Remember when I got shot? The bullet never hit me, but the pain was immense.
It feels exactly like this, maybe even worse. But I'm not really being hurt this time. Not physically, but mentally. My loved ones are slowly being ripped away from me. One by one.
But the fact that I do not love many people makes it easier for me to break down. Easier for them to be taken away, when there are less souls to be victims.
I stare at Gale and the gun. A pull of a finger is enough to take a life. A move of a hand can end my life instead of Gale's.
Our plans were so faultless that we did not bother to think- what if someone did not follow the it. It's like one of those times when you plan a whole argument with someone and you are prepared with many great comebacks. But they don't follow the script. And you are left disappointed.
"So.. Come on. When are you two going to start persuading me to kill you instead of the other?'' The masked man inquires. He has read my mind, and probably Gale's too. It's just very cliche for someone to offer their life so their lover can live. And it is very expected for me and Gale to do it. This is exactly what our attackers wants. Us begging for mercy.
I make eye contact with Gale and through his facial expressions I can see that he telling me not to. I nod. I won't give anyone who wants to kill Gale, the satisfaction of me begging.
"Come on Mockingjay.. Beg. Or this bullet will go straight through his head.'' He says, glaring at me. He clicks the bullet into place and I start properly panicking.
I open my mouth ready to beg at his mercy but Gale sees it and cuts me off.
"Don't call her that!" He hisses.
"Well well well, it seems that your boyfriend doesn't like your nickname, Miss Mockingjay." He says, emphasising on it even more. "Oh yeah, where is the crazy boy? The one who..choked you? I've missed the star crossed lovers of District 12."
"He's fine. And he's not crazy. It was the Capitol who hijacked him. It was your people." I snapped. I feel strangely defensive.
"Oh yes, I remember. Infact, I was one of the people who helped." He says with a smirk. I feel my blood boiling and I have to resist scratching his face off because the gun is still resting on Gale's head.
"You helped?" Gale blasted.
The man turns to face and I press an emergency button on my belt to alert Preston. He must suspect something by now, since we've taken a great amount of time.
"Who are you, huh? You're too scared to show your identity!" Gale yells, his face is red and he is furious.
The man rips off his mask.
"My name is Zoristarus Snow. The son of Coriolanus Snow . Former President of Panem. But I suspect you already know that." He says with a wicked grin.
Me and Gale gasp. But I am making the most noise. After all, we are facing a creature made by Snow and a lover. From what I can see, Zoristarus is in his mid- 20s. His eyes are so blue that they are blinding, but they have an evil look and his hair is a chestnut brown. His grin turns into a grimace and I see the evilness spreading through his face.
"You're both going to be dead anyways, so why should I bother conceal my identity?" He confesses.
Snow's wife (if he had one) was never revealed to the public, but everyone knew he had children. A rich man like himself could never resist a string of lovers. Nobody knew his family, or any relatives, but his mansion is so huge that it is basically a world by itself in there.
"Hey..let's make a deal, why don't you let her go and take me?" Gale asks boldly.
Zoristarus ignores him completely. He looks into my eyes, but they're not focused. It's like he is staring right past me.
"At the tender age of five, I was shipped off to District 2 to be trained as a Peacekeeper. Who sends a five year old to train to be a Peacekeeper? My father. He had my mother killed for simply giving birth to me. I hate him." He says harshly. I'm beginning to see hope. What if we manage to persuade him to let us go?
"If you hated your father, why are you doing this to us? What's the point?" I declared.
"Just because we have mutual enemies does not make us friends, Katniss. Hasn't your mom taught you that? Oh wait, she left you." He taunted.
Furious. That's what I am. Absolutely furious. I am tempted to just snatch the gun out of his hand and kick him but a slip of his finger can pull the trigger and end Gale's life. We need to stop playing and start stopping this homicidal maniac.
'Come on Preston. Just come fast.' I think to myself.
My leg is falling asleep, but I can't move. The bullet will shoot through Gale's head.
My plan is to distract Zoristarus so time goes by faster. "So, what was your contribution to the rebellion?" I inquire. Lets just hope he isn't catching on to my plan.
"Well, I did not have very much contribution. I was an innocent medical doctor living a normal life in District 2 when the President of Panem contacted me. He told me he wanted me to concoct a special liquid that can be used to hijack people. I didn't know who my victims would be, why he chose me, but I accepted the offer since he was willing to pay a lot. At that time, I was so sure that the Capitol was going to win the war, that I did not even bother to think what the consequences were." He begins to explain. I actually am interested in the story. I want to know as much about the Snows as I can, even if the information is useless to me.
"So you didn't know he was your father?" Gale asks.
"No."
Gale snorts. Zoristarus glares at him and for a moment I think he's going to pull the trigger. But he doesn't.
"I was soon transported to the Capitol where I spent a lot of time with Peeta. I doubt he remembers me but I still remember the sounds of his screams." He says with a smile.
I'm going to choke him.
"A few days before the rebels won the war, I learnt the truth. About my father."
I open my mouth to say something but the next thing happens too fast.
Preston comes up behind me and shoots Zoristarus right in the heart. Just before he falls, he presses the trigger and it hits Gale on his arm. Better than his head, but still. Gale is wounded.
I freeze.
I guess I'll never find out why Zoristarus hates me.
I'm paralysed for minute, trying to in everything that has happened. The sight of Gale sliding down his chair is enough to snap me out of my dream and bring me to my senses.
I run to him and helps him out, with Preston helping me.
I give Gale a quick peck on his lips.
"I'm sorry I took so long, I had to get all the other people in Team CaSo out first." Preston explains.
Gale puts his unwounded arm around Preston and we manage to drag him out to the hovercraft, where a team of medics awaits us.
"How many were there?" I mutter.
"How many what?" Says Preston.
"People in Team CaSo."
"A fair dozen. But they were all weak." He answers. A mixture of guilt and proudness rushes over me. We attacked the weak but we led Panem out of another possible rebellion.
The doctors fix a bandage around Gale's arm swiftly. He walks over to me and Mr Lance Preston. I realise I've never called Preston by his first name. I wonder if he likes it.
"What do you prefer, Lance or Preston?" I ask.
"Preston." Gale and Lance say at the same time.
"Oh yeah, what about that question I asked you before?" I say.
"You've asked me many questions to me before, Miss Everdeen," He joked.
"About me staying in 2 for a while. Helping Gale or something." I responded.
"You still want to do that after this? I'm scarred for life Catnip!" Gale teased.
"Of course. I'm never short of danger." I noted.
"Sure thing, honey!" Preston cheered.
"Don't call me that!"
The end of 'Her Search for Happiness'
Hello hello hello!
I'm sorry about not warning you sooner, but unfortunately this fic has come to an end! I would like to thank everyone who reviewed, favourited, followed etc for joining me on my journey of writing my first fanfic!
I'm sorry it took me nearly 2 weeks to update, but I wanted to make sure this chapter was perfect. It was the hardest thing for me decide on an ending (it includes: Gale dying, Katniss dying, Preston dying and a hostage situation) but I think I chose the right one.
I have some ideas for a sequel, but they won't be up until around July-August time (so follow this story or me to be notified of when that happens).
Again, thanks to everyone who provided me ideas, encouraged me, gave me constructive criticism etc.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it (even through the various writer's blocks)
~TributeWitch