Breaking Down Bridges ▸ Hunger Games

Chapter Twenty-Six: Gale Hawthorne

Chapter Twenty-Six:

Gale's POV

She killed him, instantly.

It wasn't even a moment after I had shot him in the knee with the arrow that Shawn limped to the ground and Cyra stabbed him in the heart. 

I had to admit, it was pretty sweet. Cyra never blew up like that, not that I blame her after all of the injustices she suffered at his hands. This was her way of taking justice, and I honored and respected her for it.

Cyra stood above the body, her eyes drifting across Shawn's emptiness. Slowly, she leaned over and carefully closed his eyes shut.

"Gale..." She said suddenly, her voice returning to begin soft after her brief moment of crazy. "Can you help me?"

I nodded to her, and walked over, lifting Shawn's body at the legs. "Are we going to burn him?" I laughed suddenly, my eyes lighting up.

Cyra gave me a sharp glare, and shook her head. "No, we are putting him in the water down in the jungle area. Maybe..." she paused, the innocence sweeping over her face, "....Maybe by putting him in the water, it will wash away all of his cruelties. Maybe, just maybe, it will bring back the Shawn that I knew. The one who was a kind and loyal friend. He's the Shawn I loved, and I wish I could get him back."

I suddenly felt awkward standing there, Shawn's feet gripped tightly in my hands, as Cyra held onto his arms and braced his head. She was talking so highly about the man who had done nothing but hurt her for as long as I knew him. But she had known him longer, and it's true, people change. Shawn was no different.

Sage eventually caught up from behind us, and grabbed Shawn's arms and hands from Cyra. "It's okay, sweetie," Sage said softly. "I got it."

Cyra took a deep breath and nodded, as the three of us continued onto the sands of the beach. Carefully, we placed Shawn's cold body in the water.

Cyra, got down on her knees and kneeled beside the body, and I was surprised to find small tears gleaming down her cheeks.

"Shawn," she began with a deep breath. "You were my best friend. We did everything together. You were my rock; I could turn to you when I had no one else. But then one day... everything changed. You became, rude, mean, and I could no longer be around you. The happiness was sucked out of every room you walked into, and I couldn't bear to see you in that state any longer. Hopefully, you'll end up in a place that allows you to think, and fix your mistakes. But I will always remember the old Shawn, the Shawn I loved... And I hope you have the strength and courage to find him again."

After Cyra had finished, she bent over and softly pushed his body out into the open water of the arena ocean. His body slowly drifted out into the waters, and slowly drifted from sight.

Cyra stood up, and tucked her hair behind her ears. She brushed her tears off of her face, and took a deep breath. "Anyway," she began, her voice a higher pitch, "We might as well continue hunting."

With that, Cyra hurried off back in the direction of the desert, leaving Sage and I alone on the beach.

"Is she... upset because she killed him?" Sage asked, a confused look across her face.

"I don't think so," I replied. "I think it's just that little side of her that still loves him."

Sage smirked. "Well, lover boy, what are you doing still standing here? She chose you over him. In fact, I hear you killed  the competition," Sage said with a laugh.

She was right, in some twisted way. Cyra had realized where her heart truly lied. It was with me, and that alone meant the world to me. I loved her, more than anything else in the entire universe, and now was my chance to have her back. But this time, I was going to make sure I wouldn't lose her. She was the girl I loved, and she would be the one that I loved forever more.

"You're right," I sighed and gave Sage a smile. "Come with me, I don't wanna screw this up." 

Sage rolled her eyes, but continued to follow me.

I saw Cyra back at our miniature desert camp site. She had a stick in her hands, and she was tracing patterns into the sands, her eyes strongly focused on the ground, ignoring our presence.

I quickly turned around and whispered sharply to Sage, "Maybe it isn't the best time to ask her to—"

Sage slapped me across the face, her dark eyes glowing. "Don't be an idiot. It's the perfect time. Now, go."

I took a deep breath, and quietly sat down next to Cyra. 

Sage winked at me, and hurried off, wanting to give us some privacy.

Cyra smiled softly in my direction, but then went back to tracing the patterns in the sand.

"What is that?" I asked quietly, as she dragged the stick upwards and sideways, making a dark jagged line in the dirt.

"It's..." She paused for a moment. Almost an instant later, the volume of her voice lowered. "Can you keep a secret?"

I gave her a pure smile. "Of course."

She took a deep breath, and began playing with he ponytail. "It's the blueprint, the plan for our escape from the—"

Suddenly, I couldn't hold my question in any longer. I don't know what came over me, an adrenaline rush maybe. But I knew she was the one, and I loved her dearly with all of my heart. I leaped in front of her and griped her hand tightly. "Cyra will you—?"

I can't exactly tell you quite what happened next. I saw the top of the arena fall, and I felt sudden fire begin to burn on my skin. Suddenly, I heard Sage shouting, along with a large plane motor. It didn't sound like a Capitol motor, though. This one was more rugged, and hand-made.

 "I'm getting on!!" Sage yelled, and suddenly her voice disappeared from my earshot.

"Grab anyone who is still alive!!" Cyra's voice rang out. "Aberath, you have to find Cato Demeir and Alia Fletson!!"

"Got it, Miss Merison."

When my vision finally returned, I found myself even more confused.

The area was in tatters, a large plane above me. I spotted Cyra standing in front of me and she reached out to grab my hand.

"Gale, this is what I was talking about. This was the reason for all the late night phone calls, and the patterns in the sand. I was involved in the plan to break us out of the arena. We have to get out of here... now."

I simply nodded, trying to absorb all the information that had been thrown my way. It was quite a lot to take in, but I knew I didn't have time to analyze it. I just had one final question lingering over my mind.

"Cyra, where are we going?"

Cyra took a deep breath, as she held my hand tightly and pulled me up into the plane. Her eyes were bright, but instead of responding, she pointed to the words painted on the side of the plane, and instantly all of my questions were over. DISTRICT 13.