She went back for that goddamned cat.
I turn and sprint back the way I came. "Sorry, excuse me!" I say as I squeeze past frantic citizens entering the bunker.
"Attention, the doors of the bunker will be closing in one minute." a voice blared over the loud speakers. I ignore it as I dash up several flights of stairs.
"Prim!"
I strain my ears over the deafening cries of the people and the booming of the bombs that the Capitol has begun to drop.
"Prim!" I scream.
"Katniss!" I barely hear it over the tumult caused by the bombs. But I see a small figure rounding a corner at high speed, with a mass of fuzz in her hands.
"Prim, get yourself down here right now!"
Once she reaches the stairs, I grab her by the arm, pushing her in front of me as we sprint down the spiral staircase.
The only thing I can hear above the bombing is the loudspeaker, "The doors will be closing in 30 seconds, all citizens must be in the bunker."
"Go, go, go!" I shout as we reach the bottom of the staircase. The heavy cement doors are already starting to close.
Prim and I sprint towards the bunker and manage to slip in with only seconds to spare.
"You went back for the cat?!" I splutter, regaining my breath.
"I couldn't live with myself if I didn't!" replies Prim on the verge of tears, breathing heavily.
I take a deep breath and look at my sister. She's panting, clutching an overwhelmed Buttercup close to her chest like a scared young child. I knew what she meant. I go over and wrap my arms around her shaking body. "I know Prim, I know."
. . .
After making sure that Prim was safely tucked into the bunk bed, (she insisted that she take the cat under the covers with her. I couldn't protest but secretly wondered how clean Buttercup was) I walk over to my mom. She is huddled at the edge of her bed, listening to the unrelenting sound of explosions overhead. I sit down next to her as the boom of a large bomb shakes the foundations. We both look up as some of the cement ceiling crumbles and falls as powder onto the ground.
I look towards my mom, who is nervously dusting the dust off her lap. Slowly I lean my head on her shoulder and she doesn't pull away.
I don't remember another time that I had been so physically close to my mother. I had always tried to distance myself from her for fear that she would abandon me again. My mother's absence after my father's death had forced me to become independent and distant, in a time when we needed support.
It felt a bit awkward, leaning on her now but I was too emotionally drained to worry about it.
We sit like this in silence for a while before my mother says quietly, "Where's the baby?" I look up to her in shock, how did she know about Aiden?
"He might need you now, it's rather loud." she says.
I get up quickly, "You're right."
A particularly loud bomb goes off above and my mother instinctively grabs my hand. She smiles apologetically at me before letting go. I smile back.
And we both can feel the forgiveness.
And that, my loyal readers is Chapter 23. (Sorry its kinda short).
I hope you guys enjoyed it! I think that it was cool to see Katniss and her mother's relationship change as Katniss is kind of a mother herself now. Tehe.
I apologize again for the delay in this update but if you guys stick around today . . . wink wink. (^ー°)
Please continue to read and review. I could always do with some constructive criticism to improve my writing style.
Thank you guys so much and see you soon!
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