From now on, I am going to make the same chapter from both Katniss's and Cinna's point of view. I will update Cinna's POV of this chapter later today. Hope you enjoy!
"What's wrong?" Cinna asks when he notices my hesitation.
"The fence is electrified," I whisper.
"Is it always electrified?" he asks.
"It's never been," I reply. "Ever since Thread came, he's changed everything."
Thread is the new Head Peacekeeper the Capitol sent. So far, he has set up a whipping post and a gallows. The square was turned into a torture haven.
"How do we get out of here?" he asks, his eyes widening.
"Calm down," I tell him sternly. "Panicking won't help." I begin to pace back and forth behind the fence. How are we going to get out of here? If we try to squeeze through the hole, we'll be fried in seconds. I look up to see a tall tree hanging over the fence, its branches just barely hanging over.
"There." I point at the tree. Cinna looks at it warily, unsure if it will work. I walk over and position my foot in a section of the tree. I grab a sturdy branch and hoist myself up. I reach the top in no time, staring down at Cinna.
"Watch," I call down to him. I slide out to the farthest branch. As I begin to wrap my hands around it, it snaps and falls to the ground below with a thud.
"Are you alright?" Cinna calls.
"I'm fine," I reassure him. I grab the next closest branch and swing myself over the fence. I'm dangling over the fence, hanging on to the branch. I look down. I'm a few feet up from the ground. I gulp loudly.
"Katniss?" Cinna calls. I look over in his direction. His eyes are full of fear and worry. I look away.
I hear a snapping sound. I look up to see that the branch I am holding has broken halfway. My stomach clenches with fear. The branch fully snaps and I scream as I plunge towards the ground. I land on the icy ground hard. I stifle a groan.
"Katniss!" Cinna screams. He climbs up the tree quickly and leaps from a branch. He lands on his feet, slipping slightly on the ice.
"Katniss!" He bends down to help me stand. I grab his hand and try to stand. I cry out as my tailbone protests. Cinna's face contorts into worry. I bite my lip to keep from crying out again. I wrap my arm around his shoulders and he supports me with one arm around my waist.
"I can't let Snow see me like this," I say. I refuse to look weak and helpless in front of him.
"We have to get you home," he says. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," I say, without much conviction. I wince as I take a step forward. Cinna gives me a look.
"Katniss-" he starts.
"No." I shake my head. "I refuse to go home."
Cinna sighs. We sit on a bench outside of Victor's Village. I bite my lip hard as pain spreads through my tailbone and up my back.
"We're going home." Cinna stands.
I pull him down by the front of his shirt and kiss him, hard. He kisses me back, tangling his hands in my hair.
"Katniss," he murmurs against my lips. He pulls away.
"No." I pull him back and smash my lips against his. He tries to fight, but I hold on tightly. He finally breaks free of my grip and takes a few steps back.
"Katniss," he says. "I'm taking you home."
I feel tears burning in the back of my eyes. I blink to put them at bay. As one slips out, I wipe it away furiously.
"Hey." Cinna runs his thumb under my eye. "It'll be okay. I won't let Snow touch a hair on your head. I'll be with you the entire time."
I kiss him softly. "Thank you," I say. He blushes and lifts me from the bench. We walk through the gates of the Victor's Village. When we reach my house, Cinna sets me down carefully to rap his knuckles on the door. My mother opens the door. She looks at me and notices the pain that is obviously on my face.
"Katniss." My mother sighs. "What happened to you?"
"I slipped on the ice," I say, which isn't technically a lie. I feel Cinna's eyes burning into the side of my face, but I ignore him. My mother looks from me to Cinna, but doesn't say anything. She supports me from my other arm and we walk slowly into the house.
When we walk into the living room, my heart stops. Peeta is there, dressed in a classic tuxedo, his hair slicked back. My steps falter and Cinna grips my waist tighter, almost painfully.
"Ouch," I mutter. He loosens his grip. My mother helps me to the plush couch and I sit down slowly. I hiss as pain sears my tailbone.
"What happened?" Peeta asks. He sits next to me and strokes my hair with his hand. I sigh and lean into him.
"She slipped," Cinna says. I look up at him. His eyes are hard. Is he jealous?
Peeta is studying me. He knows Cinna is lying, but he doesn't let on. He strokes my cheek tenderly.
"Snow said to get Katniss ready," my mother says to Cinna. He nods and offers his hand to me. I take it and stand slowly, trying to ignore the pain. I hobble beside him to my bedroom. He closes the door behind him.
"What am I getting ready for?" I ask. Cinna says nothing and moves to the makeup bag that is sitting on my dresser. He opens it and starts taking things out.
"Cinna," I say. He continues to focus on the makeup. I cross the room quickly, ignoring my pain, and turn him around to face me.
"You know what's going on." I don't frame it as a question.
He says nothing; he just stares at me with those cold, green eyes.
"What is wrong with you?!" I screech. I shake his shoulders.
"Stop," he says coldly. "Sit." He points to the chair that has been cushioned because of my injury. I sit in it carefully. He starts to fix my hair into its simple braid.
"Whatever happens, I love you," I say.
His face relaxes in the mirror. "I love you," he whispers. He bends down and kisses the top of my head. I close my eyes and sigh.
"Why is Peeta dressed fancy?" I say.
"He wanted to look nice for you," he replies, the tension returning to his face.
"Why?" I ask.
Cinna shrugs. I know he is lying. His shoulders are hunched and his hands are clammy as they fix my hair.
I reach up and take one of his hands. "Tell me," I say, squeezing his hand. "Please."
Cinna sighs. "Snow said it's a surprise for you. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's going to be huge."
My stomach sinks. I have a bad feeling about this surprise.
Cinna fixes my hair. He does my makeup lightly; pink blush to make my cheeks rosy and dark eyeliner to make my eyes pop. He applies a little pink lip gloss.
"You're beautiful," he chokes.
"You made me look beautiful," I say.
Cinna shakes his head. "You're beautiful, inside and out. With or without makeup. You're one of the bravest people I have ever met. I am the luckiest guy in the world right now. And so is Peeta." He smiles. He tucks a stand of my hair behind my ear and kisses me.
"Thank you, Cinna," I say. "I'm glad you are my stylist. I couldn't have asked for anyone better."
He grabs my face unexpectedly and smashes his lips roughly against mine. I grip his arms tightly, not wanting him to stop kissing me.
He pulls back. He fixes my hair and applies another coat of lip gloss which had smeared.
"I love you, Katniss," he says. "No matter what, I will always love you."
I blink back tears that burn at the back of my eyes. I kiss him softly and stand. Laying on the bed is a soft pink dress. It's simple, but elegant. I take off my clothes and put on the dress. It hugs my body perfectly and matches my makeup. I stand in the full-length mirror and stare at myself. My hair is done in its signature braid. My eyes pop from the dark eyeliner and my cheeks look as if they have a natural blush.
Cinna comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. He bends his head down and kisses the hollow at my neck. I shudder from the softness of his lips. His lips work their way up my neck and to my cheek. I angle my head and kiss his lips.
"We should head back out there," he murmurs into my hair. I sigh and nod. He grabs my waist and we walk towards the door. Cinna opens the door and we walk through to the living room.
Peeta stands and takes my hand. "You look beautiful," he says.
"Thank you." I smile at him. Cinna steps back and stands next to Portia.
I notice Snow standing in the shadows, flanked by two guards. Peeta looks over at him. Snow gives him a small nod.
"Katniss," Peeta begins. "Ever since I laid eyes on you when we were in kindergarten, I've been in love with you. You're the most beautiful and bravest girl I've ever met." He kneels on one knee.
Oh, God. This is not happening.
"Katniss Everdeen, will you marry me?"