Sorry it took so long. Busy with my public speaking. Now, enjoy...

Chapter 4

Darkness

Despair

Peeta...

No Katniss, don't break...

I seem to spend most of my time with Finnick now. I caught Gale watching us with a weird look on his face the other day. He probably thinks that there's something going on between us but I'm already past caring. Finnick is the only other person who knows how I feel aside from Haymitch but I still haven't forgiven him for betraying Peeta and me. So he isn't much of an option.

The bombing still hasn't stop yet. We're still in the underground bunker. I've lost count on how many days has passed since the interview with Peeta. Oh, how I miss him. I know that if I stay in bed for another second, my mind will take me to all the unwanted thoughts and I get up and ready myself to go to the cafeteria of the bunker.

As I walk to the halls to the cafeteria, I realize how hungry I am. It hits me that I haven't eaten since yesterday morning and it's already past noon now. The baby must also be really hungry right now. A pang of guilt hits me for not caring for the child inside me of late and I quietly mutter a silent apology for it.

I reach the bunkers cafeteria after some time and immediately see a lone Finnick O'dair. There is practically no one here except for him and a few cafeteria attendants. Knowing District 13, they probably ate at twelve sharp and already finished seeming that it's already half past one. Finnick waves for me to come to him and I oblige to him by walking towards his direction.

"Feeling better Katniss?" he asks when I reach him. He says it with a smile that almost seems real, almost. I know how he is just as miserable as I am. I just sigh and try my hardest to muster a smile but I fail miserably and it comes out as a painful grimace. "Come on, let's eat" he says and we each grab a trey for ourselves. "What's for lunch?"

"Don't know but let's just hope that it's not as disgusting as the mashed potatoes the other night." I just keep silent, clearly not remembering the meal at all.

Today's lunch is hot grain and just plain clear water. The attendants just observe us and give us what I think was originally was supposed to be a sympathetic face as they scoop the grain on our food trays. The food might not appetizing at all but I'm too starved to even give a complaint. I'm just hoping that it stays down long enough for my body to get all the nutrients it needs.

We find a decent table and set down our food trays. We sit and finish our food in relative silence for the next couple of minutes. We then place our food trays in their designated exit the cafeteria and when I feel the vile coming up, I hurriedly mutter an excuse about needing to feed the cat to Finnick and practically sprint to my compartment.

Once there, I enter the bathroom and begin the phase of vomiting my guts out. The vile burns coming out of my mouth and I want so badly for this to end soon. After it was over, I flushed the toilet and went on to rinsing my mouth out. I feel so tired all of a sudden and resolve to just take a nap. My body tires so easily these days. It must be one of the effects of pregnancy.

Amazingly, when I wake up it's already morning. Prim is shaking me awake even though I already am. "Katniss, the bombs have finally stopped. We can go back to our compartment now!" Prim squeals gleefully at me.

The bombs have stopped and we can finally get out of this dreadful bunker.


We are assigned a new bunker because our old one had been destroyed during the bombing. Our new compartment is a few levels lower than our old one and is exactly the exact replica except this one has no window for Buttercup. I barely have time to observe our new compartment and to set the few belongings that we have when I'm summoned to Command.

When I arrive in Command, I can already see Finnick there."What do they want us to do now?" I say to him. "Not sure, I was just heading back to the hospital when some strangers whisked me here" The door opens and in comes Plutarch, Haymitch, Cressida and the others."We need you two to film some footage."

With that we are quickly suited and ushered aboveground in less than thirty minutes. I can't believe how much destruction the bombing caused. There's no more than just debris up here, everything is practically ruined. From afar, I can see hints of red on the ground. I walk towards it and find rose petals scattered everywhere. I fight to not puke right here and now.

I'm seated on a piece of marble floor of what once was District 13s' Justice Building. "Now Katniss, let us just try some Q and As, okay?" I nod in response. Cressida yells action! And the red light on the camera that indicates were rolling is on.

"So Katniss, you've survived the bombing. How does it compare to what you experienced on the ground of District Eight?"."We were so far underground this time so there wasn't any real danger. Thirteen is alive and well and so am-" my voice cuts off in a dry, squeaking sound.

"Okay, just this one line and your done for today. I promise"."Thirteen is alive and so am-"No that's wrong. I swear I can still smell those roses. "Thirteen is alive and well and-" Oh God. How can I say this if everything that comes out of my stupid mouth will come right back at Peeta. I break down and begin crying. "What is wrong with her?" Plutarch asks and I hear Finnick say "She found out how Snow is using Peeta against her."

I'm surprised at myself when I reach out my hand to Haymitch before I know it. He engulfs me in a hug and I sob uncontrollably. He pats my back in a fatherly manner and it's not long before I feel the jab of the needle. During my state of unconsciousness, I dream of Peeta and his happy face but too soon the nightmares come and I find that I'm unable to wake.

I wonder why and vaguely remember the drugs they injected into me. I remember about the baby and I pray that nothing happens to it due to the drugs.

(Thanks for reading. Again, sorry it took so long. Hope you enjoyed it. Please tell me what you think -Adri)