Chapter 23: Home Sweet Home?
(KATNISS POV)
I couldn't breathe. Gale was supposed to be free. He's almost nineteen. There was no way that they had this planned for years. There was absolutely no way. Gale could get reaped. He could have to face fifty-nine other tributes. He could die! He would have less of a chance than if Clove, Peeta, Cato and I if we all working together! He would have to find a way to get in the career pack like Peeta, except survive until the end and win.
(PEETA POV)
I beach was beautiful. We could go in to the water about three feet, which was just enough to kill yourself if you really wanted to. Coming out here used to make me feel like I could find a way back to Katniss, but not anymore. Now, coming out here is just a way to clear my head. I stopped watching the television after I heard she won. I almost wished she had lost too so she could be here too, but I knew she would end us killing herself.
"Peeta," I heard a voice behind me say. "Want to know what the Third Quarter Quell is?"
"Sure," I said rolling my eyes. "Might as well."
"Twelve through nineteen, five per district, odds give at least two girls and one boy, evens give at least two boys and one girl, others combined and drawn at random, and past victors can be entered," She said putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Katniss," I said looking at Clove.
"And Cato," She said sitting next to me. "But would they bring them here like they did to us?"
I sighed. Katniss was in danger. She could be reaped again. Sixty tributes and they wouldn't let more than one out, not this time. Katniss wouldn't stand a chance. She would die.
(CATO POV)
There had to be a way to change this. Katniss and I could be two of the people entered. We could die. How would all the tributes stay in two rooms? Would they make the bed smaller and add more? What if an even district had four boys? What if an odd district had four girls?
(SNOW POV)
My plan was going to work. Bring back the dead tributes and put them on their own island. Some would kill themselves, some would be killed, and some would just die. When the die, we get them in a hovercraft, bring them back here, let them get all chopped and diced, then send them back, without the bones, to keep the others alive and fat. We didn't plan it to be that way, but it was the only way to give them meat. We gave them grain, oil, clothes, and yeast. If that wasn't enough, it wasn't enough. They were "dead." No one cares about them. They're thought to be in nailed shut coffins, when really it's just human and animal bones glued together with clothes on.
(PRIM POV)
Once the train stopped, I looked out the window. It was actually quite beautiful, in a hectic kind of way. There were tall and crazy structured buildings everywhere. As soon as we stopped, I would get to see what the training center building looks like.
(KATNISS POV)
It was just as we left it. Wild and crazy people everywhere. I could see the train station and people were already line up and cheering for us. I took a step back from the window. It was all bringing me back to when Peeta and I arrived here. He was smiling and looking out the window while I refused to look. That was when I was still trying to figure out Peeta's strategy, but he never had one except for getting me home.
"We have arrive at The Capital," a voice over the intercom said.
"Yay," I said under my breath as Peacekeepers came to take us to our "home."
(SNOW POV)
I barely allowed Cato's sister to come, but then Katniss sister had to come too and all bets about being nice to them were over. One of them had to be reaped again. One of them had to die, but which?
"President Snow," one of my Peacekeepers said walking into my office.
"What do you want?!"
"I was just informing you that Katniss Everdeen, Primrose Everdeen, Cato Cline and Melody Cline have been delivered to the training center with no problems," He said taking a step back.
"Good, now go," I said getting back to my business of trying to enter Cato or Katniss into the games.
Whichever I killed could either stay dead, or go to District Fourteen. One would throw them into a world that could end at any moment and the other would end on the spot. Would I rather know they're suffering away from their loved ones, or just keep them from everyone. It will depend of their fight to return home and if they make it to the top thirty. If so, I'll think about it. If they make it to the top fifteen, I'll put them on the island for sure, but they'll have to make it to the top fifteen.
(PEETA POV)
I sat there pondering the choices of life and death. Would it be worth it to die when Katniss might come back to me? When she could be coming here? Or would it be better to just kill myself so I can get away from the endless torture of being stuck on this island alone?
"Peeta," Clove said getting my attention. "We should go home."
"I don't want to go home," I said to her. "Home is where the television is always on The Capital and Katniss."
(CLOVE POV)
"And Cato," I sighed.
Peeta and I had become close here. We're not together, but we're good friends. We help each other stay alive. It's better to live and fight for a way out, than die and never see them again.
"Why do you think he did it," I asked. "I mean Snow?"
"I don't know," Peeta said standing up. "But you're right. We should go home. It's getting late and it's just going to get really cold."
I was about to get up when Peeta picked me up. Though we had been getting close, I had no idea he would pick me up. Was his affection changing from Katniss to me? Was he returning feelings for me that I once reserved for Cato?
"Why are you carrying me," I asked.
"Is your ankle still hurting," He asked.
"Yeah," I said looking down.
When I was running across the island the other day, I tripped and messed up my ankle. I still walked on it because it would help it in the long run. Peeta had helped me home that day after he found me, and has been helping me whenever he's been around. The bakery takes up a lot of his time, but he still finds time to come sit on the beach and watch the sunset.
"We WILL find a way to go home," I told him encouragingly. "We just need to figure out how."
A/N: Before you continue, Chapter 24 was supposed to start here. Being the wonderful author I am, I decided to make a REALLY long chapter because even my longer chapter aren't too long! This chapter is just about 2,500 words!
(KATNISS POV)
The days and months passed by fast as the four of us got closer and closer, like a real family. Cato and I got married on Caesar's stage, even getting another floor added to our place so the girls could be upstairs while we had downstairs. We were together most of the time, but when Cato and I were alone...
Yesterday, Prim and I returned to District Twelve while Cato and Melody returned to District Two. Today was Reaping Day and ANYONE, even past victors, between the ages of Eight and Nineteen were eligible.
"Katniss, relax," Prim said holding my hand, we both only have one more entry.
"Gale probably got tesserae so his brother wouldn't have more entries," I said looking at her. "That means he would have forty-eight entries."
"That doesn't mean anything," Prim said squeezing my hand. "I got reaped with ONE entry."
That didn't help at all. There were FIVE possible entries this year and Melody could be one of them. If Melody got reaped. Cato couldn't volunteer for her. Maybe neither wouldn't get reaped and would be able to go back to our comfy little home on the thirteenth floor. Maybe Prim and I wouldn't get reaped would be able to go home too. Maybe, just maybe, we'd all be safe and no one we knew would be entered.
(GALE POV)
I stood in the front with the others eighteen year olds, afraid to look back at my brothers. If they got reaped, I would take their place, but I couldn't help Prim. Katniss could, but what if she got reaped too. There could be three girls this year. I could loose Katniss all over again. She was sitting in the front next to Haymitch, who didn't look quite as drunk as last year. Maybe she wouldn't have to go. Maybe she would be spared. Maybe, just maybe, she would live to see another day outside of The Capital.
(EFFIE POV)
Same old speech. Same old fake enthusiasm. I was tired of the same old job year after year. I wanted a better district, but I was stuck in twelve.
"It's time to draw the first girl's name," I said walking over to the bowl, digging around for a little and pulling out a name. "Katniss... Ev...er..."
I froze, I couldn't finish saying her name. I had just doomed Katniss back into the games. I felt like a failure to her. Looking at her, she looked like she was going to puke. Sixty are going in and only one will be allowed out.
"Now for the boys," I said before Katniss even stood up from her chair. "First boy is Jacob Clark," I said looking to Katniss, who didn't look worried so she must not have known him. "The second is Kenny Rogers," I said, Katniss still not showing worry.
I dropped all the names into a bigger bowl and mixed them around. Finally I stopped and drew a name. I couldn't tell if it belonged to a boy or girl, but I hoped boy.
"Primrose," I said before freezing again.
There had to be a mistake. BOTH Everdeen sisters? I was a monster. A terrible, horrible monster. This would be my last year. I would NOT do this again. EVER!
"Lastly," I said barely able to speak. "We have Gale Hawthorn."
I looked over at Katniss and Prim, who were both about to pass out. Gale must have meant something to them. GREAT! I just RUINED everyone's life!
(CATO POV)
I sat on stage and stared out into the crowd, mostly Melody. Today, FIVE names were being drawn and no one was allowed to volunteer, thanks to our mayor. How wonderful is he?
"Male Tribute, John Clark"
I knew him. He wasn't that bad. He was twelve this year, but started training a year ago. He wouldn't to terrible, but not great either. He wasn't too happy, but I didn't care. Easy target.
"Female Tribute, Jenna Smith."
She cheered. She was in my class. I hated her. I still do.
"Male Tribute, Cato Cline."
Shit. Not what I wanted to happen. Now Melody would have to listen to Katniss while I was in the games. Melody loved Katniss though, so we were all good.
"Tribute, Ashley Moore."
She was nineteen and deadly. It'd be hard to kill her, but not impossible. I'd get her to join up with me and kill her in her sleep on night.
"Tribute, Melody Cline."
You've got to be fucking kidding me! She's only eight! SHIT! I would have to kill myself in the end. I would NOT let my sister get hurt and she WAS going to return home. She would NOT die1
(KATNISS POV)
I sat in the dining/living car with everyone except Effie.
"The first thing you need to do is find water," I told them. "The cornucopia is dangerous and a blood bath. Most people die at the cornucopia. The first five minutes could be it. You need to find at least one other person to group up with, but the more the better. The other districts will be aiding each other and-"
"It's the other reapings," Prim yelled she saw The Capital seal on the television.
We all watched, though I only cared about Cato and Melody. One was boring. No one that stood out.
"What if Melody or Cato got reaped," Prim asked, scared.
"They didn't, they'll be fine," I said.
The first two tributes were called and neither were Melody or Cato, which was a good sign.
"Cato Cline," their escort said.
"NO," I screamed out. "NOT HIM! ANYONE BUT HIM! NOO!"
Gale grabbed me and held me close while I cried. Cato was in the games again. Only one would come out this time. I had just lost my love.
(PRIM POV)
Katniss just cried and I didn't know what to do. She was a mess and I had no idea how to make her stop. Melody was alone. Only one of us could go back to her. My vote is Cato or Katniss. They're adults and can take care of that poor little girl on their own.
"Melody Cline."
Everyone went silent.
(CATO POV)
"Katniss... Ev... er..."
Katniss was reaped. I had to choose between my sister and my wife. This wasn't good. SHIT!
"Cato," Melody said crying my my lap.
"It's ok," I said holding her.
"Primrose."
"SHIT," I yelled. "WHAT THE FUCK! WE'RE ALL TRIBUTES THIS YEAR! BULLSHIT!"
"Cato," Melody said crying harder.
It took everything I had to calm down. My wife, my sister, and my sister-in-law were all reaped for the Third Quarter Quell, alone with myself. My whole family was about to be entered into a death match and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
(SNOW POV)
I was furious, I was so busy with running Panem that I forgot to make sure Cato or Katniss were reaped! I couldn't watch the results of the reapings, not knowing I failed.
"Cato, Katniss, Primrose and Melody have all been reaped," A gamemaker said walking in.
"I DON'T CARE," I yelled. "Wait, what?"
"All were reaped."
"Lovely," I smiled.
UNCLE UPDATE: Appointment today at the hospital, where hopefully they'll drain him as well whatever they appointment is actually for. I'll be writing while I wait and I'll let you guys know what's up later. BTW, the next chapter will probably be shorter... I'll be updating whatever I have when I get home from the hospital.