Black Swan.

(This is the whole story so far)

Part 1
••••

"Zaya? Zaya where are you?" I called desperately. She was gone to long now.
"Zaya! This isn't a game anymore, come on!" I shouted now angry, didn't she get the message!? There was a loud smash from downstairs. I ran down to find a bowl smashed on the floor.
"For Gods sake! Zaya come out now." I shouted, I heard a small giggle from outside.
Shit.
I ran outside franticly searching for my little 5 year old sister.
"Zaya come in side come on" I said every now and then checking over my shoulder. I saw a flash of blonde hair from behind a tree and then a flash of a black hood.
"Zaya! Come here now! " I screamed at her running towards her pulling out my small but lethal pocket knife.
"Imogen! Help me!" shouted Zaya from behind the tree, her arms and legs flung around helplessly trying to hit her capturer.
"Stop it! She's only a child!" I screamed at the hooded figure that was holding Zaya tightly. I ran towards him knife gripped tightly in my hand. I flung my self at the capturer and he automatically let Zaya go, he span around to run but I jumped onto his back and wrestled him to the ground.
"Get off me!" he spat at me angrily,
"Sorry, but you nearly took my sis, bastard"
I held his hands onto the floor got my penknife and slit his throat quickly and cleanly. He dies instantly and hopefully painfully!
"Come on Zaya, quickly inside" I said taking her hand and walking quickly into our little hut/house.
"You kill-killed him" stammered Zaya tears in her eyes,
"Zaya you know I had to, or he would of took you."
"Thank you" she said giving me a weak smile. I embraced her tightly,
"Don't do that ok?" I said letting her go and clearing up the shattered bowl.
"I'm sorry, it was only hide and seek though"
"Hide and seek sometimes goes wrong, especially here." I sighed and slumped into a wooden chair,
"Why am I not allowed outside?" Zaya, she knew why but I guess she had to be reminded now and then, for her own safety,
"Well... You know Zaya, now up to bed, it's been a long day. I'll wake you up to let you know when I'm going hunting for dinner in the morning, ok?"
"Ok, night night Imogen"
"Good night" I said hugging her small body and kissing her forehead. She scurried up the stairs and to her dingy bedroom. I didn't like speaking about why we weren't allowed outside. But I guess I would have to speak about it sometimes!
There are people called catchers, no one knows who they are because they keep their faces covered by their black hoods and cloaks that cover their body's completely. Every one has their own personal one. No one has the same one, they lurk outside around where you live waiting for you.. Sometimes they get bored or just tired and go back to their base wherever it is. People have to go outside, to hunt to trade. To survive, but most if the tune your catcher is their waiting for you and will try to capture you. They drag you away to their base and do stuff to you. No one survives.
Ever.
You don't have a capturer since you are born, they can be assigned to you from any age. Zaya only got her's a few weeks ago. I saw him outside, and as I haven't got mine yet I knew it was her's. It's wired that I haven't got mine get. I'm 15 now, you normally first get yours at 3-7 years old. They took my Mother and Father only 2 years ago, they went out to hunt and got captured. Since that I've been looking after Zaya, I haven't had a proper childhood. I don't think I would really want one now, I'm so used to act the parent that I wouldn't know what to do.
Children play, I hunt.
Children laugh and smile, I don't have emotions for anyone except for Zaya, she makes me laugh sometimes, but it's not a proper laugh just a light one that doesn't matter much.

I felt my mind swirl as sleep got hold of me. I walked up stairs to go to my hard bed, I would need strength for hunting tomorrow.

Part 2
^^^

I woke up and rolled over to find Zaya at the side of my bed,
"Morning" said Zaya
"Good morning your up early what's wrong?" I asked Zaya who came and cuddled next to me in my cozy bed,
"I had a nightmare, that's all"
"What about?"
"The capturer, but I'm ok it was just so dark.."
"It's ok, you know they won't come in the house. Look I have to go hunting for the week now. See you later ok?" I said getting up and walking over to my pile of clothes and weapons. Zaya curled up in my bed and quickly fell back asleep. I pulled on some scruffy clothes that kept all the heat inside me. I tied the laces of my black leather boots and picked up my knife, equipment for traps (snares .etc.) and my favourite weapon, my bow and arrow, the arrows are made of the finest silver in our town. And the bow is strong wood, varnished and with a long piece of carved bone screwed onto it. On the bone my name was carved onto it. It was all together extremely expensive, my Mother had bought it for me on my 6th birthday, I had been learning to hunt pretty much all my life. It's the only reason I'm alive right now. I walked out the house and pulled out my knife ready for sudden attack. I stepped carefully all the way until I got to the edge of the forest, my place. I automatically relaxed when I stepped into the piney woods, I know I should be on full alert but you couldn't help but feel... Free! I set up some snares scattered here and there and walked to the stream that ran through the woods. When I got there I sat down and gazed into the glistening running water, it was so pretty, everything about it ha it's own life, all working together in harmony. I sat there for about 5 minutes until I heard a noise in front of me. I froze and spotted two fat rabbits. My predator instinct appeared and I pulled out an arrow and placed it on the bow, took aim and freed the tense string so that the thin arrow span through the air and into the rabbit's heart. The other one froze in shock and gave me the chance to kill it to. Two rabbits in what 30 minutes, that's tonights dinner sorted. I picked up the limp dead body's and pulled out my arrows gently. I walked back to check my four snares. Success, one more rabbit and two squirrels! I gathered them all up and swung them over my shoulder. I walked back up to the stream and sat on the rocks humming a lullaby my mother used to sing to me to make me sleep better. I ran my fingers through the icy water like it was my hair. I realised that I had a piece of elastic in my pocket and tied my hair into a messy plait that trailed down my back until it met my waist. I had emerald green eyes, chestnut hair with blind streaks in it, smooth skin which is sadly scarred and bruised. And mostly covered in mud. I scooped a handful of water up and splashed it onto my face making me slightly cleaner, I ran my finger gently over my cuts and scars. They still hurt every single one of them.
You don't want or need to know my past.
I pulled up my sleeve showing a long deep pink line going up all of my arm. I shoved my sleeve back down and started to skin my kill, all were plump and pin especially the squirrel! I washed off the bare flesh in the stream, tied a piece of string around their necks so that I could hold them freely without ruining them. Just as I got up I heard a sound, not an animal, something bigger. A human.
I pulled out my bow and set it ready with an arrow, I turned around on my heels searching every tree and bush around me until I saw a black shadow from behind a tree, I slowly walked over to the tree being as silent as possible. I backed up against the other side of the tree and peered around the corner to find a black hooded figure, I jumped out and pointed the arrow at his neck. He couldn't go anywhere or I would shoot,
"What do you want?" I demanded,
"You"
"No, I don't have a capturer yet!"
"You do now" he said in a smooth voice, I frowned and lost concentration for a few seconds and bam! He had me in a head-lock.
"Get. Off. Me!!!" I shouted kicking my legs,
"Why should I, you killed my brother!" he spat back at me, I flung my elbow into his shoulder and he fell to the ground.
"Well he was about to kill me sister! I had every right."
"Urghhhh, you have bony elbows" he moaned, I felt a rush of guilt for this boy, as he couldn't move I sat next to him and tied his hands together with a spare piece if rope from my bag,
"What's your name?" I asked
"None of your beeswax!"
"Fine I'll just leave you here for the wild dogs then." I got up and started to walk away,
"Wait! Come back. " he called, I smirked and sat back next to him.
"My names Imogen Haynes" I said
"I'm Peeta Black"
"Hello Peter" I smiled
"No it's P-E-E-T-A not Peter"
"Ok ok calm down! Can I just do something?"
"Whoa what?"
"Don't worry it won't hurt Peeta." I said chuckling quietly, I reached over to Peeta's head and pulled down his black hood. I was surprise that capturers didn't where masks or second hoods! He had blonde hair with brown streaks in it that hung over his eyes (like a surfer style!). His eyes where deep, dark blue that looked like the nights sky as the light reflected off of them. His face was built perfectly with no flaws to see. I could see through his cloak, that was flattened against his chest, that he has impressive muscles.
He was beautiful.
"Not that bad. " I lied
"Well now I can see you properly your not that bad yourself" he said attempting a shrug but failing. Hold on are we flirting?
"So your gonna kill me?"
"Well... Yeah" he frowned up at me,
"If I let you go, will you try to kill me?"
"I can't promise anything" I didn't understand what he said. I didn't trust him either but there was something about him.
"You've never killed have you?" I asked
"Of course I have! ....... No" he said sighing. I started to unwrap his wrists and took off the string,
"You don't want to do you?"
"No. "
"Then why the he'll are you in a job where you kill people?"
"Runs in the family." he propped himself up so that he faced me
"You can change it you know."
"Change what?" he asked rubbing his wrists, always keeping his eyes on me,
"You don't have to kill me. Come home with me. Help me, I help you" I saw him running it over in his mind, I felt some hope.
"But then they would have to kill me"
"Oh.... I'll give you the easy way then. Here." I handed him my bow and an arrow. He took it and frowned,
"What?" he said placing an arrow so that it was ready to kill,
"Kill me. Get it over and done with though." I sighed. I knew he couldn't I could see it in his eyes. I could see confusion on his face, I guess I was the first person to just... Not care. He brung the arrow up so that it was pointing at my chest. His hands were shaking along with the tense string. Wait? Maybe he will fire! What have I done!!!!
"I can't!" he moaned like a small child, I sighed in relief and snatched my bow back from him.
"Come on then." I said pulling him up from the ground,
"No. They will kill me, you and your sister" he said sternly.
"Not if I'm around" I smiled and moved towards him so that my face was close to his. I undid the piece of rope holding his cloak together. It fell to the ground so that Peeta was standing in a t-shirt and a pair of camouflage design jeans and black leather boots like mine.
"There much better!" I say smiling up at Peeta who is a few centimetres taller than me.
"But the other capturers will still notice me."
"Well I'm used to hunting..." I say slyly.
"Oh yeah right come on then." he says walking over the stream and towards some dark trees,
"Wrong way Peeta!" I call he rushes back and blushes. I laugh and he smiles that makes him look so beautiful it's unreal!
"Come on" I say leading him to the exit of the forest bow in Peeta's free hand. His other hand takes hold of mine. I smile to myself, maybe I do want some friends.

Part 3
********

We walked to the edge of the forest and I took my bow from Peeta in case of any sudden attacks. He was now holding the kill and my soon to get sweaty hand,
"You better let go unless you wanna die." I said slipping my hand away from his,
"Oh sorry. Where do you live?"
"Well you should know as your meant to stalk me.."
"I've only just been told and you were in the forest."
"Oh yeah.. Sorry" I blushed, we walked out from the pine trees talking quietly to each other until we were a few meters away from the house.
"So remember just be honest with Zaya, she might not like you at first. I excuse her if she doesn't" I said turning to him and smiling up at him,
"You know your probably very stunning under the layer of mud, blood and scars you know"
"Is that a compliment?" I laughed, the first time in a long while.
"Hmm I guess it is!" we started to walk closer to the house. Out of a small green bush jumped a hooded body. Again!?
"Peeta get down!" I shouted shoving him to the floor and aiming my arrow at the figure's heart. He stopped, dropped his weapon and raised his hands,
"What-what are you doing?" I stumbled, at least Peeta put up a fight!
"I've come to collect that piece of scum on the ground" the capturer said pointing towards Peeta who was slowly getting up,
"Don't your dare call him that! It's his life he chooses what he wants not you" I glared at him. An evil smirk spread on his faces,
"Hand him over or die." he said simply grinning,
"Imogen. No" said Peeta beside me,
"But he'll kill you"
"Better me than you, you have to look after Zaya"
"No Peeta don't you dare!" I shouted at him as he walked over to the figure glumly,
"There's a good little boy" he hissed, I looked at Peeta and he stared deep into my eyes. Just as the capturer went to take Peeta's arm Peeta swung a sharp silver object into the capturer's icy cold chest making him shudder to the ground bleeding badly.
"Peeta come on!" I shouted as I ran towards the house. He pulled the knife out of the limp body's chest and ran after me. We both stumbled through the door and found Zaya at the kitchen table eating an apple. I took no notice and embraced Peeta tightly, he hugged me back which felt nice.
"Don't you dare ever do that again ok?" I said into his warm shoulder,
"I don't think I'll have a chance to" he said pulling away and showing me his hand, it was covered in blood!
"Peeta! What happened?" I stammered. He pointed towards his shoulder which had been stabbed whilst he killed the hooded figure.
"Ok ok... Umm I don't know aids! Zaya you do come help!" I said frantically, Peeta's face had lost all colour and now was as pale as a sheet. Zaya ran over with her little box of medicines, bandages etc. She got to work immediately, every now and then Peeta would wince in pain but after an excruciating 10 minutes he sighed. His t-shirt was on the floor showing off a very impressive 6 pack, his shoulder was covered in blood but looked better than before.
"Thank you Zaya!" I said hugging her,
"No probs, I'll be in my room" she shrugged like a moody teenager. She skipped up stairs and I was left with the half naked Peeta. I rinsed a small sponge under the tap.
"Here" I said handing the sponge to Peeta so he could dab the blood away,
"No it's ok thanks" what!?
"But it might get infected! And it's kinda gross"
"Says the 16 year old girl who kills"
"You better believe it." I said. I took the sponge back from him and started to clean away the blood myself occasionally looking down at his 6 pack.
"What?" he asked looking at the floor,
"Nothing! " I blushed
"No what?"
"I'm just impressed"
"What of?" he blocked my way as I went to dispose of the blood covered sponge,
"Ummm...... Urrr... Your 6 pack, I have a 2 pack but your is pretty impressive" I said looking down at the floor, he lifted my chin so that I was looking up at him. He was the most perfect thing ever!
"Thank you."
"What for? Nearly getting you killed."
"No making me a better person. "
"No biggy. With a bit of persuasion and good looks it's easy!" I teased smiling up at him. He moved closer to me so that our faces were inches apart.
"I was wrong, even above the mud your beautiful" he said keeping his eyes locked with mine,
"Even though I could quite easily kill you."
"Like a black swan. Beautiful, but deadly" he said lifting my chin up to his. He placed his red lips on mine. My first kiss, pretty good experience.

Part 4
~~~~~

But it can't last. I pulled away from Peeta,
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked innocent,
"No, I just-just can't! " I stumbled sitting down on a creaky wooden stall. We've only just met! I nearly killed him, he doesn't hardly know Zaya. One more mouth to feed. He would live with us so he would have my bed I would have the floor. So many things, he is meant to kill me.
"I'm sorry Peeta. We've only been friends for what? 4 hours or something! Zaya hardly knows you." I looked up at him, he was frowning, not angry but sad.
"Your right. I should just leave, you can't look after me and Zaya" he started to walk towards the door but I ran after him and grabbed his arm,
"Don't go! I can hunt more and I don't mind sleeping on the floor! We have blankets. Zaya has already seen you with your top off so she must like you.. Peeta please." I don't know why I was so upset, and begging?! Maybe it was that he was my first real friend or that he had no other life but one thing I knew I needed him.
"Imogen all I'm going to do is cause trouble. You can't sleep on the floor and you have to keep Zaya safe." he swung open the door so that the sun blared into the dark house. He stood in the door way until I saw another capturer coming towards the house, it wasn't for Peeta by the looks of it but me or...or Zaya!
"Peeta close the door!" I screamed at him, he shook his head and walked back was down the door step, the hooded figure moved slowly forward like a shadow, Peeta was going to let him right in!
"Peeta now!" I shouted not scared but angry. I could see confusion of Peeta's face as I screamed for him to come inside and close the door. The hooded figure was only a few meters away, only one thing to do. Kill him.
I snatched up a kitchen knife and ran at the door, Peeta thought I was going to kill him so he grasped my wrists so I could only stand there as the capturer smiled and shuffled forward. Peeta oblivious.
"Let go!" I shouted into Peeta's face
"Fine I'll stay if your so upset, I didn't know.. "
"Ok ok! Just let me go.... " he didn't
"There's a capturer behind you trying to get in! Close the door now!" I shouted franticaly. Peeta swung around to face the figure who now had stopped to listen to our argument. I was still in Peeta's arms and Peeta was taller than me so I was a few centimetres away from the floor.The capturer suddenly noticed I was defenceless in Peeta's arms, pulled out an arrow and aimed for me.. He wasn't after Zaya.... He's my new capturer! The arrow span through the air toward me. Peeta spun me around so that I was to the side if him now. I felt a seeing pain in my leg, looked down and there was the arrow stuck in my calf. Capturers don't have the authority to kill you only harm and take.
Peeta slammed the door on the capturer who was running to collect me. Good thing was that capturers can't come in the houses!
"Peeta my leg." I said pointing at the bloody arrow,
"Oh my God! Imogen I'm sorry! What do I do?" he said frantically placing me on the sofa which hurt my leg even more.
"Zaya!" I attempted to shout but it only came out as a whisper of a whisper.
"Zaya... Come down here your sisters hurt!" shouted Peeta much much louder than me. I heard small footsteps running down the stairs and to me,
"Imogen can you hear me?" asked Zaya as cool as ever when it came to aids.
"Can you help her?" asked Peeta
"Yes but get her the sofa it's making the arrow deeper." my body got lifted of the sofa and onto the cold floor so that I was looking up at the ceiling.
"Ok Imogen, this is gonna hurt." Zaya said I nodded knowing it would, she slowly tugged at areas of the arrow trying to get it out. She was new to arrows I guess and didn't know what to do.
"Imogen I don't know what to do! " she finally said with tears in her eyes. I could feel my skin loose it's warmth slowly and colour.
"Imogen stay with me... Us" said Peeta kneeling next to me and taking my hand. Nice way to die, around the people I loved. I had to give them some hope.
"I'll do it" I slurred as if drunk, my free had reached for the arrow, knowing what to do. I pulled the arrow from my leg with hardly any effort at all. I heard Zaya sigh with relief. She could help now. I felt blood trickle down my leg non stop. Zaya cut away at my trouser leg exposing the wound. Her delicate hands started to work on the wound while Peeta just sat there grasping my hand tighter. I used the last of energy to motion Peeta to listen to me. He put his ear close to my mouth.
"Thank you for being my first friend. Look after Zaya" I smiled at look at his worried face. I ironed away the frown with me finger.
"You'll be fine Imogen. We can be friends or whatever you want ok?" he whispered
"Mmh hmm" I nodded slowly closing my eyes. I'm so tired, just a little sleep it won't hurt.
"Stay with us Imogen." I heard Zaya call. But I had already started to see dreams float around in my head as I fell doubtlessly asleep.