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Chapter 29

The chariots filed out of the arena into another waiting area. Once his stopped, Peeta craned over the other Tribute's heads, trying desperately to find Rayne. Katniss noticed, and asked, "Peeta? What are you doing?"

He pushed past her, hopping off the chariot as Rayne and her escorts entered the room. The other tributes were murmuring amongst each other. Cinna, Haymitch, and Effie showed.

"Where is he going?" Haymitch growled. Cinna cast him a concerned glance, and together, the pursued Peeta. Trying to call him back before everything came undone. Effie stayed with Katniss, trying to soothe the confused girl. Peeta kept his eyes glued on Rayne, weaving his way through the milling crowd.

Rayne did not see him. Her eyes were void, expressionless. Anyone looking at her would have thought she was defeated. Well . . . anyone who did not know her.

Her mind was racing, and she was seeing everything. President Snow's announcement rang in her ears. She was going to be a tribute in the Quarter Quell. She recalled all the previous Games she had broken into and scavenged from. There was an immeasurable difference between breaking in and getting out.

Her escorts dismounted and started to come toward her. In the few seconds that passed, she knew she had to at least try to escape. Hands gripping the reins, she gave her nervous mount a swift kick. As he reacted, she hauled back on his mouth. Eyes flashed white. He reared, sky high.

Rayne grasped his thick mane, felt the chains on her wrist tighten, then go slack as the Peacekeepers lost their grip on them. The moment the dark horse's front hooves touched the ground, Rayne gave him his head, allowing him to gallop off. All around her people were shouting, dashing out of the way. There was an open door a head. Peacekeepers tried to outrun her to close the door before she got there. They were going to fail.

Peeta came to a stop, eyes wide as he watched the scene unfold. A rush of air as the horse bolted past him. As it did, Peeta saw a Peacekeeper load something into the chamber of a gun. Time slowed. Peeta started running, shouting, as the Peacekeeper aimed the gun at Rayne. It was too late.

A deafening crack and the room fell silent. Peeta watched as Rayne looked over her shoulder at the noise. A look of surprise crossed her face, her eyes closed, and she slumped in the saddle. After a few more strides, she fell from the horse, landing limp and with a thud.

Before Peeta was aware of what he was doing, Haymitch and Cinna were holding him back. Somehow he had crossed the distance between him and Rayne, and was about to reach out for her when they each grabbed one of his arms. Together, Haymitch and Cinna lifted him kicking and screaming off the ground a few feet away.

"Peeta! Peeta!" Haymitch tried to get him to focus. "She's fine."

Still Peeta struggled against their grip. Helplessly, he watched her two escorts pick her up roughly by the arms and start to drag her away. That's when he saw it. The feathered end of a dart sticking out of her bare shoulder. It took him a second to process what that meant.

He stopped squirming and his friends let him go. "Wait!" The escorts ignored him; the rest of the room, however, were paying close attention. Peeta started after them, shrugging off Cinna and Haymitch who simply glanced at each other before following suit. "Wait!"

This time the escorts turned. "What?" The first one snapped.

"Where are you taking her?"

"To her cage. Where she belongs." He sneered, voice dripping with cruel sarcasm.

"No." Peeta replied firmly, anger boiling. "She's coming with me. With us to our apartment."

An exasperated sigh escaped the escort. "Listen kid, I don't care who you are, but we have our orders. She's going back –"

"Oh for pity's sake," another voice boomed. Everyone turned to look, and were surprised to see Plutarch making his way through the crowd. "Let the boy take her. If he wants that responsibility on his shoulders, let him. I'll take the blame for this one if there's a problem. Which," he gave Peeta, Haymitch, and Cinna a knowing look, "I know there won't be."

The two men holding Rayne up between them shrugged, and released their grip on her. She fell with a thud to the floor before Peeta could catch her. He winced at the sound, then went over to her. Gently, he pulled out the dart and threw it across the floor in disgust. Brushing the loose tendrils of hair from her face, he was alarmed to see how gaunt she was. Had she been eating? With great care, he lifted up her light body and carried her out of the room in his arms.

Everyone was privy to this tender moment between the two. They wondered how this boy from District 12 could have such great love - shown in his eyes and touch - for a girl who was a savage. They wondered silently to themselves for a moment. Then they wondered aloud between themselves.

Plutarch pulled Haymitch and Cinna aside to talk privately. Katniss and Effie were still near the chariot. Slowly, Katniss asked, "what just happened? Who is that?"

Effie's mind raced back to just that morning. The sketch of a girl, the one Peeta drew. The one he said was just a friend back home. The one she called plain. Effie knew this was the girl. Clearly, not from his home in District 12. And no longer plain. Effie turned to Katniss, and tried to put on her brightest smile, "Looks like we have a new roommate. I hope she minds her manners . . ."

Meanwhile, Peeta carried Rayne down the hallway to the elevator. From the elevator to the apartment. Once in the apartment, he made a beeline for his room. There was no doubt in his mind, that was where she would be staying. That was where she belonged. As he lay her on the bed, he thought she looked like a princess from a fairytale. Sleeping Beauty, or Snow White. Asleep until true love's first kiss. Then it was just another page before the happy ending.

Except this was not a fairy tale. Hesitantly and unsure, he leaned over her, kissed her forehead. She never even stirred. All the better for her to sleep. Because it was only dreams that had happy endings. Soon enough, she would wake up and face cruel reality.

"This time though," Peeta whispered, kneeling down on the floor next to the bed. "It'll be different. I'll be here for you." He held her hand, felt it's familiar shape and roughness. Felt the strength that lay underneath the skin. "I will protect you. Always."