Chapter 2
Katniss's Point of View
We stared at him. My mind whirled at what he had just said. Gale said, "Victor, calm down, take a deep breath, and tell us what's happened." Victor does what his brother said and sat down next to us.
"Well, apparently President Snow had a daughter. Illegitimate of course, but still his daughter. Her name's Karina. Karina Snow. Today, she and a huge group of people left over from Snow's own personal time that were still loyal to him attacked the Capitol. They took it over, and killed Paylor. Then, they sent…um a lot of Peacekeepers over to District 12 to take you guys. Haymitch told me to come over and tell you guys. They're coming for you."
I couldn't wrap my brain around this. Paylor dead, Snow had a daughter, we're about to be taken to the Capitol…I stared straight ahead, while gripping the table so hard that my knuckles turned white. I guess Gale must have seen my expression, as he tries to calm me down, telling me that it's okay; we'll find a way around this.
I ignored him and ran out the door. I made it 5 steps out the door before bumping into the Peacekeepers that Victor had said would be coming to take us. They started grabbing at me, so I started to fight them, punching and kicking and biting. Gale ran out and started shouting at me to stop fighting, that we would be able to work this out together. Again, I ignored him. I needed this fight, needed to get out these angry feelings coming from who knows where. I screamed in pain as one Peacekeeper punched me in the mouth. I felt blood dribble down my chin, and I collapsed on the ground, completely spent. Gale rushed to me, and asked me if I was okay. I glanced up and said I was fine. Not meaning it of course, but he needed me to be okay, he wouldn't be able to deal with me being hurt AND taking care of his family at the same time as trying to make sure I was okay. He looked at me, with his gray Seam eyes, full of worry, obviously not believing me. I'd never been able to lie to him, but at least I'd tried.
"Get up, bitch, you've caused us enough trouble!" yelled the head Peacekeeper, and dragged me up by my hair. I gritted my teeth and resisted my instinct to punch him. Gale of course tried to defend me again, and took a swing at the guy, whatever his name was. I grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Don't. Just don't, Gale. This won't help our situation at all." For once I was the reasonable one. The head Peacekeeper heard me and replied, "Well boy, looks like your girlfriend has got a better head on her shoulders than you do."
"I'm not his girlfriend," I muttered under my breath.
"How about this," he snarled at Gale, "For every time you annoy me in ANY way, i will take out your punishment on the girl. And vice versa. That way, you guys won't cause me any unnecessary troubles."
I glared at him, and murmured under my breath to Gale, "What an asshole. I can't believe they made him the Head Peacekeeper."
Gale replied and said, "I know, right? Who in their right minds would do that?"
The Peacekeeper looked at us and said, "You guys think you're so sneaky. I heard you, you know. Didn't you hear my promise? For every time you guys annoy me in ANY damn way, I WILL take out your punishments on the other person, and vice versa. Now, to beat it into your damn heads that I will do this, I'm going to cut Katniss on the cheek with this knife," he held up a knife, "and Gale will just be punched, since the girl's the one that started this.
I scream and start to fight back, trying to get free. I kick the peacekeeper next to me in the chest, but they captured me again. The head dude, I heard some other Peacekeeper mention that his name was Rye, which reminded me too much of Peeta's brother, glared at me.
"Oh girl, you do NOT want to test me right now." He took his knife and held it up to my face. I shuddered as I looked at it. He held my face still with one hand, and ignored Gale as he yelled my name and tried to fight back, unsuccessfully. Rye dragged the knife down my cheek, cutting it open. He wasn't being sympathetic at all, went from the bottom of my eye to the top of my chin, and went deep. I held back a moan, not wanting to give him happiness in knowing that he was causing me pain. Gale continued yelling at Rye angrily.
Gale's Point of View
I HATED that guy. He was hurting Katniss! Even though she didn't know it, I loved her. I loved her so much. I knew how cheesy this sounded, like a love story gone awry. Anyway, I hated any guy that tried to hurt her. Like that guy inside the shop, who said, "Lookin' good, Katniss," that guy annoyed the shit out of me. But she did look so pretty when she blushed like that. As I watched that guy, I think his name was Rye, just like Peeta's brother, cutting open Katniss's cheek, I just let the rage take over. I jumped on the Peacekeeper next to me, hitting him on the head hard, and knocking him unconscious. I then moved on to Rye, and punched him in the face.
I yelled at him, "DON'T TOUCH HER YOU ASSHOLE! SHE'S DONE NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU!"
He punches me in the face, probably breaking my nose, as I felt blood stream down my face, and right then the other peacekeepers surrounded us. Katniss was holding her face, and I could tell she was trying not to cry out. I was just so mad, especially when they yanked away her hand and put us in handcuffs.
The head Peacekeeper said, "Get them to the train, so we can send them to Karina. She'll know what to do with them." Right at that moment, I saw Haymitch on the side, looking worriedly at us. I glared at him, knowing he couldn't do anything, yet resenting him for it. He shook his head slightly, as if knowing that I wanted to destroy everyone here. I wrapped my arm around Katniss protectively, and gently wiped away the blood from her cheek as we walked toward the train that would be taking us to our worst enemy's daughter.