Peeta's POV:

I was running in the jungle, towards the soon-to-be electrified tree. I heard Katniss call my name. I called out, and ran as fast as my prosthetic leg would carry me. Just before I was about to reach Katniss, I saw her shoot an arrow in a small chink in the forcefield. What ensued was surreal. The dome blew out into a flurry of glimmering shards. I caught a glimpse of the night sky just before falling through the ground. As I hit the floor, I blacked out.

I woke up in a dark room. The only thing I could remember was the last time I was awake, I was still in the arena. I then looked to my surroundings. My eyes slowly got used to the low level of light. I noticed that there were two other people with me, lying on the floor, breathing slowly. I tried to identify them. They were both women. One had short hair and, most of all, seemed very muscular for her size. She didn't have the shape of a body-builder but still, she was very well trained. Her traits made me identify her as Johanna Mason. The other one seemed very frail. I remembered seeing her during the last reaping, at district four. She was the one for who Mags volunteered. Her name took a little more time than Johanna's to come back in my mind. She was Annie Cresta, the mad girl from district 4.

Both were sleeping. I suddenly saw an opening in the wall. I heard footsteps and felt hands strongly grip my arms. I wanted to scream, but I didn't as I didn't want to wake the women up, to scare them. I got carried out of the cell, towards a small room, highly guarded. I was pushed in it so hard it made me fall to the ground. As I stood up, I saw President Snow waiting for me. He was the last person I wanted to see.

He started to talk, "Hello Mr. Mellark. It is a pleasure to see you again. Would you have the indulgence to tell me about what you know about the rebellion?"

I didn't know instantly what to reply. I didn't know anything about what was going on. The only thing I cared about was to know if Katniss was safe, and not imprisoned. I told him that I knew nothing. The look on his face signified that he didn't believe a word of what I just told him. That it couldn't be possible that I had no clue about what was going on.

Before I could do anything they brought Johanna in the secret chamber. Some peacekeepers tied her arms and legs together. They lifted her up and she was then brought into a water basin. She was panic-stricken as soon as she was entirely immersed. Snow threw a look to a soldier who was close to a console. After a light nod, he raised a lever. Johanna's reaction was immediate. She stiffened and then started to be more and more panicky. She was literally shaking like a leaf.

I couldn't help but feel tears welding up my eyes. I had no clue about what happened out there, out of the building I was held in. I couldn't help my friend and that was one of the worst feelings I knew. They are supposed to know that they can count on you, and I felt that I betrayed them by not being able to help them. As the President saw the look of horror on my face, he smiled wickedly. Snow had somewhere else for me to be, though. I was supposed to meet with Portia in order to get prepared for an interview. She knew that I wasn't supposed to know, but, after making sure the room was safe, without any bugs, she told me about what was going on in the rest of Panem. She also informed me about the role I was supposed to play. I was literally shocked. How could I help the Capitol by trying to avoid the conflict, by bringing the people to a cease-fire?

I was finally ready to go on the stage. As I walked through the hall, Portia followed me silently. I was about to go onto the stage for my interview with Caesar Flickerman, when Portia pulled me back and whispered, "Be careful what you say." I nodded to signify my comprehension and I joined the man with the lilac-dyed hair who wore his usual navy blue suit covered with light bulbs.