Chapter 2: Running

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Katniss pov

Throwing the door open, I furiously wipe away my tears while searching my cupboards for snacks and some of my personal items - a photo of my dad, a drawing of my sister and a flower and a story written by my mom. Sprinting up the stairs two at a time i go to my room and go in my closet, tearing clothes of the hangers and stuffing discarded shirts and socks into my backpack. Zipping it up i pull it on my back and jog downstairs. Walking into the living room i stuff some money, my details and other key items into my pockets, before jogging to the door.

Abruptly, i stop and turn to see it hanging right next to the window above the door. With shaky hands i pull it down and hide it in my satchel. Just in case everything goes wrong i can still find a way back to everyone who cares. No... cared.

Taking a deep breath I leave the house and run. Soon I find myself running in the woods for miles, so similar to where I grew up but different, until i'm sure i'm near the edge of the Capitol. Slowing down I notice it's gotten dark so I look for shelter but realize their is none. Unless..

Tightening my grip on some bark i push off my feet and begin to climb a high tree. Once i'm near the top i find a branch stable enough to hold my weight. I sit on it - even though i don't fully trust it - and rest 1 leg on it while my other dangles in the air. Pulling my satchel off i take out the rope i grabbed and wrap it around my legs to stop me from falling when i rest. Before i feel myself drifting off from being so exhausted today.

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Twitching my nose i begin to smell something... burning. Is that smoke? My eyes snap open as i hear a loud crash as a tree hits the ground. Whipping my head in all directions - my braid smacking me in the face - i take in the sight before me. The whole forest is on fire!

Suddenly i get a panic attack as i watch the trees engulf in flames and here her voice echo in my head, "Katniss, Katniss help. Katniss", she cried in agony. Hastily i untie the rope and put it in my bag before pushing off the branch and falling to the ground. Hitting the ground i push myself up and run faster than i ever have before. I knew I wasn't safe. I cant trust anything.

Dodging the trees i sprint searching for an exit, trying not to get burnt. Suddenly a tree collapses feet in front of me blocking my escape. Turning i notice a part of the forest the fire hasn't reached yet. "Ahh", i screech as i feel a sharp pain in my leg and i slap my hand on my thigh trying to put the fire out, that has fallen on me from the trees above me. Crawling backwards i hid next to a fallen tree and cry out in pain as i see my burned flesh mixed with painful flashbacks of her.

Turning my head up i notice some sparks of fire falling from above heading toward my body. Pushing myself i roll forward, right off the hill. I scream as sharp branches and leaves hit me leaving scratches as i roll down the hill and hit the ground. My body sprawled out on the ground. I'm in so much pain, i don't know what's worse the mental agony or the physical burning. Forcing myself up i run again looking for oxygen as i begin to suffocate from all the smoke and the heat around me. I struggle gasping for breath as te air around me turns thick with mist. Pushing stray leaves and twigs out of the way, i notice a huge gap in the trees and run, sprinting for safety.

Gasping deeply, i push myself into a river away from the fire, seeking relief from the painful throbbing of my leg. The river is in an area i feel as if i've seen before. On the outskirts of the Capitol. I'm in Panem. I take deep breaths thankful to finally have oxygen and being allowed to breath as i push myself deeper into the water. Sighing as the cool water relieves me of my pain.

Turning my head i notice a pathway out of the stream. I look before me at the beautiful view, in front of me. A clear blue sky and further along is when a separate forest begins. Looking carefully i notice something amongst the trees that i have only ever seen once before.

That's when i see it. My new home.

So what do you guys think? In a few chapters she will go to school but before then i'll be writing about her past and present life and how she knows this place. Please read, vote and comment. :)

Playing the player ~ everlark (high school)Where stories live. Discover now