I'm in the launch room at the arena and wait until Katniss has finished showering. I braid her hair down her neck. Such a braid, like her mother has made her in District 12th. Then I help her to dress over the tight-fitting blue jumpsuit. In addition, the tributes have to wear a padded belt covered in shiny purple plastic this year. Even in this simple dress she looks beautiful. I try not to point of my feelings for her. Like I've done all the time. It would only confuse her. And now she must be news that she'll have to go in the arena again, has shocked me so much that I just sat there for days without doing anything.
My hatred for the Capitol has grown. How could they do that to her? After all that she has been through? After the first games a big part of the Katniss that I knew was destroyed . And she probably will not survive these Games. She has no chance against tributes like Finnick or Brutus. They have much more experience with the only hope is the boy, Peeta. Perhaps his love is strong enough to save her this time again. I know that Katniss has fallen in love with him too. She just don't know it. I never had a chance with her.
"What do you think?" She asks and holds out the fabric so I can examine it. I frown as I rub the material between my fingers.
"I don't know. It will offer little in the way protection from cold or water," I tell her, but I know that this stuff won't protect her against anything. I don't want to frighten her more.
"Sun?"
"Possibly. If he is treated," I try to calm her. Then I remember the mockinjay-pin.
"Oh, I almost forgot this." I take the gold pin from the bag and fixe it to the jumpsuit."My dress was fantastic last night," she says. I feel how heat rises in me. But her face tells me, that she knows that they will punish me for this act of you I'd do anything, I almost said.
Instead, I say. "I thought you might like it." I try to smile, but I think it is not particularly convincing.I take her hands in mine and we sit down. Just like last year. I wonder if she remember the same.I want to say anything. Something that takes her fear away. But I don't know the right the voice tells Katniss to prepare for he launch. I go with her to the circular metal plate and zips up the neck of her jumpsuit securely.
"Remember, girl on fire. I'm still betting on you." Then I kiss her on the forehead. I wish I could hug her now and tell her that she'll be safe. But there is no more time. So I step back and the glass cylinder slides down around lifts her chin and I'm very proud. We wait, but the metal cylinder doesn't I shake my the door opened behind me. I hear loud steps. My arms are pulled on my back and held there. Then a fist hits me to the temple. Pain explodes in my head and forces me to my knees. I feel the blood flowing down my the Peacekeepers strikes again on is it. My entire body hurts now. Everywhere flows blood. I hear Katniss screaming. But the metal-studded gloves are unmerciful. The last thing I see is Katniss' desperate face. "Please, stay alive," I want to say, but my mouth is full of blood. Then another blow hits my head and everything is black around me...
AN: I know there are grammar and spelling mistakes...