Chapter Text
The world stopped spinning, the birds stopped singing, and time stopped running. The only thing that crossed my mind was that I should get us out of here as soon as possible and find a place to sleep.
All I heard was my strong and quick heart beating through my ears.
Lynch's face contorts in a thousand and one ways containing a different emotion every five seconds. All existing expressions passed through his eyes, from the unmistakable sadness to worry.
What surprised me the most was that he did not say a word he just stood there wrapped in his own bubble.
He didn’t move when my rusty knife was embedded in his left arm. His only reaction to the attack was to remove the bloody blade from his arm and evaluate his injury, nothing serious, nothing the Capitol medicine can’t cure.
—"Stop watch it Lynch, it won’t magically disappear just because you're watching it" — this was becoming something boring and overwhelming.
Not knowing if you're going to die or not, if they're going to put you in jail for the rest of your life or just leave you alone in the woods and let you die of hunger and cold.
All this would be easier if I knew that this is my destiny, maybe I could come up with a plan ... right, a plan that fails like this. Nothing goes according to the 'plan' is actually the furthest thing from the plan that we could be the worst circumstances.
We’ve escaped from worse places; I know we can get through this ... if I only knew how to exactly do it.
— "Stupid Girl do you think I don’t know that? I've been hurt before. You know, I'm not just a pretty face I can also be deadly "— I rolled my eyes with his response, I bet if you search for the word arrogant in the dictionary Lynch's face appear as main definition.
—"I am sorry to break your bubble of happiness but... Let's just say that if you knew how to defend yourself that wound wouldn’t be open, would it?” — He could have killed me since the moment he saw me, why didn’t he do it? Why does he clings to have two girls paralyzed with fear? Whatever it is, I'm sure it has something to do with Rilus.
—"Stop talking, you just make things worse" – he took his hair in his hands and pulled desperately at it.
I got up trying not to move the broken ankle too much barely containing the pain and maintaining an expressionless face. I have to be strong; I have to be strong, for Cassidy, for me, for our future, if we have one.
—"Why didn’t you kill me?" — I leaned my head a little to the right and took a few steps towards him wondering how a peacekeeper can be so ... useless.
The peacekeepers are supposed to be smart, agile, fearless, afraid of anything but Lynch ... Lynch seemed almost scared of me.
—"You had many opportunities; you could do it from afar. Or when you find us, you can do right now, when we’re distracted, but you didn’t. "— I began to surround him putting him nervous, discovering who he really is.
—"You can’t because you're not a true peacekeeper, are you? Of course, if that's your real name. You haven’t killed us because you've never done it and never will. Do you know why I think so? Because you're a total coward "— I stood right in front of him, looking into his eyes daring him to do something about it.
—"I am not a coward Clove, I'm not a fucking coward!" —If he is not a coward, I'm not Clove Green either.
—"Prove it" – I crossed arms over my chest putting all my weight on the good leg. The adrenaline was running through my veins, I needed to keep it that way, without adrenaline in my system I would faint and there would no one who saves Cassidy.
—"Unlike you I don't need to prove anything to anybody" —He mimicked my position, mocking me.
—"That's not what I've seen in the square, when all of you are together, you know to receive orders from your superior" — I saw his jaw tense when I mentioned the guy who is the captain of the peacekeepers in the district, Kaile Madison.
—"Is out of respect, which is something I fear you will never be able to understand "
—"I think you’re afraid" —I changed my body position to defense; unfortunately I had already lost my blade, although running would work just as well this time.
His hand flew to his belt, where he kept all his weapons, from a gun to some handcuffs. I was surprised when he pull out a pair of shuriken stars and positioned himself ready to attack, with a mischievous smile forming in his face.
Each shuriken occupied one of the holes between his fingers. Eight, I had to dodge eight sharp blades and knowing Lynch he would throw them right to the vital points.
My heart was beating faster and faster, the shuriken gusts seemed endless. I had already dodged twenty of them, but Lynch was taking more from his 'magic bag'.
I had made attempts to return the attacks; none of them had even reached halfway the target.
When I could send one a far enough distance he had already run out of his prized stars. His next step, come running towards me with outstretched arms just at the height of my throat.
I dodged his attack just in time, grabbing all the stars I could with my hands cutting myself in the process.
I ran to the corner of a building that would use as a shield me while Lynch seeks me desperate... so desperate that he wouldn’t notice someone standing right behind him, shame that I realized too late. When I tried to do something his face was already in my way.
I will never forget the crazy and red eyes, the maniacal smile and his hands stiff in my neck. Lynch had lost the little sanity he had left, and was ready to complete the task that was assigned to him and kill me once and for all.
I couldn’t breathe, cry, talk, nothing. Tears began to form in my eyes ready to fall, without any effort they fell down my cheeks making me feel the cold wind drying them.
At least I know I will die protecting my sister and not for some stupid reason.
Lynch's hands loosened their grip on me, and I could breathe or at least grab some air, but I didn’t feel the air get to my lungs it is too late.
Swiftahole arms turned me until my back was leaning against his chest and his head fell to settle on my shoulder. I felt his heavy breathing wading through my hair and down to my ear.
—"Do you want to know why I didn’t kill you instantly? Well, I will tell you little Clove, you look like my daughter Laina, she died years ago, they took her away from me. 'Peacekeepers must take care of their reputation', but now that I can’t see your innocent face, now I can do it "— He released my neck for a minute and I instantly fell down on my knees begging for air.
The shuriken stars glowed beautifully under the moonlight, if I could only reach them.
I saw that Lynch thundered his knuckles one by one then his neck and apparently would continue to have thundered every bone in his body. So I quietly crawled into the knives and hid them in my hand. I went back to my place and I became the frightened little girl who was here only a few moments ago, just in time.
Swiftahole walked towards me hungry for blood, a hunger that only my blood can quench.
He won’t do it, he won’t kill me, you have to defend yourself Clove just take a deep breathe do whatever you have to do to save your neck.
—"Do you want to say a few words to your sister before you know ... die?" — I stiffened at his words, but I kept quiet, my sisters know everything I would tell her anyways.
—"I thought so, now where were we?" — He got me up from the ground with one hand, I lowered my eyes to try to see where I was, but everything was blurry. I take a lead on his uniform, if it ends up red I would mean that I reach my target.
I closed my eyes, took the deepest breath I could and threw a star to where I remember the peacekeeper body was.
Seconds later, I fell again with my butt onto the ground; I walked away from him as far and fast as possible and ran into the woods.
Finding Cassidy wouldn’t be that hard, I just have to look to the treetops and see her yellow shoes, and I would know exactly where she is.
I couldn’t scream, besides my throat burns like fire I don’t want to have to deal Swiftahole again. When I find him I'll get rid of him, I’ll hide him and make it look like it was a robbers attack or just bury him.
—"Clove I'm here"— the soft whisper of her voice made my heart leap from joy, I wanted to shout her name and hold her until my arms ached, but instead I just turned to see her round little face. The first thing she did was point to something behind me, with concern in her eyes.
Trees, trees and more trees was all I saw until a hand landed on my lips violently. My instincts told me to scream, but that is clearly out.
The person's hands were not as large as Lynch’s, but the force with which they’re putting pressure in my lips was amazing. Something told me that he had done this before.
An accomplice, maybe it was Lynch's assistant, tried to free myself from his grip but it was too strong.
I bit his hand and when he was off guard I buried a star on his or her right arm and leg.
—"What the hell? All I wanted to do was to help! I knew I shouldn’t do this "— the guy said something I couldn’t hear.
—"Who are you and what are you doing here?" – I said in a firm voice, but it broke at the half of the sentence.
—"I was trying to help you , but I think it was a bad idea, I better get out of here" – He removed the two sharp blades from his body with a surprising calm then stood up and dusted off his pants. Soon I was watching his back going away and entering in the darkness.
—“What a way to help, you know. You could have said you were a good guy or something ... "—the boy, who was about nine and had dirty blonde hair, heard me talk and kept walking when I finished.
Cassidy took my hand and I saw the saddest look I had seen in her eyes, a look that said that he was our last chance. So I filled my lungs and screamed as loud as I could.
—"Wait, I think we could use a little help" – I swallowed my pride and ran to him.
He turned completely before we crashed and sighed.
—"Fine, but there are some things you should know and understand before I can do anything for you" – I shrugged my shoulders and started listening.
—"First of all, I was never here, much less helping you. Second, you’ll do everything I say when I say it and without a word. And if we see each other again don’t bother to say hello, I will not answer anyway. Got it? "—I hadn’t noticed that my arms were crossed and I had a grimace on my face.
—"I'll do it with one condition"—he nodded, and waited to analyze what I had to say.
—"Your name"— I couldn’t leave with a complete stranger after all. He was a little surprised but then smiled at me.
—"Cato" —