This is my first story on fanfiction so let me know what you guys think! I would love to hear your comments!
I own nothing, credit goes to Suzanne Collins.
Ding! Ding! I look at the jungle surrounding me, each sector encasing a horror that could end my life, or Peeta's. I have to find Peeta. Why did I allow them to separate us? Ding! Ding! Tick tock this is a clock. The bell chimes out over the arena, soon the lightning will hit the tree.
"PEETA!"
Ding! Ding! I stumble through to jungle trying to find him.
"PEETA!" Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding…...
Ding! Ding! I awake in a panic, blinded by the mid morning sun. I open my eyes just enough to assure myself that I am in my room in district twelve, not in the arena. Taking a deep breath, my heart rate slows. It was only a dream. But as usual, the knowledge that the Hunger Games are over does nothing to keep the nightmares from plaguing my sleep. They come, every night, like clockwork.
It has been six months since the war has ended. Under Paylor's guidance Panem is beginning to heal. The districts are rebuilding themselves to be self-sufficient and trade has been established in place of quotas. Kids are learning different trades. Some learn medicine, others agriculture. They teach whatever is needed to keep our new country afloat. Maybe Plutarch was right; this is the sweet period, when everyone is determined to be better. Perhaps we can revert to the old days where there was enough for everyone. They tell us that kids won't have to starve because of the greed of others. There will be no more war. We might be able to live in peace. They say that this could be it; the evolution of mankind. I sigh. I wish that I could think that way but two too many trips to the Hunger Games has the tendency to turn one into a permanent pacifist.
The doorbell rings again as I make my way down the stairs. Curiosity overcoming my annoyance, I puzzle at who could be on the other side of the door. I very rarely get visitors anymore. The after war media frenzy died down four months ago so now the only people who show up on my door step are Greasy Sae and the occasional child who was dared to ring the Mockingjay's doorbell. Oh, and Peeta, but he doesn't bother with anything as formal as doorbells. He just lets himself in. As I open the door I immediately recognize the boys in front of me to be Paylor's soldiers. They wear the uniform of the rebels along with a special pin denoting their direct involvement in the post war effort. Aside from the matching uniforms they are complete opposites. One is dark, short, and wears a smile that is rarely seen on anyone that saw the horrors of war. The other is tall and fair but has an expression far more appropriate for a man with his occupation. Looking at them I recall that the army has been traveling to all the districts, aiding in anyway they are needed, but for the life of me I cannot imagine why they are paying me a visit.
"Katniss Everdeen?" the short one asks, the gleeful expression still gracing his features.
"Yes," I respond wearily. This time it is the tall one that speaks.
"The reason we are here Ms. Everdeen, is because it appears that as a settlement of war, all of the victors took a vote. A vote to determine how the capital people were to be tried." I look back at him, with what I can only presume is a confused look because he speaks again.
" As you are aware this vote agreed on the punishment fit for the capital people. And seeing how the country is now stable, it is time for the capital to pay for their actions." What he is saying does not make any sense. I search my brain for this so called vote and yet nothing is coming to mind. I know that there was a period that I was grief stricken by Prim's death. But I remember very little from this time. The only thing that I remember clearly is shooting an arrow through Coin's heart, and President Snow's bubbling laughter and he was trampled to death.
"Ms. Everdeen?" asks the fair one, bringing me out of my flashback, "Do you understand what I am saying?" I begin to shake my head no when a voice comes from behind the soldiers. I look and see Peeta, accompanied by two soldiers like my own. He walks up the remainder of the path to my door and stops before me.
"Katniss," he says looking at me. My eyes meet his but instead of the pure loving gaze that I've grown so used to, I find it mixed with hard, fierce anger. I break his stare and notice a small scar that runs above his crystal blue eyes. I remember that scar. It came from the same weapon that took my little sister from me. I look back into Peeta's angry gaze and the memory comes flooding back complemented by Peeta's words.
"We voted on the capital's punishment Katniss. We voted and the majority decided it for sure." I see the images, the surviving victors sitting around a table casting their votes for the future. I see Peeta's burned hands his singed brows. He votes no, as does Annie and Beetee. Johanna and Enobaria say yes, with no hesitation. Peeta tries to persuade everyone that it's wrong. We can't have one last symbolic Games. That this is what ruined us to begin with. Haymitch votes with me. Peeta's voice carries out, but this time, not in my mind.
"They are here to take us to the capital. They have decided to act on our vote," he says harshly, more harshly than I have heard him speak in a long while. And it only takes me a second to understand why. I see the six again. I feel everyone's eyes on me. I vote yes. Then, without a lick of irony, the dark boy utters words that I had thought were extinct. This time there is no smile when he says,
"Let the 76th Hunger Games begin." A cold chill runs the length of my body. I look for reassurance but Peeta won't meet my eyes. And for the first time since the end of the war, I allow myself to consider that, the decision I made was terribly wrong.