[AN: Quotes in the italicized portion of this chapter are direct quotes from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Credit for all quotes goes to her. The Hunger Games is hers. I just love writing new stories about the world she created.]
"Pass? How could I pass? I fell on my knees in the middle of the battlefield and blacked out because they made me think I'd killed Kantiss. How can that be a 'pass' on the test?" I asked Vick.
"I don't know," Vick answered with increasing concern, I didn't even know what happened. I just saw a number stamped on your hand."
"What number?" Dally asked grabbing my wrist and searching for the mark that would indicate I'd been assigned to a military unit.
"Vick!" She scolded. "Why didn't you mention this?"
"I thought you knew. Didn't they tell you that Peeta passed?"
"No, they didn't!" Delly said.
"Well, I've been a little distracted Delly," Vick said timidly, and I sympathized with him. He was still young. We all were. And falling in love and going to war were distracting to anyone. "I'm sure he's assigned to something far from the battlefields. Maybe some work in a field command area. Maybe they are just going to do publicity work with Peeta."
"They didn't train Kantiss to do publicity work! She just did it! I don't like the sound of this, Vick." Delly fretted. "I'm calling Haymitch."
As Delly left, Vick looked at the number on my hand.
"Oh, Peeta," he said in a worried tone, "That's not just any unit, it's Gales unit."
My heart sank.
"…but that means it's Katniss' unit" I stammered.
Delly returned fuming about how she'd never understand District 13.
"Don't worry, Peeta. Haymitch says he'll talk to Plutarch," she continued. "Maybe Vick is right, and they've assigned you to something that will be safe."
Vick and I exchange knowing glances.
Safe for whom? I wondered.
/
Although he appealed t to Plutarch, Beetee, and anyone else who would listen; my assignment didn't change. The order to send me to the Capitol and assign me to Katniss' unit had come from President Coin according to Plutarch. So Haymitch appealed to her too, but she wouldn't even consider the matter further.
On the morning I left district 13 Delly appeared devastated. She'd given up on stamping her foot and yelling at the doctor. She knew there was nothing he could do to change the situation. Delly hugged me and whispered encouraging words about what to do if I felt like I was getting sick.
"Be careful. Don't let them leave you behind, Peeta." She said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her brother was still alive, but Delly knew that he'd been in at least one battle already. Vick was probably just reaching the Capitol. I hugged Delly several times and thanked her for all she'd done for me. I held her head against my shoulder and thought of the day she brought me the notes from school when we were eight. "You are a good friend," her note had read. "Everything is going to be okay." I would take those thoughts with me, the hope of a child.
The transport train is packed with soldiers. I'd been warned that we'd pass through District 12, and when we did I thought my heart burst with grief. My home was nothing but gray ashes. There were still fires burning, probably because of the coal that permeated everything. Even the merchant district had always been covered in a fine layer of coal dust which then was swept into ever crevice in every floor and tracked about by peoples' boots.
I hadn't talked much with the other soldiers on the train even though all of them certainly knew exactly who I was. They kept their distance either out of respect or because they knew I was crazy. As I stared out the window at the parts of the former merchant district that were visible from the temporary depot that District 13 had built, the man standing beside me laid his hand on my shoulder.
"You're Peeta Mellark, right?" He says.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry about this." He said as he gestured towards the window.
I nodded but couldn't find the strength to speak.
"I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what you've done for us, and I'm sorry they did this to your district. That's the kind of thing we're fighting to end, you know?"
I nodded again and looked down at my uniform. For the first time I felt like a rebel. Given the chance, I would fight the Capitol with what little fight was left in me. Maybe I was about to get that chance.
/
I tried to sleep with my head on my pack, but I couldn't turn off my thoughts. Seeing District 12 was overwhelming. My memories of the time after the Victory tour but before the Quell were most prominent.
The road between Victor's Village and town had been visible from the train. Victor's Village was still there which I hadn't known before this train trip. I thought of Katniss, and the conversation we had on that road that could have changed our fate. If that night had gone differently we might never have been sent to the Quell, and I might not have been captured. My mind would still be whole.
/
On my way to my parents' house in the snow I ran into Katniss. My mother had recovered from the overdose and was trying hard to build bridges with all of us instead of constantly destroying them in fits of anger. I was elated by what was happening with her, and I found that nothing could really get me down in the face of all this hope for a good relationship with my mother. Even my worries about marrying Katniss were abating. Even though I still worried about whether or not she loved me, my faith in us was growing. I knew she cared for me very much, and that counted for something.
So when I saw Katniss, I didn't feel uncomfortable at all. I was thrilled, and I decided that was okay whether she liked it or not.
I'm always amazed how Katniss can look attractive in anything, whether it's an evening gown or hunting attire. This evening she looks like she's spent all day in the woods. I do wish she'd stay away from the woods though. I know she's happy there, but being there is illegal.
"Been hunting?" I ask.
"Not really. Going to town?" She asks.
"Yes, I'm supposed to eat dinner with my family," I say. When I say "family," the word fills me with pride.
"Well, I can at least walk you in." She offers.
I'm surprised because Katniss usually avoids me, but I'm always happy to have her company.
"Peeta," she says, "if I asked you to run from the district with me, would you?"
I think of Madge and how she and Katniss spend time together sometimes. I wonder if Madge has also talked to Katniss about running away from the district just as she's talked to me about it. Unsure, I keep my responses vague. I take Katniss' arm to let her know I'm taking in every word though. She stops.
"Depends on why you're asking."
"President Snow wasn't convinced by me. There's an uprising in District Eight. We have to get out."
I consider what she's saying. We failed on the Victory Tour, that's what she's saying.
"By 'we' you mean just you and me?" I pause. Realizing that can't be true I add, "No. Who else would be going?"
"My family. Yours, if they want to come. Haymitch, maybe."
I think about who she's not mentioning.
"What about Gale?"
"I don't know. He might have other plans," she says incredulously.
I shake my head.
"I bet he does. Sure, Katniss. I'll go."
"You will?" She says like she can't believe I've agreed. What does she expect me to do, I'm hopelessly in love with her and we're obviously all in terrible danger here in District 12 now that there's an uprising. That's exactly what Snow promised to punish us for.
Then I consider what leaving will mean. I wonder again what Gale is planning. Would he join a fight against the Capitol? Madge said something big was coming…a revolution. Katniss wouldn't be able to resist being a part of it. After all, she's the one who pulled out those berries.
"Yeah, But I don't think for a minute you will," I say.
She pulls her arm away from my gentle hold.
"Then you don't know me," she says with a twinge of anger. "Be ready. It could be any time."
She walks away, and I follow her.
"Katniss," I say. She keeps walking, and I regret questioning what she might do or not do. When will I learn just to listen to her when she's like this? The truth will always come out in the end anyway if I just wait.
"Katniss, hold up."
I catch up to her as best I can without slipping on the ice. I'm so much more unsteady on my artificial leg than I had been on my natural one.
"I really will go, if you want me to. I just think we better talk it through with Haymitch. Make sure we won't be making things worse for everyone." Of course, I personally want to talk to Madge too. We need to explore all our options.
Then I hear a sound that made my pulse quicken.
"What's that?" I ask as I take a step towards the sound. It's coming from the square.
It's a whistling sound and an impact, not unlike the sound of the belt my mother used to use to "discipline" Graham. This sound is louder and harsher than that though. There is a collective gasp from a crowd with every impact. With Graham I was the only one there to gasp.
I turn to Katniss. She looks bewildered.
"Come on," I say.
The crowd is large, and I can't see over it. I step up on a crate to get a better view. Reaching down, I start pulling Katniss up beside me. Then I see Gale. He's the one being beaten!
Oh, no. I can't let Katniss see this, I think.
"Get down. Get out of here!" I tell her as I jump down from the crate. I'm pleading with her. Her association with Gale will only mean trouble for him and perhaps her as well.
"What?" She asks.
"Go home, Katniss! I'll be there in a minute. I swear!" I plead with her, but I should have known that would only peak her curiosity and fear.
She pulls away from me and moves through the crowd. Her size and agility mean that I can't catch her as she weaves her way amongst the people around her. I can only pray she stays back and is not noticed by anyone who would harm her.
The man in the head peacekeeper's uniform raises the whip again, and I cringe for both Katniss' and Gale's sakes.
I hear Katniss scream, "No!" My heart races. I watch helplessly as Katniss flings herself over Gale. Taking a step forward as if I'm close enough to block the impact myself, I close my eyes tightly to try to minimize the horror of the whip hitting her.
Nothing can really make it better though, and as I hear the whip's impact I'm overcome with rage.
Haymitch has joined Katniss now which gives me some hope that Katniss won't receive another lash. I make my way through the crowd. As I approach Katniss I hear the head peacekeeper tell Haymitch that Gale was poaching and ask what business it is of Katniss' if he punishes Gale.
"He's her cousin." I answer. I take Katniss' hand, aching for her at the sight of her cheek where the whip hit her. "And she's my fiancé. So if you want to get to him, expect to go through both of us."
[Thanks for reading. Even though I've cotinued to get some really positve feedback, I'm kind of down about my story. :( So if you have time to encourage me a little or give me suggestions then please do. You can PM me or write a review - either way it is appreciated. If you have constructive criticisim then please share that too - it may be that my discouragement is there for a reason.]
