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▎ RUINS ▎
»»————-　act two. fan the flames
TWENTY FOUR ━━ the great unknown

there is only one god and
his name is death and there is
only one thing we say to death;
not today

— syrio forel

     EVERYTHING WAS A BLUR OF COLORS AS ERIN TRIED to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness.

     Her breathing was labored as she scanned her surroundings, her mind racing with possibilities on where she could be.

    The trees were high and the scent of pine lingered in the air and nothing seemed out of place but the fact that it was quiet.

    Too quiet.

      Erin blinked a few times, hoping, no praying that whatever was happening at the moment was just a dream.

     She could feel her heart thumping loudly against her ribcage like a monster banging to get out of its cage. It was then that realisation hit her as he eyes fell upon the katana in her right hand.

     She finally understood where she was and it was not a place she wanted to see ever again.

     She'd seen bits and pieces,  flashes of a life she didn't remember but now she was reliving the most horrifying moments of her young life.

     The ones that destroyed her innocence. The ones that haunted her dreams. The ones that formed her into the woman she was today.

     The 68th Hunger Games.

     That horrible feeling of being trapped sent a shiver down her spine as she casted her gaze towards a small stream furthed down the hill.

     She remembered it, she'd seen flashes of it as she tried to sleep and now she would remember the importance of it.

     Erin felt her breath hitch in her throat as her eyes settled on the young girl crouched down by river, her honey colored hair a mess, her hands tremblings, but her eyes however showed terror as their eyes met.

      The girl backed up as she held up a small knife for protection, tears welling up in her eyes and slowly but surely Erin had lowered her own weapon.

     "It's okay." She whispered her eyes carefully watching the blonde. "I'm not going to hurt you."

     The girl whimpered as she stepped closer. "Here look." Erin spoke softly, placing her katana on the ground as she locked eyes with the girl. "See, I don't want to hurt you."

     Slowly the girl lowered her own knife and within seconds she had dropped it to the ground as tears streamed down her face.

     Erin quickly scanned her surroundings before approaching the girl and gently pulling the blonde towards her.

      "Shh, hey. I'm here." She whispered as she caressed the girl's hair softly. "My name is Erin, what is your name?"

       "Hannah." The girl stammered.

     Alex walked beside Katniss as the two walked towards Command where the girl was requested. And upon entering everyone present took a seat around the table to await what the Girl On Fire had to say.

      "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Katniss greeted softly, her eyes flashing up to look at the people sat around the table. "I've decided I'll be your Mockingjay, but I have some conditions," Katniss opened up the paper "Peeta, Johanna Mason and the other tributes, will be rescued at the earliest opportunity. If and when Peeta is liberated, he will receive a full and unconditional pardon. No punishment will be inflicted. And the same goes for the other tributes."

     "No," Coin said immediately.

     "It's not their fault you abandoned them in the arena. They're doing and saying whatever they can to survive." Katniss replied.

     "Individuals don't make demands in Thirteen. There will be a tribunal and a fair judgment. Thank you." Coin finally said.

     "The Victors will be granted immunity and you will announce that in front of the entire population of Thirteen." Katniss had raised her voice, fire in her eyes as she stared Coin down. "You will hold yourself and your government responsible or you will another Mockingjay."

      Plutarch looked overjoyed as looked at Katniss, before pointing at her. "That's it, that's her. Right there. Isn't that who I promised you? Now, if she wears the costume, gunfire in the background, a hint of smoke: our Mockingjay."

     Plutarch turned to Coin. "Madam President, we're losing ground because the people are losing heart. This is worth the risk. She's worth the risk. Pardons, tribunals, power of the people, it can all be the bedrock of the new Panem. But in wartime I think even the noblest of causes can be bent a little bit. Right?"

     Coin sighed, looking over to Katniss. "Do you have any other conditions?"

     Katniss blinked looking down and then back up to Coin. "My sister gets to keep her cat."

     With the requests made Alex and Katniss quickly left the room in silence as both thought about the upcoming rebellion and their friends and family that would be caught in the crossfire of the war.

     Katnissed glanced at Alex as she saw Finnick approach the two. "Are you going to see Erin?" She asked in a low voice and Alex brown eyes locked onto Katniss' grey ones.

     Katniss was more than concerned about the girl she only known for a shor time, but for some reason Katniss felt save in her presence. Erin held this aura of protection and kindness around her even with horrors that occured in her past. Katniss wanted, no needed Erin to get better.

    Alex sowly nodded as he turned a corner where Finnick finally joined them and the three walked towards the room Erin was kept in.

    The doctors did release her from the medical ward, but she was kept close because of the vicious memories thay came back to her suring the night, making her lash out in the night where she often hurt herself in the progress without realising.

    But when they entered the room, panic seeped through their bodies as they laid eyes on Erin's body laying in the floor.

     Erin slowly walked towards a small clearing, Hannah's hand in her own while the other hand held her katana for protection.

     "Do you think we'll make it?" Her voice was soft and innocent and it made Erin feel guilty as she stared in those innocent eyes.

     "I promise you'll get home to your family alive." The brunette promised as she pushed a low hanging branche out of the way.

     "What about you?" Hannah asked sweetly.

     Erin bit her lip as she glanced at the twelve year old. "I'll get home too." She said solemnly not mentioning the fact that she would be returning in a wooden coffin.

     Hannah smiled as she walked a bit further ahead a small bounce in her step as she looked over her shoulder. "Maybe we can meet sometime after." She said.

     "Maybe..." Erin trailed off. It was quiet.

     Too quiet.

     Rustling was heard further up the hill and the brunette crouched down quickly. "Hannah, get back here." She demanded and the small girl quickly ran towards her.

    Her eyes fell on a tall figure in the distance and she glanced at the girl she'd only met five days ago, now cowering in fear behind her, her hand clutching the material of her jacket.

     Within seconds the teenager came dashing towards them an axe in hand as he prepared to strike.

    Without much thought, Erin pushed Hannah away a solemn look on her face as she casted one last look over her shoulder. "Run!"

     The brunette didn't look back to check if Hannah complied and instead turned towards the boy from district two.

    With a loud battlecry he attempted to strike her with his axe, but Erin dodged it the last seconds and swiftly kicked him in the side, making him roll over the forest floor.

    The district two tribute was faster than she expected and was quickly back to his feet but his weapon was too far for him to reach.

    Erin clenched her jaw as she raised her katana ready for the final strike when he dropped to the ground making her hit the tree instead.

    She grunted as she tried to get her weapon back but as footsteps behind her came closer she turned around with fearful eyes as the male tribute approach her with a sinister grin.

    She gritted her teeth as he tackled her to the ground, throwing a swift punch at her jaw. She could taste her blood as she kicked him with all her might.

    He fell from her and she stumbled to her feet but it was too late as he already swung his axe at her and she closed her eyes waiting for the impact.

     A strangled cry made her open her eyes and they widened at te sight of Hannah's body in front of her, blood seeping through her shirt as she fell to the ground.

    In a fit of rage, Erin grabbed the handle of her katana and ripped it from the tree before swinging it towards the male tribute with such force that she sliced his head straight off.

    Tears streamed down her face as she fell down to her knees beside Hannah to see the girl still breathing.

      "H-hey you're going to be just fine." Erin rasped as she applied pressure to the wound.

     "I-I can't f-feel an-anything." Hannah's voice cracked as she stared in Erin's eyes.

     "You'll be okay, I promise." Erin cried as blood seeped trough her fingers.

     "Ca-can you s-stay with me?"

     "Of course." Erin stated biting the inside of her cheek.

     Hannah's eyes were trained on her own and slowly she blinked before closing her eyes completely, her breathing stopped and it was quiet again.

     Too quiet.

      Until an earpiercing scream erupted from Erin's throat and she felt her heart break into a million pieces.

     And everything turned a bright white.

     "What is happening!" Finnick yelled as doctors rushed around the room as the heart monitor started to bleep loudly, causing panic among Alex, Katniss and Finnick.

     They were ignored as a nurse pushed them out of the way. "We're losing her!" Someone shouted and Finnick could feel the tears that were welling up in his eyes roll down his face.

     "Come on Erin! Stay with us!"

     Suddenly her heartrate picked up drastically as the doctors stopped running around and instead looked at the young woman in the bed, who began trashing around in her bed.

    Alex pushed himself inside. "What's happening!" he demanded to know.

     Until suddenly it became quiet again.

     It was too quiet.

     It nagged Finnick enormously as he focused on the heart monitor, only te realise there was almost no heartbeat at all.

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