Author's Note: Hello, again! I was elated to see how many views this got, especially as this is my first published story on Fanfiction. I would love to know, however, how I can make this better, so if you see something that you feel needs changing or fixing, review it or send me a private message; I'm very open to suggestions! In addition, I would like to thank KDior for her generous review and apologize to all Peeta fans; I've always been a die-hard "Team Gale" member. I'd also like to say that this chapter isn't as well-written as the first. They'll get better once I get further into the story, but until then, PLEASE bear with me. Anyway, I suppose that's enough of my ramblings; if you would have wanted to hear from me, you wouldn't be looking at this; you'd be at my biography. So, without further ado, here's chapter two!
"Peeta, wait. You need to stop and think for a moment." I force my voice to remain calm, despite the staccato pounding of my heart. I can feel it as my pulse gains speed. His blue eyes narrow as he takes another menacing step forward, and I feel a prickle of panic threaten to grip me as I stand my ground. The numerous occasions that his hijackings have taken over have taught me that staying strong and calm is the best policy in this sort of situation. I know that he can't help it, that he has no control, so that makes it easier. I know that deep down, my dandelion is still there waiting for me. The trick is getting him to resurface. And right now, there is not a trace of my gentle husband on his snarling, angry face.
"Stop and think? Katniss, I know what you are. There's nothing left to consider." Peeta spits at me with a humorless laugh. I shudder involuntarily at the sound, trying to remind myself that this isn't Peeta, that this is just the hijacked monster the Capitol made him. I take a deep breath to fortify myself.
"Peeta, that's not me. Try to remember. This isn't you talking right now; this is how the Capitol wanted you to think of me." My voice cracks towards the end, despite my efforts to keep it steady, and I want to kick myself.
"The Capitol as it was is gone, Katniss, don't you remember? President Snow and his cronies are gone." Peeta sneered at the former president's name, and I winced at how harsh the expression was on his normally soft face.
"I know that, Peeta, and President Paylor would never have you do something like this. But if you'll just sit down and listen for a little while, then—" Sometimes talking through the madness helped, if he was rational enough.
"Why would I sit down with you? So I can become just like all of the others you've killed? Cato, Finnick, my parents, Rue, and you even tried for me before. Why would I give you that option again, Katniss? No, the smart thing would be to kill you now, while I have the chance." He suddenly sprints towards me and in a few bounds is almost near me. I had underestimated how he had closed the distance between us. In a flash, I have my bow set and drawn, pointed exactly at his chest.
"Peeta, I don't want to hurt you. Just listen to me." Even to my own ears, I sound panicky. He skids to a stop and looks up at me with a black humor in his eyes. It scares me more than anything we've faced in the past years.
"Why? You'll just kill me anyway. At least now I'll have a fighting chance." He flings himself towards me again, and in my surprise, I release an arrow. My breath catches in my throat as I watch it fly, but thankfully, it misses him by inches. He watches it and looks back at me with fury in his eyes, as well as the appearance of someone whose suspicions have just been confirmed. I realize that there will be no reasoning with him now, so I do the only thing I can think of; I turn and run.
The lower branches of the trees whip at my face and tear at my braid as I sprint through the forest, dodging and weaving between trees as the russet colors blurred past me. The now-familiar feeling of adrenalin courses through me, forcing my legs to propel me still faster. One of my feet slip on the mingled leaves and pine needles below me, but I force myself to keep going, wrenching my body upright when I stumble. My thoughts are all a jumble, but somehow, my brain leads me back to the fence. I plunge through the hole in the wiring and continue my race for home, feeling relieved when I see the looming outline of our house rising in the distance. I turn my head slightly to see how close Peeta is, and I let out a small sigh of relief when I see that he has not yet reached the fence. I will have time to grab some of my things before I head out to stay elsewhere in town, but not much.
I slam into the door with my shoulder to knock it open, carefully yanking the bow out of harm's way as I go. Ripping the bow and arrows off of my shoulder, I toss them hastily onto the table in the center of my home with Peeta, rushing to our bedroom to pack. I grab a moderately-sized bag and begin stuffing my clothes into it as quickly as possible. Then, I fasten the bag shut, swing it over my shoulder, and rush into the kitchen to grab some food, leaving my bow on the table to one side as I stuff bread, a container of water, and a few spare vegetables into the bag before refastening it again. I am not sure where I will go this time, but perhaps I can stay with Haymitch, although the idea isn't appealing. Five years after the war, and Haymitch still drinks like an Irishman. I think of the old Hawthorne house, but I quickly disregard it. That would bring back too many memories. I stand and dust off my pants, swinging the bag over my arm and turning to the entrance to the door. I inhale sharply with a combination of fear and shock as I come face to face with my husband, Peeta Mellark.
"You tried to shoot me." He says with something of wonder mixing with the anger in his features. I back towards the table to where my bow is laying, and he advances, looking every bit capable of horrific revenge for his imagined slights.
"Peeta, that was an accident. I'm going to go away for a little while until you feel that we can talk this out." I say, pulling the bag higher onto my shoulder. Peeta simply laughs that humorless laugh again before shaking his head.
"Katniss, I can't take any chances with you. It doesn't matter where you go. I can't trust that you won't try to kill me again. So no matter where you run and hide, I'll find you, and I'll terminate you before you can get to me." He encroaches further, pulling a candle from another table into his hand. I eye the flickering flame warily, not sure that he's aware of his action before he lifts it and examines the dripping wax.
"Peeta, put the candle down and let me by." I say forcefully, absolutely petrified now. He looks back at me and brandishes the candle in my direction.
"Katniss Everdeen. The girl on fire." Eyes wide with terror, I grab my bow and nock an arrow, swiftly pulling it back and firing it at his hand. With a howl, Peeta drops the candle and I race past him, shoving him roughly aside as I push faster and faster. With a slight glance backwards, I see Peeta's form against the growing flames before he barrels towards the door. I race back towards the fence with all I have, feeling a pressure on my chest that left me breathless. I dive through the fence, ripping my jacket free when it snags on a piece of barbed wire, and continue running, hoping and praying that he won't follow me into the woods. And all the while everything that I have built with him for the last five years burns to the ground.