A/N: Alright, so here's chapter two. I'm working on making the future chapters longer. As always, please let me know what you thought! :D
Chapter 2: Wonderland
Her breathing begins to quicken, and her arms automatically clutches the thin sheets. Suddenly, she takes in her surroundings, confirming that she was indeed in a rundown hospital. Tilting her head to see better, the image staring back her doesn't disappear. Unbelievable. The man standing in front of her couldn't be her father. He had died in a coal mine explosion seven years ago. She had stood there along with Gale, a boy who also lost his father in the accident too, accepting the medal that would honor their memories. And yet now, he solidly stood here very much alive, confusion evident in his face. He wasn't the only one.
With the old ache of missing her father weighing in her chest, Katniss presses forward, "Who are you?"
The man and woman looked at each other before speaking.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Florence Everdeen and this is my husband, John," nodding to him. "I work as a nurse here in District 12. You were found in the woods, gravely injured by one of my friend's son. Can you tell us your name, child?"
She freezes, somehow sensing that her real name might alarm them so she says instead, "Kat."
Both of them nod, asking their next question. Florence continues, shining with concern, "Forgive me if I'm prying, can you tell me what happened to you?"
Katniss releases the breath she was holding, attempting to calm her racing heart, frantic like a rabbit's about to fall prey to an unknown hunter. She can't afford to let herself be a victim or let her guard down, even if a small part of her desperately wanted to. These two people resembled her parents, but they couldn't possibly be her real parents. The world didn't make sense. She still didn't know what was going on. She had to start at the beginning of what she could remember, to piece together what had happened.
"I…there was a battle. Children were in a large field, surrounded by a manor. Everything was in chaos. Peacekeepers were holding down civilians, trying to shoot down disguised rebels. I wanted to save my sister, but I was too late. She died right before me and I couldn't do anything," Katniss chokes, sobs threatening to break her careful composure. She closes her eyes as if to stop the flashback altogether.
She looks up when she feels the soft pressure of a hand on her left arm. Florence's blue eyes held sympathy. John also looked at her in kindness.
In that moment, Katniss decides that she resents their gazes. She didn't want their sympathies because that wouldn't change the fact that she had killed her sister.
She shudders on though, can't forget that there was another important person on that gruesome scene, "I was hit by a stray bomb that was exploding my way I think. My friend rushed to stop me from completely burning. I don't know what had happened to him. Did you find anyone next to me?"
Fragile hope blossoms in her chest at the chance that if Peeta were here with her, she wouldn't have to face whatever was happening to her alone. She needs him to be well and safe. They have been through too much together for him to just die. Peeta has always been such an inherently good person. A soul like his was rare. For that reason, he deserves to live. She didn't want to think otherwise.
Please, Katniss prays silently in her head.
Florence hesitantly replies, "No, Kat we didn't find anyone with you."
Katniss's heart sinks at the news.
He could be dead.
Without warning, a new kind of pain expands inside her heart. The force quickly pulls the breath out of her while her head bursts with denial. She comprehends vivid spots dancing before her vision and then, nothing.