"No! Gale, let me go! Please… Katniss… Gale, let me go," I sob. There's no point in trying to get out of the strong, firm hold he has on me. He carries me away from the Justice Building, away from Katniss. I stop fighting him as he puts me down next to my mother, who immediately takes my hand. I look up at Gale, to see if he's going to leave. He doesn't go, but stands next to me and my mother, expression cold and unreadable. But I can see that he's trying hard not to cry. He doesn't look down at me, just watches the stage as the boy tribute is called up. Peeta Mellark. They shake hands and disappear into the justice building.
Fear makes it hard to breathe again. I can't see Katniss, how can I know she's safe? The crowd disperses after this. Peacekeepers come to us.
"Are you the family?" he asks. Mother nods. He leads us up the steps to the stage and then into the Justice Building through two wide doors. We are led down a hall and into a room where there are people waiting; Peeta's family, I guess. There is the baker and his wife and two boys who bear striking resemblance to Peeta. I suppose that they're his brothers.
"She's just inside that door," the Peacekeeper says, motioning to a door to the right. Mother and I go inside, and Katniss turns from the window. I run to her, crying in her arms. She holds me for a moment and then she pushes me back.
"Prim," she says, firmly, in a voice that demands my attention. "Prim, I need you to listen to me. You and mom can sell the cheese from your goat and get by, if you're careful. Gale will bring you game. Don't sign up for tesserae; it's not worth putting your name in more times." She pulls me back to her in a tight embrace, stroking my hair. Then she stands and goes to mother.
"You can't fade out like you did last time," she says. Mother shakes her head.
"I won't," mother says.
"No, you can't. You're all that Prim's got left now."
"I promise I won't," mother says. Katniss embraces mother for a long moment. They break apart as the door opens.
"Time to go," the Peacekeeper says. I rush to Katniss and put my arms around her.
"No, Katniss!" I say. She hugs me and mother one last time, saying, "It's ok. I love you. I love you both, we'll be fine." The Peacekeeper forces us from the room. I look up at Gale, my eyes filled with tears. His demeanor goes from stony and cold to sad and concerned. But he doesn't have time to talk to me. He goes in to see Katniss.
He comes out about a minute later, there are tears in his eyes but he's determined that his emotions won't get the best of him. Then he takes us home.