Katniss & Peeta After Life Book 1

Chapter 16: Stalker

Chapter 16

(Anna's POV)

I wake up thinking of Rue. My big sister. My 'role model'. I can't believe someone could just take her away from us. What did we do to "deserve" all....this? For real, what did we do? I'm only 10 and I'm worrying about almost....everything. Me and my family don't need this. If this doesn't end soon, I'm gonna take matters into my own hands. To calm my nerves, and take my mind off things, I go downstairs to get a drink.

I'm the first to be awake. Usually that's how it is, I'm always up first. I don't know why? I just don't like sleep, seems boring.

As I walk into the kitchen, I notice a note on the table. This could be a trap but I'm willing to do anything because I feel like there is no hope for us. I read the note and it says 'To Anna'. First sign. It reads:

I'm watching you, I love you xoxo

My fingers tremble. Who is following me? Who is watching me? Who is stalking me? Those questions repeat in my head. No, no, no this is a trap. For sure. They want me to think I'm getting followed, so I would fall for their trap. Thinking ahead.

My parents come downstairs. "Hey Anna, what you doing awake?"Dad asks. "Nothing." I tell them I crumble the note and put it in my pocket. I hope they don't notice, to much stuff is going so wrong now this is the last thing we need. But I'm pretty sure it isn't.

"You okay?" Mom asks. "Yeah. I just couldn't sleep." I tell her. It was partially true, I mean come on......my sister was taken. My mom comes over to me wrapping her arms around me giving me a hug.

"Is this about Rue?"My mom asks. "I don't know." I answer. "I guess it's just about all the stuff we're going through. With the Capitol and Snow."

She nods understanding. "Don't worry, we'll work it out." She reassures me. I smile but in reality I've lost all hope. I don't know who sent me this note, but at this point, I don't care.

I'm scared, but I'm going to try not to be.

For Rue.

(Rue's POV)

My eyes flutter open. I look around the room and I see one light above my head. Everything else is just pitched dark. I look down at my wrists and see that they are tied with ropes. I'm also strapped down on a wooden chair.

I can tell that I'm not in the Capitol. Everything is dirty and old. I'm at Gale's house. At that moment I see in front of me...Hunter.

"Hey." Hunter says. I feel a sudden switch in my head. I go from being confused to being furious. Although I can't see them, I know my eyes are turning dark blue. I feel it.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I yell at Hunter. Good thing he tied me up because at that moment I would already have my hands around his throat. As I try getting my hands out, I realize, Hunter smiling. What's he so happy about? Still trying to get out, Gale walks in. Now I'm really confused.

I didn't know what to say. "What do you want from me?" I ask. Seriously? Of all the questions I could have asked, I asked that one? "Your family." Gale says. I chuckle a little bit. "Well you came to the wrong Mellark. I was the one who got lied to the most." I tell him. It's true they lied about almost everything, and I found out the hard way.

"Like what?" he asks. Why does he care? I think and said "Well they lied to me about my mutt mode." Why did I tell him that? "Is that it? Did they tell you about the Hunger Games?" Gale asks. What did he just say?

"What's that?" I ask. I've heard about the Hunger Games before but I never actually knew what it was. He raises his eyebrows then smiles. Well that's a bad sign for trouble.

"Well the Hunger Games was a tradition where children from the ages of 12-18 are in a public reaping to determine who will be a tribute. Whoever gets chosen will be sent into an arena, where they will fight to the death till there is a lone survivor." Gale explains.

I'm shocked once he said 'children from the ages of 12-18'. Me and Rory would be able to be in the Hunger Games. Thankfully Anna wouldn't. She's to young. It's not because I love Anna more than Rory, because I don't. I love them both the same. It's just that she is like my "Primrose".

"What does this have to do with my parents?" I ask him. "Good question. Your parents were in there." Gale tells me.

No this can't be happening right now. "But they're both alive. How is that possible?" I ask him. "Your mom pulled off the berry trick. They both threatened to commit suicide if they don't win. When they were about to eat Nightlock, the head game maker stopped them. That's how they won."

"Did they kill people?" I ask hoping for him to say 'no'. "Yes." Gale says. I feel tears streaming down my face. My heart feels broken. How can they lie to me? Again. Why didn't they tell us? Can I trust my parents? "Are you mad?" Gale asks. I was FURIOUS. I start feeling a sharp pain in my head. I've felt this pain before.

My mutt mode is kicking in.

I look up and see Gale smiling at me. That's when I know, I'm now in mutt mode. I nod my head then Hunter opens the door wide open and Gale unties me. He looks me in the eyes and says "Go to them. Show them how mad you are."

He lets me go and I stomp towards my house. I feel betrayed and disrespected. This is just too much.

As I'm walking, people back away from me, some even ran away. Mostly because of my dark blue eyes. Or because when I look down at my hand and I see a knife. I don't know where it came from but I didn't care. It was the least of my many problems.

After moments of walking, I finally reach the steps of my house. Without thinking I immediately walk in. Everyone stares at the knife in my hand and my dark blue eyes. "Rue, it's okay just calm down." Dad says. Everyone sure looked shocked to see me. And they should be.

All of a sudden, I couldn't take it anymore, I feel rage flowing in my blood. I threw the knife in between mom and dad. They freeze.

I walk towards them. "YOU LIED TO ME!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!?! I HATE YOU!!! I HATE YOU!!!!! I HATE YOU!!!" I yell at my parents. I see tears in their eyes. A little bit inside I feel guilty and not guilty. I was done.

Anna and Rory hold me back from attacking. I don't know why, they lied to them too. They pull me into my room and lock the door behind them.

I was losing my mind and it was at that moment I realize......this will be a never ending story.