The Hanging Tree
written by Katniss Potter
Have you ever wondered about the true origins of the song 'The Hanging Tree'? A Hunger Games fanfiction. Rated T (teen) for death, threat and kissing.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
9
Reads
1,076
Chapter VIII
Chapter 8
Heather sat next to me, wiping the tear from my face with one gentle finger. My eyes crawled their way towards her face, her beautiful, tender face, and I spoke for the first time since the interrogation.
"You don't deserve this," I croaked, my voice hoarse for lack of speech.
"What don't I deserve?" she whispered.
"You don't deserve to be cooped up here, locked in a cell and treated like a prisoner for my crime," I replied. "What have you done?"
Heather looked sadly at the floor.
"I asked you a question!" I barked.
Heather looked up in surprise. I leaked another tear.
"I'm sorry, Heather, I'm sorry," I breathed. "I've been so angry and upset recently, I just- "
"Ssh."
It was my turn to look up in surprise. She had a finger on my lips. "Please. Don't be sad. Be happy. Be happy for me."
She brushed her soft lips against mine. My heart fluttered as we embraced, her eyelids wetting again. We broke apart. I tried to hide the sadness in my eyes, but I knew Heather could see it.
"It's true," she whispered. "They'll be here soon. Then they'll take you away, and… oh, Odium…"
And, just at that moment, Pucey, Mordaunt and Kirkby entered the room. Heather let out a strangled sob as they grabbed me by the arms.
"Men… please," is all I could whisper.
Pucey let out a laugh, a laugh so vile it boiled my blood with anger. I span round and lashed out at the three men, punching Pucey in the gut. Pucey cried out, collapsed to the floor, and I grabbed his gun. Kirkby fumbled with his, as Mordaunt shot at me and missed. I loaded my gun and shot Mordaunt first in the heart. He gave a mad scream and fell over Pucey's body. I then shot Kirkby once, twice, three times, and shot Pucey for good measure.
I spun, my blood turned cold, and saw Heather's aghast face. Her eyes were wide with shock and her hands were smacked over her mouth, which was in a big O.
"Odium… how could you?" she gasped.
But my heart was light. "Heather, we're free," I told her, smile spreading across my face.
"Oh, no, you're not," came a snarling voice.
My body froze in fear as someone entered the cell. Eastchurch the Peacekeeper stepped in, his tattooed face twisted into a horrid grin.
"You don't deserve this," I croaked, my voice hoarse for lack of speech.
"What don't I deserve?" she whispered.
"You don't deserve to be cooped up here, locked in a cell and treated like a prisoner for my crime," I replied. "What have you done?"
Heather looked sadly at the floor.
"I asked you a question!" I barked.
Heather looked up in surprise. I leaked another tear.
"I'm sorry, Heather, I'm sorry," I breathed. "I've been so angry and upset recently, I just- "
"Ssh."
It was my turn to look up in surprise. She had a finger on my lips. "Please. Don't be sad. Be happy. Be happy for me."
She brushed her soft lips against mine. My heart fluttered as we embraced, her eyelids wetting again. We broke apart. I tried to hide the sadness in my eyes, but I knew Heather could see it.
"It's true," she whispered. "They'll be here soon. Then they'll take you away, and… oh, Odium…"
And, just at that moment, Pucey, Mordaunt and Kirkby entered the room. Heather let out a strangled sob as they grabbed me by the arms.
"Men… please," is all I could whisper.
Pucey let out a laugh, a laugh so vile it boiled my blood with anger. I span round and lashed out at the three men, punching Pucey in the gut. Pucey cried out, collapsed to the floor, and I grabbed his gun. Kirkby fumbled with his, as Mordaunt shot at me and missed. I loaded my gun and shot Mordaunt first in the heart. He gave a mad scream and fell over Pucey's body. I then shot Kirkby once, twice, three times, and shot Pucey for good measure.
I spun, my blood turned cold, and saw Heather's aghast face. Her eyes were wide with shock and her hands were smacked over her mouth, which was in a big O.
"Odium… how could you?" she gasped.
But my heart was light. "Heather, we're free," I told her, smile spreading across my face.
"Oh, no, you're not," came a snarling voice.
My body froze in fear as someone entered the cell. Eastchurch the Peacekeeper stepped in, his tattooed face twisted into a horrid grin.
