Mockingjay's Redemption (Book Two in the Mockingjay's Daughter Series)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven:

My feet scuff the ground as I navigate my way through the dark forest. With only moonlight making my pathway visible, I trip and nearly fall often.

"Come on," Caleb calls. "We're almost there."

He had said that an hour ago. And the hour before that. We are not almost there.

"You've already said that two times."

"Okay," he says, his smirk visible through the moonlight. "I was lying those times, but I'm not now. Honest."

I roll my eyes and continue following him. The trust I feel with him was unexplainable; it is just there. When he told me who is father was, it took me a few minutes to remember the familiar name. Finnick Odair was a friend of my parents' who was killed in the uprising. Guilt had pinched my stomach even though I hardly even knew Caleb; I just felt bad.

I pitch forward when my boot connects with a huge root. Before I hit the ground, I am looking up at Caleb's face and laying in his arms. He is smirking.

"Well, if you wanted me so bad, you could have just told me."

I scoff with disgust and leap from his arms. "I don't want you."

"Oh, but you do." His grin is adorable. "You just haven't realized it yet."

I glare at him and continue walking. He catches up quickly and we walk in silence until lights dillute the darkness.

"I told you we were almost there."

I'm about to say something snappy, but I catch sight of Caleb's home.

"Whoa."

Compact stone houses line this meadow in the woods. The roofs are patched with some kind of straw. Some buildings are bigger than others. A path is cleared, leading up to each structure. A small creek is running past the edge of the meadow. This place is magnificent.

"C'mom," Caleb says, weaving between houses. "My mother is expecting us."

He leads me to the biggest building. He opens the door and steps inside, calling for his mother.

"In here."

Caleb walks into a living room and plops down on a chair. Sitting on another chair is a beautiful woman. She has deep brown hair with gray hairs mixed in. Her eyes are the same color as her son's. Wrinkles appear as she looks at me.

"You look like your aunt."

"Excuse me?"

"You look like her. Prim."

"Oh," I say, dumbstruck. "Most people say I look like my mother."

"You look like her, as well," Annie says. "But I see Prim."

Tears spring to my eyes. It angers me. "Thank you."

"Caleb, go get this girl some food."

Annie gestures to Caleb's empty chair and I sit down in it. "Tell me about yourself, Ivy."

My head jerks back in surprise. "Well, you already know my parents. I was in the Games and won. I was entered again, but escaped. Then Caleb found me and brought me here."

Annie is silent for a few moments, then nods. "You will stay here until we get word from your parents."

"Thank you."

"Anything for you, Ivy. In the morning, we'll get some clothes from the trading center and talk some more. I'll enjoy getting to know you more."

"That sounds great, Annie."

Caleb walks back in, with a plate of food. Some meat and vegetables. My stomach growls in response. He laughs and hands me the food.

"After Ivy is done eating, make her a bed in the spare room," Annie says to Caleb, who nods and gets up.

I finish the food fast and Caleb takes my plate. "C'mon. I'll show you where you'll sleep."

I give Annie my thanks one more time and get up. We walk down a hallway and into a small room. On the floor is a thick blanket and pillows. Caleb stands in the doorway.

"Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning," he says.

"See you in the morning."

He smiles at me and closes the door. I climb under the blanket after fluffing the pillows. I fall asleep thinking about a boy with gorgeous green-blue eyes and an adorable smirk.

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