A/N: I feel like, because I've been gone for so long, it's my responsibility to the people who still read my stories to pump out as much at once as I can. So that's what I'm doing here =] Thanks for reading, if you have. Love you all ~Bee~
Ps: This one, I think, is a bit longer than the last. Have fun.
Chapter Two: The Quell
"The Quell," continued Snake Face, "will be held here, in the Capital." He held up the usual regulation card that was written now 100 years ago. But Katniss had no intension of believing its history. "This card states that any person of treasonous manner shall have their name entered and reaped, no matter the age. Two men and two women from each district," he looked up, smiling slyly. "That includes you, 13." He shifted the glasses that perched on his almost nothing of a nose. "shall be reaped, for a total of 52 contestants." He paused, looking again at the screen. Pack your bags, if you think you should. Peace keepers are on their way." The screen went black. Willow stumbled her way down the stairs; sleep was still in her wide eyes. Katniss bounced out of gales arms, scooping her up into her own, sobbing.
"What do we do Peeta?" she said, shakily, through sobs. "We're going!"
"Of course we're going. All of us." Peeta looked around, shifting Rye in his arms. "We fight. We plan. We find a week point – a chink in the armor… We do it all over again, because we have to. Because… Katniss this time, we don't have a choice."
There was a sharp rap on the door, making them all jump. Willow nuzzled her face into her mothers shoulder, starting to cry. They knocked again, harder, more demanding. Haymitch approached the door cautiously, obviously and visibly shaken. He opened it, finding himself staring into the white clothed chests of… Peacekeepers.
"Is…" the smaller of the two Peacekeepers looked down at a sheet of paper. "Gale Hawthorn on the premises?" he tried to regain his obvious authority; it was visible how pleased he was with the assignment to track down Gale. "We've cause to summon him for the Fourth Quarter Quell."
Katniss gripped Gales hand tightly, squeezing as hard as she could, and only released it when he stepped forward.
"Yeah," he said. "That's me." He bowed his head as they slipped wrist cuffs around his already bruised wrists. He'd been imprisoned, and Katniss knew it. She couldn't breathe, but she tried her best to keep her composure. "I'll see you in the Capital, Catnip." He said as they turned him around. She ran forwards, Willow bouncing in her arms, and pressed into his chest. He kissed the top of her head, trying his hardest not to cry. She stepped back, and he gave her a hard, warning look. Then they shoved him, backwards, out the door, and it slammed behind them.
"Well shit, sweetheart." Said Haymitch, looking at Katniss. "We've got a real problem." Katniss looked at him, tears in her hard grey eyes. She was slightly confused by Haymitch's statement. She bit her lip in question, and he smirked. "Well," he continued on, "it's obvious who's going to be reaped now, isn't it?"
Katniss started crying in earnest now, sinking to the ground, holding Willow to her tightly. She sang the same song she sang to her as she slept, but through the tears she felt as she watched Rue die. She hadn't felt scared like this in a long time. Rye was crying again, fat baby hands reaching out for his mother.
"Who…" said Katniss between sobs, taking Rye from Peeta. She held them both in her shaking arms, tightly bound to them. "Who will watch them? When I… we… who will love them like we do, Peeta?" she looked at her husband, who stood, unmoving, unseeing, unblinking. His hands were shaking, and she could tell he was struggling to hold it together. She reached a hand towards him, and he took it, kneeling on the ground with her and the children. Katniss laid her head on Peeta's shoulder, kissing his neck softly. Tears rolled down his face, and he breathed her in, pressing his face against the top of her head. He replaced Gales kiss with hundreds of his own. Haymitch looked between both of them, and then sat down in the chair Gale had vacated.
"Kiddo's," he said under his breath, "I'm getting old now. And we all know now that Gale isn't gonna be reaped with 12. So it's Peeta and me. And you, sweetheart. But who else? That's what we've got to wonder about now."
Katniss looked at the ceiling, begging silently. She was praying for the third time in her life. She remembered the other two. The first was when her father died, when she prayed for her mother to come back, when she prayed for something to change, something better to happen. That was when she got her bread from Peeta. The second was when she woke up the morning of her sisters first reaping. That one didn't work out so well. After everything that had happened, why was she praying again? No one was listening; at least she didn't think so. But she prayed. Harder than she ever had before in her life.
Delly Cartwright stood in the doorway, small bag hanging from her hand. Katniss smiled at her, looking around the house. Everything was in order, babies sleeping upstairs. Delly walked slowly inside. The house was definitely bigger than what she was used to. Her fingers grazed along the mantle, looking at the beautiful pictures of Katniss and Prim, her mother, Peeta and Willow, them and Rye. The paintings that Peeta had done for the Victory tour all those long years ago hung on the walls, both framed and frameless. This was the first time she'd seen a victor's mansion.
"Thank you, Delly," said Peeta, stepping down the stairs. He gave her a quick and tight hug. She patted his back, shaking her head slightly and laughing to her self. Peeta released her, and she spoke.
"Peeta, you and I both know that, even though I was in 13, even though I did try to help you, I never went to the capital. I never planned anything. I was basically as useless to you all then as I am to the capital now. This is the least I can do for the things you tried to do for me and my brother." She laughed again, but it felt forced. "They would've collected me days ago if they wanted me." She turned to Katniss, smiling as brightly as she could. "Everything will be okay. I can feel it." She walked further into the sitting room. "You'll do what you need to do."
Boots pounded up their front steps, and Katniss' heart raced. She choked back tears, smiling at Delly's friendship. They'd never been truly close, but she admired Delly's bravery in the face of the hardest times. Sharp knocks beat the door. Once, twice, three times they pounded, the hardness of the raps matching the hardness of her heartbeats.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mellark? Let us in: Peacekeepers. We're here to collect you for the reaping." Said a young woman. She sounded tired. Peeta strode to the door, opening it. The young woman and an older man stood on the front step, dressed in their white uniforms, each holding a pair of wrist cuffs. "I, unfortunately, must insist that you wear these. It's…. mandatory for all… rebels." Her eyes dropped to the ground. It was obvious this was not her choice. Katniss gained a little respect for the woman, but couldn't bring herself to really feel anything for them but pity.
"Peeta." Said Delly, smile fading. "Good luck." She turned to Katniss as his wrist cuffs were locked tightly into place. They were fancier than the cuffs he had on during the war, automatically clicking shut as his wrists were placed inside them. "Everything will be okay," Delly repeated. "You will do what you need to do." She gave her a sharp look; one similar to the one Gale gave her days previous. Katniss stepped away, handing her rucksack and Peeta's duffel bag to the male Peacekeeper while the female locked her wrists together. Katniss took a deep breath, looking over at her husband.
"Okay?" he asked quietly. She nodded, sighing. The Peacekeepers patted each of them down, checking them for possible weapons. Katniss watched as, across the way, Haymitch was getting a much rougher treatment from a much surlier looking Peacekeeper. He winked at both of them, and Katniss grinned for the first time in what felt like days.
"Tell Willow and Rye that we love them." Said Katniss quickly. The door slammed shut behind them, and Katniss struggled to hold back her tears. Peeta hummed slightly, straining at the cuffs, trying to keep himself in check. "Everything will be okay, Peeta." She said softly. "I love you."
They were hurried to the train station, and Haymitch whistled at the female Peacekeeper as he passed them by.
"Aren't you a lovely thing?" he said, loudly. He was clearly drunk, had fallen off the wagon he so dutifully set himself upon. This got him a sharp blow to the back, and the Peacekeeper hurried him faster, into almost a jog. The female leading Katniss huffed in impatience.
"You're lucky," said the woman into Katniss' ear. "I heard President Snow was planning on making every last one of you into fucking Avox slaves. At least now, only one of you hafta suffer like that." She laughed loudly. "Ain't that a joy, Catnip?"
"Don't call her that." Said Peeta, sharply.
"Most of 'em," said the man, ignoring Peeta, "I heard he killed most of 'em already. 'Specially in the career districts and… all the Capital ones are definitely gone. This games will certainly be interesting." There was an awful inflection in his tone, and Katniss shuddered in disgust and fear. They had reached the station, where the train sat, longer than ever. It was obvious they were planning on shuttling everyone to the Capital all at once.
"Twelve, this way." They were shoved roughly down the platform, and into their specific car. The cuffs were removed, bags thrown in, and doors sealed tightly behind them. The district seal was painted over the door. Katniss looked around, pained at the sight of the Capital train. A woman sat, back facing them, long, dirty blonde hair tied up in a tight bun. She wore plain clothing, and her hands were starting to show age. Haymitch sat across from her, tears obvious in his eyes.
"Hello, darlings," said the woman in an affected accent. "Never thought I'd see you two in here again. Looks like we have another big, big day."
