74th Hunger Games Challenge
By: Jamie Sommers
Chapter Three: Farewell District 12
In this chapter Peeta says goodbye, Katniss questions her and Peeta's relationship and they head to the Capitol. Again, based on my brain, the book and movie so some stuff might be out of order, but most of it is just for the fun of it.
74th Hunger Games Challenge
Both Katniss and Peeta were ushered off of the stage by Peacekeepers. Men and women, dressed in white uniforms, armed with guns, practically forbidden to smile, whose main purpose was to enforce the laws of the Capitol and dole out punishment. On normal days, within the confines of District 12, the Peacekeepers weren't as cruel as they could have been. They enforced most laws, but overlooked many. District 12 was the poorest of the districts, which meant that the Peacekeepers stationed suffered from hunger too, but on reaping day the place was crawling with officials sent in from the Capitol and even bending a law sent jolt of fear through the residents.
Katniss and Peeta got put into their own room in the Justice Building. They each had an hour to say goodbye to their loved ones.
As Katniss entered the lavish room she took brief notice of the plush comforts within, but none of them could quell the rush of thoughts going through her mind. 'Say goodbye to mom and Prim. Make sure Gale keeps them fed. You're going to die soon. You have to keep a brave face. Why did you cave into Peeta? You have to end things with him. On the train. If you end it with him then it'll be easier for both of you when you get into the arena. If the other tributes find out about the two of you, then they'll use it against you for sure. They'll torture him or you.' She had to put these thoughts out of her head right now. Right now she had to focus on Prim. On her mother. Mostly Prim.
The second the door opened and Prim entered, Katniss held her arms open to her sister; engulfing her tiny frame in a hug. "No, Katniss!" Prim's cries hadn't subsided one ounce since Katniss volunteered for her. "You can't go! You can't."
"Hey," Katniss soothed her sister. "Stop that now. No crying."
"You could win, you know." Prim said in an encouraging voice; trying her best to be a support system for her big sister. "You can hunt."
"And I'm smart," Katniss added.
"So you'll try? You'll try and win?"
With a nod of her head, Katniss forced herself to speak in a steady tone when she answered, "Yes."
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Peeta sat in silence with his elbows on his knees and his fingers crossed over the bridge of his nose. His oldest brother came in first. Peeta lifted his eyes to him and then rose. He tried not to cry, but it was too late. The tears just seemed to pour down his cheeks in a steady stream. His brother took him in his arms and said, "I'm sorry." They stood in an embrace for a few minutes until his other brother entered.
When his other brother took him in his arms he said, "I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I should've volunteered like Katniss did."
Peeta interrupted him, "No. I wanted to go."
"Why?"
"She needs to come home." Peeta choked back his tears and gripped his brother's shoulders. "She's got to come home. She's got to."
His brother held onto him realizing what Peeta was saying. "I don't want you to die."
"I have to," Peeta whispered. They squeezed each other one last time and then Peeta gently pushed him away. "Go on. Tell dad to come in." Before his brothers left the room he stopped them. "Hey. I love you guys." His family wasn't much for showing emotion, but this was the last time he was going to see them and he wanted them to know that he loved them.
Peeta expected his father to come into the room, but when his mother walked in, he held his breath. He hadn't prepared himself for her yet. His face was still covered in tears from his brothers' visit. He absently wiped at his running nose with his sleeve and waited for his mom to say something. She stood next to him and reached out awkwardly to pat his back. It wasn't much, but it was something and it felt strangely good to receive his mother's touch out of love instead of fear. Normally she was hitting him, threatening him, not comforting him.
"Well, Peeta. At least District 12 might actually have a winner this year." Peeta couldn't believe it. After all the years of thinking his mother hated him. All the years that he cowed under her fist, she actually thought he could win this thing. He wouldn't win, but just the thought of her believing in him gave him a sense of hope that his mother actually loved him. "She's a survivor that one." His mother's accentuated the statement with a few raps on his back.
All of Peeta's hope was shattered. No, this woman, his mother, didn't love him after all. She never had. 'I was just free labor,' he thought to himself. 'Actually, I cost her money. I ate her food and she had to clothe me. She's probably grateful I'm going into the Hunger Games,' he thought. 'One less mouth to feed, but then who will decorate your precious cakes mother dear?' He heard her words again, "She's a survivor…" and didn't try to hide what he was thinking.
"Yes, she is, mother. That's what I'm counting on." His mother just gave him a strange look and he said, "If you don't mind, I'd like you to leave now." He wished the tears were gone, but they weren't. Now he had regret added onto the pain.
His father entered the room just as his mother was stepping out. Peeta flew into his arms and let the tears flow. Gripping his father's back, he wished he could go back in time. Back to his childhood when his father was his hero and reaping day meant a celebration dinner, not panic and fear.
"You need to try and come home, Peeta." His father's voice was desperate. "Promise me."
"Dad, I can't." Peeta's words barely came out.
"You have to," his father sounded hysterical. "We can keep them fed. We can make sure her family has food."
"No, dad. No." Peeta pulled away from his father. "I can't come back here without her. I can't do that. Don't ask me to do that, Dad."
"But you're going to ask me to be okay with you killing yourself?"
"Yes." Peeta lifted his eyes to his father's. "I love her." He walked to his father and took his hand in his. "I love her."
Gripping his son's hand tightly, Peeta's father said resigning, "I know." They stood in silence for a few seconds until he said, "I'll still make sure Prim eats."
"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate that, but…what about mom?"
"Don't worry about your mother. She's not in charge of the bakery. I am."
Peeta couldn't help but be amazed. His whole life he had wanted his father to stand up to his mother; to take his side, and now that Peeta was going into the arena his father had finally found the courage to stand up to the woman for Prim's sake. 'Those Everdeen women sure have a lot of power over men,' he thought to himself.
With one last hug and a kiss on the cheek, his father said, "I love you, Peeta."
"I love you too, Dad."
"Stay strong. Fight hard for her."
"That's my plan."
"I'm proud of you, son."
"Thanks, Dad." Peeta spoke morosely to the closed door, "Bye, Dad."
When the door opened up and Delly Cartwright entered, Peeta was surprised to see his lifelong friend crying hysterically. Delly, who was always bubbly and chipper, threw her arms around Peeta's neck and said, "You're not coming back, are you? You're going to die out there just so you can protect her and don't tell me you're not because I've spent my whole life watching you fawn over her and I know you and I know what you're going to do Peeta. I know your plan."
"Stop it, Delly." Peeta was crying into her shoulder. "Don't do this."
"Why? Because I'm right?" She asked with a touch of accusation in her voice.
"Delly, I need somebody to be strong for me. Please."
"I can't be strong, Peeta. I just can't," she blubbered. "I thought after you two started dating that maybe things would finally work out for you two and now…"
Delly and Madge Undersee had been the only two people that knew about Peeta and Katniss relationship. Katniss wasn't allowed to date anyone because her mother thought she was too young and Peeta promised to keep it a secret, but neither one of them could figure out a way to be together which is where Delly Cartwright and Madge came in. No one questioned Peeta's friendship with Delly and Katniss had lunch with Made every day. Since Delly was friendly with everyone it seemed normal when she began a friendship with Madge. There were some odd looks at first, but no one suspected it after a while. Katniss would use Madge as an excuse to meet Peeta. Peeta would use Delly as an excuse to meet Katniss and no one was the wiser.
"Delly, Katniss and I really appreciate all you've done for us. You really helped us out when…when…" Peeta couldn't control himself. He kept picturing all the afternoons he and Katniss spent behind the big oak tree; out of everyone's view, holding hands, talking about the woods, telling her about his love of art, sharing their secrets and whispering their hidden wishes aloud. The first time he held Katniss in his arms Delly walked up to them and told them it was time to go to class. She had blushed when she came upon them. Peeta had climbed the tree that afternoon and almost broke his leg getting out of it, climbing really wasn't his thing. He carved his and Katniss initials in the giant oak and surrounded them with a heart. He never told Katniss about it. "Delly, when Katniss gets home. Take her to the tree and show her the heart with our initials in it. Will you do that for me?"
Delly nodded frantically. "Yes. But you have to come home too."
"I can't, Delly. One winner."
"Oh, Peeta." She cried. "I hate this." They hugged tightly. "You've been such a great friend to me. She's so lucky to be loved by you."
"Thanks." Peeta kissed her forehead and said, "See ya around, Delly." Watching her close the door behind her, Peeta felt a sense of finality come over him. There was no one else to say goodbye to which meant all his ties to District Twelve had been severed. Wiping his eyes and nose on his shirt, Peeta made an attempt to compose himself. When the door opened one last time he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Peeta."
"Gale," Peeta's tone was questioning.
Gale stood stone still as he said, "You can't kill her. Just promise me that. No matter what you do in the arena, you won't kill her."
He didn't know what to expect from Gale, but this was the last thing. "She's coming home, Gale. I'll make sure of that."
The look on Gale's face was shock. "So you'll…protect her?"
"I'll do whatever I have to; to make sure she wins this thing."
The stiff posture Gale had slumped when he sat on a small sofa and his entire demeanor seemed to go into some sort of strategic mode. "What about the Careers? They're going to want to kill her for sure."
"I don't know yet. I don't really have a plan."
"Well you'll have to get one in motion. Katniss started working on a plan the moment she volunteered. You can bet on that."
"Good. She'll need one."
"Are you sure about this, Peeta?"
"Sure about what?"
"Are you willing to die for her? You barely know her."
'If only you knew,' he thought, and though Peeta wasn't about to divulge the details of his relationship with Katniss, he did want Gale to know the truth. "I know I'd die for her."
Gale couldn't believe what he was hearing, but he wasn't going to question it. He just nodded and shook Peeta's hand. "Don't worry about the Careers. I'm sure you'll think of something. Maybe Haymitch can figure something out."
"Yeah…something. I'm not sure what though. My head's not really in the Game yet."
"Well you're going to have to get it in the Game and quick."
It was hard enough coming to terms with his own death, on the possibility of Katniss's death and Gale was standing in front of him asking him to instantly come up with a plan? Everyone knew that the Careers usually won the Hunger Games. The Careers were from Districts 1, 2 and 4. Though they weren't allowed to train for the Games, they practically did. By the time reaping day came around they had more volunteers than they knew what to do with. People like Katniss were a rarity in the outer districts. Peeta spoke his thoughts out loud, "I don't know how I'm going to beat the Careers."
"Well, if you can't beat 'em…join 'em."
"Yeah, right." Peeta walked Gale to the door. "Gale, I need you to promise me something."
"Sure."
It had been on his mind since Prim's name had been called. "I promise I'll take care of Katniss in the arena, but I need you to promise me you'll take care of her when she gets home."
Though there was a hint of question written on Gale's face, he still said, "I promise," then shook on it with Peeta.
Both men had their own thoughts on what just happened. Peeta knew it would drive Katniss crazy if she found out about their deal, but he didn't care and Gale hoped Katniss never found out that he and Peeta were discussing her future.
When Gale left the room Peeta sat on a chair and felt relief that Katniss would be taken care of for the rest of her life. Gale would take care of her. 'She'll spend her life with Gale. Gale. Gale. Not you Peeta,' he thought. And once again his impending death was first and foremost on his mind. This time the tears were cleansing. 'Just once more,' he thought. 'I'll cry once more and then no more. I won't let myself cry anymore. There's nothing more that can be done, but for now I can feel remorse for the life I'm about to lose. For the love that I'm no longer allowed to explore. For the future I have to give to another man.'
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The automobile that would take them to the train station, waited outside of the Justice Building for the pair of tributes and their escort. The effects of the afternoon were written all over Peeta's face. Katniss took notice of his swollen, red rimmed eyes and had no doubt that he had spent his time crying though she hadn't shed a tear. She had said her goodbyes to Prim, her mom, her friend Madge, who had given her a pin of a mockingjay to take into the arena with her as her district token. She said goodbye to Gale and of all people, Peeta's father. She was relieved to hear him say he'd keep Prim fed, and briefly wondered if he knew about her and Peeta, then quickly put it from her mind. Prim was loved by everyone, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the man would be willing to help her sister. None of those things brought Katniss to tears. The fact was she couldn't afford them. She kept telling herself this as she rode in the vehicle with Effie Trinket and Peeta which helped to keep the waterworks at bay.
As Effie rattled on and on about the train ride and how lucky Katniss and Peeta were to experience all the luxuries the Capitol provided, Katniss spent the car ride trying to figure out how to end things with Peeta. 'It's for the best,' she thought to herself. 'Let him hate me now. Let him resent me prior to the arena.' The second they were alone together she vowed to tell him that it was over. They could no longer continue their relationship. They had to be enemies in order for their survival. But only one of them could survive and as sick as it made her, it had to be her. She closed her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat; hating herself in that moment. Despised herself, really, but she had to do this for Prim. She promised Prim she would try to win and the only way she could do that is if the boy sitting on the other side of Effie Trinket was just another tribute.
There was a pause in Katniss's step as she entered the Tribute Train. Marble tables, crystal chandeliers and enough food to feed her family for a month was enough to cause her head to spin. Before she could take it all in, the sound of her escort came from behind her.
"Isn't it to die for?" Asked Effie Trinket.
'Literally,' thought Katniss.
Coming from behind Effie, Peeta's eyes darted around the room. The sight of it made his stomach churn. 'How many children have died over the years so the people of the Capitol could live like this on a daily basis?' He wondered, but the mixture of aromas filling the air eventually got to him and his empty stomach growled. Though he was hungry, he didn't touch a thing.
"Come. Come," Effie motioned them into the sleek train. Just then the train started to move causing Katniss and Peeta to take hold of the closest stationery object. "Isn't it amazing? Over two hundred miles per hour and you can barely feel a thing." They followed their escort through the first train car and into another which was one long hallway with doors. "You each have your own quarters." Effie said as she opened the first door and showed Katniss her accommodations. "Feel free to wear whatever you like, there's plenty of clothing." Pointing out the private bath to her left, Effie invited Katniss to take a shower or do whatever she wanted. "Simply be ready for dinner in an hour." And that was the last Katniss saw of Effie Trinket for the time being.
Alone in her room Katniss sat on the edge of the bed running her hands over the silky comforter and allowed her thoughts to consume her. 'It's soft, but not warm like Peeta's lips. Stop it, Katniss,' she mentally chided herself. 'You can't think about him anymore. Not like that.' Looking for a way to take her mind off of her current predicament, she opened the dresser drawers and couldn't help but wonder why all of the clothing within was in her size, but the soft rap on her door interrupted her.
"Peeta." It wasn't surprising to see him standing there, but it was cause for concern. "You shouldn't be here."
"Let me in before someone comes," he whispered.
Glancing down the hall in both directions and finding it empty, she said, "You should leave."
"I'm not leaving so let me in." He pushed past her and entered her room.
Taking a deep breath Katniss closed the door thinking, 'Might as well get this over with now.' However, the second she faced Peeta he pulled her into his embrace and she felt as though her heart was being crushed. She didn't want to feel his arms around her. She didn't want to need him, but she did. Her fingers dug into his back and she pulled him closer to her.
They stood in silence for a minute until he said, "Don't worry. It's going to be all right," but they both knew it wouldn't be.
"No, it's not, Peeta." Reminding herself of what she had to do, she pushed him away. "Twenty four tributes go in and only one of us comes out. One."
"Yes, and that's you."
She stared at him and shook her head in disbelief. "What…what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you're going to win this thing." He walked to her, but she instantly recoiled. "Don't. Don't pull away from me."
"I have to."
"I'm asking you not to."
"I have no choice, Peeta. We can't keep doing this. It has to end." She could feel the tears burning in the back of her nose, but she pushed them away. She needed to find the girl she was before she was stuck in the elevator with Peeta; before she knew the touch of his hand and the safety of his arms. She was stronger then. She had a tough exterior that matched her inner one until Peeta came along. Somehow she let him chip away at it and she resented him for it. She was going to be in the Games now. She had to fight for her life. For her family's lives and she couldn't let anything cloud her judgment.
"What has to end?" A confused expression creased his brow.
"This. You and me. This whole thing between us." Katniss began walking in circles around her room. "It can't go on."
Peeta couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're…you're breaking up with me?" He watched her pace and tried to fight the feeling of betrayal creeping up on him. "Katniss? Are you actually dumping me? On the day I've been reaped?"
The way he said it made her sound like she was the lowest person on the face of the earth for even considering doing such a thing. She halted in her tracks and tried to explain herself. "Not dumping you exactly."
"Then what are you saying? Because it sounds like you're exactly dumping me." Accusation filled his eyes as he stared her down. "Katniss, I've lost everything today." He ran his hand over the back of his neck; a nervous habit of his, and said, "I don't think I could take it if I lost you too."
A million thoughts rushed through her head. 'We're fighting to the death. I have to murder strangers…children. I might die. Peeta might die. Oh my God. Peeta might die.' All of her plans were out the window with the thought of his death and rushed into his arms. "We can't let the other tributes know about us. They'll see it as weak. They'll use it against us." She pressed her lips hard against his cheek and squeezed her arms around his neck.
"Okay, Katniss. I won't tell anyone."
"Promise?" She pulled back to look into his face. "Promise me you won't give it away to the other tributes?"
"I promise. Just…don't leave me. Don't scare me like that again, okay?"
"Okay." She couldn't do it. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't end her relationship with Peeta. Once they got to the Capitol, they would wind up separating anyway. In the meantime, she couldn't break his heart. If this was all they had left, then she would take it.
"Swear it?" Peeta made her promise.
"I swear." The sound of his sigh and feel of his warm breath stirring the hair by her ear sent a jolt through her. "Peeta, I don't want you to die."
"I don't want to die, but if I have to so you can live, than that's what I'll do."
"Don't say that."
"It's how I feel."
"We should've run away this morning. We should've just run into the woods and not looked back."
"And then what would've happened to Prim?"
"We could've taken her with us." Katniss attempted a grin. "Of course she probably wouldn't have made it a half of a mile, but it's a nice thought."
"Yeah. It's a nice thought." Peeta leaned down and kissed her lightly and then sat on her bed and patted the spot next to him. When she sat down he said, "Know what I thought about today when Delly came to see me? I thought about the first time you came to meet me by the oak tree at lunch."
Katniss squeezed Peeta's hand and said, "I remember that day."
"You had a scowl on your face." He glanced over his shoulder at her. "Yup, just like that one."
Her scowl deepened. "I'm not scowling."
Peeta chuckled at her. "It went away though."
Remembering his expression that day she said, "You looked like a cat that caught the canary."
"Did I?" His knowing smirk was accentuated by the narrowing of his eyes.
"Yes," Katniss smiled timidly at the memory. "I didn't know what I was doing there. The entire time I walked there I kept telling myself I was nuts."
"I kept hoping you would show up."
"I told you I would."
"But what if you had changed your mind?"
"Then I would've gone there and told you I changed my mind. I wouldn't have just left you there wondering."
"Delly didn't know what to think when I asked her to have lunch out there."
"Madge thought I was insane when I asked her to go out there with me. And when we saw you and Delly she just stared at me like I had a screw loose."
Peeta started laughing. "Remember when they sat down to eat and Delly started talking to her? Madge said, 'I'm not much of a talker,' and Delly said, 'That's okay. I am.'" They both laughed at the memory.
"I thought Madge was going to leave right then and there, but she didn't."
Peeta lifted Katniss fingers to his lips and placed a kiss on them. "No, she didn't. Then I got to spend my lunch eating strawberries with you."
The berries had been the last of the season and their growth dwarfed by the cold weather coming on. "They were crushed."
"They were delicious."
They sat in silence before Peeta said, "I better go before I get caught in here."
Unsure of what the rules were for fraternization between tributes, Katniss said, "Let me check the hall first."
Peeta snuck back into his room and took a shower. It was a strange thing standing in a tub instead of sitting in one. He actually preferred the shower to the tub, but mostly because there was hot water at the ready; a rare thing in District 12. When he was done he got dressed in a pair of pants the Capitol had provided as well as a shirt. 'Might as well enjoy the lap of luxury while you can, Peeta,' he thought to himself. It was time, he realized, to start forming a plan. 'How do you win the Hunger Games?' He silently asked himself. Well there was one person that could answer that question: Haymitch Abernathy, an actual victor. He was the only living mentor of District 12 and the lifeline to Katniss and Peeta as far as the Games were concerned. Peeta was going to have to pick his brain and set off to find him. As he walked through the train cars he found his mentor in the bar car with a glass of amber liquid in his hand and his head slumped. "Haymitch?"
"Wha…" The rest of the word was obliterated with a belch.
"I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Peeta Mellark." He stuck his hand out in an attempt to shake Haymitch's, but the man didn't care one bit.
"I'm taking a nap," was the only thing Haymitch said before he deserted Peeta and headed towards his quarters.
Haymitch was a lost cause. Now Peeta knew he would have to do a lot more than to rely on his mentor to make sure Katniss won these Games. From this point on he was going to have to love the Capitol and all the people in it. Those are the people that the Games were designed for. That's where the sponsors came from and you needed sponsors to win, but how did he get Katniss sponsors? That was the question.
Dinner was served in the dining car and Peeta was starving. When Effie made a comment about the tributes from the previous year eating with their fingers he wanted to say something about them never having enough food to eat with a fork and knife, but then he watched as Katniss finished her meal with her fingers and it took all he had not to laugh. He wanted to join her, but he had made a vow to make the people from the Capitol love him and that included Effie Trinket. She wasn't able to sponsor them, but she was their escort and he was sure she had some kind of pull in the Capitol.
When the meal was over he knew he had eaten too much. Apparently Katniss had too. She looked a little green around the gills, but he needed his strength. He had to put on weight if he was to take on the Careers and he would take them on.
Effie suggested they watch the recaps of the reapings on the television. Katniss and Peeta follow her and sat precariously close to one another on the sofa without realizing it, but Effie paid them no mind so neither worried about it. Once the recaps begin everyone's eyes are glued to the television screen anyway, and they all take note of this year's competition. From District 1 an arrogant looking boy and a breathtaking girl, both of whom don't flinch when they're called. From District 3 an average looking boy that Katniss pays no attention to, but Peeta feels bad for. From District 8 a boy and a girl that Katniss seems to stare past, but for some reason Peeta took notice of every one. 'They look petrified,' he thought to himself. 'Like the majority of us.'
They both noticed the crippled boy from District 10 and when the little girl from District 11 named Rue was called found Peeta's hand and linked her fingers with his; hiding them in the sofa cushions. She was grateful for his reassuring grip as they watched their own reaping. Reliving the horror of Prim's name being called out and Katniss volunteering was equally as painful in the retelling as the actual experience of it.
Too fixated on her own television appearance to notice how distraught Katniss and Peeta were, Effie said snidely, "Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot about televised behavior."
Peeta tried to make light of the situation for Katniss's benefit. "He was drunk. He's drunk every year."
Katniss joined in, "Every day." They laughed into each other's eyes, because at this point there was really nothing else they could do.
"Yes," Effie's lips pursed tightly together and her tone scolded. "How odd you two find it amusing. Your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these Games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentations of any gifts." Her voice jumped an octave, "Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and your death!"
Her words hit Peeta in the gut like a punch. He needed Haymitch. Katniss needed Haymitch. Peeta didn't care what it would take; he would get Haymitch to help them out no matter what. If it killed him, and it would kill him, Katniss was going to go home.
As if on cue, Haymitch entered the room, mumbling some incoherent sentence, but stopped midway through in order to vomit the contents of his stomach at their feet. Accentuating her point, Effie screeched, "So laugh it up!"
The sight of their mentor in a pool of his own puke had Peeta coming to his senses and thinking, 'I've got a lot of work to do.'
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