Broken Apart

Chapter 10

A cry pierced the silent night air, causing me to wake from my slumber. I shot up from the mattress, Ash blinking himself awake beside me. My heart was pounding in my head, making my breath come in quick, rasping breaths. I pushed myself up from the cloth and stumbled to the other mattress a few feet away.

"Finnick! Corinna!" I crouched beside the mattress, shaking them awake. Where were Astrid and Myra? Only Myra was on watch. We were aware of the fact that no one else could possibly be alive; it was a miracle four of us survived. Anyway, who knows what's out there?

"What?" Finnick sat up, running a hand through his hair to push it from his eyes.

"Myra and Ast-," another scream split the air, then metal hitting metal.

I grabbed Finnick's arm in one hand and Corinna's, who was still asleep, in my other hand. They stood, dazed, by the mattress as I ran back to Ash. I yanked him up and pulled him toward Finnick and Corinna.

"What's going on?" Corinna rubbed sleep from her eyes.

Another cry split the air.

"We need to see what it is!" I played with the hem of my tank top.

"Grab pipes." Finnick ordered, pulling something out of his basketball short pockets.

I didn't question him. I ran toward the small hut. I wasn't sure why we had it, we didn't even sleep in it. I liked to think of it as our only freedom from the confinement of our problems. I pushed my way through the tarp and fell to my knees, feeling along the ground; Corinna and Ash at my side. My hand found something hard and cold. I grasped it in my palm and ran back to Finnick.

"Let's go! Who ever it is, is dying!" yelled Finnick through cupped hands.

I skidded to a halt at his side, the pipe gripped around my curled fingers. Another cry made my ears ring. I felt the adrenaline course its way through my veins. I looked at Finnick apologetically and took off toward the scream. He didn't even cry out at me. I always found myself impulsive in these kinds of situations. Whoever that was, I didn't want them to die.

Pushing myself up the rubble, the cries got closer and more shrill. The moon shone down on the small piece of steel, the steel on which we had our meeting during the day. Astird was laying on the ground, unconscious; Myra in the grip of a man. I stood there in horror as the figure pulled a knife from its pocket. Myra stared in horror at the man; at his face. What was wrong with this guy? Besides the fact that he seemed to be a murderer.

I skidded behind the closest pile of rubble and crouched. The cold pipe seemed to thud, like it was a live, like it had a heartbeat. I swallowed back the lump that was rising in my throat. I wouldn't let Myra die. I let my gaze travel to Astrid on the ground. There was a red wound twirling its way up her arm, but the scariest part: it was steaming and shot out from the cut were purple lines.

"I need her!" the creature roared. The thing was now holding Myra in the air, its extremely long nail wrapped around her throat. Nails? I peered closer. No, claws.

I held back a gasp as he tossed her down to the ground roughly as if she were a toy doll. A sickening snap pushed a small wail from my throat. The creature froze and spun, staring at the shadow in which I was hiding. I held my breath and scooted farther into the darkness.

"Come out, child. I wouldn't dare hurt you." The creature cooed. Oh, like I didn't see what you just did to Myra. I thought bitterly.

"You would." I tried to sound brave, but my voice decided to crack at the time I need it most.

"Right, you are, child." He smirked, and next thing I knew he was in my face. Everything seemed to slow around me; the rising and falling of Astrid chest, the blinking of the creature's eyes. I let out a scream as my back cracked against cold metal. I closed my eyes.

"Let go." I moaned. My hands were pinned behind my back and my feet were... somewhere down there. The monster sat on my chest with an object in his hands.

"I was simply instructed to deliver something to you." I froze, angry and confused. Mostly angry.

"You killed my friends." I whimpered, not daring to open my eyes.

"Ah, not dead. Drugged, yes; dead, no." I felt him shrug.

"What the heck?" I shouted it his face. "Why?" I cried quietly.

"It was the only way I could get this," he shook a small package that he held in his hand, "To you." I let a breath escape from my lungs, laying my head back onto the steel. The ground was uneven where we were and I could feel it shake beneath my hands.

"Could you at least let me go? I won't hurt you." I breathed.

"Promise?" he raised an eyebrow at me from under the hood. I still couldn't fully see his face. All I know was that his eyes were pure crimson with black irises.

"Yes." I could breath again once the weight lifted off my face. I pulled my arms out from under me and, unsteadily, got to my feet. The star was sprinkled with stars that I couldn't quite see. The air was cold and biting at my bare skin.

"Here." He pulled his hand from the cover of the cloak. It was blue and covered and small vein-like bumps. Large gray claws protruded from his fingers where his nails were.

Most importantly, he held a small red velvet bag in his grasp. Unsure of myself, I took a step forward. My arms might have been numb, but I was eager to get my hands on the package. I Reached out and grabbed the thing as fast as I could. My fingers skimmed the blue bumps that covered his skin; they were caluced and sweating from the fight. They sent a sharp shiver up my spine. I quickly hopped back to my place and pulled open the draw strings of the bag.

I peered inside to find just what I hoped to see: the whip. It was beautiful in all its silver. I yanked it out and let the velvet bag flutter to my feet. It was simple silver; shining under the light the moon cast on them. It was etched with vines and small words here and there. I let it unravel. It curled out from its coil with a hiss, the thin of the end landing a few inched from my feet. The part in my hand was thick, forming a handle.

"Who sent you?" I whispered, barely lifting my head to meet the creatures gaze.

He uttered two words under his breath, just audible for me to hear. "Your parents."