Under the Willow

Chapter 34

   My hazel eyes shot open to the clear sky. I moved my hands around, in a weird grey substance. My eyes meet my hands. It was my ash. Thoughts started to race through my mind. Then it came to me. The hovercraft. The bombs.

I'm dead.

I stood up and tried to search for the other medics. A white long dress replaced my medic uniform, and I didn't seem to be hurt anymore. As I looked to my left, I saw Ivy, alive.

Ivy looked to the place where I just was.
" Here! " I shouted. " I'm right here!"

Realization set in, and her eyes filled with tears. Somethings caught her eye, something sparkling.
The mockingjay pin.
She picked it up delicately, as if it were glass. Someone shouted her name, calling her over to someone.
That someone was Katniss.

Ivy does once last glance where I used to be, and then runs to Katniss. I followed her, and what she does next shocks me.

   Ivy clips the mockingjay unto Katniss's cloak. Maybe we could have been friends if I hadn't died.
I halfway smile, until I see my actually friend Lidia, dead.

   Her eyes were closed, and there was a pool of blood surrounding her. Something is bleeding from her back, but I can't tell where it's coming from. Then, her whole body disappears, in a white flash, leaving only the pool of blood.

  She's dead. Just. Like. That.

Panic started to surge through my body. I looked around, trying to find the person I most cared about. Just as I was looking under some debris, a man started to shout. " Get away!" he shouted, as a building was about to fall over a small child.

After the smoke cleared, I ran over to see what had happened. The child was covered in dust, running into his mother's arms. Then that means the man.. I crouched down to see who it was. It wasn't a man.

It was Rory.

  

He was covered in ash, and a large piece of stone was crushing his chest. " Rory!" I shriek, crouching down next to him. With my small hands, I tried to grip the edge of the stone and lift it, but it was clearly unmovable. I screamed for help, but everyone was scattering the area, worried for another set of bombs. Crouching down next to him, I saw his bright grey eyes look at something in the distance.

" Prim," he said weakly, and wheezed afterwards. I gripped his hand that was exposed. " I'm here Rory, I'm here."

" Prim..."
A tear dropped on my hand. " I love you."

He slightly smiles, and I could've sworn he saw me. Then with a few jerks of his chest, it stops moving. Light quickly captures him, and he disappears similar like Lidia.

I shakily stood up, my legs shaking so hard that could've fallen off. Then I feel myself falling.

Falling, falling, into the snow covered ground.

***

I woke up to find myself staring at a bright sky with clouds. The grass was healthy, and reflected light off of the surface. I stood up shakily and looked around.
Where am I?
I blinked my eyes for only two seconds, until suddenly Rory appeared. He was wearing a white shirt with brown pants.

I looked up. " Rory?"
" Hi Prim."
" Where am I?"
" Twelve."
I paused. " There is no District Twelve. "
Rory looked at the grass. " This is Twelve, Prim. It's the Twelve that you remember. "
Confusion started to form in my mind. This is how you remember it? I suddenly looked up.

" Is Kat-"
" She's alive. Go see for yourself."
  I walked under a beautiful tree to see Katniss crouching down and looking at something.

    My grave.

My hands went to my mouth. She was sad. Very sad, like our mother.
" Rory I have to stay here with her! She'll be all alone.. I, I just can't!"

   Rory reached for my hand.

" Prim you need to let go."
" No...."
" Prim.."
" NO!" I shouted, almost like when Katniss was pulled away from the peacekeepers at the first Games.

   Rory looked at me sincerely.
" Prim, please. If you stay, we can never be together. We're not apart of this world anymore. They're living. We're dead and gone.

My eyes widened, and the wind blowing the wheat fields and trees suddenly stopped, and I felt my long blonde hair stop moving with the wind.
We're dead and gone.

    Rory stepped closer to me. I saw his beautiful grey eyes again. They shown so greatly in this new place.
" If you stayed, you'd be hunting her. She'd be weak and frail, and.. scared. Katniss wouldn't be the same Prim." He paused. " And.. think about yourself for a change! All you've ever worried about is her! Think about yourself Prim!"
I slight gasped. " Th.." I hesitated. It's true.

It's so true.

" I just.. need to say goodbye."
Rory nodded, and I walked toward Katniss.
I kissed her head, and did something that dreaded me, but relieved me at the same time.

   " Goodbye, Katniss."

I walked toward Rory. The wind started to blow, and my golden hair and his dark brown hair was blowing in the wind. I turned to see the wheat field, and how beautiful and delicate it was. Yes, this is how I remember District Twelve. How Rory and I used to draw pictures, and talk. Those were my happiest memories.

My fingers went up to brush the silver heart on my chest.

" I love you."

He smiled, and took my hand. As we started walking through the wheat field, questions started to fill my mind. Is this what death truly is, so delicate and peaceful? Could this just be a dream that I will wake up from soon? Is this truly the end?
As we walked closer and closer toward the willow tree, I could feel myself fading softly. No, this was right. I turned around to face Rory.
I was finally safe. When we started going, I heard the song that would sing me to sleep.

Deep in the meadow,
Under the Willow.....

And I realized this was just the beginning.