Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games!
Chapter 3
Hope
I sit there and I listen. I listen while Haymitch tells me that the Capitol bombed District Twelve into a pile of ash. I listen while Peeta tells me Gale got my family out safe. Mother, Prim. Gales Family. Hazelle, Rory, Vick, Posy. Greasy Sae and her family. 800 people. 800 people! How Gale went back to get Madge. How he never came back.
Gale. My Gale. My best friend. How could he leave me?
I sit on Peeta's lap and he holds me, keeping me together. My Gale. Dead. How? How did this happen? Gale, Madge, Peeta's family. Prim's friends. Buttercup. Lady. Gale. All of them gone forever.
Plutarch breaks the silence.
"We're here." I realise that I never found out where 'here' was. All I did was sit here, moping in Peeta's arms. But now, we're 'here', and 'here' was where Prim was. I have to be strong for Prim. I ask where we are.
District Thirteen. The District that was bombed at the end of the Dark Days. It isn't supposed to exist. I don't ask any more.
When we get out of the hovercraft, Peeta stands close beside me, holding my hand. He never leaves me, even when I am greeting my Mother and Prim.
I am grateful.
They give us a few days to ourselves, to recover. Peeta stays with me. I couldn't face the nightmares alone. Prim comes in to try to cheer me up. But even that has little effect.
Until one night.
One night, Peeta and I are lying together, when Prim comes in. She talks to me, tells me some jokes. Peeta laughs with her, and eventually they get me to join in. That is when I realise that I am lucky. My Best Friend may be gone. My home may be gone. But I still have my sister. I still have The Boy With The Bread. Not everybody died. And that is something to be happy about. That brings hope.
But I never truly felt alive until Prim comes in with Haymitch, on the third day since we landed in District Thirteen. Prim has this huge grin on her face. I can't fathom why. Haymitch looks happier than before, but he walks in with a sense of importance. I hop off the bed Peeta and I were sitting on, and take a few steps towards him. Peeta does too, and wraps an arm around my waist.
"What is it Haymitch?"
"Oh, you'll never guess!" Squeals Prim. "It's amazing! A miracle! It's-"
Haymitch shushes her, and then turns to me.
"Katniss, we got a broadcast from the Capitol this morning," he started. "There is a reason we didn't tell you to come and watch it, we didn't want you to get your hopes up, only to see him tortured, or killed, or something…"
"Who?" Peeta's voice is strained, yet some-how eager. I think I have an Idea who he is talking about. I hope. I wish. But I don't want to get my hopes up. But I have to ask.
"Was it… was it…" My voice falters. Peeta rubs my back soothingly.
Prim is just about bouncing of the walls.
"Well…" Begins Haymitch. But Prim stops him.
"Hey! You said I could tell her! You promised!"
"Fine."
"Katniss! You'll never guess!" She says again. I shudder, and close my eyes, pressing my face into Peeta's shirt.
"Come on Prim, get to the point," Mutters Peeta, now stroking my hair.
"Katniss! Katniss! Gale is alive!"