Here's another chapter! I know it's crazy that another chapter is out so quickly after the previous one! I will try my absolute best to continue to publish the story as quickly as possible, but i'm going back to college in less than a week so I'm not going to make any promises! Anyways thank you for reading, favoriting and following the story! Enjoy!
Katniss is frantically sprinting towards the distant cries of her name. Every mask she's managed to use to disguise her true emotions has completely shattered. It's clear all the way here in District twelve that she is utterly terrified as to what she will find when she finally reaches her companion. Katniss rushes past tree branches and bounds over fallen logs as she desperately shouts, "Rue, I'm coming!" The camera then swaps back to the entrapped Rue under the netting, trembling.
As Rue grapples against the binding ropes, ruffles are heard and Katniss emerges into the clearing from the woods. Immediate relief is written all over Katniss' features at the sight of her scared, but unharmed friend. Rue notices Katniss as she approaches her and makes a reach out for her but her arm recoils just as a spear slices through her stomach. Katniss abruptly stops at the sight of Rue, but as the enemy makes his presence known, Katniss swiftly reacts by loading her bow and sending an arrow flying right into the neck of the boy from district 1. Katniss still has her guard up as she twists to inspect the area around the and says, "Are there more? Are there more", Distress making her voice sound rough with urgency.
Rue weakly answers her with assurance to their safety. Her body is wrapped into a tiny ball as she shivers from the pain from the impaled spear. Katniss slowly relaxes her bow and makes her way to Rue as she shoves the lifeless boy away. Katniss takes her knife from her pack and frees Rue from the trap. The camera has panned closer and it's quite clear the wound is fatal. Blood seeps at an impossible rate and I think to myself that she doesn't have much time left.
Katniss seems fully aware of Rue's condition because her brows are knit together as her eyes focus intently on the spear. Rue slightly moves her hand towards Katniss and without hesitation Katniss firmly takes hold. Rue struggles out, "You blew up the food?"
"Every last bit" Katniss confirms.
Rue features go from agony to determined as she says,"You have to win".
"I'm going to, going to win for both of us now." A canon boom shakes the scene and Rue frightfully knows her time will come soon so she clings to Katniss and whimpers "Don't go". Katniss looks down at Rue with sadness because of the sudden fate that has fallen upon her ally. But she doesn't let Rue see her suffering instead states confidently that she's going nowhere.
Katniss nestles Rue closer by placing her head on to her lap and lightly begins to brush Rue's hair out of her face. Rue blinks up at Katniss and murmurs "sing". Katniss looks unsure as to what to do at the request, but she doesn't deny her. Instead she clears her throat with a cough and begins to apprehensively sings. The song is sweet and Rue eyes shine with the last bit of light she has left. Katniss voice shakes with emotions, yet is still soft and beautiful.
Rue's eyes are now shut, the only sign she still lives is the weak movement of her chest as it rises and falls with each shaky breath. Katniss voice breaks and I look back to her to see her cheeks glistening with fallen tears. Her voice become almost inaudible as the tears begin to clog her throat and as one slides off her cheeks and land on Rue's I see Rue has seized all movement.
Katniss finishes up the song in a hushed whisper, her tears freely flowing. Everything is silent and the weight of this child's death overtakes every corner of each district. My family sit's in silence, I hear my mother crying softly and see her holding Posy close to her with her face turned away from the screen. Katniss doesn't make a move away from Rue, she just sits and let's all of her pent up emotions spill free. But soon the canon sounds and she knows she must move in order for them to collect the body. Katniss lightly places a kiss on Rue's temple and carefully places her head on the ground. On trembling legs, she stands and starts to collect the arrow from the boy and Rue's pack. The whole time Katniss' eyes are trained on Rue's lifeless body. I look at Rue too; this small child could have lived a long life with those she loved if it weren't for those who created these horrid games.
My attention is pulled away as Katniss unexpectedly stands and strides with clear determination towards the woods. She makes her way to a patch of blooming flowers that are violet, yellow and white, drawing beauty to a place that only now has been seen as a place full of nothing but dread. She collects a bunch and carries them back to where Rue lies. She bends down and starts to place flowers all around and on Rue. I look at the TV in awe as Rue comes alive once again. The vibrant colors from the flowers covering up the wound and her pale skin, making it look like she's only sleeping.
This will be seen as an act of defiance to the capitol, I know it. But I'm also aware that Katniss' actions are only to help send away a friend in the manner she is meant to. Katniss places the last flower and stand to examine her art. Satisfied she whispers, "Bye, Rue", and places three fingers from her left hand to her mouth and holds them out in Rue's directions. I look at Katniss' retreating form as she walks away without looking back and quietly to myself also say goodbye. Rue helped Katniss, even if it was only for a short time, she helped her get through tough times and even saved her. I will always be grateful for her kindness. Here, we see Rue be taken away, the flowers placed around leaving a tracing of where her body layed but as she drifts up into the hovercraft, I'm happy to say most that were placed on her stayed put.
The camera than proceeds to follow Katniss who has stopped walking and is looking up at a mockingjay perched on a branch as it sings the melody of the code song she made up with Rue. Katniss eyes turn away from the singing bird as she says, " Good and safe," then she ducks under the branch and continues on her way.
The camera follows her for a short while, but the only actions we've gotten from Katniss is her walking aimlessly with no destination seemingly in mind so the camera shifts away to find something more entertaining. We follow the other few remaining tributes, but I don't focus on them. Instead I do chores around the house while keeping a lookout for any signs of Katniss. By the time she appears it's sundown and she is holding a parachute that holds a gift from the sponsors in the capitol.
In an instant I've lost all thought about the homework I was doing and watch as she opens the container to reveal a loaf of bread. I'm confused as to why that would be sent and with a closer inspection the bread doesn't look like it would have come from people in the capitol. I don't have to delve deeper into thought because Katniss has stood up, her head tilted up to where a camera could be placed and clearly says, "My thanks to the people of district eleven." Her words bring on the realization that the bread was a gift from those who live in eleven and I'm surprised but also moved by the fact that a whole district, no better off than 12, put the effort to send such a thoughtful gift to show Katniss their gratitude.
This is just a step closer to the districts becoming aware that if we all work together, we could have a great chance of putting an end to the capitol for good. Katniss tucks the bread away and chooses a tree to rest in for the night. As she nestles in she grabs the small loaf of bread and takes small bites and watches as the anthem begins to play and show the fallen tributes. There are now only six tributes left. It's drawing down to the end and I know Katniss can beat them, she now has another reason to survive.
My family all dismiss themselves for the night and I let my mom know that I have homework that still needs to be done. I don't turn off the TV as I continue to work on my pointless assignments and every now and again a recap of Katniss and Rue's final goodbye is played, only with the part of her placing the flowers is cut out. I stay awake for a while but sleep is calling my name and I more than willing answer it as I fall into a restful slumber.
I wake to find my homework sprawled on the floor. I must have pushed it to the ground while I was sleeping. I look at the TV I left on though out the night and see Katniss packing up her things. Sleep no longer upon me at the sight of her, I stand up and collect my things absentmindedly from off the floor as I continue to watch. She then heads to some traps she must have set up before and is greeted with three birds.
For some time she just hunts and eats and eventually she's hoisted back into a tree ready to sleep. It's not even near night, but she doesn't seem to care. As she lays in her sleeping bag the anthem sounds followed by trumpets. Trumpets indicate an announcement is about to be made. Curious Katniss sits up, listening intently to what's about to be said. There's a buzz then Claudius Templesmith's voice reverberates from the speakers. His words leave me stunned; there has been a rule change. This has never been done before. The rule is that both tributes from the same district will be declared winners if they are the last who alive. Katniss' eyes grow wide with each word spoken. Katniss realizes what this means and suddenly without care shouts, "PEETA!"