The Mentor

Chapter 11: A Summons

I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside

There's nowhere we can hide

-Demons, Imagine

The sweet smell of bread baking swam through the house and Peeta for once thought that he might actually be having a good day. Most days are riddled with nightmares both day and night, the annoyance of his prosthetic and often depressive thoughts.

He pulled the bread out of the oven and set it on the stove to cool. He glanced out the window of his house and saw leaves turning various shades of red, yellow and oranges. He would have to paint it one of these days. It would look beautiful on a canvas.

Peeta pulled on a pair of boots and opened his front door. A cool air surrounded him and he breathed out a harsh breath. He looked over at the houses that were now lit with happiness or at least not happiness of the owners. He was used to all of the houses being dark and dreary except for the occasional pinch of color from teenagers getting drunk and even then it was hardly anything.

He had seen Katniss and Gale, he could see the hauntings of the games in their eyes. Peeta had spent some time with Katniss, and every moment he treasured. She had seemed to enjoy his company and he was thankful for it.

Something crunched under his foot and he looked down. A wrinkled red envelope was lying on his doorstep.

His breath hitched and his heart started to beat quickly in his chest. He hoped with his whole heart that this wasn't exactly what he thought it was. With shaky hands he picked it up and attempted to straighten it.

Peeta ripped open the envelope and nearly screamed when he saw a client's name, address and a time and date for the train. He cursed under his breath He really didn't want to do this and he had a feeling that Katniss would put up a fight when she found out. It didn't help that the train left that night.

He stuffed the letter and walked briskly over to Haymitch's. His steps were rigid and he only glanced once at Katniss's house. Her lights were on and he didn't want to risk seeing her. It would take everything in him not to run to her and in his own way beg him not to go.

Peeta walked up Haymitch's steps and considered knocking for a moment before he pushed his way in. The door was unlocked and the air was stale. It had a musty scent as if no one had bothered to clean it in years and no one had.

Haymitch was sleeping with his head on the table and a bottle in his hand. Peeta could see the hilt of a knife in his other hand. If he wanted to wake Haymitch, he would have to go about it semi carefully. Sure, he have had to wake Haymitch hundreds of times, but each time it was a new challenge.

The sound of Haymitch's door opening and closing caught Peeta's attention. The sound of two footsteps peaked his interest even more. He turned towards the doorway to see Katniss and Gale walk in.

A mixture of a sinking feeling and butterflies exploding was all Peeta could feel as Katniss walked in. He didn't want her to know about the client that he had to leave for that night. He would most likely be gone for a couple weeks like he always was.

Why were they even here? They rarely both visited Haymitch at the same time. It was mostly Peeta that made sure that Haymitch ate and would provide him with fresh food rather than liquor.

"Did you kill him?" Hissed Gale. Peeta masked his pooling anger. Could that day get any better?

"No," Peeta bit out and unclenched his fists. Katniss looked at him strangely for a fraction of a second before the expression turned to dust.

Katniss walked past him and Gale and into Haymitch's kitchen. She grabbed a coffee pot and filled it with ice cold water from the sink. She stalks over to where Haymitch is sleeping and pours the water over him.

She steps back and nearly runs into Peeta. He reaches out a hand and steadies her. He can feel the warmth of her skin through the light coat she is wearing and for some reason it feels right. She attempts a grateful smile even if it looks more like a grimace. To him it is all the same. He notes that she puts her hand in her pocket and seems to be playing with whatever is inside of it.

A growl comes from Haymitch's place before any movement and a moment later he is slashing the air with his knife. He glares at Katniss as he notices the coffee pot in her hand.

"What are you all doing in my house." Said Haymitch after muttering a few curses.

"I need to know what this is." Said Gale with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"What, Boy?" Asked Haymitch roughly. He sat back down heavily in his seat, not bothering to remove his soggy clothes.

"This," said Gale throwing a red envelope on the table.

Haymitch sat up straight and Peeta stiffened at the sight of an envelope that was identical to the one in his pocket.

"All it has in it is a note saying someone in the Capital's address and that you guys can explain." Said Gale as he looked at Haymitch intently.

Peeta's eyes met Haymitch's and it was like they were having a silent conversation. Do they explain this all to him there? Peeta shook his head. They couldn't risk the Capital hearing them. Gale would blow up when he heard what it meant. He could get himself killed.

Haymitch raised an eyebrow as if to ask if Peeta had been given the same envelope and he responded with a short nod.

"Stop that," said Gale pointing between Peeta and Haymitch.

Peeta glanced down at Katniss to see her looking up at him oddly. She was trying to understand what was going on between him and Haymitch and Peeta would assume that she had nearly figured it out. She opened her mouth about to speak when Haymitch interrupted her.

"Let's take a walk." Said Haymitch tersely as he walked towards the front door.

A/N: TA DA! A new chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it, please tell me your thoughts on it and what you want to happen.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the envelope and I am not all proud of owning that.