Chapter 1
I'm falling. Falling slowly and serenely through open space. I see projections of my former life, like holograms. A man with a bow and arrow, who is positioned a couple yards from an unsuspecting deer. Years later another male, this one just a boy, with a loaf of bread with an arrow stuck through it. A goat, standing awkwardly next to a beautiful little girl, whose grinning widely. Another young girl, this one lying in a bed of flowers, sleeping peacefully. And the boy whose company I craved most. Blonde and fair skinned. But I soon pass him, much against my will. And I'm still falling, and there seems to be no end. The images all soon fade, and I'm alone.
"Katniss." He whispers in my good ear. "Wake up." I blink, and look around the room. It's familiar, though I can't place. But I can place him. I nuzzle my way under his arm, and I feel safe. But reality hits me, and I shutter. "What is it?" Peeta asks. I sob.
"She's gone." I cry, he strokes my hair and hums in my ear. "Real or not real?"
He doesn't answer, but it doesn't matter since I know it. I shaking and tears are running down my face. The door opens slowly, and another face that I recognize enters.
"Oh!" Gale jumps in surprise at the sight of me and Peeta. Then he sees my face. "Oh… Katniss." He leans over to embrace me, and though I have not felt it in a long time, his heartbeat is familiar to me.
For the second time the door opens, and in walks a face, that looks even worse than mine. It's my mother, also sobbing. "Our little girl." She keeps saying. "I lost or little girl." She is not talking me… I think. It seems more likely that she's talking to my dad. And while I can not say that I know what it is like to lose a child. I'm certain that this is the pain. I remember the way it goes when you loose a loved one. First the numbness and realization. Then the pure, raw pain hits you.
And while then, as I knew it would, the picture paints itself in your head. I can plainly see that my mother is hurting, but it doesn't stop my outburst.
"Why did you let her come!" I scream at her. "She was just a little girl and you let her go to war!" My mother looks at me, pain and shock projected in her face.
"I- (sob) di-di (sob) nt (sob) know (sob)" She cries.
"Sure." I snarl. I don't know why I'm being so mean, but I can't help it. Then I start on Gale.
"Did you do it?" I scream at him, and he removes his arms from around me.
"What?" Gale splutters.
"Was it your bomb?" I say, bluntly.
"I-I don't know." He says in defeat.
My rain of terror is over. I break into a new round of harsh sobs. "Prim. Prim." I whisper.
"Katniss. Shhh." Peeta sings comfortingly. "Deep in meadow, under a pillow." I remember teaching him the song. We were in the Victors Village, and Prim was in the next room.
"Primmmmmm." The next few days are all the same. I lay in bed, and cry. I sleep with Peeta, but Gale comes around often. The red headed Avox girl brings me food but I don't eat much. I see my mother sometimes, and she seems to be in a similar condition.
A/N Sorry if the story is depressing! It takes place right after The Mockingjay. (Pre- Epilogue)