Chapter 26: Sliding Towards Ruin

The 76th Annual Hunger Games are well into their second full week. And we've finally gotten down to the Final Eight.

Though the contenders are just who I expected: all six in the Career Pack, plus Husker from 9 and Peeta, it took a while for the smaller kids to die off. Some of them anyway. Just because you're small and young doesn't mean you don't have the will to survive, and a few did hang on after the Bloodbath, for a time.

The tributes had been launched from the top of an imposing mesa. My husband had been fast, managing to grab a backpack and kill the small girl from Five, as well as the boy from Eight. On his way back out from making The Run, he had bumped into Husker. Watching in the crowd with Mother and Prim (I had decided that from now on, I wouldn't sit with the Mellarks up front anymore, to avoid raising suspicion, to which Rye had readily agreed), my heart had gone into my mouth. But then Husker and my husband shook hands and took off together – a surprising alliance that still has the Capitol abuzz. The Careers took control of the Cornucopia. Six died in the bloodbath that day.

On the morning of the fourth day, Husker and Peeta had encountered the small boy from 3, the tiny 12-year-old I remember from the parade. Husker was ready to kill the little runt, but Peeta stopped him. The teeny lad proved his worth when he told the older boys that he had been spying on the Careers. The Pack seemed to be sticking together just for appearances, holding off going into what is traditionally known as 'melee' when the Pack finally turns on each other near the end of the Games.

Peeta had taken Husker aside for a moment. "They're waiting until it's down to just them and us," my husband pointed between the two of them. "They're not taking any chances."

To my surprise, Husker had paled. "Two against six ain't great odds, Peeta."

"No," Peeta had conceded. "But maybe this little guy can help us."

Bucky, the boy from 3, was indeed able to impart a little bit of advice and assistance from the backpack he had managed to smuggle out of the Cornucopia. He declared quite confidently that he could rig an entire electrical trap for the Pack just from the parts stored in the sack. There was just one problem: they were missing one piece, but Bucky knew where to find it. If he could dig up the tribute pedestals and break the circuit, he could remove the one piece needed and repurpose it from that.

Husker and Peeta decided to take the risk.

Under the cover of darkness, Husker, Bucky and my husband had approached the Cornucopia. More cannons had been going off over an interval of several hours over the previous handful of days; the field was now just down to nine or ten kids. Bucky had dug up the pedestal expertly and was just closing his hand over the piece when –

The Careers, with war whoops, attacked. Bucky got in the way, sacrificing himself while Husker and Peeta took the piece and ran back to their camp, deep in a cluster of woods down one side of the mesa. Having listened carefully to Bucky's detailing of his design, the two boys (despite being not as scientifically inclined) managed to construct their fallen ally's elaborate trap without him.

Now, we are down to the Final Eight, and the media has descended on Twelve to interview Peeta Mellark's friends and loved ones. The reporters make it very clear they are anxious to find and speak with Peeta's mystery wife.

"What do we do?" Madge asks one night, my inner circle and I huddled out back of the Hawthornes' homestead, which I had judged a safe place to talk freely.

Rye quickly decides that it would be futile to simply sequester me from speaking to reporters at all. "There still might be someone who knows you hang out with Peeta, and would point the media in your direction," he concludes. In an agile display of ingenuity, my brother-in-law comes up with a plan. He instructs me, Prim, Isabella, Madge and Delly to all submit to interview questioning, if we are approached. The key to the plan, he says, will rest with the Mayor's daughter and my cousin.

"Madge, Isabella, I want you both to say that you're friends with Peeta, just as Katniss will. But I want the two of you to get the media's attention and keep them guessing. Be subtle and imply there might be something more going on with Peeta. Again, be extremely subtle about it. With any luck, the media – and my mom - will focus on one of you as Peeta's possible 'wife.'"

It's a good plan, and what's more, the Witch won't be nearly as angry if she thinks that her son went ahead and married a Merchant girl, someone of more desirable blood. Heck, we still think Isabella may have been on the shortlist for Miriam to marry her son off. To their credit, my cousin and Madge both look guilty about trying to pose as the newest Mrs. Mellark, but I tell them not to feel bad.

When I'm interviewed, I tell the media adorable stories about my absolutely platonic friend Peeta Mellark. I tell them all about sitting with him at lunch in school, and studying in the library (I try not to smile as a memory of Peeta and I kissing amidst the bookshelves pops into my head unbidden). The media finally takes their leave.

The interviews are aired, and between the two "fake" candidates for Peeta's heart, the media seems to elevate and anoint Madge Undersee as his secret wife. Although, Madge later tells me that she feels a little funny, for Miriam is now coming up to her and being all icky-poo sweet, telling her they must talk with her father, the Mayor, about having a proper ceremony once Peeta comes home from the Games. I again tell her not to trouble herself over it. With any luck, by the time Peeta comes home alive (and he will) he and I will have figured out how the hell we're going to run off and be together.

On the 17th day of the Games, the Career Pack finally decides that Peeta and Husker need to die so they can go into melee and crown a Victor. The group of brutes is not at all quiet, so my husband and his ally can hear them coming. Peeta and Husker have built up a good rapport over these weeks, with the hulking District 9 boy asking Peeta questions about me. To my (and Rye's) relief, Peeta keeps it vauge.

"So, you're saying you guys had a wedding in your holding cell in the Justice Building?"

"Yup."

"And then you actually shagged her in there, right?"

Peeta smirks, but still blushes. "I don't shag and tell, Husker."

With the knowledge that the Careers are coming for them, Husker decides to exit the forest and lure the Pack to them. When Leonidus, the giant boy from Four who is Pack Leader, catches sight of Husker, the whole group gives chase. By their electrical trap, Peeta lies in wait.

All seven other tributes come crashing through the underbrush, catching Husker just before they get to the trap. The whole lot of them end up rolling into the spider web of wires, including my husband's ally. Locking eyes, Husker grimly nods. Blinking back tears, Peeta flicks the switch.

The death screams are horrible, and I can almost smell the putrid odor of burning, melting flesh. After about 20 minutes of this, the screams grow quiet, and all that remains are the sparking, smoking form of seven corpses. Then the cannons sound, one by one, and Peeta Mellark is Crowned the Victor of the 76th Hunger Games.

I can't believe it. Against all odds, my husband is coming home to me.

It is only after Peeta's interview with Caesar that we quickly realize we have another problem. The Capitol is going to want a big reunion for Peeta with his wife. That means there is going to need to be a reveal. But who should do it?

"Why can't I do it? I am his wife, after all," I frown. "I don't want to have to hide anymore. And besides, if I do come forward in front of all the cameras and Peeta is seen happy with me, it's going to put your mom in a box, Rye. She'll look foolish if she tries to keep Peeta and I apart after that."

Rye doesn't like this idea, however. "The Capitol will want to know everything about you, and they wouldn't leave you alone, just like they won't for Peeta. No, we'll need someone else to stand in, at least until things die down. Now who wants to do it?"

To my shock, Isabella steps forward. "Me." At Rye's blinking, she shrugs. "The media all think it's Madge, right? If I come forward just for the cameras, it will be a surprise, keep them even further off Katniss's scent."

Rye cocks an eyebrow. "You do realize you're gonna have to kiss him, right?"

To my relief, my cousin cringes. "I know."

Madge snorts. "Thom's gonna love that…."

"So warn him ahead of time," Rye instructs Isabella. "We don't want any jealous Georges getting in the way."

The day of Peeta's return, Primrose and I make sure to hang well back from the crowd. People are clamoring on the platform of Lucy Gray Baird train station, perching on rooftops, to get the first glimpse of our first Victor in 26 years.

At this distance, I can clearly see my friends and Rye all near the front of the throng. Isabella has strategically planted herself a few rows behind them. When my cousin glances back to me, she winces apologetically, and I just nod back.

The roar is defeaning when the train pulls into the station. Our escort, Effie, is let off first, followed by Haymitch Abernathy, and then the man of the hour himself. People try to swarm my husband as he steps off the train, the Peacekeepers holding them back as the Mellarks and Madge Undersee are ushered forward.

Then, suddenly, there is a happy scream of:

"PEETA! PEETA!"

Isabella, my cousin, rushes forward, actually managing to break through the Peackeepers' lines. Reaching the new Victor, she throws her arms around him. My husband looks shocked, though he can clearly recognize Isabella as my cousin. There is a brief moment before Isabella draws back, her arms still looped around Peeta's neck. Then she pulls him close and kisses him right on the mouth.

Gasps go up, and then cheers. Even though, I knew it was coming, I still find it hard to watch as my husband kisses Isabella back. When they finally break apart, Prim leads me to the edge of the crowd and tells me to wait there. Peeta is going down a rope line of well-wishers. From the shadows, I observe my baby sister cry out, "Peeta! PEETA!"

"Prim!" Peeta beams as he reaches for her. As soon as he's within her grasp, Prim yanks him close and hangs onto him tightly for a few moments, her mouth in his ear. Only I note how she is secretly pressing something into my husband's palm.

I can't see what my sister clandestinely relays to him from here. I can't read lips, but I know what Prim says to Peeta, for we had planned it ahead of time:

"A friend asked me to tell you that the Lady waits by Goat Man's place. Find her!"

That night, in the Slag Heap by the East Entrance to Abernathy Mine, just beyond Goat Man's place, I wait in the darkness amidst heaps of trash. Finally, by the light of one street lamp, I watch as two shadowy figures slip into the garbage dump. Stepping into the light, I smile radiantly at the one head of blonde hair.

"Peeta…." His name on my lips sounds like velvet.

Next to him, Isabella smiles knowingly, then wraps Peeta in a hug. Drawing back, she giggles a little. "Sorry about being such a horrible kisser."

"You were fine," Peeta chuckles. "That Thom Borden is a lucky fellow." (I pretend to frown hard, placing my hands on my hips). Peeta squeezes Isabella's hand. "It's nice to have such wonderful family…. cousin."

Isabella's lips quirk up into a smirk. "I'll leave you two alone."

Concelaed in shadow and now privacy, I throw my arms wide and run into my husband's embrace. He lifts me easily off the ground and swirls me around as our lips crash together in a deep kiss. Instantly, my grey eyes droop shut and I moan with pleasure. "Hmmmmmm…"

Peeta sets me down gently, and our lips disengage, both of us gasping with relief. "Oh, Peeta…." I feel my hands running up and down his muscular forearms, wanting to feel every inch of him.

He grins, and I bask in the warmth of it, like a sunny day in the Meadow. "I missed you, Katniss…"

"Every day, I was afraid, that you would be killed…. I've been living with unbearable dread…" I cling to him, as if to assure myself that he is real.

He just chuckles. "I'm all right." Then, he procures something from his pocket: my wedding ring, which I had instructed Prim to slip to him as a clue. Slowly, he slides it onto my finger, back where it belongs.

I sag into his chest, letting him hold me close. "Stay with me…"

"Always," he whispers.

The next part is going to be hard.

For the next several weeks, my cousin and Peeta will have to pretend to be in love and married. Surprised but nevertheless pleased that Isabella Foley is her youngest son's secret "love," Miriam invites her over for dinner, and they begin to plan a proper wedding ceremony in earnest. To keep up the charade, I have no choice but to give Isabella my wedding ring for safekeeping, so she can wear it on her finger. Peeta and my cousin try to keep their displays of affection chaste, for my sake (and also for poor Thom Borden's), while they let Miriam blabber on like a fool about wedding dresses and a ceremony in the Justice Building.

At some point, once the media has well and truly left, Peeta and Isabella will stage a "break-up," very dramatically and very publicly, releasing Peeta so he can go right back to seeing me in total secret. Until then, for my own safety, I have to stay away.

I try to distract myself from missing my husband by going hunting. The feeling of being in the woods doesn't entirely help, though. I am finding that I now tire quite easily. Then, about three weeks after Peeta's return home from the arena, I am overcome with a bout of nausea while Vick and I are out tracking game, not far from my father's old hunting cabin. Vick has been a gem about taking on most of the hunting and trading; he always now volunteers to go into the Hob on his own and make our sales while I go home to rest. It's the best compromise I can hope for for now – I can do with missing out on the selling of our goods, but not even nausea can stop me from going out into the forest to bring down game.

Nowadays, whenever I drop Vick off at the Hob, instead of sneaking to the back loading dock of the Bakery, I now walk home alone. I always have to pass the Peacekeeper Barracks on my way to the district outskirts; the sight of it always makes me think of Darius Freeman. We still write to each other every now and again, now with the understanding of just being friends. I hope he is doing well stationed in Seven….

A Peacekeeper suddenly blocks my path.

"Hi," he greets me. His hair is bunchy and weavy; it almost looks like a toupee. Perhaps it is, because what Peacekeeper - hell, what person - has his hair tied back in a ponytail? He looks greasy and dirty despite the fact he wears the Peacekeeper uniform with a rifle in his hands.

"Uh, um… excuse me," I stutter back, feeling uneasy as he stares into my eyes. The look he sends my way makes me feel uncomfortable. I survey my surroundings, hoping that someone might be watching us.

"My name's John " he says as I try to walk past him. "What's the hurry?" He steps into my way, blocking my path. "I'm just being friendly."

"I need to––"

"Katniss, there you are! It's time to go home," Mother shouts to me. I look beyond John to see that she is walking up the path, and that Prim is standing next to her, her face etched with concern. "I need you to help out with dinner. The cooking will have to set for most of the day." I nod my head as I run towards her.

"See you around, Katniss," John yells to my retreating back.

It is dark by the time I leave my childhood home in the Seam. Despite how very late I know I already am, I wander slowly towards the Slag Heap next to the East Entrance to meet Peeta, finding my way carefully in the dark.

"Well, hello there, beautiful!" I flinch in aggravation as John appears in front of me. Damnit, I've been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't see him until it was too late. "What are you doing here all by yourself?" His tone is lecherous as he looks me over from head to toe. I feel violated, like he is undressing me with his eyes.

"Excuse me, my family is looking for me." That defense worked the last time. I take a step and he blocks my path.

"I don't think so," he states. "I've been looking for you."

"Move aside." I feel a rush of fear and something else on the base of my spine. "My…my boyfriend is looking for me."

"What boyfriend?" Shit, he's called my bluff. Why didn't I say husband? Maybe then he would have backed off. It makes me queasy to think about how much he has possibly observed me, or worse, how much he knows. Does he know of my marriage to Peeta? Wait, of course he doesn't! But I am fresh out of people who might come looking for me, so I decide to cling to the lie with all my might.

"No…he's––" John pulls my arm and shoves me against a wall. "Stop," I scream, hoping someone will hear me.

"Yell all you want," he whispers in my ear. With his close proximity I can smell liquor on his breath. "Don't fight me, I know you want this. I've been wanting you since the first time I saw you." I shiver in disgust and anger, struggling as he yanks both my wrists and places them above my head. He licks the side of my neck, causing me to gulp in revulsion.

"Help me! Someone help me!" I scream at the top of my voice. My cries are muffled from the roar of the nearby mines, hiding my pleas for help. I try to kick John but it is useless as he pins my lower body with his. The armor plates he wears bruise my skin, pressing my legs back into the wooden wall.

I scream as he flicks off my father's hunting jacket, then rips my top with ease, exposing my bra and bare skin down to my waist. I can't believe this is happening to me.

"Scream, bitch. Tell me you want this," he presses his filthy mouth against the side of my neck. "I know you want this." His hand grabs my breast and squeezes hard as his other hand pins my hands above my head. I scream in pain as he bites into my shoulder.

Then his hand reaches under my skirt. I close my eyes and wait for the inevitable as he reaches down and tears my panties. I cry in anger and in fear. I am so stupid. Why didn't I at least get someone else, like Prim, to accompany me to the Slag Heap? John rubs his filthy, cold hands up and down my upper thigh. His fingers at first brush, and then sink into my pussy. His thumb finds my clit, and he begins to rub, faster and faster. His hips flick into my center as he violently humps me and I shake at the feeling of his rock-hard cock so near my entrance. I don't want this; I've never wanted this! I promised myself that I would die a virgin, unmarried and childless... Even if I now have failed to keep two of those promises, I at least hoped I could uphold the last one.

I feel sick, disgusted and scared because there is no one to help me. I hear the sound of John's belt buckle fall onto the ground. Next second, I feel his engorged penis slam into my insides, and I cry out. "Mmmmmmm!" The sound is squelched by John's lips on my own, licking me there like a slobbery puppy dog. I try to bite on his lip with my teeth, but he expertly dodges, instead attempting to force my mouth open with his own. I'll be damned if he jams his tongue down my throat! All the while, John frantically thrusts into me, in the hopes that he can cum as soon as possible. Is this what all Peacekeepers do? Rape young Seam and Merchant women in the hopes of impregnating them, as no one would bear such offspring willingly? It must be, for John's frenzied pounding grows weaker and weaker. No, no, no...

Too late. He empties himself into me, his penis shrinking within my walls with every burst of cum. But I know he won't just release me now that he's gotten himself off. He'll keep going and going and going, if he lusts for me as much as he claims...

Just when I am resigned to my fate, the pressure from his body and his hands are gone. His penis uncouples from my vagina just as violently as they were joined in this revolting union. I open my eyes to find a figure holding John in a headlock, his strong muscular arms around his neck. The mystery assailant has wrestled the Peacekeeper onto his knees. I gasp in relief and shock, my hands coming to my mouth as I stare in astonishment.

I turn to my savior as he looks up and his eyes clash into mine, his blues eyes red with fury. It is Peeta. My husband. He is an avenging archangel on Earth, dispensing his fiery wrath without regard to liberate me from this hell.

John struggles as Peeta adds pressure around his neck. John's face turns pink, then red, then a worrisome purple as he fights to breath.

"You'll kill him!" I cry.

"That's the idea," Peeta growls. Suddenly, he whiplashes John into the one wall of the alley. I hear a sickening crack and I wonder if he has broken the Peacekeeper's skull. But, no, John - now free of the chokehold - is struggling to stand. Peeta doesn't let him get far though, bringing one powerful fist down on the man's spine. John crumples into the dirt and lies still.

Peeta is doubled over, his hands resting on his knees, breathing hard. My eyes fixed to him, I silently begin to cover myself with my somewhat ruined clothes. I jump when his eyes meet mine.

"Go home," he rasps. "Go home to your mother. Tell her what's happened. Get her to collect evidence before you clean up. You understand me?"

I don't reply, only asking in reference to the body beside us. "Is he... dead?"

"Hopefully," Peeta spits.

We gaze at each other for a moment, as I try to adjust my blue dress and cover myself. Then, with a strangled gasp, we rush into each other's arms, embrace and kiss.

The body of Peacekeeper John isn't discovered until the next morning. Thread and his investigative team find Peeta's prints on the corpse easily. I only hear about how both of District 12's Victors got hauled in for questioning when I went down to trade bread at the bakery.

Racing in a mad dash for the Justice Building, I get there just in time to hear raised voices coming from inside Thread's office.

"I should charge you for assault against an officer of the State, boy…"

"Blow it out your ear, Thread! And then shove it up your ass, too! You can't touch either one of us, and you damn well know it!" Haymitch is bellowing. "Besides, looks like my boy did you a favor, with that prick's record. Drunk and disorderly conduct, sexual assault? Dogs like that should be put down – you don't want one of them in your ranks!"

"Get out of my sight, the both of you!" Thread screams.

I quickly steal out of the Justice Building and down the steps, huddling in the corner of one wall as Haymitch and Peeta emerge and trudge down the steps.

"Are we sure Thread wasn't a woman in another lifetime, because he's always acting like a whiny little bitch!" Haymitch fumes.

Peeta laughs, but the chuckle is forced, and quickly trails off when he catches sight of me. His deep blue eyes, so full of love, ask me if I'm all right. I simply nod, telling him I'll be fine. We'll be fine, as long as we're together.