Chapter 10: The Art Of Fright
Gale stands at the door, with helmet in hand and black from working in the coal mines. He stands there with his hand behind his neck, slightly grinning. For the first time, I begin to see what girls see in him. He's striking handsome. He says in a husky voice, "Hey." I have no idea at why I melt when I hear this. "Hey back." I say shyly with a blush creeping up my cheek. I lean against the door, and he coughs to begin his short speech. "Look I wanted to come to apologize for the other day. With the whole thing about you and... Mellark."
And then I remember how furious I am about that. I grab the door and say, "Oh yeah. Now I remember. Go away Gale." He shakes his head and takes a step forward. "No, Catnip. I'm sorry really. I mistake what I see, I should know better when it comes to you." I take his words in. He tilts his head and gives me a sly grin, "So what do you say? Can you stop being mad at me?" I sigh, and shrug, "Why not." He smiles and comes over to hug me. I hug him, and hear Peeta's voice behind us, "I see you two made up. I'm glad."
I turn to him, forgetting he was there, and smile at him. "Of course, Gale has been my friend for years." I take a step back from Gale, and look at him. He stares at Peeta with an angered face. Gale says, "You're back, Mellark?" I look at him cross, and Peeta answers coolly, "Yes, Gale. I came to see Katniss. A problem?" I try to intervene, "Guys, I don't…-" Gale states, "Katniss, does not to be hanging around you. You Townie's are all the same! Well, you know what? You can't have, Katniss!" I'm stunned by his last remark. Peeta defends himself, "I am not like the others. You have no idea!" He comes close to me, and grabs my hand. He answers Gale, but looks at me while he says, "I want to be with Katniss." I look into his beautiful blue eyes, and he says, "And she wants to be with me." I smile at him.
Gale pulls me away from him, He says, "Don't be an idiot. Katniss is not stupid." I pull from his grasp on my arm and say, "Excuse me?" Gale looks at me, and laughs at Peeta, "You really thought Catnip wants to be with you?" I answer for Peeta, "Yes, I do. Is there a problem you don't want to explain?" He laughs at me and says, "You've lost your mind, Katniss. What lies has he been feeding you?" Peeta interjects, "I have not fed her lies. Besides, I can think she is very smart to know that I would never lie to her." Peeta reaches out his hand again for me to grab, and I take it. I feel steady with him.
Gale claps and says, "Wow. This is truly a surprise." I say, "Gale what is up with you?" Peeta says, "She has a right to choose who she wants to be with." I'm taken aback by what Peeta just said. I take a step away from Peeta and I ask, "What?" Gale beats it him, "When she really learns what you want her for, she'll know what I was speaking about." Peeta says, "And what she'll come running into your arms? You're a fool." I intervene by yelling, "Hello? I exist! What the hell is going on between you two that I have no idea of?" Gale says, "I want you, Katniss. Way before this idiot took an interest in you." I correct him, "Peeta is not an idiot." He scoffs, "Really? You think people are gonna give you respect, a Townie and Seam together? You'll just end up like your Mother, Katniss."
I slap him. "How dare you?" I ask Gale. Peeta at this point is holding me back, as I yell at him, "Don't speak of my mother and father! You lost a parent too." He holds his cheek and says, "You know what? It's no use talking to you, Katniss. Just know that this will not end well." With that I say, "Leave Gale." He nods and says, "With pleasure." He leaves and Peeta says, "I need to leave now, Katniss. I'm so sorry." I rush him out of my house, "Go! Before you get in trouble." Peeta leaves and I ponder on what just happened.
Prim brings me back to life. "Katniss?" she asks. I turn to her, she just heard everything. She says, "Is Gale going to separate you and Peeta?" I sigh and decide that I cannot lie to Prim. "I have no idea, Little Duck."
…
After a few weeks, a announcement makes my life change. We sit at the table about to eat our dinner. when a knock at the door stops us. I get up and look at my mother confused, I walk over to the door, to see a Peacekeeper standing at the door, I believe it is Cray but when this man removes his helmet, he reveals he is new. He says curtly with a sinister voice, "Good afternoon, I am your new Head Peacekeeper Romulus Thread. I have record of a Ms. Katniss Everdeen living here?" I state, "Yes, that would be me." He asks, "You are 16? Am I correct?" I nod and say, "Yes, what is this about?" He orders the Peacekeepers behind him, "Take her." I panic as they grab my arms. I protest, 'Let me go!" Thread says, "Please do not get scared this is a new protocol." He turns to my mother, "There is a new rule to be announced at the square where it will be announced."
The Peacekeepers escort me with my Mother and Prim following behind us closely. I see other houses in the Seam and Town, having their children out and escorted. I witness as they tear Leevy from her little brother. They take us to the square where there are many familiar faces from school I see. In a roped area, the Peacekeepers guard 16 year olds, girls and boys. I'm placed in the roped area. The area is crowded with scared girls and boys like me Town and Seam. I hear a voice behind me, "Katniss!" I see Madge, and she pushes people to get to me. She reaches me and I hug her, I would have never known they would have her here. I ask her, "Madge, what is going on?" She says, "I have no idea. All I know is that I was the first to be brought here." I turn around and look around. I see all 16 year olds panicking talking to each other. I see Peeta barely being introduced into the area. He sees me immediately and makes his way to me. We have been trying to see each other at least once a week.
I embrace him as he reaches me. He asks, "What is going on, Kat?" I say, "I have no idea. I thought Magde would know." I turn to Madge and she says, "No, Katniss I have no idea," We turn as the microphone on the stage brings us back. Peacekeeper Thread stands there, waiting for the crowd to calm. He turns to our parents and announces, "I am the New Head Peacekeeper Romulus Thread. I am here to protect the district and coerce a new rule. Since your district is the smallest, I have been sent with instructions from the Capitol to re-populate it." He points to us the sixteen year olds. "You see, for now and on, every year if your children are of age of 16, they must be married off and conceive a child in a month." Around the square, come a series of gasps. I gasp myself and Peeta holds my hand tightly. He keeps announcing, "You will all be in charge on who your children will marry But you only have 48 hours to choose who they will marry. Two days from now, your children will arrive with their partner and sign the marriage papers at noon. Anyone who is 16 and not married, will be found and executed. So from this point on you have 48 hours to find someone who will marry your children. They have one month to conceive a child. May the odds be in your favor." With that Peacekeepers come in the area and begin taking us one by one to escort us home.
Peeta says in a hurried voice before they reach us, "We must get married, Katniss." I shake my head, "But Peeta-" He cuts me off, "We must. I'm not letting you go." I don't have a chance to say anything because they're taking him away. I yell, "Peeta!" He yells back, "Go home, Katniss! I'll be there soon!" A peacekeeper takes me and I walk escorted to my home. My mother and Prim are already there. I walk inside and close the door, They embrace me, and my mother says, "We need to marry you off, Katniss." I say shakily, "Mom, I want to marry-" A sharp knock at the door, stop my sentence and my mother goes to open it. It is Gale. I haven't spoken to him in weeks. He turns to my mother and says, "I'll marry Katniss, Mrs. Everdeen."
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So that's Chapter 10. Damn that was a long chapter. Don't forget to Review! Favorite! and Follow! "She thought that love was gonna fight. She thought that love was gonna take her home. She thought that love was gonna save her. But love just never showed." Philadelphia by Parachute.