Katniss POV:
The next few days are a blur to me, we arrive at each district and give our speech that Effie's given to us. Some districts glare at us, having nothing but hate in their eyes, but others raise their hands in the 3 fingered salute, looking to us with awe and respect. I'm not sure which is worse.
My nights are spent in Clove's arms, we both awake from violent nightmares trying to muffle our screams so as not to wake the entire train. Comforting each other and trying to allow the other to fall back to sleep.
Haymitch's words echo in my head, "You never get off this train." I gulp as they pass through my thoughts once more. I knew the reality of course, but having someone verbalise it in that way makes it all the more real.
Sometimes as long as we don't accidently cause a riot during the ceremony we get to look around the district for a while, with an escort of course. It's interesting to see how different people live. To see that there seems to be poverty in every district.
I especially like District 4, I'd never see the sea before, it's beautiful, of course I'd rather have my forest any day but there's something about the vast expanse of water spreading out and seemingly never ending.
Clove seems to be getting more and more anxious as the days go on. She tries really hard to hide it but I can see it. Her nightmares have been more violent and I think I know why.
I sigh as the train turns a corner, turning over so I can see the dark shadowy shape of Clove lying next to me with an arm draped around my waist. I reach for her cheek and brush my thumb over it. She murmurs in her sleep snuggling closer to me and I can't help but smile.
The smile fades though when I remember where we'll be arriving tomorrow. District 2, Clove's home, no, Clove's old home, Clove now lives with me in 12. I wrap my arms around her sleeping form, hugging her protectively burying my face in her shoulder.
Her dad will most certainly be there. He better not try anything, I tighten my hold on her, I'll be there with her I remind myself, she'll be safe. I close my eyes and try to empty my mind of the thoughts spiralling through it I need to get some sleep.
I think I'm about to drop off when my pillow twitches, confused I open my eyes, remembering I'm resting my head on Clove. She twitches again and this time a small whine escapes her lips. Sitting up I pull her into my lap.
"Hey Clove wake up it's alright." I whisper as she tries to writhe out of my grip.
"No stop!" She cries he hand balling into the shirt of my pyjamas. "Stop!"
"It's alright Clove, you're here with me, it's ok, it's just Katniss."
"Katniss no!" Clove fights harder against my hold. "Stop it you're hurting her."
"I'm alright Clove I'm right here and so are you it's ok, wake up."
"Stop." Her voice breaks, it breaks my heart to hear her voice breaking like that. She manages to get an arm free and she lashes out at the empty air. "No!" Her eyes snap open, she looks around the room frantically, breathing hard.
"It's alright it's just me and you in here." I reassure her and she collapses against me. "It was just a nightmare." We sit in silence for a few moments Clove still breathing heavily. "Do you want to talk about it?" I ask but she shakes her head.
"I didn't wake you did I?" She asks quietly, I shake my head before remembering that it's dark and she probably can't see me that well.
"No I was already awake." I confess, she nods slowly taking a shuddering breath.
"Why were you awake?" She asks looking up at me and I shrug in response.
"Was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Everything… What we have to prevent…and what Haymitch said." I sigh, Clove reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck, not saying everything. We sit there in silence for a while. Just holding each other knowing that there is nothing either of us can say at the moment to make this better. We lie down together and eventually I manage to drift off to sleep . I hope that Clove manages the same.
I'm awoken by a loud knock at the door. "Time for breakfast girls." I hear Oriel shout through the door. Clove groans into my shoulder and tightens her hold on me not wanting to move. I sigh also not wanting to get up just yet, it's not like either of us got much sleep.
Another knock sounds on the door again, harder this time. "Get up." I hear Haymitch shout it seems both our mentors have decided to wake us this morning. "Don't make me come in there." Haymitch warns I sigh, sounds like he's not in the best of moods today but then again it's not like he's ever in a particularly good mood.
"Alright we're up." I shout, sitting up dragging a still half asleep Clove with me.
"You'd better be, breakfast is in 10 minutes." Haymitch growls. I listen to the footsteps as Haymitch and Oriel walk away from our door. Sighing I nudge Clove who's not moved at all.
"Come on Clove." I whisper kissing her. She finally opens her eyes giving me a little grin as she looks at me blearily.
She leans in for another kiss successfully pushing me down, I can't complain as I tangle my fingers in her already tangled bed hair. We part for breath only to crash our lips back together once more. I find myself getting lost into the feeling of her lips on mine.
A loud knock sounds at the door and we pull away from each other abruptly. "You two. Up. Now." Haymitch' voice sounds from the other side of the door. I can't help the laugh that rises to my throat as I catch Clove's eye.
She grins at me and gives me a quick kiss before clambering off me. "What are you two doing?" Haymitch asks knocking on the door again.
"We're up now." Clove calls smirking at me playfully. I let out a little laugh as I hear an exasperated sigh from the other side of the door. We get out of the comfortable bed and start to get ready. Once we're both dressed I pull back to curtains on the windows and gaze out into the station of District 2.
A large sign with a black 2 on it stands to the side. A few peacekeepers stand guard but apart from that the station is deserted. It's a dull grey colour similar to the station in District 12 but everything seems to be newer and better built.
The peacekeepers stand completely still holding their guns to their chest and looking far more disciplined than the peacekeepers in 12. I feel Clove move to stand next to me and her hand reaches for mine.
Glancing at her I see she's set her face into its defensive scowl but I also notice how her hands shake ever so slightly as her eyes flick over the scene in front of her as if searching for something. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and she turns her gaze to me and I notice the tiny almost unnoticeable glint of fear in her eyes.
Haymitch looks up at us when we enter the dining compartment, his face set into a scowl as he takes a swig from his glass of what is probably some alcoholic beverage. Effie beams at us as we sit down, passing us a plate of pancakes and insisting we try some before turning back to Clove's escort and engaging her in excited conversation.
I glance at Clove who's staring out of the windows completely uninterested in the food in front of her. I nudge her to get her attention and offer to share a pancake with her, even though there's plenty on the table. Her lips twitch slightly as she tries not to smile as she accepts my offer.
All too soon we're being ushered out of the train and onto the grey concrete of the station. The peacekeepers react instantly and in perfect union they move so that a row of 5 is standing either side of the escort, two peacekeepers take to the front and two move to the back to follow us.
I glance a round in alarm but Clove seems completely unconcerned, I move closer to her as the group starts moving. We've had peacekeepers escort us before in other districts but never have they been this synchronised nor have there been this many before.
I bite my lip worrying that maybe they are expecting trouble but the streets are empty as they lead us to a set of cars. I climb in next to Haymitch quickly so Clove won't have to sit next to him. I know he still makes her feel uncomfortable and she probably feels uncomfortable enough being in her old district.
The cars start up and drive off. I glance out the window to see identical stone houses lining the roads. Some people stand outside watching us pass, there are no smiles on their faces as we pass. Even the children stand tall with their arms folded, I find it incredibly unsettling. I'm used to seeing children running around and laughing amongst themselves, even the undernourished children from the Seam would play together.
"This is normal." Clove murmurs leaning close to me so the others won't hear. "This is how they greet victors who are not careers."
"But what about you? You're from this district." I whisper back but Clove shakes her head.
"Not anymore I'm not." She whispers, her eyes unreadable as she gives me a small smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes as she kisses my cheek quickly.
The cars pull up in front of the grand mayor's building and we file out of the car. The mayor of the District stands in front of the doors and gives us a forced smile as he approaches us his eyes resting on Clove.
"I'd like to personally welcome Clove back to her home district." He says and the words sound insincere and threatening. He gives us a smile that shows all his teeth but it looks more like a sneer than a friendly gesture.
"And of course I'd like to welcome Clove's girlfriend." He nods towards me not bothering to mention my name before her turns and walks back towards his house. Just before he enters he turns and his eyes flick between us threateningly. "I do hope you enjoy your stay, perhaps Clove could show her girlfriend her old haunts and perhaps even introduce her to her family, I hear that her father will be here after the ceremony." He gives us a smirk before he disappears into the house.
Clove is tense beside me, I see her glaring at the door the man just disappeared behind. I reach for Clove's hand an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach. She turns her gaze to the floor gripping my hand tightly as we walk forwards.
The ceremony is an awkward affair, the people watch us there eyes cold, there is one stage at the back of the crowd where Cato's family stands in front of the huge screen showing his face. I struggle to read out the words on the cards Effie wrote for us. Clove is silent beside me, her chin up trying to look brave, she hasn't let go of my hand since I took it earlier.
I notice she's staring in one particular direction and when I follow her gaze I spot a man with familiar green eyes. His face is set into a smirk as he watches my girlfriend with a cruel expression on his face.
I falter in the speech when I spot him, white hot anger flaring through me I know who this man is, I know what he did to Clove. I tighten my hold on Clove's hand and her gaze turns to me questioningly. Blinking away my anger I continue my half of the speech.
When I finish reading what's on my card I'm surprised when Clove reaches in to her pocket and pulls out her own speech card. Reading the words effortlessly, sounding every bit the cocky, sadistic career that she's meant to be.
When she mentions Cato's death she shoots the crowd a smirk, I notice the way the people in front of us glance at each other, scowling in our direction. I gulp subtlety, the looks they're sending us makes me uneasy. Turning to Clove's dad I spot him continuing to smirk at her, his eyebrows now raised in amusement.
Clove finishes her speech and nods to the crowd before pulling me with her back into the mayor's building. Once the door closes behind us she releases a shuddering breath, her eyes closing for a moment before re-opening them and looking up at me.
"Are you alright?" I ask quietly but she only shrugs in reply. I'm about to pull her into a hug when Haymitch and Oriel walk into the building, followed by the familiar man from the crowd outside.
"And I finally get to speak to my daughter after so many months." He says, his eyes retaining that cold gleam and the smirk still plastered onto his face. I briefly wonder if he has any other expressions.
Clove's eyes harden as she shifts her position, pushing me backwards as she does so she's standing in front of me. "Can't say I'm pleased to see you." She spits at him. His smirk slips off his face and he unfold his arms hooking his thumbs in his belt.
I notice how Clove's breathing has sped up slightly, how every muscle sin her body is poised, ready to fight. Without thinking I place my hand on her shoulder and pull her behind me taking a couple of steps towards the man.
"I think you should leave." I say, mustering up all my courage. The man before me is twice my size and could probably break me if he wanted but I'm filled with an incredible need to protect Clove from this bastard.
"Katniss…" I turn when I hear Clove's voice, sounding very small, I turn to her and see her staring at me her eyes wide and slightly fearful. She shakes her head, blinking a couple of times before she takes me hand pulling me back. Her eyes betraying the smallest glint of fear.
"And who are you girl? To tell me to leave?" Clove's dad closes the space between us and towers above me. I purse my lips, automatically pushing Clove behind me once more.
"I'm Clove's girlfriend and neither of us want you here." I growl, I need to keep him away from Clove, I can't let him hurt her again. My eyes flick over to Haymitch and Oriel who stand there, Oriel watches the scene her eyes on Clove pityingly. Haymitch has his arms folded a slight frown on his face as he looks between the large man and us thoughtfully.
"If my daughter wants me to leave then she can tell me herself." The man turns his gaze to my girlfriend, the smirk reappearing on his face. Clove has her gaze fixed on the floor, the bottom lip fixed firmly between her teeth.
"Leave." I can feel her hands shaking slightly but it's barely noticeable as she takes a deep breath forcing her head up to meet his eye. She pushes me behind her closing the one foot gap between him and her. She barely comes up to his chest but the look she fixes him with is the most intimidating look I have ever seen on her face.
He raises his eyebrows in surprise before his face resets itself to a glare. "I don't think so girl." He growls. At that moment there's a sudden boom as the doors crash open. Effie enters the room with Silka, Clove's escort close behind her. They beam at us as they enter and Effie bounces over to me.
"That was brilliant you two should be so proud of yourselves." Silka claps as Effie beams at us giving me a hug that surprises me slightly.
"I couldn't agree more!" Effie says happily nodding towards Clove with a warm smile.
"Erm ok…" I say slowly. Clove's dad has taken a few steps back, his lip curled up slightly in disgust at the two Capitol women.
"Well I suppose I'll take my leave. Clove, perhaps I will see you later." He gives Clove a smirk before turning abruptly, striding through the doors. Clove is pale beside me her eyes wide as she watches him go.
"Well we have some hours before we have to be back to the train so perhaps Clove could show Katniss around?" Effie asks, glancing curiously in the direction that Clove's father disappeared.
"I'll tag along." Haymitch states, stepping forwards with his hands deep in his pocket, his expression thoughtful. I nod towards him thankfully. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders protectively as Haymitch leads us out through the doors.
The first thing I need to do is take Clove somewhere safe. She doesn't look so good, her face is pale and her eyes are slightly glazed. I hope she's alright although I can see she's not. Haymitch nods his head towards an alleyway, understanding what my plan is.
He leans against the wall a bit further up giving us some privacy. I turn to Clove as she stares at the floor. "Clove…" I murmur placing my hand on her cheek forcing her to look at me. Clove gulps her hands shaking visibly now.
I'm not sure what I can say so, as tears start to appear in her eyes, I lean forwards and kiss them away. Pulling her close to me, her head automatically falls onto my shoulder. "It's alright now." I rub her back soothingly as she takes shuddering breaths, her entire body shaking.
"It's alright." I repeat, kissing her hair. I don't know what else I can do, anger flares through me, I wish I could kill the person that dared hurt her. That dared put her into this state. But for now she needs me, I hold her tighter. The sooner we can get out of this district the better. We still have a few hours though and I have to spend that time making sure Clove stays safe.