𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐞 ☦︎ 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐧

𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ☦︎ 1

The sun is rising slowly this morning, for some reason.

I was up and out of the house at the crack of dawn, as I have always been recently, but only now is when it has deigned to show face. It's warm, though, and offers my shivering body small amount of comfort as I crouch down in the icy woods, raising my knife. It's that time of year now, where snow covers everything and causes animals to hibernate. The winters are bitterly cold here, but they do have some virtue.

I have been sneaking out of my house earlier and earlier for about three consistent weeks now, as my time sleeping has been getting lesser and lesser. I've just been doing my usual routine; hunting in the woods, only now, it is no longer necessary. My family and I could probably feed all of Twelve now if we were allowed to.

Snap!

I jump violently at the sound, turning instantly and raising my knife on the creature behind me.

Which turns out to not be a creature at all. In fact, what is behind me is a man, standing at a head taller than he, extending his arms out in front of him.

"Whoa, hey," Gale says, putting his arms down. "It's me. It's just me."

I sigh, taking him in. We don't see each other as much now, because ever since he turned eighteen he's been working six days a week in the mines. I continually offer him money, saying that he doesn't have to stay down there if he doesn't want to, but he continually refuses.

"Saw some turkeys on the way here," he begins, conversationally. "Crossed right in front of me like I wasn't even there."

I have calmed down considerably now, my heart going back to its normal rate as I say. "How rude of them."

"That what happens," Gale shrugs. "You work all that time in the mines, and the stupid birds think they own these woods."

Old me, pre-games me, would have laughed. Probably. Post-games me gives a fake chuckle, my eyes dropping down to the ground.

Gale stares straight at me. "When's he getting here?"

I bite my lip. I can hardly bear to think of him, let alone have Gale speak of him. "Two hours. The tour leaves in three."

He nods. "Well then, let's go."

☦︎☦︎☦︎

As we walk through the woods, looking for something to hunt, I try not think about the impact Cato Hadley has had on me.

It's been two months since I've seen him. Two months since we've spoken. Two months since I've looked into those blue eyes.

It's also been two months since he told me to figure out what I want. To figure out if I want him is what he meant.

But the thing is, I don't know. It's been a long two months, here in Twelve, and despite the money and the house, my life has worsened considerably. I am woken every night by nightmares, screaming until my voice has gone hoarse. I find no comfort in waking, either, because I know that every day, I am creeping closer to the moment I'll see him again.

And today is when that moment will commence.

But first, Gale and I hunt. We eventually find some game; a turkey, maybe one of the ones Gale saw. We exchange a glance before I pull a knife, crouching down to its level and eyeing where I will get it. Right in the eye.

I take a shaky breath before raising my arm, and throwing.

Only, when the knife slams into the turkey, it's not a turkey at all.