Chapter 2: A New Beginning
The walk to the town was better than expected. I walked past the houses in the victor's village, each filled with families who returned to twelve from district thirteen. I continued to walk and saw that most of the houses being rebuilt were big, solid houses, just like the one in the Victors' Village. As I walked I got many stares. They tried not the make it obvious, but I'd be staring too if the situations were reversed. They didn't know if I would shoot them with and arrow, catch on fire, or break down right in front of them. I eventually got to the square in the middle of the town and looked at all of the shops being built. Greasy Sae is there, with her granddaughter. She was about to run up and start a conversation with me when I was interrupted by the sight I saw before me. It was a bakery. I peered through the glass in the front and saw cookies, cakes, and pastries beautifully and intricately decorated. Only one hand could have created such pieces of art. Peeta.
I started thinking of the old Peeta. My boy with the bread. I knew he was making progress. I didn't know he had made enough to open his own bakery though. I missed him. The him that would never come back to me. The him that didn't see me as repulsive, or would try to kill me. My thoughts were interrupted by Greasy Sae asking me if I would take a bag to Haymitch. I took the bag and decided to cut my trip short.
I walked quickly back to our houses, knowing exactly what the package for Haymitch contained. Liquor, lots of it. When I arrive at Haymitch's, I don't even bother knocking anymore. I walk in and see him lying on the couch, looking half dead. "So it's a good day today I see". "You got that right sweetheart," he mumbles in a drunken slur. "Well, here's more to make it better, I'll see you in two weeks." "Wait," he whispers, "It's good to see you out of the house Katniss." I nod and slowly leave his house. I guess it was nice to get some fresh air after all, even if it were only for an hour.
When I got home I went to my closet and grabbed my night clothes for the first time in months. I hadn't had the energy or desire to change out of my normal clothes just to sleep, but today felt different. Maybe it could be the start of feeling a little less broken. All I know is I have a good feeling. Tomorrow morning I'm going to talk to Peeta at breakfast. I felt sleepy again now, but dread sleep more than anything. I got into my bed, and prepared to break again.
I started out in the woods hunting, which made me feel at home and at ease. I saw and animal running through the trees. A duck, a beautiful duck that had wondered from the pond, and surely would make a great meal. I shot it straight through the eye. That's when I heard her scream. Prim, I had shot Prim. Suddenly my surroundings changed and I was at the capitol. "How could you Katniss!" she screams, as she lay there bleeding to death. She had more than one arrow. There were many. Five. Six. Eight. Twelve. Twelve arrows. I look up to see Gale, President Snow, President Coin, and many others whose faces were too familiar. "The duck wandered from the pond Katniss. There's no wondering from the pond." They chanted in unison.
I woke up in the middle of my own screams. Sweat was beading down my forehead. My breathing was unsteady. My shakes were uncontrollable as I tried to get out of bed. I least I made it until morning.