It is quiet again, and I move slowly in the trees, searching for game. I’m careful to tread lightly, listening for Prim if she calls to me. I haven’t wandered far from our cozy summit but I’m not taking any chances. Not with the remaining careers and Louis stalking around.
I hear a twig snap under a foot and whip around to see a hulking figure hiding amongst the trees. I shoot an arrow its way as a warning, and quickly load another.
“Who’s there? Show yourself.”
“Relax Kate, it’s me.”
Gale steps out from behind the trees, hands in the air in surrender. I lower my arrow and stare at Gale astonished.
“What are you doing here Gale?” I say, trying to keep my voice stern. Gale shifts his weight on to his left foot and lowers his hands. I try to relax a little too, but I don’t let my guard down nearly as much.
“I came to get Prim.”
I lift up my bow and aim an arrow at Gale’s neck.
“No.”
“Kate she’s not from your district, she’s from mine. I told,” He stops and looks down, biting his lip, “I told Katniss I would protect her. I promised her.”
Gale’s hand moves up to the collar of his coat. I can see a tiny golden pin placed just above his heart. I strain my eyes to see it clearer. It has two mockingjays on it; one with its wings spread wide, slightly covering the other bird. The smaller bird is perched, folding into itself as if it were cowering. Gale is the protector.
“I’m protecting her.”
“Kate she’s not yours to protect.”
“I’m protecting her,” I say sterner, trying to sound solid. Gale stares me down, and I try to stare back.
“You’re not Katniss, so quit acting like you are. Just because you look like her when you braid your hair and hold a bow means nothing. You’re nothing like her, and when you’re done playing your little game you’ll see that. Until then I’m going to fulfill my promise to Katniss and make sure her little sister comes out of this alive.”
“I’m-”
“You’re not strong enough to protect her. I am. Now just let me do what I promised Katniss and stay out of the way.”
I bite my lip but I don’t resist as Gale moves towards the summit. He’s right. I’m not Katniss. I’m not as brave as she is. I don’t shoot as well. Katniss would never abandon Peeta like I did to Harry. She wasn’t a traitor to her feelings. She wouldn’t send another tribute after Peeta if he made her upset and betrayed her. I’m not Katniss.
For whatever reason it hits me hard. I fall to my knees and start frantically unbraiding my hair. I toss my bow aside, drop all my arrows on the ground and just stare into the trees. I can hear the faint chatter of Gale and Primrose behind me but I tune it out. I doubt Gale will bring Prim back here, he will walk her far away from me and I won’t see her again. Unless I’m one of the last tributes and Gale needs to kill me to win. I shudder at that thought as Prim’s sweet voice starts to trail away from hearing range. I don’t want it to come down to that. I can’t let Gale kill me, and I won’t kill Prim.
I would rather kill myself.
I shuffle my fingers on the ground until I find the shaft of one of my arrows, and bring the arrow head to my palms. I play with it for a minute, deciding where I could pierce it with enough force to kill myself.
A piercing scream comes from ahead of me, and I look up. It sounds like Harry, and my heart drops. A mockingjay flies ahead of me, causing the screams. Another mockingjay flies toward me and I expect the same scream, but instead I’m met with a bone chilling shriek. Both mockingjays start the shriek, getting louder and louder. My heart pumps faster, making my ears feel like they’re pulsing. I get up and start running as fast as I can, terror clawing at my heart.
“HARRY!” I cry out, not intending to say his name. It bounces off the trees, but gets drowned out by the screams of the jays.
“HARRY!” fog has started rolling at my feet but I keep moving faster and faster. The mockingjays are shrieking, but I can hear other voices amongst their blood curdling screams. I can hear Harry calling out in pain, but then his voice fades. I can’t tell where he is, but I know he’s in danger. Another scream of pain and I can’t tell if it’s Harry or someone else, but the jays pick it up almost immediately. I’m surrounded by them, screaming and squawking loudly. It fills my ears, until it stops abruptly when a cannon sounds off.
“HARRY!” I call out again, and it’s the only noise in the forest it seems.
BOOM. Another cannon goes off and my heart stops. I look up frantically, hoping to see someone’s- anyone’s face besides Harry’s, but the fog hides the sky from me. The Capitol anthem plays, and the mockingjays sing along. As the anthem ceases to play the fog clears. The only thing in the sky is the seal of the Capitol.Tears start forming in my eyes as I look down from the sky. I have no idea where Harry is or if he’s still alive. The screams sounded like him, and if it really was him that meant that Louis found him. Because of me.
A mockingjay starts singing behind me, and my heart stops as I listen to it singing.
You and I
We don't wanna be like them
We can make it till the end
Nothing can come between you and I
I turn around and see the jay perched on a head with curly brown bloodstained hair. He’s face down in the ground in a puddle of blood. Limp, still in the darkness. Beside him is another body, face up with blood spilling out of his mouth. It’s Harry and Louis, laying on the ground.
Dead.
But then another voice starts to sing with the mockingjay, quiet but steady. I walk slowly towards Harry and Louis, and it flutters away and perches on a tree. I kick Harry with my foot, and he rolls onto his back. His eyes are closed and his face is caked with fresh blood. For a moment I think I was hallucinating. Tears start pouring from my eyes and I sink to my knees, putting my hand on his cheek.
But then the jay keeps singing, and a little smirk creeps on to his lips. He slowly opens his eyes and whispers;
“Hey.”
[[A/N: Hello! Hopefully I didn't have you all worried with this chapter! Going to keep this short, but thank you so much for all of the reads. I can't believe it for the life of me and want to thank each and every single one of you for being so supportive with this fanfic. I never imagined it would be like this. Anyways, I love you all and thank you again! I will try to update again ASAP, but with it being Christmas time I don't get on the computer much. Regardless, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! xx]]
