Merica
Chapter 1
I'm in the mines, holding my father's hand. He's singing a song that I remember from my childhood. He kneels down beside me.
"You have to go now, Katniss. The mine is about to collapse," he tells me gently. I cling to him, unwilling to let go of his hand. His voice becomes more urgent: "Run. It's collapsing. We have to get out."
Finnick's lips are on mine, kissing me. And Gale is there, dressed as an Avox. I've never seen him cry before. My head hurts too much to make sense of any of this. Distant explosions remind me of my father and I repeat his words: "Run. It's collapsing. We have to get out."
My father's words echo urgently in other voices. There are shouts and footsteps. Then Gale is carrying me, running down the corridor of the arena launch area. An explosion nearly knocks him off his feet. Dirt sifts down from cracks in the ceiling and light fixtures sway. My ears are ringing. I turn my face to his shoulder and breathe through his shirt. Bodies scramble through the rubble, pulling me with them. We crash through heavy metal doors and the sky is blue.
Gale is out of breath and everyone is coughing. Another explosion showers the loading dock with shrapnel, so we take cover in the back of a supply truck. Through my half consciousness, I'm aware of bickering over who can drive. I'm wondering if anyone ever learned and then the truck lurches down a winding hill.
"You just saved all of our lives, Katniss." Finnick says. "How did you know it was going to collapse?"
"My father told me." I say, and then I remember that my father died in the mines when I was 11. My memory is playing tricks on me.
"So what's the score? Are we even yet?" It's Johanna. "I've lost count and I don't know who owes who in the life saving department."
"I know you have more kills," I don't recognize this voice, but I worry about the score in the Quarter Quell and wonder if someone killed me. I have a vague memory of Johanna on top of me with a knife … could it be real?
"You!" I turn to Johanna. "You cut me!"
"So she remembers something," Finnick grins.
"I removed your tracker, genius." Johanna holds up my arm so I can see the bleeding gash. "Then I dragged your sorry ass all the way to the platform so we could escape. I saved your life twice, Princess. You're welcome and you're welcome."
"But why?" my head is spinning and nothing makes sense.
"It wasn't out of fondness, believe me. You and Peeta are just too important to the cause."
I lose consciousness on that bumpy ride with Gale holding on to me like he'll never let go.