What If

Chapter Four - Peeta and Primroses

"Sweetheart, Peeta's in the Capital"

I stood there until the impact of the words hit me. Peeta is in Capitol. He's most likely dead by now. Dead or being tortured for information about a plan he has never heard of. The boy with the bread, the boy who had saved me from Cato. Gone.

"It's okay sweetheart, it's going to be okay"

I can hear the strain in Haymitch's voice. He too had known Peeta, and fought to keep him alive in the arena by gathering sponsors and helping us train. If I think about it that way, maybe I owe Haymitch more than I think. This is no time to thank him though, speaking to him will only remind me of Peeta's absence.

I walk slowly out of the hospital, taking time to stop and look around me. I still have no idea where we all are. But, I guess it's my home now. The Capitol would hardly let five tribute escapees return to their districts…

I come across what seems to be the main hall. Men and woman walking hurriedly around the room, talking in loud voices. They're all wearing military gear and some seem to have burns on their arms and legs in varying degrees of severity. I walk quietly through the crowd, ducking my head in attempt to escape, unnoticed. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a young girl. Her hair is blond and tied back in two plaits. Her light clothes are a contrast to the black and camouflage gear of everyone around me and her shirt is untucked at the back. Like the tail of a little duck.

"Prim!" I shout.

She turns in my direction, a joyful smile replaces her confused expression. Despite the tears on her face, she shouts -

"Katniss, you're safe!"

I rush towards her, pushing people out of my way as I go.

"Why aren't you at home" I ask.

"Twelve isn't safe anymore, Katniss. We had to leave." her voice trembles, and I can tell that she is holding back tears. But she continues "They dropped bombs, you see. First in Two, then Five, then Eleven. By the time we realised what they were doing, it was too late."

I shake my head, not wanting to hear any more. I can see the tears in her eyes now, but she is so strong, so brave, and she doesn't stop talking.

"The bombs fell, and we ran. They left the district in touch, but we knew it still wasn't safe. We knew that the bombs were something to do with the games. Mum, me, Gale and all his family ran. We ran far, far away until we thought nobody could ever find us. But we were wrong."

She pauses for a minute and lets out a sob. I wonder how she can tell me all this, relive what seems to be her worst nightmare.

"When the hovercraft came, we thought it was the Capitol. Gale handed us some berries and told us to eat them if they tortured us. Nightlock, he called them. But when the people came down to us, they weren't from the Capitol. They were from here… Thirteen."

"Thirteen" I ask, unsure of what she means.

"District Thirteen. We're here now. It's our new home." Her voice breaks on the last sentence and she falls into my arms in a fresh wave of tears.

We stay here, like this, until the room empties. Silent, but happy that we're finally reunited. In a world where everything seems to be falling apart, I have learned to savour these moments. We stay here, in the empty hall, until someone calls -

"Prim, are you there. We have to go to the hospital to get cleaned up." I recognise the voice, as my mothers.

Prim beckons for me to follow her as she leaves, but I don't. I don't think I can stand to talk to my mother right now, not after all that's happened.

"Katniss, are you coming?" Prim calls as she reaches the door.

"I- I just need a minute." I shout back to her.

She seems to understand because she gives me a sad smile and leaves without another word. As I watch her go, I think to myself. How lucky are we to have survived…

A/N

Sorry if I didn't update in a while, I had writers block! But I have the next few chapters planned out and I'm hoping that updates should be faster over the next few weeks/days!

Two people have suggested Finnick and Annie to be included, and one Enobaria. So I will make sure to add them in!

If anyone wants them (or any other Hunger Games character) to appear just let me know!

Don't forget to leave a review, I know that there are lots of things I can improve, but it would really help it somebody gave suggestions and told me what they thought so far.

Thanks to anybody who has followed, favourited or reviewed so far, you've all been lovely! It really gives me motivation to write. Oh and, HungerGamesUltimateFangirl - sorry about your iPad *hugs*

~Cosmiicao