Hello. Sorry for not updating, somethings are going on in my life right now, but I'm trying to make more time to write. Anyway I hope you like this chapter :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, sadly.
Chapter 8
Katniss P.O.V.
5 days. That's how long we were in the bunker for. It was torture, being in a cramped space with hundreds of people. All of which wanted to talk to me and you and I both know I am not a big talker. Luckily Peeta was with me for all of it so I said the bare minimum and let him do the talking. When we finally get out we find out that everyone has been relocated rooms deeper underground as the damage higher up will take a long time to repair. At first I began to panic, I suddenly remembered I left my parachute containing my pearl and locket in mine and Peeta's old room. But, when we arrived in our new room, lying on the bed was the parachute and the pearl and locket were tucked safely inside.
The next few days after we were released were a bit surreal. As soon as we got out I was sent to the medical centre for a check-up, everything was fine and Peeta and I both breathed a sigh of relief. Peeta helped with clearing the debris, I would have helped if I could but I didn't think it was a good idea with me being pregnant and all. I was issued with a new uniform that fits me better, it isn't very flattering but it is more comfortable than my old one. Everything has been really good; I try to keep positive about Gale. He may never get better but there is a chance he will and I will hold on to the hope that he does, if not for my sakes for his family's sake.
I like the night times best. Like now, I just sit here and have one hand around my stomach and the other strokes Peeta's hair whist he sleeps. Most of the time I will him to sleep peacefully, but most nights he has nightmares. He doesn't thrash about and scream like I do. When he has nightmares he tenses up and whispers to himself. When that happens I grip his hand tightly and whisper soothing things in his ear until he wakes up. Tonight, is a nice night though, Peeta is sleeping soundly. He begins to stir and I look over and see the time is only 4:30. He opens his eyes fully and when he sees me awake a puzzled look crosses his face.
"What are you doing up?" He asks. I smile and kiss the top of his head.
"I haven't been able to sleep recently so I just stay up, thinking and watching you sleep." I reply honestly. He frowns.
"It's not good for you to stay up all night."
"I don't stay up all night, and it's not like I follow my schedule I always take naps during the day. And anyway, I like watching you sleep, it keeps me calm." I say, he nods and I snuggle into his chest. We are quiet for a few minutes, and then he breaks the silence.
"You said you think when you can't sleep, what do you think about?" He asks, I sigh.
"I think about all sorts," I begin, "I think about Gale, I think about Prim and my mother, I think about the war and how it seems to be never ending, I think about how Coin hates me, I think about how much I hate Snow, I think about you and I think about our baby." I say, he smiles at the last two, but then his smile falters and his face changed to a serious expression and I know he is trying to work out how to tell me something I won't want to hear.
"I know you want to tell me something." I say, "And I know you think I won't like it, and I probably won't but just go and say it." He sits up pulling me with him and we both end up sitting crossed legged facing each other. He takes my hands and leans his forehead against mine.
"Look Katniss, you have to know I don't want to do this, but Coin saw how strong I was and realised I was better and, well I couldn't say no and I-."
"Peeta stop stalling what does Coin want you to do?" I interrupt. He sighs and looks deep into my eyes.
"Coin has recruited me into joining District 13's army. I start training today. I'm so sorry, but I couldn't say no, and I want to do what I can to help. I'm sorry Katniss." He says, and this is one of the rare times I actually want to hit Peeta with all my might and scream obscenities at him. I move away from him,
"Does this mean you'll have to go out of the District on missions and stuff?" I ask.
"I don't know," He replies "Probably, but Coin promised it wouldn't be far and there would be a very low risk of my squad getting hurt." He says. I just sit there in silence digesting the horrific information I have been told. Peeta looks at me expectantly,
"Katniss say something please," He pleads. "Are you mad?"
"I don't know, I just, I, I can't lose you, not again!" I say and although I want to hate him right now I can't and I begin to sob into his chest. He strokes my hair and back and whispers soothing things to me.
"Sshh, Katniss I may never leave the district they have to train me up first before they can send me anywhere and it may take months to train me fully. The war could be over by then." He whispers, and I nod willing him to be right because I never want to be without him again.
After Peeta's revelation this morning we went back to sleep for an hour or so until our alarm went off signalling that it was time to get up. We showered got dressed and went to the cafeteria. The air is tense between us, I'm not exactly mad at Peeta, but I'm not exactly feeling loving towards him either and because of my pregnancy whatever mood I'm in gets amplified by 10. Everyone senses the tension but no one says anything. When our allotted slot for breakfast ends, Peeta kisses me on the forehead before going off to training. I'm supposed to be doing something probably, but I'm on a mission of my own. To find Haymitch.
He wasn't in the cafeteria so I figure he'll be in his room, not following his schedule. I reach his compartment and bang ferociously on the door. He yells at me to stop banging and opens the door,
"Hey sweetheart!" He says, and I scowl and push past him.
"Don't sweetheart me!" I yell, "How could you?" He shuts the door and pulls out the chair from the desk for me to sit on.
"How could I what?" He asks.
"Let Peeta join the army!" I fume. Haymitch's mouth gapes open, leading me to believe he didn't know anything about it and a tiny bit of guilt settles in my stomach.
"The boys done what?" he asks,
"He's joined the 13 army, he said Coin saw him helping clear the rubble from the bombings and saw how much better he was and recruited him for the army!" I say, Haymitch begins to pace and then look around the corners of his room looking for listening devices. After making sure there are none he begins to talk,
"Look, I've suspected this for a while and now I'm sure, Coin hates you." I roll my eyes,
"We all know that!" I say, and he shakes his head.
"No, I mean really hates you. She's been trying to bring you down for a while now. She's doing whatever she can to get at you; recruiting Peeta in the army is one of her ways of chipping away at you." He explains, and everything begins to make sense.
"Oh God! What am I going to do?" I ask in a panic.
"Okay, here's what you do, you don't give her ammunition. If you don't appear to have any weaknesses she can't get to you. So don't be mad at Peeta because that's what she wants, don't appear to be upset about Gale, do what she says and whatever you do don't upset her! Got it?" He says, and I nod, too paralysed with fear to talk.
I was walking back to my compartment to take nap, when Haymitch catches me up and says we need to go to command. I sigh and hobble along behind him. We reach command and I take a seat. Peeta stands behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. I give him a look that says I'm not mad anymore and Coin begins to talk.
"I'm going to be blunt; morale is low in the Districts. Word got out to them that we got bombed hard and they are beginning to think we're losing this war, now I know and you know, that we will not lose this war. But, the other districts need to be reminded of this, so I propose that we send some people out to the districts to boost morale. We will start with District 8, there Is a hospital there, where the people need to be reminded of why we need to win. Now I bet you all want to know who is going, and I have decided that the person who will be the most help on this trip is Katniss." She says and I feel Peeta's hands tense on my shoulders. I'm about to protest, but I bite my tongue remembering Haymitch's words of warning. He begins to protest for me anyway.
"With all due respect Ma'am the girl is 4 and a half months pregnant, is it safe to send her out there?" Haymitch asks,
"I can assure you it is perfectly safe. All she will do is visit the hospital for an hour or so, while the camera crews film her and come straight back here. Also she will have guards with her at all times." Coin says, "So Katniss what do you say? Will you do it?" She smiles menacingly and although it was posed as a question I know I have no choice.
"Yes, but with one condition." I say,
"Go on."
"Peeta accompanies me on this trip and any further trips I may take." I say confidently, I know Haymitch warned me not to push it, but I will not go anywhere without Peeta. The last time we split up he ended up in the Capitol I can't have that happen again. Coin smiles,
"I was expecting you to say that, and the answer is yes, Mr Mellark will accompany you on the trips, he was going to anyway." she says, "You are all dismissed now, Mr and Mrs Mellark your flight leaves for 8 in an hour." And with that she gets up and leaves.
"You okay?" Peeta asks me as we board the hover craft. I take his hand, and whisper back,
"I'm a bit nervous, what if I can't film anything good?"
"Don't worry, you'll be fine and I'll be with you all the time." He smiles reassuringly as we take our seats. No one says much on the way it doesn't take that long but everyone is tense even though Coin assured us it was safe. Haymitch came too and Boggs. However they will stay in the hovercraft and communicate with us through microchips we will have in our ears.
The hover craft descends and Peeta and I get off accompanied by our guards and camera crews. We are greeted by a woman called Paylor. She is in Charge of District 8, and she is helping at the Hospital.
"Katniss, Peeta" She says as she shakes our hands. "I warn you now; it's not pretty in there."
"It's okay, we want to help and you'd be surprised at what we've seen." Peeta says smoothly as she leads us inside the hospital. The first thing that hits me is the smell, a mixture of infection, vomit and urine. I automatically clutch Peeta's hand tighter and wrap the other hand protectively around my stomach. Paylor leaves us to talk to the patients. We walk up to a group of beds and introduce ourselves. Our appearance seems to lift their spirits and they ask lots of questions which we answer, they ask about the baby and our relationship and how things are going in 13. Soon the whole room erupts in chatter and people asking if we're really here. Once we've been round to everyone the mood in the room seems lighter and everyone seems full of more hope and determination to win the war.
We stand outside the hospital and the film crew congratulate us. It turns out they got some great footage to use for propos of Peeta and I talking to the patients. Paylor thanks us for coming and says she hopes we visit again soon because it really lifted her people's spirits. I was reflecting on what a good day it had been, when suddenly Haymitch's voice is in my ears.
"Katniss, Peeta, run, run now!" He exclaims. I look over at Peeta and he shrugs.
"What, why?" I ask,
"Don't argue, just run!" He screams, so Peeta pulls on my hand and we start running, where to, we don't know, we just run away from the Hospital as Haymitch instructs.
"Haymitch would you mind telli-…" I break off as I know now, exactly why Haymitch told us to run. Peeta hold me tightly as we watch the Bombs rain down on the Hospital where we spent the last two hours talking to the patients. Tears form in my eyes as I think of all the lives that have just been lost. Haymitch's voice again brings me out of my trance though as he screams that we need to keep moving, however he doesn't get to finish his sentence though, because the next thing I know Peeta has pushed me to the ground and is on top of me. Everything around us is in chaos, but it soon becomes clear why we all dropped to the ground when the bomb goes off.
Sorry, for the cliffy, but its always good to keep them wanting more!
Again I'm sorry for not updating as much as I should of, and believe me I feel terrible about it, but sometimes life just throws little things in there to put you off track.
Any way I will try to update more and please review, it would make me really happy if you did!
Thanks for reading/favouriting/reviewing and following! Please review, they are great motivation and make me happy :) xox
