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
1,075
Chapter XI
Chapter 9
He even gave Odium the pleasure of killing him in his own district.
They took us in the same tram we arrived in back to the forest on the outskirts of Seven. Eastchurch marched Odium through the woods, looking at all the trees. Soon he came to one he liked. He gave it a good pat, examined the branches, and snickered.
"Nice tree to die on, hey, Talloway?" he smirked.
Odium looked up. "The Running Tree," I mouthed to him. He nodded sadly.
Eastchurch placed down a tiny stool below a low-hanging branch. Odium stepped up onto it, his face sombre as the rough piece of rope was knotted loosely around his neck.
Then Odium said one word, clear as anything: "Run."
I didn't want to run, I wanted to stay with him, I wanted to be with him forever. Why couldn't I die too? Then I could be with Odium forever…
I stood right next to him, until Eastchurch gave his word.
"Now."
Odium gave me one last brave smile and stepped off of the stool. I fell to my knees, hands over my face, as the last breaths seeped from him. As I looked up, I saw nothing but a dead man hanged from the tree, and I burst into sobs.
The only thing that could stop me from killing myself too was sitting next to his dangling body and singing.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man…. They say who murdered... three…
Strange things did happen here- no stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree."
I improvised the song slowly, tears streaming down my face.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree,
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee…
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree."
The tears were coming thick and fast now.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run so we'd both be free,
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree.
Are you, are you coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope… side by side with me
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the… Hanging Tree…"
They took us in the same tram we arrived in back to the forest on the outskirts of Seven. Eastchurch marched Odium through the woods, looking at all the trees. Soon he came to one he liked. He gave it a good pat, examined the branches, and snickered.
"Nice tree to die on, hey, Talloway?" he smirked.
Odium looked up. "The Running Tree," I mouthed to him. He nodded sadly.
Eastchurch placed down a tiny stool below a low-hanging branch. Odium stepped up onto it, his face sombre as the rough piece of rope was knotted loosely around his neck.
Then Odium said one word, clear as anything: "Run."
I didn't want to run, I wanted to stay with him, I wanted to be with him forever. Why couldn't I die too? Then I could be with Odium forever…
I stood right next to him, until Eastchurch gave his word.
"Now."
Odium gave me one last brave smile and stepped off of the stool. I fell to my knees, hands over my face, as the last breaths seeped from him. As I looked up, I saw nothing but a dead man hanged from the tree, and I burst into sobs.
The only thing that could stop me from killing myself too was sitting next to his dangling body and singing.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man…. They say who murdered... three…
Strange things did happen here- no stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree."
I improvised the song slowly, tears streaming down my face.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree,
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee…
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree."
The tears were coming thick and fast now.
"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run so we'd both be free,
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be,
If we met at midnight in the Running Tree.
Are you, are you coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of rope… side by side with me
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be
If we met at midnight in the… Hanging Tree…"
