Peter

One month later

Noise fills the air around me. People move back and forth as they carry on with their daily routines. Children cry out joyfully as some play catch and others hold on to their parents' hand.

I look down at the poster in my hands. The gentle yet dense lines reveal her natural beauty. I haven't seen Katherine for a few years. The only memories I have of her are our childhood and two meetings during our pre-teenage years. We used to play and laugh and she would smile. There wasn't a care in the world. And now, I don't know where she is or if she is alive. I hope for the latter.

The sun is at its highest peek and so it must be midday or a bit after midday. I stand up from the stone bench and fold the poster. The town square is a good place to start asking for clues. I ask two people and show them the poster. They shake their heads and I thank them for their help.

I remember the first time we met. We were five years old and we were introduced to each other when my father traveled to Saldrian. She didn't say much when I introduced myself but otherwise, we spent the day together and I told her funny stories, hoping to cheer her up. Perhaps I was making her uncomfortable because she made eye contact with me and immediately adverted her eyes, embarassed. We met again one year later and she was more comfortable around me. She made me smile when she talked about her leisure times and I finally made her laugh with my funny stories.

We became friends but it took some hard work from my part. She would get mad too easily and then the day would be ruined.

However, everything changed when we were eleven years old. The way the sun lighten up and made her olive skin glow brought a strange feeling to my chest. I asked my father what this feeling was and why I felt like I was bursting with happiness when I looked at Katherine. He told me I liked her more than a friend.

I ask a farmer selling his vegetables about Katherine and he, as the others, says he never saw her. I run a hand through my hair, desperate for new information.

We didn't see after that. That was the last time I saw her but we wrote to each other. However, the letters stopped arriving when we were fifteen years old. One year later, I hear the news of her father's death. I decided to send her a supportive letter and as always, it got no response. The king's new wife, Alma, was made queen regent until Katherine was old enough to be crowned. The queen ordered Katherine to be beheaded and that's when she seized to exist. She disappeared and the queen had an open field to play with.

She was unstoppable and thirsty for more power. The poorer kingdoms, Nevenia and Chalkton, surrended after one month of war. They were too weak to continue. Esbart, Bluemoon, the kingdom by the coast, west of Saldrian, and Alighter, the kingdom norwest of Saldrian, fought for one year before they were conquered. Millions of deaths stained each kingdom in red. Hemalia didn't go down without a good war but eventually they lost after two months.

My kingdom is free from her reign, along with Bluma. She never tried to invade Baluster but we were always looking out for her and her merciless army.

I spent two years wondering where Katherine could be.

Nothing.

No news. However, five months ago I heard the queen was looking for new thieves. It was my chance to find Katherine.

I have been traveling for a month, visiting almost every kingdom and the villages scattered around the countryside. I arrived at Dawsun, a village south of Alighter, last night and a strange sensation told she was near or possible hiding here.

I approach a middle-age woman selling her fruit in crates.

"Have you seen this girl?" I show her the poster.

She smiles and grabs the poster from my hands. She studies it for some minutes and I'm suddenly full of hope. She shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, young man." She apologises, handing me back the poster. "I have never seen her."

"Thank you for your help."

"She is a lovely girl."

I glance down at the poster. "She is. Thank you."

The woman consents. I walk down the busy street, watching every corner and shadow, hoping I'll see her standing there. Although I won't see her and I'll get frustated about it.

I'm almost run over by a hay wagon because I was too immersed in my thoughts. I step to the side quickly and, as the wagon drives by, I get the feeling that someone is looking at me. I look to my left and I caught the sight of a man walking away too fast. I wait for people to move aside so I can follow the man. Eventually, I lose him and so I try to decide which path he took. At the end of the busy street, I round the corner to the right. This particular street is empty but I decide to keep going. I sense he must know something about Katherine.

A young woman pass by me. She glances back, annoyed at something. I inspect every house and I come upon an open door. I step inside, a little bell rings above me, and the scent of wood fills my nostrils. The small room has rows and rows of wooden objects on shelves nailed to two walls. There's a counter and behind it a tiny room. I can see a table with wood scraps and tools.

"Hello?"

I'm startled by a door opening. A middle-age man steps into the room and as soon as he sees me, his eyes narrow. His almost white hair and scruffy beard make him look older than he looks to be.

"Can I help you?" There's a warning in his harsh voice.

I hand him the poster and wait for his answer. I watch as he unfolds it and his eyes flicker for a second before they turn back to dull.

"Have you seen her?"

He seems to wake up and quickly hands me back the poster. "No."

"Thank you."

"Why are you looking for her?" He asks, crossing his arms.

I never thought someone would ask the reason why I'm doing this.

"She has been gone for a long time. I want to find her."

He raises an eyebrow. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." I say but I hear the tremble in my voice.

"I think there is another reason."

"I'm certain of my reason, sir."

"Alright." He uncrosses his arms. "So, if you don't want anything from my shop, I would like you to leave."

I stare at him for a moment. He is hidding something.

"Once again, thank you." I bid him farewell and leave.

As I stand outside, I glance at the shop. I can see the man still looking at me, through the window of the shop. I have to come back tomorrow. He knows something about Katherine.

You may have notice the link between this chapter and the previous one and Peeta's name in the story is Peter. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Favourite, follow and review!