Based on the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I own nothing.

CHAPTER ONE: TRAUMATIC TRIBULATION

Peeta's POV

I was running. I was in the 75th annual Hunger Games and I was running. Sharp vines and plants scraped against my body, but that didn't matter. I just had to get to her before it was too late. Katniss. I had to find her. I had to protect her. I had to... I had to... Without warning, a thundering boom pierced my ears, joint with flashes of red and yellow. Before I could process what was happening or try to protect myself, a blazing white light surrounded me, clouding my vision. I could hear nothing but a prolonged, high droning sound. And then nothing.

"Katniss!" I gasped, bolting upright. Identical beds were all spread throughout the room -me in one of them- with numerous shelves of random medicines and tubes stacked behind them. Was I in a... hospital?

"Mornin' sunshine." My head snapped towards Haymitch, who sat grimly in the corner, sipping some sort of stew. I wanted to ask so many questions, but I didn't know where to start. He glanced at me for a moment, and then nodded to himself solemnly. "We managed to break the force field and flew in with district 13's aircraft. We're actually in district 13 now. You're lucky you were saved. It was a risky plan." Relief began flooding through me and I started feeling jittery to see all of the others that had escaped. I didn't even wonder then about how the rumour that people lived in district 13 was true.

"Where's Katniss?" I grinned, jumping up, and trying to get to the doors. "You should have woken me sooner. Then me and Katniss could have-" he grabbed my arm, his gaze falling to the floor. My body stiffened, as dread washed over me. "Haymitch," my throat began tightening, "Where is she?" He bit his lip, still looking downwards. "WHERE IS SHE?!" I had started shaking, and I thought I was about to break to pieces.

"I," he hesitated, "Well... She didn't get out in time." He didn't look up to meet my eyes. Katniss... She was dead. Gone. Poof. No... She couldn't be. There had to be a mistake. No. No! Before Haymitch could say any more, I sprinted out the door, knocking flasks and tubes of medicine off the shelves as I went. Most of them smashed on the floor, glittering like polished diamonds, with the result of various chemicals reacting and steaming together as I fled.

Many plain corridors connected to one another and I followed through them, taking random turns. I heard Haymitch shouting behind me, but I continued racing down the hall. I wanted to clear my head and not believe that she was gone. Confused, many people watched me. With all of my strength, I passed them hurriedly. My throat burned and my body began to ache; I couldn't go on any more. Exhausted, I lay against the wall, my back sliding down slowly as I did so. I didn't care that people were whispering and pointing at me. Hyperventilating, I let my body do whatever it wanted, tears streaking down my face, leaving lines of dampness. I didn't want to see the people around me. I didn't want to see anybody except Katniss. With my bloodshot eyes shut tight, and hidden between my legs, I used to my arms to cover the top of my head. I wouldn't look at anyone. I allowed my body to go through another wave of shuddering, as my mentality crumbled into pieces.

Defeated, I began to howl in despair. "WHYYYYY?!" I sobbed, "OHHHHH GOD, WHY DID YOU LEAVE MEEEEE?!" Somehow I had fallen sideways and lay on the floor. Something was digging into my thigh. Momentarily, my hysterical crying came to a stop, but I was still shaking. I pulled a petite glass tube from my trousers pocket and inspected it. It must have fallen into my clothing when I knocked things off the shelves on my way out of the hospital ward. A tiny pill sat inside, with a label reading: 'NIGHTLOCK-WARNING, KILLS WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF CONSUMING, ONLY USE IN CASES OF BEING CAPTURED BY ENEMY'

A cruel smile played on my lips as I remembered that Nightlock was the name of the poisonous berries from the first time Katniss and I were in the arena. I thought of the moments just before we won...

She goes through her belt and tries to get out a small, brown bag. I know that inside are those deadly, dark berries. Grabbing her wrist, I say, "No, I won't let you." She can't. I won't allow her. If she's gone, I won't be able to live without her.

"Trust me," she whispers. And I do. I look into her beautiful, grey eyes for a while, seeing the intelligence and ferocity of the girl I'm willing to trade my life for, if it saves hers. The girl who would pounce on dandelions excitedly, blowing them with faith that her wishes would come true. The girl with an angel's voice when she sings. The exact same girl that I gave the bread to all those years ago. I regret not being able to have done more for her. I can trust her. I slowly let go, as she reaches in the bag and pulls out one handful of the Nightlock. She pours half into my hand and leaves the rest in hers. Understanding dawns upon me. "On the count of three?" she asks.

I nod. "The count of three," I repeat. We lean our backs against each other and I can feel her nervousness. "Hold them out," I tell her, "I want everyone to see." It was wishful thinking, but I figure that if there is no victor, then the Hunger Games would be forced to be unable to continue for future generations. She holds my hand tightly. Is it a signal? Is she scared? Maybe it is a goodbye. I silently say my farewells to her. With a final glance of the world, I start counting. "One." At least we're together. "Two." I love you. "Three!" See you on the other side.

Without thinking, I pulled the lid of the tube off, and placed the Nightlock pill in my hand, the same way I did with the berries. "The count of three," I laughed bitterly. "One." I will join you. "Two." We will finally be together and the pain will go away. "Three." I swallowed the pill as the tears raged on. I felt tortured and I was suffering.

I expected my body to violently convulse, and it did. I thrashed about uncontrollably on the ground in spasms. The thought that I would probably soon be peacefully laying on the floor comforted me a little. I hoped there was a heaven. If there was, we would soon be reunited. Why did she have to die? We could have been happy together. We would have had a future. The pain I felt on the outside was nothing compared to my hidden scars on the inside

My blurry eyes noticed the fuzzy outline of human shapes coming towards me. I heard a familiar voice calling my name, but I didn't want to see or hear any more. I detached myself from reality and imagined Katniss. She was in heaven now, with large wings flowing from her body. They were the same deep shade of grey as her eyes, and swung up and down gracefully, but strongly, like her personality. She was an angel. My angel. And she was smiling and waiting for me. The exact same last thought popped into my head now as what I thought would be my last moments with Katniss in the arena. I murmured the phrase out loud.

"See you on the other side."

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