I woke up to the sound of something smashing and a high-pitched scream. My mother! I grab my bow and arrow and rush down the hallway to her room. I see my mother huddling in the corner with a big burly man towering over her. He has a sword raised over his head about to bring it down on my mother. I slip an arrow into the bow and shoot him in the leg. He whips around to face me. I stare at him with a nasty look on my face and he stares back with an equally nasty grimace.
He has brown oily hair and yellowing teeth. He stands at least six feet tall if not more and stares at me with two bright green eyes. The man plucks the arrow out of his leg then snaps it in two like it is a twig. Then came the scary part, he ran at me with his sword raised, ready to kill. I dodge the attempt and run down the stairs screaming.
I notice that the door is busted open so I try to make a run for it. I am about to reach the porch when he grabs my shirt collar and holds me tight. "If you scream again I'll slit your throat and let you die right here, right now." I bite my lip and try to kick him in the place that sees no light. He saw it coming and whips around tugging my hair. I whimper in pain and scream.
He grips me by the shoulders and places the sword in the correct position to kill me. I close my eyes and just let it come. I wait but nothing happens, that's when I open my eyes to see a man running towards us. He knocks me out of the other man's grip and I roll away from the battle.
It took me a second but I soon realize that the man that saved me is Haymitch. He must of heard my screams. I jump up to help Haymitch but he tells me to stay back so I instead run up to my mother.
She still huddles in the corner, whimpering in pain. I come up to her and lightly touch her shoulder. She flinches but soon recognizes it is me. I scoop her up and hold her to me, rubbing her back. I feel hot wet tears run down my back and soak my shirt.
"He threatened me Katniss, said he would hurt me if I didn't agree."
"Agree to what mother?" She doesn't answer but I feel more tears and hear her helpless sobs. I carry her to the edge of the stairs and check to see if the man is still fighting Haymitch. I see Haymitch standing over the man with Peacekeepers surrounding him. I walk down the stairs, my mother still in my arms and set her on the couch.
"What is going on?" I ask out loud.
"Ms. Everdeen, who is this man?" one of the Peacekeepers asks me.
"I don't know sir, he broke into my house then tried to kill me and my mother."
"Very well, Sam, take him to the holding cells."
"Yes sir." Sam says. He and the other Peacekeepers carry him away.
"Ms. Everdeen may I talk to you and your mother?'
"Yes sir but be careful she is really scared."
For the rest of the night the Peacekeeper, who's name is Jacob, questions me, my mother, and Haymitch. I learn that that man is a recent convict and has been accused of stealing and murder. I also learn from my mother that he is the one who caused her truama. He asked her to marry him and when she said no, threatened to come back and hurt her.
For a whole week he would come and threaten and beat her. When I came and got her she said she was afraid at the time that he would come after me too. When the Peacekeeper left I let my mother sleep on the couch while I clean her room. There is glass everywhere from the smashed window and my mother's sheets lay in a tangled mess on the floor.
I get the broom and dustpan and sweep up all the glass then re-make my mother's bed. I walk downstairs and see that my mother is awake getting out eggs for breakfast. I smile and walk to the door, which lays broken and messy on the floor. I sweep up more glass and prop the door up against the wall.
A wonderful smell is coming from the kitchen and I walk in to help my mother. She is stirring eggs in a pan and that's when I see the cuts. They are all up her arm and some on her face. I take her hand and lead her to the bathroom where the first aid kit is. "I'm fine Katniss, they're just small cuts."
"Small cuts! Mother they are all up your arm and look at these bruises!" I carefully start to clean her wounds despite her protests and I can see the gratitude in her eyes. I finish quickly and let her go make breakfast. We sit down in the dining room and eat a delicious meal of scrambled eggs and bacon.
My mother clears the plates and washes them so I sit down on the living room couch and turn on the television. I flip through the channels and finally settle on some dumb comedy show. The jokes are stupid but I'm not really paying attention. I'm thinking of Peeta and what he would make of this situation.
I'm lost in thought when something dings and a letter comes out of the mail chute. I pick it up and open it. It's from Peeta and I am excited to hear that he will be home soon and that he has made a new friend. I have to write back to him so I grab a pen and a piece of stray paper.
Dear Peeta,
My mother was attacked last night...she was threatened by a man and he broke into our house. i'll elaborate when you get back...only two more days! I cannot wait to see you and I am glad that you've made a new friend. Maybe she can visit sometime soon. Well, I love you and...goodbye!
Love,
Katniss
I lick the envelope and drop it into the mail chute. My mother comes to sit on the couch with me and we laugh and talk, almost like when Dad was still alive...
