Pieces in the game. (The Hunger Games)

Chapter 18: Star Crossed lovers!

Lilly's POV.

Quickly realising how foolish it is to be screaming Peeta's name while Cato may or may not be hunting us, I gasp and slap both my hands over my mouth. As the sky goes black I immediately start berating myself for being so stupid, but I can't help the hope rising within me. As if on instinct I start to scan and I see Katniss and Gale across from me doing the same but there's no one left to come after us. Gale and Kat relax across from me. But I can't help but wonder why the sudden rule change, unless.... unless they want all four of us to win. We are the only district still fully intact. The thought that having not one, but two successful romances coming out of the games and having three families still full afterwards must really have the people in the Capitol rooting for us. I can't help the smile that makes its way across my face. Wrapping my arms around myself I rest my head back on the tree and smile. Across from me I can hear them making plans to go and hunt Peeta down first thing tomorrow. But I hear them say that Rue said she saw him down by the river somewhere and the plan is already formulating in my head. I volunteer to take first watch, which Gale automatically denies. "You haven't slept a lot over the past few days and you need to heal," he pleads and I acquiesce. Or I at least appear to. I will not close my eyes to see Cato looming over me again. So I lie there, strapped onto my branch until Gale rouses Katniss. She seems tired out so I "wake" and state that I need to take care of something first but then I'll take watch. Once I am sure they're both asleep I grab my waterskin and a knife and the pack we took from Marvel. Then, knowing Gale and Katniss are light sleepers and will wake if anything seems amiss I make my way away from the camp.

I make my way back to the river easy enough but I linger on the bank until morning. Being extra cautious I hide in a bush. I sat there until the sun came up and immediately took off my shoes and socks, wading into the river. Track me now! All I can think about is finding Peeta! How has he survived this long? I saw the wound that Cato inflicted on him. As I move the sun rises higher and higher. It burns off the morning haze almost immediately, indicating the day will be hotter than usual. The water is cool and pleasant on my bare feet as I head down river. I'm tempted over and over to call out Peeta's name and then decide against it. I stop to have a little break while I try and stave off the hunger. I forgot to grab something to eat before I left and didn't think to check if there was anything in the pack. Nothing I can do about it now. I'm wondering if Peeta is expecting me to come looking for him. Probably not, for all he knows I'm still with Cato. I grimace at that thought and at the sight of the bruises still dark and angry, covering me from my last encounter with the big brute from District 2 reflected back in the water. Soon I reach the spot where Kat, Gale and I passed a few days back. Out of instinct, if they are following me, which they probably are doing by now, I draw a small Primrose flower in the soft mud. From here the river curves to the left. Moving down it I start to grip the hilt on the knife, just in case. High, muddy banks are covered in tangled water plants that lead to large rocks, that increase in size until I begin to feel somewhat trapped. I'm literally a sitting duck right now but I keep moving. Wondering, if a wounded man could make it this far, I had just about convinced myself that I was going the wrong way entirely when I saw it.... A streak of blood going down the curve of a boulder.

The blood was long dried now, but the smeary lines indicate someone, perhaps not fully in control of their mental faculties, tried to wipe it away. Moving out of the river now, I hug the rocks, moving in the direction of the blood, searching for him. I find a few more bloodstains, one with a few threads of fabric glued to it, but no sign of life. I can feel tears of sadness and frustration spilling down my cheeks and I break, calling his name in a hushed voice. "Peeta! Peeta?!". Though I quickly stop when a mockingjay begins to mimic my notes. Giving up, I move back towards the river. He must have moved on! Somewhere further down! With that in my mind I step back into the river. When I was in a few steps, in reality to my knees I hear a voice. "You here to finish me off sweetheart?". Gasping, I turn towards the voice. It came from my left. The voice was hoarse and weak, though it had to have been Peeta. Who else in the arena, apart from Gale and Kat would call me sweetheart? Cato sure didn't! My eyes scan the bank, though nobody's there, just mud, the plants and the base of a rock. Moving slowly towards the bank again I softly call out; "Peeta? Where are you?". There's no answer, deflating slightly I keep moving to the bank. Have I just imagined that? "Peeta?" I call softly again, desperation clear in my voice. "Well don't step on me!" he says. I jump back in fright, lose my footing and end up falling backwards into the river. Quickly resurfacing I get onto my knees, still not seeing him.