After The Storm (A Hunger Games Fanfic)

Hole in the Ground - 14

Moora watches as Avery stumbles back to the Career camp. It looks like she's been in a fight; good. Her mouth is bleeding and though she's obviously trying to keep upright, it's not working. The rope dangles from one hand and Moora has a sick feeling that it has been used. Not a nice way to go.

Neither was how she got rid of Niccolo. She wishes she could feel guilty, she really does. That probably comes later. After all, she's not quite your normal District Twelve tribute.

Savannah and Jewel instantly flock around Avery; it's disgusting. Trey is hurling knives in the air and catching them expertly, making pretty flashing patterns in the sky. There's no sign of Jax. Boo is perched on a box, his head tilted to one side, admiring the knives that Trey is throwing.

Suddenly, his head jerks around and he looks straight at her.

For a moment, she's torn. She could go back and join them, since she was one of the group already, although Jax isn't around to stick up for her and it looks like Jewel is in charge. Or she could run away and risk them following her, but keep most of her sanity.

Boo stands up and points and she can't hear what he says, but instantly all the others turn and look straight at her.

What she does now will determine whether she lives or dies.

Moora runs and instantly regrets it. She can't outrun these guys, but now how will she convince them to let her back into the fold? Grass whips her bare arms as she rips a path through it, darting from side to side to try and confuse them. She can hear footsteps now, close behind her, and her own breathing heavy in her ears, and out of nowhere a sudden bolt of energy kicks in and she sprints, faster than she has ever run in her life.

Boo saunters down the path after the Careers. Let them go. He's got no problem with killing, but he'd rather somebody else does it. And Moora creeps him out. He was lucky he'd glanced that way and seen her or who knows what she would have done. Up ahead there is shouting and he can see Trey hanging back. He snickers. The weapons expert, too human to use them. Or should that be humane?

Despite the energy, she can hear them catching up and expects a searing pain through her back at any minute. A stitch tears through her side, but if she stops, it'll be worse than just a stitch. It'll be an actual physical wound, and it'll be her blood spilling onto the floor.

"There!" a female voice shouts.

She spits out swearwords to herself, things that even her playthings back home would be surprised that she knew. They're getting closer. Whatever awaits her is getting closer; she can practically hear death breathing down her neck. No, no. She has to bring some of these slimy creatures with her. They're so confident that they'll survive; let her bring them down a peg. Serve them right for signing up for this.

Her feet, encased in the hard boots that are probably more expensive than her whole wardrobe back home, catch in the bobbly grass, stumbling over empty air. Her breath sticks in her throat. If she falls...

A tiny figure darts out in front of her, her movements small and sharp. She doesn't even look back at Moora, jogging out ahead and looking for all the world like she's just going for a run. 

Bait, Moora thinks, and lunges for the girl as somebody shouts "Don't even think about trying to hide!" It sends shivers down her spine.

Somehow, the stick-like figure seems to slip through her grasp, strands of dry black hair coiling around her trembling fingers and sliding off again. 

Ever carries on jogging, counting her paces in her head. People behind her are shouting. The clouds are pretty today, but she needs to count. This is important. Like fruit. Fruit is important...