A/N: SOOOO, I'm terribly sorry that the last chapter was so short. I just was so excited that I was posting ANYTHING after having not posted in such a long time that I freaked with excitement and posted just a little bit. However, THIS chapter is longer, I promise. So, enjoy!

Katniss

My bow is snug by my side, and I don't take my eyes off it for anything. I know Peeta would want me to sleep right now but my eyes refuse to shut, instead they remain glued to my weapon that is pressed snugly against my skin. I can't sleep when there's the constant threat looming over all of us. I need to be ready at any moment to take action and defend Peeta's family, which has become my family as well. If I'm not awake and aware, what could happen to them while I'm sleeping? I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Prim or Mrs. Mellark. The two of them, along with Peeta, have become my top priority. Of course, I'm worried to death about Terrin, Reed, Aggie, Thenna, Gale, and Madge. I'm even worried about Kylie, who I don't even know. However, they aren't my immediate concerns. They can't be my immediate concerns. They aren't here. Peeta, Prim, and Mrs. Mellark are here. I can protect them while they're here.

When I hear a slight creaking sound, my hand snaps up and my hand tightens around my bow. I'm ready to take action at all times of the day. To my relief, it's just Peeta who walks in. I can just barely see his form in front of me. I smile and start to say how relieved I am, but I never get a word in. His hand goes over my mouth hurriedly. Only now do I see the look of panic on his face when he leans in close to me. His eyes plead with me to go along with it, whatever this is. He looks so desperate that I remain silent and sit up, still clutching my bow in my hand. Peeta leans in closely until I can feel his breath on my neck. He takes in a shaky breath and whispers into my ear,

"Peacekeepers are outside. We need to get out."

Everything freezes inside me. My gut falls straight into my feet, my heart following it. I look back at Prim and Mrs. Mellark. How will we get them out quietly when we're going to have trouble getting out just the two of us?

I nod my head towards them to show him that we have bigger worries. His face contorts into a mask of pure panic. He didn't think of how difficult it would be to get the two of them out of here quietly. More importantly, we have to wake them up while making sure they don't make so much as a creaking sound in the floor. The Peacekeepers will hear us otherwise.

Peeta leans in towards my ear again and keeps his volume to an absolute minimum.

"We'll wake Prim first. She wakes easy. I just have to rub her head a bit, and when she opens her eyes, you put a hand over her mouth slowly." I nod, feeling his hand skim my face as my head goes up and down.

"What about your mother?" I whisper. He doesn't respond for what feels like the longest time. I know that it's because he doesn't know. He doesn't have a plan on how to wake her up without startling her into making a noise, therefore alerting the Peacekeepers of our location.

We can't just sit here worrying about his mother. We need to spring into action and soon.

I crawl over to Prim's side. Peeta follows quickly and swiftly. His shaky hand reaches out for her soft blonde hair and he sweeps it across her forehead gently. I hold my breath as I see her eyelids flutter slightly, but she still keeps them stubbornly shut. With some more coaxing from Peeta, her blue eyes finally make an appearance. She looks up at Peeta. She's about to smile when I clap my hand over her mouth, stopping it in its tracks. Her eyes widen as she looks at me. I place my index finger to my closed lips, showing her she must be quiet. She nods her head and I let go of her mouth.

Prim looks terrified. Her eyes are wide in fear and shock. I wish I could comfort her, but I'm scared myself. I won't admit it, but I know our odds are stacked. Peacekeepers are just waiting outside to turn us in or kill us. If there was an option, I'd rather be killed. It's better than being given to the Capitol to be killed in an even worse way. I know, I'm so positive, but which way would you rather die: by a gunshot, or by cruel torture?

I look over at Mrs. Mellark, still sleeping peacefully. Then, I look back to Peeta. We both know we need to use the same method we used on Prim. Except one thing; we can't risk her making any noise whatsoever. Peeta knows Prim wakes peacefully. But what about her? Before Peeta can make any move, I pull myself over to Mrs. Mellark and softly put a hand over her mouth. Peeta quickly drags himself over to the two of us.

Mrs. Mellark's eyes snap open suddenly and she tenses, but Peeta makes sure he's in her eye-view. He does the same thing I did with Prim, the finger to the mouth. Mrs. Mellark relaxes a bit, but not by much. Without any further instruction, I grab both her hand and Prim's and stand up. Peeta does too, and I can see him brushing his hand across the knives at his waist. I almost forgot! I grab my bow from the ground and put the package of arrows over my shoulder. If anything is to happen when we try to sneak off, I'm ready.

Peeta points to a back door of the shack we're in. It's worn, old, and probably creaky, but it's the only way out besides the front entrance that the Peacekeepers have probably reached by now. We don't have another option. On instinct, I grab Prim's hand again and hold it tightly as we all sneak towards the back door. Before we reach it, I lean down and blow out the small candle we had lit. Peeta takes the lead and opens it slowly, but swiftly. To my relief, it doesn't make a sound. I sigh internally. There's one less thing to worry about.

He slips out into the night quickly. I follow, still clutching Prim's hand and hoping she'll be quiet. I assume Mrs. Mellark is behind us. At least, I hope she is. I'm not about to look back to see. It's too late for that. I can't even see two feet in front of me. It's a dark night, and being in dense woods doesn't really allow for moonlight to come through. I can just barely make out Peeta's shape in front of my eyes. It's faint, but it's there. I follow it as best as I can. My feet don't make a sound. I'm skilled at walking through the forest by now. I never make any noise. Prim is so swift and light on her feet that she makes no noise either. Mrs. Mellark... Well, she's not that loud. Hopefully she just won't attract any attention to us.

We've made it pretty far away from the shack. The trees are a good cover. They won't be able to see us here. The farther we get away, the less they'll be able to see, even with light. I think we might actually be safe.

*SNAP*

I whip my head around, as does Peeta. The sound didn't come from me or Peeta or even Prim. Mrs. Mellark stepped on a branch or a twig or something. I hold my breath anxiously. Maybe they didn't hear.

"Who's there?!"

No, okay, they did hear. I vaguely see Peeta's face look back at me. We both freeze. I guess that's our plan. If we freeze, maybe they'll leave us alone. Maybe they'll play it off to be an animal like a squirrel. There are so many animals around here. Why should they suspect for people to be around? Besides, if anything, they'll check the shack.

When I hear footsteps nearing us, I try my level best to remain calm and collected about this. I reach out my with my other hand and fumble around until I find Peeta's. When our hands meet, I clasp mine with his. If we end up having to run, we'd better be linked.

A flash of light hits my eyes, making them squint and burn. Then I panic. The Peacekeepers have obviously found us.

Peeta starts to run, tugging me along. My other hand is still clasped in Prim's, so she is dragged along with me. We all start to sprint, not caring is we're being followed. We need to get out of here and fast.

"Hey! Stop!" But we don't stop. We run so long and fast that I can feel my legs burn. Shooting pain goes up through the calf and into the thigh. They ache. I've never run this much in my life. But the adrenaline is still pumping hard. I can't slow down, even if I wanted to. It's impossible now.

We run until we're sure we're safe. Heck, we run until we're more than just sure we're safe. We're running for our lives.

Finally, we come to a stop. We're heaving and bending down to breathe. I sound like a dying animal. Peeta doesn't sound any better. I place my arm over his bent back for support as I lean down, close to vomiting. My stomach is too empty for that, though. Instead, I dry heave until I'm able to get control of myself. Though it's a cool night, I can feel the sweat on me.

"Are... you... okay?" I gasp out between breaths. Peeta nods and makes an attempt to straighten.

"Yeah..." he answers just as breathlessly. He then look up and behind my hunched over form. "Prim?" he calls weakly.

"Yes?" comes her whispered response.

"Are you and Mom okay?" I can hear the worry in his voice for his family. He's tried so hard to keep everyone together, and it all seems to be shattering apart before his eyes.

Prim doesn't respond. A big weight settles in my stomach as I realize something.

"Prim?" I ask. "Is your mom with us?" A silence settles over us as we wait with baited breath for a response. Please don't say she was left behind, please don't say she was left behind!

I hear Prim give a shuddering sob that hits my ears like thunder. I know the answer before she even opens her mouth.

"No."

A/N: Uh oh! Where's Momma Mellark? By the way, you have no idea how long I've waited to be able to say that sentence. ;)