Price of Rebellion (The Hunger Games)

Chapter Four

Hours pass, and every hour my family is mourning me. I can't just let them believe I am dead, while I am sitting here with a eight year old motherless child. I have to return to them; Rose and I can be safe.

I go over multiple plans in my head with countless scenarios that could put us into danger at any moment. I finally come up with the safest, most secure plan possible.

"Hey Rose," I whisper, waking her up. "I have a plan."

"A plan?" She says, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes, I have a plan to get out of here and back to my house." I say. She sits up and faces me. "So, I think everything has calmed down up there. That means that we will have time to run. Are you a fast runner?" I ask. She nods. "Good, so lets take some things with us, whatever you want." She looks over to her mom, but looks away. "We will have to leave her here." I say quietly. "I'll start packing, you can have some time to say goodbye."

She runs over to Amber's side laying next to her without hesitation. I watch for a minute, how she doesn't cry or say a word, but she just lays next to Amber's lifeless body. I then come to my senses that Rose should have some time alone with her.

I grab my backpack and empty it of notebooks and pencils, I don't have a school anymore to use this all in. I pack it with their photo albums and Rose's toy bear. I can't help but look in the photo albums. I see pictures of Rose and Amber, and someone who looks like Rose's brother and father. I quickly shut the album, and shove it in my backpack.

"Ready," Rose says, emotionless as she walks towards me.

"Okay, I packed some photos and your bear in my backpack." I say as I put on my bloodstained sweatshirt.

"Thank you. So what's the plan?" She asks, sniffling.

"Alright, so I'm the leader, but you have to hold my hand at all times. The second we are out of the basement, you can't say a word or make a sound. We will run upstairs and into your backyard. We cut through the woods for about three blocks, and then stay close to houses until we reach mine." I say, and pause to let it all sink in. She simply nods, and takes one last glance at Amber. "Let's go."

We run up the stairs to find the first floor broken into. The front door is smashed open, and the windows are shattered, but the sunlight manages to get through. I carefully make my way to the back of the house, stepping over shattered glass and blood. Rose holds my hand tighter and we crawl through an opening made by the battle last night.

We quickly disappear into the woods. The streets are dead silent with coal dust and debris covering every inch, but the forest is alive with the sound of birds and vibrant plants. I poke Rose, and point to a butterfly that sits on a leaf a foot away from us. With her other hand, she lets the butterfly crawl on her finger, and it flies away. I see a small smile on her face, she is still a child and shouldn't be seeing things like yesterday at such a young age. We continue walking, and I stop to count the blocks. One more to go. My heart beats fast, I am almost home.

I kneel down to Rose to whisper in her ear. "The forest is getting narrow. We are going to be in the backyards until we reach my house. It's only three houses away. Now this is the part where you have to be quick. Do you want me to carry you?" She nods yes. "Okay. Remember, trust me." She looks at me and smiles. Rose puts my backpack on her back, and then she jumps on mine.

I start running towards the first backyard, and we make it successfully. I hold up my hand, and hold up two fingers. Two houses to go. I peek around the corner of the house to see no one in the streets. Without further hesitation, I sprint to the next backyard. This is my next door neighbor's house. I hold up my hand, and hold up one finger. One more house. I look at the street again, no one there again. I hold on to Rose tightly and sprint to my backyard. I hold up my hand again, and give her a thumbs up. She gets down quietly, and I take my backpack from her. She holds my hand again as I lead her to my back door. It isn't shattered like Rose's is. Inside I see my kitchen, where I last saw my mom.