Chapter 1: A hero's welcome
"One more time, Katniss? For the crowd?)
I nod at Peeta as I rise from my seat and clasp his hand. It felt like the last thing I wanted to do but it felt the most sane thing to do in this crazy world of Panem.
We stood; gazing out of District 12, Peeta's confident, beaming smile and polished face covered up my fear. It engulfed me like some kind of flame. The girl on fire; how ironic. Except, I would prefer to be in a raging inferno than to not be myself anymore, not the giggling, childish girl from the interview; nor the cold hearted killer from the games and definitely not the star-crossed lover from District 12. I am Katniss Everdeen.
The iron doors open with a swish and the clapping of the bloodthirsty crowd echo of the shining walls of the train. I stand still, frozen for a moment by the sheer noise until I reanimate and actually crack a smile. Then I feel my right hand rise into the air independently; and the crowd roar even louder in approval. I look up and find myself grasping Peeta's hand.
He kisses my cheek before we continue down the metal steps and onto the tarmac below. I look around and observe the different faces of District 12; the well-groomed, upper class citizens wearing their broaches and accessories, and the dirty, black faces of the coal workers. I hold back the tears as I think of my father; but continue on.
Eventually; after a short parade; we walk into the Justice building; hand in hand, before raising them one last time.
As I enter through the shining glass doors; I don't see Effie or Haymitch; heck, there isn't even any Peacekeepers. I turn to Peeta.
"Did we take a wrong turn or something?"
"I don't understand; where are they all?"
Suddenly, a thud on the glass door frightens me and I turn and see Gale.
"Gale!" I cry like a hyped up child.
"Katniss! Quick you have to leave! Now!"
I turn to Peeta and his face was pale, and he instinctively grabs me and we run towards Gale. Peeta fiddles with the handle but it had been locked; and coated with the same electric current they used on the ladders.
Peeta froze in place; trapped like a rat, I couldn't save him.
"Katniss!" The window, shouts Gale and points to a small window left ajar on my right. I clamber through rapidly. A careless mistake as I fell down into an alleyway below me. My leg cracked as I hit the ground; and I yelp.
Gale leaps over a fence but in the process; trapped himself; to the left I see the shadows of Peacekeepers projected onto the walls in the dimly lit alley and to my right, rifle- toting Peacekeepers.
He lifted me by my arm and he looked into my eyes. His bleak face, stared back at me for a moment; but at the same moment, I knew he had feelings for me; all of this time. But gunfire soon bounced off the walls and we had no idea what to do.
We were trapped.