Chapter 49 – The Path to Freedom Is Paved In Blood 2

AN: Of course, I thought I had free time to continue writing Destiny and RL interfered. Lolol Lots of things going on right now. This summer will be super busy for me as my work…tripled professionally and personally. However, I am determined to finish Destiny. It's all written out but needs loads of editing. And as I'm editing I'm also rewriting stuff as well so….please forgive me if I miss an update but I will do my best to keep updating as often as I can.

Thanks to the people who alerted, favored and reviewed the last chapter [LACR, kelmikmag, pumpkinking5, Nai1987, jroseley, J, and BDizzy] I'll always appreciate the fact that you took the time to write a review. They are most appreciated and welcomed. THG belongs to Suzanne Collins. Any mistakes found are mine. This chapter contains Haymitch and Peeta's POVs and is rated R for violence and foul language.

Haymitch POV ––

Sneaking Amelia Snow out of the mansion was not as difficult as I expected. Not a lot of people knew what she looked liked since she was home schooled and her playdates with other children were well guarded and limited. The poor child wasn't allowed to attend regular school––not even the richest and elite private ones. This was a common upbringing to the rich and powerful family like Snows, Wingates, Windsors, Changs and Freemans––most affluent and powerful families from the Capitol's high society dating back as far as the history of Panem's origins. But none was as powerful as the Snow and Wingates.

Amelia Snow was a delicate and small child for her age. She was little in stature but had the will and personality of a Snow. To my surprise she was well spoken and well behaved pre-teen. Not what I suspected like most of her peers––loud, gregarious and loud. Did I say that already? Oh, yes, as I was saying.

"Mr. Abernathy, can I ask you a question?" she addressed me. Her mother Bertie and Effie were carefully strapped onto a seat inside a hover craft. Both were unconscious as the sleeping agent I drugged them with kept them under.

"Sure kid," I returned and winced, wondering what I gotten myself into.

"What's wrong with my mother?" she asked calm and to the point. Upon her question, Cinna's hover car arrived at the same time.

I was too flustered and concern to address her as Flavius, Octavia and Venia exited the car. Cinna and Portia were missing. So without hesitation I planted Amelia into the hover craft and interrogated Cinna's team as they approached the craft. "Give a minute Amelia. I'll be right back." Finnick stood beside me.

"Where are Cinna and Portia?" I demanded an explanation. All three stylists head's lowered. "Well, where are they?" I liked Cinna and his team but sometimes they drove me insane

"We had to separate," Flavius explained.

"What?" I exploded. "What in…" I took a deep breath to calm my already rattled nerves, "were my instructions not clear? Do not separate, stay together and do not separate I told you repeatedly?"

"We…we had to Haymitch," Octavia whined. "There was a car behind us. Cinna noticed it right away. Cinna stopped got out and Portia went with him."

"Cinna said to go without him incase we were being followed," Venia added. "And Portia was adamant about going with him. She refused to stay with us."

"So we left and they headed the other direction," Octavia stated. "And the car behind was gone as well."

"Okay, okay," I said. "Get in the ship." They didn't budge. "What's the problem now." I was frustrated and scared for Cinna and Portia. They were still in the city and had not arrived.

Flavius spoke, "We…we don't want to leave without Cinna and Portia."

"Oh for crying out loud," I said as I raised my hands from my sides and into the air. "Cinna made plans to get all of you out. He risked his life and all his work to help you."

"Yes, and he's not here," Venia exclaimed. "The peacekeepers might have him and Portia––"

"You are not doing him any favors if you stay and get caught as well," I seethed in anger. "I'm not saying that they are caught but he…I would like to think that he would be relieved to know that all his friends are safe. And he and Portia are doing to their best to meet us. So…get you asses into the ship or I'll personally pick up every one of you and strap you into the seats myself."

"You don't need to threaten us, Haymitch," Octavia sniffed. "We…it doesn't feel right leaving Cinna and Portia behind."

"Listen, Cinna is smart and he and Portia are probably fine," Finnick said. "We won't leave until a few more minutes, right Haymitch?" I nodded my head. Ten minutes was all I could spare before we needed to leave. I couldn't endanger the lot of us for just Cinna and Portia. He would understand that or else he wouldn't have been involved in the first place. They were sacrifices to be made and we all were aware of the danger and consequences.

Ten minutes passed and reluctantly and with a heavy heart we left the airfield without Cinna and Portia. As the hover craft lifted into the air I looked out the port window. "Stay safe, Cinna."

My head was split in two as worry and fear swirled in my head and stressed my body. I've been up before the crack of dawn since Gale's arrival at the penthouse suite. Leaving him alone was not an option. My day was…busy as ticked off the events of my day––kidnapping Effie and Bertie, removing Amelia from Snow's mansion without notice or detection and to finally leave the city limits as Snow ordered Marshall law in the Capitol. No one was permitted to leave or enter the city. All goods and provisions travelling by air or hover car were inspected. Finnick and I barely made it out before the barriers were erected.

I've been anxious, scared, worried and stressed all day. To make matters worse as Finnick and I escorted little Snow out of the city word spread of the Mockingjay's announcement. Garrett did it. The one thing we begged him never to do––reveal true his identity to all Panem. His announcement sent Snow into a fit of rage that had him implementing a lockdown. But I knew the reasons why Garrett did it.

Since making Peeta a target the feelings of remorse and guilt wormed inside Garrett. Though his intentions were noble, the outcome and consequences were traumatic and devastating not just to district 12 but to the Mellark family patriarch––his old dear friend Jimmy.

'What more could I take from Jimmy?' He asked the night before Peeta volunteered to protect Prim during the lottery. His guilt exponentially magnified after that day and more so as Katniss was chosen. All his actions led to this––Peeta and Katniss catapulted in the center of a revolution. Garrett didn't want that for his daughter and Jimmy's boy.

And, he feared that Coin was using his image to further her own agenda. So I wasn't surprised that Garrett revealed himself. I wished he had picked a better time.

I was pins and needles as we left the Capitol city limits and flew through District 1. I breathed a little easier as our hover ship flew past District 6. "Any news from Mockingjay?" I asked the pilot. "No thing with the exception of the announcement," he said back. "Reports of the city lockdown and Marshall Law is spreading through Panem."

"I suspect Snow will implement the same for all the districts soon," I observed. "So be careful that you fly above the district flying zone. We can't afford to be stopped for inspection."

I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. An hour before, I was loathed to leave Finnick in District 4.

"Annie and Mags are waiting for me," he said. "I need to make sure that they are safe, Haymitch. I'll meet you at the base camp. I trust Johanna to keep them safe for me but…"

"I understand, Finnick," I said. "Do what you need to do." I understood his concerns. Mags and Annie were all he had left––the women he loved and the other who was like a mother to him. They were his family.

I thought of Garrett's family––Lily, Prim and Katniss. They were scattered at different parts of Panem. Prim was at the base camp. Katniss running for her life with Peeta. And as for Lily, he would have made arrangements to sneak her out of District 12. I prayed that they would reunite soon.

I thought of Jimmy––one son dead, the other safe for now in District 12 while Peeta was also on the run.

A moan disrupted my train of thought. "Mom," Amelia called out to her as Bertie groaned awake. Shit, I had forgotten about Effie and Bertie strapped onto the seats. Flavius, Octavia and Venia looked pale. They had admitted that this was the first time they had ridden a hover craft. "We usually travel by train. Cinna and Portia were privileged to travel by hover craft. We would meet them later whenever we travelled to other districts." But just in case I provided them air bag if they fell ill and needed to vomit.

"Mom," Amelia repeated. "Are you okay?" Bertie blinked twice adjusting to the light inside the hover craft compartment. All the window shields were closed. "Mom?"

"Oh, Amelia," Bertie sighed. "I'm so relieved and so happy to see you." She grabbed her daughter in a tight embrace as tears tracked down her face. She mouthed 'thank you' to me.

"What's going on, Mom," Amelia asked. "Mr. Abernathy and Finnick told me I was taking a trip. Does Grandpa know where we're going? Why are you crying?"

"Oh Amy my child," she said. "Give me a moment." She opened her mouth as if she tasted something bad. "Can I have some water?" She winced as she placed a hand to her forehead.

"Sorry, Bertie," I apologized. "You did say that the effects of the drug were chalky mouth, nausea, headache and disorientation." Effie continued to sleep beside her as I handed Bertie a flask. She narrowed her eyes at the canister. "Don't worry, it just water."

"Where are we?" she inquired as she took sip and closed her eyes.

"We passed District 6," I told her. "We're still not in the clear." She shivered. "Here take this." I handed her a coat. She opened her eyes with great reluctance. I felt bad for her. "We're pretty high up so that we cannot be detected by Peacekeeper drones and airspace. So it's a bit cold up here." She took the coat and wrapped around it herself and Amelia. "We should be at the camp by an hour."

"Mom, what's going on? Where are we going?" Amelia persisted.

"Amelia, please no questions right now," she insisted. "My head hurts and I don't have the normal function to explain right now. Just wait until we…land. I promise to explain everything." Amelia pouted but relented since she didn't have a choice as Bertie closed her eyes to rest.

I left mother and daughter alone and headed towards the cockpit. Two rebel pilots flew the craft. They were former Peacekeepers who married district women. Historically, peacekeepers were born and bred by lower class Capitolites. They intermingled within their own class. Thus, as citizens of the Capitol, if any of them married and bore children with a citizen from the district, their children were subjected to the lottery––no exceptions. Snow objected to fraternizing with the common people as peacekeepers and their children were automatically submitted into the Hunger Games as punishment. Furthermore as children of peacekeepers who survived the lottery they were then automatically conscripted to peacekeeper training and served Snow for six years. Thus, Peacekeeper Darius was part Capitol and District 12 lineage.

"What's our ETA?" I asked the head pilot.

"One hour," he sighed. "I had to deviate from our main flight path. I detected peacekeeper hover crafts scouting the area. Plus…" He stopped and handed me an earphone. "…you have a message."

"From whom?"

"Not sure but it was urgent," he replied.

I placed the phone on my ears and felt relieved as the cushions warmed my cold ears. "Abernathy, speaking," I said.

"Haymitch," Garrett's voice sounded in my ears. His voice crackled but was audible.

"Mock…Garrett, hell on earth. What were you thinking?" My mind alerted with worry and anger.

"Haymitch, please," Garrett pleaded. He sounded wary and tired. "I had no choice. You know that. Better to make the announcement now while Peeta and Katniss are trying to get out of the Capitol." So I was right, he used his announcement as a distraction.

"What's going on? We've been on radio silence?" I sighed as I realized fighting with Garrett was a moot point. What was done was done.

"My contact from the Capitol says that Snow is on a rampage," he snickered. "He can't figure out which order is a priority––find his granddaughter and daughter in law, go after Peeta and the other tributes or hunt me down." He chuckled for a few seconds.

I laughed back. An image of Snow flustered and enraged flashed in my mind. "Which was most important to him?"

"He couldn't prioritize so he sent his whole force on all three. He spread his peacekeepers so thin that he has delegated his orders between Plutarch and Crane."

"Wow, Crane and Heavensbee? They're just programmers and Gamemakers with no experience in warfare. What does they know about mobilizing an army of peacekeepers to look for Peeta let alone hunt you down."

"And Snow is barely managing locking down or implementing Marshall Law on his own Citizens. They'll probably riot in a few days since they don't have the games to entertain themselves with."

"Boo hoo," I said in false concern. "Let's see how his people like being limited to travel and resources. Welcome to our life."

"Haymitch, please listen," Garrett stated. "I made arrangements to get Lily out of 12, but…"

"What?" Fear and worry bubbled in my chest.

"They could only get her as far as District 8 without alerting other peacekeepers from finding her and Snow banning travel from district to district," Garrett explained. "I heard that Snow has locked down 12. No one can enter or leave. He also pulled out more peacekeepers."

"I understand. What do you need?" I asked. No matter how frustrated and angry I am with Garrett for revealing his identity, it was his choice. He knew the consequences but did he think about the repercussions for his decision? Prim was safe. Lily and Katniss were on the run. But what about District 12?

"I don't trust anyone," he started. I couldn't blame after Gale's betrayal. "I need you to send someone to get her out. Wayne and Joe were able to sneak her out but…I told them to stay put until I send someone to fetch her for me."

"I'll get her after I drop off Bertie Snow and Effie Trinket at our base camp," I volunteered.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Haymitch. I know that––"

"Garrett, just…stop," I said. "You did what you had to do. It was a tough call I'll grant you. We'll…discuss this later or not. We have too much at stake for us to rehash this right now." Then it dawned on me, if he was sending me to fetch Lily, what as he doing instead of going after his own wife? "What now? What's your next move?"

"I'm going to get the kids," he said. I gasped at this news. "I heard that they missed their extraction––"

"What?" I screamed so loud I startled the pilots.

"…and Peeta and Katniss…" More static filled my headphone.

"Oh dear shit almighty," I breathed out. "They convinced the other tributes to come with them?"

"You guess it," he replied. There was a tone of frustration and something else in his voice––admiration and pride. "And there's also a problem."

"Oh hell, what?"

"The other extraction point is… " Garrett's voice faded then was silent.

"Garrett, Garrett," I repeated. "I lost connection."

"We lost the window," the pilot explained. "We think that Snow is blocking all communication between the district but not to his peacekeeper force. Sorry, sir."

"Damnit," I muttered underneath my breath. The condensation in the air made me realize how cold it was in the hover craft. I returned to the passenger area just in time to hear Effie's voice pierced the air.

"…who hell are you people?" she screamed as she was still strapped to the bucket seat for her safety. "Get…untie me. I'm a citizen of the Capitol. Bertie…what the…where are we?" It was obvious that Effie was confused and anger.

"Effie," Bertie addressed her calmly. "If you just stop screaming for a moment, we'll explain."

"We? What do you mean 'we?' " she said as tried to contain her voice. She squinted as she adjusted her eyes to the compartment's illumination. "It's so cold and…" Then she noticed me. "Haymitch?" She narrowed her eyes.

"What is going on? And why am I…" She noticed Flavius, Octavia and Venia across her. "Someone please tell me what is going on? I don't remember anything. I remember…"

"Effie, I'm sorry," I started. "But I had to…get you out of the Capitol."

"Why? You're scaring me," she said as her bottom lip quivered. "Please just explain."

"You and Bertie…I abducted you both so that Snow won't come after you."

"And why would Snow be after me?" she inquired. "What did you get me involved in?"

"I abducted you for you safety," I admitted. "Cinna and I…were…are involved––"

Effie raised her hands to her face. "No, no, no––this can't be happening."

"Effie, you're association with Cinna and me has made you an unwilling accomplice to…"

"What?"

"Because of your connections to Cinna and me, I'm afraid that you are by association a member of the rebellion," I flinched as I chose my words.

"Rebellion?" Her eyes grew wide at the realization. "What rebellion? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Effie––"

"Don't Effie me," she sneered back. "I'm just a Capitol reaping escort, doing my job. And you forced me into this situation. I was fine, my life as fine until you…I thought…you and Cinna? I can understand your involvement but Cinna? No, you're wrong." She turned her eyes to the stylist. "Did you kidnap them too? Forced them to come against their will?"

"No, he didn't," Octavia denied. "We followed Cinna willingly." Effie sobbed in distress.

"It's true, Effie," Flavius confirmed. "Cinna…we all made the decision to join the rebellion. We're lucky to have found each other even before we knew Cinna's involvement."

"Why? Why would you…you're living a stylist's dream," Effie said.

"We love what we do, Effie," Venia spoke. "But we knew we were never going to reach or achieve the same status as Cinna with the social class prohibiting to elevate ourselves beyond stylist assistant. We love working with Cinna and each other, but we have dreams of our own too." Then suddenly Effie laughed––a bitter laugh filled with anger.

"So everyone here had a choice, but me," Effie sneered in disgust.

"Effie––" I began.

"No," she spat back with derision. "You didn't even ask or give me a choice."

"I was trying to save your life," I said back.

"It wasn't your decision to make," she screamed. "Why didn't you just ask me?"

"Because you would have stayed."

"You don't know that," she returned. She was right. I wasn't sure, but…Effie was important to me not that I would admit it. I lost so many people in my life that I couldn't stand to lose more even Effie who irritated and frustrated me.

"No, you would have," I denied. "I'm sorry, but like I said with your friendship with Cinna has made you a suspect. You can't sit there and deny that Cinna has been taunting Snow with his designs of the mockingjay on Katniss's dress."

"I know nothing," Effie stated. "Mockingjay, revolution or rebellion––I kept away from any form of association or connection to anything that was linked to those rumors."

"Then you should have backed off and removed yourself from working with Cinna," I accused her. "You're a lot of things Effie––pretentious, self absorbed but you are not stupid."

"Don't insult me, Haymitch," she bit back. "Don't try to justify what you did to me––"

"You would be in Snow's custody by now. Who know what else he'd be doing to you," I screamed. Effie gasped at my implication.

"He's right, Effie," Bertie said. "No matter what you know or don't know, Cornelius would lock you up and…" She looked down at Amelia. "Staying at the Capitol, you wouldn't be safe and even if you're innocent, Snow will never believe that you are not involved especially since you work with Cinna."

"That's not the point," Effie said underneath her breath, her tone hard and harsh. "You didn't give me the respect or the chance to make my own decision. Maybe I would have stayed but it would have been my decision and not be manhandled like some object…I have my own life, my own mind to decide what is good for me."

I felt chastened and guilty. I acted selfishly even with my good intentions. Why I just abducted her without asking, I couldn't explain myself. But I also knew I didn't want to argue over the point. I made a decision with her life and I didn't regret it, but she was right about one thing–– I should have given her a choice. I took that away from her.

The rest of the trip was made in silence with the exception of Effie's sniffles every few seconds. She was angry with me. "Sir, ETA in ten minutes," the pilot's voice filled the air. I strapped myself on my seat for the landing. Effie was quiet and subdued her eyes on the floor with her hands on her lap.

Just as we landed and departed from the plane, little Primrose Everdeen greeted me. She wrapped her tiny arms around my waist. "Mr. Abernathy, thank you, thank you, thank you," she repeated. I was stunned but choked with amusement and embarrassment.

"Hey, there Primrose," I said as I hugged her back. She was definitely not like her sister Katniss––sulky, broody and unapproachable. I wondered where she got those characteristics from––Garrett or Lily? And what did Peeta see in her?

"Primrose? Primrose Everdeen?" Amelia repeated her name. "But I thought she…died from the train accident."

Without a beat Prim introduce herself, "Hello, I'm Prim." She extended her hand.

"My name is Amelia Snow," she announced herself. Prim's eyes grew wide, startled and stunned with our guests. "And this is my mom, Dr. Roberta Carlyle Snow."

"It is very nice to meet you," Prim said. Effie not to be ignored approached us.

"How ill mannered and rude," she said as she shook her head at me.

"Hello, Primrose Everdeen, I am Effie Trinket," she said with her held head high and shoulder squared. "It is a honor to meet you. I too am surprised at your…resurrection." She glared at me for a few seconds than sweetly smiled back. "Prim, dear. Is there someplace where we can refresh ourselves." She wiped her hands on her wrinkled dress. "Our journey was long and tiring I wish to––"

"Abernathy, I am so pleased to see you," Commander Carla Reeves approached us. "We don't have time to spare. Mockingjay sent me his order. I will be accompanying you. We will leave when you are ready."

"Mr. Abernathy? Where are you going? You just got here," Prim said.

"Got another job to do for the boss," I said with a small smile. I didn't know if she knew what I was ordered so I kept my mouth shut. "But I know that you are in good hands. You are doing okay, right? These folks treating you well?" I was protective of Garrett's children just as I was Jimmy's. If I had one inkling of any mistreated towards Prim there was hell to pay.

"I'm fine," Prim returned. "I miss Rye already but he needed to go back home anyway."

"Rye. Rye Mellark as in Peeta's brother was here?" I was astounded. 'How did that happen?'

"Haymitch, please," Reeves spoke. "No time to waste. We need to leave soon." I felt her urgency now that she knew what Lily Everdeen meant to the Mockingjay. No one wanted to keep the rebel leader's wife in danger as she was hidden in District 8.

"I will need a full report as we head towards District 8," I said then flinched when I realized Prim heard me.

"Eleven? Why are you going to eight?" Prim inquired. "Where's my…my dad? Is he getting Katniss and Peeta?" I knelt down to face her. "When are Shane and Maddy arriving with my sister and Peeta? Do you have to leave?" She rattled on with questions I didn't know which to answer or at all.

"Listen, sweetheart," I started as I took both of her tiny hands in mine. With her blond hair and blue eyes, you would have thought she was related to Peeta not Katniss. "You're dad is doing his best to get your sister here safe and sound. And in the meantime, I need you to be a little bit more patient, okay? Your dad is doing something really important and he has me taking care of another matter that is important to him." 'And to you as well.' "Can you do that? Be patient?" She nodded her head and smiled.

"Do what you need to do, Haymitch," Effie said as she placed her hands on Prim's shoulders. "We'll be fine. Won't we, Prim." She waved her hands as gnats flew around her. She smelled sweet from her perfume. I guess she was attracting bugs from her scent. "Don't worry, I'll…Prim and I will keep each other company."

Before I stood up Prim hugged me. "Take care of yourself."

Bertie approached me as well as she suddenly wrapped her arms around me. "Thank, Haymitch," she said. "I cannot begin to know how to repay you and Mockingjay."

"We're not out of the woods yet, Bertie," reminded her. "This is just the beginning. It'll be a while before you can feel free from your father in law."

"I know," Bertie sighed. "I know that leaving has made matters worse for…everyone but…I needed my Amelia to have a life. A better life than the one Cornelius has prepared for her. I didn't want that for her."

"Mom," Amelia called out. She held onto Prim's hand. "Prim is going to show us around. We're…we're going camping. I always wanted to go camping, remember? With daddy when I was little." I smiled at Amelia's enthusiasm and exuberance.

"Bye Amelia," I said my farewell. She turned to me and pouted. Amelia was upset with me as she crossed her arms across her chest and tilted her head.

"What did you do to piss her off?" Reeves joked. I sighed.

"To get her to come with us without any fuss, I told her that Finnick was flying with us," I explained. "But before we could take off, Finnick got news from District 4 and had to hurry back to ensure Mags and Annie's safety." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ah, so little Ms. Snow is upset that you tricked her," Reeves reiterated.

"I didn't trick her," I said in an indignant manner. "How was I supposed to her out of the city like her mother wanted me to? I didn't know how to bribe a privileged 12 year old girl. Give me a break. So I did the one thing her mother told me––I used Finnick as bait."

Reeves snickered but kept quiet.

I turned to leave to have Effie right in my face. "Effie," I began. "For what it's worth, I am sorry."

She nodded her head. I exhaled a breath I didn't I know I was holding. "I understand, Haymitch, I do," she stated. "You're a good man behind the drinking and no fashion sense. You did something with no intent to harm me, your intentions clearly to protect me. I understand."

I sighed. "So you forgi––" I felt the punch and heard the impact buzzing in my ear. I was crossed eyed for a few seconds trying to get my bearings straight. It was one hell of a punch.

"What the fuck was that for?" Reeves sputtered.

"It's okay, I'm okay," I said as I raised a hand and touched my eye. I winced as I felt a bruise forming. "Ouch."

"That's for drugging me," Effie said with a sweet and innocent smile on her face. "Now you can go." She turned around with an imperious manner and she sashayed away with a swing of her hips.

"I'm not going to even ask," Reeves commented. "You probably deserved it."

I nodded and smiled.

"Let's go we're burning daylight," she said as she walked towards the hovercraft. Just as we were about to enter into the ship, she turned around. "Just do me a favor, Abernathy. Try not to piss off Mrs. Mockingjay. I don't think our boss would appreciate it, whatever it is your doing pissing off the women around you." She laughed boisterous and hardy.

I shook my head, "I didn't think it was that funny."

Peeta POV ––

I swore that I wasn't going to let anything happen to Katniss when we were heading into the Hunger Games. So when Maddy and Shane appeared I was relieved. However, I knew we were not safe even as we escaped the games and left the arena.

We had been walking for more than two hours when Shane suddenly stopped and raised his hand. My nerves were raw and I felt anxious. Since we left the barrier I was on alert for anything and anyone. So my heart almost stopped when I couldn't find Katniss as she went to 'do her business.'

I never in my life felt scared, anxious, furious and all other sorts of emotions I couldn't categorize as they galvanized inside me. Leaping from one emotion to another. But one was clear in my thoughts––fear. I couldn't lose Katniss, not now that we were free if only for a few hours. I couldn't rest until she was safe and far from Snow. I would die and kill anyone to ensure her safety.

"What's wrong?" Maddy inquired as she stood next to Shane. He was tense around her. Their body language obvious to anyone who paid attention. They had a history––a personal one. Maybe I was reaching but I knew the look in Maddy's eyes. They were familiar to me. Feelings I lived with for a long time––a sense of longing and sadness whenever I was around Katniss as my boyhood infatuation blossomed to love and desire. It was real to me, just as it was real to Maddy for Shane.

He reached down to his belt pulled out small compact binocular. "Something's wrong."

"What do you mean?" Maddy asked.

"I don't know," he answered back. "It's just a feeling I'm getting." Then, Shane holstered his binocular and harnessed his rifle behind his back. "Give me a few minutes. I'll be back. Just keep on the lookout for the drones." Instead of walking away to investigate he climbed up the nearest tree. Maddy watched him as he ascended upward.

We had been ducking and avoiding a few drones as they scouted the area. Some looked familiar as we recognized the ones made by the Capitol. There were new ones––smaller in design that were harder to detect because they were quieter than the Capitol drones. But both Shane and Katniss with their keen hearing ability could hear them before we could be detected. Our progress was slow but the pace was necessary.

Maddy kept vigil, as she looked around and upward at Shane. "You two take a breather," she ordered.

I sighed as I sat down and leaned against a tree trunk and Katniss followed me. She placed her head on my shoulder. I grabbed her hand as I tried not to notice the bandage on her neck where Marvel poked her with his man-made stick he fashioned into a knife.

As if she read my mind, "I'm okay, Peeta. Marvel didn't hurt me," she assured me.

"No, he didn't," I said as a ball of saliva gathered in my throat. "He was close though. I almost lost…" The image of Marvel with his arms around her shoulder a stick poking her neck drawing blood flashed in my mind. I couldn't rid the image or feelings of anger and helplessness inside me. "He…Marvel was willing to trade you to Snow for his life." The image made me angry again. I swore if I saw him again I'd…I closed my eyes and took a deep breath letting the fresh and peaceful surrounding air calmed me. I'm not like this person––angry and hard. Something in me nearly snapped when Marvel held Katniss captive.

"He was scared," she said in a quiet tone. "We all are." She raised her head and kissed my cheek. I wanted more kisses but it was not the time or place. It never failed––one touch or glance and she soothed me and I'm myself again. I wanted to run away into the woods just the two of us, but we had family that we loved and who loved us in return. We couldn't abandon them. I needed to be strong for her. "I just hope everyone is okay."

"Me too," I replied back. I relaxed for a moment and cherished our break. Since leaving the Cornucopia we had been up and on the move. "How long do you think Maddy has been in love with Shane?"

"What?" Katniss said with keen interest away from our current troubles. "You think they're a couple?"

"Not now," I said. "It's obvious they're not now but something happened between them." Katniss looked at Maddy. She was looking up the tree watching out for Shane.

"Isn't he a little young for her," she said wide-eyed and curious.

I laughed, "I'm younger than you."

"But only two years," she defended herself. "She's like what? Four or five years older?"

"So? That's not too bad," I scoffed. "She's in love with Shane. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing," she returned. "I just don't know if you're right. I mean, how can you tell? We only just met them a few hours ago."

"I just know," I said in a wistful manner. "She looks at Shane sometimes when I catch her looking at him. Like I used to look at you before we got together." Katniss opened her mouth as if she was about to say something but stopped herself. "Just an observation." I shrugged my shoulders. Suddenly the low buzzing sound that Katniss noticed earlier in the day filled the air. Maddy crouched onto the ground. "Quiet," she ordered as she pointed her rifle upward and peered through the scope.

The drone hovered high above us as the sound was clear and pronounced. "I hope Shane spotted it and is hiding from it," Katniss whispered in my ear her breath warm against my skin. I'm sure he did before he spotted it. A few more minutes passed it continued to hover above us. "What's it doing?"

"I don't know," I whispered back. I prayed that it wasn't Capitol made. If I guessed correctly, the drone might belong to Mockingjay or even from District 13 since all it did was hover. The heavy and clunky Capitol drones scouted it's surrounding then sped by. I gathered Katniss in my arms holding her secure to me. Suddenly, another drone appeared firing at the smaller drone. The lasers hit and sparked the smaller drone causing it to take flight away from us. A second later, three more Capitol drones gave chase pursing the smaller one.

As soon as it was out of our sight, I stood up and checked around us looking upward. Maddy did as well. A minute later Shane appeared with leaves and twigs in his hair as sweat formed on his forehead. Maddy approached him as he landed on the floor wincing, his hand on his side.

"Shane? What's wrong?" she inquired her face filled with concern.

"I just…I over exerted myself," he explained his breath hard and harsh.

Maddy sighed. "You're still recovering. You shouldn't be here." Shane looked back at her in anger as he gritted his teeth.

"I'm fine, Maddy. Just stop," he said. "I just…I'm okay. We need to move incase more drones appear."

"Shane? I should at least look at your––"

"We need to leave this area before the drones come back," Shane insisted.

Maddy sighed in resignation. "What did you see up here?"

"I…we can't go to our next extraction point," he said as he pulled out a small hand held data pad. On the screen was a small abandoned airfield filled with peacekeepers. Some hid behind trees and rocks. "They're waiting for us. They know we were coming."

"How?" Maddy asked. Shane was speechless not sure what to say or explain.

"So what now?" Katniss asked. "What do we do next?"

"I don't know," Shane said. "This was supposed to be simple once we got you out of the arena but we missed our first extraction and with all the delays…" I heard his implications but held my tongue. I didn't regret taking the over tributes out of the arena. I just hoped they were safe.

"So we keep going where?" Maddy inquired. "We have Capitol drones flying around and that smaller drone as well. Peacekeepers are scouting the area, where do we go?"

"We hide in the woods and head east?" Shane suggested. "The nearest rebel camp is…" He looked into his pad, a map appeared. "The nearest one is about 200 miles away at the edge of District 2 county line." It was a daunting task but we had no choice.

I thought about our chances and the odds against us––peacekeepers and drones everywhere. And, Cato was out there I could feel it. I recalled my idea earlier of Katniss and I running away and hiding in the woods. It was as if my wish came true. "We should get going," Shane suggested as he stood up flinching as he took a step forward. I could tell Maddy held her tongue to object but Shane was stubborn.

Before any of us took a step a soft tingling sound filled the air. Startled, we crouched onto the ground. I held my breath. From above a small round metallic ball with a chute dropped from the sky. It was an arena parachute. I recognized it after watching all the reaping footage over the years. It landed on the dirt floor with a small thud.

I inspected it carefully and suspiciously. "What the fuck is that doing here?" Shane exclaimed. Maddy backed away like it was about to explode. "Shit, who sent that?" He raised his rifle and aimed at it.

"Wait, look," Katniss yelled. "Don't shoot. Look at the markings." I peered down at the object. On the belly of the chutes were red markings with a familiar design of a bird––a Mockingjay.

"It's from your da––" I started but was interrupted by Shane.

"Holy shit," Shane cursed. "It's from Mockingjay." I turned to Katniss and winced as I realized that I almost revealed his identity.

"How did he know we're here?" Maddy asked.

"Fuck that, who cares. Let's see what he sent us," Shane said with a smile on his face. "I can't believe he got a hold of one of those things. I mean how?" It was a good and valid question. Katniss looked pleased and relieved.

"The smaller drone," Katniss started. "The one that doesn't look like the Capitol drones. It must be from him. It's been following us since we left the arena."

"It has?" Maddy said. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"It just hovered and followed us." Katniss shrugged her shoulders. "It didn't appear threatening and I didn't think it was Capitol made. The design is different." She was right. The Capitol drones were loud and heavy looking. It also had small lasers built on the sides attached with a camera on the top and bottom––the Capitol symbol proudly painted on the body.

"What did he sent us?" I asked curious and happy. What little help we received I wasn't about to take it for granted. Katniss held the object in her hand and carefully opened it. Inside were two folded sheets of paper and a small packet with needle with fluid inside and small vial filled with clear liquid. One note had Katniss's name written on it. She read the other note first.

Katniss read, "For Shane, inject right away." Then she read a couple of numbers that didn't made sense to me. Katniss looked puzzled as well.

"They're coordinates," Shane explained as he punched the number on his small data pad. "He's telling us to head…northeast. Not towards the nearest rebel base camp, but somewhere…a location I'm not familiar with. Maddy?" He extended the pad to her to read. "Have any idea where that is?"

"No," she answered. "I'm more concern about you right now." She picked up the needle and without waiting to ask for his permission, she injected him on his bicep.

"Hey, that hurt," he whined. "You don't know what was in the needle."

"It was for you," she spat. "You're still recovering from your injury." His injury? Shane was hurt?

"And Prim said I was fine," he returned. "She wouldn't have said I was clear to leave if she didn't believe I was well enough to go. Or else I wouldn't have volunteered."

"You volunteered? I asked in awe.

"We both did," Maddy claimed then turned back to Shane. "Prim was not your medic," she revealed. "She's just a healer with no formal medical training."

"Hey," Katniss responded. "My sister is a great healer. If she said Shane was fine then she knew what she was talking about."

"She's only 14," Maddy argued.

"And has been trained by my mother who was the only medic and healer in the Seam," Katniss explained.

"Well, she may be 14 but she did help you get rid of that rash behind your knees," Shane said in smug manner. Maddy made to open her mouth but shut it. Then Shane whined as he felt the skin at the injection spot.

"Stop complaining you big baby," Maddy said with love and tinge of irritation on her face. "The note said, 'For Shane' and that's you. And I know you, you would have argued with me…and we don't have any time to argue. So I took matter in my own hands. Get pissy all you like." She held back a sob in her throat. "Excuse me, I think we need to get going now." She stood up and adjusted her pack as she hid her eyes from Shane. Maddy looked as though she was about to break down and cry.

"Maddy?" Shane called and reached out to her. "Hey."

"Let's get going," she said as walked off towards a grove of trees.

"Hey, wait up," Shane said as he trailed after her. We watched them leave stunned by their conversation. They were hot and cold with each other. They reminded me of a couple I knew who were just like them a few months ago.

"You're right," Katniss commented as she pocketed her note into her pants. She didn't bother to read it. "They are…or were involved."

"Right?" I wondered. "There's this tension and…weirdness about them."

"Weirdness?" Katniss smiled at my description as I smiled back at her. "What?"

"They are me and you," I told her. "I'm Maddy and Shane is you." Katniss narrowed her eyes.

"But they're not together like you and me," she observed. "And, you're wrong. I'm Maddy and Shane is you. She wants him and he's resisting her. Like you resisted me when I hurt you. She must have hurt him badly."

"Yeah, but I didn't' resist you long, did I?" I reminded her. I told her two days––two days to figure out whether I wanted her in my life after she hurt me as she ran away when it got difficult between us. But what she didn't realize was that I was a goner. I couldn't say no or stay away from her. Those two days was me trying to figure out if I could live without her and I knew I couldn't, even though she did hurt me, repeatedly.

"I'm just happy that you gave me a second chance," she muttered. She reached over to kiss me but stopped.

"Hey, Katniss, Peeta," Shane reappeared. "What are you two waiting for? To get picked up by peacekeepers?" He snarked. "You two can do kissy face later." I smiled big and toothy while Katniss looked embarrassed.

Hours later, the sun touched the horizon. We had been walking non-stop with the exception of taking a nature and snack break, never taking more than ten to fifteen minutes for each stop. This time, Katniss relented and let me accompany her when she took a nature break. I didn't budge as my fear took over of losing her.

"I think this is a good place to rest for the night," Shane recommended. So far we had not encountered any more drones Capitol or rebel made. Both Shane and I exhaled a deep breath in relief. "No fire or lights," he ordered. "They'll see the fire miles away and give away our location."

For dinner, we ate beef jerky and crackers––not nutritious but enough to fill the belly and not feel hungry. I was too anxious to eat the jerky so I kept it wrapped in it's wrapper and ate the crackers in stead. Katniss sat beside me close as she laid her head on my shoulders. A few seconds later she shivered as the air grew cold without any fire to warm us.

Maddy was seated away from Shane. During the hike she was either ahead or behind him never beside him. She was giving him the cold shoulder and Shane ignored it. I felt bad for the both of them because I could sense that they cared for each other.

Hours later it had gotten so cold that the floor felt like ice that Katniss and I huddled together to warm each other up. Suddenly Maddy stood up. "What is it?" Shane asked. They were back to business soldier to soldier working together like professionals––their personal history and past behind them for the moment.

"I thought I heard something," she said. From her pack she pulled out a pair of goggles with dark shades. "I see a few thermal readings, small critters and animals. But…" She stopped and took a step forward a group of trees. "I see movement, animals the size of a…dog but bigger."

Shane turned and wore his own pair. "Where?" he asked. "Oh, I see them. They're…big like you said."

"They are probably wolves in the forest," Katniss informed them.

"No, these are bigger with large shoulders and hind legs," Shane surmised. "They might be bears. We'll need to keep watch."

"Shane, we're tired and need of water soon," Maddy said. "We need sleep and energy if we're to keep heading northeast."

"What do you suggest?" Shane queried. "It'll be another 8 hours until sunrise. I'll take first watch while you get some rest."

"There should be two of us on watch," Maddy argued. They argued between the two of them. Meantime, Katniss stood and inspected the trees. She had an idea.

"We climb," Katniss suggested.

"Climb?" Maddy said as she took off her goggles and tilted her head upwards. "Up there and do what?"

"We sleep up in the trees," Katniss explained. "It'll be cold––"

"You can't expect to go up there and sleep on a tree limb," Maddy said in astonishment. "What if we fall off? I'll sleep on the ground at least I won't break my neck."

"And if those large animals find you while you're asleep?" Shane said in a matter of fact tone.

"I'll take my chances," Maddy shrugged her shoulders.

"Maddy please be reasonable," he pleaded. "It's a good idea."

"Shane, you know I…can't climb…" She looked as though she was starting to hyperventilate.

"Hey, I'll help you, I promise you won't fall," Shane said in a gentle tone.

"You can't make that promise," she persisted. "I'll keep watch––"

"All night? At least if we're up and above ground we have a better vantage point. No one or anything can't sneak up on us." She shook her head. "We need to rest."

"No," she insisted. "I'm not going to climb up there."

"Now you're being stubborn, Maddy," Shane bristled in annoyance. "We should do what Katniss suggested." Maddy opened her mouth but Shane continued, "If you're afraid of falling off, we can tie ourselves to the tree." She shook her head. "Maddy, be reasonable. Those things out there are prowling probably looking for food."

I grabbed Katniss by the hand. "Let's leave them alone and let them figure it out."

"Maybe we should––"

"I'm tired and need to hold you," I said. She caved to my plea for some alone time and comfort. Quickly, she grabbed rope that was latched on Shane's backpack. I climbed the tree mimicking her steps as she ascended upward to a large branch that held both our weights.

"Sit down against the tree," she ordered. Once I was situated, she secured the rope around the tree, her bow and quiver and myself. She sat in front of me between my legs and tied us together tight but gave us enough room to wiggle.

Katniss sighed as she laid her head on my shoulders her back to my chest while I wrapped my around her. "Comfy?" I whispered in her ear as she nodded in response. I tried to warm her as best I could as the air turned chilly.

"Katniss," I said her name soft and low. It had been a long and stressful day as I tried not to catalog the days' events––the opening ceremony, the cornucopia destroyed and the subsequent appearance of Maddy and Shane. Our escape with the rest of the tributes and nearly losing Katniss to Marvel. I was overwhelmed and felt a sense of dread and exhaustion.

"Hm…" I held her for a few minutes as reveled at the feel of her in my arms again––whole and alive.

"There's something I need to talk to you about," I stated. I was lost for words for a few seconds as I tried to gather my thoughts and words. She waited. "I know….we never discussed what was going to happen in the arena." She stiffened in my arms. "I guess…we both knew what was going to happen." I was certain I was going to die during the games because it was important for me that Katniss survived and went home as a victor. In the back of my mind, I knew she had planned for me to survive as well––sacrificing her life as well.

"Why talk about it now, Peeta?" she murmured as she snuggled deeper in my arms. "It's over. We're out of the arena."

"But it's not over," I returned as I thought of Cato, the peacekeepers hunting us down. "We haven't made it out yet. Maddy, Shane and a lot of people risked their lives to get us out. But we're still out here not safe from Snow or his peacekeepers. We're being hunted."

"I know, Peeta."

"And," I continued, "Who knows what's going on back home. If my dad…our families are safe." I lay my cheek against her head. I missed her soft skin against mine. "I love you so much." 'What would I do without you?'

"I love you too." My heart skipped a beat each and every time she told me she loved me. It didn't feel real sometimes.

"I was willing to sacrifice my life to make sure you lived."

"Peeta––"

"No, please listen." My voice shook. My heart pounded in my chest. "We should have talked about this before today. I made Haymitch swear to me that he would do everything in his power to help me get you out of the arena, so you would live." I heard her sniffle. "All this…" I gestured around us. "It's good and all but…we're free from Snow and the Capitol for the moment. It's temporary. There is so much uncertainty."

"What are you trying to say?"

"We'll never be free. Not until Snow is out of power and Panem is free from his reign. Our families are now targets too. Prim has to hide forever until…what I'm trying to say is that you and I ….we're forever. We need to fight together because it is obvious that we will die for each other."

"Yes, I'd die for you," she repeated. "I was ready to."

"I know and I was ready to die for you as well. But how about, we fight to live and not die for each other. We make a pact that as a team––"

"A couple, Peeta, and not just a team," she corrected me.

"No more sacrifices, no more making decisions to protect one another. We fight with everything we have to live, Katniss. To live and fight as long as we have to so we can have a future together. I want a future with you."

"I want that too," she said.

"It's why we have to talk about this," I insisted. "So many things can go wrong––a hasty decision, a turn of event can alter everything. I'm grateful that we both alive."

"I knew Peeta. I knew once Prim was chosen…she…you were going to do everything you could to make sure she lived and came home to me." She hiccuped interrupting her speech a sob in her throat. "And when she was saved, I still worried about you but I knew that you would fight to come back to me."

"And then Snow chose you," I continued for her. "He broke the rules and chose you to get to me, to punish me. I thought my world ended that day."

"Mine as well."

"But here we are, out of the arena but still playing his games," I sighed, scared but determined to make it out alive. "We're out of the arena but into another one far more dangerous and with deadly consequences because it involves the people we love––our family and our home."

"But we're together, Peeta. That means more to me than anything. And we have people to help us," she muttered as she kissed my cold hands. "I believe that you and I can survive all this but I can admit that I'm happy that Shane and Maddy are helping us."

"By the way, where are they?" I asked. When Shane and Maddy started to bicker I wanted to give them privacy and I was focused on making Katniss comfortable and happy that I had forgotten about them.

"I'm not sure," Katniss replied. "At least they're not arguing or yelling at each other or we would have heard them." I chuckled.

"I hope they're okay and Shane convinced Maddy to climb up the tree," I commented. "This is a very good idea." I would hold Katniss all night to keep her safe and warm.

"Um…Peeta?"

"What?" She pointed to a tree across us. I turned my head. My mouth fell opened. A little to the left of us and higher in elevation was Shane and Maddy. Not that I was surprised that he convinced her to join him up the tree but that they were together on the same limb tucked together positioned the same as Katniss and me.

She was in front with his arms around her the rope tied around the tree. "I guess they settled their differences," Katniss chortled.

"I guess they did," I said with satisfaction and relief as I watched Maddy and Shane talked and…her head rested on his chest with his arms coiled around her. "They look…happy."

Katniss giggled, "Maybe you can keep me warm like Shane is keeping Maddy warm."

"You're so bossy," I teased her as my lips connected to hers. She tasted like jerky and crackers but I didn't care.

Light hit my eyes that it nearly blinded me. The sun rose from the horizon rising slow and bright. It was a sight for sore eyes. Watching the sun rise was not the same as it set but just as majestic and wondrous. A new day begun as our lives still hung on a balance. I was serious when I told Katniss of the danger ahead of us, but it was nothing to me if I had lost her. She was my purpose and reason for being like Sonja was to Graham and Delly was to Rye. I would fight for a future with Katniss even amid the rebellion and Snow hunting us. We were worth fighting for.

Katniss managed to twist and turn her body so that she lay on my chest on her side, a hand clutched to my shirt. I let her sleep as I watched the sun rise higher ascending toward the sky. I counted my blessings.

My butt and back ached from resting on the tree as its bark bruised my back. It was worth the pain and discomfort as I watched Katniss's eyes fluttered open with a sleepy and happy look on her face. I would make that look a permanent fixture in our future. Dirt, sweat and grime marred her skin, she looked beautiful as the sun lit her face highlighting her features––dark hair, gray eyes and pink lips, her hair disheveled like a bird's nest. She smiled at me as I laughed inwardly at the sight before me.

"Hey," she said soft and low.

"Hi," I smiled back. "Did you sleep okay?" She nodded her head and sighed.

Suddenly her stomach grumbled, "I should hunt for our breakfast."

"I don't think Shane will let us set up a fire," I commented. The thought of rabbit or squirrel meat made me hungry and my mouth water. I missed the touch of dough in my hands––the image of dad and Rye surfaced in my mind. I suddenly felt homesick.

"We should probably get going. Shane and Maddy are already up." I noticed that they were gone as they didn't appear on the tree limb from last night. Reluctantly, Katniss descended first.

I looked around and Shane and Maddy were not anywhere. Their absence bothered and worried me. "I don't like this," I said as my feet landed on solid ground. "Where are they?"

Katniss crouched on the ground. "Peeta, look." She pointed to dents on the dirt floor. There were boot prints, a few of them with animal tracks alongside them.

I gasped. "What do think happened? They wouldn't have taken off without us." She agreed as she nodded her head. "Do you remember the coordinates or what direction we should be heading?"

"Yes, I remember," Katniss confirmed as she holstered her quiver to her back, pulled out an arrow and drew it. I raised my machete tightening my hold onto the handle. "Shane and Maddy left for a good reason and we should do the same."

"I agree. You lead the way," I said. Her brows creased but there was s smile on her face.

"What?" I wondered why she was smiling––Shane and Maddy disappeared; we were on our own in dire need of food, water and help. I'm hungry, my body ached all over and I'm thirsty. It definitely felt like we were still inside the arena struggling to stay alive.

"It's just that in any given situation, most boys would be telling me what to do and leading the way," she explained. "You trust me to lead us and take charge." I caressed the tip of her braid.

"I'm out of my element, Katniss," I confessed. "You're a hunter, familiar with the woods. "I'm a baker by trade with no survival skills. I have no qualms taking orders from you. It would be stupid of me to do otherwise."

"Thank you."

"You're also the Mockingjay's daughter, you lead and I'll follow you anywhere in Panem, Katniss."

Walking slowly, inspecting our surroundings, we walked through the forest anticipating any sign of our friends and enemies. I shared the rest of the jerky I had last night with Katniss as she shared her crackers with me.

I was still hungry but more scared that I ignored the grumblings in my stomach.

It wasn't even an hour when the smaller drone appeared. It flew above us. Because of it size, it glide through the air like a dancer twisting and moving with ease while three Capitol drones flew after it. It was an aerial show of rebel versus the Capitol. Katniss and I watch in fascination as more drones appeared when another small rebel drone followed its kin––there were seven against two. "There's so many," Katniss observed. "I wonder what's going on."

Then a thought occurred to me. Both Maddy and Shane were missing. They wouldn't have left unless they a valid reason. Their main mission was to rescue us and not abandon us in the woods to fend for ourselves.

"It's distraction," I said. "The smaller drones are using themselves as bait so the Capitol drones will be too busy to look for us."

"You're right," Katniss returned. "And I think that is why Shane and Maddy left…to lure the peacekeepers on foot away from us."

"We need to find them," I told her.

"Peeta, if they left so the peacekeepers won't look for us, we need to continue to the rebel base camp on our own," she mentioned.

"But––"

"They're trained soldiers," Katniss said.

"They volunteered and are risking their lives for us!"

"And I'll be a forever grateful," she retorted. "But now we have to keep them safe by staying away from them so they can do their job. They can take care of each other, Peeta."

I was torn. It had been only day and I felt a kinship with Shane and Maddy. But Katniss was right as well. They left to give a chance to get away. Suddenly, a loud piercing sound filled the air like a roman candle. Not far from us the trees exploded echoing a loud thunderous sound in the air. Soon after the sound repeated itself. "Katniss!" I screamed. "Look!" We were located at top of a hill overlooking the woods. Half a mile away was a small clearing.

Before us, the forest was lit on fire as Capitol drones fired into the ground leveling trees from the assault. "They burning the forest down," I said.

"Why?" Katniss asked.

"Look, Katniss." I pointed at two figures on the run as they sprinted away from the drones firing at them. It was a man and a woman wearing dark green clothes. "It's Shane and Maddy. We have to help them." Katniss grabbed my arm hard preventing me to move her nails dug into my skin.

"Peet, stop," she commanded her eyes hard and determined. I struggled to free myself from her grasp. "We need to go now."

"But what about––"

"They're fighters and they have each other," she reminded me. "We need to get away from here before the drones spot us." Her eyes pleaded. "It's why they left us so we can survive….and get away." I could tell she was torn as well because she wasn't callous or heartless. Her thoughts were of our survival––her hunter's instinct took over.

My heart beat on my chest so hard that it was hard to breath. I had to remind myself that Katniss was first and foremost––she was the most important person in my life and everything and anyone else was second. I nodded my head because my throat was tight and my head spun. I felt guilty, scared and angry at our situation. There was nothing could to help them without alerting our presence.

She grabbed my hand and held on tight as she dragged me away into the other direction. The sounds in the air escalated, the smell of smoke and fuel assaulted my nose. I took one last look behind me and prayed the both Shane and Maddy are all right.

AN: Thank you for reading this chapter and for your patience. Please leave a review at your leisure. I do hope everyone in the U.S. have a safe Fourth of July. A short update will be posted on Saturday.