This one was a quicker update! Did you notice? Well, whether you did or didn't, if you are indeed planning to read this, I hope you like it!
Chapter 10
Peeta's POV
As I turn from the direction Katniss is heading, I remember that I'm not alone.
"Peeta?" Finnick asks. "What's going on? Why did you send Katniss away?"
I spin around again and face him. I had completely forgotten that there were other people around, who must have witnessed that entire scene between Katniss and I. When talking with her, in a time of such intense emotion, it was almost like the rest of the world was gone. Like she was the only one that mattered and I had to keep her safe, at all costs.
I glance at the faces before me; Finnick, Johanna, Madge, all waiting for an explanation. I have been too focused on Katniss as of late, and seem to have been neglecting them. I can't forget about my friends. They have been doing everything in their power to help me; I have to help them too.
"There's something I just discovered, and it's very important, but we have to go. I'll explain while we walk," I say. They hesitantly follow, and I describe the situation to them: Snow, the chip, the bomb, everything. They take a minute to process what I've said before speaking.
"That means that there's a possibility that all of us contain hidden chips, except for Madge, of course," says Finnick.
He didn't pose it as a question, but I answer anyway. "Yes. Snow could be tracking not only Katniss, but us right now."
"And we are walking straight into his trap," Johanna concludes emotionlessly.
We share a grim look among the four of us, knowing that our most likely fate is in the clutches of President Snow. No matter what manner he chooses to do so in, he will find us, of that I am sure.
At least we know it's for a good cause; to keep our Mockingjay alive.
Katniss' POV
I'm jogging down the tunnel, wondering how on earth this will lead me to Gale, when I see him. Or rather, run face first into him.
We collide while turning a sharp corner and bump noses, causing us to stumble backwards confusedly. Hand pressed to my newly broken nose, I start to snap at the person, until I see who it is.
"Gale!" I immediately run into his arms, though he seems taken aback by the sudden gesture. I inhale deeply, taking in the scent of pine and earth, like his own cologne. Even though he's been away from the woods and shut underground, the familiar fragrance still lingers. His hair is the same as always, if slightly rumpled, and his skin is still its smooth olive tone. I pull back to look into his eyes, two swirling storms of gray, and see my feelings mirrored in them.
I have finally found my best friend, my hunting partner. And I need to apologize to him for the way I've treated him lately. "Gale… I'm sorry for yelling at you… back with Peeta and Madge." My heart squeezes at the thought of Peeta. We have been apart far too long.
"Catnip, you don't have to apologize. I needed to be woken up, and that did the job." He tries to say it offhandedly, but I can see the true pain he is feeling, though it may be less than the last time I saw him.
"Gale, you deserve an apology. And I'm going to give you one. That's that, and it can be over now." He needs to know that I truly am sorry, and that I didn't mean to say the things I did, no matter how true they were, I was just angry. "Gale, I'm sorry."
He turns away but I grip his shoulders and force him to face me. My gaze seems to cut through him, until he finally answers me. "Fine," he says. "You apologized. Are we done now?"
"Yes," I reply. "And I'm so glad to have you back." I pull him into another hug, and this time, his arms envelope me in warmth without hesitation.
When we break apart, Gale seems to return to reality first. "Where do we go from here? More importantly, how do we find our way there? I've been wandering through these tunnels all this time, and it still all looks the same. I don't know how we managed to find each other, this place is like a maze," he says.
Suddenly, everything snaps into place. A maze! The tunnels are a maze! Then, another sickening thought hits me. A maze. The perfect setting for a Hunger Games arena. My stomach lurches as the world seems to spin around me. I'm in the arena again. This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening. I must have started to fall, because I feel Gale's arms surround me and stand me upright.
"Katniss? Are you okay?" he asks. "What happened?" I grab hold of his arm for balance and try to explain without heaving up the contents of my stomach. After all, if there's anything I've learned from my past Hunger Games experiences, it's that I have to be strong. I can't fall prey to this trap that Snow has set for me; I cannot afford to be weak, not only for myself, but for the people I love and for the people of Panem.
"It's a maze. Don't you get it? President Snow turned this place into the next Hunger Games arena. And we, along with everyone else in these tunnels, are the tributes," I say gravely.
His expression is one of complete shock and confusion. "How is that possible? These tunnels were created by District 13, when they were playing dead. Snow wasn't involved because that would mean he was helping them."
"He must have been. There's no other way…" I trail off as I grasp the answer, plain as day, yet another dreadful realization. "There is no other way. He must have demanded control of the construction of the tunnels back when District 13 built them, knowing that they would succeed anyway. That means he's even more powerful than we thought."
Gale opens his mouth, as if about to protest, but rethinks the situation and remains silent, almost defeated. We've put nearly all of the puzzle pieces together, but I still feel like we are just as clueless as before, and even more hopeless.
My head is swimming when suddenly I think back to Peeta. Is he okay right now? I never found out why he sent me away so abruptly, though it was, no doubt, for my safety. He must be so worried about me, just as I am worried about him. My heart aches to see him again, to have his strong arms around me, his soft lips against mine. Now that I've found Gale, if purely by chance, I must find Peeta. And soon.
So, yes, this chapter was pretty boring, but that was some necessary info and I had to get through it. Hopefully, the next chapter will be more exciting and interesting, but for now...you'll just have to wait! :D