Day Four

(Night Time)

Hope

The feel of hands wrapped around my neck makes my eyes fly open in shock. My sky blue eyes widen when they meet Jeremy's and I try to say his name. He squeezes harder around my neck and I fight for breath. He's going to kill me…

I try to move my arms to hit him but he's straddling me, his knees holding down my arms. I should've seen something like this coming. I should've escaped while I could. I bet Haymitch didn't expect Jeremy to hurt me.

I squirm trying to move but finding if I stay still it doesn't hurt as much.

"Your not so strong now, are you?" he growls, the bright light coming from the full moon letting me see Jeremy clearly.

"Why?" I manage to whisper, tears filling my eyes and blurring my vision.

"Because you're trouble," he snaps, slapping me across the face with one handing but keeping the other presses firmly against my throat. "Because your parent's deserve to feel pain." His words make anger spread through me and I spit in his face. "You bitch!" he yells, letting go of me to wipe his face.

With his hand off my neck I lift my head up and head-butt him with as much force as possible. He rolls off me and I jump to my feet slowly since my surroundings seem to be spinning. The tears in my eyes make everything a blur and I stumble forward. Jeremy pulls my leg and I fall on top of him.

"Get off me!" I yell and go to punch him in the face. He moves his head just in time and my fist connects with the floor. A crack fills my ear and I know my hand is broken. I yell in pain.

Jeremy uses my lack of concentration to flip us over so he's on top of me again. He grabs a fistful of my hair and bangs my head against the hard ground. I feel sick and faint now but I know if I want to survive then I'll have to fight. Maybe if I scream someone will hear me.

I open my mouth and let out the loudest scream as possible. Jeremy clamps a hand over my mouth, stopping my scream from being heard. Hopefully someone nearby did hear me.

I wonder what my parents are thinking now. I bet their looking for a way to help me. I don't know how they'd do that though since I already have a weapon and- my knife!

I come out of my thoughts in time to see a fist flying in my direction. I use all my energy to flip over, making me on top of Jeremy again. I straddle his waist, stopping his legs from moving and hold his hands above his head.

I take a second to catch my breath before squinting at the ground for my knife. About three meter's away from me I can see something shiny and I know it's my knife catching the moons bright light. I could do it, I think but that would mean getting off of Jeremy and who knows what will happen then.

It's either the knife or my fist and one hand is already broken. I take a deep breath before rolling off of Jeremy and crawling as quickly as possible towards the knife. I can hear Jeremy scrambling to his feet behind me but I ignore it and concentrate on getting to the knife.

Unfortunately, Jeremy is faster than me and gets to my weapon a little before I do. He kicks me in the stomach, the force knocking me backwards onto my back.

I groan in pain and tears fill my eyes. Don't cry, I tell myself, don't let crying satisfy him. If I'm going to die then I'm going to do it with my head held high and I promise that I'm not going to let one tear fall.

Jeremy stands above me, unharmed. "Get up and I'll kill you faster," he growls. I think I surprise myself more than the whole of Panem when I laugh. Yes, I laughed. This seems to anger Jeremy even more and slides the knife into his pocket before bending down, wrapping his hands around my throat and lifting me in the air.

I scram his at his hands with my nails and kick him in the legs but he doesn't let go, he's strong- he's a career. Something clicks inside me and I know I'm not going to make it. I'm going to die. I might as well give up now, right? No one's going to save me.

Jeremy presses me against the wall and I struggle for air. "Kill me," I choke out. "But look me in the eye when you do it."

"I'd be glad too," he cackles, taking one hand off my neck but tightening his grip with the other.

I watch him as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the knife. I follow his every move with my eyes. "Where do I start?" he smirks. "Hmm, I think I'll start with that pretty face of yours. Jesse's not going to like you then, is he? Not that he's going to ever see you again, anyway!" he presses the cold metal against my face and slides it down my cheek. I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut, the deep cut stinging.

"That hurt?" Jeremy growls. I don't say anything. "Good. You know, this might not have happened if you'd done what I wanted."
"What did you want?" I mutter, kicking him again.

"Everything but a stupid kid like you can't give me that. You proved that by teaming up with me. Besides, your mom killed my uncle Cato. She deserves some pain. What better pain than your own daughter getting murdered?"

"She didn't want him to suffer," I somehow yell. "My mom isn't a monst-" he presses against my throat harder and I have a coughing fit.

"Shut up!" he growls but I carry on coughing anyway. He huffs. "This is it. Tell my uncle I said hi," he cackles before raising the knife.

I keep my eyes locked onto his while I wait for it, for the pain, for death. It doesn't come…

AN: It's short I know but it's better than nothing, huh? Review!