87th Games: The Aftermath

Hitch In The Plan

“Shut up Lumen” I hissed across the road to her.

We were hiding in adjacent bushes, waiting for the peacekeeper patrol hovercrafts to leave our area.

“But there’s ants everywhere” she yelled back frantically, tussling loudly through the bushes, running across the road and diving over to me with a great thump. We were hiding in tall brown grass that seemed to itch my entire skin.

“Ow” she said indignantly, clutching tightly to the back of her head.

I liked Lumen, sure, but having her here with me especially during times like these was a great disadvantage. She had no idea what the word stealth meant and not to mention she seemed like the kind of girl who would cry over a broken nail.

“Awh, shoot” she whispered in dismay. “I broke a nail” she complained heartily.

I bit my tongue and shook my head trying not to laugh. She wouldn’t last a day in the Games.

“Look, Lumen…” I began slowly

She looked up at me in surprise to my serious tone.

“I don’t think you understand” I slumped a little as the third hover craft tonight spread light across our hiding spot. Lumen slumped too, only a little too late. It made a loud noise and might have raised suspicion.

“What’s over there?” I heard a man yell. His capitol accent was extremely thick. He must be a high ranking peace keeper to be living in the capitol.

“Those damn snakes” Another man replied.

“Did he say snakes?” Lumen interjected.

“shhhhh!” I gripped my hand over her mouth.

I could tell from the slow rumble of the hovercraft that it was about to pass us. 

“This is the third sweep, we would’ve found her by now” the peacekeeper continued.

I had to strain my head to hear him. I was readying myself to run but let out a huge sigh of relief. I dropped my hand from covering Lumen’s mouth and tried my hardest not to itch at my legs.

“Are they gone yet?” Lumen whispered loudly. I raised an eyebrow at her wondering if she was actually being serious.

She was.

“No. And shut up” I snapped. Sometimes she was too loud and too boisterous for her own good.

“You don’t need to be grumpy” she huffed dramatically.

“Lumen, you need understand tha-” she cut me off quickly

“I do!” she complained sounding rather disinterested, eyeing her broken nail intently.

I eyed her steadily. I was going to break all of her nails in a second if she didn’t listen to me. This girl could really get on my nerves.

The hovercraft vehicle was now directly beside us.

 “No. You don’t” I grabbed her shirt and yanked her closer to me. I couldn’t risk Lumen panicking over wildlife or itchy leave especially with the hovercraft so close. There was a large tree with thick brown branches nearby and I was nearly beginning to curse myself for not deciding to climb it.

“You need to understand that we” I motioned between us “are on the run.  I’m wanted for murder and now I’m running from the Capitol. You have implicated yourself by coming with me, do you understand?”

“Y-yes” she stuttered, her eyes widening. 

I heard the hovercraft drive slowly past us and noticed it was almost out of hearing distance.