Set after Mockingjay. Katniss and her daughter go to explore the mysterious and dangerous Garden of Roses. Along the way they meet old friends and old enemies.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They were originally created by Suzanne Collins
The garden of roses. That's what they call it. Anyone who goes there never comes back. Mum and Dad refuse to tell me what happened to them before I was born, but I know something happened because of the way the people in my town look at me. However, Uncle Gale is another story. Every time he comes over, which by the way isn't often, he tells me these stories of what happened. He once told me of this old president called Snow who was 'very bad'. Uncle Gale told me Snow was he one who owned the Garden of roses, he also told me of this other old president lady, who was even worse than him, President Coin. My Mum killed her. I tried to make Mum tell me about what happened, but she wouldn't tell me, she said 'I don't want you to know'. What doesn't she want me to know?! Uncle Gale won't even tell me what happened to her more recently but he told me how it started. He said that one day, there was this thing called the reaping, where one girl and one boy are picked to fight to the death in an arena with many other boys and girl. Basically, he said that my Mum and my Dad were picked to do it. I don't believe they were picked, there is no way from the way everyone looks at them, they look at them as if they are merciless gods or something. But anyway, they were 'picked' and went to this other place called the Capitol where they were prepared for the games. He won't tell me what happened in the games because he said' That's your Mother and Farther place to say, not mine." Blah, Blah, blah. I need to know! Vaguely he told me of the events that followed, I kind of tuned out because it was all, War this, and he killed him that, but when I got interested again was when he started saying about what President Snow did to my Mum and Dad, he also said how precious his rose garden was to him. Then my Mum came looking for me, shooed Uncle Gale away and that sort of thing. Since neither my Mum or my Dad will tell me about President Snow and his Garden of Roses, I am going to find out for myself.
Waiting until the cover of darkness, I slip on my favourite jumper and most comfortable trousers, before walking down the golden staircase of our house and pushing open the door, like a mouse. But before I could even take a step outside the door, a silvery voice whispered from behind me
"Where are you going, Darling?" . Spinning round, I see my Mother sitting at the
gold encrusted table with a cup of caramel tea in her hands,
"I was going to see one of my friends" I lie,
"Lies. Don't you think I have heard enough lies to know when someone is lying" She
spoke again, her voice still still and cold like ice,
"Where were you going, Rue" She demanded in a calm voice. Taking a seat huffily,
"Fine. I was going to see the Garden of Roses." I say grumpily, I am going to be
in so much trouble this time, but I keep going "I need to know ,Mum. I need to know why everyone looks at you like you saved the world or they are scared of you. I need to know what Uncle Gale keeps going on about. Please." I beg her and when she replies I am not sure if it to my favour or not.
"I understand, come with me." She say in a voice like silk as she puts down her tea
and begins to walk to the front door. Before leaving she turns to the shadows.
"Peeta, darling, it's time." As she finishes her sentence, I see my Dad coming
out of the shadows. Shocked I stumble back,
"How?!" I ask stunned
"Rue, dear, we have tried to been in the shadows our whole lives, we have experience."
He replied in a soft voice. Before I can reply creeping footsteps coming down the staircase. It's my little brother, Finnick, and as he comes through the door He says in a worried voice
"Mum, where are you going?". Going over to him she starts stroking his
golden hair and replies gently
"Don't worry, my little Sugar Cube, me and Rue are just going for a little walk, girl stuff you know." She says with a smile
"Stay with Dad, he'll look after you for a bit" Finnick looks around accusingly
"Can I eat food?" He asks Dad,
"I have a special supply of chocolate and biscuits downstairs if you want" Dad says
gesturing to the basement, Finnicks still looks suspicious
"I have an old TV down there as well" Dad continues before he whispers badly
"It's like my Man cave" he says with a little wink, "ugh, fine" Finnick says as they
walk off to the basement.
"Boys" Mum says giggling, "Now Rue how about that walk?" Mum says as she struts
out the door and quickly I follow behind her. Walking for what seems forever, we come to a forest. I see my Mum reaching into a tree stump and pulling something out.
"Mum, what are you doing?" I ask inquisitively. Clutched in her hand is a bow, made
out of a beautiful brown material, handing it to me, I stand there astonished, frozen to the spot, while she dashes off. Returning within what seems milliseconds, she now clutches another bow and two sheaths of arrows.
"Mum, I'm confused" I say bamboozled, she turns to me with the biggest grin on her
face.
"I have been wanting to do this for so long. I just haven't had an excuse before."
She say admirably.
"Do what, mum?" I ask her still confused
"Hunt of course".