The Hunger Games - Surviving The Storm - book 3

Chapter 9

Over the next few days Tierney grew sicker and ended up bedridden for several days after. Atleast three times a day I would place her in the tea bath to draw out any poison that may been sweeping through her body but there was none.

This meant one thing, the damage was being done somewhere else. It could be several things, her kidneys or liver failing. Her brain being damaged, or even her lungs or heart. I was worried and it was showing clearly on my face. This child before me could possibly die.

It had been several months since she had gotten sick and nothing had changed, only grew worse. I hardly ever left Tierney's bedroom and I basically left Jackson to do everything that needed to be done. I felt bad leaving him with all our meetings and organizations but he never complained.

On days that were good and Tierney wasn't in pain I would fix breakfast for him and sit down with him and we would eat together. By lunch time I would have a meal waiting for him but I would be upstairs tending to Tierney and feeding her soup. By dinner time when he returned home for the day I had him a simple dinner waiting on the stove but I was back upstairs.

On the more hectic days with Tierney when she was vomiting, screaming, and writhing in pain I would be by her side non stop. These were a few of the many days I was glad I had my mother with us. She cooked and my father helped her clean afterwards. I was grateful.

Today was one of those good days for Tierney. She lay in her bed on her side near the edge as I was putting on a fitted sheet. She had recently vomited a bit so I needed to change them. As I finished her bed and rolled her gently onto her back near the middle she smiled at me feebly.

"Have you picked out my spot yet?" She whispered. Her voice cracked at the slightest words.

I carefully searched her face as saw the despair that had become of her. Her skin was so pale that it was transparent, her lips were oddly colored and cracked. Under her eyes were the darkest of circles and her face was covered in a blanket of sweat.

"What do you mean?" I asked her as I took her hand and rubbed it gently.

Tierney tensed up and began shaking for a few minutes before she moaned in pain and then sighed as she relaxed a little bit.

"My grave..." She coughed "Did you pick it out yet." She coughed again but harder, a bit of blood came out into her hand. "I'm not going to make it mom. I'm going to die." She coughed again and this time a bit of vomit and blood came out.

I tilted her on her side so she wouldn't choak and once she was finished I laid her back down.

"I'm getting bad." She whispered.

A tear fell down the right side of my face as I knew she was right. There was only so much that treatments and medicine can do even in the Capitol. Her body's injuries were beyond healing power. She was slowly slipping away and I couldn't bring her back this time.

Tierney's hand touched my face and I held it there.

"Sing for me" She said breathlessly.

Tears quickly filled my eyes. Singing. It reminded me of Rue's death in the recap of the Hunger Games that my mother and father played a part in. Rue had died in her arms as she sung to her. But I didn't want to deny her what could possibly be her last wish.

I began humming before I broke into words.

"

You're not alone, together we stand

I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand

When it gets cold and it feels like the end

There's no place to go, you know I won't give in

No, I won't give in" I took her hand and kissed it.

"Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

There's nothing you could say, nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through"

I paused briefly and saw that Tierney had resorted to laying with her eyes clothes. On her face was a smile and she was humming along, or atleast trying to. Tears began falling again and I continued singing.

"So far away, I wish you were here

Before it's too late this could all disappear

Before the door's closed and it comes to an end

With you by my side I will fight and defend

I'll fight and defend" I finished the last line with a whisper.

Tierney had fallen asleep. I lowered her hand to her chest and pulled the blanket up over her so she wouldn't get cold. Slowly I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her head.

"Sleep well love, you will feel better soon."

I rose to my feet and turned towards the door. Standing right outside the room was my mother she was crying. This brought me to tears again and I moved over to embrace her.

"Momma, Tierney is sick." I cried as I pulled myself closer to her.

"How sick?" She asked me.

"If she keeps deteriorating like she is she won't live to see the next week. Whatever they did to her has ruined her completely her entire body is shutting down." I whimpered.

My mother gripped my hand tightly and then placed her hand on my stomach.

"Please don't let this stress take you over you have a mother and father who love you a husband who needs you and a baby on the way who is going to need her mother. Just help Tierney's final days comforting." She kissed me and left.

I stared back at the bed and saw Tierney shaking again in her sleep. Her final days were going to be more than just comforting. Things had to be special.