KissmeGoodbye//OPEN//

Melanie watched the boy as he stood up, observing his every movement. When he stood, he towered over her, and had to be at least eight or even nine years older than her. Mel did not let this intimidate her. “Not at all,” he said, answering her previous question. Mel was tongue-tied. She opened her mouth to say something, but then stopped herself. Even seven years of Capitol training hadn’t prepared her for what to say at this moment: what to say to a person that was definitely frustrated, and in pain.

“I’m…I’m a good listener,” she replied, stumbling over her words. Then, she wished to take it back, realizing, who would want to tell all of their worries to a mere eight-year old girl? Then again, Mel thought arrogantly, my abilities and my intelligence exist quite beyond my age. Suddenly, she remembered her empty stomach, and her lost energy. Maybe this boy had food. She strained her eyes to see if he had a pack on his back, or over his shoulder, but if he did, she didn’t see it. Maybe, if he did, she could somehow take it quickly and run. Then again, how far would she get, if she already felt weak enough just standing here?

Either way, she knew she had to deceive this boy if she wanted information, food, or anything else. If there was one thing she learned in the past year, it was to trust no one, but make sure everyone trusts you. Her Capitol trickery, she understood, would never leave her, no matter what side she was on. Just look innocent, she told herself as she inched a bit closer.

Melanie smiled back at him, unsure whether the smile was real or fake. When the boy pushed away the subject of his own distress, Melanie felt a little upset: finding out a few things about this boy could possibly add to her own knowledge. He seems nice enough, Melanie thought. But she knew better. Trust no one. "Sorry, you caught me at a bad time, are you hungry?" the boy asked. Melanie jumped to her senses. "Oh yes. Do you have anything?" Melanie asked eagerly.

She shivered again, and the thought of food made her mouth water. She thought of the wonderful food back in the Capitol--oh, how she would give anything to be back there. A wave of guilt passed through her. Wasn't she the one who killed a peacekeeper? Wasn't she the one who--quickly, she pushed the confusing thoughts away, and focused back on where she was now.

"By the way, what's your name?" Melanie asked curiously, inching bit by bit, closer to where the boy stood.

Melanie listened to Ghost as he talked about what happened before he found her here. She wiped the words away in her head, knowing she couldn't trust Ghost. Then, he threw her a necklace and she caught it in her hands. She stared down at it, trying to remember its significance. It seemed so long ago. Then she remembered: was this the necklace she had gotten from Lucas, her guardian? As she looked at it, it seemed so. If it was her necklace from Lucas, which she was pretty sure it was, then she wondered...did it still have the tracker in it? She doubted it did. It looked like it had been repaired, so it was probably no longer trackable. But if it did...Melanie shook her head, pushing the thoughts away.

"I was planning on going hunting for food soon...." Logan said. Melanie turned to him, placing the necklace in her pocket. "Oh....that would be great! Thanks!" She could feel a sort of ackward tension in the air as Logan said hi to Ghost. It was a bit ackward even for her. "Sorry, it's um, a long story," Melanie said to Logan as she sat down next to the tree beside her. She stared at the ground, fingering the necklace in her pocket. These woods made her feel alone, cut off from the rest of the world. She realized, even a former Capitol spy with seven years of intense and incessant training, with two people close by, could feel alone, empty, and even frightened in this forest.