Author's Note: Hiya. How are you guys? Hope you are all okay. I thought I'd update since it feels like forever! I know I say it loads, but I've had so many lovely reviews lately, I feel so happy that anyone would take the time to read this story, let alone review! So thankyou…from the bottom of my heart.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Hunger Games. It all belongs to Suzanne Collins.

I can't help but drift off to sleep…

Chapter 14

I'm running through the forest. I have to find her, to know if she's alive. Every so often, I stop and whistle, praying I will hear the mockingjays sing her reply. Yet I hear nothing. There is no birdsong, no rustle of leaves, no gunshots. It is mysteriously silent. However, I keep going. I know I have to find her, make sure she's safe. Then I hear a deathly scream, loud and piercing. The sound goes straight through me and chills me to the bone.

"Katniss, help me!" She screams. I run faster, the blood pounding in my head in time with my racing heart. I rush into the clearing, and there she is, tied up in a net, squirming and wriggling desperately in an attempt to break free of the restraints that constrict tightly around her like a snake. She sees me and tries to sit up, wincing in pain as the rope tightens around her body.

"Please, help me Katniss!" She shrieks. I grab my knife and rush over to her, attempting to cut the many ropes around her. She writhes in the net, trying to help, but it only tangles everything more, making it more difficult for me to cut her free.

"Rue, lie still." I beg desperately. She stops moving, and become almost like a statue, she is so still. I continue to cut the ropes, and eventually she is free. I throw the heavy net off her and she sits up and flings her tiny arms around me, her tears splashing onto my jacket. I hold her ever tighter, feeling tears coming up into my own eyes. Rue…she is like my sister, I would do anything to protect her. Eventually, we break apart and stand up. I wipe away her tears with the hem of my shirt. I hear a sound behind her. I look up, just in time to see Gale shoot an arrow in our direction. I can't move, it's like I'm frozen. His arrow pierces her body, and lodges in her chest. Rue clutches her stomach, and falls to her knees.

"No…" I whisper. Rue reaches up, tears running down her face and places her tiny hand on my chest. I clutch it desperately, holding it to me like a lifeline. I want to cry, but I can't. I just stare into her dark chestnut eyes, her beautiful eyes that are scrunched up and filled with pain. I want to say something, tell her it'll be okay, but the words won't come out. Then her eyes close, and her hand goes limp in mine. I lay it down gently, and stroke her shiny black hair. Then I stand up, and whistle her tune. I'm about to turn away when I remember Gale. He killed her. Within a second I have my quiver out, an arrow notched, ready to fire at him, but he just stands there, with a strange smirk on his face.

"Go on then Catnip," He hisses. "Do you really want to kill me? Could you look into my eyes as I die, knowing you killed me? Could you live every day with my face haunting you, knowing it was your arrow that did it?" I gasp. He killed Rue, but he's right. I couldn't live with it.

"Well, well, well, Miss Everdeen, it seems you're not as brave and courageous as you thought." A strange, menacing voice comes from the bushes. I whirl my head around trying to pinpoint the man's location, my arrow ready to fire.

"Oh you don't want to do that." The voice says. "That would be very dangerous." Then he steps out of the forest. It's President Snow. He's dressed in a black suit, a perfect white rose in his lapel. His papery white hair blows in the summer breeze as he takes more steps towards Gale. When he reaches him, he places a hand on Gale's shoulder.

"Well done my boy you did an excellent job!" He smiles, and it makes me feel sick. "However, we all know that it's not quite finished. Miss Everdeen here has caused far too much trouble for my liking. The girl on fire must die…painfully." He steps away from Gale cackling with laughter. Gale turns to him and nods.

"Yes Sir. It would be my pleasure to hear her screams and make her beg for mercy at my feet." President Snow laughs even more.

"Good. I look forward to her head gracing my wall." He smiles menacingly and turns away, disappearing into thin air. Gale begins a slow walk towards me.

"Gale, stop!" I beg. He just smiles, and then slaps me across the face with such force; it knocks me to the ground. He continues to kick and beat me, until I feel pain everywhere and my skin is covered with black and blue marks. I pray for death, I want death; it would be easier than this torture. However, I know Gale would never make it that easy. I want to beg for my life, but I know that's what he wants, so I refuse to give him the glory. I'm starting to see black spots in my vision, and I know I'm about ten seconds away from passing out. I feel relief at this fact. Unconscious, I won't be able to feel his torture. Then he stops. The black spots fade away, and I become aware that I'm lying on the grass on my back, with Rue's dead body a few feet away. Gale leans over me, a smirk on his face.

"Look at yourself Catnip. Not exactly the girl on fire now areyou?" He laughs. "However, I know I told the President that I'd give him your head, but before I do that, there's one more person who needs to see you before you die." He tugs at a long rope, that I hadn't noticed before, and a person come stumbling out the forest. It's Peeta. He is covered in dirt and bruises but he's still my Peeta.

"Peeta!" I gasp and then wince in pain.

"Katniss!" He shouts. I try to move towards him, but I can't. My limbs are unable to move.

"Peeta!" I cry again. Gale smiles evilly at our interaction.

"Oh dear Catnip. Seems you won't be able to re-join lover boy. Isn't that just bittersweet? You're going to die together, but alone. Isn't that such a shame?" He laughs and turns away from me, starting to walk over to Peeta.

"If you dare harm him," I shout. "You'll have me to deal with!" Gale turns back and smiles.

"Oh Catnip," he sighs, as if it really were a tragedy. "I'm counting on it." He runs over to Peeta grabbing the rope that binds him and pulling forcefully, causing Peeta to fall onto his knees. I scream his name and he looks at me, and I know what he's saying. That I should try to escape, that he'll take my punishment. He'll die for me. Somehow deep inside me, I find the strength to get up. Every step hurts but I focus on Peeta. He needs me. Gale continues to beat him, and he cries out with every hit. His pain hurts more than my own. When I've nearly reached them, Gale turns to face me.

"Good luck trying to save him!" He laughs then disappears. I reach over to Peeta, who's curled up on the floor.

"Peeta!" I sob, running my fingers through his blonde hair.

"Katniss," He breathes, and then smiles. Then everything goes black…

"Peeta!" I scream, bolting upright. I'm curled into the chair at my old house, and I leap off it in terror. Everything is pitch black; I can't see a thing. My breathing accelerates and I curl into a ball, sobbing. I realise I'm still screaming his name. Everything is too much, I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I'm going to die…

The front door crashes open and someone runs in. I daren't look. I prepare myself for the end, knowing that death has finally found me at last. I can only hope it'll bring me peace. Then a pair of strong arms wrap around me, and the scent of fresh bread and man envelops me. I want to unwrap myself but I'm stuck. I manage to open my eyes, and see Peeta's worried face staring down at me.

"Peeta!" I gasp, fresh tears pouring down my face.

"Katniss," He begins to speak but never finishes his sentence because I uncurl myself and pull him closer to me. He loses his balance and topples over so somehow we end up on the floor with me on my back and Peeta on top of me. We both laugh a little, then Peeta looks down and swallows at our intimate position. He looks about to back away but I wrap my arms around his neck and whisper,

"Stay." I pull him even closer so that his head rests upon my chest. I cry even more, and then gently stroke his hair. I don't know why I'm doing this, but I want him closer to me. My nightmare has made me realise just how much I need him, how important he is to me. We lie there for a few minutes before Peeta shifts uncomfortably.

"What's the matter?" I ask him softly. He sits up a little, a blush rising in his cheeks.

"My leg," He mutters, embarrassed. I sit up, so we are face to face.

"Does it hurt a lot?" I ask. He shakes his head, but he seems uncomfortable talking about it, so I drop the subject. "Why are you here?" I ask instead. His eyebrows raise, like he is shocked at my question.

"Haven't you seen the time Katniss? It's 1 AM! Everyone thinks you are missing, no-ones seen you for hours. When you went out this morning, and you weren't back at tea time, your mother was worried. She went looking for you, round all the shops, at the Hawthorne's but she hadn't seen you for hours. She went to Haymitch, and he came to me but we couldn't find you. There are a small group out now, looking for you. Gale offered to lead the group, since he knows you best." He said that, with a slight bitterness in his tone. It took me a few seconds to process this, and then Gale's face filled my mind. How he had been rude to Peeta, how he'd attacked me and then my nightmare filled my mind.

"Gale?" I whispered. "No…" I pulled myself away from Peeta. My breathing rose again, and I found my voice getting higher and higher.

"No!" I screamed, stumbling backwards. "You can't let him take me! I can't! Peeta please!" I screamed. He slowly came towards me.

"Katniss, what's wrong?"

"You can't let Gale take me!" I ran towards him and wrapped my arms tightly around him. "I won't go! Please, Peeta don't send me away! No he can't take me…" I sank to the floor crying again. Peeta dropped to his knees and cradled me softly.

"Katniss, what are you going on about? No-one's going to take you anywhere. You're safe. You're with me." He caught one of my shaking hands and placed it on his heart. "Feel that Katniss? That's my heartbeat. It's okay. Everything's okay. Just relax." He held my hand until my breathing started to return to normal.

"You're alive," I breathed. He chuckled softly.

"Yes, I am." He said slowly. "C'mon, we ought to be getting you home, and let everyone know you're safe."

"But I am home?" I said stupidly. Peeta smiled a little.

"Okay, let's get you back to Victor's Village." I stood up and dusted myself down, wiping away the remainder of my tears.

"How do I look?" I ask, trying to smooth my hair, but failing, so I pulled it out of the braid and let it hang loose down my back. The soft brown tresses curl over my shoulders, and I look up at Peeta, a slight smile on my face.

"You look…beautiful." Peeta says in a hushed voice. I blush at the compliment. I hold out my hand, and he looks a little shocked, but takes it. I smile, at the feeling of our hands joined together. I'd never known how nice it could feel, holding hands with a boy, but it's nice. Warm and soft and protecting. Hand in hand, Peeta and I make our way back to Victor's Village.

Author's Note: There you go guys! Peeta made a return (Yay!) I know so many of you have been asking for Peeta, I'd no idea; it'd been 4 chapters since he last made his appearance! Anyway, he will definitely feature in loads of chapters coming, up since I have big plans for this story. Next chapter will be more Peeta and Gale conflict, as well as the return of Haymitch and Effie! I hope you liked what I did with President Snow, but he was an exaggeration as it was a nightmare. Also Gale is not really like that either, but he comes from the fact that he attacked Katniss, and his prominent jealousy, but they will make up soon and resolve this conflict (well, sort of). Anyway please remember to review, I'd love to know what you think will happen next and whether you liked this chapter.

Love,

Mjenney21 xxx