The day before Peeta and I are set to leave for the Victory Tour I spend the entire day in the woods. I wake up at the crack of dawn and hike all the way to the lake. It's early fall and the colors of the leaves are beginning to change. It's my favorite time of the year; the leaves haven't yet fallen so I can still walk through the forest without being detected and there is still plenty of game because it's not cold enough for the animals to start hibernating. I get lost in the vibrant colors of the forest, walking slowly so I can properly admire them. Fall is strange; a beautiful introduction to the most dangerous time of year: winter.
I'm slightly distracted so I only manage to take down two squirrels. I decide to bring them to the Hob. My family has plenty of money and can now pay for anything they need while I'm gone so they have no real use for my game anymore. Hopefully Sae won't put up too much of a fuss when I demand she take them.
It's early evening when I enter District 12's black market and it's bustling with activity. The miners are done with work for the day so they typically come to the Hob to see what they can buy for cheap before going home to their families. It's what my Father use to do.
I see Sae at her usual spot in the corner. She is standing behind a large bowl of stew, dishing out portions to her loyal customers. I walk up to her and drop my game bag on the counter.
"What's for dinner tonight?" I ask.
"Stew," she responds without taking her eyes off of the large bowl. I study the wrinkles that cover her face. Age has taken war against Sae but she refuses to let it define her. She leaves that to the stew.
"I guessed as much. What's in it?" I respond.
"Wild dog," she responds, glancing up at me.
"How much for a bowl?"
"Whatever the price it's not worth all that," she says as she points to my game bag. She's on to me. I come here at least once a week and try to pawn my game off on her, knowing she will sell her stew to customers at a discounted price if she uses my meat.
"You don't even know what's in here," I argue.
"You come here a lot, girlie. I'm no idiot," she explains as she waves me away with her gnarled old hand.
"Yeah, well I want a really big bowl," I tell her, frustrated. In the Seam, no one likes to owe anything. Owing is a weakness. Giving Sae my meat may seem like a charity act but it's not how I intend it. I've been in her place, of course. I'm even more stubborn when it comes to charity.
During our exchange I see Thom, Gale's friend, come up to Sae's stall and ask for a bowl of stew. He gives her a few coins and she gives him the bowl in exchange. Before he can walk away I see Sae beckon him closwer.
"Wait, there. Got a new batch in this morning," she tells him as she goes underneath her stall and pulls out a giant loaf of bread. I see that it's a hearty, filled with nuts and dried fruit. I know that bread, I think to myself. It's the bread Peeta tossed me when we were children. I'm so shocked to see it here that all I can do is watch as Thom walks away with it. That bread also pulls something deep from inside me and I struggle for words.
"So you'll take food from him but you won't from me?" I ask her.
Sae looks up at me. "Your boy's a smooth talker. Maybe he could teach you a thing or two."
Angry, I dump the contents of my game bag on the counter of Sae's stall, grab a bowl of stew before she can challenge me and head towards a secluded corner of the Hob to eat in silence. I slowly chew the meat in the stew, thinking about how Peeta so expertly persuaded Sae to take his bread. I didn't even know he went to the Hob.
"Katniss."
I turn around at the sound of Gale's voice. I haven't spoken to him since he kissed me.
I spot him a few yards away by the butcher. He is dressed in his coal miner's uniform, his helmet tucked underneath his arm.
I don't respond, instead choosing to stare him down while I continue to eat Sae's stew. I still haven't forgiven him for the way he treated me two days ago. He walks toward me slowly, the same way I would approach in animal back in the woods.
"Can I talk to you please?" Gale asks.
"I don't want to talk to you," I respond, scraping the remnants of the stew from the bottom of the bowl.
"Katniss, please?" he pleads.
I pause and look at him. It must be the way Gale says my real name instead of that stupid nickname he gave me all those years ago because I nod, return the bowl to Sae and follow him out of the Hob. I realize after a few moments that Gale is leading me behind the slagheap. I've heard my fair share of stories about what goes on here. Rumor has it a girl in my year at school got pregnant behind the slagheap.
"Are you serious, Gale? The slagheap? If you try anything again, I swear I don't have a problem breaking your nose," I hiss, the volume of my voice growing with each word.
"Relax, I swear I won't try anything, I learned my lesson the first time," he assures me ruefully.
"Alright. What's this about then?" I ask him. There must be some other reason he dragged me back here.
Once we are successfully hidden behind the slagheap Gale starts talking.
"I wanted to apologize for how I acted the last time I saw you. I shouldn't have tried to kiss you and I'm sorry for saying those things." I know he must have thought about what he wanted to say because of the way he slowly goes through each sentence, as if they were rehearsed.
"You're right, you shouldn't have done that," I state while staring back at him.
"I just wanted to…fix things between us…before you leave tomorrow," Gale murmurs.
"How did you find out I'm leaving tomorrow? I just found out a few days ago."
"News travels fast. Besides, I saw them setting up for a train arrival this morning on my way to the mines."
"Oh." I cross my arms over my chest and wait for him to continue.
Gale looks down at his feet, and scratches his head.
"I just can't bear the thought of you being mad at me before you go back there. I can't…I just don't know what I would do. If anything happened," he explains.
"The Games are over, Gale. It's just the Victory Tour. I'll be back in less than two months," I say this for my benefit as well as his.
"I know. I just can't take anything for granted anymore." Gale looks at me intensely. "I know that now," he almost whispers, as if the words are for him alone. After a moment he smiles at me. "Besides, two months is long. Who will provide District 12 with illegal meat during that whole time?" he asks playfully.
I smile and roll my eyes. "Alright, if that's all you've got to say, I need to go home. Prim is upset about me leaving and I promised I would spend the whole night with her." I start towards the direction of the Victor's Village but Gale stops me.
"Do you forgive me then?" he asks.
I nod in response. I still haven't fully forgiven but I know I can't stay mad at him forever. He's my best friend after all.
"I'll see you after the Tour, then?" he asks.
"Sure, Gale," I tell him.
He smiles at me and I head home.
I know something is wrong as soon as I open the front door to my house in the Victor's Village. I hear my mother talking in the living room; we don't usually have guests. Prim is in the kitchen and her back is to me. She is pouring tea into cups. She turns and looks at me, her face is white; it looks like she has seen a ghost. I'm about to ask her what's wrong when I hear his voice.
"Hello, Miss Everdeen."
I turn around and see President Snow in my living room, sitting in a large chair by the fireplace. My mother is sitting across from him, her hands clasped together tightly in her lap. She looks up at me, fearful. Snow's lips curl into a disgusting smile and I feel my stomach drop down to my feet. I can smell him from here: blood covered up by the overpowering stench of roses.
"Hello," I stammer.
"Thank you very much for the hospitality, Mrs. Everdeen," Snow tells my mother. "Your mother here was just telling me how much you all enjoy your new accommodations," Snow explains to me.
"Yes, they're lovely," I answer. "Thank you. It's such a treat considering our prior housing situation."
Snow smiles broadly at me and turns to my mother.
"Now if you don't mind giving me and your daughter some privacy, Mrs. Everdeen, there are some things I would like to talk to her about." Snow smiles sweetly at my mother and I see her give me an alarmed look. I nod my head at her encouragingly, trying to communicate that I will be alright.
Prim brings in the tea and sets it down on the coffee table.
"Why thank you, Primrose, this is absolutely divine," Snow tells my sister. Prim looks up at me, terrified.
"Don't worry," I tell her. "I still plan on spending the entire night with you. Why don't you go upstairs and play with Buttercup?" I smile at her but my voice cracks on the last few words. She listens to me anyway and I watch her and my mother slowly climb the stairs and disappear. I turn my attention to Snow, who looks at me happily.
"How are you doing this fine evening?" he asks.
"I'm doing…well, thank you. And you?" I struggle to keep my voice strong and steady.
"A tad tired, unfortunately. I was expecting you a lot sooner. Your poor mother and sister have had to entertain me while we waited for you."
I search my mind for a proper excuse to my tardiness. "I'm sorry, I was…on a walk…around the District," I stutter.
"A long walk, undoubtedly, if it took you nearly the entire day," he says.
I blanche. How long has he been here?
"Don't pretend we in the Capitol are unaware of your poaching tendencies, Miss Everdeen. Up until now we simply haven't seen the need to enforce the rule, as it wasn't proving dangerous," he says. Snow pauses to take a sip of tea. "That is, of course, until a particular tribute from District 12 happened to be exceptional with a bow and arrow, successfully keeping her and a very lucky young man alive during the last Hunger Games."
I am at a lose for words so I stay quiet, watching him continue to sip Prim's tea.
"You might want to tell your friend - Mr. Hawthorne, is it? - to stop his illegal behavior as well. We wouldn't want to have to punish anyone, would we?" Snow's tone is friendly but I can easily detect the hint of danger behind his words.
"No, sir," I whisper in response. I think of Gale. We are aware of the illegality of our hunting practices but finding food to feed our families was always of a higher importance. Gale doesn't hunt as often now that he is in the mines but that only means he must hunt all day on Sunday. I have to warn him as soon as I can.
"You are aware of the Capitol's punishment for poaching, aren't you Miss Everdeen?" Snow prods.
"Yes, sir," I respond. Death, I think to myself. If they catch Gale hunting again they will surely kill him. I feel my hands begin to shake and it takes most of my energy to keep them still. I feel like I'm back in the Capitol under the scrutiny of all of Panem, trying to remain stoic and fearless despite my inner terror.
Snow picks up his cup of tea and walks to the window, staring out across the lawn, presumably at Peeta's house. I being to panic, thinking he went to visit Peeta while I was gone. I can't imagine him hurting Peeta, though. He can't possibly hurt Peeta, I try to reassure myself.
"You really have a variety of suitors, don't you?" Snow muses.
"I'm sorry?" I respond, baffled.
"As of late, you seem to be having to…how shall I put this…slap them away," he considers, so quietly I have to strain to hear him.
And then it hits me. Snow must have seen Gale kiss me in the woods two days ago. If he could see me, could he hear me as well? I admitted that the star-crossed lovers of District 12 were an act. That's not all, though. How many times have Gale and I talked about fleeing District 12? And our true thoughts on the Capitol? I feel lightheaded and need to grip the arm of the sofa to keep from falling over. Treason is punishable by death as well. What else does he know? I scan my memory for things I've said in this house, sure that it is bugged too.
My mind is racing and it takes me a few moments for me to collect myself before I respond.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I love Peeta," I tell him. He can't possibly know that it's not true, I try to comfort myself. I've played the part, haven't I?
Snow studies me for a moment and grins, his bloated slips stretching over his teeth. "People in the Capitol may seem frivolous and gullible, Miss Everdeen, but I am not one of them. I am well aware of the hoax you established to win over Panem. I, however, was unconvinced."
Speechless, I stare back at him. The act. The act. The act. Just keep up the act and there won't be a problem, I chant over in my mind. They can't harm the star-crossed lovers. Panem won't have it.
Snow turns his back to me again and stares out the window at Peeta's house. "While you are quite hard to believe, Mr. Mellark is quite the opposite. Wouldn't you agree?"
I remain silent, gripping the arm of the sofa tighter.
"He is just absolutely smitten. I see no need to pay him a visit. After all, you will probably do me the favor of relaying this conversation back to him yourself, won't you?"
I nod, relieved, knowing that's exactly what I am going to do. That and warn Gale.
"Can we agree on something Miss Everdeen?" Snow asks me.
I nod again.
"You need to make yourself more convincing. That shouldn't be too hard should it?" Snow takes another sip of tea. "Mr. Mellark is a handsome young man. There are many in the Capitol who believe it to be true," Snow tells me slowly, as if talking to a child. He's right of course. The Capitol adores Peeta.
Snow places his teacup down and turns away from the window, clasps his hands behind his back and stares me down. The tone of his voice remains the same, however: friendly, riddled with danger.
"If you don't find a way to love him, we could always…turn him over to someone who would appreciate him. He could very well become the new Finnick Odair. There are hundreds of Capitol citizens who would lay down a pretty penny to spend some time with Mr. Mellark. Isn't that right?"
At first I don't understand and it must show in my face. Snow cocks his head and me, a small smirk playing at his lips. Finnick Odair was the winner of the 65th Hunger Games. He was fourteen at the time and his weapon of choice was the trident, which is quite fitting considering he is from District 4. Finnick is extremely attractive, with bronze hair and bright green eyes, an easy favorite of the Capitol. He has a different woman on his arm at every Capitol function and they paw at him unabashedly while he stands there like a prize.
And then I realize. Snow must be selling Finnick Odair to the highest bidder. Snow's grin grows to a toothy smile. I wonder if the charade ends at benefits and other Capitol events or if it becomes more personal at a different point in time. I feel the blood rush from my face and I take a step to steady myself. Snow would do that to Peeta if I don't cooperate. Suddenly I feel like I might vomit. I won't allow that. Never.
"No," I whisper, shaking my head. "No, that won't be necessary," I tell him, my voice slowly becoming stronger. If this is the one thing I can control, I will do everything I can to prevent it from happening.
"Excellent! It appears we have finally agreed upon something," Snow says happily, clapping his hands together. "You do realize why it's so important to keep up this act of yours and to, more importantly, make it convincing?"
I stay silent, unblinking. I'm hesitant to response in case I give him the answer he isn't looking for.
"You haven't heard about the uprisings in Districts 8 and 11, have you?" Snow asks me.
I shake my head, surprised. I haven't heard anything like that.
"Of course you wouldn't, because the Capitol has been doing everything they can to… suppress… these riots. To confine them," he explains. I continue to look at him, scared to breath.
"You're story is comforting, Ms. Everdeen. The fact that the Capitol can be so forgiving and allow two tributes to become Victor. When the Districts see you and Mr. Mellark on the Victory Tour I want them to think of the generosity of the Capitol, and not the rebellious act of some idiot girl. Is that clear?" Snow asks.
"Yes," I respond.
"Good. Now, I'm sorry to cut my visit short, but I have a prior engagement I must attend to," he tells me sadly, as if sitting here in my house is more enjoyable than some event in the Capitol.
Snow heads toward the door, but pauses when he sees one of Prim's hair ribbons sitting on the mantle of the fireplace. He slowly picks it up, studying it as if it holds the answer to a very important question.
"You're sister is lovely, Miss Everdeen," Snow says slowly. "I don't know if I told you this, but it was quite noble of you to volunteer for her."
I'm too afraid to speak. I don't like where this is going.
"We have a very special year coming up, don't we?" Snow continues.
I swallow and watch him carefully.
"The third Quarter Quell," he explains. "We already have an idea of what it will entail but, if I'm being frank with you Miss Everdeen, it really depends on you," he says as he runs his fingers through the ribbon. My grip on the sofa becomes vice-like, the knuckles on my hands turning bone-white.
"If you play your cards right we will leave you and you're family alone. We wouldn't want to see little Primrose's name in that bowl again, would we?" He gives me one last, long look and leaves my house, the only reminder of his presence the lingering smell of blood and roses.
I run to the kitchen and empty the contents of my stomach in the sink. I fall to my knees and rest my head on the cold wooden floor. Breathing in and out slowly, I try to collect myself before Prim and mother come back downstairs. Snow has been in my house less than twenty minutes and has successfully threatened everyone I care about.