The Boy With The Bread

Chapter 22

Katniss POV

Glimmer had just been talking to us about our deaths and hers also, but the Gamemakers apparently got impatient and began letting nature takee its force. Now, Gale, Glimmer and I are all scrambling from the flock of metallic silvery birds, which are genetic muttations made in the Capitol. These birds are about the size of hummingbirds, and have metal wings that are sharp as knives. They are derived from hummingbirds, for their wings flutter 2oo times per second and they are speedy and agile. WE are all screaming and running for our lives, Glimmer's shriek almost as painful as the occasional slice. Then, suddenly, I remember Rue, possibly still sleeping in the tree or already cut to death by the birds called Silverblades.

"Gale!" I yell, dodging a branch. "I have to get Rue!" Gale screams back ''NO!"

"Gale, please!" Almost everything I say now is a scream, because the Silverblades that are yards away from us are flapping their little, yet scary wings like a dog licking his lips ready to eat his food. Gale turns abruptly and runs to a tall tree, scales it, then skillfully hops away to retrieve Rue. Panting, I whip my head back around and follow Glimmer to the lake.

"Are they gone?" Glimmer asks nervously when we think we lost them. We are by the lake, hiding behind the jagged rocks. I nod. "Thank god." I expect her to maybe slit my throat or something, now that we're alone, but we are both too tired to do anything. Gale should be coming soon. We have been waiting for ten minutes. I scoop water into my hands and sllurp thristily.

"Katniss!! Jump into the water!" A deep voice booms. Gale. I hear pounding footsteps and the buzz of the Silverblades wings. Next to me, Glimmer dives into the lake, behind me Gale is escaping the birds, without Rue. Where is she?

Gale catches up to me and pushes me into the water as the Silverblades nip at us. I hit the water andsink down, escaping the Silverblads, escaping Glimmer, esaping Gale's weird feelings for me, escaping the Games, escaping it all. I always felt most comfortable in water.

I tip my head back to get a lungful of air then swish back down before I can see if the birds are still looming over us. I got cut all over my face, wrists and hands, and my jacket and pants are sliced too. Gale got the worst of it, his already shredded clothes just dirty threads hanging loosely, now floating in the water. The water around him is turning red and I look away. Glimmer is to my left, struggling to stay afloat, but underwater so the deadly mutts won't get her. I realize I am the best swimmer here, and can hold my breath the longest. Except Gale, because I haven't seen him take a breath yet! I look at him. where did he go?! Frantically, I swim around, then spot a shadow four or five feet below. I gasp for a breath of air, then dive down.

When I push Gale to the surface of the water, which was a difficult task seeing he is about twice the weight of me, he is lifeless and still. The mutts are gone, but I see a few hanging around. With all the strength I have left, I roll him onto the muddy shore and shake him.

I vaguely think of Rue, and I wonder what happened to her. I wonder if she is still alive. If only Gale were awake, he could tell me.

"Here, let me help,'' A voice offers. Glimmer stands behind me, looking concernedly at Gale. I am shocked at her offer to help, so shocked in fact, that I notch my bow and send an arrow into her heart. The cannon booms and I preoccupy myself with GAle. he is breathing, I think, but irregularly. I press my ear against his chest, which is soaked and bloody. I pick up a light thudding every ten seconds or so. The beats become slower each time, and I really begin to panic.

"Gale! Wake up!" I scream, as if he will rise automatically at the sounc of my voice. "Gale! Please!" I am shrieking into his ear, hopefully not damaging his hearing. I try everything I can in the next thirty seconds, shaking him, blowing in his ear, screaming at him, opening and closing his eyelids, tickling him with a leaf, and even letting a Silverblade slice his hollow cheek. I lay my head on his chest repeatedly, and when I don't find a heartbeat I give up. I sit beside him dejectedly, my hand stroking his face that is even more chiseled from the stress and hunger this arena has given us. President Snow has won.

Beep. Beep. Beep. A silver parachute lands softly ontop of Gale's stomach. The cannon hasn't gone off yet, so his heart must still be working? Surely my mother would know. The pararchute is an expensive gift from Haymitch, bought by sponsors. I open it eagerly and inside is a clear plastic mask. There is a thick black cord attached to each side of the mask. I find a piece of paper at the bottom of the canister and in scrawly handwriting, it reads:

Gale is still alive. Put this on him and see what happens.
-Haymitch
P.S. The audience is expecting a good show. Put a good one on for them.

My heart rises, then sinks. As I fix the mask on Gale's head, his breathing slowly returns to normal, but ever so slowly. I must put on a good show for the Capitol. Snow already threatened to put Prim in the arena. He has the power to do so if I don't play by his rules. I shake my head no to myself. He can't make me. And when I say this, I mean Snow can't make me fall in love with Gale.

A/N
Hey! Hopefully I will be able to update this week, because I don't have any projects yay! Well depends on the mood of my ELA teacher. If she is in a good mood I will be able to update, if she isn't, well then... LOL. I don't have a picture of a silver humingbird (trust me I googled it) so use your imagination! Or later I might paint/draw one, cause art is life:)Hope this chapter wasn't too boring for you. Ugh can you believe the time change?! I hate it. Well byeeeee;)
Jamie