hope in our eyes || 37th hunger games ✔️

Stars

Mackenzie

Eisley, Aspen, and I are currently sitting around our camp when Hazel and Lily come back into view, looking pale. When we woke up they weren't here but Aspen suggested it would be easier for them to come back rather then make it harder by going to look for them.

"Guys, what happened?" I ask after they've taken a sip of water from the canteen Aspen handed them.

"A-ash," Lily chokes out "Monster." Our eyes widen.

"But Ash died..." Aspen states.

"We know but she was there," Hazel continues "She was all dirty and like, possessed and she had these crazy sharp teeth but it was her. Her eyes were there."

We all exchange a worried glance before Lily breaks the silence "Maybe we should move on..."

"Yeah." I agree and everyone else nods.

We pack up what's left of our supplies and stand up.

I think Lily and Hazel are pretty shaken up by seeing Ash again because they start to lead us in the opposite direction of where they said she was.

-

We walk for what feels like forever and I start to notice the temperature rising and rising. One by one everyone starts to shed their jackets as the heat becomes almost unbearable. Suddenly Lily comes to a stop and we can clearly see why it's been so hot. Before us lies a world of fire.

"Can we go any further?" Lily questions

"I don't know." mutters Aspen.

Carefully, Hazel takes a step onto the seemingly burning ground only to find that it's only slightly warm and the rest of us follow.  We continue on like this for awhile trying as hard as we can not to drain the entire canteen of water we have and failing miserably.

Just then Lily's scream pierces the air as we all freeze. In front of us looms a monster/mutt-looking thing engulfed in flames. It's glowing red eyes drip pure hatred, it's legs replaced by something looking almost like a ghost, and it's at least six times taller than us. Too scared out of my wits to run, Eisley yanks my arm, pulling me along with her as we try to dodge the huge fireballs the monster is throwing at us.

"DUCK!" Aspen yells as another fireball comes hurling our way, nearly missing him and Hazel.

I don't know if it's fear or the fact that our death may be seconds away that keeps us all running as fast as we can but we do. Every muscle in my body burns and the fiery land that we've only just stepped into moments ago seems to enclose around us and never again.

"AHHG!" Hazel yelps in pain as the next fireball skims her forearm, but instead of stopping, Lily grabs her good arm and pulls her along.

"We need to get out!" I yell.

I don't know how much longer we can do this. We're all panting and dripping sweat and there seems to be no visible way out. I scream as a ball hits me square in the foot, melting my boot and part of my foot on contact. Eisley half-carries me as I try to stagger along.

"There!" She yells, her voice raspy from the smoke. She points to the line of green grass in the distance. That gives us all the energy we need to make it to safety, but not before another fireball hit's me in the back, sending burning pain through my body and Eisley screams as the sparks brush her neck. Too in shock to scream, I just fall onto the cool grass as soon as we reach it.

"Mackenzie!" Aspen yells "Kenzie, listen to me. You can do this, it's going to be okay!"

Hazel sobs quietly as I reach out my hand to brush hers and she grabs it tightly.

Stars. They're surrounding me, twinking and flashing in the sky above.

"Stars..." I hoarsely whisper.

"What?" Eisley asks

"S-stars." I mutter again as the darkness consumes me.