Disclaimer: Not my characters
"She tied you to a kitchen chair.
She broke your throne, and cut your hair,
and from your lips, she drew a
Hallelujia."
-Jeff Buckley (Hallelujia)
It wouldn't have been better if I stayed in town with Madge, my guest wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. This was obvious due to the fact that a fourth house in Victor's Village was lit. The people I met outside my house quickly blocked my door and made sure I got as little information as possible.
Now sitting across from President Snow's white rose sticking from his lapel, the room that should have felt comfortable now felt stuffy. His head was down, face stuffed in a book. Peeta stood against the opposite wall, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans and his face skimming over the expanse of books that littered the wall. His face had a look of displeasure, almost as though every book that sat on the shelf was a book about our hunger games. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the books there had something to do with the games. I walked up next to him, standing one my tip toes so I could see over his shoulder at what book was giving him such a hard time. The World As We Know It. One of the many banned books that told of something before the games. Peeta's hand was darting out to grab for the book, but before he got the chance Snow cut him off.
"Now now Peeta, you know that is a banned book." Peeta's hand lowered but he kept eyeing the book. He was going to get a hold of it somehow. "Katniss, so nice of you to finally have joined us, did you have fun at the Mayor's house?" I had almost forgotten about the cameras that hid everywhere in twelve, especially near the Mayor's house. My voice, however, was still caught in my throat. The smell of the roses was intoxicating the room. The most I could do was confirm with a slight nod. Snow gave me a cold look, "Now a bet the two of you are very excited for the upcoming games," He paused, daring one of us to speak, " I just wanted to be the first person to let you know about how this mentoring thing tends to go." Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out two silvery envelopes, much like the ones that held the announcement for the quell. "When the two of you get the chance, I advise you read this. Please do understand my reasoning." He waved the envelopes at us, I was moving forward before I even knew it. My hand closed against the envelope and I turned back to look at Peeta, He was still unmoving, but the place where the book had been was now replaced by air. He had used the cover I had given him to grab the book. "You two may leave now if you wish."
I turned my back to Snow, unsure as to why we wouldn't wish to leave. Grabbing for Peeta's hand which was now tightly braced around the letter, I pulled him out after me. Nodding to the guards that stood outside, I dragged Peeta behind me. We needed somewhere secluded that we could talk, somewhere without audio or cameras to watch us. I had a feeling that whatever is in this letter is probably not something that we want to be shared all around the nation. The only place that came to my mind though was the woods, Peeta had never been through the woods, and our safest bet was to go as it started to get dark. This would allow Peeta to make as much noise as possible as well as not being seen. We could bring blankets and camp our in the small woods next to my lake. The only thing was, was I really ready to share my lake with Peeta? I hoped so because it's now or never.
Still pulling Peeta behind me I hurried into my house, pulling it into the bathroom. Turning on the sink and shower, I started to speak. I told Peeta of my plans and he nodded, biting his lip. "Katniss, the only problem with that is, what if Snow comes looking at us and he doesn't find us?" This was a good question, something I had overlooked.
"He won't."
"How do you know?"
"I just know, he won't look for us. He wants us to absorb the letters he gave us. All we need is some time, we will be back before anyone even realizes that we were gone." I tried to give Peeta and encouraging smile but he was still giving me a quizzical look. With a sigh, he agreed and told me he was going to go pack a backpack with some things that we may need. I took this opportunity to step into the shower. Scrubbing off the smell of the roses. I scrubbed my skin raw, trying to clean all of the blood that tainted my skin. When Peeta and I met up again, we had an hour till curfew, it was already getting dark out and if we left now we could probably still make it to the meadow on time, but then we would have to sneak. Two hours later I was guiding him through the dark, listening for the buzz of the fence, I heard nothing. Shimming under, Peeta followed, he was trying to be as silent as possible, but his artificial leg did not appear to help him. His face was contracted into a look of pain, I almost stopped to ask him what was wrong, but the look on his face had changed. Now he had a look of happy surprise, I hadn't even thought about the trek to the lake, I was too busy worrying about Peeta. The lake looked dull compared to how it often looked, but the look on Peeta's face said otherwise.
Snorting I shoved back him into the house. The small broom I had used since I was a child sat against a wall. Picking it up, I swept the part on the floor I planned to put the blankets down. "Wow, Katniss Everdeen, the housewife." Peeta's voice rang out joyously behind me.
I tried my hardest to play along, "Well Mr. Mellark, a good housewife is what you want? Well, then a good housewife you will get." Peeta let out another small laugh. He helped me clean the floor and start a fire in the fireplace. Placing down our sleeping bags, I pulled out the silver envelopes. They didn't have our names on them or anything that would say they were different, but I still wasn't sure. Handing one to Peeta, I ripped mine open, I was never very graceful with things like this, and at this moment, the last thing I cared about was the silvery capital envelope. It felt heavy in my hands, almost as though my whole life was held on the letter.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Mellark,
Looking a the letter, I had almost forgotten that Peeta and I were technically engaged, soon to be married.
I hope you are having a nice day. Due to your winnings of the games, you have become quite possibly the most famous Victors of all time. Not only in your districts, but also here in the Capital. People are willing to pay a lot for your excellent company. Unfortunately, people do not want to break up the so-called Star Crossed Lovers. We could sell you together, but that would not be ideal. Instead, I propose that you come and live in the Capitol until the games have started. We will hold interviews and parties, and the people of the Capital will get to spend time with the two of you. Haymitch will take over your mentoring duties until the tributes are brought to the Capital for the Games. You will do interviews and whatever else is asked of you. In return, your families will not be harmed. I sincerely hope you consider what I have said, even if only for the sake of your families.
President Snow.
I looked at Peeta, his eyebrows were pulled together as he read the note. His eyes skimming the paper, reading and rereading the lines that he couldn't seem to get past. Though the note had come as a shock, I was not surprised to see what they had said. Mostly everyone knew that desirable victors were sold when they reached 16. Those who didn't comply would lose something important to them, but this never truly stopped Snow from selling them. I heard that's what happened to Johanna Mason, in a whispered hush during her victory tour. She refused to agree to Snow's terms, and when she came back from the tour everyone she loved was dead. Not only that but the highest bidder was also seated on her porch. They say now that she puts all of her anger and rage into sexual experiences, and I guess that's one way to let it out.
Thank goodness at least Peeta made it out with me. If all doesn't go well, at least I will have one person who understands. But looking at the note, I know what we need to do. We can not deny Snow's wishes, so we will tell him that we agree, and he will tell us what we must do and we will listen. We will be his puppets, at least until the games.
So it looks like I'm just going to be randomly updating for now until finals are done!
Wish me luck :)
