Lily Juniper Abernathy: The daughter of an alcoholic victor (book 1)

Real or not real?

I was still running. I HAD to find water, and my legs were throbbing but I didn't dare stop running. I knew Zanna was giving chase a couple of hours ago. I stumbled and clawed through the thickets and vines of the forest. I tripped and colapsed to the ground. That was it: I simply could not run anymore.

I wanted the warmth of Finnick's arms...He might be dead but I couldn't afford to think like that for my own santiy.

And Rosie. Where was she? Was she hurt? frightened? Was she safe? I'd promised Katniss I would look after her but clearly I'd failed. I hoped and prayed the two of them were together, safe and warm.

I still couldn't suss whether this was real or not. The tips of all blades has caps on them to stop them causing serious harm. Maybe the cap on the knife that killed Smudge had fallen off?

No, I should show him some respect: I now knew his name was Jonah Zants, he was 15 and he's just been murdered. I wanted to know who did it.

As I leant against the tree I heard the grass behind me rustle. Someone was here. They dived on me

"YOU'RE DEAD ABENATHY!" Zanna screamed in my face. Her face was cut, blood seeping from her teeth: who on earth had done that to her?

"Zanna," I pleaded "Zanna it- it isn't real I swear! Please don't- don't do this- please."

She spat in my face and stroked a knife blade down my face "Lily-kins, say bye-bye!"

She was crazy- seeing her fellow tribute killed had sent her insane...The same that happened to Annie, Finnick's mom.

"Zanna," I began "You can get through this."

"Don't give me that!" She screeched.

She slowly began carving letters into my chest with her knife. I was screaming and screaming. I was going to die.

I don't know what made me but I think at one point I screamed for my dad.

Then we both jumped startled hearing a crash- The mountain was crumbling- it was a landslide.

She threw me to one side and ran. I stuck my spear in the ground and pulled myself up with every ounce of strength I had left. I stumbled and stumbled until I fell and rolled down the bank, crashing into a stream. I sighed with relief and started gulping up the water. I sat back against the grass- I was maybe safe here.

Zanna thought this was real. Only if I heard Finnick's cannon would I decide that this was very real. I wanted a sign that it wasn't. Why wasn't anyone stopping this? I would have to try and find shelter. I walked around the bank and found a small gap in a pile of rocks- this would have to do. I just hoped and hoped I wouldn't scream. That night I dreamed of Zanna killing Finnick and as I woke I saw him with his left hand cupped over mouth and  blood stained knife in his right.