Price of Rebellion (The Hunger Games)

Chapter Two

When I open my eyes, I am still in the same spot I was in before. Laying down with my face on the ground, I pick my head up look around. This time, the streets are more visible, but debris is scattered all over. Feet away from me lies a chair, or at least parts of one. I push the hair out of my face, and look up to the empty sky. I try to recall the image of the plane, or whatever it was, dropping the bombs on the school. How many children were inside by the time is was up in flames?

My left arm is throbbing, and I have the worst headache ever. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to breathe slower. It stings and burns and I don't know if I can hold on much longer.

I hear stomping, and I crawl to hide behind the tree and stay out of their sight. These white armored soldiers with guns march down the uneven roads. I hold my breath, and shut my eyes. This is a dream, this is all a horrible nightmare. But it isn't, because this is really happening. I open my eyes and try to steady my heartbeat. I take deep breaths, and look again. They are further away, trying to tame the flames of what used to be my school. What makes it harder for the fire to die down is the coal dust in the air.

"Are you okay?" I turn around to expect a soldier kill me. Instead I see a little girl kneel next to me.

"Uh, yeah. I-I'm fine." I lie. I see three of her. "No," I choke out and my eyes close. I fall to the ground, hugging my left arm to my chest.

"Mom!" I hear the girl call and then I hear foot steps come closer.

"Oh my god," I hear someone, probably the girl's mom, say. I feel her arms slide underneath my knees, and I am lifted off the ground and slip into unconsciousness again.

~

When I surface next, I am laying on a couch next to a window. The sky is dark, and the street is full of despair. I sit up carefully and I come to realize that my left arm is bandaged up, hiding the wound I got earlier. I start to cough involuntarily from the dust still in my lungs. I see a figure come closer and I hug a pillow close to me.

"Shh... It's okay." The person says.

"W-Who are you?" I ask, my voice is scratched. The lights turn on, and I am blinded for a few seconds by the bright light. I rub my eyes so I could see clearer. A young woman sits next to me on the couch, and I lessen my grip on the pillow.

"My name is Amber. I'm not going to hurt you." She says smiling. "Do you remember anything?"

"Yes," I cough out. She walks over to the kitchen and pours a glass of water. She returns and gives me it. "Thank you."

"What's your name?" Amber asks me.

"Emma." I tell her.

"Emma, what do you remember?" She asks me. I let the whole story pour out.

"I-I was biking to school like I always do, and then I saw these planes in the air. But they weren't normal planes, they were bigger, more modern planes. That's when the school exploded. I was blown backwards from the force of the blow, and I blacked out. I woke up again, and saw a little girl and then I was out again." I explain.

"And your arm?" She asks. I look at my bandaged arm again.

"After the first explosion, I realized something cut my arm, so I wrapped my sweatshirt around the wound." I say, still coughing. I take another sip of water and force myself to relax. A girl walks in and sits next to Amber. No, it's the girl. The girl who saw me on the ground.

"Emma, this is my daughter Rose." Amber says.

"I-I remember you." I say, trying to pair up the girl I see now with the one I saw before. "Thank you, for finding me." She smiles and cuddles next to Amber. "So, what were you guys doing when it happened?" I ask with a cough.

"Well, Rose could easily walk to school within a minute, so we were about to leave when it happened." Amber says.

"Things started falling from the counters and walls, so we went to the basement for safety." She says. I look around the room to see shattered glass and plates on the floor. Amber must have cleaned some of it up, but the remainder lays on the floor. "After, we went upstairs when the commotion died down. Rose must have seen you when she was looking out the window. I carried you inside and took care of your arm."

"So... so you saved my life." I say. "I would have bled to death if you didn't rescue me." I tell her. I swing my legs from the couch carefully and lean over to hug her. "Thank you." I whisper with tears in my eyes.

"You're welcome." Amber replies. I pull away because my chest hurts, so I lay back down. "I think you better stay for the night. Who knows whats going on out there."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to-"

"Really, it would make me feel better knowing you were here safe, rather than wounded and wandering the dangerous streets." She says.

"Thank you," I say while reaching into my backpack on the floor next to me. "You are really being kind. Here, I have a twenty-"

"No, keep it. You can stay as long as you would like." She says.

"I can't stop saying thank you." I laugh, but then I cough.

"Here, lay down and rest. I'll wake you up if anything happens." She says as I close my eyes.