No. No. This isn't happening. It can't be.
"Peeta Mellark, who has just volunteered for Haymitch Abernathy. That was very brave of you, Peeta"
Effie tries to look happy, but through her makeup I can tell she's a bit upset. Maybe she got more attached to Katniss and Peeta than I thought. My heart speeds up, and I start breathing faster and faster.
I don't realize I'm mumbling "No", until the girl beside me shoves me to be quiet.
I look at Haymitch, who's letting out a stream of curses under his breath.
Katniss'll stay strong for her family in the visits, maybe me. Not Gale, though.
"There will be no visitors" A Peacekeeper starts to take Katniss and Peeta away, and a man from the Seam grabs his arm.
"Why not?" The man asks furiously, and a Peacekeeper pulls out a gun. The man glares him in the eyes. I look away, not wanting to know what happens.
All I hear is a gun shot, and a young girls scream.
I walk away, biting my lip trying not cry.
Katniss. Gone. Again.
"Hey!" I hear Gale yelling, and turn back around. I look at him, hoping for him to look at me. He starts to advance towards the Peacekeeper, and then glances at me. I shake my head, trying to tell him that Katniss wouldn't want him to do this. He huffs, and storms away.
I sigh in relief, and glance at Katniss one last time before they take her into the train, tears springing into my eyes.
I start to walk in the other direction, towards my house. It starts to drizzle, and I don't speed up any, still walking, tears running freely down my face now.
It starts pouring, and I still walk, almost to my house. I reach my house, shivering and sobbing.
I turn the doorknob, and its locked. I fumble for a key, looking under the mat. I find it, and open the door, dripping all over the wood floors. "Madge!" My Father sits up immediately, walking to reach me. "What happened?" He looks at me, and I bite my lip. "Katniss...Peeta...the Quarter Quell...again" I choke out, and walk up the stairs, heading towards my room.
I open the door to my pale purple room, and sit on my bed, still dripping. I put my face in my hands, my thoughts racing.
I'm so ignorant. If I feel this bad, what about Katniss's family? And Gale?
I lift my head up, and just stare at the wall.
She's gone.
Again.
A train arrives. Gold and silver, it must be from the Capitol. I walk outside, not caring about the crowd gathering around it, I push to the front. Its a sunny day, a lovely day. I smiles lightly, and then a box comes out of the train. Its large, yes, its pretty large. Large enough to hold a human...
To hold a human. Its a...casket.
I gasp, and several others do as well, and Gale glares at the box.
I recognize the token on top.
Its Peeta Mellark.
My eyes go wide and start to fill with tears, tears for the Bakers Son.
Peeta's Father looks away. His Mother does the same. A Peacekeeper pulls something else out, and I get a look at it.
Another box.
With a Mockingjay pin on top.
I let out another gasp, and tears run down my face. Gale looks away, tears streaming down his face also.
They're both dead.
Both.
Dead.
Dead.
Both.
Gone.
Forever.
I wake up with a jolt, not even realizing I fell asleep. I sigh in relief, for they are both still alive.
For now. I look at the clock...I slept through the whole night. It's about eight am.
The doorbell rings, and I walk towards the door of my room, getting a glance of myself in my mirror.
The first thing I see is my tear-stained face, and my red eyes. I look again, quickly running a brush through my curly blonde hair.
I hear my Father talking to his friend before I make it down the stairs.
He looks at me. "Madge, darling why don't you go get something for me from the market? There's an order I put in with for shoes, you can go pick that up" My Father smiles, ushering me out.
I clean up my appearence a bit, changing my clothes. I head out the front door, hoping I'd covered up how awful I looked earlier.
"How can I help you?" The shoemaker looks at me, and I answer "Is there an order for Undersee?" His eyes widen a bit on Undersee, realizing who I am. "Oh, um, oh yes, Miss. Right here, Ma'am" He fumbles around, looking for a box. I take it. "Thank you Sir. Have a nice day" I smile and walk off, something falling out of the box. I reach down to pick it up.
Its a note.
Failure in 8
Progress in 10
Progress in 4
Progress in 11
Progress in 5
Its obviously meant for my Father...I look at it again, trying to make sence of the words. I put it back in the box, and head back home, not wanting to be nosy.
"Father? I'm back!" I yell, and there's not an answer. He must be upstairs...
I walk up the stairs, and something makes me stop.
The words: miners,killed, and Rebel.
I can't help it. I stop, listening.
"I don't know...thats what they tried in eight.." I glance at the note. Failurein 8.
"It's dangerous, not now...I know, the miners want to, but.."
Want to what?
I'm only hearing my Father's friends side of the conversation.
"That could work...Really? That's good...when do you think Madge'll be back?"
They're talking about the note.
"Tomorrow? You should tell her...I know, but at least to stay out of the square.."
Somethings happening tomorrow...in the square. How have I been so oblivious to this? This...rebellion?
I shake my head, remembering I shouldn't be nosy.
I head back down the steps quietly.
"Father? I got the shoes!" I yell again, and this time he comes out of his study. "Oh, thats good Madge. Thank you" He takes them, and I see his hand linger on the note, before taking the whole box.
I head up the stairs after him, and he goes back into his study.
I want to listen more, but I know that's rude, so I head to my room. My thoughts race as the sun starts to set.
Katniss. Peeta. Rebellion.
Katniss. Rebellion. Peeta.
Peeta. Rebellion.
Katniss.
Gale.
I shake my head, a bit shocked I thought of Gale. Gale?
Its just because he's Katniss's friend.
That's all...
Or is it?