Day 14

I was informed, upon waking up, that I was getting a pass to go up to the surface, say goodbye to my family, and pack my things. I had to be back down by 1800 hours. If I hadn't signaled before then, that was when they were teleporting me back.

Joy.

I gave them I firm no when they asked if I wanted Peeta with me.

Haymitch, acting as my bodyguard for the day, escorted me to this laboratory-like room manned by this old guy called Beetee. The magic was really efficient. One minute I was standing there, and the next I was back on the beach in the Seam.

Haymitch and I stared at each other. He had legs again, and normal clothes, looking the exact same way he had the last 16 years I'd known him. He broke the silence first. "Well, have fun, sweetheart. See you in a few hours."

I tore my flippers off my feet (I was still wearing the wetsuit) and threw them at him. One hit his hand and the other rebounded off his house. Then I turned around and ran all the way home.

"Prim?" I shouted, running into the house. "Prim- Prim!"

She must have been right in the kitchen or something, because I'd only taken three steps into the house before she launched herself into my chest, clutching at me and sobbing uncontrollably. "Katniss!" she said.

"Prim," I repeated, grabbing her tighter, willing myself to be strong for her, not to cry. "Prim. I'm so sorry."

"Where have you been?" she demanded, looking up at me. "All we had was a little piece of paper that says 'she's safe' and you were gone!"

"I'm so sorry," I repeated.

She pulled away from me, frowning. She'd probably been crying for days, and she looked it, too. "Where's Peeta?" she asked. "Me and Mom went looking, but he and Haymitch weren't home either."

"He's…"

"Katniss!"

I was swept into my mother's arms. "Mom!" I exclaimed, "You're…home?"

She pulled away from me. Her frown and red eyes matched Prim's. "Where have you been?" she asked. "We've been worried sick."

I swallowed. "Mom," I admitted. "I don't know what to do. I need help."

Prim on her own might have believed me, but Mom was sure I was crazy. After I finished recounting my tale, she just looked at me and said, "Oh, honey. You should go lie down."

I frowned. "You don't believe me."

"I don't think you're lying," she replied.

"It was real," I snapped. "Peeta was real, ask Prim!"

"I'm sure it was," she said, leaning forward and running her hands over my hair. I'm sure it was a search for a concussion-causing bump hiding as a comforting gesture. "But sometimes things like this happen after stress, it's called a dissociative fugue, and-"

"What, I went crazy and made the whole thing up?"

Her hands still. "Katniss, listen to yourself. Mermen?"

"Peeta was real," I repeated, "Right, Prim?"

We both turned to her. She shrunk under our gazes. "Well, yes," she said, "But, Katniss, Gale's the one that found him. I think he would have noticed-"

"I said there was a spell!" I snapped.

"How about if Prim runs and gets Gale," my mother said soothingly, "While you go lie down?"

"I'm not sick," I growled.

"Please, Katniss?" she asked.

"Please?" Prim added.

I scowled at both of them. "Fine," I said. "As soon as Gale gets here. While you're at it, you might as well go looking for Haymitch. He'll verify my story. Look anywhere that serves liquor."

My mom and Prim exchanged a look, but I didn't argue. Like a good girl, I went upstairs to bed while Prim went to the Hawthornes'. I was glad to see Gale before I left, anyways.

I voiced the thought out loud to my mother when she came upstairs to bring me soup. "Leaving?" she blurted out, surprised.

I folded my arms over my chest. "Not by choice," I muttered.

"Katniss," she snapped. "Explain yourself."

I looked up at her. "I told you. They have spells. They're going to take me back a six tonight, whether I agree or not. They told me to say goodbye and pack my things."

Understandably, she looked concerned and upset, but surprisingly didn't demand more information. "Oh, Katniss," she sighed, and then pushed the bowl of soup and me. "Eat up."

I grabbed the bowl and took a sip. "Thanks, Mom, I – wow." I licked my lips. "This tastes different. What's in it?"

She shrugged. "Medicine."

"Medicine?" I questioned, sniffing it. Medicine was expensive, even for a doctor. "Mom, what-" My head started to go funny. "Mom, you didn't…is this sleep syrup?"

"Oh, Katniss," she repeated, soothing back my hair from my forehead.

I jerked away from her touch. "Mom, no. Tell me you didn't. Mom, I'm not making this up…"

She must have given me enough to last at least twelve hours.

A/N: Don't worry, the rest of the chapters won't be as short or fast-paced. I'll update soon. On another note, I want to thank every single one of you that takes the time to review this story. I take all of your feedback very seriously. Happy Valentine's Day!