Chapter XIX
The crew is meandering about the dining room. Everyone still slightly befuddled after the events of the past weeks. Gale however has been taking this news the hardest. He just learned that he was fake married to a local village girl who turned out to be an assassin hired by Cato to kill us all. Strange things happen to this crew all the time it seems however even that this is a little beyond the normal. It's almost painful to watch him these days though. Johanna still won't talk to him. She's still heartbroken over the fact that even though he was drunk he was willing to marry some stranger when he won't even commit to her. However on Gale's end he is trying to talk to Johanna but he just doesn't know what to say. He and Katniss have that speechless trait in common.
Apart from a few minor cuts and bruises from her fight with Fern—or whatever her real name is—the fox faced assassin, Katniss is completely fine. Her old wounds are nearly healed. And best of all, being with Katniss is incredible. I've never been so happy in my entire life. She's perfect, well perfect for me at least.
We decided to continue on to Meer; yesterday we picked up the shipment and now we are pushing out to the outer rim to the edges of District 12. Katniss says that her home planet is far closer to the center of District 12 and we will be dropping this shipment on Feuer, which is discomfortingly close to the edges of District 13, Mutt territory.
District 13 used to be a thriving place, I've heard that they did a lot of research for the Kapitol, however any records I've ever seen on District 13 are completely blank. It's almost like it never existed. The only proof that it is even there is the footage of the destruction. From what I've been able to glean, one of District 13's experiments went horribly wrong. From the footage of destruction it is obvious that there was a large explosion of sorts. My hunch, as well as everyone else's on this ship, is that the explosion was so toxic that it mutated the residents of District 13 and that is where the Mutts originated. However if that were true there would be no way to prove it, the Kapitol would undoubtedly have buried any proof of such a thing.
Anyways, it makes everyone on the crew particularly nervous to be flying so close to Mutt territory. The closer we get the more anxious everyone gets. Facing the many dangers we have is nothing compared to the unspeakable horror we would suffer if the Mutts ever got us.
"Johanna please!" Gale's shouting pulls me from my distress. I release my bottom lip from between my teeth; it's raw from my nearly constant anxious worrying. I roll my eyes; a trait I have learned from Katniss, knowing this is going to be another fight. Gale has constantly been pursuing Johanna and she is not responding. He begs and pleads, and she pushes him away. It has almost become a routine. Everyday since we left Fern-what's-her-name on that tiny farming planet Gale and Johanna have had an argument. Everyday Gale tries to talk to her and she ends up screaming at him and locking herself in her bunk or the engine room. It's giving everyone a headache. But I can see that her walls are breaking down. I can only hope this will be the last fight before they finally make up.
"Gale, not again. I don't wanna have this fight every day. Please just leave me alone. I'm done talkin'…" Their voices float up to the bridge where Katniss and I are sitting, my guess is that they are standing outside of Johanna's bunk. I don't doubt that Johanna was about to lock herself away.
"No Johanna! We ain't talked yet. If you would just listen then maybe we would be able to stop all this fightin'. I've got things to say and until you let me say 'em we're gonna keep havin' this fight."
"Alright Gale. I'll listen but I don't think it's goin' to change anythin'." She crosses her arms and pops out her hip. Her left foot is tapping impatiently on the steel floor.
"Thank you." I can tell he is getting frustrated but trying desperately to keep himself calm. Katniss and I exchange a knowing glance. "Johanna I'm sorry. I know that I've treated you terribly and I hate that I've hurt you. I wish I'd have realized it before, but I love you. I really do Jo. I've always loved you and I wish I'd have just told ya but I was scared. I don't wanna be another day without you. Jo I can't lose you. I know we can fix this."
I hear a quiet sniffle from Johanna. In my peripheral I see Katniss' eyebrows shoot up. She looks over to me in surprise. The fact that Gale could give such an impassioned speech is a new phenomenon to her. I give her a warm smile and nod slightly.
"Gale, sometimes when a thing gets broke is can't be fixed." Her voice is strained. I never thought Johanna's tough exterior could break so easily.
"Don't say that Jo. I love you. I can't live without you. Give me a chance. This'll be the last one I promise. I'll never let you go again I swear it. Please Jo." Gale's voice is pleading.
"Gale I…"
"No Jo. I can't handle it if you say no."
"Gale…" Her words are cut off and silence falls from the hallway. The quiet sound of a tender but passionate kiss are barely detectable.
"Ok." Johanna whispers so quietly that if Katniss and I weren't eavesdropping so intently we would have missed it.
Katniss smiles widely and I pull her in for a gentle hug.
...:::...
Feuer is just as dismal as promised. The people are broken and crushed. They mine for coal, diamonds, gold and more for ten hours a day. They are covered in dirt from head to toe and seeing their deadened eyes fills me with nothing but hatred for the Kapitol and the Union. These people work so hard, live in the worst conditions, and they see absolutely none of the fruits of their labors. It makes me sick.
I can tell that Katniss hates it here. I swear I can almost see her heartbreaking for these people. It makes me wonder what the conditions are like on her home planet. I know she is from District Twelve as well and I hope and pray that she didn't grow up living this life.
Everyone is tense and cheerless as we make the delivery. It does do my heart some good to know that this shipment includes medicine and food supplements. At least there is a few people who care about those who are suffering. It warms me heart to know that not all of the richer districts are exactly the same, that there are sympathetic and caring people out there trying to make a change.
The way their eyes light up as we help distribute the food and medicine brings me happiness that I had never known. No matter how many folks I have helped, medically, it has never felt as gratifying as these moments. I could die happy right now knowing that I am helping people who deserve it and the woman I love is by my side.
"Thank you Mr." A young black haired, soot covered boy smiles up at me and his little voice carries hints of a lisp. His grey eyes are beaming and I can't help but wonder if Katniss and I ever had a child…would it look more like Katniss or myself. Would they have grey eyes or blue? Golden blonde or chocolate brown?
"Cap'n!" Annie's sharp voice interrupts my daydreaming. Simultaneously a blaring alarm sounds across the town square where we had been distributing goods. Immediately everyone begins to panic and my stomach sinks.
"Mutts! They're comin' in fast Cap'n you gotta hurry!" Katniss immediately flies into action. She jumps on the four-wheeler and the engine revs to life. Everyone piles on and despite my momentary shock I manage to jump on as she starts moving, all the while commanding everyone to move.
"Cap'n we've only got a few minutes! Ya'll need to hurry yer asses up!" Annie scolds over the hand held radio.
The rocks and trees fly by and the sounds of the engine and the wind roars in my ears.
"Cap'n they'll be behind you in a matter of seconds!" She screams and as she does I hear the sputtering and groaning of an upcoming engine. With dread I turn to look behind me and see the mangled ship.
"Faster!" I hear Gale roar and Katniss revs the engine higher, even though I'm pretty sure that we are going top speed already.
The ship is gaining on us. Katniss starts to weave through the forests however that doesn't stop the Mutts from following our trail. I hear the sounds of snapping trees behind us.
"Annie start the ship! We're almost there!" Katniss bellows into the radio.
A daunting creaking, and the grating sound of metal scraping against metal fills the air.
I look back, unsure of what I just heard.
"Harpoon!" Johanna hollers and suddenly it all makes sense. I can see the sunlight glint off the sharp point of the ready harpoon.
A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for being patient! Life got in the way, as it always seems to do. My papers are done! Yay! However I am working two jobs and I was just in Vernon for my cousins wedding. For those of you who read Wanted: Everdeen I promise an update is coming soon! Thanks for your patience and all of your encouraging reviews! Keep them coming!