Note: Hello readers! I understand the story is a bit slow at the moment, but there is only going to be a couple more chapters until the reaping! Remember to read and review so I know people are interested in this story, and I love comments on my stories so do not hesitate to make one. Enjoy the chapter!
I open my eyes, instantly remembering that I am home. I stand up and walk towards the window. For the first time in weeks I can look outside and see a landscape that isn't moving. The sun rise in District 12 is better than ever, and I am reluctant to leave my window as I watch the sun come up, colouring the sky a deep orange. Orange. Orange was Peeta's favourite colour.
My hands become a sickly white as I tightly clench the window frame. This has to stop; I need to move on from the Hunger Games, and more importantly, Peeta. I cannot help pondering over what would have been different if neither of us had been chosen. I shake my head, finding no need to torture myself with thoughts of me never entering the arena, what's done is done.
I speed down the stairs, eager to see my mother and Primrose. When I enter the kitchen, I find my mother sitting at the table. One glance at the clock and I realise I have slept in past noon.
"Good morning Katniss" my mother says merrily.
"Morning" I say, in a surprisingly genuine tone.
"Katniss, you're awake!" Primrose says. She holds a bowl of soup, creating a smell that brings back good memories of the Hob. In fact, it smells like Greasy Sae's soup. What a great breakfast. Suddenly I put two and two together. Oh no, I hope Prim didn't go to the Hob. I trust the people there, I truly do, but she is too young to be in a place like that alone. I think she can see my worried face, because she then comments "Gale dropped it off while you were asleep, a welcome home present from him, he said." I feel myself smiling, a new habit I have gotten into since returning home. Relief flows through me as we all enjoy a lovely breakfast together.
"Katniiiiss! Please can I come with you? Please!?" Primrose whines as I slip on my father's old hunting jacket and my boots. I laugh, rolling my eyes.
"Fine then Prim, you can come to the forest with me if you promise not to react like you did last time." She nods vigorously, and I remember the last time she came with me to the forest, when I tried to teach her to hunt. She was in tears when I shot a rabbit, crying and begging me to help her take it home so she could heal it, scaring all the other animals away.
"I promise!" She chirps innocently and we walk out the door, out of Victor's Village and approach the fence. For a second I listen, and as normal the fence is as silent as stone. We crawl under the fence and make our way into the depths of the woods.
With a soft wind in our faces we race up a hill.
"Hey look!" Prim says, loudly enough to chase all the animals in a five mile radius all the way to the Capitol. "Some katniss roots!" We near a small pond, and Prim gets down on her knees and starts to pick some.
"I'll find something for you to put that in" I say, annoyed with myself, and realising that I did not bring my game bag. In my defence, I wasn't going to hunt today. I leave Prim in the mud and head off to find a thick tree that I can scrape the bark off, careful to keep her in my sight. I discover a suitable tree, and pull out a knife and start to scrape the thick bark.
I hear something behind me, and quickly glance at Primrose. She is still by the pond. I return to cutting, and although I hear not footsteps, I have no problem hearing the spine tingling greeting.
"Well, fancy seeing you here, Katniss Everdeen." I freeze. Silently gulping, I turn around, putting me face to face with President Snow. I try to speak, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a slight whimper. I consider stabbing him with the knife in my hand, but with all his power, the retaliation would probably be to kill my family, so I stay still and finally work up the courage to say something.
"Wonderful day isn't it?" His eyes show light amusement, as if a toddler had just told him that one plus five equals soap.
"Indeed it is, but may I ask why you are here in the woods if you no longer need to hunt?" My mouth drops. If he knows I hunt, then he must know about Gale coming here too, and maybe even my father.
"What do you want?" I ask rather boldly, dropping my knife to show that I will not try to murder him.
"Ah, but you see Miss Everdeen, it is not about what I want, it is about what I can offer to you."
Amongst the fear I feel, confusion sparks. What could he possibly offer me that I would want? I have all the money I need, a nice place to live, and my mother and sister are happy. Things are looking up in District 12, with more money coming in, what could I possibly need? "You see Miss Everdeen, with the snap of my fingers, I could land your sister in the most brutal games Panem has ever seen, and make coal so cheap that District 12 would become a graveyard of the bodies of men, women and children all starved to death in one week." The thought of it makes me choke. "On the other hand, I could guarantee safety for all those you care about, buy more coal so District 12 has more money, and I won't tell anyone about you and Gale coming to hunt here." I feel myself nodding, but quickly stop. It sounds too good to be true, and it probably is. What would he want me to do in exchange? Take yet another life? Move to the Capitol?
"What do you want me to do?" I ask. He smiles sinisterly, removing a disc from his pocket.
"I need you, Miss Everdeen, to become the girl you were in the arena." He presses a button on the disc, and a hologram shoots out, a slide show of me in the Hunger Games. My ferocity is clear as day, and when the shoot of my killing Peeta is shown, the world around me starts spinning, I grab a tree for support and can't help wondering what the audience thought of me in the final moments of the 74th Hunger Games. "Do we have a deal?" He asks. He wants me to sell myself out for the people I love. I deserve it for the things I have done, and it is for the safety of my family and friends, after all. Before the Hunger Games I would have said yes without thinking, and I know in my heart that I would never allow myself to change that much, which is why when President Snow asks me again there is no doubt in my reply.
"We most certainly have a deal."
