Hey everybody.
Here's chapter 3!
I'm finally bring Katniss into the story, as a lot of my reviews were asking where she was!
* Also a HUGE thank-you to my new beta, mrslukecastellan! *
Hope you enjoy this chapter – EffieMockingjay xoxo
"Though I've never been through hell like that
I've closed enough windows
To know you can never look back
If you're lost and alone
Or you're sinking like a stone, Carry on
May your past be the sound
Of your feet upon the ground, Carry on
So I met up with some friends
At the edge of the night
And we talked and talked
About how our parents will die
All our neighbours and wives
But I like to think
I can cheat it all
To make up for the times I've been cheated on
And it's nice to know
When I was left for dead
I was found"
(- Lyrics from "Carry On", by Fun. )
^ This song came on whilst writing this chapter, and it fitted so well, and gave me inspiration
I clasp my hands around the steaming mug of stew we bought earlier that day from Greasy Sae, ignoring the burning sensation on my palms. It was so cold for April. It felt more like winter. How long we been sat here for, in the clearing? Minutes? Hours?
I shift my weight, turning to Gale, wincing as my muscles are clenched tight and ached again the cold rock I was perched on. Gale already looks like a man. He's only just turned 18, yet he's over six feet tall. He has similar features to myself and many people from The Seam; he has olive skin, straight black hair, and beautiful slate gray eyes, that when penetrated mine, caused sparks to form inside of me.
"Good haul today, yeah?" I smile to him, glancing back over my shoulder towards our game bags, stuffed full with 5 rabbits, 2 turkeys, and a deer.
He takes a sip of his stew and swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing, before turning towards me with a huge grin.
Gale was my best friend. Not that I had any other friends really. I was quiet and kept myself to myself, especially since my father had died. That was 4 years ago, but it feels like only yesterday that I was walking through these very woods with him. But then that cruel day came when he was taken from us in a mining accident. That's how I came to meet Gale. His father, Augustus, known to the Seam as 'Gust Hawthorne', was also killed in the same blast. I was 12 and Gale was 14. Being the oldest child in his family, he had to step up and become the head of those house, providing for his two younger brothers and his mother, who was heavily pregnant at the time with Posy.
I also had to provide, and scavenge anything I could to feed my mother and sister. After the tragic death of my father, my mother fell into a deep depression. She wouldn't speak, listen, or even move from her bed, staring all day at the wall. It was like this for months, until one day, she simply woke up, and realized that even though my father was gone, she still needed to care for us. She now worked as a housekeeper for that drunk up man at the Victors Village.
With both Gale and myself, so young, vulnerable, and meeting under the same tragic circumstances, we formed a friendship that over the years has blossomed. I feel as though I can tell him everything. Even my deepest and darkest secrets. I also think he loves me more than a friend, which I despise. Everyone, even my mother thinks we are to marry at some point. I love him, but as a friend. Of course, he is attractive. I hear all the girls talking about him at school…
But I will never marry him . Never. Marriage to someone like me, a poor girl from the Seam means children and never will I have children. We all watch the Hunger Games every year. We have to. 'Compulsory' they call it. To me it's just a cruel, death sentence for kids, and coming from District 12, hardly no-one ever wins. Except for Peeta Mellark, the bakers son…
Smiling, Gale hand waves back and forward in front of my face. "Earth to Katniss!", he teases, dragging me away from my thoughts.
I blush scarlet, blinking a few times before turning to him. "Sorry Gale, you were saying?"
"Today's haul. I think we'll have a few spare coins to get Prim a new dress for her birthday…. You did mention that pink dress she kept pointing at on the way home from school last week.."
"Oh Gale! You really think we'll have enough? Imagine Prim's face when she opens it!", I smile to myself, thinking of how ecstatic my little sister really would be.
Prim looked just like my mother., her face as fresh as a raindrop. Very beautiful with long golden hair that glittered in the sunlight, very pale skin and deep azure blue eyes. She didn't look like she was my sister, she didn't look as though she even belonged to the Seam. I guess that's because my mother once lived in the Town, the prosperous and wealthy area of District 12. Her parents owned the apothecary on the corner near the Town Square. Only those from the Seam have the same features as Gale and myself. The straight black hair and grey sunken eyes. We look poor. We are poor…..
Gale takes my mug from me, pours the rest back into the flask he brought with him and grasps me by the hand, pulling me up towards him quickly and enveloping me into a hug. I feel safe in his arms. Safe and sound. He drops his tight grip around my waist, steps back and brings his right hand upwards, cupping my face, brushing back the stray hair that has fallen from my braid.
He pulls away "Come on Catnip", he shouts, smiling and turning away, trudging his game bag behind him, "Let's sell up the haul and get little duck that dress!"
I grin at his nickname for Prim and sigh contently before grasping my brown satchel game bag and running to catch up behind him.
I lay in bed, staring at the white swirling pattern of the ceiling.
It's been two months since I arrived home.
62 days...
62 nights...
62 nightmare filled nights….
It varies every night, but each as terrifying as the next. Some nights, I'll have Lucifer from District 1, drugging me so I'm unable to move.
Then he uses a blunt rock and slowly shatters and breaks my legs and arms and waits till the drug wears off and I'm screaming for him to kill me..
Other nights it's Cruella, Cato's partner from District 2… but it's usually Sadistic Cato and the Mutts...
When I had first come home, my mother, father, and brother Rye and Wheat lived with me in the Victor;s Village. Each night I awoke, panting, screaming in terror and each night my mother tried to comfort me, or my father. My brother's simply stood at my doorway, wide-eyed and sleep deprived, unsure what to do. They looked terrified, to see me this way. So messed up. So broken.
It eventually came, two weeks parents sat me down once Rye and Wheat were at school. Their weary eyes with dark black shadows underneath told me everything I needed to know before they even spoke.
"Peeta honey, I think it's best if we move back to the bakery for a while", my mother says eyeing me uncertainly.
I nod, looking down, ashamed.I understood completely. Who would want to live with a monster like me? I'm an embarrassment and such a mess to the point my family don't even want to live with me.
Then again, if I was them, I wouldn't want to live with me either…so they moved out, and left me alone, to sit in my room and paint all day.
I paint my nightmares.
The Cornucopia...
Cato...
Cruella...
Leila...
I'm suddenly interrupted from my thought by a loud knocking on the heavy whitewashed wooden front door.I glance towards the red alarm clock on my side table. Who would be calling this early? I wonder.
The knocking persists. Louder and louder. Whoever it was is clearly wasn't leaving without talking so I reluctantly shift myself from the bed, quickly grabbing my grey sweat-pants. I rush to get them on, stumbling forward clumsily and run down the stairs toward the ever persisting knock.
Fumbling on the brass handle, I turn it to find Haymitch, stood on my doorstep, looking oddly bright and breezy for just after 7 in the morning. For once he doesn't seen drunk. Not even tipsy. He's completely sober and even looks as though he's actually had a wash and shave. Clearly he wasn't up half the night screaming and being tortured in his everlasting nightmares. Maybe there was hope for me yet….
"Peeta." he smiles like a Cheshire cat. Odd Haymitch..very odd.
I yawn, "Uh, Haymitch… Nice to see you. What can I do for you?" I wonder.
"How about we go for a bit of a walk? The usual spot. I fancy catching up. Johanna rang me" he replies, hinting to me with his eyes .
My ears pricked up. Johanna rang? I suddenly feel wide awake. "Wh—"
Haymitch doesn't even give me a chance to reply before he starts to briskly walk over to the opposite side of our homes, and behind the huge oak tree at the beginning of the woods.
If Johanna has rang, then maybe she has news..? I waste no time in grabbing my parka jacket, throwing on a pair of old boots and trudging across the pathways to where Haymitch was stood.
I speak in a low voice, still careful that prying eyes may hear us, "Spill, Haymitch. What's happening?" I ask him urgently.
"Well, Peeta my boy. It's finally happening. Seems Finnick and Johanna are on their way to us this very minute. She wouldn't tell me anything over the phone, other than she's going to be here for the foreseeable future. They should be here in an hour or two." he says, expressionless.
"But—" I start.
Haymitch continues, "I know nothing else yet, my boy. I think it would be wise if you came over to my place for breakfast though, don't you think? Would look less shifty in front of those cameras if you're already at mine and not yours."
"Yes, okay Haymitch." I reply nervously, and turn with him and stroll to the front door of my mentor's home. It's identical to my own, everything about it, except for his front door being a deep red wine colour.
Haymitch pushes the handle slowly and leads us inside.
"Charlotte!", he shouts, and begins to walk towards the kitchen. "I'm back." I slouch after Haymitch towards the kitchen. The smell of warm, freshly cut bread, that I can only presume has come from my father's bakery, enters my senses, reminding me of my old home and family. I hadn't been to that bakery at all since I returned and I greatly missed the invigorating smells..
"Ah, there you are!" Charlotte, or Mrs Everdeen as I knew her, is Haymitch's housekeeper. I look at her, smiling timidly.
At one time you would have called her beautiful. She has hair as golden as the sun and eyes as blue as the sky. Typical townsfolk features, yet she married a coal miner who apparently had died, and she now resided in the Seam – the poor area of District 12. I hate to think that District 12 is so divided. My mother hates Seam folk, and always shares a few harsh words whenever we see Mrs Everdeen. Dad says that was because he was once in love with Mrs Everdeen, and was meant to marry her, but she ran off with the coal miner, so I reckon that deep down, my mother is jealous of her.
"Good morning, Mr Abernathy, sir." she mumbles quietly, not really noticing either of us.
"Smells good, Charlotte! I've brought young Peeta for breakfast if that's okay. There's always plenty!", he smiles. "Why don't you get yourself a plate, come, and join us?" he says, whilst sitting down at the table and filling his plate with toast, butter and then his glass with orange juice.
She eyes me doubtfully. I look back at her, but she quickly looks down nervously, almost looking frightened of me. I get that most days now. During my first week back in District 12, I tried to go to the town square and visit Delly. But most people just looked at me, wide-eyed and when I tried to smile back, they looked away quickly or grasped their childrens' hands tight. They must think I'm a monster. I guess to them I look like a monster. They were the ones forced to watch 22 other kids die in the arena, even though I only killed one, Cato, they're still scared for me to even be in walking distance of them. Scared I'm going to lash out at their children, like the monstrous beast I was portrayed to be. I can't face going to town anymore.
Charlotte clears her throat, "No thank you, sir. I must get back to my daughters. It's my youngest's birthday today", she announces proudly.
I know her daughters. Well, I only really know one of them. Primrose Everdeen. She is almost identical to her mother, just in a dainty miniature doll form. I've always bought goat's cheese from her, it's the best in the entire District. Plus, she's the most adorable, sweet child I have ever met. She reminds me so much of Leila. Whenever I see her, she always comes to greet me and tells me about her cat, Buttercup, and her sister, who she clearly admires most in the world. Katniss.
I can't tell you how long I have been in love with Katniss Everdeen for.
We've never even spoken a word to each other, but I've known her since she was five. It was the first day of school and she wore this red gingham dress and her dark hair up in plaits and she sang the Mountain Song so sweetly, I could have sworn the birds stopped to listen. I was mesmerised with her and her beauty. I've never told anyone of my infatuation with her. She would never love someone like me. Especially not now. Plus I think she's with the oldest Hawthorne, Gale. He's about two years my elder, and everyone thinks they will get married one day…
"Tell Primrose happy birthday from me!" I smile brightly. Mrs Everdeen looks at me, with the same shocked and suspicious look on her face. I panic. Last thing I need is for her to tell Prim to stop talking to me, she's one of the few people who haven't changed with me. I always give her an extra few coins and some candy when I see her. "Oh, she makes the best goat's cheese in town!", I add quickly and her face relaxes. I breathe out a sigh of relief.
"Yes, I will." she nods to me. "Goodbye, Mr Abernathy sir, Peeta", and she retrieves her coat and bag before exiting the house.
I've been sat in Haymitch's front room, drawing for an hour. Maybe two. I'm so lost and caught up with myself I barely hear the knocking on the door.
"Haymitch!," I hear Johanna shout. "You better open this door right now or I swearI will come in there and you will wish you've never been born!"
I laugh to myself and look towards Haymitch. He's asleep with his head rolled forward off the sofa and slowly drooling. One hand underneath his head the other curled around a knife, ready to strike and stab any intruder threatening him. I'm just about to wake him, but I glance at the knife again. Maybe not such a good idea Peeta…
"HAYMITCH!" she screams and beats the door again.. oh Johanna..
I push upwards and make myself toward the door. "Calm down Jo, wait a minute!" I locate Haymitch's keys and unlock the door. There stands a cool and collected Finnick Odair.. and dishevelled Johanna, looking as mad as ever and very annoyed. Never get yourself on the wrong side of Johanna Mason, I think to myself.
I smile to her "Hey Jo." and she envelopes me into a hug. How i've missed her and her sarcastic nature so much.
She pulls back, smiling. "Where's Haymitch, Peeta?"
"He's asleep."
A gleam enters her eye and her smile chances to a mischievous smirk as she pushes past me and runs quietly like a mouse towards him, trying not to stir him. I follow her with my eyes.
Suddenly I hear a loud scream.
Then a grunt.
Followed by another scream
Followed by a bang.
And another bang.
Then Johanna's hysterical laughing.
"Damn, What the hell, Johanna?" Haymitch grumbles.
He's on the floor, rubbing his head. I can't help but laugh. I hear another laugh beside me, and realize I hadn't even greeted Finnick yet.
This was the first time I have ever met Finnick Odair. Naturally, I know who he is from the television, the Games, from Haymitch and Johanna, and his so called reputation for having a different woman on his arm every night. But never have I met him. I look to him, smiling. "Hey, I'm P—"
"Peeta, I know who you are. No need for the introduction. Feel as though I already know everything about you."
"Yeah. Uh, nice to meet you. I feel the same."
His eyes twinkle. You could see how all women fawned over him. "Yeah, well. Who you see on tv and who I am are completely different people. Why don't we leave those two to catch up a bit? I want to talk to you anyway…"he trails off.
I nod, understanding exactly what he wants, and I follow him out the house and shut the door behind me.
He perches on a series of moss-covered logs and looks up to me. I slouch against the tree, wondering what to say to him.
"Look Peeta, I know Haymitch has probably told you all of this, but you can't get like me. I know this Quarter Quell they are planning is the last thing you want. It's going to be horrific, mate. I can't lie to you. But you listen to me, okay? You cannot end up like me, Peeta!" he starts.
"I know you don't know anything about my Games, Peeta. I was 14 when I competed. I wouldn't have won if it wasn't for sponsors;I wasn't the strongest or had a special skill, the Capitol just fell in love with me. Snow knew how much the Capitol had grown to love me. They wanted me for themselves. He wants to keep his Capitol happy. At 14, Snow sold me into prostitution, and I've never been able to escape since. I'm like a puppet and whenever he pulls one of my strings, I either do as he says, or suffer the consequences. "he says bitterly.
Then his face softens, "I've got Annie at home, my girl. She's the only one left who I love. Snow killed all my family. So you promise me now, you will do as Johanna and Haymitch say?"
I nod slowly. "I know this sounds harsh, Peeta, but from what Johanna and Haymitch tell me, doing my job, you wouldn't last five minutes mate. You're just too damn nice! But honestly, it does get better Peeta, you know. Takes a long time, but –"
He's suddenly cut off by the sound of Haymitch throwing open front door and running out towards us. "PEETA! FINNICK!"the urgency strains through his voice.
We scramble to our feet, running towards him.
Looking at Haymitch, I know it's bad.
Whatever he has to say is bad.
His face is as white as a sheet, his eyes look wild.
What's happened? I feel my heart beating faster, harder to the point where I swear it's going to jump right through my chest.
Scrambling through the doorway to the living room. I see Johanna, frozen.
Looking up at the television, I hear the unmistakeable Capitol Anthem.
Then I'm staring into the eyes of President Snow...
Ooh. Cliffhanger!
Sorry! I *had* to leave it there simply because I was nearing about 3600 words.
Thank-you to everybody who has reviewed on previous chapters and followed/favourited me.
Really means a lot to me and It cheers me up so much reading your amazing reviews.
Much Love - EffieMockingjay xoxo