Peeta: Real or Not Real
I'm kneading dough when Katniss walks into the house. She smiles at me and I can't help but smile back. Even after all these years she doesn't seem to know how much affect she has on people; me in particular. She pulls out a small pouch of blackberries and offers me some, the berries are dark against her skin and the image is familiar. Suddenly I see her holding out a similar handful of berries her eyes flashing with animalistic hunger and her beautiful features twist into a sneer. The berries look so big and juicy and Katniss so dark. The trees around us seem to be shimmering with her intensity and I know something's not right, Katniss isn't right.
"Peeta." Her voice soft and pleading breaks through to me and I try to push down the anger.
She's dropped the berries and her eyes are big and fearful. I look at where my hands are fisted in the dough before looking back up at Katniss. I focus on what I see in front of me. I see Katniss real and solid and force a breath and then another.
"You love me. Real or not real?" I say shakily.
"Real." Katniss answers.
She stretches up on her tiptoes to kiss me and once again I beat the monster inside.