"Katniss"

"Katniss"

I open my eyes to find myself in a grassy clearing. The sky is blue and the sun is bright and there are flowers all around me. It's peaceful here, and I wonder how I got here.

"Katniss," the voice is louder now. I whip around to see where it's coming from but I am alone.

"Katniss," the voice is sweet and clear, almost like a child's. Almost like..

"Katniss," the voice shrieks and I have just enough time to turn when I see her, spear through her stomach, the light leaving her eyes.

"Rue," I call, although there is nothing I can do. I've relived this moment a thousand times and every time she is beyond saving.

I go to her, and like every time before this, she asks me to sing for her.

"Yes, yes of course I'll sing for you," I say, and even though I've done this before it doesn't hurt any less.

Soft but clear I start, "Deep in the meadow, under the willow."

"A bed of grass a soft green pillow.

Lay down your head, and close your eyes, and when again they open the sun will rise."

At this point she's joined in singing, which is unusual but calming.

"Here it's safe, and here it's warm."

I have to close my eyes because I'm crying.

"Here the daisies guard you from every harm. Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true."

Suddenly she's stopped singing. At first I think she's gone, but I open my eyes and she's staring right at me. Her eyes are wide with fear and I whip around.

I see her just as Rue whispers my name. She draws her bow back and tears prick my eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask her.

She doesn't answer and I notice her eyes aren't the same. They are jet black instead of her usual light blue. I'm about to call to her but instead I scream as her arrow pierces my heart.

I jump up and Peeta is there beside me in bed.

"Katniss it's okay. Katniss it was just a dream. You're okay. I'm here."

I stop screaming but it still takes me a while to calm down. I keep reliving the dream. Rue's face is fresh in my mind.

Peeta is holding me and my breathing is slowing. On his arms I can smell cinnamon and paint. I wonder when he was painting.

"Are you ready?" He asks. Every time one of us wakes up from a nightmare we recite the same thing, to remind us of what we have and where we are. I nod.

"My name is Katniss Mellark. I am 23 years old. I am married to Peeta Mellark. We've been married for three years. We live in District 12. We are safe. The war has been over for five years. We are free now. There is no more Games and there is no President Snow," I say with ease, I say this quite frequently considering I have a nightmare almost every night.

"Good Katniss. Do you want to talk about it?" He asks. I nod. I tell him about the dream and he listens. When I'm done he asks who shot me. I look down, afraid to look in his eyes when I tell him. I pause, and he grabs my hand and rubs circles on it.

"Prim," I finally say so quietly only he can hear, although it doesn't matter because we are alone in our room. He doesn't reply and instead pulls me close. We stay like that for a long time and soon I notice it's dawn.

"Peeta, you should get ready for work," Peeta owns the new bakery which is in the same spot as the old one. He has three other boys working for him, but two are still in school and only work in the afternoon. The other man is from District 13 and works on weekends. The bakery is his second job. Peeta always opens the store on weekdays and has the weekends off.

"Okay Katniss," he kisses me and gets out of bed to take a shower. I climb out of bed to make breakfast for him. I walk downstairs thinking about if he'd want bacon or sausage with his eggs. I hear the shower turn off as I finish making breakfast (I figured he'd want bacon) and lay it on the table. I go to clean up when I notice the white envelope on the counter. It's the same one we get every year and Haymitch must've dropped it off. I ignore it for now and clean up the pan. Peeta comes downstairs in his work clothes and kisses me before sitting down to eat. Since the war, he's gained more muscle than he's ever had and his skin is tanner from working in the sun to rebuild the district. Not to mention the six pack he has. He's very handsome, if I do say so myself.

I suddenly remember the letter and hand it to Peeta. We already know what it says so there's no point in opening it but he does anyway.

"To Mr. And Mrs. Peeta Mellark,

We would like you to attend the 5th annual Victory Banquet. All expenses will be covered by the Capitol. A train will arrive in District 12 on Sunday to collect you and Mr. Abernathy. You will be escorted to the Gateway Hotel where you will stay on the same floor as our other honorary guests. On Tuesday night at five o clock the banquet will be held. You will receive further instructions when you arrive. We look forward to seeing you both.

Sincerely,

President Paylor"

When Peeta finishes reading the letter he looks up at me. Today is Friday, we are leaving in two days.

"Katniss..." He starts, and I notice he sounds exasperated.

"I don't want to go," I reply. He just nods.

"I know you don't. But you know you can't skip this. They haven't let you skip it for the past five years," he says and I know he's right. I was the mockingjay, and they can't have their Victory Banquet without the mockingjay.

"I know," I say quietly. And I do. There's no way I can get out of this.

"Come eat. Will you pack while I'm at the bakery?" He asks out of courtesy. Of course he know I'll pack.

I sit down and look into his eyes.

"Yes Peeta," I say and I'm certain he can see the pain in my eyes.