Saltwater trickles my lips and I jerk my head up to look around. I look around me and see myself lying in the middle of a boat; in the middle of the ocean, salt water trickling my face. I look around me but the never ending ocean stretched out, the white hot sun shining bright above my heat. Suddenly the water started threshing around I feared the boat might turn. "Katniss!" I jerked my head, recognizing the sound before I saw the figure bobbing his way towards me. "Finnick! FINNICK!" I shout and try to steady myself, clutching the side of the boat. I have to help him. He's only a hand length away. "Katniss, help me." Just as I caught his hand, Finnick's body burst and…
I jerk slammed myself up. Hot tears streamed before I could stop them and I sobbed into my knees rocking back and forth. Finnick, my friend—I couldn't help me again. I thought about it for a moment, and calmed myself down; convincing myself it was just a dream. I looked around just to realize I had been sleeping near the ridge around the lake. I must've fallen asleep. I look around taking in the serene atmosphere and took a deep breath. I got up and splashed the chilled and clear water of the lake on my face and cupped my hands to drink it. I forgot my watch but from the looks of the sun, it was near sunset—almost 5 or 6 in the evening. I trudge down the path kicking the snow on the way. I don't know what I'm to do now. I made a decision to go visit Gale, but I don't know how. I thought of asking Peeta, but decided against it for obvious reasons. I'm definitely not asking Haymitch. That leaves me with Plutarch Heavensbee, my only way to go to District 2, anywhere really.
Tomorrow, tomorrow I will talk to him.
"Peeta, I'm home!" I took off my coat and shook my boots.
"Katniss." Peeta came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron and kissing me. I kissed him back and quickly made a face. He reeked of raw fish. I hated raw fish.
"I know. Fish." I laughed and twisted his shirt into my fists and held him close. Those blue eyes stared back at me with such intensity, I was surprised they didn't burn my eyes. I kissed him, my body dissolving into the kiss. I felt the passion I so often felt, and I knew I wouldn't be the first one to break away.
A knock on the door jerked us both up and we started to laugh. "I'll get that." I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and opened the door. Plutarch stood in front of us, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Katniss, Peeta. Good to see you haven't changed a bit. Is that fish I smell?" He invited himself in and gave me his coat. I eyed him and then Peeta, but he just laughed.
"Will you be joining us for dinner, Plutarch? I made poached salmon." Peeta asked going on, Plutarch and I following behind. Plutarch carried a big box covered in a leather covering. He kept it beside the sofa and sat down.
"Ah yes, I very much would like to. Where's little Willow? I have something for her."
"I'll make some tea. Katniss, why don't you go get Willow and Hec?" I got up and went upstairs. I knocked on the door and slowly opened it. I saw Willow jump and little and hurriedly close whatever she'd been looking at.
"What were you reading Willow?" I eyed her curiously and sat on her bed.
"Nothing Katniss, just a school project. Plutarch is here isn't he? I heard him downstairs." She caught my hand and pulled me towards the door.
"Okay then." I pretended to follow her and then jumped up and grabbed the book she'd just closed.
"Katniss don't-"
"Oh come on, what's the worse—" I stopped and stared at the cover. It had my mockingjay pin illustrated on it. Flaming, with fire around the ring. The Mockingjay Rebellion, it read. I stared at it, trying hard not to panic.
"Who gave you the book?" I muttered, afraid if I spoke up loud my voice would tremble.
"Katniss please.."
"Who gave you the book, Willow?" I spoke up, clutching my fists to keep my voice from shaking.
"Peeta did." She mumbled barely audible. My eyes flicked and I found another book, a fatter one, kept on the top of a box. I picked it up and saw the box was full of tapes. My eyes barely read one. Propaganda IV.
"Did Peeta give these to you too?" I asked, angrily.
"No, Haymitch did." Willow looked at me, hesitant.
"Well—"
"KATNISS!" I heard Peeta shout and for some reason, it made me even angrier.
"Where's Hector?" I asked Willow, still staring at the pile of tapes.
"Sleeping. We should go down, Katniss. Plutarch is a guest." She hurriedly made her way downstairs while I followed her, my mind in a whirl.
"There you are!" Plutarch got up and hugged Willow. The he sat down and took out the box. "I got you a little gift, you know."
He removed the cover and I saw a box made of teak and oak, beautifully carved with rhinestones engraved at places. It had a mockingjay symbol in the middle. He took off the lid and I saw a set of bows and arrows.
"Uncle Plutarch, it's beautiful." Willow grabbed the bow and touched it gingerly.
Peeta lightly touched my shoulders and replied, "Well, Katniss can teach Willow how to shoot arrows, right Katniss?"
Suddenly my anger snapped back and I shook my shoulders to get his hands off me.
His eyes registered hurt and I realized that everyone had seen my little act. Plutarch filled the silence by noting that the food smelled delicious and he certainly would love some. Peeta went into the kitchen, but not before giving me a glare.
After dinner, I sent Willow to her bedroom and Peeta brought out some champagne. I hated that stuff, but apparently Plutarch and all the spoilt capital rebels thought it was magnificent. Peeta poured some in long stem glasses and Plutarch took one and sat down. He sipped some and then turned towards us, grim.
"Katniss.. Peeta.. the real reason for my visit was a little more detailed. Please sit." He motioned to the chairs nearby and I sat on the chair eyeing Peeta. He looked just as confused me.
Plutarch cleared his throat and continued.
"Something awful has happened. Another group of rebels, ones in the favor of executing all the people and children of the Capitol, want to overthrow the current government. They are also in favor of.. a dictatorship and.. starting of the hunger games for the children of the Capitol.." Plutarch shifted uncomfortably.
"What? But that can't happen right? There can no way be a Hunger Games for anyone!" Peeta got up and shouted.
Plutarch was trying to calm Peeta down, while all I could think was, why tell us?
Unless..
Unless they thing that the rebels do have a chance to succeed..
It didn't shock or amaze me. It sort of felt like, of course it is happening.
"How many?" I quietly mumbled.
"District 3, 11 and 2. And 13."
I stared straight at the bow box Plutarch got Willow—at the mockingjay engraved on it.
"Katniss, we need you to rev up the rebellion." Plutarch continued quietly.
"NO WAY. Katniss, is NOT going to do anything of the sort. Katniss—"
"I need to go to District 2." I looked at Plutarch expectedly.
"What?" Peeta looked at me, his blue eyes reflecting so much pain that it broke my heart. But I didn't care. If he can show Willow the things I dreaded, then I can go meet what he dreaded.
"I'm sorry, what Katniss?" Plutarch asked confused.
"I need to go to District 2, to meet Gale." I got up and poured myself some wine.
"Yes.. sure but first about our current problem.."
"THAT is all you can think of, Katniss? We are in a danger of another rebellion and Gale is all you can think of?" Peeta got up and stood in front of me.
"Well, Plutarch? Can you help me?" I stared at Plutarch, completely ignoring Peeta.
"Um.. Yes of course, tomorrow afternoon perhaps?"
"All right then." Peeta quietly replied and slammed the door on his way out.
"I guess I'll stop by later then. Tomorrow afternoon it is, Katniss." Plutarch got up and left, while I stared at the foam on the top of my champagne.
I felt tears build up around the corner of my eyes. I felt angry and sad. I didn't like fighting with Peeta, but how dare he give the book to Willow? He had no right. He didn't know what I'd been through. Seeing him being tortured, seeing my friends being killed, my sister.
He had been tortured too.
I started crying silently, wiping the tears on my sleeves but they refused to stop. I threw the champagne glass on the floor and it broke into million little pieces. I got up and trudged towards the bedroom. I slowly opened the door. There I saw Peeta sitting up straight, his back to the door and staring down at his burnt hands. His shoulders shook silently, and I knew he was crying. I left him, my heart breaking and went into Hector's room. He slept on his crib, and I took a blanket out of the drawers and slept down on the floor near his crib, smelling his scent on the blanket.
I cried myself to sleep.
