Chapter 3

Disclaimer: This time I brought some people from the story to help out with the Disclaimer.

*Stanly holds Prim by the shoulders away from me.*

Myoliver28: Come on Prim and Stanly help me out here. Hey, I rescued you guys for this brief moment of the story.

Stanly: But you're the reason we were kidnapped!

Myoliver28: Well do you want to go back to that scene or do you want to help me here?

*Stanly let go of Prim's shoulders.* Stanly: Fine but only this one time. Myoliver28 did not create the Hunger Games. Is that good enough for you?

Myoliver28: Yep that was perfect. Alright cultists you can take those kids back now.

Stanly and Prim: What?!

Myoliver28: Anyway, enjoy!

Katniss was frightened of this plan. It would take days to actually commence, but it was her last hope. The children had been gone for at least eight days and she couldn't stand it any longer. She now longs for the day that Prim and Stanly left so that she could tell them not to go. So she could have avoided this mess where her children may be dead for all she knew. She knew how it was to feel completely mad now. To feel lonely when there were others near, to feel so much sadness when everyone is rejoiced, and to feel so empty when you are well known.

She also couldn't deal with news reporters. She had been the heroin that stopped the war, and had been avoiding the people for years, trying to be as secluded from the news world as possible. But since Stanly and Prim went missing the Mellark's were everywhere. Even walking on a trail she would get long stares at people from District 12. Walking out of their usual meeting area two hours later she saw the people from 12 who were getting ready for days work, stare at her. Not like usual stares, sad stares. Stares that showed of loss and grief, like at the reaping where her sister was chosen for the games.

Shattered reality being placed back in its spots would take a longer time. More stares of grieved people who feel bad for the saviors from District 12, Katniss and Peeta. But these stares looked almost angry. Katniss looked at the ground when Peeta whispered in her ear, "they want us to tell them this is all a stunt. They don't know it actually happened. They want to know they're all safe."

She nodded reluctantly and then watched his slow pace. His leg was mended to when the games were over, but Peeta still had a limp with his artificial leg. It was very faint but still a hint because they could never have fully fixed his old leg.

When they reached their house Katniss was fairly tired. She had been up half the night with nightmares. Peeta and Katniss gratefully went to bed. For Peeta it would be rest. For Katniss it would be pure torture.

….

Prim drearily left sleep to the sound of alarms. Where was she? The room was so bright with lights flooding out her vision so she couldn't see what was happening. Stanly! The truth hit her so suddenly it was like a smack to the face. She was alone in a white padded room. She ran up to a door with a small window where she saw a faint figure of a boy running passed her 'holding cell'.

The boy ran by once more and caught the look of Prim's eyes and smiled. It was obviously Stanly. She smiled back and banged on the door. She pounded on it more and trying to get the door open. Trying to get to her brother. She heard a small door click open and all of a sudden she felt a prick at her side. She reached down to her hip and saw a syringe filled with a clear, milky liquid. "Ow," she breathed out. She pulled the needle out of her hip and winced. "Ow," she said louder this time.

She tried to look out the window again, but everything looked so strange. Like throwing a rock in a pond. That kind of distorted when there is a ripple from wading in the water. "Stanly," was the only thing she whispered before she fell to the ground, unconscious.

….

Katniss smiled as Peeta held out a hand offering her a dance. Peeta had on a crystal blue suit and a white tie. Katniss looked down and saw she had on the same colored strapless gown. Her hair spiraled down her back and was tucked in a low pony tail by a blue ribbon. Katniss didn't push away the hand and instead she gripped it tight and he swept her away on the dance floor. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white crown of daisies laced together and placed it on Katniss's head and began to dance the waltz with her.

"Why?" Katniss asked Peeta as they danced alone on the ballroom floor. "Why what Katniss?" Peeta asked her with a burning question in his eye. "Why are we here? Where are we?" His smile shifted from its usual kindness to an evil snare. "Why don't you recognize this place Katniss?" Horror struck Katniss as she looked around.

Peeta's figure changed from his usual self to being a lean, muscular, boy with dark brown hair and grey eyes. It was Gale. "Why it's President Snow's mansion Katniss. I think you remember this place, don't you?" Katniss looked around more. On tables were vases of white roses with an intoxicating fume of its scent in. She took off the horrid crown of what she thought was daises, but was really small white roses. Gale leaned right up next to Katniss as she stepped back and muttered, "Get away from me now, Gale."

"Katniss-" he began as she started to take off running. Katniss ran through the confusing twists and turns of the labyrinth President Snow used to call his home. She stopped when she spotted someone in her way up ahead in the blackened hallway. He shown a flashlight down the hall and she saw the man had crystal blue eyes and a scowl. "Peeta? Is - is that you?"

He smiled at her. "Yes Katniss it's me. Your beloved Peeta Mellark. Your star-crossed lover from District 12." That wasn't Peeta's voice. It was deeper and smoother, like before in Katniss's past when he would have sweet talked you any chance he could've gotten. "What have you done with Peeta, Gale?"

"What do you mean Katniss?" It was the same voice he would use before he gave the death blow to a wounded animal. "Gale, no just stop, please!" But Gale wasn't one to keep secrets.

"Katniss, there is no more Peeta Mellark."

Katniss suddenly jerked forward. Peeta's smile loomed above her. "No nightmares tonight Katniss? I haven't seen you thrash or scream once." Katniss shuttered and then said, "I didn't have time to." Peeta put an arm around her and she jerked back standing up and grabbing a bag. "Katniss where do you think you are you going?" Peeta called after his runaway wife.

She sighed holding the doorknob, briefly and quickly Katniss looked into Peeta's blue eyes. "I just have to go." She whispered and closed the door shut. Peeta jumped from the bed and ran after his wife who surprisingly when he opened the door, was gone.

He immediately reached the phone and nervously dialed numbers. What on Earth just happened? After a couple of rings a groggy voice picked up. "Who are you and why do you have my number?" Haymitch said with obvious anger. "Haymitch I really need your help. I can't find Katniss anywhere I'm really worried about her and I just don't want anything to happen to her because of the state in she was when she left. She was scared of me for some reason." Haymitch chuckled for a little while and then cleared his throat.

"There are some things you can lose in life. You can lose a puppy, you can lose your keys, and you can sometimes even loss your pants, but you aren't supposed to lose your wife, Peeta. Under no circumstance." Peeta put a hand on his hip to show impassiveness. "Haymitch I have no time for your pointless games. Have you seen Katniss?" Haymitch quickly said, "No I haven't seen Katniss now I gotta' go." Peeta set the phone down as he heard the line drop.

He tried calling around eight more houses but most people didn't answer. Finally he called Delly thinking she might have a slight idea. "Hello this is Delly speaking may I ask who is calling?" Peeta sighed into the phone. "Delly I want to make this short and sweet. Do you know where Katniss is?" Peeta heard a crashing noise in the background. "Thyme no! You do not bring those things into the house. Finnick stop encouraging him!" Delly yelled over the commotion. "Sorry Peeta I don't know where Katniss is but if you could help me please by letting my kids and Annie's kid come to the bakery and watch them for a little bit. I really need help, I have plans currently and will pick up the kids later so I can drop them off at a friend's house. I know I shouldn't be asking you for help since your wife is missing along with your kids but can you please help me?"

"Uh, sure Delly. Talk to me if you here any news about Katniss okay?"

"Okay Peeta. Bye," Delly quickly said hanging up. Peeta dropped the phone and turned the bakery sign to 'open' so the kids could come in.

….

"Thank you guys so much. I thought for sure he would have caught on to this." Katniss said to Delly and Annie. "Now why is the real reason you came?" Delly asked who would do anything for a friend. Katniss motioned for her friends to come in closer. "Well you see my friends," Katniss paused. "I can see dead people."

Delly rolled her eyes and looked at Annie who wasn't really paying attention. "The real reason I came is because of the dream I had. I can't even look at Peeta without seeing the images from that dream. He turned into Gale and started to chase me around President Snow's mansion. Then I saw Peeta who had Gale's voice, and then Gale said that Peeta and he were one and there was no more Peeta Mellark. I'm just really shaken up." Katniss put her head in her hands and then looked up at Delly and Annie.

Delly vaguely smiled and said, "Katniss we're your friends. We'll support you know matter what." Katniss smiled for the first time in days. "Thank you Delly. Thank you."

…...

"Okay now Finn I need you to put the bread in the oven I'll light the coals so you don't get burned." Finnick grabbed the pan with the lump of dough and popped it in the oven. He smiled and Peeta ruffled his hair. Finnick had Annie's brown hair but he had those green eyes. His late father's looming sea green eyes. Peeta let the kids run around the store when the bread baked. After it was done Peeta layed out some cheese and layered it once on each of the five pieces of bread. "Hey kids come here." Peeta said placing three plates in front of the giggling children.

"Thank you Mister Mellark." Blye said in her usual whistle like voice because of her two lost front teeth. "Yeah, thank you." Finnick said taking a small bite of the bread. "Thanks," said Thyme. A large knocking at the door alerted Peeta and the kids. The small boys and girl ran through the door almost knocking over Delly. She moved towards Peeta and thanked him then stopped at the door. "I brought someone you might know Peeta." She smirked and shut the door. Oh sweet life this is going to be bad. Peeta thought as the door cracked opened. A woman with curled brown hair and a smile walked through the open door. It was Katniss. She ran into Peeta's arms and he hugged her tightly. "Where were you? Are you okay? Do I need to call the authorities?" Katniss laughed and looked into his big blue eyes. "Stop worrying about everything Peeta; I'm fine. And I was at Delly's. She tricked you. You are so gullible sometimes."

"Hey, I am not gullible." Peeta said hugging Katniss tightly, heat radiating off of him. "Okay maybe a little bit."

Later, Katniss and her husband sat down on of a couch watching a movie. Peeta's gaze lazily shifted to the window where he smiled. He looked down to his wife who was dosing off, resting her head on his shoulder. He roused her and directed her out the door. A light snow began to fall across the field. "It's beautiful." Katniss breathed out. "Prim and Stanly would have loved it."

"Hey chin up Katniss." Peeta said lifting up Katniss's chin with a finger. "I know they would have and you do too, but right now we need to focus on finding them." Peeta put an arm around Katniss's shoulder and pulled her closer. "No matter what the cost."

So sad right? I may cry. :'(. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the story. I also hope you review and comment. Or else I may cry louder. :'O. See? Anyway review and comment while I make a sandwich singing Somebody That I Used to Know. What? Don't judge me! It only happened one time, okay? And also my computer had this huge spasm and the font on my computer is larger than usual so it might be a little larger than usual, so sorry.

P.S. The dream that Katniss had was partly inspired by The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, it was a quote at the end of City of Fallen Angels fourth book in the Mortal Instruments. I am not trying to copyright anything.

P.S., again. When Haymitch answered the phone I came up with that because when I know one of my friends' are calling me I'll answer, 'Who are you and why do you have my number?' Sorry, got sidetracked for a moment. I hope you enjoyed!