Ok. So the updates have been coming at a slower pace than usual, but sadly, that is probably how they will be coming from now on. Sorry guys. If I can though, I'll update sooner. So last chapter was mostly just a catch-up chapter, so now something actually has to happen. And I know that it wasn't my best chapter last time, but I'll make up for it this time.

Chapter 29:

Peeta's POV

One week later

"'I'm sorry Peeta, we just don't have the man power right now."

I glare at Plutarch. "Well saving Katniss should be a pretty high priority shouldn't it?" I say with an edge in my voice. I know that I'm not being fair; I know that they need the troops to maintain their hold on the few districts that they've secured, but something doesn't seem right. With only three districts to maintain, they should have enough troops.

"It is a priority Peeta." Plutarch assures me. "But, we need to maintain our holds on Eleven, Ten, and Eight. Especially Eleven since it's the capitols main food supplier."

This is my fifth session in command. They've been trying to get me to be the face of the rebellion, but every time, I have refused to do so unless they rescue Katniss first. They have made the same argument every time too. That they don't have enough troops. And for the fifth time this week, I walk out the door without being dismissed.

I don't really know where I'm going, but anywhere is better than the command room. Where all they tell me is that they can't spare the troops for Katniss's rescue.

After about five minutes of aimless walking, I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"What'd they say Peeta? Are they going to save Katniss?" Prim asks with a hopeful look in her eyes. She has asked me this every day after command; she must know what the answer is going to be already.

In answer, I shake my head.

"Oh…" she says quietly.

"That's what they tell you anyway." I didn't even notice Haymitch walk up. He grabs both of our shoulders. "you two are among the most affected by Katniss's capture, so I thought that I should tell you two." he says.

Hope sparks up inside me. "Tell us what Haymitch?" I ask cautiously.

"They didn't want anybody close to Katniss to know about this, just in case it doesn't work." says Haymitch. "I only know because I overheard Coin and Plutarch discussing it."

"What is it?" Prim ventures.

"They have enough spies in the capitol prison to initiate the rescue mission." Haymitch says. He may say that he dislikes Katniss, but you can hear the excitement in his voice. "They plan to put it into action a week from now."

"Katniss." I whisper to myself, a smile growing on my face. "I'll see you soon."

Katniss's POV

Another week later

I sit with my back to the cell wall, struggling to tell truth from lie. My treatment has obviously had an effect. I can hardly remember what happens anymore. Just darkness, and burning. A guard passes by and laughs at my situation.

"He he. Hey girlie!" he shouts. "Peeta Mellark!"

The name sends cold fear through my body. The name sounds familiar, but all I can place with it is a feeling of dread. And something else too…he has something to do with my baby. That is a thought that I've held on to. I am, or was pregnant. My stomach hasn't grown at all these past few weeks, but I don't know what to expect in means of pregnancy.

The guard repeats Peeta's name. instantly, the fear is renewed. I scream out loud and clutch the sides of my head. Spade comes over to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. The tight grip helps keep me sane. Spade stays with me until the sweet sanctuary of sleep comes over me

I wake in a cold sweat to a harsh clattering outside my cell. I hear a loud growling. I rub my eyes and sit up, but I'm almost immediately on my feet after taking in the sight around me. Toaka is backed up against the corner of the cell, growling at three guards who seem to be trying to grab her. The only reason that they allowed the wolf to stay in the cell is because nobody could even touch her other than Spade. She has however, been getting used to me.

Spade has been yanked from the cell, held up outside by two of the guards. He seems to have been putting up a fight with them, but no lies limp and unconscious, only held up but the guards. The door has been shut between us, but I still run to the cell door and grab the bars.

"Spade!" I shout. "What are you doing to him?" I yell at the guards.

"His time in this jail is done with girlie." a guard tells me. "His judgment has been passed, and his sentence is execution by firing squad."

Shock. That is the only feeling that registers. Spade? Being executed? I slam myself against the bars again.

"Spade!" I shout again. But it's too late. Spade is being dragged from the room. I hear a shout from the corner of the cell. Toaka has bitten one of the guards and blood now flows freely from her hand.

"Fine!" the female guards snaps. Her and the other guards file out of the cell. "Keep your dumb dog!" normally, Toaka would've just been shot, but they've tried that. Toaka is apparently very good at hiding from bullets in little nooks and crevices in the cell. Just before Spade is pulled through the dark door, where a firing squad is most likely already assembled on the other side, he raises his head.

"Take care of Toaka Katniss." he winks "We'll meet again. Think of what's about to transpire here as a big magic trick," I'm not sure, but I think he winks behind his tattered mask. "just like one of my shows." Finally, he is pulled through the dark opening, and the door slams behind him.

"Spade!" I shout for a third time. I slump against the bars and slide down to my knees. I begin sobbing and making those terrible choking noises. In this cruel hell house, where I've lost sight of what is truth and what is lie about my life, Spade was the only person outside of my mother, Prim, and Gale's family who I was sure that I could consider a friend.

What did he mean? "We'll meet again."

Surely it was just a deranged statement from a dying man.

I feel Toaka's soft fur brush against my hand. She whines and lies down against my leg. I stroke the soft fur between her ears. Toaka has shown me why Prim wouldn't let me drown buttercup. The affection of an animal can sometimes be just what you need.

I bury my face in the soft warmth of Toaka's fur…as the gunfire that steals away Spade's life away echoes throughout the jail.

I'm about to clutch my head and start screaming again, when there is a loud explosion rings throughout the prison. The door to this higher security area of the prison bangs around the room, blown right off its hinges.

"Grab the girl!" I hear someone shout. Suddenly, the door to my cell is slammed open and an arm wraps around my waist and hoists me into the air. Remembering Spade's dying wish, I cry out.

"Toaka!" I shout. She barks at me and the man who lifted me gives me a questioning look. He seems to be in a rush though, because he shouts over to someone. "Grab the wolf too." Toaka, who usually bites and yelps at the slightest touch from anyone other than Spade and I, allows the man to lift her without the slightest resistance.

"Who are you?" I shout "Let me go!" I'm kicking and screaming now, the insanity from my tortures setting in. I'm about to consider biting, when I feel a prick in my arm, and the world goes black.

So? What did you think? I made things happen this chapter too! So The reason that this update is late is because I have been getting ready for tennis tryouts. Those will be going through to Thrusday. Wish me luck! So please review, vote on the poll, and tell your friends!