It took me a while to write this chapter because I had absolutely no idea what to do with Louis. A lot of people love him, and I do too. So I came up with a plan. The poll is on my profile. Vote! It's very important. Enjoy!
I do not own anything besides Hannah and Louis. Sorry, no Dimitri in this chapter.
I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
How Far We've Come- Matchbox 20
I leaped off the platform and onto the wet grass. I found it odd that the Gamemakers did the same arena they did last year.
Well something very similar to last year.
Past the forest was a beach. The water was probably poisoned or something.
My feet raced towards the cornucopia and I grabbed a backpack.
Right when I thought I was safe a knife hurdled into my side. Someone tackled me to the ground.
He took the knife out from my side, and right before he plunged it into my heart, Louis came for me.
He kicked the boy off me before stabbing him with a spear.
BOOM!
My vision started to blur from all the blood. I needed to get out.
"Hannah, wait!" Louis called out for me, but I was about to pass out and I needed to get away.
Once I was out of breath, I started to climb.
What I didn't realize that there were heavy footsteps trailing behind me.
I felt a pair of hands slither around my waist. The figure grabbed a hold of me. I was hyperventilating now. There was no doubt he was going to kill me.
"Gotcha," the male voice said, "You're not going anywhere."
"What do you want?" I choked out.
He threw me against a tree and put the sword up to my throat.
"You're coming with me." He gripped my hand tightly. He could cut my circulation off. My feet became wobbly. There was blood splattered all over him. I started to fall backwards, but his strangling grip caught me.
"So how'd you score that 12, 12?" He inquired.
My mouth became dry. I couldn't focus with all the blood. My eyes became droopy and my throat started to burn.
I barfed.
"EW!" He cried, I laughed at his reaction. He let go of me, and I made a run for it. I didn't make it far before he caught me.
"You never answered my question." He gritted his teeth.
"I'm not telling you." I spat at him.
"CATO! Where the hell are you?" So the boy's name was Cato.
"Over here. I got her." Cato called back.
I saw Butterface, Mrs. Harlot, and Angelina.
"So what do we do with her?" Mrs. Harlot asked while batting her eyelashes. I felt the urge to throw up.
How disgusting?
"Keep her. She's a threat, obviously. She scored a 12." Cato rolled his eyes at her. I couldn't help but grin at her rejection.
"What are you smiling about? We could kill you like that." She said while snapping her fingers.
"Please." I scoffed.
"Watch." She started to step towards me with her knife. She was pretty deadly with a knife, except she didn't always hit the bull's eye. Butterface held her back.
"That bitch is going to die a painful death." She said between gritted teeth. All I could do was smile.
"Where's Louis?" Cato asked tightening his grip on me.
Louis! I completely forgot Louis was a part of the career pack.
"Gathering." Angelina answered.
"So how'd you get that damn 12?" Butterface asked me.
"Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough." I said as innocently as possible.
"CATO! ANGELINA! GLIGHT! JUK!" I recognized Louis' voice.
"HERE!" Screamed Mrs. Harlot. What a stupid thing to do. Now all the tributes know where we are. Damn her stupidity.
"14 dead. So I was able to fill 4 packs completely— what's she doing here?" Louis looked up at me.
"We're making sure we have an eye on her so she can't kill us." Angelina explained.
"Let's set up camp." Louis decided. We all walked back to the cornucopia. Cato still had a deadly grip on me.
After the walk in silence, we finally reached the cornucopia. Packs, weapons, and food were everywhere. Yet, not a tribute was in sight.
"12, which weapon do you prefer." Cato asked, once we stopped.
"None." I confessed.
"I could kill you right now." He threatened. I couldn't let my secret be revealed just yet.
"Knives." I lied.
"Angelina, knives" Angelina walked over to him.
"Glight's so going to be pissed that you got a 12 with knives." She said handing me a knife with a ragged edge. I stayed silent.
Before I knew it, it was already dark.
"I'll take first watch." Cato offered. Everyone just nodded in agreement.
"Here Louis, tie her up to that tree over there." Louis obediently nodded. He took me into his hold and walked me to the nearest tree which was at least 2 feet away.
"Sorry Hannah. I won't let anything bad happen to you." He promised as he tied my hand to the branch.
"You know what this reminds me of?" I questioned him.
"No." He simply answered.
"The Hanging Tree." I told him.
I could see that he was confused, "It's a song."
"How does it go?" He sat down beside me.
Instead of singing, I whispered the lyrics to a tune.
"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.
Are you, are you;
Coming to the tree.
Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."
"I like that song." He commented.
"Glad someone does," I replied, "A lot of people find it scary."
"Are you, are you coming to the tree?" I heard, and it wasn't my voice nor Louis'.
"Jabberjays." He told me.
"Never really liked them." I said as Louis finished tying my hands.
"Are you done, Louis?" I heard Cato come over.
"Yeah." Louis answered.
"Then come eat." He motioned for the District 4 tribute to join the rest of the careers at the fire.
"I'm good." He replied.
"Suit yourself." Mumbled Cato as he walked away.
"So how did you get that 12?" Louis piped.
"I can't tell you. Cameras are probably on us right now." I said.
"Oh." he sighed.
"But I can give you a hint." I offered.
"I'm listening." Louis replied.
"It had nothing to do with weapons." I could imagine Panem chattering with ideas.
Yet, not one person would be right.
"Then what's your ideal way of fighting?" Louis inquired.
"Hand-to-hand." I answered, closing my eyes.
"Okay?" He must think I'm crazy.
I'm the most underweight, thin, brittle person here and I choose hand-to-hand combat as my ideal way of fighting.
"Could you hand me a sleeping bag?" I asked him as my eyes started to droop.
Louis nodded and headed over to the packs.
He was so charming.
"Here you go." He handed me the black sleeping bag and started to roll out his.
"You're not going to sleep with the others?" I asked, confused.
"Nah, it'll be better here." He smiled.
"Are you sure? What if another tribute comes out?" I worried him.
"No one would hurt a career, especially when someone is taking watch. Stop worrying, Hannah. I'll be fine." He tucked himself into his sleeping bag.
He was so self-assured, that I felt so, too.
"Don't worry. If anyone comes near you, I'll protect you." Louis smirked.
"My hero." I laughed, pretending to be a damsel in distress.
And I somehow am.
Feeling safe around Louis, I fell into a dreamless sleep. And I waited for another day of death and despair.
There we have it! Again, vote on the poll. It's super, super, super, super important! Thanks and review! I'd also like to give a shout out to my amazing new Beta: Xylia Ren! Thanks for putting up with all my errors!