CHAPTER 25
GALE POV
I feel awful telling Katniss this. "Peeta, you may want to sit down for this, then once I've finished please soften the news to Katniss." I say. I see him put Willow into Katniss's arms then both their gazes come to mine and I begin to panic. "What do you need to tell me Gale? I'm sure whatever it is I'll be fine." I take a deep breath. "You remember the bomb that was dropped in the Capitol, the one that knocked you off your feet?" "Yeah, I remember a bit of it, but I'm sure you and Peeta remember more." She replies, surprising I hear no hint of anger or bitterness. "I designed that bomb, with Beetee's help," I say softly, I can feel my guilt rising up in my throat. "Gale, if this is what you came to tell me you should know I don't blame you for being knocked of my feet, my curiosity got the better of me." She says but I stop her. "It isn't what I came to tell you though. Katniss that young you saw I know who it was and why she looked so familiar, but before I tell you there's one thing you should know, she died." I explain sadly. "Gale who was the girl?" Peeta asks me, I can hear the worry in his voice. "The young girl was your sister Katniss. Prim was killed."
KATNISS POV
"The young girl was your sister Katniss. Prim was killed." I can't believe what Gale is saying, his work killed my sister. "Get out," I say to him trying to stop myself from having a complete breakdown. "Katniss, please let me explain," his pleas. "Gale you need to leave." Peeta says, I see him trying to get Gale out the door. "Peeta, please let me explain to her." "No Gale, you need to go. If the rest of our family doesn't know you need to go and tell them, goodbye." Peeta tells him and closes the door hurrying back to me as I start to cry heavily. "It can't be true, she was my sister. Yes she suffered the Capitol's anger towards me and it damaged her but I never stopped loving her and now she's gone." I start to cry and I feel Peeta's arms come around me and I grip Willow tighter. "I promise everything will be ok Katniss, I promise." "One night I didn't tell you I had a nightmare about Prim. We were back in the games. We were in an arena in the form of a clock. At one point I heard Prim's screams and ran towards them. Finnick was there too. The screams were mimics coming from a Jabberjay. I went to run back towards you but we were separated by a wall for ages. I ended up curling up on the ground blocking out the screams until I heard your voice and felt your arms around me. I woke up after that. I just didn't want to talk about it." I say quietly. I feel so weak at the moment. "I promise we will get justice for this, you will kill Snow because it is his fault this all began." Peeta whispers to me and Willow starts to cry. "Can we leave please, these beds aren't that comfy and I want to sleep." I say even though I slept the whole way back here. "Yeah let's go, I think Willow is hungry anyway and I have food for her but you might still have to feed her." Peeta tells me. "Yeah I know." I say and I get up out of this bed.
I walked down the hall with Willow in my arms and Peeta's arm around me. I noticed a few stares as we walked by but I ignored them and tears started to fall down my face and Willow began to cry. "Come on," Peeta urges and we walk a bit faster.
By the time we reached out room I had to feed Willow so she would stop crying. I had to stop breastfeeding her because of the trip but it's ok, she's about a month old she it wasn't that hard. I watch her gulp down the milk from her bottle and when she finishes it she looks very satisfied and tired. I lay her down in her crib and have a shower, Peeta left just before to get some food, we're both starving, me especially I haven't eaten for over two days. I let the hot water run over me and I actually feel really clean for a change like I've been dirty for a long time but then I notice it isn't just the water on my face but my tears as well for my sister. I don't know what to do and I start to really cry. I get out and dry myself off hoping my eyes won't be that puffy from my crying. There's a soft knock on the door and I can assume who it is, it isn't Peeta cause he would just walk in. "Go away Gale!" I call from the other side but the knocks proceed. I walk over in a huff and swing the door open, "I SAID GO…" I actually look at whose standing there and into front of me is Rory. "Sorry, I thought you were your brother," I say weakly trying to hold the tears from pouring out as I know why he's here. "Can I come in please?" He asks like a small child. "Of course," I open the door wider and he walks in, seating himself in the wooden chair next to Willow. "Are you ok?" I ask those three simple but powerful words and he starts to cry. "I miss her so much, she um left a letter for me and Rye saying her choice between the both of us. She picked me but I feel sorry for Rye too. I miss her so much." I rush over and hold him in my arms, Peeta will be back in a minute. "Have you talked to Rye?" I ask. "No, I didn't want to talk to anyone but you. As soon as Gale explain I was furious." He tells me. I am starting to cry. "You should talk to Rye," I suggest. "I will. Thanks Katniss." He says I hug him once more and he leaves just as Peeta walks in. "I don't have to ask what that was about, I know. Rye approached me in the hallway." He says and all I can do is nod.
We didn't eat much, well Peeta didn't but I didn't eat much more than him. I wanted to sleep to I lied down and I heard Peeta laugh, "I am very tired and emotional please just let me sleep." I say through tears, he comes and sits next to me stroking my hair. "I know, go to sleep."
PEETA POV
It didn't take very long for Katniss to drift off I can only imagine what she's going through even though I know how it feels to lose your family. I see Willow sleeping peacefully in her crib, she's about a month old, and to be honest I don't know how people in District 13 have managed to survive under here for so long.
I decide to take a shower, a long one. As I stand there and let the water run over me I have this massive wave of anger and makes me bang my hand into the shower wall, I hope I didn't wake them. Things are very interesting at the moment and I make a choice in the heat of the moment. I am going to visit Snow.
I really hope I get back before Katniss wakes because if I don't I know there will be questions and I don't want more questions, besides I need to talk to Haymitch about Coin. I walk down to the cell where Snow is being held when two guards stop me. "Sorry Sir, you can't go in there without clearance." One tells me. "I think I've been put through enough and so has my family by this man I don't think you have any right to stop me." I say, "Sir! I will tell you again you can't" before the guy could finish someone interrupts. "I give him clearance and his wife Katniss Everdeen or Mellark." I turn around to the strong voice to see Paylor from District 8. "Thank you," I say to her. "Anytime."
I walk past the guards and head straight to his cell, I get the key and unlock the door and walk in but I see no one, what is going on. "Looking for me?" I turn to the dark corner of the room, where the voice came from. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't now would I." I hear him laugh slightly and I can smell the strong rose scent that goes with him wherever he goes. "What do you want Peeta?" He asks but I stand there speechless. "You got the girl of your dreams, a daughter, what else could you want? I thought we were friends, so I'll ask you again, what do you want?" When he asks me again I finally know my answer. "I want you to know that the game is over Mr President, you've lost and now no one else will suffer your anger and cruelty." He just laughs and I am ready to lose it with him. "This game will never be over Peeta, at one point it will be but not yet. What will happen when you all destroy me? Who will run the country?" I know he's smiling despite how little I can see of him, my eyes have adjusted to the light so I can see him better. "I don't know, but I do know it won't be someone like you and I will make sure of that." I say, "have a nice life." I say and lock the door behind me.
"Did you get what you wanted," Paylor asked but I don't know why she waited. "I guess so." I say and walk past her when I bump into Boggs. "Sorry Peeta," "no it's fine. Um you wouldn't happen to know where Haymitch is?" I ask. "Sure he's in command they should be finishing in a minute." He tells me, "thanks." I say and keep walking. I need to hurry up, I need to get back for Katniss wakes up either from nightmares or Willow's cries or someone banging on the door wanting to talk to her. I head straight to command and see Haymitch coming out. "Haymitch," I call and he surprisingly turns, they mustn't allow very much or no alcohol here. "What is it Peeta?" He approaches me slowly. "Can we talk please," I ask. "Sure, but I'm tipping Katniss will be included in this conversation too?" I nod, "if she's awake. When I last saw her she was asleep." I say.
KATNISS POV
When I finally woke from my sleep Peeta and Haymitch were walking through the door. "Nice to see you're awake." Haymitch tells me. "Nice to see you're sober." I back chat. We all sit and Peeta talks, "I was wondering what we are going to do once Snow is gone? Who will run the country? I certainly don't want Coin in, she seems just as bad as Snow, the only plus said about her was she hated the games." Peeta says. "I don't know, all I know is most aren't fond of her either, including Plutarch." Haymitch says. "There is one thing." I interrupt and I don't know why I didn't think of this before. "Yeah, Katniss?" Peeta asks me. "I could assassinate Coin at the same time I kill Snow."
Hey guys.
Hope you're looking forward to the holidays. Happy Winter Break for all you Aussie readers and Happy Summer Break for those of you in the Northern hemisphere.
Update soon.
-Alex.