DISCLAIMER: Once upon a time….. I still didn't own The Hunger Games.
A/N: I'm baaack! Did you miss me I was gone for like five whole hours! :O (lol) Well here is the next chap and the next one will be the last! I know, it's a short story but it is supposed to be… Nevertheless, I hope you like it! PLEASE REVIEW!
Katniss' POV
Chapter Three:
The only sounds that can be heard as the tension builds in the crowded space are the choking sobs forcing their way from my shaking body. I try and silence my cries but am unsuccessful. Fear threatens to overcome me as I am forced to watch something that will scar both Peeta and I for the rest of our lives.
The people all hold their breath and watch in trepidation as Thread hurls the whip through the frigid air and allows the first lash to cut Peeta's muscled bare back.
The whip's snap resounds strongly through the town and is followed by a unified gasp from the audience but the whip's sting provokes no sound from Peeta. He merely clenches his jaw and squeezes his eyes shut but Thread is not rewarded with the reaction he obviously was expecting, for his eyes harden and he delivers the next dozen lashes with increasing ferocity.
Around the thirty-fifth lash, Peeta slumps, mercifully, unconscious. But much to everyone's (most especially my) dismay, Thread notices before he can deliver a single lash to Peeta's comatose form.
Thread motions to a peacekeeper I have never seen before and without a word takes a bucket filled with ice-cold water from the soldier and promptly dumps its contents over Peeta's bowed head.
Peeta awakes with a jolt as the brisk water shocks his system and he groans as the pain floods his senses all at once.
"You're not getting out of it that easy kid. You are to feel every lash." Thread spits out roughly before retaking his position and immediately picking up where he left off.
I am finally able to turn my attention away from the heartbreaking scene when I see Peeta's two older brothers emerge from the crowd. It is clear from their breathless responses as Haymitch fills them in on the situation that they ran over as soon as they heard. But I quickly drop my gaze to the ground as I am filled with overwhelming guilt. I cannot bear to look at the brothers panicked expressions knowing I am the cause of their pain.
All of our attention is brought back to the scene as Thread suddenly pauses and holds the whip in a different position.
A strangled sob is ripped from my chest as Thread brings the whip down on Peeta's heavily bleeding back four times in quick succession and a pained cry is finally pulled from his throat.
Thread stands back and speaks one last time to the crowd, "Let this be a lesson to everyone. No one is above the rule of The Capitol. Not even Victors."
Not waiting for another cue, I immediately spring up from where I've been sitting and stubble quickly over to my fiancé.
Once I fall on my knees at his side, Peeta painfully raises his head just enough so he can look into my tear filled eyes and he opens his mouth to say something but all he can manage is a groan before he leans his head against the post he's still attached to. I reach out and stroke his water and sweat soaked hair in a gesture that surprises both he and I but I don't pull back.
Thread then steps up to us and sneers, "Is she still worth it boy?" Peeta turns and glares at him over his shoulder and croaks out a "Yes". Thread then looks at me and I glare at him as menacingly as I can with tears streaming down my cheeks before he runs his hand down the whip and flings some of Peeta's blood on me.
Once Thread leaves, Haymitch and Peeta's brothers come running over to us but I turn my back to them before they arrive. My attention is needed elsewhere.
I glance at Peeta's form that is drenched in sweat and blood and have to quickly divert my eyes before I bolt. I've never done well with injuries. I look down at the metal cuff restraining Peeta's wrist on this side and shout frantically over my shoulder to our mentor, "Where's the key?!"
The sentence is barely out of my mouth when Haymitch drops beside us and begins to unlock the shackles. One of Peeta's brothers and I stand behind him and awkwardly try to hold him up under his arms without touching his back so that he doesn't fall once the pressure is removed.
Once he is free, I kneel back down before him and allow him to lean his aching torso against me. His warm, panting breaths tickle my neck as we wait for his oldest brother to come back with something to lay him on, and before I even know what I'm doing I bend my neck down and gingerly place a kiss to Peeta's wet forehead. Peeta's eyes fly open in surprise but he thinks better of addressing it. Wise of him.
After what feels like hours, his brother finally returns with a board from one of the merchants and together Haymitch and his brothers carefully lift him on to it. I grab his jacket from where they threw it on the ground and clutch it close to my chest as I follow quickly behind them and into my house.
I distantly hear Haymitch call to my mother once we get through the door and vaguely notice them lay Peeta down on our kitchen table. I don't even register the worried looks and words from my little sister, all I can see is the steady gaze of his blue eyes. His eyes are filled with pain but what hypnotizes me is the amount of love they hold for me. Without breaking our stare, I take his hand and can't help but wonder what my eyes show for him.
A/N: I know. I'm not happy with the ending either. But I will try to do better on the last chapter! Well! See ya in a few hours! :D Loads of love~V