The accident

Macy 17

She lived in the slums, I guess her dad is a huge druggie. He borrowed money, trying to screw those guys over. When thy caught him, he traded Macy instead.

She said she'd get them the money, which she got most of it. I didn't ask how she got it, but it won't be spoken of again.

We get to a tiny house in the corner of the slums tucked away by the factory behind it some ways.

" Thank you- for everything." She whispers.

" Any time. And if you need help with that leg, let me know."

She smiled bright, " I would love that thank you."

And with that she closed the door.

Cato takes me hand looking around at anyone who might be walking, not looking-glaring- He'll keep anyone from just looking at us.

" Your lucky you didn't get hurt, or even caught for that matter." Cato says still looking around.

" Well, I'm glad I did go, who knows what they would've done to her."

" Let's just go home." Cato sighed.

We finally get back to the car, now taking the 45 minute drive back to the house.

He goes down stairs, I take the shower in my room, letting all the sweat wash off of me. I throw on sweat pants and a sweat shirt before going on my bed falling asleep. Today drained me to say the least, though it was worth it, I might have new people to talk to.

Off to a decent start of this 'new life'.

Sometime during the night I had another nightmare. This time I was in the bear's den surrounded by all the mutts in my games pulling apart my family and the Hadleys.

I was stuck there, the feeling of helplessness eating me alive as they look at me screaming.

I tear myself out of the dream sitting up in bed. The Tv was on when I woke. " Are you ok?" Cato asks from the side of me his face flooded with concern.

Hot flashes over me as I breathe heavily. " Uh..yea. I just need to get some water." I tear my covers off of me going downstairs.

I felt shakey getting off the bed, so much so one of my legs give out. " Shit!" I hiss grabbing onto the bed to I halfway fell back down on it.

Cato sits directly up now, " Hey.. I'll grab the water just sit here."

I push myself back on the bed fully,leaning on the headboard pushing all my blankets to Cato's side.

He gets up quickly running down to get me some water.

I close my eyes for a brief moment, it was only a dream. Though the shiver imbedded in me says otherwise, making my mind flashback to the arena.

Stop Kay. I squint quickly before fixing my focus on the TV. I need to keep my mind busy.

Cato came back with the water handing it to me carefully. He goes to turn on the lamp on his side of the bed inspecting me over.

" I'm fine." I muttered taking a drink of the cold water.

" You almost ate shit... Your not fine." Cato interjected. I still feel myself shivering a bit, Cato reached down touching my leg that was still shaking.

" Do you feel sick?" He asks.

" No I feel fine, I just had a bad dream. I shake when I have bad dreams."

" About the games?" He whispered, he already knows which makes me feels little better, it helps not explaining that kind of fear.

I nod. " Yea, the mutts. It's always about the stupid mutts."

He turns off the lamp. " Well... good thing for you I can't sleep either ."

" Here." He says grabbing the cup from my hand setting it down on the floor by him.

He pulls my by the waist to his chest " Your ok. It's not real." He rubs my back making me relax a little bit.

" Did you want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps." He says after awhile.

I shake my head, " I'd rather not. Then I think about it."

He nods, " Just know..we're never going back there. Just remember that."

" Ok."

We lay there watching whatever was on, being by Cato calmed me instantly. But I still couldn't sleep it was a good couple of hours we were up before the alarm went off making the both of us sigh.

" Should we have a personal day?" Cato asks.

I sit up wiping my eyes. " No. we minus well make something of today."

We heard a knock on the door making the both of us look at eachother.

" Who would be here this early?" Cato grumbles.

We both go down to go see who it was, When Cato opened the door there Brutus was with a younger looking Peacekeeper.

" Good Morning." The younger man said, " Last night there were 5 deaths reported and 3 injured-"

I walk closer to the door, I'm intrigued but why do we care?

" - We believe some of the students at the Academy are responsible."

Oh. That's why.

I came walking from behind Cato, " Who were they all?"

" 3 men from the slums, 2 peacekeepers and 3 are in critical condition." The Peackeeper says.

" The 3 are Peacekeepers?"

The man nods, I look over at Brutus who has a stone cold face " They have footage of some of the kids the last couple nights." Brutus says.

" Well, let's see it." Cato mumbles.

He pulls out a tablet looking thing, the screen flashes to life showing a blurry picture of a group of kids a little to familiar.

Odessa and her group.

I glance over at Cato who was still looking at the screen. " We know them." He says simply looking at the Peackeeper and Brutus.

" Could you give us names? As I'm sure you know Mr. Hadley and Ms. Musak this is a crime." The man says pulling out a small pad of paper and pen to write the names.

Cato said all their names, " They'll be at the academy soon." He tells him, " We were just leaving to go there."

" You'll catch a ride with us." Brutus says.

The man went in his own car and we went in one of our own. " Are any of them 18?" Brutus asks once our car starts.

" Luckily not. They'll just be suspended hopefully, not doubt Belldonna's will get all of them out of it." Cato chuckles.

When we get there a lot of the kids were just arriving, all heads turned when they saw a group of peacekeepers coming in their cars, us following behind.

I see Odessa there with her group, all their faces pale. I see her eyes slice mine her glare hardening. I stay stone faced looking at her group.

" Odessa Belldonna!" One of the peacekeepers yelled, along with the others.

They took them into their cars, the last thing I heard them say was asking for their ages and contacting their parents.

Let's see if Cato's assumption was true.

We walk into the Training Center, letting the kids do whatever they wanted. Priya found me soon after, "Why did they take that whole group?" She asks.

" They got caught on camera. Night hunting and attacking Peacekeepers."

Her face falls, " No way... how did they not get shot?"

I shrug, " I'm assuming they were new cadets or still in training. They aren't stupid, they needed to know they weren't armed or soemthing. I don't know why they would attack Peackeepers though."

She arches her brow, " I'm telling you, they're all crazy."

I smile faintly. " I'm gathering. I'm sure they know we told them. Belldonna was looking at me the whole time."

I happened to look over to the girl- Macy- in the corner working on making traps. " Who are you..." Priya trails off looking where I was, " I'll be back." I tell her, " No I'll come with." She insisted.

We both walk over to where Macy was, though she didn't even notice, she was so focused on making the perfect knot.

" Hey." I say softly.

She breaks out of her focus looking meekly at the two of us. " Oh, hi."

" How are you doing today?"

She smiles a bit, " Way better. Thanks again."

Priya looks over at me a ' tell me' face appeared.  I figured I could introduce the two of them to eachother, it seems like we all need someone.

" Macy...this is Priya."

Macy smiles, " Hello."

" Hi." Priya says though it sounded a little more blunt then I think she intended.

" What was that whole thing about earlier?" Macy asked looking over toward me.

" They got caught night hunting."

She didn't seem shocked, which seemed strange. "Oh... That's who it was last night. What a shame." She sounded like she could care less as she went back to her trap.

Priya smirked, " You saw them last night?"

" Yea, I gave the tip to one of the Peacekeepers."

This was the same girl that I just met yesterday, she seemed so shy, and now she's calling in night hunters. She must've saw my expression, her face grew a little grim. " They broke my window."

Priya snorts, " Serves them right."

I smirk, " Well, I'd keep that you ourselves for sure. We don't need anymore problems."

The rest of the day flew by quickly, it was nice though the 3 of us really got to know eachother a little better which was nice.

It was nice having other girls to talk to and luckily we all clicked well. I saw Cato give me a few looks with a smirk.

He's probably happy to I found some friends.

Everyone went home for the day, leaving me and Cato to clean up a little before leaving.

" Do you think they got out of it?" I ask.

" I'm sure they did, the Belldonnas have a huge pull around here, being one of the top Masons."

I shake my head, their just masons, not royalty. They shouldn't be above law. Maybe if I say something to my dad and Zane, they'll keep closer tabs on them.

We finished up going home for the night, and sure enough in a small huddle way off by some houses was the group.

" See." Cato says quietly as we walk by.

" Thanks for the tip Hadley!" Odessa yelled, she gave us a dirty look as we walked past. But Cato stops turning towards her and her group.

" We weren't the ones who did it Belldonna, maybe do a little better next time and stick to the rules?" He yells back.

I hear her say something but we were to busy walking to properly hear her or even care honestly.

" Do you think they'll do it again?" I ask when we get in the car.

" I'm pretty sure they were doing it as we were walking by." Cato says nonchalantly.

" Don't you think we should've reported that?"

" No, if they get caught again they'll be tried in the Capitol for rebellious behavior. It's their own fault then, not even her parents can get them all out of that."

I just nod, taking one more look at the group who was going towards the slum area.

The rest of the night was normal, ate, took a shower, went to bed. Though I just had a feeling something wasn't right, or I was bothered they were going out to kill again and Cato seemed to not care.

They broke the ' Rules' you'd think being a mentor he'd care about that a little more, I mean if they're caught your getting rid of 4 possible careers.Belldonna being one.

—————-

But eventually with all the thinking I fell asleep, though this time Cato woke me up.

" Kay... Kaylaya.." He says frantically shaking me from my sleep.

My eyes fly open from the sudden shaking," W-What why?"

" There's been an accident. A bad one, Enobaria and Brutus are down stairs waiting for us."

" wh- an accident?"

" Yea, explosion. Come on, we need to go to town."

My mind darts to our parents instantly.

" Are our parents alright?"

The look on Cato's face is one I wish I could erase from my memories.

I know something horrible happened.

I threw on a jacket barreling down the stairs, Cato following. " Enobaria what happened?!" I asked frantically.

" We're not entirely sure yet, we just need to go." She says.

I feel the nerves rise making me feel entirely sick. Please let my parents be ok, please let the Hadley's be ok.

The driver brought us to the hospital though we needed to drive by the town square where our houses were close to.

All I saw was flames coming from behind a ways closer to the slums.

It needed to take out 4 or 5 houses along with whatever else was close. They had a lot of it died down but it was still going.

" What caused it?" I ask looking at the three of them. Just the way they looked I know they know more then they're telling-or waiting to tell me-  Enobaria looks at Cato.

" Sparks from a knife hitting the side of a gas tank." He says lowly.

" From the night hunters?" I ask bluntly. I feel the anger rise, " Who was hurt?"

It needed to be someone we knew.

Brutus was looking between the two of us, deciding to speak.

" Your dad was patrolling with the added security." Brutus says.

I stare for a few seconds processing. I look at all of them " What?"

I felt that eating feeling coming full force. It's like I couldn't focus, I felt my heartbeat in my ears.

As soon as the car stopped know I was running out of it. " Where is Kane Musak?" I ask one of the workers frantically.

I didn't wait for Cato or anyone of them, they gave my the room number and I went.

Please let him be ok. I can't lose anyone else I care about, especially him. I'm practically running throught the halls looking at all the numbers, 112. I need to find 112.

It was at the end of the hall, I go through the door my mother was already there, along with the Hadley's. Mrs.Hadley was holding my mom and Zane was near my dad's head.

I could see the tears forming in his eyes. Now I know this isn't good.

My mom looks over, wiping her eyes. " How is he?" I ask.

She let's out a small sob shaking her head, not good. I clench my jaw trying my best not to cry. He looks like a totally different person, his whole body was bascially wrapped up, burns all burns. He must've been right by the explosion.

His normally neat hair is all ruffled, he had what it seemed hundreds of cords connected to his body all over the place.

" Night hunters threw a knife, making sparks that made the explosion." Zane says solumnly.

" That's what Cato told me."

Speaking of Cato, he comes flying in. Looking at my dad wide eyed before accessing the others in the room.

"They don't think none of the kids are going to make it." Zane continues.

I think of Odessa and her group...good I hope they die. Why, why would they hunt peacekeepers? WHy would they hunt right by the biggest gas vat in 2?

Because they were stupid. Now the whole district needs to pay for it, my father needed to pay for it.

" Elenor, you need to tell her." Zane says again trying to sound composed.

My mom sobs, laying her head down on my father. All she could do was shake her head.

" Mom?" I question going a little closer to the bed.

Even if she wanted to talk, she couldn't she was sobbing so much to do anything else.

I look back up at Zane. He takes a breath letting a couple tears fall, " The explosion left him brain dead. We.." He needed to pause before finishing his sentence.

I knew what he was going to say.

I let myself cry a bit more, We're going to pull the plug.

" I was waiting for you..." My mother trails off, Right then she breaks down completely " This is the only thing keeping him alive. The burns are to bad to be fixed."

In the meantime Enobaria and Brutus came in the room, though they were silent.

I look at my dad, just laying there. The same dad that did everything for me, we did so much together, the one who wanted me to follow in his footsteps.

He's gone.

My dad was gone and there's nothing I could do to help. I can't even tell him that I loved him.

I barely spent any time with him since I got back.

Some of the other nurses come in looking at us solemnly, we all knew eachother. Lilli and Jess were their names they helped me and my mother with some of the patients when I was here.

" Whenever you guys are ready." Jess said.

I look over to my mom who sniffled, " Do it." She says. They kept themselves composed as the did some final tests on my father, making sure he was comfortable before they...

Hearing the flat line was one of the worst sounds I think I heard , worse then any of the sounds the games had given me.

Even worse... hearing your dads last breath.

He's gone.

I looked at Cato, who was already coming over to me. I met him the rest of the way, he wrapped his arms around me " Your ok.. I'm here." he whispers.

My mom fell apart even more, they loved eachother so much that's what I strived to have. My father helped teach me everything I knew.

Mrs.Hadley hangs on to her tighter, both bawling. Zane let's a couple tears out though he's holding it extremely well.

" Come here kiddo." He says wrapping me in a hug, I think this is the first time we hugged. We had that father daughter relationship but he wasn't physical like that.

Once he let go I went to my mom, wrapping her in a hug, I know he needs the support more then what I do right now, I need to look after her more then ever. I will.

I needed to get out of this room. I can't look at him anymore.

I let go, walking hastily out of the room. Once I do I feel a whole new wave, though this time it was anger.

" Kay-" Cato was following me, along with Baria and Brutus.

I turned, " We saw them, we saw them and we didn't say anything." I half yell running my hands through my hair. " We saw them Cato!"

The sobs rake through my body, I fall to the floor from all the grid I felt, it hurt. It hurt more then the games, this feeling was the worst pain I felt.

" We could've stopped it!" I yell again.

Cato came on the floor with me, he didn't say anything, he stayed quiet. I slammed the floor crying even harder.

Again, it was my fault.

My dad could till be here, I could only be feeling guilt right now for reporting those kids, but now I feel the pain of losing a parent.

I was so mad, Mad I couldn't stop this. I could've but it was to late. I was in such a fit I was pounding my fists on the floor as I cried.

" Kaylaya.. Kaylaya stop!" I hear Enobaria say.

She was also on the floor trying to get me to avert my attention, but she just grabs me holding me.

" We saw them! We saw all of them and we should've said something. My- My dad is DEAD because we didn't say something." I yelled tears rolling down my face.

I was hyperventilating so much it felt like my head was going to explode.

Enobaria was still hanging on to me, not letting me go. I wrapped my arms around hers balling. " He's dead.."

" We're so sorry Kaylaya." She says I feel a warm tear on the back of my head.

Enobaria Blake was crying.

" Let's get you home."

I shake my head, " I need to stay with my mom."

" My parents are staying with her. We're taking you." Cato says.

It's probably to much having the two of us together, maybe this is better.

I weakly nod, Cato hoists me up helping me walk to the door. On the way out I saw Vad running in the Hosptial. " Is she ok? Is.." He sees us, his skin paleing."

" Kane Musak passed away and Odessa..." Enobaria trailed off.

I see Vad's eyes water, " She..."

" As soon as the impact hit them all. Come back home Vad." Baria says. He doesn't fight, he wanted to cry but he doesn't.

He does come with, the whole ride back was dead silent. I felt bad for leaving my mom but I know Mrs. Hadley will console her better then I can.

I could barely function getting back into the house, the furthest I got was the couch before I collapsed into tears again.

I should've said something.... Why didn't I say something!

I felt arms wrap around me again though I knew these weren't Baria's.

" Why didn't we say something." I bawl.

" Because again I'm the idiot that got so many people hurt." Cato says. " I'm so sorry Kaylaya." I hear im crying to.

I know how horrible he must feel. Though I could be mad at him I know that would be the wrong thing to do.

He didn't do anything. Odessa did. And they're all dead, He and I didn't want to get anyone else in trouble.

" What are they going to label this as?" I manage to say.

" Gas leak, freak accident. Cover up the night hunting I'm assuming." Cato says going through my hair.

" I'm going to take Vad to our house." Baria says coming from one of the other rooms with Brutus and Vad.

Cato nods, " We'll see. You guys in the Morning, and Vad.." He pauses for a second " Sorry about Dessa."

Vad gives a weak smile " Thanks."

I couldn't stop crying the whole night, but luckliy Cato was there telling me it was going to be alright though I don't know how it could ever be.