this is how it ends? No grand finale, just a bump to head? Though I can't say that I am disappointed.

I would have thought I would shield away from a dead body, but knowing to whom the body belongs, I strangely don't mind it.

And just when I made the slightest move to get up, the hand that should have never moved again did. He gripped my arm and tugged strongly until I fell on top of him. In a seconds he had me under him, his hand on my throat, squeezing. His other hand was holding down my arms, making me unable to move.

I layed on the grass, my eyes widening in shock staring into dull brown that belonged to Vale. Blood trickled down his forehead, his orange hair tousled.

He bowed his head in exhaustion and I craned my neck to get away from him. I wiggled my hand, pulled and tugged but without success.

"Why are you making this so difficult?" He complained quietly. I stared right at the trees, terrified of looking into his eyes. I wiggled under his weight hoping we would roll over and I would run away, but no luck.

"How are you doing?" He asked, his question making me snap my eyes back to his, even though I didn't want to. What kind of question is that?

"Please, go away.." I said quietly, my eyes back on the leaves.

He chuckled roughly and strengthened his hold on my throat. "I asked you something. And you should answer." He reprimanded me, like a mother would a child. A very bad mother.

I stayed quiet, stretching my neck. His nails were scratching my skin, making my insides crawl with every touch.

I tried to remember how much time has passed if Cato went looking for me. Now I hoped that he would go against my wishes and go after me earlier than I told him.

"Answer me!" Vale shouted into my face, a few drops of his saliva dropping on my face. Tears sprung into my eyes, tugging my hand from his hold. His long nails tearing skin on my wrists. Every single nerve that sent a bolt of pain into my brain only made me tug harder, my mind focused on this action only.

Oh, I was sure I reeked of fear and desperation. The itching to get away was making me lose my nerves. I shook my legs trying to kick him, but I couldn't even lift them properly. My whole body shook, my vision tunnelling.

"Have it your way than." He said in a sinister voice, the hand that was holding mine let go, trailing it slowly across my forehead, down my cheek to my jaw and settling itself of my throat. I kept my head on the side, hoping it would make it harder for him to strangle me. Tears were falling across the bridge of my nose, joining their siblings, creating a tiny stream.

The pressure of his hand was intensifying terribly slowly, almost making me scream at him to hurry up and get over it. Dry and sharp grass blades smeared the tears, my eyes hopelessly searching for a flash of blonde hair, my ears hoping to catch a string of curse words aimed at me for taking so long.

But I never saw or heard something that would make the pressure of his hands go away.

Nothing.

Just then a thought flashed though my mind. So this is the end? That's all? No fight, no shouting? I still refused to look him into the eyes. He won't be last thing I would ever see. No matter how much of me he has under his control, he will not have the last remaining pieces.

I searched for something familiar.

I wished for Morris to walk towards me, telling me to go and play with him and Rue. In this tiny flicker of moment I was proud of what I told him at last.

Among the greenery around me, a small pink flower grew and it made me almost smile. When searching for home I looked for things that you rarely ever find. Now thing I'll never find again. This were those kind f flowers that grew around our house. They weren't exact copies. They only resembled their color and the shape of their petals. But that was enough for me.

Vale's hands were crushing my neck, his fingers digging deep into my neck. I searched with my hands blindly around, trying to find something to save my life.

I opened my mouth to breathe while I could but the pressure was too strong. My mouth was open, lips parted wide and my eyes rolling back. Lungs were starting to burn, my stomach heaving up and down trying to get precious air in.

Something pricked my finger and my eyes widened more than possible.

Oh I didn't hesitate.

Wat I had to do was clearer than spotless sky.

So I did it.

His hands went slack around my throat and I took the deepest breath in my life so far. My lungs didn't cease to burn but the cool air soothed them like a balm. I kept my mouth open to get as much oxygen in as I could. I stopped taking in what was happening around me. I didn't notice that Vale's hands were no longer on me. My head spun as if I stood up too quickly. Rushing blood was loud in my ears and the sunlight seemed brighter than ever before.

The fire that burned in my body was replaced with air that seemed like liquid ice. The desperation and hopelessness was gone. The cold soothed me and calmed me down and I welcomed it with opened arms.

It seemed like a lifetime, though only few seconds passed . The leaves may have shimmered a few times only and yet I would have believed a young tree rose from the ground.

Something warm touched my lips and I was reminded of the ones that touched mine not that long ago.

But it wasn't the only place. There was one on my cheek, and another. Next on my jaw and one under my left eyes. My tongue darted out in a second nature and I was met with a taste of iron and copper.

Before I had the chance to react something warm trickled down the inside of my mouth into my throat.

Blood.

Not mine.

My eyes stopped taking in all the sensations of newborn and I realized that Vale was propped on one arm above me, his other hand cradling his throat. Dark red, almost black blood was flowing between his fingers down his torso on mine chest. The knife stabbed in his neck was stained with blood and mud as it lay previously on the ground. Blood spurted out from the wound, some if it landing on my skin.

I scrambled on my knees, getting as far away from him as possible, knocking him on his back in the process. He didn't even tried to soften his landing, his body hitting the ground hard. My stomach heaved, my gag reflexed kicking in.

When I was few feet away from him I stopped and watched in horror as the blood painted his shirt dark red. I could still see his face clearly. His skin was getting yellow-grey tone, his dull brown eyes gradually loosing their life.

The hand that was holding the knife was slowly slipping from the handle, his breathing shallower.

In his last seconds of life, his looked at me. A single translucent tear fell from his eye mixing with drops of blood giving in strange dark pink tint.

"CORY!" A strong voice bellowed from the forest, snapping me out of the daze. My head whipped around, eyes travelling up the slope we fell from hoping to see the giant frame that belonged to Cato.

Even though I opened my mouth to holler back, my voice got stuck and I let out a raspy sound. My hand flew to my throat feeling coarse half-moon shaped lines under my fingertips, skin bruised and sore.

I rubbed my throat disbelievingly, forgetting for a moment that Cato was near. I could still feel Vale's hand caressing my jaw and his nails digging into my skin.

Someone grabbed me from behind suddenly and I screamed as loud as I could out of shock, my throat bursting in flame. Vale's touch was still frozen in my mind and with that I turned around on spot hitting the person in a frantic manner. Fists flying in every direction, rarely getting chance to hit something. They flew through the air like a rag dolls, slowly loosing their swing and power.

I expected a feed back and someone trying to overpower me. But as my hands travelled through the air, they landed in a soft grip. I stopped my movements, my head bowed, scared to look.

The big hands encased my own, lowering them, curling around them protectively.

They were big, paler than mine. But not Vale's kind of cold pale. These hand a soft golden brown glow and were familiar. Their feather like soft touch, the sense of comfort and safety their brought me.

My eyes travelled upwards seeing the familiar red shirt and rolled up jacket. Strong jaw, chiselled lines, soft lips and trusting blue eyes. I let my head fall to his chest, his lips brushing across my forehead. I quickly wrung my hands from his and threw them around his torso, squeezing hard in an attempt to get as close to him as possible. My hands wet with blood were sliding down his bare arms and every time I reached again to grasp them.

I didn't even realize he started humming an unfamiliar tune into my hair, his hand pressing me closer to him.

"It's okay. I'm here now." He mumbled and made me look him into his eyes. I would have noticed the rage and fury that was threatening to break to the surface, but the only thing I noticed were his eyes and his lips that were repeating the soothing mantra all over again and I had those words embedded in my mind.

I wrung my hands, finding that the blood was already dry and was coming down in flakes. My eyes were watching in it in disgust and perversed fascination.

"Hey.." Said Cato and put one finger under chin and raised my head. "Eyes on me." He instructed. I nodded almost unnoticeably.

"You're safe now. You get it?" He asked with a small raise of eyebrows.

"Yes." I answered back, my throat hurting.

Cato sighed, closing his eyes and putting his arm around my shoulders keeping me close to his warm body. Tears were silently falling from my eyes and I let them.

A gurgling sound reached my ears and I instantly froze. As if a plumb was broken and stuffed, yet the thick, heavy liquid was trying to escape.

Cato stepped away from me, his eyes looking over my shoulder with ease. His features hardened and the arm that was around me went to the sword he had strapped to his belt.

When he made a move to go to him, I caught his hand pleading with my eyes to not let me alone. He gave me a comforting squeeze, but didn't move at all. He leaned towards, grabbing my hands, saying : "Stay here. I'll be right back. Put your hand on your ears and sing a song to yourself. Do not uncover them untill I'll be back."

"Don't go." I said, shaking my head.

"Cory, stop." He commanded softly. "Listen to me and do as I told you."

I sighed, putting my hands on my ears. I cringed when I felt the dirt touching my skin, yet keeping them in place. I started humming some random tunes that I remembered my mom sung occasionally when I was little, blocking out any sounds.

Cato allowed a small smile grace his lips, giving me a nod and then he disappeared from my vision.

And I let him go.

I stood there alone, without any idea of what was going on behind me. The seconds that I was counting in my head were longer than days.

Possible scenarios were appearing in my mind and curiosity killed the cat.

I lifted my hands a little above my ears, lowering the volume of my humming.

I heard some hushed whispers, painful gurgles and then the sound of sword being unsheathed. I waited and waited and waited...

And then came the sound I will never forget.

Rarely I ever saw mum cutting or portioning meat. I saw people killing ducks with one swift stroke of an axe. I was there when Marvel hit Rue with the spear like a bull's eyes.

But this was the sound of savagery and cold blood. The sword scraping the skin teasingly and slowly burying itself deeper and deeper, cutting through muscle, tearing arteries and crushing bones.

Mixed with the sound of childish tunes of forgotten lullaby makes you think twice...

...and than the canon boomed through the forest, Cato's hand suddenly in mine, feeling the coldness of the sword that was there mere second ago and I walked away sneaking a glance behind me.

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Hi!

Thanks to You all: XRadioactiveX, Meerage, NicZ99, Willow Tree 26, Bailey Michelle, NicZ99, I'm a unicorn, Regin, ehluvr3, choosingeveryonedarling, Sirius'onlylove

I can't believe I posted another chapter so... sooo.. SOOO LATE! But here it is after all. It's a bit like an a butcher's, but it had to happen someday. I'm actually writing another fanfiction now about Sherlock and have some idea for Supernatural, so tell me if you would be interested in reading it.

Bailey Michelle: Not soon, but here after all :)

NicZ99 : Thank You very much!

I'm a unicorn: Thanks a lot. I'm thankful for every single review I get. It means a lot.

Regin: And I love You!

ehluvr3: Never in million years would I think that. And I'm not stopping it. I hate unfinished fanfictions. I just had a ugly thoughts about my writing so I told you all about it. Thank You for staying with this story and me.

Thank You for reading.

Klaudia