Explosions rang through the air. Madge Undersee stood in an empty field with around 800 people from her District. She could feel her heart break into a thousand pieces. As the bombs continued to detonate, she could only think of her parents who were still there in District 12. Fear clenched her soul.

"Everyone in here!" She heard his voice. He'd come back for her, just like he'd promised. Gale Hawthorne, the 19-year-old hunter and miner. He was pointing to the lake that was just barely visible from there. Suddenly, she felt herself being pushed forward. The panic surged through her and she hurried to the lake as fast as she could.

In the rush, Madge felt something brush painfully against her leg. She gasped, reaching down to hold her throbbing calf.

"Move! Hurry up!" Someone yelled from behind her. She was holding them up. With her face contorted in pain, Madge struggled forward. By the time she got to the lake, she could feel hot blooding running down her leg. She sat at the edge of the water as another bomb exploded. In fear, she looked back to where District 12 was supposed to be.

"Madge!" Gale's voice again. "Get in the water!" He shouted. She could see him herding a family in. She burst into tears, thinking of her parents stuck at home. Gale hurried to her. "Get in." He repeated.

"I can't." She squeaked. "My leg..." Gale knelt down to look at it. He grimaced just as another explosion rent the air. They saw a line of fire come up to the trees around them. Knowing he couldn't just leave her, Gale scooped Madge into his arms and started wading into the lake. As the water hit her injury, Madge let out a shriek. Gale just held onto her tightly.

"It's okay. I've got you now. I won't let anything happen to you. I came back. You're safe." He reassured her as the explosions dwindled away to nothing and the fire burnt itself out.

"My parents..." she said as sleep began to take over.

"I'm sorry, Madge. I'm so, so sorry."

"They're gone..." she added right before she fell asleep in Gale's arms.

The next time Madge woke up, she was lying on a bed of pine needles. Mrs. Everdeen was standing over her, surveying the crowd around them. Prim knelt at Madge's head.

"Mom, she's awake." Prim said softly. Madge tried sitting up, but Katniss's sister gently held her down. "You aren't well enough." She said. Mrs. Everdeen bent over to inspect Madge's left.

"I've put some moss on it to soak up the blood, but that's all I can do for it." She explained. Madge nodded to show she understood. Her whole leg throbbed painfully. The two Everdeen nurses moved on to another patient they couldn't help, leaving Madge alone.

"How's it feel?" She turned her head to see Gale holding three squirrels in one hand. He looked exhausted.

"Fine," she lied. He sat down next to her. "So... what happens now?" She asked. If anyone knew the answer, it would be Gale. He shrugged.

"Try to stay alive, I guess." He said. Madge swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Thank you. For coming for me." She closed her eyes. The pain was making her tired.

"You asked me to. Of course I did." Gale replied. He noticed how tired she was. "I'll be back in a few hours to check on you, okay?" Madge could only nod. Gale got up to bring the squirrels to a place where someone could share them and not go hungry.

When Madge woke up, Gale was there, wiping her sweaty forehead with a wet cloth. She felt nauseous.

"Hey Madge, how do you feel?" He asked quietly. Madge shook her head in response.

"I think your leg is infected." That was Mrs. Everdeen's voice. "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do but keep it covered and clean, and hope for the best." She said. Madge could feel the pain shooting up her leg. A tear involuntarily rolled down her cheek. Gale wiped it away more gently than she could have guessed he could.

"It's okay. We'll find something to give you." Gale tried reassuring her. He stroked her hair, making sure it didn't get tangled.

Over the next two days, Madge got progressively worse. Every time she would wake up, Gale was there, holding her hand, stroking her hair, whispering to her.

And then all of a sudden, Madge heard it. It was the sound of wings but she knew it wasn't. It grew louder and louder until it seemed to be everywhere, filling the clearing in the woods with sound. Everyone was shouting and Gale wasn't by her side anymore.

"Here! She's hurt over here!" The strong and deep voice that was Gale's could be heard clearly over the din. Hands took hold of Madge's ankles and shoulders. She was lifted onto a stretcher and pricked with a needle.

"I'll be there in a minute, okay?" Gale said as she was wheeled towards a Hovercraft. He lifted her hand and kissed it, letting her leave with the medical team.

"I'll be waiting," Madge breathed, feeling the pull of unconsciousness. She was the first one on the Hovercraft.