Chapter 2: Gale

Gale wakes suddenly, feeling like a thunderclap has gone off in his head. He is nauseous and trembling, unable to move. Where is he? He manages to roll onto his side as the waves of nausea overtake him and he throws up on the bottom of the van. His head is pounding as he tries to take in his surroundings. It is dark and he is immobilised with manacles on both his wrists and ankles. There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the van with him and he realizes it is actually one of the Capitol's military vehicles.

Immediately he remembers that the Capitol's soldiers have captured him and put him in the back of their vehicle. Where are they? Why are they not here guarding him or dragging him off for the horrific punishments the Capitol will surely have in mind. Katniss! What has happened to Katniss? He recalls that they were separated by a blast and then…then he had asked her to kill him when he realized the Peacekeepers had captured him.

"Shoot, SHOOT!" he had screamed. Why hadn't she done it? He had seen her with bow drawn and knew that she could have finished him off swiftly and mercifully in one shot. She had done it for Finnick in the sewers. Katniss had not allowed Finnick to suffer. Surely she knew that he would experience a much worse fate at the hands of the Capitol. He knew that she would not want anyone else that she loved to go through what Peeta had gone through. Why did she hesitate?

Now, though, Gale was glad she had. Was she hoping that he would survive? Did she know that the Capitol stood no chance with the rebels at the gate? Right now he could see another opportunity for escape with the Peacekeepers gone, but how? The doors of the military vehicle remained closed and Gale could hear movement outside, but it was frantic movement and the kind that he remembered from 12. People were scrambling to survive. What had happened while he had been out? Could it all be over?

Without warning the doors at the back of the vehicle are thrown open. The light is blinding and sets Gale's head throbbing again. He pulls his knees back prepared to kick out at anyone who tries to grab him.

"Gale!"

It was Paylor's voice. He knew it so well now having been involved in the planning of the rebel attacks on the Capitol.

"Are you OK?" she asks.

"I think so. I feel like my head is splitting and I can't move because I'm shackled, but I think I will be OK"

"Good. We still need all the men we can get to ensure the victory. Let's get you out and I'll have the Medics check you over first".

A couple of rebel soldiers help Gale to the edge of the vehicle and manage to break the cuffs so he can stand up and steady himself. A medic comes over to check the wound on his head while Gale begins to survey the damage that had been wrought in the Capitol. To be honest, it reminds him of District 12 when they sent the bombers in to destroy it, only there had been no firebombs here. The Capitol people had gotten off easy in comparison to 12.

As Gale becomes more acclimatised he realizes that he still does not know what has happened to Katniss.

"What about the Mockingjay?" he asks Paylor.

"Katniss was knocked unconscious by the second blast and has been taken to the hospital. She suffered some burns and they have her sedated right now".

"The second blast?"

"Snow asked for all the Capitol children to be brought to the gates and that was when the first blasts occurred. Parachutes were released over the crowd and the minute they were touched they detonated. This created a series of explosions which drew people in to search for loved ones and give aid to the wounded. There was a second explosion after this to make sure the Capitol knew we meant business".

Gale recognises his idea, people running in fear of their lives and heading to a certain location, where they are corralled before a second attack takes place. This tactic had been used well in the Games and it was time the Capitol suffered some of the cruelty that they had visited on the people in the Districts. He also understands that war necessitates civilian casualties, although this is something he and Katniss cannot agree on.

Gale realizes, now he knows Katniss is safe, that his duty is first as a soldier and so he asked Paylor what she wants him to do. She tells Gale that they are trying to sort out the dead from the living and then see what can be done for the injured. Paylor places Gale with a Unit who are going through the dead and dying outside the President's Palace. He has seen this kind of suffering before and does not need to be briefed any further.

At least that is what he thinks. What he has not been prepared for, nor ever could be, is the discovery of the body of Primrose Everdeen at the gates.