fifteen
We've evacuated half the District. McClaire has sent orders to our Team Leader, Halozay, to return to the train. We are on our way back when we hear it. The sound of a falling bomb, its high, squeaky whistle piercing the air. Cato only has time to wrap his arms protectively around me and our son, pushing us to the ground, before the bomb lands. I see black street pieces fly, bodies falling, killed instantly on impact from the bomb, and the beginning of fires.
And then all is silent. I hear a massive ringing in my ears. I look around to see almost all of our team of Peace Keepers either covered in rubble or pierced by shrapnel from the bomb. Cato and Chase stand up and look around. To my left I see Halozay and Dres also get up off the ground. Dres has a bleeding cut on her left arm and Halozay is coughing. But other than that, and being covered in dust and filth, they are both fine. We're the only survivors.
I try to stand up and call out in pain. A large, black, rock of rubble is pinning my leg, squishing it immensely. Cato gets down next to me and stuggles to lift it. And then we hear the sound of a coming plane, a little ways off. A plane brought the last bomb, is this one also bringing one? Cato doesn't hesitate. He turns to Chase and yells at him to go, to run away from here. Chase begins to cry. He shouldn't be here, why did we let him come? "No!" He wails. I plead, "Go on Chase! Mommy and daddy will be right behind you but you have to go." His tears slip down his scared, frail face. I say once more, begging, "Please Chase! Go!!" He turns and runs away. Dres and Halozay have also fled, who knows where. As Chase disappears behind a pile of ruble, Cato yanks the black rock off of my leg with a groan. A bomb does fall, but thankfully its ways away, so far we can only hear the fall. Cato helps me up and we walk away from the destroyed scene, calling for Chase. After a minute or so, I hear him calling in a small scared voice, "Here Mommy." I turn around a corner to see him held by some rebel. Chase turns to me, tears in his eyes, his face plainly frightened more than words can say.
The rebel has a sword drawn. Cato comes up behind me. His face grows white as he sees the sword at our son's back. "Mommy," Chase whispers. No. No, don't let it happen, it CANT happen!!! I'm shaking violently, I'm so scared. I want to call out to my baby, but my dry mouth refuses to form the words. I hear Cato's voice and can tell he's also struggling to conceal his fear and anger. The rebel has the look of a morphling, his black hari in clumps, his eyes wide, his body shaking. There has to be something wrong with his brain, the way he is jerking every milli-second, his jittery eyes surveying us, his hands shaking the weapon in his hand. Cato speaks to the man.
"If you kill the boy, I will kill you before you can move an inch. Just... let the boy go, and you're free to leave. Don't kill him. Don't be like the Capital." The man's eyes spark at the name of the Capital. He yells back at Cato, his voice is slurred like he just got off a high. "I know you! You're with them. Those pathetic murderors, they killed my daughter in the Games. They're all murderors the lot of them!!" His voice continues to rise "They kill innocent people and get away with it!! What makes you think I can't do the same?!"
Cato and I reach the same conclusion in a split second. Cato starts to dart forward towards our son. My eyes see it all. The flash of the sword. The rebel's blood shot eyes full of fury. The body of my precious first born son crumpling to the ground
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