A/N: thank you to HopeNeverDies and ForeverInTime for their reviews. I happen to have a poem I wrote on my profile, so if you'd like, go check it out. Other than that, here's the long overdue chapter.

Note: I will not have as much time to write due to the beginning of the Track and Field season. Wish me luck, guys.

Chapter 7

I stare out the window as the Capitol starts to come closer into view. The electronic glow springs up from the towering mountains, protecting the fortressed city. I try not to think about Gale as we get closer by the second; some of the people from the Capitol, including Effie, have been getting excited ever since we left District 1. Thankfully they don't know about what I saw that night; the night I discovered the truth about Haymitch and the terrible fact that the Capitol has finally flexed its muscle to try and silence the rebellion.

As this process of trying to do what President Snow asked of Peeta and myself continues, I find that I can only trust Peeta; I'm sure that Effie is loyal to the Capitol and that Haymitch could possibly be a spy. For which side, I don't know; at times I don't know which side he'll choose if a violent rebellion breaks out. And that's what Peeta and I are supposed to stop for Snow.

Looking away from the Capitol, I'm able to spot the stars up in the night sky; something I doubt they care much for in the Capitol. Who needs to look up at stars when you get to watch teenagers butcher each other every year? Thinking about the Games in that manner just reveals to me everything I know; they're a barbaric event used by the Capitol to keep the people of Panem in their place. The Gamemakers don't care for the families of all of the countless dead tributes, they only worry about if they're going to survive until the next year and what position they'll have. And it sickens me.

As I sit there, staring out into the dark plains surrounding the mountains, the door opens up. As the footfalls come closer, I don't have to turn around to know it's Peeta. His arms come around me and I feel the warmth of his body against mine and I suddenly feel safer.

"Just stay here, please?" I whisper out. Peeta doesn't say anything and I know he'll be with me until the Capitol decides we've lived past our 'entertainment prime'.

It seems like we're there forever before Haymitch comes in. "The people who've organized this entire thing want you two. After they're done, we should be in the Capitol. I hope you two know what you're doing; one misstep and a lot of people will die. You have the chance to prevent that; I'd suggest you take it." He turns away, staggering slightly from his years of drinking.

Peeta stands up, offering me a hand. As I take it, he starts to speak. "Well, I guess we should go do what they want." He makes no mention to what Haymitch said at the end of his little 'speech', so I just follow him through the train. Soon we're with the Capitol people who're all have been extremely giddy today. One of them, the only one who looks normal to us, speaks.

"We don't want a repeat of District 11, nor do we want the treatment we got in either 8, 2, or 1. All of those districts have been placed under harsher rule after you two went through. There is also a lot of talk about you two being close to the insurrectionist Gale Hawthorn." I look to Peeta, trying to mask my worry. Apparently they can read me like a large-letter book.

"You know him, don't you?" I know the question is directed at me, but it feels like it's for both of us.

"Yes. After Peeta, he's my best friend." I ignore Peeta's sideways glance at me as I stare down the people from the Capitol. First, they take away my freedom. Secondly, they take away any chance of living a real life. Now, they've taken away one friend and now I'm worried about what could possibly happen to Peeta. The berries were my idea and now I'm paying the price, slowly.

"And you," he looks over to Peeta, "how close are you to Mr. Hawthorn?"

"I don't know him as well as Katniss does, but I would be willing to trust my life in his hands." A grim smile was on his face, unwilling to back down. At times like this is when I just want Peeta. All of him. They all stare at me as my face starts to burn.

"You know something we do not, don't' you?"

Smiling, I reply. "I know that he knows about the chance of a rebellion. I'd guess that's one of his motives. He almost always had something bad to say about the Capitol. It was usually about the Games or the Peacekeepers or the constant state of poverty everyone lived in." I smug smirk is on my face as they glare at me, angered by what I've said.

"You know, Mrs. Mellark," I don't flinch, "I could have you arrested for that blasphemy, but I'm in a good mood, so I'm not going to tell anyone else what you've just said."

"What about the people behind you. Will they spill?" I smile as Peeta prods into the man's mistake.

"That can always be fixed." He turns on a dime, drawing a handgun. In a number of loud flashes, all the others with him are slumped on the ground, blood flowing from their heads. The splattering from the shots to their heads are coated against the side of the compartment.

We stare at him, worried. For the first time since I was in the arena, I actually feel scared. Hunting was different than this; as long as you gave the more dangerous animals the correct amount of space, you didn't end up in their stomach. In pieces, of course. We continue to stand there until Haymitch and Effie come flying into the compartment. As they take in the sight of the dead bodies and the splattering of blood, they back out of the room. He doesn't even look over at them.

"So this is how it's going to work, victors. You two are going to disassociate yourselves from Mr. Hawthorn or else President Snow is going to have to get his hands dirty once again. And let me tell you, he doesn't like to do that when he doesn't have to." I look back to Peeta for a second or two before gazing at the man. "We'll be stopping soon, so I suggest you get back to your 'happy-lover' looks back on; the citizens of the Capitol don't need to see a some frightened teenagers again. They'll want that in six months."

He leads us to the door where we're 'reunited' with Haymitch and Effie. After a few moments, the door opens up and I walk into the next part of my life.

A part without Gale.

A/N: yeah, I know it's short and you've all been waiting long, but sorry. At least I ran 7 ½ miles today.