Finding You (UNDER THE PROCESS OF EDITING)

Chapter 6 - Before

Awesome cover made by @WolfDragon2020. Thank you!

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A scream ripped my throat apart as I tightly shut my eyes, for fear of seeing red when I opened them. I buried my head into my sweat-soaked pillow and continued to scream until my throat was raw, until I could scream no more. I shook uncontrollably, silent sobs continuing to rack my body as I choked on my own tears.

Why was I having a panic attack after something as trivial as a nightmare?

A nightmare in which I saw my family die right in front of my eyes, killed by the worst person in the world while I stood powerless.

I tried taking deep breaths, calming my heartbeats. I tried thinking about sunshine, a field of golden flowers, beautiful blue skies, and counting the blades of intensely green grass like my psychologist had advised me to do.

But then, the sunshine began to burn excruciatingly through my skin, the flowers wilted and died, the sky turned steel grey, and the blades of grass turned to sharp knives and began to cut into my legs. I saw red on the flowers. I saw Ruby screaming at me as she fell to the ground, blood pouring out of her throat, tears streaming down her face.

"Why couldn't you save us?"

And then she was right in front of my eyes as I cracked them open, her throat showing no signs of being slashed open as I had just seen minutes ago.

"Are you okay? Why didn't you take your medication tonight?"

"I forgot, Ruby. I was really tired. I'm sorry, it won't happen again," I replied while rubbing my temples.

"It's okay, though I was worried sick. Here, I got your medication for you."

She placed a glass of water and my pills on the bedside table. I gulped them down quickly.

I shifted to the edge of my queen-sized bed as she sat down.

"Tell me about what you saw, " she demanded.

I took a deep breath and began. "I was in a realy beautiful field full of golden flowers, and my friends were sitting around me under the spring sunshine, but then I was distracted by flowers that were more attractive than the others. Then, I lost track of time, and walked away from my friends. And... I-I saw him. He counted till three with a knife in his hand, and then slit your throats open. And I just stood there, incapable of doing anything, " I said, my voice cracking at the last word.

She didn't have to ask who. She knew the answer very well already.

"Now, listen to me. It was just a nightmare, and nightmares don't come true. Besides, he would never be able to hurt us like that, so forget about it." She said it with such conviction that for a moment, I almost believed her. Almost. But then, I detected a faint hint of doubt in her voice, as if even she wasn't sure of what limits Ash could go to.

"It's still terrifying to see your family die right in front of your eyes, Ruby!"

She hugged me, and kissed my forehead. "We won't ever leave you like that, no matter where we are, and you will be safe because you are smart and can take care of yourself now. Wait right here, I'll get my guitar for you."

She sat down and softly began to sing Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift, one of my favourite songs. Her slim, calloused fingers lovingly glided across the strings, their movements creating a beautiful melody of their own as she picked the strings.

"Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound"

When she reached the hook of the song, it was as if she was sighing heavy, tired sighs which were smothered with a smile to hide the reality behind them, as though I was Primrose being told by Katniss that I wouldn't be selected on the day of the Reaping, when Katniss had trouble convincing herself about the same.

But Prim was never District 12's Tribute, anyway. Katniss put her life in danger for Little Duck's sake.

I prayed that my sister never had to do that for me.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Again, I'm really sorry that I took so long to update and the chapter was so short. My sincere apologies.

Please give me any feedback that you have, it is as important to this 13-year-old as a breath of fresh air is to you. I don't mind criticism, I appreciate it. Just try not to be rude. :)

If there were any errors or grammatical mistakes from my side, feel free to correct them.

And please click that amazing little star at the bottom of each chapter, they make my day! If you think that your friends would like to read this story, don't hesitate to share. 

It's amazing if you were able to relate to The Hunger Games references. What are your thoughts about Ash?

Love and hugs,

Violet_Fairchild.