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have to break several of what used to be her fingers with a stone to free the bow。 The sheath of arrows is pinned under her back。 I try to roll over her body by pulling on one arm； but the flesh disintegrates in my hands and I fall back on the ground。
Is this real？ Or have the hallucinations begun？ I squeeze my eyes tight and try to breathe through my mouth； ordering myself not to bee sick。 Breakfast must stay down； it might be days before I can hunt again。 A second cannon fires and Iˇm guessing the girl from District 4 has just died。 I hear the birds fall silent and then one give the warning call； which means a hovercraft is about to appear。 Confused； I think itˇs for Glimmer； although this doesnˇt quite make sense because Iˇm still in the picture； still fighting for the arrows。 I lurch back onto my knees and the trees around me begin to spin in circles。 In the middle of the sky； I spot the hovercraft。 I throw myself over Glimmerˇs body as if to protect it but then I see the girl from District 4 being lifted into the air and vanishing。
¨Do this！〃 I mand myself。 Clenching my jaw； I dig my hands under Glimmerˇs body； get a hold on what must be her rib cage； and force her onto her stomach。 I canˇt help it； Iˇm hyperventilating now； the whole thing is so nightmarish and Iˇm losing my grasp on whatˇs real。 I tug on the silver sheath of arrows； but itˇs caught on something； her shoulder blade； something； and finally yank it free。 Iˇve just encircled the sheath with my arms when I hear the footsteps； several pairs； ing through the underbrush； and I realize the Careers have e back。 Theyˇve e back to kill me or get their weapons or both。
But itˇs too late to run。 I pull a slimy arrow from the sheath and try to position it on the bowstring but instead of one string I see three and the stench from the stings is so repulsive I canˇt do it。 I canˇt do it。 I canˇt do it。
Iˇm helpless as the first hunter crashes through the trees； spear lifted； poised to throw。 The shock on Peetaˇs face makes no sense to me。 I wait for the blow。 Instead his arm drops to his side。
¨What are you still doing here？〃 he hisses at me。 I stare unprehendingly as a trickle of water drips off a sting under his ear。 His whole body starts sparkling as if heˇs been dipped in dew。 ¨Are you mad？〃 Heˇs prodding me with the shaft of the spear now。 ¨Get up！ Get up！〃 I rise； but heˇs still pushing at me。 What？ What is going on？ He shoves me away from him hard。 ¨Run！〃 he screams。 ¨Run！〃
Behind him； Cato slashes his way through the brush。 Heˇs sparkling wet； too； and badly stung under one eye。 I catch the gleam of sunlight on his sword and do as Peeta says。 Holding tightly to my bow and arrows； banging into trees that appear out of nowhere； tripping and falling as I try to keep my balance。 Back past my pool and into unfamiliar woods。 The world begins to bend in alarming ways。 A butterfly balloons to the size of a house then shatters into a million stars。 Trees transform to blood and splash down over my boots。 Ants begin to crawl out of the blisters on my hands and I canˇt shake them free。 Theyˇre climbing up my arms； my neck。 Someoneˇs screaming； a long high pitched scream that never breaks for breath。 I have a vague idea it might be me。 I trip and fall into a small pit lined with tiny orange bubbles that hum like the tracker jacker nest。 Tucking my knees up to my chin； I wait for death。
Sick and disoriented； Iˇm able to form only one thought： Peeta Mellark just saved my life。
Then the ants bore into my eyes and I black out。
15
I enter a nightmare from which I wake repeatedly only to find a greater terror awaiting me。 All the things I dread most； all the things I dread for others manifest in such vivid detail I canˇt help but believe theyˇre real。 Each time I wake； I think； At last； this is over； but it isnˇt。 Itˇs only the beginning of a new chapter of torture。 How many ways do I watch Prim die？ Relive my fatherˇs last moments？ Feel my own body ripped apart？ This is the nature of the tracker jacker venom； so carefully created to target the place where fear lives in your brain。
When I finally do e to my senses； I lie still； waiting for the next onslaught of imagery。 But eventually I accept that the poison must have finally worked its way out of my system； leaving my body wracked and feeble。 Iˇm still lying on my side； locked in the fetal position。 I lift a hand to my eyes to find them sound； untouched by ants that never existed。 Simply stretching out my limbs requires an enormous effort。 So many parts of me hurt； it doesnˇt seem worthwhile taking inventory of them。 Very； very slowly I manage to sit up。 Iˇm in a shallow hole； not filled with the humming orange bubbles of my hallucination but with old； dead leaves。 My clothingˇs damp； but I donˇt know whether pond water； dew； rain； or sweat is the cause。 For a long time； all I can do is take tiny sips from my bottle and watch a beetle crawl up the side of a honeysuckle bush。
How long have I been out？ It was morning when I lost reason。 Now itˇs afternoon。 But the stiffness in my joints suggests more than a day has passed； even two possibly。 If so； Iˇll have no way of knowing which tributes survived that tracker jacker attack。 Not Glimmer or the girl from District 4。 But there was the boy from District 1； both tributes from District 2； and Peeta。 Did they die from the stings？ Certainly if they lived； their last days must have been as horrid as my own。 And what about Rue？ Sheˇs so small； it wouldnˇt take much venom to do her in。 But then again 。 。 。 the tracker jackers wouldˇve had to catch her； and she had a good head start。
A foul； rotten taste pervades my mouth； and the water has little effect on it。 I drag myself over to the honeysuckle bush and pluck a flower。 I gently pull the stamen through the blossom and set the drop of nectar on my tongue。 The sweetness spreads through my mouth； down my throat； warming my veins with memories of summer； and my home woods and Galeˇs presence beside me。 For some reason； our discussion from that last morning es back to me。
¨We could do it； you know。〃
¨What？〃
¨Leave the district。 Run off。 Live in the woods。 You and