Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games. But please enjoy the story anyway :)
Sunlight streams through the window of my old rooms at the training center. I was taken here after the arena of my second game was destroyed by the rebels so they could rescue us. Well rescue Katniss really, they kinda left me lying on the ground to be pulled up by the Capitol hovercars. Not that anything has happened to me in the past week since the disastrous end to the games. I was rushed to the hospital and when I was better they stuck me in this room and no one has bothered me since.
I watch the clouds go by in the sky mostly because I have nothing better to do. While it's ridiculous, I am really, really bored. I know I should be afraid of what President Snow will eventually do to me or be angry that the rebels didn't rescue me but after five days of nothing I can only bring myself to be bored.
I have been building giant card houses with the decks of cards I found in the back of a drawer. The one that is on my table is my biggest yet. The only other person I've seen is the Avox girl, Lavinia. She brings my food and then she leaves.
I wonder when this will end, this peace, this boredom. It's obvious to everyone that Katniss and I knew nothing about the rebels or District 13 or anything. I had suspected but I knew nothing for sure. I think that's why I am not being tortured now, because there is nothing from me to find out.
I wonder how Katniss is. In all the chaos of the rebel's rescue I lost her. I hope she is fine and not too injured. I only had a few cuts from Enobaria and Brutus but Katniss was a lot closer to the explosion, since she started it.
I sigh. Katniss is always starting something. She just can't help it I think, it's her nature to start trouble. I'm sure the rebels will do everything they can to help her since she is their Mockingjay, but I can't help worrying.
While I'm sitting and staring out the window, watching the coming sunset, I hear the door opening behind me. I turn around. Standing in the doorway is a woman dressed in a white lab coat. Behind her is Lavinia, looking very scared.
"Hello Peeta," she says pleasantly, "May I come in?" Before I can answer the woman comes and sits in the chair next to me by the window.
She is terrifying. Her face is thin and wolf-like and her eyes are bottomless black pits. I resist the urge to flee from her predator persona.
"Hello Peeta," she says again, smiling at me, revealing fangs for teeth. I try not to flinch.
"I'm Dr. West. I work for President Snow." She explains, "I am here to deliver a request for the President." Dr. West says charmingly.
This is when I start to panic. Any "request" from President Snow can't be good.
"Okay, what is it?" I ask, trying to remain calm.
Dr. West smiles again. "He would like, if you feel up to it, for you to do an interview with Caesar Flickerman."
"Oh, and what would this interview be about?" I ask, though I have a pretty good idea.
"Just about the quarter quell and your thoughts on it," Dr. West say casually.
"That's it?" I say unbelievingly. Snow has something else in mind and this woman is toying with me, drawing out this little meeting. Every minute that passes I am getting more and more freaked out by her presence. Everything about her screams danger and she knows it.
"Well no," Dr. West replies, "Actually I am here to make a deal with you."
"A deal?" I say doubtfully.
"More of an order," she concedes, "You go and do the interview and on air for everyone to hear call for a cease-fire."
A cease-fire. If I were to do that the rebels wouldn't stand a chance. I know what sort of influence I can have over people. If there is a cease-fire the rebels would lose and the Capitol would win. The districts would go one being treated like before or worse and the Hunger Games would continue. That can't happen. The rebels must win this war.
"No, I won't do it," I say firmly, looking at Dr. West. She smiles happily.
"Then I guess there is no reason for you to be here, languishing in this relative comfort," she laughs and continues, "I told Snow you would say no, but he seems to think you might do it."
"Well he is wrong. I would never do that," as I say it I spy Lavinia out of the corner of my eye, still standing by the door, discreetly shaking her head at me, terror in her eyes.
I look away from her and watch Dr. West stand up to leave. "I think you would do for Katniss." She replies as she walks to the door.
"I will be back in the morning and you can give me your final answer then," she says and then she is gone with Lavinia behind her.
Dr. West is right. I would do anything for Katniss and I have proven that over and over again. But would I go against the rebels for her? The districts only hope of freedom? The answer is yes, I would. I have to anything possible to save her. This was a promise I made to myself when I went into the first Hunger Games, then again during the second. I love her more than anything.
But if I do call for the cease-fire can I believe any promise that Snow makes to me though? He hates her as much as I love her. He would love to kill her. So no, I can't believe any promise that keeps Katniss safe. But I can't just do nothing. This is going to be a long night and meeting Dr. West unnerved me. The woman is terrifying and very obviously evil. Lavinia seemed scared to death of her as well.
I don't sleep tonight. Not like I would sleep anyway with the nightmares but I don't even try. I pace back and forth in my room trying to decide whether and not to call for the cease-fire. If I do the rebels are doomed and Katniss may not be. If I don't the rebels will continue on and Katniss and I will be doomed to certain painful death.
By the time the sun begins to rise I have made my decision. I wait impatiently for Dr. West to return.
"I'll do it," I say the moment she walks in the door, not bothering with false pleasantries.
"Good," Dr. West says, "I knew you would see reason. Well I had better go get your prep team, you're going to need it, it looks like you didn't sleep at all last night." She says wickedly as she turns to leave.
"But if I do this, if I call for the cease-fire, Katniss lives," I tell her. She turns back around to look at me.
"Katniss lives," I repeat, "When this is all over Katniss and I get to go home to District 12."
"They didn't tell you?" she says, looking utterly pleased with what she is about to say.
"Peeta, District 12 is gone, along with everyone in it." And with that she leaves the room.