Peeta
All the Peacekeepers are dead; Boggs has just been informed by the other squadrons. We have to keep everyone in the camp for another couple of hours while the bodies are dealt with. I wonder what they are going to do with the bodies; there must be hundreds of them. I shudder at the thought; I saw people get killed in the Games but not on that scale. Only 23 people had to die in that arena, only 23 people every year. Already in this rebellion hundreds, maybe thousands have already lost their lives. Is it really worth it?
I'm not doing this anymore. I thought being part of the games was bad enough, being forced into a position where I had to kill; but doing it voluntarily in the rebellion is far worse. And it's not who I am, I'm not a killer. But what to do about it? We've reached a point now where everyone has to choose a side, Capitol or Rebel. What if you don't want to be either, if you just want to be neutral? It seems like there's no in between. I want to run, just copy Gale and Katniss and just run away from all the problems, let's not forget that's how this all started. It's thanks to them that the existence of district 13 was revealed. It's all thanks to them that all the districts are revolting.
In the background I can hear Boggs announcing that district 2 is now safe and that everyone can return. That means that we'll be going back to 13 soon, back to training, back to killing. I won't do it. I can't do it. If I'm not in the videos, will the districts begin to lose faith in the rebellion? Maybe that's the way to do it, the rebellion fails and life will go back to normal. I've already been in the Games, that's the hard bit over.
I glance over at Katniss, she's still talking to that shivering wreck of a man she pried away from the tree, expect he's not so much of a wreck any more. They seem to be in the midst of a serious discussion. I'm uncomfortable with how close she's getting to him, the man's a killer. I could tell instantly that he'd been in the Games, he's strong yet haunted by something. He may not have been born a killer, but that's what the Capitol moulded him into, surely she can see that. Why does she trust him?
Boggs clears his throat ready to make another announcement. "Start squadron, can I have your attention please. On the orders of President Coin we are not to return to district 13. Our rebel army has been strengthened by the new volunteers from district 2 and she wants more reinforcements. During the next few days we must travel to other districts enlisting anyone that wants to fight for us. We have been given permission to use the training facilities in the "Career" districts, as you people would call them, to complete training. That is all for now people."
Our new volunteers leave and head straight to the training centres they were so used to as teenagers. Katniss' new friend, however, does not follow them. Instead he follows Katniss to board our hover plane.
I storm over to them. "Is he coming with us?" My voice is raised, showing my annoyance.
"He has a name. And, yes, Blaze is coming with us. And before you ask, I've cleared it with Boggs so there's no way you can get me in trouble for it."
Blaze? Yet another stupid name from district 2; a stupid name for a stupid person.
Barely an hour later, the camp is all packed up and all of star squadron have boarded the plane ready to depart. We have taken our seats and are buckled in for take-off. Katniss and Blaze are together again while Gale and I sit opposite. I'm glad to see I've found something that Gale and I agree on, he looks at Blaze with as much hate as I. Are we both jealous of him? Afraid that there could be a third contender to win her heart?
The plane takes off and we head for district 1. It's a risky plan because district 1 is so close to the Capitol, but we're likely to find people there who are willing to fight. As another Career district the people there will be strong having trained from a young age as preparation for the Games. I don't want to see them, more killers. But truth be told I'm surrounded by them. The desire to kill seems to be spreading through people like a disease, one that I seem to be immune to.
The days pass agonizingly slowly as we make our way through all the districts in Panem. Districts 1, 2 and 4 produces the most volunteers, unsurprisingly, as the Career districts. We spend most of our lives in the air, travelling between the districts following the route suggested by Coin herself. In each district we spend only enough time to talk to the people and take names of those interested. In districts without training camps, a plane is sent from 13 to transport the volunteers to a district that has one.
After district 1 we move onto district 3, then 4, then 5 and 9. It seems an odd way of doing it but Boggs assure me that it's the quickest route.
Only 4 days, and 500 volunteers later, we end our journey in district 7. Not many people here are interested in volunteering, clearly not a violent district. We have a camp set up in the woods here, this strikes me as odd because we've never slept in any other district we visited. I assumed that once we were done here we'd travel back to district 13 for further instructions. I was excited to go back, I'd made my mind up that I was going to quit the squadron and just work in the kitchen with my parents.
It's a long walk to our camp, even the fittest of our soldiers are tired out by the end. There are tents dotted around under the shelter of the trees. Gale, Katniss and I have been assigned to tent number 2, all are clearly marked with a number. We dump our packs in the tent and the whole squadron assembles round a fire pit as per Boggs' orders.
"Soldiers, welcome to your new home. Unfortunately we will not be returning to district 13, Coin feels that we are better placed here. District 7 shares borders with the Capitol, and from this base camp here we are a mere hours trek from there. The district uprisings began nearly a week ago, by now the Capitol will be suffering, missing all the luxuries supplied to them by the districts. They will be growing weaker, we must strike soon. In 3 days, all troops will be deployed to the Capitol. That gives our new recruits sufficient training time, any who are deemed unfit by then will be left behind. Enjoy your time here, soldiers, but concentrate hard on your training. In a few days, we'll be in serious combat."
Katniss speaks up, "You mean to say we'll actually be fighting? I thought this squadron was only for shooting propaganda videos?"
"We already have the districts on our side, Soldier Everdeen, we have no need for videos now. Star squadron has some of the best fighters in our whole army, it would be a shame to waste their talents. Goodnight everyone."
Boggs walks off to his tent, how come he gets one to himself but everyone else has to share? The rest of us are left alone. They are so caught up in celebrating the change to their mission that no-one notices me slip away. I need time on my own, to process everything. I'm useless at fighting, I survived in the arena by painting myself into the background and hoping to go un-noticed. I was only part of the star squadron to be a part of the videos, they can't expect me to fight. I can't protect myself, I'll be the first one to die. That's it, I'm leaving tonight.
I hear a rustling behind me, as I turn round I see Katniss emerging from the trees.
"I wondered where you'd got to" she says.
"I needed to get away from there, clear my head," I reply.
"It's so exciting, isn't it, we're going to fight the Capitol!"
"I'm not." For someone who's famed for being good with words, I'm not doing too well.
"But you have to, Peeta, your part of the squadron; it's what you signed up for."
"I signed up to feature in videos; I never wanted to kill anyone. I can't kill people, Katniss, it's not in my nature."
"These aren't just people, Peeta, they are monsters. They've controlled us, killed the people we love. That's what they are, killers."
"And that's what you're turning into too. Everyone in this army is turning into a killer, you're no better than the Capitol!"
She looks hurt, verging on angry. "I'm killing these people for revenge, not for fun. They killed my Prim; I'm doing this for her. You were there when she died, you must understand how I feel." Tears begin to fall down her face.
"I do understand, and I'm sorry about Prim, but I can't kill anyone. I can't live with someone's blood on my hands, even if they deserve it. I'm leaving tonight, Katniss."
"Leaving? Don't be silly, where are you going to go?"
"I'm not sure, but not having a plan didn't stop you running away from 12. Come with me, Katniss. Choose me."
She shakes her head. "I can see there's nothing I can do to stop you leaving, but I'm not coming with you."
"So this is it. You've made your choice?"
"I need to kill President Snow. You may not be willing to help me but there are plenty of people who are. Goodbye, Peeta."
She walks to me and kisses me on the cheek. I watch the love of my life walk away into the trees, the last time I ever see Katniss Everdeen.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you're interested, I used this fan-made map of where the districts were. hunger-games-a-look-at-panem