I actually don't like Peeta and I never thought I'd write a story mainly featuring him. It just seemed so out of character for him to kill someone and I had a hard time believing it.
Her name is Flaxa Clearcreek. But not like anyone cared about that.
She is thirteen years old, as no one thought to ask.
All that those watching know is that she is the girl from District Eight in the Seventy-Fourth Annual Hunger Games who is ambushed and murdered by the Careers.
"I'll go finish her and let's move on!"
Flaxa is whimpering in pain, no longer screaming, as the boy from District Twelve approaches. She's afraid to look at the terrible gaping wound in her thigh. She's managed to roll away from the fire but is severely burned.
The boy from Twelve kneels beside her, a knife in his hand. Flaxa can see him trembling, the knife shaking in his grasp. Then he drops it.
He's breathing deeply. "For Katniss," Flaxa hears him mutter, over and over again. "For Katniss. For Katniss." The knife is back in his hands, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly.
Suddenly his hold on the knife falters and the blade lands point-down in the dry earth. He squeezes his eyes shut and bows his head, continuing to mutter his mantra. Then he's silent for a while.
"What's . . . what's your name?" he asks, finally.
"F-Flaxa," the girl stutters, barely able to choke out the words. "D-District Eight."
"Peeta," he says. "I will—I'll remember you. I—I'm sorry." His chest heaves but he doesn't pick up the knife.
"I don't think I can do this," he whispers. "I don't want you in pain, but I can't do this."
"Y-you don't have to," Flaxa says to him, shuddering, struggling for breath. "I—I'm dying anyway." Her fingers twitch around until they encircle the knife's hilt.
"I will remember you," Peeta tells her once more.
As Flaxa takes up the knife, she truly wonders what death is. Surely it's better than lying here, burned and bleeding.
And Peeta, the boy from Twelve, promised to remember her. Her family back home will remember her.
She will be remembered. This is her last thought as she plunges the knife down.