The Return
(Chapter One)
There I was. Standing in the open town square of District 12. The sun was shining down on me and I could feel the immense heat that was radiating from it. I didn't dare move my hand to wipe the sweat off my brow. Instead, I gripped Peeta's hand tightly. We both look at each other as we see a strange woman appear on the stage set up in front of us. This woman was no Effie Trinket but she did resemble her in some ways. She too had a wig upon her head but instead it was in the shape of a bob and it was a very bright green, possibly lime. We watched as she reached up and tapped the microphone with her long green and gold manicured finger.
"Good afternoon citizens of District 12. My name is Valeria Trinket. As all of you know, today is reaping day! Now, you all know our history and why we have resorted to yet another Hunger Games."
I wanted to scream right then and there. It had all been a lie. District 13 never meant to bring peace to Panem. Instead, they wanted to take down the Capitol since it had been the one to destroy it and replace it. After years in hiding, the rebellion was a success and the Capitol was overthrown. Panem couldn't help but rejoice...that is, until we all discovered that their main plot was to simply replace the Capitol. Apparently, District 13 was angry with us for not helping them once they started the first rebellion before they were destroyed so I guess this is their way of taking it out on us. But this time, these games do not work as they used to. The games have become even sicker and vile than they used to be. Not only is a boy and girl tribute chosen from each district but whatever child is chosen, their mother and father must compete with them. The games have now grown to an enormous size but as always, there is only one victor.
"Well as always, let us start with the girls." said Valeria as she walked over to the large container of names.
I grabbed Peeta's hand tighter. Praying that it wasn't her name. All of District 12 watched in silence as she tore open the slip and walked back towards the microphone.
"Now, who do we have here?" She cleared her throat. "Aster Primrose Mellark. Come on up, dear! Stand right here!"
"Peeta..." I manage to choke this out as I look forward and see my daughter, our daughter, with her lose brown curls slowly making her way to the stage.
"And last but not least, the boys!" Valeria again makes her way towards the boys names and back. "Blaise Finnick Mellark. This way, dear!"
And it was at that moment that I lost it. The sound of Peeta screaming my name and running after me did not matter to me. I kept running until both of my children were in my arms. I had done everything in my power to keep them from having to participate in these games. Yes, there wasn't much that I could do but that didn't stop me from trying. Some part of me had this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that this was arranged by District 13. Both of my children called to the games, that kind of thing just doesn't happen. Peeta was now with us, his arms wrapped around us all and before I knew it, we were being hauled off into a small room.
"This was arranged!" I scream at Peeta as he holds Blaise close in his lap, stroking his blond curls and lightly rubbing Aster's back as silent tears stream down her face. "This was all Paylor and the District! It some kind of sick amusement and punishment for me killing Coin. Now that Blaise is twelve and of age they've chosen our family...what are we going to do, Peeta?"
I watch through teary eyes but do not dare cry in front of my children as Peeta sets Blaise down and walks over to me. I can't cry in front of them. Every night they hear the screaming from my nightmares, they can't watch me fall apart even more.
"Katniss..." says Peeta softly as he cups my face and uses his thumb to stroke my cheek, "Just calm down. We'll figure this out."
"Figure this out?" I snap back. "We are going into an arena with our children to fight to the death with only one victor and you say we'll figure this out? This can't be like our games Peeta. We can't defy them this time and cheat our way into more than one winner! These people will be even more harsh than Snow and his stupid officials!"
I catch Aster making her way over to Blaise out of the corner of my eye and watch as she hugs him and starts to talk to him. She is so good with him, like I was with Prim. There is not a huge age difference between Aster and Blaise. She is fourteen and he is twelve. It's strange to look at them because it is like looking at miniature versions of Peeta and myself. Blaise resembles Peeta but has my dark eyes and Aster resembles me but has Peeta's bright blue eyes. I took me forever to agree to having children but now that I have them, I would not trade them for the world.
"It's okay Blaise. Mom and Dad are champions at this kind of stuff and we are all going to be fine! Once all of this is over, we'll get to come back home and do all of the things we love like hunting, baking, dancing, and more! But you have to be strong, okay?" says Aster as she kneels in front of Blaise. "Can you do that for me and mom and dad?"
"I'll try but...I'm scared, Aster. I'm scared of losing anyone and...dying."
At that moment, Peeta and I watch as Aster pulls Blaise into a hug. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. None of us are. We're going to make it out of this. Do you hear me? I need you to trust me."
"I do..." whispers Blaise.
Aster is like me with not only her looks, but her strength. She always holds it together unlike Blaise who is overly emotional at times. Sometimes I wonder how he is my child but he takes after his father. They both are kind and gentle souls. While Aster is strong like me, I can't help but notice the small tears that are running down her face. Aster never cries.
Peeta then walks over to them and pulls them both onto his lap. "I want both of you to listen to me. Your mother and I love you both. I know that you are both scared but I want you to know that we are going to protect you. Always."
"Always..." I whisper as I sit down on the foot stool in front of Peeta's chair.
"Are you scared?" asks Blaise. His dark eyes are fixated on me.
"No. Do you want to know why?" I ask and watch as he nods his head. "I'm not scared because I know that we can win this thing. There is only supposed to be one winner but I promise you, us Mellark's are going to win this thing and all come out alive. I love you and your sister."
"And we love you." says Aster as she reaches out and holds my hand.
It only takes about thirty seconds to interrupt our last embrace and happy moment as a family. I can see the fear in my childrens faces as guards take them away from me and haul them onto train much like the one I've ridden to the Capitol and for the Victory Tour. Blaise starts to whimper.
"Blaise, it's alright!" I cry. "They're only taking you to your room so that you can get ready. They're not going to hurt you!"
Aster is right next to him as she grabs his hand. "Be calm. Remember, you have to trust me. We're going to be alright. Even mom said so."
The two of them are gone from my sight and then my strong outer shell fades. My legs go weak underneath me and I fall to the ground.
"Katniss!" I can hear Peeta's voice as he sits on the ground holding me. "You have to be strong for them."
"That's our children, Peeta. I don't want them to end up like us...terrified to sleep and scared that they might lose control of themselves over the memories that creep up on them. I swore that I would protect them...I've failed them."
"No. You have not failed them. You're the most wonderful mother that I know. There was nothing that you could do to keep this from happening. We are both going to continue to not fail them because we're all coming out of that arena alive." says Peeta as he rocks me in his arms.
"But how? We'll only suffer for defying District 13.."
Peeta shakes his head and I look up to see him staring hard out the window. "We'll have to outsmart them then. We've done it before and we can do it again. Do you trust me?"
I tell him, "Yes."
"Do you love me?"
"Of course." I whisper.
"That's all I needed to hear." he whispers back as he leans down and kisses my lips. That feeling that I got the first time I kissed for real happens all of the time now.
"Now lets get changed for dinner and get ready to talk strategy." he says as he picks me up and walks me to the door where the guards are waiting for us.
"Let the 100th Hunger Games begin..." I think.