It feels like the games again. One more time I find myself running for life though the woods. No, not for my own life this time, but for another more precious one than mine. The air of district 4 tastes like salt, so my tears, the ash covers my boots, half burnt twigs hug my legs, the dying fire lights the path.
"Prim, Prim." I cup my hands over my mouth and call her name. But my words keep coming back to me like an echo, mocking my desperation. The air is heavy with some strong pungent smell; I have to hold my breath to keep myself alive in this ruin. But now after this long time, my lungs are about to explode.
My eyes search the surroundings; the once green forest has become nothing but a pile of coal, still burning from Capitol rage. Dead animals lying at my feet, there is no sign of life around me. I shout Prim's name again, but the words only keep coming back. Suddenly I realize I have nothing to do. Here I am standing alone, only living creature among the kingdom of dead.
All of a sudden I my knees begin to feel very weak. I have survived two hunger games, I have fought for like, I defeated the carriers, I lived through a Capitol bombing, I have never felt so weak. But realizing the truth about Katniss's precious sister, my heart sinks into my stomach. Suddenly a surge of emotions take me over, I can hardly process. My knees buckle as I hunch over the ground.
"Peeta." A pair of booted footsteps stops behind me, a calloused hand touches my shoulder. I literally turn to find Boggs standing behind me; his middle aged face is veiled with grief.
"I'm sorry about her."
"No, it's not true." I snarl, sending some inspiration to my brain 'We must search again."
"But you have already searched half of the forest." Boggs shake his head, unconvinced. I know his sympathy is genuine, I must learn the truth. Prim is dead, possibly the fire devoured her last remnant. I've failed, again. I can't keep my promise to Katniss. I need to admit that. But I can't. I'm too angry with what just happened. All I think how unfair the reality is, the whole hunger games, the rebellion. Why this must happen? Why Capitol has to do this- to my family, Prim or Katniss? Why? Why? Why Snow can't spare our lives and entertain his silly Capitol followers with some bunch full of lies? The longer I think, my fury tends to surface until I literally push Boggs away from way and take another step ahead.
"Peeta, where are you going?" I hear his voice from behind, still shocked from my weird behavior."I know it's really hard for you. But you must understand the truth. No one can survive here."
"Move." I decide to ignore him. I take another step forward among the dead animals and burnt willows while the darkness has concealed me. I hope Boggs has stopped following me. I need no one for help, I have never asked for any help. My eyes catch a slope few meters away, still green untouched by the fire. The forest is so deep there; that it is really hard to say what is inside the darkness. If I can get down, I can guarantee a chance.
'Peeta, Peeta!" I hear Boggs calling my name. But no I can't stop now. I can't stop until I find Prim.
So I hang my legs at the edge, let myself slip down along the slope into the morning light. Yes, through the small sunlight that has reached through the thick shade of green leaves above, I see a small figure, sunny hair shining like gold, lying among the dry leaves with the ugliest cat on guard. I pause for a second for a clearer look, now I can see her. A knowing smile laces my lips- Prim.
Prim, Katniss's precious little sister, has heard my footsteps over the dry leafs possibly, because she sits up, eyes takes a wild gaze around her. Her cat mews and snuggles closer.
"Prim!" I whisper.
She hears me. She turns her head; our eyes instantly lock with each other.
"Peeta!" A knowing smile crosses her face. She tries to stand up, as soon as she put her weight upon her foot, her face twists into a odd way, lines of pain riddles her tiny features.
'Prim." I hurry close to her before she crumbles on the ground. Sure enough she is hurt and with one look to her swollen ankle I can realize the fact though my mother is not a healer.
I kneel beside her. "So I guess, our little healer got herself in trouble."
'Buttercup is hurt." Prim smiles, still hugging her cat tight. I notice the cat got a bandage around his left paw. "So I came here to get some…"
"Yeah, lucky cat." I grimace remembering all the things I had to go through this morning "I guess, I'd better be Buttercup than being Peeta, and then I wouldn't have worried my brain off for you."
"You'd make the cutest cat ever then." She jerks her head and laughs.
"Would you mind if I become your pet?" I give her the water bottle and offer a sip. It's really hard to remain serious with her.
Her blue eyes again lock into mine "I won't. But Katniss would try you to drown then."
"Why?"
"She would like to wash you that way." she says, for a second her clear blue eyes turns stormy, I know what she is thinking. For second another memory flashes into my mind, the first games when she tried to wash my clothes when I was injured. We both gaze at each other, trying to absorb the truth about her fate.
The silence is really painful. At last I decide to break it. "Well, Prim, let me take you back."
Prim jerks with my words, but nods. Her eyes are still teary from the recall, she doesn't say any word. "Can you?" I ask. She is still in shock but nods. But when I start to help her on my shoulder, the confidence disappears. Her ankle is badly hurt; she is too weak that she is almost unable to move. She wraps her arms around my shoulder to keep herself straight, but from her teary eyes, I can tell that all she was doing to resist the sharp cry of pain escaping from her. She has barely shifted her weight over her ankle, teeth gritted, tears cutting trails through her face; crumbles into the ground again.
'Prim.' I kneel beside her; her face is white with agony, eyes shining with the impending cry. "I'll carry you."
The little girl raises her teary eyes to me; I can see the pain there. "No Peeta." She protests "You can't carry me with the leg."
Sweet Prim! She is still concerned with my artificial leg.
"I can." I insist. She keeps protesting, but soon I pick her up in my arms in bridal way. "See, I can." I smile.
Prim smiles and kisses my cheek. "But Buttercup?"
"Ok, he can have a ride." I smile back.
Slowly we begin making our way up to the slope. With my prosthetic leg and Prim's weight, it's a challenge to climb. I have to pause every second, mouth wide open, gasping for air. Prim insists me to drop her but I decide to ignore her again. I must keep my promise. I must take Prim safely to home, to Katniss.
I've no idea if they can rescue her from the Capitol hell. Does she ever think about me? Does she ever love me or still pretending with the little piece of information so that it keeps her alive? But the little pretences have taken her to the door of death. Then why she still keeps acting? Had she ever loved me for real?
Fortunately we find Boggs still waiting for us above. His lips twist into an affectionate smile when he notices us, walks beside me and takes Prim in his arms. We don't need to exchange any words, his grateful eyes say that all.
"Well done, soldier." At last he smiles first time in the day. "We are alive." I smile back. "Let's go back." Prim's eyes lights up and we begin our journey back home. All on a sudden even the ruin begins to seem much more beautiful than before.
Suddenly the birds fall silent. One of them gives a high pitched warning call. One single note- like once Katniss taught me. Three of us fall stop at our pace. Boggs's body tenses. "Peeta!" This time it is Prim who clutches my shirt, almost whispering.
"Take cover." Boggs begins moving to a nearby shady tree, Prim's face is white.
'What?" I am almost puzzled. I throw him a questioning look, but instead he turns his blue eyes to the sky where the forest is still burning. I follow him. High above the dying fire a hovercraft materializes. A set of metal claws drops down with a net in it's clutch. I narrow my eyes, there is a passenger inside. Slowly, gently the claws drop down the passenger and she lands on the ground in a heap. The hovercraft disappears.
Both of us exchange looks, still shocked. The passenger has pulled herself in a erect posture by this time. Now we can see the single plait lying loosely on her back. I feel Prim's grasp around me getting firm. She looks so familiar.
Next time my breath catches inside my throat as she turns her face towards us.
Katniss!
I can't believe my own eyes even. She is here, alive and well-maybe not well but alive. I have no idea why Snow decides to return her, still I'm content with the realization that she is once again away from Snow. Safe. Here. With me. I step out from our hiding spot. "Peeta, it may be a plan." I hear Boggs's warning. But I don't care. Katniss? How can she be a plan?
Her eyes are still wide with shock; maybe she has never expected the forest turning into a burning ruin. She is dressed into a white gown, the loose ends flying in the wind; she seems much more beautiful than usual. With the burning forest in the background, the girl on fire looks just like the rising phoenix.
I keep moving despite Boogs's warning tone. In a minute I can touch her. See her smile. Hear her laugh.
"Katniss." I call for her. Her eyes stop wondering, those stormy pupils locks into mine. Her face becomes straight, she doesn't' move an inch. Her eyes become still on me. I wonder if she is breathing even. Does her giddy mind trying to make up all the times we lost? Alright we'll have all the times of the world.
I'm light-headed with giddiness. What will I say? How much I miss her? Thank her for saving our lives? Or should I kiss her? Oh, that is the better option. I wonder after all these happenings; does she still taste like before?
As I move forward, she keeps looking at me. Her features register disbelief and something more intense that I can't quite place. Desire? Desperation? Surely both, for now she begins running towards me, her hands are reaching for me, ready to jump in my embrace.
My arms extend to hold her when she raises her bow and the arrow pierces my chest.
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