The Hunger Games- Prim's Story

Chapter 15

I squeeze my eyes shut when I wake up to the sun in my eyes and mockingjays singing. I'm comfortable here and I don't want to leave the sweet embrace of sleep, even if my back hurts from sleeping against the tree. I drag my eyes open and look beside me. Rue's head is on my shoulder and she's sound asleep. I've never had any doubts about trusting her. But still, at the back of my mind, the thoughts haunt me. Only one of us can come out of this alive. I try to push that out of my mind though. The odds aren't in either of our favors and the chance of both of us getting out of here alive are slim to none. 

I lean my head back against the tree and take a few deep breaths. Then I gently shake Rue awake. Her eyes open and her face cracks into a smile. I try a crooked smile, even though my face feels tight. "Here, let's try and put some water on your burn," Rue says. I nod and touch my burn scar. It feels rough and tight, like my skin has been boiled and stretched over my cheek, jaw, and forehead. Rue digs in her bag for some socks and she pours some of her water over them. She hands it to me and I gently dab it onto my skin. I don't feel it at all, it feels wrong- like I'm missing something. I gently poke the skin, harder and harder, but I still don't feel anything. I want to feel something, this doesn't feel right. Rue notices and brings my hand away from my face. "'Don't do that. You're hurting yourself more."

"No, it doesn't hurt! I don't feel anything!" I protest, severely frustrated.

"Stop paying attention to it. Go pack up your bag, we have to get food today. Can you hunt?"

I shake my head and turn towards my bag. I wonder what my mother is doing right now. After the mine explosion that killed my father, she treated lots of burn patients. Those who got out alive had burns everywhere. I helped her treat them, often treating them without her when she was holed up in her room and Katniss had escaped going to try and find food. We had better tools and medicines back then. They weren't the best, but it was better than what we have out here. They never recovered, they still walk around with burns all over their faces. And they still went back to the mines, as soon as it was fixed. I wonder if I'll look like that when I die. If I die. I don't know anymore.

"Are you packed?" Rue asks, breaking my train of thought. 

"Yeah. Where are going?" I look over hopefully towards the pile of food the Careers have. Destroying that huge pile would be almost as satisfying as stealing from it.

"As far from the lake as we can go," she decides and I internally groan. So much more walking. But it's probably for the best, go as far away from the Careers as possible. She climbs down and I follow her quietly. My feet touch the leaves on the ground and crunch underneath me. Rue starts walking in front and I follow close behind, knife in hand. We keep walking all morning, not stopping for anything. I don't know where the Careers are, but I don't want to be anywhere near them. Rue was right, they didn't care for me at all, they had me drink poison. But it's fine now. It's not okay and I don't think it'll ever be, but I'm safe now. Hurt but safe.

The sun is right overhead when Rue stops. I almost crash into her and she smiles when I regain my balance. "So, you don't know how to hunt and neither do I," she states. "And we have a knife and a slingshot between us. Easy." She rolls her eyes and I have to stifle a laugh. 

"You can gather berries and roots. I'll try and...kill something?" I say uncertainly. She smiles and starts towards a berry bush. I look at my knife and sigh. I start towards the woods, not sure where to go, when I feel a hand on my back. 

I stiffen, expecting the worst, when I hear Rue's voice. "Don't go yet. We need a signal. Just in case."

"Like what?" I ask. She whistles a four-note tune that all the mockingjays pick up. It's mesmerizing in a sinister way. She smiles and I breathe, "That's beautiful."