Prologue
Shooting pains scream up my spine as I fall to my knees before my interrogator. He shouts at me to stand up, but I only hear the sound of my fading heartbeat and shallow breathing. Blood continues to trickle from my nose, dripping down and falling from my chin. Its bitter taste floods my mouth, and I collect it up but fail to spit it out. Instead, I just cough it up pathetically.
"Alright, Girl on Fire, you better start talking. Get up!" the Peacekeeper shouts. I hear him un-holster the pistol on his side, clicking back the hammer and holding it to the side of my head. Little does he realize, I don't care much for his empty threats. If he wants to kill me, so be it. I'm done with this struggle.
I'm shocked when a familiar voice enters the room, and all other sounds fade away. It's as if everything is gone, and time freezes. I'm whole again, my protector here to take me from this nightmare.
"Hey," he says quietly, kneeling down in front of me. I look up at him through my tears and swollen eyes. He pulls off his hood, revealing his red eyes and light brown hair. It's not often I see his face, and I still have yet to see underneath the face-wrap.
"Well," he lets his eyes fall to the ground, "I didn't expect you to quit so early. Lord knows if I was here you'd be standing beside me."
He's not real, I know he's just an illusion of my concussion. But I wish he were here, and even if he isn't, just seeing his image fills me with hope.
I can barely speak, blood splattering the floor as I do, "B-but, you're not. You're gone."
My words hurt him, I can see it in the way his eyes flicker like the dying embers of a fire. His sympathy just makes me want to curl up into a ball and weep.
"I know," he reaches to touch me but his hand stops just inches from my cheek, "Soon. Not yet, you have to stay strong."
He sits in front of me for a few moments longer before looking up at the man holding a gun to my head. He hasn't noticed Umbra, because…he doesn't exist. Instead, the man is shouting words that are mute to me. But Umbra looks worried.
He stands suddenly, "Come on, get up Katniss. You're not about to let a few bruises keep you on your knees."
I just look up at him and shake my head, "I-I-ca-"
"Don't say it!" he cuts me off, "Do it for Gale, Lucerna, Audacia, Prim - get up!" he orders. I can't protest, I want to look up at him again, but he's gone. All that remains with me are the words he left me with.
The Peacekeeper continues to hold the gun against my temple, "I'm going to enjoy this…you have 5 seconds…"
I can either accept fate or fight it once again...
He growls in my ear, "4…3…2…1…"
Ghosts and Shadows
By: Legkicker
Chapter 1: The Aftermath
Victory, recently this is the word most commonly associated with my name. Only, this 'adjective' is never uttered by me, because I do not believe I've triumphed over anything. Exiting the arena, going in front of the crowds, telling my story over and over, only to be called a 'winner'? A 'victor'?
No, how can the crowds watching consider me a victor?
Until I find out Gale's fate, I won't even toy with that idea. Lucerna as well I suppose, for I have no idea what happened to either of them.
Umbra on the other hand, I can assure he will not be joining us in our reunion. My mind mainly focuses on Gale and what happened. So many scenarios and outcomes play through my thoughts that I have to keep myself occupied or I'll completely lose it.
But when I'm not thinking about Gale, I'm wondering what Prim and my mother are doing. Surely they're ecstatic to see I will be returning. But…they also must think Gale is actually gone. And his family! How can I face them?
I can only hope that Gale has already arrived and explained to them what had actually happened. It's the only way I can return.
Lucerna, I pray she's alright as well. Especially considering Gale is at her expense, completely entrusting her to bring him home. As am I…
Hopefully she didn't have the misfortune to watch the rest of the games. I believe she'll have a hard time accepting Umbra is gone…or at least missing in action as of right now. That's what he told me, but I saw the hovercraft take his body and that was the last time I'd seen him.
Prospectively, the equivalent to that for me would be…something I'd rather not think about. But hey, at least Umbra went out the way he would have wanted. I wish he would have tried harder to find an alternative to death, but at least he died for a cause. I never cried so hard over somebody's death since my father, and it has affected me just the same.
Cato, he was such an arrogant prick. I thought Clove was bad, but Cato was pure evil. All he wanted was to fight, even until the end.
The games, Umbra told me they would never leave me. He was so right, they're all that I can think about.
Cinna was of some help, promising it would get better eventually. But how could he know? He can't, which is why I resorted to speaking with Haymitch.
Obviously, he's all the rage with the Capitol, successfully producing a victor from the poorest District in all of Panem. He drinks up the praise with a bottle of scotch. He and Effie celebrate a bit too much, always heading out to extra events and dances held around the area.
I can't keep all these thoughts bottled up inside me, it can't be healthy. Not to mention, I've also chewed my fingernails clean off. So, when I'm finally given an opportunity to approach him alone, I take it.
He's partially drunk - which would be dead drunk to the average human - walking up the stairs to his room. His unkempt blonde hair dances in his face as he shuffles up each step. Liquor stains are evident on his white undershirt, unbuttoned and revealing his rather repulsive chest.
He also wears a new pair of white slacks…also stained and noticeably wrinkled. His shoes are surprisingly not on his feet, but instead they dangle around his neck, laces tied together. What's the point of wearing shoes out to the club when he always returns with bare feet?
Oh well, I probably don't look so appealing either. My lack of sleep and showering are accompanied only by the clothing I've worn for three days straight. Lately, I've just been waiting for the trip back home, which is tomorrow morning.
My approach seems to catch him by surprise, and he flinches a little at my presence. After recognizing my face through the influence of the alcohol in his system, he gives an awkward smile.
"Hey sweetheart, what'r you doin' up so late?" he says through a slurred speech. He leans against the wall for support and takes another swig from a nearly empty bottle.
I suddenly realize I don't want to tell him. How could I? First off, he's drunk, and on top of that, this is already too much information for him to handle. What do I say? 'Hey, remember that Gale person? Yeah, well, he escaped the arena with Lucerna, just thought you should know.'
That wouldn't go over very well. There's also the possibility that our conversation may be recorded, which would put an end to everything.
He raises a brow and waits for me to answer him.
"I…need to talk to you, but not right now," I manage to get out. Still, I can't meet his eyes as I worry he may break me with a look.
Unfortunately, he doesn't accept that.
"What? I'm righ' here, we're already talkin'…" he mumbles. He squeezes his eyes shut and rubs his forehead as if he's so confused he can't think straight. Which, ironically, is probably true.
There's no real reason to stay and try to find more excuses, so I yawn, "In the morning, Haymitch."
It's my last night in the Capitol, tomorrow I wake up to present myself in one last interview before going home and seeing Gale. Hopefully…
My bed is warm, the soft fabrics and delicate mattress unmatched by the cave floor I was so accompanied to lying on. But there's something missing, something so obviously misplaced. I feel so unsafe sleeping without his body beside mine, knowing he wasn't sleeping but instead he was watching over me. I fidget around, tossing and turning for about an hour before the comfort overwhelms me and I drift off into the dream realm…
Darkness engulfs the forest, the night sky looming over me with its thousands upon thousands of shining stars, decorating the black canvas surrounding the brightly shining moon. A strong wind blows, rustling the leaves and whispering secrets of a storm approaching. Dark-grey night clouds float across the sky, drifting in front of the moon and muffling its shine.
The humid air is stirred up in the breeze, kissing my skin and sending my whole body into a tingling sensation.
I rub my arms, feeling the world around me as I become immersed inside of it.
Where am I?
The answer should be obvious, as the area seems so familiar it could be home. Only it's not, the forest tells me otherwise. The trees, the bushes, vegetation, and landscape are all a bit off.
I'm in the arena.
No wonder it seems familiar, I should've known just by the river running beside me. The water licks at the banks and babbles against the rocks. Without consciously thinking, I begin to walk along it, the ground slowly sloping upwards.
Shadows from the trees are cast across the forest floor, moving each time the wind blows. Trees and branches creek as the breeze filters through, squealing in agony.
There's another sound, coming from the woods beside me. It takes a second, but I manage to make it out. It's a voice, also very familiar. It calls my name softly, fading out to the shaking leaves.
Then I see it, the waterfall. I'm moving towards it, the wall of rain splashing down and concealing the cave behind it. Was it calling my name? No, something inside was…
An odd feeling, like a presence, falls upon me and I check all around only to find that I am alone. It's just me, rubbing my arms and trying to get the tingling to stop. My heart begins to beat faster as I approach the fall, pounding in my ears.
Could what I'm looking for be inside? I don't know if I want to find out…
But I have no control, something is pulling me in and I have to enter. I don't bother slipping around the water, and instead I walk right through it and feel the effect on my body. It's freezing, and I'm forced to propel myself inside.
I open my eyes to see…
Nothing. The cave is empty.
I gasp, waking myself up in a start. My eyes dart around the room and I get myself into a sitting position. The bed is drenched in sweat and my clothing is soaked as well. My mind still lingers on the dream, or nightmare, that I just experienced.
My eyes fall to the foot of the bed, all the darkness in the room giving off a creepy feeling that I want to go away. I want it all to go away.
The emptiness in my chest aches my heart and I feel like crying. But I won't, I'm not going to start now. If I do I'll never be able to stop.
Instead, I throw the covers off and make my way into the bathroom. I strip down and jump into the shower, touching the controls and selecting a hot setting.
The panel displays the time: 2:47 A.M.
I stand under the hot spray of water and let the warmth take over. The heat causes my skin to tingle once again, and I have to keep the temperature level or I'll start thinking about my nightmare.
Suddenly, something clatters to the floor outside of the shower doors, the distorted and fogged glass concealing what lies on the other side. I jump, startled, my heart beginning to race. I slide the door open a little and peek out to see a bottle of skin-lotion lying on the ground. I must've bumped it onto the edge of the sink after tossing my clothes beside it.
Returning to the warm mist, my ears are now straining to hear every sound possible. There's nothing more frightening than taking a shower in this place. All alone, at night…bottles of lotion committing suicide.
And I've still got a few hours before Effie Trinket runs in claiming what a 'big day' it is. All I can do is let the water rain down on me and hope it drains all the sorrow and depression along with it.
Effie bursts into my room, "Big day, Katniss! Up, up!" she shouts with excitement. My eyes are already peeled open, they've been that way for hours as I lay in my bed wide awake. She ushers me to get ready, and I obey.
She hands me off to my Prep team who fixes me up and then precedes to hand me off to Cinna. He dresses me up in an elegant light-blue dress with a pair of white shoes. After fixing up my hair and touching on my make-up, we talk for a bit before it's time for the interview.
We don't have to go far, as the camera crew is already set up just outside my room down the hall. I walk in and greet Caesar Flickerman with a light hug.
"Good to see you Katniss, nervous?" he asks with a warm smile.
I nod, "Yes, a little."
He pats my shoulder, "You'll do fine, and again, congratulations!"
For what? For letting some guy from District 10 win the games only to let me take his place at the end? For letting some guy from District 10 save my life without hesitation? For a girl from District 10 devising a plan for her and her friend just to let my friend take a spot?
I soon realize I'm not ready to do this interview, but I have no choice as they seat me in a chair across the coffee table from Caesar. A man counts down from 5 and the cameras are rolling.
"Katniss, or do you prefer Ms. Everdeen?" Caesar begins.
A pang of regret strikes in my heart, "Katniss, just Katniss."
He nods and continues on, asking me questions about my struggle and how everything went down in the arena. We cover everything from day one all the way down to the final hours. Caesar finally starts asking questions about the alliance I was in.
"Now, from day one, it was assumed you'd be working with Gale, correct?" he asks.
I nod. Caesar begins asking me questions about Gale and it's pretty easy going until he starts asking about Umbra.
He gives me a steady look of sympathy, "And you just met this, District 10 tribute, one day? When he gave you the water bottle I presume?"
The scene replays in my mind…"If you need to transport water, look no further."
"Yes, that's when I met Umbra," I say quietly. This is all wrong, usually the victors of the games are so eager, so happy to be on camera and displaying their strength.
"So that night, when he, left you," Caesar pauses to let it sink in. "What thoughts, were going through your head?"
The truth would be that I'm praying he survives the escape plan, but obviously I can't say that. So I have to start the lying game…it's pretty easy, I just use what I'm feeling and thinking right now.
"I don't know, I was blank," I begin, "I couldn't believe it, even as it was happening."
Caesar reaches over and pats my knee, "I'm sorry to hear that…but, I have to ask…you knew him better than any of us, why do you believe he killed himself?"
Because he did it to save me…and that's all that needs to cross my mind before the tears begin welling up in my eyes again. This looks bad, I can't start crying.
"He did it, because," it's hard for me to not give myself away, "it was a promise."
A/N:
Thanks to all returning readers! If you're new to my stories, this is the sequel to "Bows and Snares" which can be found on my profile! I hope this was a good opening chapter, we'll see more of our favorite characters again soon!
Full view book cover: postimage DOT org /image/lv4s7mfux/
Background music: (Hunger Games Soundtrack OST): YouTube - watch?v=RFAUzAtSz0w&list=PL7E32C4A2DFE84544&index=5&feature=plpp_video
Thanks for reading!
To all the people who are reading, reviewing, subscribing, etc. I sincerely thank you! All of it is much appreciated, and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it!
Thanks to nb1998 for the words "Stray" and "Disillusioned" as used in the description.
Chapter 2 coming soon! Est: (On or Before) 12/16/12
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- Legkicker
