A loud, frightened scream came out of my mouth before I could stop it.  Oh great, now any of the Careers around will be able to hear it and will definitely finish me off.  Because I couldn't think of anything else to do but call out for my ally, I screamed, "Katniss!  Katniss!"  I heard a response nearby.  "Rue!  I'm coming!!"  Suddenly someone breaks into the clearing, but it's not Katniss, it's Marvel.

My heart started to pump rapidly, and I started to shake all over.  This was it.  I was going to die.  There was a rustling in the bushes opposite me and I struggled to get removed from the net, thinking it was the rest of the Careers.  But it was Katniss!  I call out her name, but see something on my side and I twist.  Suddenly there's sharp pain in my stomach, and I stopped breathing for a moment, but then I started again.  

I saw through blurry eyes Katniss shooting an arrow at Marvel, a body slump to the ground.  Then Katniss is yelling, "Rue!  Are there anyone else?  Are there anyone else?"  I said no, but she didn't hear or something, so I said it louder and louder until she finally stopped yelling.  She ran toward me and looked at my stomach.  "Oh."  She said softly.  

I looked at it too.  It looked sickening, the spearhead nestled deep inside my stomach.  I knew that Katniss couldn't save me, that nobody in the arena could save me.  Maybe the Capitol, but it would be too expensive for my sponsors, if I even had any in the first place.

I looked into Katniss's grey eyes that were full of sadness and fear.  I reach out my arm towards her, and she not only grabbed it, but clutched it tightly.  I mustered up my strength and said quietly, "Did you blow up their food?"  Katniss nodded and clutched my hand tighter.  "Every single bit."  

I looked into her face, thinking about how I lied to Nalin about me winning, how I'm going to die.  Then I realized Katniss had to win.  She had to.  I whispered urgently, "You have to win."  She nodded and promised me she would for me.  The cannon fired, but I didn't know why for a moment.  I wasn't dead.  Then I remembered Marvel.  

Katniss looked up, startled, but I didn't want her to go.  "Don't leave me!"  I squeezed her hand in fear that she'd go and I'd waste away here alone.  "Don't go."  Katniss reassured me, "Of course not.  I'm staying right here."  She tucked my hair behind my ear, just like my mother used to at home the night after the reaping, on my birthday, when she is glad I'm not called or anything, even though I was underage the last time she did it and all the times before that.

The birds were always singing, singing outside.  Singing...  I wanted Katniss to sing for me.  I mustered up every last inch of my strength and whispered one word.  "Sing."  Katniss looked confused, but coughed and started to sing.  I listened to the words at first:

Deep in the meadow, under the willow                                                                                                                                       

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow. 

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes.

And when again they open, the sun will rise. 

Here it's safe, here it's warm. 

Here the daisies guard you from every harm.

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings 

them true.

Here is the place where I love you. 

I closed my eyes and listened to her just her voice now.  I swore the birds had fallen silent just to listen to her.  The pain is egging away, and I sighed.  I could barely breathe now, but I wanted her to finish her song.  

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away 

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray 

Forget your woes and let your troubles lay 

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away. 

Here it's safe, here it's warm 

Here the daisies guard you from every harm 

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings 

them true 

Here is the place where I love you. 

It was silent for a moment, but then I hear the mockingjays singing back, and I felt that they were singing for me.  I knew I was slipping away, and I opened my eyes slightly so I could see the trees.  Then I heard my cannon fire and knew I was dead...

THE END