Everlark Week
Day 6: Peeta in Thirteen
Mutt. Not a mutt. She's a mutt, can't you see? No, no she's not. She's Katniss, she's the girl I've had a crush on since we were five! She's a mutt. She's the reason 12 was bombed and your family and friends are dead. She's the reason for the rebellion. Shut up! You don't know what you're saying! You're hijacked! I know the truth. No, you don't! Snow tricked you! She's a mutt and she's going to kill you. She'll kill you, Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Haymitch—Shut up!
Peeta jolts in his bed in the infirmary wing of the underground base. Sweat rolls down the side of his head as he looks around, eyes searching the room for anyone. He finds nothing but blank walls, the blank tile floor, and the door leading to the rest of the infirmary.
She's the reason you're scared. In pain. Suffering. No, she's not! Stop it! In the first Games, she killed the little girl. She almost got you killed. She mercilessly slaughtered every one of the Careers. No, no, no…one of the Careers killed Rue! Katniss killed some of the Careers but with a good reason! Lies. All lies that the rebels are telling you. Snow told you the truth. Katniss can't be trusted. She'll kill you eventually. She's just waiting for the right time. Please stop! Just be quiet! Let me out of here! She needs to know that I'm still here! The real me! Sorry, Peeta. There's no time for that. I'm trying to give you the facts, but you're just being stubborn. She'll kill you. She'll come in with that bow of hers and then shoot an arrow straight through your heart. Stop it! She wouldn't do that, I know she wouldn't! Just shut up!
Peeta clutches the bed railing with an iron-hard grip, trying his hardest to force the hijacked thoughts away from him. Vague memories flash through his head – the bread, the reaping, the train, the chariots, the training, the Games, the Victory Tour, the second reaping, the second trip to the Capitol as tributes, the second Games. His breath comes in short, shaky gasps.
The Victory Tour. Snow never showed me footage of that. You see? Katniss and I love each other. We held each other every night on the train. That's what they want you to think. That's what they told you. In reality, they kept Katniss locked away from you so she couldn't kill you. It's a wonder you both came out of the first Games together. She's insane, Peeta. She needs someone to help her! She's insane because we've given her all the reasons to be. She's only seventeen and she's already been through two Hunger Games, near starvation, and the death of her father! A sob story. Really, Katniss was better off than anyone. They carted her father away so he could be safe and left her mother and sister to deal with her themselves. She's a danger to you and everyone else. No, no, no! Katniss had to provide for her family! She cares!
Peeta's eyes snap wide open. He tries to lunge from the bed, but quickly realizes his wrists have been chained down. He pulls hard against the shackles, but only gets pulled back to the bed. His breath comes in shallow gasps again as he tries to tear himself out.
Peeta in thirteen. What were they thinking? Katniss will kill you. You need to kill her.
A single word escapes his lips.
"Mutt."