Defiance: The 13th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter Twelve

This. Cannot. Be. Real.

I suddenly feel dizzy and unsteady. She's supposed to be dead! I watched! I truly thought she was. Perhaps I'm hallucinating. No. Of course not!

The Avox's hand rests on my shoulder and I look in her eyes. A single, glistening tear falls from her cheek and lands on my hand. The Capitol around me is now spinning and I feel like I might pass out.

I open my mouth to ask if it's really her, but she puts her finger over my lips. And that's when everything goes black.

~◆~

"Annabeth? Annabeth!"

I open one eye slowly to see Juniper holding a cold, wet cloth to my face. I look around and notice that I'm on the couch in the sitting room with my mentor, escort, and fellow tribute staring down at me. This isn't awkward at all.

I draw my hand to the back of my head and wince. A large lump has already formed that's quite painful to the touch.

"What happened?" I order gruffly, rubbing the throbbing mass on my head.

"You must've blacked out." Justus says as he hands me a glass of water. I gulp it down quickly, nodding my thanks to him.

"Yes." Juniper adds," You were helping some Avox-"

Then it all comes rushing back to me, everything. I half jump half fall of the couch in a wild attempt to catch up with my mother who I thought was murdered back in District Thirteen.

"Avox?! Where'd she go?" I shout, clutching the arm of the couch, trying to regain my balance.

Juniper exchanges a confused glance with my mentor. "I don't know!" She squeaked," She's an avox! How should I know?"

"Maybe you hit your head too hard." Blaze comments from the other end of the couch, in his usual cold, deep voice.

"Oh, just shut up!" I snap,"I have to find her!"

"Annabeth," Justus grabs my shoulder," It doesn't matter. She's long gone. You'll be lucky if you even see her around here again." I narrow my eyes as he continues," It really doesn't matter. She's a criminal.

I push his hand off of me forcefully, " You don't know that!" I snarl," You don't even know her, and you definitely don't know me, either!"

I storm out and push open the door to my room. I slam it shut, rattling the entire floor purposely. Holding back tears, I fall to the ground on my knees. I know what I saw, it was my mother, Scarlet Meadows. Even though I haven't seen her in almost ten years, I'd have to be blind to not recognize my own flesh and blood!

I get to my feet, about ready to get into the bed and end this awful day, but then I notice a small slip of paper sitting on the nightstand. I know that wasn't there before.

I pick it up and squint to see the writing:

Meet me on the roof at nine o' clock.
-S

I stare at the paper, my head still throbbing. The roof? How in the world am I supposed to get on the roof? And how do I know if this is just a trick? If it's my mother, really, I don't care if I get caught, I think.

Glancing at the digital clock displayed on the far wall, I see that it's already 8:45. If I'm going to do this, I need to go now.

I quietly tiptoe to my door, closing it silently on the way out. Looking both ways down the hall, I don't see anyone. I scamper to the left, hoping there's an access to the roof there. Luckily, there is.